Granulocyte-specific antigens, such as NA1, NA2, NBI, NB2, NC1, NDI, NE1, are a group of antigens specifically expresesed only on the granulocytes. Antibodies against these are involved in some clinical disorders such as alloimmune neonatal neutropenia(ANN), autoimmune neutropenia(AIN), and transfusion-related acute lung injury(TRALI). We investigated the frequencies of NA1, NA2, NB1, and Mart antigens among Koreans by the granulocyte indirect immunofluorescence test employing flow cytometry. The subjects were 105 Koreans(male 65, female 40), whose mean age was 31.7+/-8.2 years (range 16~57). The antigen and gene frequencies were as follows, NA1, 0.78, 0.53, NA2, 0.75, 0.50, NB1 0.86, 0.62, and Mart, 1.00, 1.00, respectively. The proportions of NB 1 -positive granulocytes among NB 1-positive individuals were variable(range, 27~100%). Through this study, the authors procured granunlocyte-specifiic antigen papnel, which is essential in the identification of causative antibody(-ies) in immune neutropenias.
Antibodies ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Gene Frequency ; Granulocytes ; Humans ; Lung ; Neutropenia

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the performance of Modular Analytics (Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland) which is combined with automated chemiluminescent immunoassay analyzer and automated chemical analyzer

in order to assess its utility for the improvement of efficiency of routine immuno-chemistry workstation. METHODS: Within- and between-day precision, linearity, and recovery rates were evaluated for 21 items (T3, T4, TSH, E2, LH, Testosterone, FSH, prolactin, AFP, CEA, CA125, CA19-9, total PSA, CRP, ASO, RF, Ig G, Ig M, Ig A, C3C, and C4). Commercialized controls(Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland) and patient sera for test specimens were used. Centaur(Bayer Diagnostic Division, New York, USA) and LX 2200(Eiken Chemical Co., Tokyo, Japan) were used as the control analyzers to evaluate the correlation. RESULTS: Within-day Coefficients of variation(CVs) was below 5% for all the analytes and between-day CVs was below 5.0% except ASO(8.01%). The linearity was excellent(r2>0.999; slope, 0.98-1.02; p<0.001). Recovery rates for all analytes were in the range of 95% to 103%. The correlation coefficients between modular and Centaur was exceeded 0.971, and between modular

and LX2200 exceeded 0.910, except RF(r=0.834). (P<0.05) CONCLUSION: The recently developed Modular Analytics proved to be highly precise and linear for quantitative analysis of hormones, tumor markers, and serum proteins in routine immuno-chemistry workstation. Correlations with Centaur and LX 2200 were thought to be good.
Blood Proteins ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Prolactin ; Testosterone ; Biomarkers, Tumor

No abstract available.
Plasma Exchange* ; Plasma* ; Seoul*

No abstract available.
Erythrocytes*

No abstract available.
Plasma Exchange* ; Plasma* ; Seoul*

No abstract available.
Erythrocytes*

BACKGROUND: The autonomy of patient is becoming more important in medical fields and in transfusion as well. In Korea, there is not yet any legal regulations or reports concerned with informed consent for transfusion. METHODS: Questionnaires were e-mailed to 202 doctors. Among them, 105 doctors received the e-mail questionnaire and 43 (41%) replied. RESULTS: Forty one respondents (95.3%) replied that informed consent for transfusion is necessary. Thirty nine (90.7%) replied that they explain something about transfusion to the patient. The given information during explanation are benefits, adverse reactions, and risks if transfusion not to be given, in decreasing order. Eighteen (42.0%) replied that consent is documented. The reasons for the difficulty in getting informed consent were replied to be unavailability of standardized consent forms, explanation materials, and lack of time. CONCLUSION: Korean doctors seem to agree that informed consent is necessary for transfusion but have difficulties in obtaining. Standardized consent forms and explanation materials will be helpful for its wide implementation.
Consent Forms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Korea ; Social Control, Formal

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Collagen* ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver*

Blood transfusion is an essential medical procedure that can save a patient's life. But, in the near future, it is anticipated that blood transfusion products will be lacking in Korea. Patient Blood Management (PBM) is an evidence-based, mult-idisciplinary approach to optimizing the care of patients who might need transfusion. This goal is fulfilled by clinically managing or preserving the patient's own blood instead of imprudently resorting to allogeneic blood. It can be said that Korea just begun the journey toward the PBM implementation. However, strong support from the government and endeavors from professional societies will make rapid and substantial success in implementation of PBM in Korea.
Blood Transfusion ; Health Resorts ; Humans ; Korea*

Blood products refer to pharmaceuticals derived from human blood. According to the Blood Management Act of Korea, these include whole blood, packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, packed platelets, and other blood-related pharmaceuticals. These products are referred to by different names in the health insurance fee schedule. Also, the English names or abbreviations for these products are not given. Medical institutions require names and abbreviations in English for the hospital information systems. From the perspective of medical institutions, the names on the health insurance fee schedule would be more relevant as they are used for billing.The author proposes terminology and abbreviations for the blood products with the hope that these would find harmonized use in the Blood Management Act, health insurance fee schedule, and hospital information systems.