BACKGROUND: Although immunophenotyping of leukemias has improved diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility, it has also caused diagnostic confusion regarding the lineage of leukemic cells. So far, lots of papers about acute leukemias with coexpression of another lineage markers with different technical methodologies and different criteria have been published in Korea and other countries. The authors investigated the frequency and immunophenotypic characteristics of the leukemias with aberrant lineage markers from data obtained at Korea University Hospital by a retrospective study. METHODS: From Jan. 1993 to Feb. 1996, 179 leukemias had been requested for immunophenotypig and 28 cases among them with unusual immunophenotypes were retrieved according to their immunophenotyping results. For the final diagnosis all the slides stained with Wright-Giemsa, peroxidase, Periodic-Acid Schiff, Sudan black B, and nonspecific esterase were re-examined, and all the flow cytometric results were reanalyzed. RESULTS: Among 28 cases, 3 cases(10%) were acute biphenotypic leukemias(BP) one with B lymphoid and myeloid markers and the other two with T lymphoid and myeloid markers. One case of intralineage bilinear acute leukemia(ILBL) with two separate populations of megakaryocytic cells and monocytic cells was noted. 6 cases(21%) were acute myeloblastic leukemias expressing lymphoid associated markers(Ly+AMLs; CD19) and 8 cases(28%) were myeloid antigen-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemias(My+ALLs, four with CD13+ and three with CD33+ and one with blastic transformation of chronic myelogeneous leukemia). Because of the change in diagnostic criteria, lymphocyte contamination, or low setting of negative control, 10 cases (36%) were not included to be of unusual immunophenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Frequency of acute hybrid leukemia was 2.2 % of all leukemias. Ly+AMLs was 3.4%, and My+ALL was 4.4%. In conclusion, first, quality control of the flow cytometry and careful interpretation especially in terms of positive cut-off value and gating, are needed. Secondly, national guidelines for the criteria of the hybrid leukemia and My+ALLs and Ly+AMLs are necessary for the elucidation of the prognostic implication of those leukemias.
Carboxylesterase ; Diagnosis ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunophenotyping ; Korea ; Leukemia* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Lymphocytes ; Peroxidase ; Quality Control ; Retrospective Studies ; Sudan

No abstract available.
Alleles* ; Hepatitis B Vaccines* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; HLA-DRB1 Chains*

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among the elderly is increasing in Korea and in the developed countries due to the increased elderly population and their predispositions to chronic disease, poverty and decreased immunity. To define the characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly, we evaluated the clinical spectrum of pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: We analyzed 92 patients retrospectively that were diagnosed as active pulmonary tuberculosis over the age of 65. The analysis involved patient's profiles, clinical manifestations, coexisting diseases, diagnostic methods, anti-TB medications and their side effects, and treatment outcomes. RESULTS: The results were as follows:- 1) The ratio of male to female was 2.1:1(62:30 cases) 2) Chief complaints were a cough (47.8%),dyspnea(40.2%), sputum(38.0%), chest pain(12.0%), anorexia(10.9%), and fever(9.8%). 3) 38(41.3%) of cases had a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis. 4) The coexisting diseases were:-COPD, 25 cases(27.2%);pneumonia, 17 cases(18.5%);DM, 13 cases(14.1%);and malignancy, 10 cases(10.9%). 5) The positivity of Mantoux test(5 TU, PPD-S) was 82.7%. 6) Pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed using the following methods : sputum AFB (Acid Fast Bacillus) smear 42.4%, sputum TB(M.Tuberculosis) culture 15.2%, sputum TB PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) 10.9%, bronchial washing AFB smear 2.1%, chest radiology only 25.0%. 7) Locations of radiologic lesions were RULF, 50 cases;RLLF, 50 cases, mostly, then LLLF;26 cases were leastly involved. 8) The coexisting tuberculosis were endobronchial TB(8.7%), TB pleurisy(7.6%) miliary TB(5.4%), intestinal TB(2.2%), renal TB(1.1%) 9) The proportion of treatment regimen with 1st line drug and 2nd line drug were 92.3% and 7.6%, respectively. 10) The outcome of treatment were as follows:cured 31.5%, expired 13.0%, no return 47.8%, follow-up now 7.6%. CONCLUSION: The pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly has atypical patterns with chronic coexisting diseases. Therefore, the possibility of pulmonary tuberculosis should be considered in elderly patients with pulmonary symptoms.
Aged* ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; Developed Countries ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Poverty ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Tuberculomas in the spine are estimated to be 15 to 50 times less common than those occurring in the cranium. We experienced a case of intramedullary spinal tuberculoma and brain tuberculoma associated with pulmonary tuberculosis. A 39-year-old male was referred to the National Medical Center via emergency room because of urinary difficulty and lower limb weakness for 3 days. He had been treated with anti-tuberculosis regimens against pulmonary tuberculosis for 20 days. Spinal MRI revealed intradural intramedullary tuberculoma at T5. On the 21st day at the hospital, a generalized seizure attacked him. Brain MRI revealed multiple tuberculoma in both hemispheres, brainstem and cerebellum. He was treated anti-tuberculosis regimens and corticosteroids for 9 months. His condition improved clinically and radiologically. We report this case with a review of the literature.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Adult ; Brain Stem ; Brain* ; Cerebellum ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Seizures ; Skull ; Spine ; Tuberculoma* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

No abstract available.
Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Venous Thrombosis*

No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

Oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein (LDL) could contribute to one of the atherosclerotic processes through its uptake by the scavenger receptor of macrophage. The aim of the present study was to examine whether ganghaungenin has an antioxidant effect. For the approach of the aim, a lipid peroxidation of LDL, the changes of degradation and negative charge of LDL, and LDL uptake in macrophage were measured after ganghaungenin was treated in the reaction process of LDL oxidation. The effective LDL oxidation was performed with treatment of 20 pM CuSO4 for 5 hours. Quercetin, one of the well-known antioxidant, was used as a positive control. The antioxdant effect of ganghaungenin on the LDL oxidation were examined at concentrations of both 40 p,M and 80 p,M for Sh. Ganghaungenin significantly inhibited the lipid peroxidation of LDL. It inhibited the oxidation-enhanced degradation and negative charge of LDL. Even 100 p,M of it did not have any toxic effects on macrophage. It inhibited the uptake of the oxidized LDL into macrophage. These data revealed that ganghaungenin obtained from Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi was a potent antioxidant in inhibiting the oxidative modification of LDL. Conclusively, these findings indicate that ganghaungenin in physiologic concentrations could inhibit the oxidative modification of LDL in vivo, and suggest that ganghaungenin could be also used for the atherosclerosis prevention.
Antioxidants* ; Atherosclerosis* ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lipoproteins ; Macrophages* ; Quercetin ; Receptors, Scavenger ; Scutellaria baicalensis

No abstract available.
Anemia, Dyserythropoietic, Congenital*

Plsama and urinary Mg were measured in relation to EKG change in 24 patients with liver cirrhosis, and summarized as below. 1. Plasma albumin and Ca were below normal, however Na, K, and Mg level were in the lower limit of normal. 2. Abnormal EKG findings were QT prolongation, ST elevation, peaked T, low T, ST depression and U wave in the order of frequency. 3. Coefficient of correlation between plasma Mg and QT prolongation was -0.5 compared with that of Ca-0.28. 4. Mg depletion was moderately correlated with plasma albumin (r=0.59). 5. Marked urinary Mg excretion in the presence of normal plasma Mg suggest that plasma Mg level poorly reflect total Mg depletion.
Depression ; Electrocardiography* ; Electrolytes* ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Magnesium* ; Plasma* ; Serum Albumin

BACKGROUND: Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus(CCLE) is a well-known disease entity. But there has been no data about its clinical behavior and histopathologic features in Korea. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to elucidate the clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features of CCLE, and the relationship between CCLE and SLE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 48 cases of CCLE that visited the department of dermatology at the Seoul National University Hospital from January 1990 to June 1997. Medical records and biopsy slides were reviewed.
Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous* ; Medical Records ; Seoul