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

Clinically, the Rh blood group system is important since Rh antibodies are readily induced by transfusion or pregnancy in individuals negative for the antigert and may cause hemolytic reactions or hemolytic disease of the newborn. Since the D antigert is strongly immunogenic, donors and patients are routinely typed for D status and patients are generally given D compatible blood. But under several circumstances such as spontaneous agglutination of red blood cells coated with immunoglobulin, antisera with additives may cause false positive results in test using high-protein reagents. And facton in the patient' s own serum may also affect the test, since unwashed red blood cells suspended in their own serum or plasma are frequently tested. Therefore, manufacturers and American Association of Blood Banks(AABB) recommend that the Rh(D) control test with Rh(D) control reagent which contains the same additive present in high-protein anti-D except for the anti-D. This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefss of the Rh(D) control test in Korea where Rh(D) negative population is small. Red blood cells from 1115 in-patients and 468 out-patients at Korea University Medical Center were employed in Rh(D) typing and Rh(D) control test in parellel. 1580 cases are Rh(D) positive and 3 cases were Rh(D) negative. No agglutination was observed with Rh(D) control test. Though AABB and manufacturers recommended that the Rh(D) control test should be done in parellel with Rh(D) typing test, the authers concluded that there were no need to run the Rh(D) control test in Korea.
Academic Medical Centers ; Agglutination ; Antibodies ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Immunoglobulins ; Indicators and Reagents ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Outpatients ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Tissue Donors

We present 9 cases of plexiform schwannoma examined at Severance hospital from January, 1980 to September, 1987. The predilection sites of plexiform schwannoma included head and neck including oral cavity. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 32 years. The difference of sex ratio was not apparent. Histopathological findings revealed multiple round to oval nodules encapsulated by thin fibroconnective tissue with nuclear palisading and Verocay body in each nodule. There was mild to moderate cellular atypia in some area, but mitotic figure was not found. The Bielschowsky's silver stain did not demonstrate any axon within or outside of the nodule. The thin capsule was positive with reticulin stain.

The development of aorticpulmonary bodies was studied by electron microscope in human fatuses ranging from 40mm to 260mm crowm-rump length. The aorticpulmonary bodies were observed in the wall of the aorta, and of the pulmonart trunk and arteries. At 40mm fetus, the aorticopulmonary bodies were composed of clusters of primitive glomus cells, primative supporting cells, unmyelinated nerve fibers, and capillaries. The primitive glomus cells possessed large nuclei, dense-cored vesicles, many Golgi complexes, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and, multivesicular bodies, the primitive supporting cells were agranular with attenuated cytoplasmic processed which partially ensheathed the primitive glomus cells. Synaptic contacts between the axon terminals and the aoma of primitive glomus cells were first observed. The primitive glomus cells increased somewhat in size and number by 90mm fetus, but retained essentially the same characteristics as at the earlier stage. Desmosome-like contacts between glomus cells and adjacent cells were commonly seen. At 160mm fetus, the glomus cells had increased accumulations of all organells and numerous dense cored vesicles. The supporting cells completely invested the glomus cells. Two types of nerve terminals were observed. One type contained small agranular vesicles which was identified as cholinergic axon terminal. The other contained a majority of small granular vesicles which was classfied as adrenergic axon terminal. Synaptic contacts between the cholinergic axon terminals and the soma of the glomus cell were observed. During next prenatal stage up to 260mm fetus the glomus cells and the supporting cells resembling those in adult were present. It is concluded that the ultrastructural features of these aorticopulmonary bodies are similar to those of the carotid body. It is therefore suggested that the aorticopulmonary bodies of the human fetures have a chemorecepter function similar to that of the carotid body.
Adult ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Capillaries ; Carisoprodol ; Carotid Body ; Cytoplasm ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Fetus* ; Golgi Apparatus ; Humans* ; Multivesicular Bodies ; Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated ; Presynaptic Terminals

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

We report two cases of recurrent extramarnmary Pagets disease after wide local excision. Both cases involved the scrotum and the penoserotal junction, respectively. On histopathological examination, we could observed many Paget cells confined to the epidermis and the hair follicle, but not invading the underlying dermis in both cases. There was no evidence of internal malignancy. Both cases were treated with wide local reexcision.
Dermis ; Epidermis ; Hair Follicle ; Paget Disease, Extramammary* ; Scrotum

PURPOSE: We conducted a phase II study in previously untreated patients with unresectable stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer to evaluate the response rate and toxicity of the combination chemotherapy regimen of etoposide, ifosfamide and cisplatin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 1993 to December 1996, twenty patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (stage IIIB 5 and IV 15) (squamous cell 8, adeno- carcinoma 12), were enrolled in this study. There were 13 (65%) males and 7 (35%) females, and median age of patients were 56 years (range: 34~66). Eighteen patients had performance status (ECOG) 0~1, two patients had performance status 2. Treatment was consisted of cisplatin (20 mg/m2 i.v., day 1~4), VP-16 (etoposide) (75 mg/m2 i.v., day 1~4), ifosfamide (1000 mg/m2 i.v., day 1~4) with mesna. This treatment was repeated every four weeks. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 25%. Complete response rate was 5% (1/20) and partial response rate was 20% (4/20). The median cycle of response was 4 (2~6) cycles. The median overall survival time was 28 weeks (9~98 weeks). The median time to progression was 10 weeks (3~50 weeks). Toxicities were evaluated by WHO criteria. Toxicity > GradeIII included: leukopenia 1.6%, thrombocytopenia 3.2%, nausea and vomiting 15%, alopecia 30%, stomatitis 10%. These toxicities were tolerable and reversible. CONCLUSION: VIP regimen was not superior to previous regimens for advanced non-small all lung cancer, and the toxicities were tolerable.
Alopecia ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Etoposide ; Female ; Humans ; Ifosfamide* ; Leukopenia ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Mesna ; Nausea ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma* ; Stomatitis ; Thrombocytopenia ; Vomiting

CD44 is a hyaluronic acid receptor that exists as a standard 90-kd form (CD44H) as well as several CD44 variants isoforms are produced through alternative splicing. Alternatively spliced variants of the CD44 molecule have been found to be associated with invasive and metastatic potential of cancer cells and poor prognosis in several types of carcinoma. The purpose of the present study is to define the expression of CD44H and CD44v6 in ovarian tumors and to investigate whether the expression of these molecules is associated with adverse prognosis. We evaluated the expression of CD44 isoforms in 58 ovarian tumors by means of immunohistochemistry, and correlated between CD44 expression and the histologic types, tumor grade, peritoneal implants, pseudomyxoma peritonei and FIGO stage. While the CD44H was commonly expressed in ovarian tumors, the CD44v6 was expressed in a minor proportion of serous tumors in comparison with frequent expression of v6 isoform in mucinous tumors. The CD44H expression was significantly higher in stage I/II than in stage III. However, there was no correlation between the expression of CD44 and the presence of peritoneal implants or pseudomyxoma peritonei. These results suggest that CD44H could play an important role in the adhesive function in the lower stage of the ovarian tumor and reduced expression in the higher stage might be related to the metastasis and widespread invasion of ovarian carcinoma cells.
Adhesives ; Alternative Splicing ; Female ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovary ; Prognosis ; Protein Isoforms ; Pseudomyxoma Peritonei

No abstract available.
Hernia, Umbilical*

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the mobility of newly graduated nurses from regions where their nursing schools were located to regions where they took up their first jobs, and to identify factors influencing nurses' mobility. METHODS: Data from the Graduates Occupational Mobility Survey, collected annually from 2010 to 2014 by the Korea Employment Information Service, were analyzed. The sample consisted of 1,488 graduates and 1,229 nurses who were employed on a full-time basis in hospitals. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with geographic mobility. RESULTS: Among the nurses working in hospitals, 69.2% had their first jobs in their nursing school regions and 11.3% in their high school regions. Fifty-two percent of the nurses worked in the capital region; 47.2% thereof had moved from a non-capital region. Nurses were more likely to work in their nursing school region when they were female, were older, graduated from a high school located in their nursing school region, graduated from a college (vs. university), had a lower nursing school performance, and expected lower monthly wage, compared with those who left their nursing school region. CONCLUSION: Education and remuneration policies are required to reduce geographical mobility to the capital region.
Education ; Employment ; Female ; Humans ; Information Services ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Professional Practice Location ; Remuneration ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Schools, Nursing