Familial pseudohyperkalemia (FP) is a dominantly inherited condition caused by variants in the gene ABCB6 resulting in red blood cell (RBC) membrane protein defects. FP is generally asymptomatic. However, FP RBCs have an increased permeability to monovalent cations when stored below 37°C. Transfusion of RBC components donated by FP individuals can induce hyperkalemia and may be causally related to transfusion-associated hyperkalemic cardiac arrest, particularly in neonates and infants. Therefore it is necessary to accurately evaluate the frequency of FP occurrence in the Korean population and assess whether FP RBCs have significantly higher supernatant potassium levels. Efforts should be made to recognize the effects of blood products collected from FP donors on blood transfusion recipients to reduce the risk of hyperkalemia, especially in fetuses, infants, and patients at risk of this condition.

No abstract available.
Base Sequence ; Benzamides/therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow/pathology ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/*genetics ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy/*genetics ; Middle Aged ; Philadelphia Chromosome ; Piperazines/therapeutic use ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines/therapeutic use ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Thiazoles/therapeutic use ; Translocation, Genetic

All living creatures on this planet, from bacteria to human, produce sugar chains (glycans). This means that sugar chains are essential for living a life. Abundant, diverse, and highly regulated repertoire of glycans are synthesized by glycosylation process in cells. Located in proteins (N-glycans and O-glycans) and lipids (glycosphingolipids), glycans participate in many vital biological processes including molecular recognition, cell adhesion, molecular trafficking and clearance, receptor activation, and signal transduction. Histo-blood group antigens that are composed of sugar chains are expressed under the control of the Secretor, Lewis and ABO glycosyltransferases. They play important roles in microbial infections and cancers. Many of sugar chains associated with histo-blood group antigens are exploited as receptors for microorganisms. Aberrant glycosylation of proteins and lipids occurs commonly during malignant transformation and leads to the expression of tumor-associated glycans. In this review, over the scope of transfusion medicine, we discussed deep down the biologic meaning of sugar chains, through exploring how the sugar chains are synthesized, structured, and functioning.
Bacteria ; Biological Processes ; Cell Adhesion ; Glycosylation ; Glycosyltransferases ; Humans ; Planets ; Polysaccharides ; Signal Transduction ; Transfusion Medicine

BACKGROUND: Molecular epidemiological typing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is crucial for monitoring the spread of resistant strains. As reference strains can be used for laboratory internal quality control, we genetically characterised the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) gonococcal strains by Neisseria gonorrhoeae multiantigen sequence typing (NG-MAST) and porB sequence typing using public multilocus sequence typing (PubMLST). METHODS: Eight ATCC gonococcal reference strains (ATCC 19424, ATCC 31426, ATCC 35541, ATCC 43069, ATCC 43070, ATCC 49226, ATCC 49926, and ATCC 49981) from Culti-Loops (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) were cultured. After DNA extraction, porB and tbpB were amplified and sequenced. Sequence types (STs) and allele numbers were each determined by NG-MAST (http://www.ng-mast.net) and porB sequence typing using PubMLST (http://pubmlst.org/neisseria/porB/). RESULTS: ATCC 19424 was identified as ST 266 by NG-MAST, and as Allele 946 by PubMLST. ATCC31426 was assigned a novel ST by NG-MAST, and was assigned Allele 958 with 1.2% mismatch by PubMLST. ATCC 35541 was identified as ST 12 by NG-MAST, and as Allele 624 by PubMLST. ATCC 43069 and ATCC 43070 were both identified as ST 681 by NG-MAST, and as Allele 984 by PubMLST. ATCC 49226 was identified as ST 1572 by NG-MAST, and as Allele 2110 by PubMLST. ATCC 49926 and ATCC 49981 were both identified as ST 16496 by NG-MAST, and as Allele 928 by PubMLST. CONCLUSIONS: The ST data obtained for ATCC gonococcal reference strains by NG-MAST and porB sequence typing using PubMLST can be used for quality assurance of molecular epidemiological typing in clinical microbiological laboratories.
Alleles ; DNA ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; Neisseria ; Quality Control

Leukoreduction is a process in which the white blood cells (WBCs) in cellular products are intentionally reduced to bring down the risk of adverse transfusion reactions, such as febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions or human leukocyte antigen alloimmunization. So far, Korea has not considered leukoreduction of plasma products. However there have been recommendations for leukoreduction to improve patient outcomes. The authors have experience in measuring WBCs and WBC fragment counts in plasma products and have shown that the WBC and their fragments could be efficiently removed using leukoreduction filters. Hence, it may be beneficial to begin discussions on the necessity of using leukoreduction of plasma products.

Background: According to the revision of the Blood Management Act in 2020, medical institutions that meet certain conditions are obliged to install a transfusion management division in Korea. Therefore, this study assessed the management status of the transfusion management division at major medical institutions. Methods: From August 7th to August 18th, 2021, a survey questionnaire was given to laboratory physicians of 10 major medical institutions in Korea, and the installation and operation of the transfusion management division were surveyed. Results: The medical institutions that participated in this survey completed a transfusion management division in the first half of the year. Doctors, nurses, and medical technologists were assigned as medical personnel, and all laboratory physicians were leading the work as the head of the transfusion management division. Regarding the tasks performed at the transfusion management division, all medical institutions conducted a transfusion appropriateness assessment, education related to transfusion, and adverse transfusion reactions. Most medical institutions had difficulties because there was an insufficient basis to calculate the workforce and budget in installing and operating the transfusion management division. Conclusion There are rarely reference materials for the practice and operation of the transfusion management division, which has no precedent in Korea, so it is often difficult for medical institutions to prepare it. This study will be a reference for medical institutions that need to install a transfusion management division in the future.Efforts should be made to legislate transfusion management fees focused on the academic community.

ABO-blood typing typically involves both front typing (cell typing) and back typing (serum typing) to ensure accurate determination of blood type. However, in neonates, back typing is frequently omitted due to their immature immune system. If an institution chooses red blood cells (RBCs) that match the neonate's blood type, omitting back typing could lead to unexplained cross-matching incompatibilities. Therefore, blood banks should be cautious with neonatal blood typing and transfusion practices to ensure transfusion safety.

ABO-blood typing typically involves both front typing (cell typing) and back typing (serum typing) to ensure accurate determination of blood type. However, in neonates, back typing is frequently omitted due to their immature immune system. If an institution chooses red blood cells (RBCs) that match the neonate's blood type, omitting back typing could lead to unexplained cross-matching incompatibilities. Therefore, blood banks should be cautious with neonatal blood typing and transfusion practices to ensure transfusion safety.

ABO-blood typing typically involves both front typing (cell typing) and back typing (serum typing) to ensure accurate determination of blood type. However, in neonates, back typing is frequently omitted due to their immature immune system. If an institution chooses red blood cells (RBCs) that match the neonate's blood type, omitting back typing could lead to unexplained cross-matching incompatibilities. Therefore, blood banks should be cautious with neonatal blood typing and transfusion practices to ensure transfusion safety.

ABO-blood typing typically involves both front typing (cell typing) and back typing (serum typing) to ensure accurate determination of blood type. However, in neonates, back typing is frequently omitted due to their immature immune system. If an institution chooses red blood cells (RBCs) that match the neonate's blood type, omitting back typing could lead to unexplained cross-matching incompatibilities. Therefore, blood banks should be cautious with neonatal blood typing and transfusion practices to ensure transfusion safety.