Chemistry, Clinical ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study was done to assess the bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical bone turnover markers (BTMs), and factors associated with bone health in young Korean women. METHODS: Participants were 1,298 women, ages 18-29, recruited in Korea. Measurements were BMD by calcaneus quantitative ultrasound, BTMs for Calcium, Phosphorus, Osteocalcin, and C-telopeptide cross-links (CTX), body composition by physical measurements, nutrients by food frequency questionnaire and psychosocial factors associated with bone health by self-report. RESULTS: The mean BMD (Z-score) was -0.94. 8.7% women had lower BMD (Z-score< or =-2) and 14.3% women had higher BMD (Z-score< or = 0) than women of same age. BTMs were not significantly different between high-BMD (Z-score> or =0) and low-BMD (Z-score<0) women. However, Osteocalcin and CTX were higher in women preferring caffeine intake, sedentary lifestyle and alcoholic drinks. Body composition and Calcium intake were significantly higher in high-BMD. Low-BMD women reported significantly higher susceptibility and barriers to exercise in health beliefs, lower bone health self-efficacy and promoting behaviors. CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that bone health of young Korean women is not good. Development of diverse strategies to intervene in factors such as exercise, nutrients, self-efficacy, health beliefs and behaviors, shown to be important, are needed to improve bone health.
Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biological Markers/*metabolism ; Body Composition ; Bone Density ; Bone and Bones/*metabolism/radiography/ultrasonography ; Calcium/metabolism ; Collagen Type I/metabolism ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Knowledge ; Life Style ; Osteocalcin/metabolism ; Peptides/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Republic of Korea ; Self Efficacy ; Women/*psychology ; Young Adult

The CD56 antigen is a cell adhesion molecule and its expression on tumor cells is thought to play a role in CD56-positive lymphomas and leukemias with unusual sites of involvement. As to chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and related blastic crisis, CD56 expression is not generally considered as a part of the CML phenotype and has rarely been reported in CML and other chronic myeloproliferative dirsorders (CMPD). We reported a case of CML expressing the CD56 antigen on the CD34-negative myeloid cells presented with extramedullary granulocytic sarcoma and examined the CD56 reactivity on bone marrow biopsy sections in 9 patients with CMPD. To assess the abnormal expression of the CD56 antigen on myeloid and progenitor cells from CMPD, immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometric analysis were performed on bone marrow biopsy sections and aspirate specimens, respectively. Of nine patients with CMPD, a case of CML in blastic crisis with extramedullary granulocytic sarcoma showed an abnormal expression of CD56 on CD34-negative myeloid cells. The expression of CD56 on CML myeloid elements seems to represent an aberrant phenomenon that could affect the pattern of tumor cell dissemination.
Antigens, CD56 ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Adhesion ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Lymphoma ; Myeloid Cells* ; Phenotype ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; Stem Cells

Myelofibrosis results from stimulation of bone marrow stromal fibroblasts by fibrogenic cytokines elaborated by neoplastic or reactive cells in the marrow. Chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis should be differentiated from secondary myelofibrosis resulting from bone marrow involvement of malignant lymphoma because these diseases have different therapeutic strategies. Myelofibrosis in systemic lupus erythematosus is an uncommon but well-recognized complication, and identifying an autoimmune myelofibrosis is important in diagnosing this benign cause of myelofibrosis. We report two cases of myelofibrosis presenting the clinical and radiologic findings that mimicked malignant lymphoma -a case of autoimmune myelofibrosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus showing extensive lymphadenopathy and a case of chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis with focal intrasplenic extramedullary hematopoiesis- and discuss the importance of the clinical information and radiologic findings for the pathologic diagnosis of myelofibrosis.
Abdomen* ; Bone Marrow ; Cytokines ; Diagnosis ; Fibroblasts ; Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lymphatic Diseases* ; Lymphoma* ; Primary Myelofibrosis*

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the analytical sensitivity and specificity of the recently updated 4th generation Elecsys HIV combi PT assay (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Germany) to those of the ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay (Abbott Laboratories, Germany). METHODS: A total of 2,003 fresh random clinical samples, 4 HIV seroconversion panels, a WHO International Standard p24 antigen sensitivity panel, 5 HIV-1 subtype viral lysates, and 5 HIV-1 subtype antibodies were tested in comparative studies with the Elecsys HIV combi PT and ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assays. Samples were assayed with both tests on the same day. The MP Diagnostics HIV Western Blot 2.2 Assay, the Elecsys HIV p24 Ag Test and Confirmatory Test, and the COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Test were performed as supplementary tests. RESULTS: Both the Elecsys and ARCHITECT assays detected viral antigens in all four seroconversion panels on the same bleed days, and had lower limits of detection of <1 IU/mL with the p24 antigen sensitivity panel. The ARCHITECT assay showed slightly higher sensitivity in detecting viral antigens with some HIV-1 subtype viral lysates, while the Elecsys assay was more sensitive in detecting each of the 5 HIV-1 subtype antibodies. Both assays detected 5/5 HIV+ clinical samples correctly. The analytical specificities of the Elecsys and ARCHITECT assays were 99.90% and 99.80%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Elecsys HIV combi PT assay performed comparably to the ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay. Thus, the Elecsys HIV combi PT assay is suitable for diagnostic testing in university hospital settings.
Antibodies ; Antigens, Viral ; Blotting, Western ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; HIV Seropositivity ; HIV* ; HIV-1 ; Limit of Detection ; Mass Screening ; Sensitivity and Specificity

There have been few reports on chromosomal abnormalities in secondary hemophagocytic lym-phohistiocytosis (HLH) including Epstein-Barr virus-associated HLH (EBV-HLH). Clonality of HLH can be determined by karyotypic analysis, T-cell receptor or IgH rearrangement studies, and EBV genome terminal repeat investigation. Chromosome analysis in EBV-HLH is the most important tool currently available for assessment of case-by-case prognosis. We report a case of fatal EBV-HLH with clonal karyotype abnormality. A 57-year-old man was admitted with persistent high fever and hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory data revealed pancytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, coagulation abnormalities, and marked abnormalities of liver function tests. EBV-DNA was detected in the bone marrow by PCR. The bone marrow studies showed mature, benign-looking histiocytic hyperplasia with prominent hemophagocytosis and clonal chromosomal abnormality. Although the patient was treated with immunochemotherapy and antibiotics, he died of disseminated intravascular coagu-lopathy and sepsis. Considering this fatal clinical course, it is important to take intensive therapeutic measures if karyotype abnormality is noted in the treatment of EBV-HLH cases.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bone Marrow ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Fever ; Genome ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Karyotype* ; Liver Function Tests ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; Sepsis ; Terminal Repeat Sequences

The Korean government previously established a national blood policy and national blood system based on basic and essential legislation. This achievement was the result of collaborative efforts between the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Korean Society of Blood Transfusion, the Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine, the Laboratory Medicine Foundation, and/or the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service. To ensure a safe and effective transfusion, a comprehensive quality assurance (QA) system to assess every process from donor selection to transfusion is mandatory. From a blood safety perspective, selection of appropriate donor blood screening tests for transfusion-transmissible infections (TTI) and the QA program is of great importance. In this article, we review legislation regarding the national blood policy and national blood system as well as the selection logic regarding diagnostic immunologic tests for TTI and quality assurance efforts for TTI of each blood center.
Blood Safety ; Blood Transfusion ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Donor Selection ; Humans ; Immunologic Tests* ; Logic ; Mass Screening* ; Quality Control ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify a role for endodontic intervention in enhancing the regenerative potential of the periodontal ligament when combined with periodontal treatment in seriously involved teeth with a secondary endodontic component. METHODS: Patients who exhibited radiolucency extending to the periapical region, abnormal electric pulp testing values, and deep probing depth derived from primary periodontal disease with secondary endodontic involvement were included. Intentional root canal treatment was applied to those teeth in which the apical lesions were presumed to communicate with those of the periodontal lesion of the teeth that remained vital. In all three selected cases, regenerative periodontal therapy incorporating either bone graft or guided tissue regeneration was instituted 3 months after the endodontic intervention. RESULTS: Remarkable enhancement in radiographic density was noticeable around the affected teeth as evidenced by changes in radiopacity. There was a significant reduction in the probing pocket depth and gain in the clinical attachment level. Chewing discomfort gradually disappeared from the commencement of the combined treatment. CONCLUSIONS: An intentional endodontic intervention may be a worthwhile approach for the sophisticated management of teeth suffering from serious attachment loss and alveolar bone destruction with concomitant secondary endodontic involvement.
Dental Pulp Cavity ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; Humans ; Periodontal Attachment Loss ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontal Ligament ; Root Canal Therapy ; Stress, Psychological ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: Quantitation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA using real-time PCR has been utilized for monitoring CMV infection. However, the CMV antigenemia assay is still the 'gold standard' assay. There are only a few studies in Korea that compared the efficacy of use of real-time PCR for quantitation of CMV DNA in whole blood with the antigenemia assay, and most of these studies have been limited to transplant recipients. METHOD: 479 whole blood samples from 79 patients, falling under different disease groups, were tested by real-time CMV DNA PCR using the Q-CMV real-time complete kit (Nanogen Advanced Diagnostic S.r.L., Italy) and CMV antigenemia assay (CINA Kit, ArgeneBiosoft, France), and the results were compared. Repeatedly tested patients were selected and their charts were reviewed for ganciclovir therapy. RESULTS: The concordance rate of the two assays was 86.4% (Cohen's kappa coefficient value=0.659). Quantitative correlation between the two assays was a moderate (r=0.5504, P<0.0001). Among 20 patients tested repeatedly with the two assays, 13 patients were transplant recipients and treated with ganciclovir. Before treatment, CMV was detected earlier by real-time CMV DNA PCR than the antigenemia assay, with a median difference of 8 days. After treatment, the antigenemia assay achieved negative results earlier than real-time CMV DNA PCR with a median difference of 10.5 days. CONCLUSIONS: Q-CMV real-time complete kit is a useful tool for early detection of CMV infection in whole blood samples in transplant recipients.
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Cytomegalovirus/*genetics ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/drug therapy/pathology/virology ; DNA, Viral/*blood/metabolism ; Ganciclovir/therapeutic use ; Humans ; *Immunoassay ; Organ Transplantation ; Phosphoproteins/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; *Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics/immunology/*metabolism ; Virology/*methods

No abstract available.
Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Blood Cells/pathology ; Bone Marrow Cells/pathology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/*drug therapy/radiotherapy ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute/*diagnosis/etiology ; Lung Neoplasms/*drug therapy/radiotherapy ; Male