BACKGROUND: A recently identified Flaviviridae-like agent, termed hepatitis G virus (HGV), has been recognized as a non A-E hepatitis agent, but its relation to liver disease and transmission mode are not well understood. We investigated HGV infection rate in Korea and tried to clarify its relation to the liver disease. METHODS: 145 blood donors, 39 hemodialysis patients and 22 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected persons were investigated for the presence of HGV by nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR) with primers from the 5' UTR of HGV and some liver function tests. In each PCR assay, one positive and two negative controls were included. RESULTS: HGV-RNA was detected in 11 (7.6%) of 145 young voluntary blood donors and in 5 (12.8%) of 39 hemodialysis patients and in 8 (36.4%) of 22 HCV infected patients. All HGV RNA positive hemodialysis patients have a past history of transfusion, but they had a remarkably shorter duration of hemodialysis than those of HGV-negative patients. HCV infected patients with HGV-RNA tended to be younger than those without HGV-RNA. In all 15 HGV-RNA infected individuals without hepatitis B and C infection, alanine amino transferase was not increased except in 2 cases. Liver function tests did not show a significant difference between HGV-RNA positive patients and negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis G virus infection rate was much higher in Korea than other countries, so we suggested that group life could be another transmission mode other than blood transfusion. But even in infected cases, HGV did not seem to cause hepatitis and a high proportion cleared the virus after a relatively short time.
5' Untranslated Regions ; Alanine ; Blood Donors* ; Blood Transfusion ; GB virus C* ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Function Tests ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Renal Dialysis* ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Transferases

BACKGROUND: Several studies on the frequency and distribution of unexpected antibodies of Koreans have been done by some investgators. But more studies are necessory to grasp the real frequency and distribution. We hoped to investigate the frequency and distribution of unexpected antiboddis of Koreans. METHODS: We performed 188 unexpected antibody identification tests to evaluate the distribution of unexpected antibodies from May 1997 to June 1998. The sera we tested are antibody screening positive ones sent from 11 hospitals and 1 blood center. We also analized the frequecny of unexpected antibodues from the data of Dongsan Medical Center's antibody screening tests. RESULTS: The frequency of unexpected antibody of this study (using tube method) was 1.0%. Both anti-Lea and anti-E (with anti-c) antibodies were the most frequent antibodies up to 31 cases (33.0%) each. Among the identified antibodies from Dongsan Medical Center which used tube method, anti-Lea antibody was the most frequent antibody (41.3%). Otherwise among the identified antibodies from other two hospitals which used gel card method, anti-E (with anti-c) antibody was the most frequent antibody (45.5%). The cause of all four cases of hemolytic disease of newborn was anti-E antibody. About half of the specimens' antibodies were not identified due to the problemes of identification cells, tested sera, test methods. CONCLUSION: Anti-Lea and anti-E (with anti-c) antibodies were the most frequent ones in Korean people. But the prequency was varied according to antibody screenig test methods. Anti-E antibody is the most important unexpected antibidy for hemolytic disease of newborn in Korea. To decrease the missed cases of antibody identification tests both Korean and foreign identification cells, enzyme method should be used.
Antibodies* ; Erythroblastosis, Fetal ; Hand Strength ; Hope ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Mass Screening

No abstract available.
Blood Platelets*

BACKGROUND: Investigation of the factors affecting blood donation practice is essential to develop the ways of making blood donation campaign, as well as efficient and facilitating blood donation practice. A few studies has been made concerning the factors affecting blood donation in Korea. METHODS: 637 participants were examined using self-administered questionnaires including demographic variables, experience, knowledge and attitude for blood donation and others. RESULTS: 51.5% of participants had experienced the blood donation. Students who donated blood in high school days showed tendency to donate blood more than those who didn t donate blood in high school days. Students who had more knowledge and desirable attitude about blood donation experienced more blood donations. CONCLUSION: It is necessary for adolescents to take the opportunity of blood donation. It is important to clarify factors affecting blood donation practice and to encourage the public education and campaign which enable public has accurate knowledge and positive attitude about blood donation.
Adolescent ; Blood Donors* ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Platelets can be stored for 3days at 22degrees C in conventional plastic bags plasticizer with di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP). However, with such a short interval for storage, platelets could not be made easily available for thrombocytopenic patients. In vitro platelet function during 5 days of storage at 22degrees C was studied in a new plastic bag (second generation bag) which contained as plasticizer a tri (2-ethylhexyl)trimellitate and developed in Korea (Boin Medica Co.). METHODS: In vitro function (mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, pH, platelet aggregation, platelet morphology and swirling phenomenon) was evaluated in 20 units of platelet concentrate at day 0, 2, 5 while mixing in 60 rpm platelet rotator at 22degrees C. RESULTS: At day 5, platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, pH, platelet aggregation, platelet morphology and swirling phenomenon were well maintained. pO2, pCO2 and HCO3- were 65.6mmHg, 43.4mmHg and 12.3mmol/L at day 5, respectively. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that the use of the new platelet storage container will permit satisfactory storage for at least 5 days at 22degrees C.
Blood Platelets* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Mean Platelet Volume ; Plastics ; Platelet Aggregation ; Platelet Count

PURPOSE: To assess the value of CT for the differential diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed CT scans of 31 patients with surgically confirmed 46 malignant ovarian tumors. (29 epithelial tumors, 9 Krukenberg tumors, 6 germ cell tumors, and 2 sex cord-stromal tumors.) CT scans were evaluated for the mass (bilaterality, size, internal component, and margin), peritoneal spread pattern, ascites, invasion of adjacent organ, and lymphadenopathy. RESULT: Bilateral masses were seen in epithelial or Krukenberg tumor in 61.1%(11/18) and 80%(4/5) respectively. Epithelial tumors showed predominantly cystic mass(37.9%, 11/29), irregular margin(82.8%, 24/29) of mass, and accompanying peritoneal and omental spread (66.7%, 12/18), whileKrukenberg tumor showed predominantly solid mass(55.5%, 5/9), smooth margin of mass(100%, 5/5), and no peritoneal and omental spread. All cases with germ cell tumor or sex cord-stromal tumor showed unilateral mass. Relatively young aged, unilateral solid (66.7%, 4/6) tumors were germ cell tumor. Of these cases, septa within solid portionof mass were prominent in all dysgerminoma. (3/3) CONCLUSION: CT may be a valuable tool for the differential diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumors.
Diagnosis, Differential* ; Dysgerminoma ; Humans ; Krukenberg Tumor ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Therapeutic plasma exchange is used in almost every condition in which there is a plasma factor thought possibly to the etiology or pathogenesis of a disease or one of its manifestations. In order to evaluate plasma exchange using fresh frozen plasma as replacement solution, eighty four therapeutic plasma exchanges were carried out in eighteen patients. In standardized procedures, 1.5 times the calculated plasma volume was replaced with a Hartman's solution and fresh frozen plasma. Anticoagulation was achieved using a whole venous blood to 2.5% trisodium citrate in the ratio of 10 to 1. Total calcium, phosphorus, glucose, urea nitrogen, creatinine, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, creatine kinase, IgG, C3, total white and red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and differential count were not significantly affected by the procedure. In contrast, serum cholesterol, total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, ionized calcium, IgM, C4 and platelet were significantly decreased by the plasma exchange. All these measurements had returned to the first pre-exchange level within 24 hours, while the C4 and platelet count took between 24 and 72 hours, and the IgM level, between 72 hours and 1 week. These data indicated that in an isovolemic plasma exchange there was a transient but rapidly reversible effect on all the components studied, with C4 and platelet count, returning more slowly to pre-exchange level than the others, and IgM levels responding the slowest. In summary, plasma exchanges using fresh frozen plasma as replacement solution were assumed to be not significantly affected the function of various organs.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Amylases ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bilirubin ; Blood Platelets ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Citric Acid ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; Erythrocyte Count ; Glucose ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Plasma Exchange* ; Plasma Volume ; Plasma* ; Platelet Count ; Urea

A newly developed third generation enzyme immunoassay(Lucky HCD 3.0 EIA) for hepatitis C virus(HCV) antibodies was added with the envelope(E1E2)/NS4 fusion proteins and expanded NS5 proteins as well as the core/NS3 fusion proteins. Authors evaluated the HCD 3.0 EIA with the previously available second generation EIA(HCD 2.0) in 10,435 Red Cross blood donors. Among 10,435 donors who were screened for the presence of HCV antibodies by HCD 2.0 assay, 22(0.21%) sera were repeatedly reactive. All of these sera were tested for further testing. Only 13 of all tested sera were reactive by HCD 3.0 EIA, and nine sera were not reactive. Nine of 13 HCD 3.0 positive sera were reactive by recombinant immunoblot assay(Lucky-Confirm). Also seven of these 13 sera had detectable HCV genomic RNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). None of nine HCD 3.0 negative samples had detectable immunoblot assay and HCV genomic RNA. It is concluded that the new HCV EIA can decrease a significant false positivity of second generation EIA in a blood donor population. This new assay correlates well with detection of HCV-RNA by RT-PCR and identifies donors who are truly infected.
Antibodies ; Blood Donors* ; Hepatitis C ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; Humans ; Immunoblotting* ; Red Cross ; RNA ; Tissue Donors

No abstract available.

No abstract available.