Background: Sterility and safety assurance of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) products is critical in transplantation. Microbial contamination can lead to product disposal and increases the risk of unsuccessful clinical outcomes. Therefore, it is important to implement and maintain good practice guidelines and regulations for the HSC collection and processing unit in each hospital. We aimed to share our experiences and suggest strategies to improve the quality assurance of HSC processing. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed microbial culture results of 11,743 HSC products processed over a 25-year period (January 1996 to May 2021). Because of reorganization of the HSC management system in 2008, the 25-year period was divided into periods 1 (January 1996 to December 2007) and 2 (January 2008 to May 2021). We reviewed all culture results of the HSC products and stored aliquot samples and collected culture results for peripheral blood and catheter samples. Results: Of the 11,743 products in total, 35 (0.3%) were contaminated by microorganisms, including 19 (0.5%) of 3,861 products during period 1 and 16 (0.2%) of 7,882 products during period 2. Penicillium was the most commonly identified microorganism (15.8%) during period 1 and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most commonly identified (31.3%) during period 2. HSC product contamination occurred most often during HSC collection and processing. Conclusions The contamination rate decreased significantly during period 2, when the HSC management system was reorganized. Our results imply that handling HSC products by trained personnel and adopting established protocols, including quality assurance programs, aid in decreasing the contamination risk.

PURPOSE: Enterovirus infection in children can manifest various disease and enterovirus have many serotypes. This study was aimed to investigate neurologic manifestations according to serotypes of enterovirus in pediatric inpatients in Incheon. METHODS: We collected the stool samples from the admitted pediatric patients in Inha University Hospital from January 2015 to September 2016. Enterovirus detection and serotypes identification were performed by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and semi-nested RT-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 527 samples were collected during study period and 170 patients (32.2%) were diagnosed with enterovirus infections. Genetic sequences of enteroviruses were identified: echovirus 18 (50, 40.5%), enterovirus 71 (12, 9.6%), coxakievirus A10 (10, 8.0%), echovirus 6 (7, 5.6%). Virus in patient with meningitis were identified: echovirus 18 (15, 75%), coxakievirus B5 (2, 10%), enterovirus 71 (2, 10%), and echovirus 6 (1, 5%). Neurologic manifestations of echovirus 18 are headache (15, 30%), vomiting (17, 34%), meningeal irritation sign (10, 20.0%). And enterovirus 71 have headache (3, 25%), vomiting (3, 25%), meningeal irritation sign (2, 16.0%), seizure (1, 8.3%), neurologic sequelae (1, 8.3%). Echovirus 18 and neurologic manifestation have a statistically significant correlation with other serotypes (r=0.701, P < 0.01) CONCLUSION: Echovirus 18 infection was more prominent in neurological symptoms than in other serotypes. The major serotype of meningitis was echovirus 18 but there was no reported neurologic sequelae. Enterovirus infection has different neurological symptoms, depending on the serotypes.
Child ; Echovirus 6, Human ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; Enterovirus* ; Headache ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Inpatients* ; Meningitis ; Neurologic Manifestations* ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seizures ; Serogroup* ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Enterovirus (EV) infection in children can manifest various diseases from asymptomatic infection to nonspecific febrile illness, hand-foot-mouth disease, and aseptic meningitis. This study was aimed to investigate epidemiology and clinical significance of various genotypes of EV infections in pediatric inpatient. METHODS: We collected the stool samples from the admitted pediatric patients in Inha University Hospital from March 2014 to March 2015. EV detection and genotype identification were performed by real-time RT-PCR and semi-nested RT-PCR. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by neighbor joining method. RESULTS: A total of 400 samples were collected during study period and 112 patients (28%) were diagnosed with EV infections. The mean age of EV positive patients was 2.66 years (0.1-14) and sex ratio was 1.73:1. Genetic sequences of EVs were identified; coxsackievirus B5 (17, 15.2%), coxsackievirus A16 (13, 11.6%), enterovirus 71 (10, 8.9%), and coxsackievirus A2 (9, 8.0%). Nonspecific febrile illness (96, 86%) was the most common clinical manifestation and the duration of fever was 0-11 days (mean 3.1 days). Rash (44, 39%) and meningitis (43, 38%) were followed. Patients who were attending daycare center or had siblings accounted for 82.1%. Phylogenetic relationship tree revealed 6 distinct genogroups among 56 types of EVs. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the report of epidemiology, serotype distribution and clinical manifestations of children with EV infection in Incheon. This data will be helpful for further study about the epidemiology of EV infection in Korea.
Asymptomatic Infections ; Child ; Enterovirus* ; Epidemiology* ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Genotype ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Inpatients* ; Korea ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Sex Ratio ; Siblings ; Trees

We recently encountered a case of hereditary spherocytosis coexisting with Gilbert's syndrome. Patient was initially diagnosed with Gilbert's syndrome and observed, but other findings suggestive of concurrent hemolysis, such as splenomegaly and gallstones were noted during the follow-up period. Therefore, further evaluations, including a peripheral blood smear, osmotic fragility test, autohemolysis test, and red blood cell membrane protein test were performed, and coexisting hereditary spherocytosis was diagnosed. Genotyping of the conjugation enzyme uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase was used to confirm Gilbert's syndrome. Because of the high prevalence rates and similar symptoms of these 2 diseases, hereditary spherocytosis can be masked in patients with Gilbert's syndrome. In review of a case and other article, the possibility of the coexistence of these 2 diseases should be considered, especially in patients with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia who also have splenomegaly and gallstones.
Adult ; Erythrocytes/physiology ; Gallstones/etiology ; Genotype ; Gilbert Disease/complications/*diagnosis/genetics ; Glucuronosyltransferase/genetics ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia/etiology ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Spherocytosis, Hereditary/complications/*diagnosis/genetics ; Splenomegaly/etiology

Although Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is the most common pathogen in nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary diseases, endobronchial lesions caused by MAC infections are very rare even in an immunocompromised host. Herein, we describe the case of a 59-year-old, HIV-negative and non-immunocompromised woman who developed multifocal pulmonary infiltrations with endobronchial lesion caused by M. avium. Bronchoscopic examination revealed white- and yellow-colored irregular mucosal lesions in the bronchus of the left lingular division. M. avium was identified using sputum culture and bronchial washing fluid culture. Following the recommendations of the American Thoracic Society and Infectious Diseases Society of America (ATS/IDSA), the patient was begun on treatment with antimycobacterial drugs. After treatment, pneumonic infiltration decreased.
Americas ; Bronchi ; Communicable Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lung Diseases ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium avium ; Mycobacterium avium Complex ; Sputum

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) is a useful measure to evaluate the tinnitus and to quantify the functional and psychosocial consequences of tinnitus. However, it can be difficult for patients to understand the items of questionnaire and may take 10 to 15 minutes for them to complete the questionnaire, which can be problematic. The objective of this study is to develop a simplified version of the Korean type Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THIS). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective clinical study was conducted to analyze the THI-S cutoff score used for referral purpose and the level of predictability between the THI and the THIS. 100 patients participated. The subject samples were drawn from outpatients who reported tinnitus as their primary complaints at the time of the initial audiology and otolaryngology evaluations. The 10-item THI-S, selected by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, showed a high correlation with the scores of the THI. Based on their clinical experiences, the four otologists developed their own screening versions of THI, which were designated as THI-A, B, C and D. The Pearson product-moment correlation was used to assess the comparability of the scores between the THI and the THI-S, A, B, C and D. RESULTS: The results showed that there is a higher correlation between the THIS and the THI-S. A high comparability was shown in the comparison between the THI and the THI-S. CONCLUSION: Further studies will be needed if the THI-S can be applied for clinical use.
Audiology ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Otolaryngology ; Outpatients ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Tinnitus

No abstract available.
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections/*complications/diagnosis ; Herpesvirus 4, Human/pathogenicity ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Follicular/complications ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders/*complications/diagnosis/virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *T-Lymphocytes/pathology/virology

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the effectiveness of immunochemotherapy and radiation therapy in the treatment of patients with primary bone lymphoma (PBL). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 33 patients with PBL who were treated at 6 medical centers in Korea from 1992 to 2010. Clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of the patients participating in our study was 40 years. The most common sites of involvement were the pelvis (12.36%) and femur (11.33%). CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) or CHOP-like regimens were administered to 20 patients (61%), and R-CHOP (rituximab plus CHOP) was administered to the remaining 13 patients (39%). The overall response rate was 89% (complete response, 76%; partial response, 12%). The overall survival (OS) of patients with solitary bone lesions was longer than that of patients with multiple bone lesions (median OS: not reached vs. 166 months, respectively; P=0.089). Addition of rituximab to CHOP did not significantly affect either OS or progression-free survival (P=0.53 and P=0.23, respectively). Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy also did not improve the OS or progression-free survival of patients with solitary bone lesions. CONCLUSION: Conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy remains an effective treatment option for patients with PBL. Additional benefits of supplementing chemotherapy with either rituximab or radiation therapy were not observed in this study. Further investigation is needed to characterize the role of immunochemotherapy in treating patients with PBL.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Disease-Free Survival ; Doxorubicin ; Femur ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphoma ; Medical Records ; Pelvis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vincristine ; Rituximab

This study surveyed the prevalence of traumatic reticular diseases (TRD) of slaughter cattle in Korea, the typology of the causative foreign bodies and the effects on beef quality and carcass weight. The overall prevalence of TRD in 3,121 slaughter cattle was 5.5%. However, the prevalence was significantly higher in Korea indigenous cattle Hanwoo (5.8%, p < 0.05) and female cattle (20.75%, p < 0.001). The prevalence significantly increased in aged cattle (p < 0.001). Major lesions related to foreign bodies were reticulitis (96%) and peritonitis (86%). Most causative foreign bodies were made of iron including nails, wires, steel rods, screw nails, and syringe needles. Cattle affected with TRD produced significantly lower grade quality of beef compared to normal cattle (p < 0.0001), but TRD did not affect carcass weight. The data will be useful in the management of TRD, with the aim of increasing beef productivity in Korea.
Aged ; Animals ; Cattle ; Efficiency ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Iron ; Korea ; Nails ; Needles ; Peritonitis ; Prevalence ; Steel ; Syringes

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MS) has been reported as a potential risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aims of this study were to assess whether there was a relationship between MS score and CAD angiographic severity, and to assess the predictive value of individual components of MS for CAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 632 patients who underwent coronary angiography for suspected CAD (394 men, 61.0 +/- 10.6 years of age). MS was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria with the waist criterion modified into a body mass index (BMI) of more than 25 kg/m2. The MS score defined as the number of MS components. CAD was defined as > 50% luminal diameter stenosis of at least one major epicardial coronary artery. CAD angiographic severity was evaluated with a Gensini scoring system. RESULTS: Of the patients, 497 (78.6%) had CAD and 283 (44.8%) were diagnosed with MS. The MS score was significantly related to the Gensini score. High fasting blood glucose (FBG) was the only predictive factor for CAD. A cluster including high FBG, high blood pressure (BP), and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) showed the highest CAD risk. CONCLUSION: The MS score correlates with the angiographic severity of CAD. The predictive ability of MS for CAD was carried almost completely by high FBG, and individual traits with high BP and low HDL-C may act synergistically as risk factors for CAD.
Aged ; *Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/*complications/etiology/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*complications/radiography ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index