Immunological mechanism of Aging: T & B cell changes

No abstract available.

Mechanism of aging and prevention

Aging is a senescence and defined as a normal physiologic and structural alterations in almost all organ systems with age. As Leonard Hayflick, one of the first gerontologist s to propose a theory of biologic aging, indicated that a theory of aging or longevity satisfies the changes of above conditions to be universal, progressive, intrinsic and deleterious. Although a number of theories have been proposed, it is now clear that cell aging (cell senescence) is multifactorial . No single mechanism can account for the many varied manifestations of biological aging. Many theories have been proposed in attempt to understand and explain the process of aging. Aging is effected in individual by genetic factors, diet, social conditions, and the occurrence of age-related diseases as diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis. It involves an endogenous molecular program of cellular senescence as well as continuous exposure throughout life to adverse exogenous influences, leading to progressive infringement on the cell's survivability so called wear and tear. So we could say the basic mechanism of aging depends on the irreversible and universal processes at cellular and molecular level. The immediate cause of these changes is probably an interference in the function of cell's macromolecules-DNA, RNA, and cell proteins-and in the flow of information between these macromolecules. The crucial questions, unanswered at present, concerns what causes these changes in truth. Common theories of aging are able to classify as followings for the easy comprehension. 1. Biological, 1) molecular theories-a. error theory, b . programmed aging theory, c. somatic mutation theory, d. transcription theory, e. run-out-of program theory, 2) cellular theories-a. wear and tear theory, b . cross-link theory, c. clinker theory, d. free radical theory, e. waste product theory, 3) system level theory-a. immunologic/autoimmune theory, 4) others-a. telomere theory, b . rate of living theory, c. stress theory, etc. Prevention of aging is theoretically depending on the cause or theory of aging. However no single theory is available and no definite method of delaying the aging process is possible by this moment . The most popular action is anti-oxidant therapy using vitamin E and C, melatonin and DHEA, etc. Another proposal for the reverse of life-span is TCP-17 and IL-16 administration from the mouse bone marrow B cell line study for the immunoglobulin VDJ rearrangement with RAG-1 and RAG-2. Recently conclusional suggestion for the extending of maximum life-span thought to be the calory restriction.

General View of Aging Mechanism with the Immunologic Approach / 대한임상병리학회지

No abstract available.

T and B Cell Changes with Aging / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Lymphocyte subset analysis in peripheral blood is widely performed to assess the immune status and to diagnose and monitor various diseases. Some lymphocyte subsets are known to change with age, but only a little data about age-related changes for these subsets in healthy individuals have been reported. So we attempted to review changes for these subsets with age. METHODS: Lymphocyte subset analysis was performed on 302 subjects, 189 males and 113 females with age group in all decades of life. Two color direct immunofluorescence flow cytometry (FCM) was done using a SimultestTM IMK-Lymphocyte kit (Becton Dickinson, USA), FACScanTM (Becton Dickinson, USA) and FACSCaliburTM (Becton Dickinson, USA). Lymphocyte subsets analysed were T (CD3+) and B cells (CD19+), helper/inducer T (CD4+) and suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (CD8+), and helper/suppressor (CD4+/CD8+) ratio and natural killer (NK) cells (CD3-CD16+/CD56+). The absolute numbers of each subset were calculated from the total lymphocyte counts. The data collected was analysed using SAS 6.12. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between male and female subjects. The percentage of CD4+ T cells, and the count of NK cells did not show any significant differences among the various age groups. The age-related changes observed in our study were as follows: 1) A decrease in the percentage of B cells; 2) A decrease in the counts of lymphocytes, T cells, B cells, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells; 3) An increase in the percentage of NK cells; and 4) An increase in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. CONCLUSIONS: A characteristic of the aging process shows a marked decrease in T and B cells. The age-related increase in the percentage of cells bearing NK markers can be interpreted as a compensatory consequence to cope with the deterioration of the immune system with age.

Determination of Propofol in Blood by HPLC Method / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is one of the intravenous anesthetic drugs used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia as well as for sedation in ICU patients and one-day surgery. The monitoring of propofol in blood helps to maintain anesthetic state and promote earlier recovery. So we attempted to find the rapid and simple method for blood propofol determination. METHODS: We compared the precipitation method with extraction one using whole blood, plasma and deionized water added a fixed amount of propofol. According to the extraction method, propofol was extracted from 500 microliter sample adding KH2PO4, ethyl acetate, and tetra-ethylammonium hydroxide using thymol as an internal standard. For the precipitation method, the precipitating solution (500 microliter) containing thymol was added to a 500 microliter sample, then mixed. After centrifugation, the supernatant was injected into HPLC system. A Waters 2690 separations module, Waters 474 fluorescence and 486 UV detector and a Symmetry column were used. We used Millennium software to control analyzing process and quantify propofol. RESULTS: The precipitation method using thymol as an internal standard and Waters 474 fluorescence detector showed the most excellent results. For the calibration curves, we found very good linearity in whole blood, plasma and deionized water (r> or =9976). Intra-assay and inter-assay coefficient of variation (CV) values of propofol for the precipitation method were 4.4% and 8.9% at 2 microgram/mL of propofol and 2.0% and 6.2% at 8 microgram/mL, respectively. The recovery rates of propofol for plasma and whole blood were 104.1% and 92.7% at 2 microgram/mL and 99.4% and 91.6% at 7 microgram/mL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For the measurement of the blood propofol level, the precipitation method using thymol as an internal standard and fluorescence detector seemed to be the rapid and simple method to apply for the clinical purpose.

Clinical Usefulness of An Immunochromatographic Assay Based on 38 kDa Antigen for The Diagnosis of Active Tuberculosis / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: To detect active tuberculosis, clinicians usually rely on several methods those are so limited. As the prevalence rate of tuberculosis is high in Korea, culture is not so very effective in clinical use. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) featuring rapidness and high sensitivity offers low specificity and it requires high test cost, complicated skills, expensive equipment. This study attempted to determine if the immunochromatographic assay, intended to measure antibodies using 38 kDa antigens, is valuable as a new method to diagnose active tuberculosis, by comparing it with existing acid-fast stain (AFB stain) and PCR. METHODS: The sera were collected from 31 BCG-vaccinated healthy persons and 55 patients subjected to AFB stain and PCR who visited Pohang Hospital of Dongguk University or Kyungpook National University Hospital, and then kept at -20degrees C until experiment. Fifty-five patients subjected to AFB stain and PCR were composed of 24 active tuberculosis patients and 31 non-TB patients. The evaluation of active tuberculosis was based on clinical criteria. RESULTS: The detection rate of antibody by the immunochromatographic method accounted for 83% in the active TB group, and each 6% in both the non-TB group and the healthy control group. The sensitivities of AFB stain, PCR and immunochromatographic method accounted for 67%, 88% and 83%, respectively, the specificities for 94%, 86% and 94%, respectively, the positive predictive values for 89%, 84% and 91%, respectively, and the negative predictive values for 78%, 89% and 88%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that the immunochromatographic method can be used for the rapid diagnostic method of active tuberculosis in an area with high prevalence value of tuberculosis like Korea. In addition, the immunochromatographic method showed the sensitivity approximate to that of PCR, the same specificity as AFB stain, and a high positive and negative predictive values. So it was expected not only to be greatly helpful for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis but also to be more useful in clinical practices because of short examination time, no special equipment and skills required, and inexpensive examination.

Possibility in Unification of Oriental and Western Medicine Education by Combination of Educational Curricula / 의사학

The authors attempted a pdssibility of unifcation in the educational curricula of both Oriental and Western medical schools for the unification of two medicines . Historically the two medicines were originated from the most primitive state like intinctive method and we can say two medicines were entirely same. However after abrupt and current development of science in 19 century by discovery of microscope and bacteria as well as cells changed medicine into recent unbelievable current medicine from old ancient style medicine like Chinese Medicine which was just the remnant old medicine. The unification of educational curricular is thought to be possible to combine each other by technical adjustment from mutual understanding and cooperations for the most high quality of people's lives. There were good equality to partial corrrespondances between two educational curricular around 90 % at two pre- and schools from the study to analyse. The combined medicine is thought to be more efficient to the diagnosis and treatment of patients because of the effectiveness of Oriental medicine in a certain disease conditions like chronic illness by acupuncture as a alternative medicine or herbs.

An overview on reality of Dong-In Uywon(Hospital) and effects on culture of medicine / 의사학

From a review on the reality of Dong-In Hospital which was a hospital founded by Dong-Aa Dong-In-Hywe Foundation which was a corporation of governmental patron around Ulsa(1905) protective treaty between Japan and Korea, and this hospital seemed to be dissoluted just before the annexation signing of Korea to Japan. The building with site of Dong-In Hospital in Taegu was sold to Kyung-Sang Pook-Do province and Jaa-Hye Hospital was constructed instead as a virtual conscience. So it is impossible to say this Jaa-Hye Hospital as the predecessor of Dong-In Hospital although Jaa-Hye Hospital which was belonging to Kyung-Sang Pook-Do province as Kyung-Sang Pook-Do Hospital had changed the name several times until being Taegu Medical School Hospital by using as Taegu Medical Institute College Hospital which was absorbed to U.S. military government after the restoration of independence from Japan. Since 1953 Kyungpook National University absorbed Taegu Medical School, it is possible to use Taegu Medical School Hospital as the predecessor of Kyungpook National University Hospital whereas it is impossible to use Jaa-Hye Hospital as the predecessor with nationality on the basis of the health and medical administrative system.

Unification of Oriental and Western medicine with study on Oriental and Western medicine / 의사학

In Korea the system of medical management has been bifurcated into two parts since the restoration of nation from Japanese after World War II. One is 'Western Medicine' and the other is 'Oriental Medicine' like Chinese but not like Japanese. The authors attempted to study on the unification of both medicines to prevent the confusion of medicare for people. The major part of medical care is accomplished by Western medicine among people in Korea and China. However, Oriental medicine is still present as well as college of Oriental medicine in small number. There have been long struggles between two parts of medicine because of each assertions for the theories. The ancient medicine has been likely to have its characteristics either in Western or Oriental medicine although in many countries were succeeded by Western medicine except a few Asian countries such as Korea and China. In Japan since the license of Oriental(herb) medicine was ceased about one hundred years ago, the Western medicine has been authorized by law until today and the herb is the secondary medicine as a kind of folk treatment as well as continuous and enormous study for scientification. In only China and Korea this herb medicine has been kept to use as a part of medicine by law though China has developed combined medicine to use both Western and Oriental medicine by one physician since previous prime minister Chou En-Lai around the year 1950 who made a recommendation to the two medical societies, Western and Oriental. This fact has a big sense to establish the unification of two medicines in near future in Korea as well as China. For this accomplishment of medical unification both parts of medicine require sincere and enormous efforts to study the theory and practice of herb medicine even from now on. This unification of two medicines will provide the best medicare in most convenient way to the people in the world creating new world medicine like the third medicine including alternative medicine. The acupuncture is changing to a new method in Western medicine especially applying into anesthesia and pain clinic in even USA and Western countries at this time. In conclusion the unification of the Western and Oriental medicine will provide the most reasonable and practical medicare including alternative medicine to people in the world. Because the Oriental medicine will be used at least separately to supplement the Western medicine by one physician

Amino Acid Derangements in Plasma and Erythrocytes of Patients with Sepsis / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a major insult leading to increased muscle breakdown and oxidation of amino acids. Disturbed plasma and brain amino acid levels may be important in the altered mental status observed in patients with infections and alteration in mental status due to sepsis has been associated with an increased mortality rate. Erythrocytes have been suggested as transport cells for amino acids and may be better than plasma for utilization and storage of amino acids in the body. Several reports suggested that amino acid alterations in plasma and erythrocytes have had an important role in sepsis. So we investigated the association between severity and prognosis of sepsis and amino acid levels in plasma and erythrocytes. METHODS: Heparinized plasma and erythrocytes were taken from 25 healthy controls, 10 infected patients and 15 septic patients. The amino acid levels were determined using high performance liquid chromatography after deproteinization with sulfosalicylic acid. RESULTS: Plasma amino acid pattern showed elevated levels of the aromatic amino acids (tyrosine and phenylalanine) and sulfur-containing amino acid (cystine) but decreased level of branched chain amino acid (isoleucine) in septic patients compared with healthy controls or infected patients. Patients with septic encephalopathy had higher levels of tyrosine, phenylalanine and sulfur-containing amino acid (methionine) than patients without septic encephalopathy. The ratios of erythrocytes to plasma showed no significant decrease in septic patients compared with healthy controls or infected patients. However, in patients with septic encephalopathy, methionine, leucine and phenylalanine levels were lower than in patients without septic encephalopathy. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed a characteristic pattern of amino acid derangements in plasma and erythrocytes of septic patients. This pattern was more prominent in severe sepsis. It was suggested that the severity and prognosis of septic patients could be predicted by measuring the amino acid levels of plasma and erythrocytes.

Hepatitis G Virus Infection Rate in Blood Donors, Hemodialysis Patients and Hepatitis C Infected Patients / 대한임상병리학회지

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.

Expression Patterns of Immunologic Surface Markers in Acute Leukemia / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: Immunophenotyping is an important technique for the diagnosis and classification of acute leukemia, as well as French-American-British (FAB) classification on the basis of morphologic characteristics and cytochemistry. We evaluated the expression patterns of immunologic surface markers in acute leukemia. METHODS: Peripheral or bone marrow leukemic cells from 75 leukemic patients (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ALL 40 cases; children (26 cases), adults (14 cases) and acute myeloid leukemia, AML 35 cases; children (9 cases), adults (26 cases)) were studied. Monoclonal antibodies which were designed for two color direct immunofluorescence (IF) analysis with combination of fluoresceinisothiocynate (FITC) and phycoerythrin (PE) conjugated, CD10/CD19, CD20/CD5, CD3/CD22, CD7/CD33, HLA-DR/CD13 (Acute Leukemia Phenotyping Kit, Becton Dickinson; BD, USA) were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Blasts from these patients could be classified as CALLA (+)B-ALL (26 cases, 65.0%), CALLA (-)B-ALL (6 cases, 15.0%), T-ALL (6 cases, 15.0%), biphenotypic ALL (2 cases, 5.0%). The positive expression rates were CD19 (100%), CD10 (78.1%), CD22 (75.0%) and CD20 (50.0%) in B-ALL, CD7 (100%), CD3 (50.0%) and CD5 (50.0%) in T-ALL and CD33 (85.7%), CD13 (74.3%) in AML, respectively. The incidence of acute mixed lineage leukemia (AMLL) was 26.7% and leukocytosis, anemia and thrombocytopenia were frequently seen in AMLL. CONCLUSION: By the study of immunophenotyping we could more exactly diagnosed ALL and AML, as well as AMLL which was not exactly diagnosed by characteristics of morphology and cytochemistry only. Therefore the best method for the diagnosis of acute leukemia will be achieved by using of immunophenotyping and FAB classification on the basis of morphology and cytochemistry.

Comparison Study of Reticulocyte Enumeration by H*3 RTX(TM), FACScan(TM), and Manual Counting / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Reticulocyte counts provide clinically useful informations and the most widely used method for counting reticulocytes is a manual microscopic procedure. Although manual method is inexpensive and relatively simple to perform, it is labor intensive and imprecise. So, more rapid and more reproducible methods are needed. METHODS: Reticulocyte counts on 96 blood samples were performed by conventional manual method, H*3 RTX(TM)(Bayer, U.S.A.), and FACScan(TM)(Beckon Dickinson, U.S.A.). The changes of reticulocyte count after storage of samples and certain time intervals after preparation were also examined. RESULTS: Reticulocyte counts(%) by manual method, H*3 RTX(TM), and FACScanM were 2.05+/-2.16, 1.95+/-2.24 and 2.51+/-1.94, respectively. There was no statistically significant differences between manual counting and H*3 RTX(TM)(P>0.05). However, there were significant differences between H*3 RTX(TM) and FACScan(TM), manual counting and FACScan(TM)(P<0.05). Correlation coefficients of three comparisons were all above 0.920. Statistically not confirmed the reticulocytosis sample showed decreasing tendency of reticuocyte count by H*3 RTX(TM) after storage of the sample and prepared sample and others were relatively stable in H*3 RTX(TM)and FACScan(TM). CONCLUSIONS: The result of the mean difference between H*3 RTX(TM) and manual counting is statistically insignificant. So, the H*3 RTX(TM)can be used interchangeably with manual counting atter consideration of cost-effectiveness.

CYFRA 21-1, The New Marker for Lung Cancer / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Cytokeratins were subdivided into 20 different cytokeratins. It is known that cytokeratin 19 is particularly abundant in carcinoma of the lung. METHOD: A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay called CYFRA 21-1, combining two monoclonal antibodies directed specifically aganist cytokeratin 19 was done by ES-300(Boehringer Mannheim, Germany). We investigated the diagnostic value of the new tumor marker CYFRA 21-1 in lung cancer in comparison to carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) and neuron specific enolase(NSE) in the pilot study on 39 serum samples from lung cancer (17 squamous cell cancer, 11 adenocarcinoma, 11 small cell carcinoma) and 51 benign lung diseases and 41 normal healthy persons. RESULTS: Postulating a specificity 95% versus benign lung disease and healthy group, the diagnostic sensitivity of CYFRA 21-1 in lung cnacer independent of histologic type was 43.6% whereas CEA was 48.7% and NSE was 30.8%. The diagnostic sensitivity is increased to 69.2% by combining CYFRA 21-1 with CEA. Classifying the lung carcinomas following their histologic type, squamous cell carcinomas proved to possess the highest CYFRA 21-1 sensitivity(CYFRA 21-1 47.1%, CEA 23.5%, NSE 11.8%) and the combination with CEA 52.9% could not markedly increase the number of true-positive test results. In adenocarcinoma, CEA possessed the highest sensitivity (81.8%) whereas CYFRA 21-1 was 45.5% and NSE was 9.1%. In small cell carcinoma of lung, NSE possessed the highest sensitivity(81.8%) whereas CYFRA 21-1 was 36.4% and CEA was 54.5%. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that CYFRA 21-1 has a potential as a new marker for squamous cell lung cancer. If histologic type is unknown at the time of primary diagnosis. the combined determination of CYFRA 21-1 and CEA showed the best discrimination between benign and malignant lung disease.

Evaluation of Platelet Concentrates Stored for Five Days in Domestic Second Generation Platelet Storage Containers / 대한임상병리학회지

No abstract available.

Cloning of Novel Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme Gene(UBC-dp) / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: A major pathway for protein degradation in eukaryocytes is ubiquitin-dependent. A novel species of plant and mammalian E2 homologous to yeast UBC4/UBC5 is involved in polyubiquitination and degradation of off and many other proteins as well. METHODS: By sequencing the Expressed Sequence Taqs(ESTs) of human dermal papilla cDNA library, we isolated a clone, named K183 which showed high homology to the yeast UBC4/UBC5. We designated this gene as UBC-dp. RESULTS: K183 clone is 1,222 nucleotides long, and has a coding region of 622 nucleotides and a 3' noncoding region of 538 nucleotides. The presumed open reading frame starting at the 5' terminus of UBC-dp encodes 207 amino acids. The amino acid sequence deduced from the open reading frame of UBC-dp shares 81%, 80% and 80% identities with that of HSUBCH5. yeast UBC4 and yeast UBC5, respectively. The transcripts were ubiquitously expressed in a variety of human tissues. The levels of transcript were relatively high in those tissues such as skeletal muscle, heart, testis and ovary. CONCLUSIONS: Homology search result suggests that K183 clone is human homolog of the UBC4 and UBC5 which are involved in p53 degradation so its function related with p53 should be studied.

Genotype Frequencies of Platelet Glycoprotein IIIa-Specific Antigens and Granulocyte Antigens In Korean Pregnant Women* / 대한수혈학회지

BACKROUND: Polymorphism of glycoprotein IIIa on human platelets is one of the factors in alloimmunization that causes neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NATP), and the granulocyte antigens NA1 and NA2 are often targets of granulocytes antibodies causing neonatal alloimmune neutropenia (NANP). Currently, serotyping relies on the properties of the typing sera or antibodies and technique used. Genotyping circumvents the problems associated with serotyping. METHODS: The genomic DNA of 200 unrelated pregnant women admitted to Taegu Fatima Hospital was typed for three platelet glycoprotein IIIa-specific antigens (HPA-1, HPA-4, and HPA-6w) and granulocyte antigens (NA1 and NA2). Allele specific amplification test using primer designed to study HPA-1 and HPA-4, restriction fragment length polymorphism to study HPA-6w, and sequence specific primers for NA1 and NA2 were used for genotyping. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies were HPA-1(a+b-) 100%, HPA-4 (a+b-) 97.5%, HPA-4(a+b+) 2.5%, HPA-6w(a+b-) 97%, and HPA-6w(a+b+) 3%. These frequencies are similar to Japanese but different from Caucasian. The gene frequencies of NA1 and NA2 were 0.56 and 0.44 respectively. There are no cases of alloimmune thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in newborns from the 200 studied women. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in genotype frequencies among platelet glycoprotein IIIa-specific antigens and in the gene frequencies of NA in Koreans are shown as compared with other ethnic groups. Therefore it is needed to find the proper screening target antigens and antibodies for Korean NATP and NANP patients.

Characterization of Heparin:PF4 Isoantibody Interaction to Platelets in Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia/ Thrombosis / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia/ thrombosis (HITT) is recognized as the most frequent and fatal symptom complexes in patients receiving heparin therapy. The antibodies of HITT are not directly bound to heparin but bound to complexes of heparin and platelet factor 4 (PF4) derived from platelet alpha-granules. That is, HITT IgG antibody-heparin-PF4 immune complexes are bound to FcgammaRII receptor of platelets, which induced thrombocytopenia. Some researches showed the antibodies reactive to platelets could be IgM or IgA as well as IgG. So in this study, the authors tried to explain the molecular basis of heparin-PF4-isoantibody complexes . METHODS: In HITT patients who had received long-term heparin therapy, we determined HITT isoantibodies and titers using heparin:PF4 ELISA. When fifteen HITT patients with high titer antibodies (more than 1 : 100) were selected, reaction patterns of isoantibodies with the platelets were examined through serotonin release test and flow cytometry. RESULTS: All patients showed one or more isotype antibodies and the most frequent isotype was IgGl (nine patients) . In the presence of optimal concentra pion of heparin and PF4, ten patients had antibodies which activated platelets, and all of them were positive in serotonin release test. Reactive plasmas had IgGl, IgG3, IgA or IgM antibodies, and each of them except one had IgGl. These platelet activations could be blocked in vitro by anti-IV.3 antibody. Non-reactive plasmas were negative In serotonin release assay nor had TgGl. The plasmas 4hat had two or more isoantibodies showed a similar pattern of the IgG antibody by flow cytometry. CONCLUSIONS: The HITT antibodies can be all kinds of antibody isotopes, but IgA and IgM may not bind to the platelets directly. It seems to be possible only after reacting with heparin-PF4-IgG complexes.

History on the Lecture of History of Medicine at Kyungpook National University School of Medicine / 의사학

This paper refers to the History on the Lecture of History of Medicine at Kyungpook National University School of Medicine since 1961 when assistant professor KIM Jyung-Myung, MD of Department of Clinical Pathology started this lecture of history of medicine to the freshman class to improve the medical morality among professors, students and physicians after the nation-wide 4 19 revolution against dictatorial government. At that time an immoral faculty and several government patronized faculties were expulsed by students on the above revolution. On the lecture dictation was used for the first time and merged to prints(KIM Jay-Sik, MD and KIM Jyung-Myung, MD), followed by published textbook(1979, revised on 1986) of Professor KIM Jyung-Myung. However our department faculties haven't entered the Korean Society for the History of Medicine until this time because of short of manpower and lack of the independent department(Department of History of Medicine). We are going to set up the Department at our Medical School in 1998 and to study about the improvement of medical education through the lecture of the history of medicine on the comparison of the current oriental and western medicine, and the unification of Korean medical system(modern medicine and Chinese medicine).

Comparative Study of Anti-HCV by New HCV EIA, Immunoblotting and RT-PCR in Korean Blood Donors / 대한수혈학회지

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.