GATA1 Expression in BCR/ABL1-negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Background: This study aimed to determine GATA1 expression levels to better characterize subgroups in BCR/ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

Methods: This study enrolled 49 patients diagnosed as having BCR/ABL1-negative MPN on the basis of the 2016 World Health Organization classification : nine polycythemia vera (PV), 17 essential thrombocythemia (ET), 12 prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis (prePMF), and 11 overt primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Relevant clinical and laboratory data were retrieved from the medical records.

Evaluation of the 1B Equation to Estimate Glomerular Filtration Rate in Pediatric Patients with Cancer.

The 1B equation is recommended for calculating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children. Since few reports have evaluated the performance of the 1B equation, we investigated the performance of estimated GFR (eGFR) equations with the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) variable for pediatric cancer patients. In total, 203 children with cancer who underwent measured GFR (mGFR) assessment were enrolled.

Accuracy Assessment of Five Equations Used for Estimating the Glomerular Filtration Rate in Korean Adults.

Background: We aimed to assess the performance of the five creatinine-based equations commonly used for estimates of the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), namely, the creatinine-based Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPIcr), Asian CKD-EPI, revised Lund-Malmö (revised LM), full age spectrum (FAS), and Korean FAS equations, in the Korean population.

Methods: A total of 1,312 patients, aged 20 yr and above who underwent ⁵¹Cr-EDTA GFR measurements (mGFR), were enrolled. The bias (eGFR-mGFR) and precision (root mean square error [RMSE]) were calculated.

Efficient reporting of the estimated glomerular filtration rate without height in pediatric patients with cancer.

Background: The updated bedside Schwartz equation requires constant, serum creatinine concentration and height measurements to calculate the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in pediatric patients. Unlike the serum creatinine levels, obtaining height information from the laboratory information system (LIS) is not always possible in a clinical laboratory. Recently, the height-independent eGFR equation, the full age spectrum (FAS) equation, has been introduced.

A new strategy for calculating the risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA).

Background: Reliable quantitative measurements of HE4 and CA125 levels are required to calculate the risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA) value. We suggest a new reporting strategy for interpreting ROMA values based on analytical measurement range (AMR) and qualified-intervals of the HE4 and CA125 results.

Methods: HE4 and CA125 assays from Abbott and Roche were used.

Large-scale performance evaluation of Accu-Chek inform II point-of-care glucose meters.

Background: The aim of this study was to report the experience of large-scale performance evaluation of 238 Accu-Chek Inform II point-of-care (POC) glucose meters in a single medical setting.

Methods: The repeatability of 238 POC devices, the within-site imprecision of 12 devices, and the linearity of 49 devices were evaluated using glucose control solutions. The glucose results of 24 POC devices and central laboratory were compared using patient samples.

Diagnostic Utility of Serum Glycated Albumin for Diabetes Mellitus and Its Correlation With Hyperlipidemia.

Background: Glycated albumin (GA) is a better marker of short-term glycemic control than glycated hemoglobin (A1c). Dyslipidemia is the main cause of cardiovascular complications in diabetes mellitus (DM). Studies on the correlation of GA with lipid indices are sparse.

Clinical usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage cellular analysis and lymphocyte subsets in diffuse interstitial lung diseases.

Background: Diffuse interstitial lung diseases (DILDs) form a part of a heterogeneous group of respiratory diseases. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis has been used for differential diagnosis of DILDs, but their clinical usefulness is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of BAL cellular analysis with lymphocyte subsets for the differential diagnosis of DILDs.

Assessment of therapeutic drug monitoring of vancomycin in elderly patients according to new guidelines.

Background: Concerns regarding increasing microbial resistance to vancomycin have resulted in recommendations for a higher trough serum vancomycin concentration. This study aimed to assess the dosage guidelines targeting vancomycin trough concentrations of 15-20 mg/L.

Methods: About 216 adult patients (age, >60 yr) were treated with intravenous vancomycin.

A case of IgM deficiency with B cell deficiency detected by ABO discrepancy in a patient with acute osteomyelitis.

ABO discrepancy refers to an inconsistency between red cell and serum typings and has various causes, including hypogammaglobulinemia. IgM deficiency is a rare disorder that may accompany several conditions such as infection and autoimmune disorders. Here, we describe a case of IgM deficiency discovered during the evaluation of an ABO discrepancy in a 16-yr-old Korean boy.

[Comparison of HbA1c analyzers: D-10, Variant II Turbo, Cobas Integra 800, and Afinion AS100].

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance and agreement among HbA(1c) values measured using selected analyzers certified by the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) and standardized by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC).

Methods: HbA(1c) determined using D-10 (Bio-Rad, USA), Variant II Turbo (Turbo; Bio-Rad, USA), Cobas Integra 800 (Integra; Roche, Switzerland) and Afinion AS100 (Afinion; Axis-Shield, Norway) were compared with each other. Precision and method comparisons with Deming regression were evaluated according to CLSI recommendations.

Immunophenotypic features of granulocytes, monocytes, and blasts in myelodysplastic syndromes.

Background: Despite the diagnostic utility of immunophenotyping for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), it has not been widely performed, and reports on this are absent in Korea. We aimed to evaluate the immunophenotypic features of non-blastic granulocytes, monocytes, and blasts in patients with MDS and non-clonal disorders using routine flow cytometry (FCM). Moreover, we evaluated the phenotypic abnormalities of mature cells in leukemic patients.

Hemoglobin Yamagata: hemoglobin variant detected by HbA1c test.

Hemoglobin (Hb) Yamagata is a rare Hb variant, which has been reported only twice-one case each in Japan and Korea. This variant arises from a Lys --> Asn substitution due to a mutation of AAA to AAC or AAT at codon 133 of the beta-globin gene. This study reports the third case of a patient detected with Hb Yamagata [HBB: c.

[Clinical significance of minor elevation of cardiac troponin I].

Background: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is known as a sensitive and specific marker for myocardial ischemia. The purposes of this study are to establish cut-off values of cTnI for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to analyze clinical significance of minor elevation of cTnI.

Methods: Two hundred and four patients from whom cTnI was measured at Ewha Womans University Dongdaemun hospital from January to March, 2006 were enrolled in the study.

[A case of type 2N von Willebrand disease with homozygous R816W mutation of the VWF gene in a Nepalese woman].

Type 2N von Willebrand disease (vWD) can be confused with hemophilia A due to decreased factor VIII levels and a bleeding tendency, and differential diagnosis is of importance for providing the optimal treatment and genetic counseling. For the accurate diagnosis of type 2N vWD, von Willebrand Factor (vWF) function tests, multimer assay and gene mutation analysis are needed. The patient was a 38-yr-old Nepalese woman with a history of bleeding manifestations from childhood, such as hemarthrosis, intramuscular hematoma, and menorrhagia.

Prevalence of fat embolism after total knee arthroplasty performed with or without computer navigation.

Background: Total knee arthroplasty performed with computer-assisted navigation without breaching of the femoral medullary canal may decrease the prevalence of fat and/or bone-marrow-cell embolization. We performed this study to determine whether the use of navigation for primary total knee arthroplasty resulted in a different prevalence of fat and/or bone-marrow-cell embolization.

Methods: We enrolled 160 patients (210 knees) who were scheduled to undergo primary total knee arthroplasty with navigation and 160 patients (210 knees) who were scheduled to undergo primary total knee arthroplasty without navigation.

The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene mutation is associated with hyperhomocysteinemia, cardiovascular disease and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels in Korea.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and is associated with a common mutation in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene (677 C>T). The aims of this study were to confirm: 1) the association between the MTHFR C677T mutation and plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels; 2) the MTHFR C677T mutation as a risk factor; 3) the association of the MTHFR C677T mutation and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels; and 4) the correlation between Hcy and BNP levels in cardiovascular diseases.

Methods: A total of 227 patients for whom BNP was measured were enrolled in this study.

hTERT mRNA levels by real-time RT-PCR in acute myelogenous leukemia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether levels of hTERT mRNA, as determined by real-time RT-PCR, are associated with prognosis and clinical course in AML patients. Fifty-four bone marrow specimens from 21 patients diagnosed with de-novo AML were included. The level of hTERT mRNA was measured with the Telo TAGGG hTERT Quantification Kit (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany), using a LightCycler Instrument (Roche Diagnostics).

Dissemination of macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates containing both erm(B) and mef(A) in South Korea.

Macrolide resistance was detected in 64 of 77 (83.1%) Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from South Korea. Seven (10.