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.

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.

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.

[Usefulness of NMP22 BladderChek for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer].

Background: As bladder cancer is a superficial tumor with frequent recurrences, early detection and confirmation of recurrence are important. We evaluated the usefulness of NMP22 BladderChek (NMP22BC) for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer.

Methods: From July to December 2004, we enrolled in the study 670 patients who visited the urology clinic in Ewha Womans University, Dongdaemun Hospital with hematuria or dysuria and were tested with NMP22BC.