• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.495-503
• /
• 2019

This study explored the method of determining the appropriate size of the workforce according to the assessment of the workload of medical technologists (also called medical and clinical laboratory technologists, and medical and clinical laboratory scientists) in order to present a standard production model for the appropriate manpower in blood collection rooms. The eleven university hospitals selected for this study had between 600 and 2,000 beds. The 14-steps standard blood collection time was 4 minutes and 8 seconds for the outpatients aged between 20 to 60 years old (57%) except for children and the elderly (43%). Assuming that there were 8 hours per day for mechanically collecting blood, the maximum number of blood donations by one clinical laboratory scientist was analyzed to be 100 cases. In conclusion, it is appropriate to have fewer than 100 cases of daily blood collection by a medical technologist engaged in blood collection. Since the proper number of blood collection workers (100% of blood collection work)=the number of annual working days/(one day's work hours/time per case)×the number of working days per year, then the proper number of blood collection workers (one day's work hours)=the number of working days per year/100×the number of working days).

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.33-42
• /
• 2011

Zinc plays a key role in genetic expression, cell division, and cell growth and is essential for the functions of more than 450 metalloenzyme. There are high concentrations of zinc in pigment epithelium in bullfrog eye. Zinc deficiency causes night blindness and abnormal dark adaptation. The purpose of this study was to identify ERG (electroretinogram) b-wave sensitivity during light and dark adaptation in bullfrog retina after zinc and zinc chelators treatment such as histidine and TSQ (N-(6-methoxy-8-qunolyl)-p-toluenesulfon amide). Especially, we focused whether histidine act as a zinc chelator in the Muller cell. The results of our study are summarized as follows: 1) Both zinc and histidine elevated ERG b-wave amplitude and threshold in Muller cells by accelerating rhodopsin regeneration time and increased a-peak absorbance during light adaptation. 2) TSQ reduced those by prolonging rhodopsin regeneration time and decrement of a-peak absorbance during light adaptation. 3) Zinc shortened rhodopsin regeneration time and prolonged a-peak absorbance. These results suggested that histidine may act as a zinc-mediated transporter in presynaptic Muller cell membrane rather than zinc chelator and acts as a GABA-receptor inhibitor which blocks $Cl^-$ influx to the postsynapse.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.71-74
• /
• 2008

Chromosomal abnormalities of abortus have also been used to investigate the most common etiology of spontaneous abortion, but the frequency and the types of spontaneous abortions have also demonstrated considerable variation among in different countries and races. A cytogenetic analysis of 75 abortuses was performed at the GenDix, Inc. from January, 2006 to December, 2007. The frequency of chromosome abnormalities in abortus was 32.0% (24/75 cases). Among the chromosomal abnormalities, trisomy was 62.5% (15/24 cases) and the most frequent trisomy was trisomy 21 with 26.6% (4/15 cases). The average maternal age of normal and abnormal karyotypes was $34.1{\pm}3.3$ and $34.3{\pm}3.3$. Cytogenetic analysis of abortus is important for diagnosis and genetic counseling for parents with spontaneous abortion.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.81-85
• /
• 2012

This study was undertaken to evaluate phenotypic and genotypic methods for detection of Metallo-Beta-Lactamases (MBLs) among nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Of the 50 P. aeruginosa isolates from clinical specimens, 20 were evaluated for carbapenem resistance and screened for MBL by double-disk synergy test and combined-disk test. Nineteen strains (95%) were found to be MBL producers among the 20 P. aeruginosa. MBL positives were further confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). For the IMP and VIM types of MBLs, PCR analysis was performed on 19 of the 20, and 10 were positive for VIM MBL type. This study reports the validation of a simple and accurate MBL detection method that can be easily incorporated into the daily routine of a clinical laboratory. Early detection of MBL-carrying organisms, including those with susceptibility to carbapenems, is of paramount clinical importance, as it allows rapid initiation of strict infection control practices as well as therapeutic guidance for confirmed infection.Key Words : Hepatitis A virus (HAV), Anti-HAV, Hospital workers, Prevalence, Vaccination

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.6-10
• /
• 2009

Ring chromosome occurs when both telomeres of a chromosome are lost and the remaining portion of the chromosome circularizes to re-establish chromosome stability. This abnormal structure shows mitotic instability unlike the normal chromosomes, causing problems during mitosis. Here, we report one case of "chromosome 4 ring syndrome" on a 6-month-old male patient with growth retardation. Ring chromosome, monosomy, dicentric chromosome were shown by conventional chromosome analysis using peripheral blood. Peripheral blood was used and incubated for 72 hours for chromosome analysis. 3 probes (LSI WHS SpectrumOrange/CEP 4 SpectrumGreen, 4p subtelomere probe, 4q subtelomere probe) were used to detect the origin and breakpoint of ring chromosome 4 by FISH (fluorescense in situ hybridization) technique.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.10
• /
• pp.1343-1349
• /
• 2012

Most of the Helicobacter pylori strains containing the cag pathogenicity island (PAI) have been associated with more severe gastric disease in infected humans. The cag PAI is composed of 27 proteins, and some of the components are required for CagA translocation into host cells as well as induction of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8); however, the exact function of most of the components remains unknown or poorly characterized. In this study, we demonstrated that CagT (HP0532), which is an essential structural component of the cag PAI apparatus, plays an important role in the translocation of CagA into host epithelial cells. In addition to being located on the bacterial surface, CagT is also partially localized in the inner membrane, where it acts as a chaperone-like protein and promotes CagA translocation. However, CagT secretion was not detected by immunoprecipitation analysis of cell culture supernatants. Meanwhile, CagT was related to the introduction of IL-8 of the host cell. These results suggest that CagT is expressed on both the inner and outer bacterial membranes, where it serves as a unique type IV secretion system component that is involved in CagA secretion and cag PAI apparatus assembly.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.97-102
• /
• 2010

The two new female cases of Angelman syndrome (AS) were described, which diagnosed on the basis of clinical features (dysmorphic facial features, severe mental retardation with absent speech, peculiar jerky movements, ataxic gait and paroxysms of inappropriate laughter) and neurophysiological findings. Failure to detect the deletion of the long arm of chromosome 15 or the absence of epileptic seizure were not considered sufficient to exclude a diagnosis of AS. Feeding problems, developmental delay and early signs of ataxia, especially tremor on handling objects and unstable posture when seated, proved effective as the clinical markers for early diagnosis of AS. Most of the authors agreed about the existence of three main EEG patterns in AS which may appear in isolation or in various combinations in the same patient. The most frequently observed pattern in children has prolonged runs of high amplitude rhythmic 2-3 Hz activity predominantly over the frontal region with superimposed interictal epileptiform discharges. High amplitude rhythmic 4-6 Hz activity, prominent in the occipital regions, with spikes, which can be facilitated by eye closure, is often seen in children under the age of 12 years. The EEG findings are characteristic of AS when seen in the appropriate clinical context and can be helpful to identify AS patients at an early age when genetic counselling may be particularly important.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.208-211
• /
• 2006

Microalbuminuria is most frequently caused by kidney damage from diabetes. Moreover, many other conditions can lead to kidney damage, such as high blood pressure, heart failure, cirrhosis, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The measurement of the microalbumin in urine may be useful for the early diagnosis or as a predictor of nephropathy in diabetes. The most common method for getting a quantitative measurement of urinary protein relies on a 24-hour urine collection. The result of this method is accurate. But 24hr urine collection is difficult to obtain and variations in volume are frequent. Also the patients complain about urine collection. We tried to measure reference values for microalbumin using fasting urine and compare them with the albumin/creatinine ratio using 24hr urine. The concentrations of microalbumin in fasting urine and 24hr urine were $7.1{\pm}3.8mg/L$, $5.7{\pm}2.9mg/L$ (r=0.61, p=0.27), respectively. The albumin/creatinine ratios using fasting urine and 24hr urine were $8.7{\pm}4.2{\mu}g/mg$, $8.7{\pm}4.0{\mu}g/mg$ (r=0.76, p=0.88), respectively. This study indicated that the measurement of microalbumin in fasting urine was an easy and simple method for early diagnosis or to predict nephropathy in diabetes. Thus, setting up the reference value using fasting urine may be useful in the screening test for the diabetic nephropathy patients instead of using the 24hr albumin excretion rate (AER).

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.113-122
• /
• 2011

Several studies have reported a relation between serum levels of uric acid and a wide variety of cardiovascular conditions. But, the relationship between serum levels of uric acid and coronary artery disease (CAD) is still controversial. The present study was retrospectively designed to investigate whether CAD can be stratified by the level of uric acid and there are the relationships between preoperative levels of uric acid and perioperative biochemical markers in fifty-adult patients that underwent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) and twenty-normal subjects. They were divided into the control, the unstable angina (UA-group) and the myocardial infarction group (MI-group). In preoperative levels of uric acid, the MI-group was higher than control and the UA-group. The MI-group had significantly higher correlations than the UA-group between preoperative levels of uric acid and left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac markers (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and brain natriuretic peptide), renal markers (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) or total leukocyte levels. At postoperative periods, the MI-group had higher relationships of uric acid with aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen or creatinine levels. Although there was not statistically significant, the UA-group tended to have higher correlation coefficients than the MI-group between preoperative levels of uric acid and intensive care unit-stay (ICU), or postoperative mechanical ventilation time. These results reflect that increased levels of serum uric acid may be a tool for the diagnosis of coronary heart disease and may be considered as a good predictor in assessing the cardiac and renal functions in patients with myocardial infarction or unstable angina at the preoperative period. However, further studies should be performed in a large patient population.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.128-135
• /
• 2020

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body and causes skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). The present study examined the antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular epidemiological characteristics of MRSA isolated from nasal swabs in clinical patients. SCCmec type of MRSA isolates from clinical patients were analyzed: 24 cases were SCCmec type-II; two cases were type-II/IVa; one case was type-II/V; one case was type-IVa; 11 cases were not-typeable. The mec complex type of MRSA isolates from clinical patients were analyzed: 29 cases were mec complex type A, and 10 cases were not-typeable, but type B was not found in the present study. In conclusion, SCCmec type-II and mec complex type A were the most dominant MRSA subtypes among the MRSA isolates from a nasal swab of patients, and the results were similar to other studies on hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA). These results can not only provide basic data for hospital infection management but also be a good guideline for MRSA infections in the Republic of Korea.