Hye Ryun Lee

Increased numbers of total nucleated and CD34+ cells in blood group O cord blood: an analysis of neonatal innate factors in the Korean population

BACKGROUND: We analyzed neonatal factors that could affect hematopoietic variables of cord blood (CB) donated from Korean neonates.

Perspectives of potential donors on cord blood and cord blood cryopreservation: a survey of highly educated, pregnant Korean women receiving active prenatal care

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge of cord blood (CB) and attitudes toward CB banking among high‐potential donors (i.e., well‐educated pregnant Koreans) because their voluntary donation is indispensable to the success of unrelated CB transplantation.

Comparison of xTAG Respiratory Virus Panel and Verigene Respiratory Virus Plus for Detecting Influenza Virus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Nucleic acid amplification tests have allowed simultaneous detection of multiple respiratory viruses.

Novel Multiplex PCR Using Dual-Priming Oligonucleotides for Detection and Discrimination of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex and M. bovis BCG

ABSTRACT We developed a novel multiplex PCR assay using dual-priming oligonucleotide primers targeting the RD1 gene for simultaneous identification of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and M. bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). This assay would be useful both for detection of the M. tuberculosis complex and for differentiation of M. bovis BCG from pathogenic M. tuberculosis complex species.

Complete Blood Count Reference Values of Donated Cord Blood from Korean Neonates

BACKGROUND In the public cord blood (CB) banks, only safe CB units with adequate cell doses are processed and stored. Complete blood count (CBC) of CB is crucial for estimating total nucleated cells (TNC) and screening suitable CB units without hematologic abnormalities. We analyzed CBC parameters of the donated CB from healthy Korean neonates to establish CBC reference values. METHODS A total of 2,129 Korean CB units, donated and processed during the period from August 2007 to December 2007, were enrolled. We measured hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell (WBC) count, differential count of WBC, platelets and nucleated red blood cell (nRBC) count by XE-2100 automated hematology analyzer (Sysmex, Japan), and estimated reference value of each parameter by using parametric (Mean+/-2SD) and/or non-parametric methods (2.5-97.5 percentile). And also, we compared the result of each parameter in relation to sex of neonates and delivery method. RESULTS Because the differences of CBC values among different subgroups were not remarkable, we established the reference intervals as follows without subgroup division: Hb, 9.0-14.4 g/dL; WBC count, 5.6-18.5 x 10(3)/microL; differential count of WBC (neutrophils, 40.8-72.4%; lymphocytes, 17.2-46.7%; monocytes, 4.9-12.8%; eosinophils, 0.7-7.0%; basophils, 0.0-1.6%); platelet, 130-287 x 10(3)/microL; nRBCs, 0.0-13.1/100 WBC. CONCLUSIONS We established cord blood CBC reference values of healthy Korean neonates using a large-scale CB units. The established CBC reference values from our study will be useful as basic data for CBC interpretation and assessment of transplant suitability of donated CB.

Attached segment has higher CD34+ cells and CFU-GM than the main bag after thawing.

A contiguous segment attached to the cord blood unit (CBU) is required for verifying HLA types, cell viability, and, possibly, potency before transplantation since such a segment is considered to be representative of the CBU. However, little is known regarding the characteristics of contiguous segments in comparison to main bag units due to the difficulty experienced in accessing a large number of cryopreserved CBUs. In this study, we used 245 nonconforming CBUs for allogeneic transplantation. After thawing the cryopreserved CBU, the number of total nucleated cells (TNCs), CD34+ cells, and CFUs in CB from main bags and segments, as well as cell viability and apoptosis, were examined. The comparative analysis showed that the number of TNCs was significantly higher in CB from main bags, whereas the numbers of CD34+ cells and CFU-GM were significantly higher in CB from segments. While the cell viability of TNCs in segments was higher, the proportion of apoptotic TNCs was also higher. In contrast, no difference was observed between the proportion of apoptotic CD34+ cells in main bags and segments. In the correlation analysis, the numbers of TNCs, CD34+ cells, and CFU-GM in main bags were highly correlated with those in segments, indicating that CB from segments is indeed representative of CB in main bags. Taken together, we conclude that segments have higher CD34+ cells and CFU-GM and lower TNCs than the main cryopreserved bag, although the two compartments are highly correlated with each other.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase-bright cells correlated with the colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage assay of thawed cord blood units.

The number of aldehyde dehydrogenase–bright (ALDHbr) cells has been suggested as a viable marker of hematopoietic stem cell function. We evaluated the suitability of ALDHbr cell analysis in the quality assessment of postthaw cord blood (CB) units.

Proposal of standardized guidelines for the production and quality control of autologous serum eye drops in Korea: based on a nationwide survey

Autologous serum eye drops (ASEDs) have been used to treat many eye diseases. However, there are no standardized guidelines for the production and quality control (QC) of ASEDs in Korea. Our aim was to propose standardized guidelines for the production and QC of ASEDs.

Quality of cord blood cryopreserved for up to 5 years

Background Although cord blood (CB) is a well-known source of hematopoietic stem cells, uncertainties exist regarding the quality of cryopreserved CB. We investigated the changes in quality of CB units according to the duration of cryopreservation. Methods We analyzed CB units that were rejected from the Seoul Metropolitan Government Public Cord Blood Bank inventory after conventional processing, because of unsuitability for allogeneic transplantation. Two hundred CB units that were cryopreserved from 1 year to 5 years were selected. After thawing the cryopreserved CB units, the total nucleated cell (TNC) count, CD34+ cell count, number of colony-forming units (CFU), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) level, cell viability, and apoptosis were analyzed. We conducted a comparative analysis to identify the presence of statistically significant differences in the recovery rates of the TNC and CD34+ cell counts and to compare the results of ALDH level, the cell viability test, the apoptosis test, and CFU analysis among groups according to the duration of cryopreservation. Results The recovery rates of the TNC count, the CD34+ cell count, and cell viability did not differ significantly according to the duration of cryopreservation. ALDH analysis, the cell viability test, and the apoptosis test did not reveal any increasing or decreasing trend according to the duration of cryopreservation. Further, the numbers of CFU-granulocyte/macrophage and CFU-granulocyte/erythrocyte/macrophage/megakaryocyte did not differ significantly according to the duration of cryopreservation. Conclusion These results suggest that the quality of CB is not affected by cryopreservation for up to a period of 5 years.

Spurious Elevation of Glucose Concentration during Administration of High Dose of Ascorbic Acid in a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes on Hemodialysis

We describe herein a case of life-threatening hypoglycemia due to spurious elevation of glucose concentration during the administration of ascorbic acid in a type 2 diabetic patient. A 31-year-old female was admitted for proliferative diabetic retinopathy treatment and prescribed high dose ascorbic acid. During hospitalization, she suddenly lost her consciousness and her glucose concentration was 291 mg/dL, measured using self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) device, while venous blood glucose concentration was 12 mg/dL. After intravenous injection of 50% glucose solution, the patient became alert. We reasoned that glucose measurement by SMBG device was interfered by ascorbic acid. Physicians should be aware of this interference; high dose ascorbic acid may cause spurious elevation of glucose concentration when measuring with SMBG devices.