Immunogenicity study of low-dose administration of hepatitis B virus vaccine in newborn infants: A cost reduction trial

Different doses of hepatitis B virus vaccine—prepared by Korea Green Cross Corporation, were given to healthy infants born to HBsAg-negative mothers at birth, 1 and 6 months of age. A dose of 2 μg was administered intradermally in Group A and, in the three other groups, the vaccine was given intramuscularly (i.m.). An adequate follow-up observation was possible for 9 months after birth in 22, 25, 23 and 21 infants in Groups A, B, C and D, respecvely.
Group C (5 μg, i.m.) produced seroconversion most rapidly, showing the highest rate (96%) at 9 months of age. The lowest seroconversion rate (5%) was found at the age of 1 month in Group A subjects, but the rate increased to 91% after a booster dose was given at 6 months of age.
While it can be concluded that a 5 μg i.m. dose of vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months of age is optimum for the immunization of infants in efficacy and economy, a 2 μg intradermal dose can also be considered as an immunogenic and economical regimen, though the immune response is slower and a special technique is required for immunization.     

对脾生理功能的东西医学比较研究

主要从东洋医学和西洋医学角度,对脾脏的生理功能进行了比较研究。1)“脾主运化”功能,类似于西洋医学中胰脏的外分泌功能所起的消化作用。“脾在液为涎”功能,可以认为与西洋医学中唾液含有的消化酶amylase和ptyalin对淀粉所起的消化作用,在功能作用上和胰脏的消化功能,在某种程度上相类似。2)“脾主统血”功能,与西洋医学中认为的脾脏(spleen)贮藏循环血液中1/3以上血小板,并参与止血机制的作用,在某种程度上相类似。3)“脾主肌肉及四肢”的观点,和饮食物在胰脏的外分泌功能作用下被充分消化吸收,把营养素供给全身是人体维持正常生理功能的作用,有一定关系。4)“脾主升清”,“脾在志为思”,“脾在窍为口,其华在唇”等观点,与西洋医学的胰脏或脾脏没有直接关系。     

Late Fertilization of Unfertilized Human Oocytes in In Vitro Fertilization and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Cycles: Conventional Insemination versus ICSI

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacyof intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in comparisonwith conventional reinsemination using fertilization failedoocytes by conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: Oocytes were collected from patients of IVF orICSI cycles. Patients were grouped by fertilizationtechniques: group 1: conventional IVF; group 2: reinseminationafter conventional IVF failure; group 3: regular ICSI; group4: 1-day-old ICSI after conventional IVF failure; group 5:2-day-old ICSI after conventional IVF failure; group 6:re-ICSI after regular ICSI failure. Results: In different insemination groups, normalfertilization rate was higher (P < 0.001) in 1-day-old ICSI (47.1%)and 2-day-old ICSI groups (40.0%) than in reinsemination(14.7%). Abnormal fertilization rate was higher (P < 0.05)in re-ICSI group (21.7%) than any other groups (range:0–8%). Cleavage rate was higher in 1-day-old (36.7%)and 2-day-old ICSI groups (36.0%) than in reinsemination(5.3%, P < 0.001) or re-ICSI groups (17.4%, P < 0.05).Pregnancy rate was 27.6% and 20.0% in conventional IVFand regular ICSI groups, respectively. However, 1-day-oldICSI (group 4) and 2-day-old ICSI (group 5) were attemptedonce embryo transfer (ET) but failed pregnancy occurredin each group. Conclusions: In fertilization failure cycles, late ICSIincreases the rate of fertilization and embryonic developmentand may rescue the completely failed attempt of pregnancy.     

Transesophageal Echocardiographic Detection of Sinus of Valsalva Dissection

We describe a left sinus of Valsalva dissection diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography and confirmed at surgery. A dissection of the left sinus of Valsalva has not been previously reported.     

Efficacy of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) Treatment in the Immunological Infertile Patients

PROBLEM: To evaluate the efficacy of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment in the immunological infertile patients. METHODS: The subjects were 60 cycles of 44 immunological infertile patients and these clinical data were analysed, retrospectively. They were classified into female and male immunological infertility group and were treated with conventional IVF, ICSI, and half-ICSI. RESULTS: The fertilization rate of ICSI (60.3%) and half-ICSI (60.7%) cycles were significantly (P<0.01) higher than conventional IVF (42.6%) cycles. In the male immunological infertility group, fertilization rate was significantly (P<0.01) higher in ICSI (60.7%) and half-ICSI (66.7%) cycles than in conventional IVF (27.4%) cycles and clinical pregnancy rate was higher in ICSI (54.5%) and half ICSI (33.3%) than in conventional IVF (25.0%) cycles. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that ICSI treatment is highly effective method to improve fertilization and pregnancy rate in IVF-ET program of male immunological infertility.     

Malignant Lymphomas in Korea

A retrospective histological study based on biopsy materialof 341 cases of malignant lymphoma diagnosed at the Departmentof Pathology of the Seoul National University from 1976 through1983 was conducted, to reveal some characteristics of malignantlymphomas occurring in Korea. Malignant lymphoma was the seventh most common malignant tumor(4.03%) among Koreans. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma predominated overHodgkin's disease, accounting for 87% of all malignant lymphomas.Follicular lymphoma was rarely seen in Korea (3%), and amongtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma the diffuse histiocytic type(57%) and the poorly differentiated lymphocytic type (26%) ofRappaport were common. Follicular center cell lymphomas (Lukes-Collins)were most commonly seen, whereas T-cell lymphoma was found inapproximately 10% of the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Not a singlecase of pleomorphic adult T-cell lymphoma was encountered inthis series. Among sub types of Hodgkin's disease the nodularsclerosis type was particularly rare, comprising only 15% ofthe Hodgkin's disease cases.     

The Ruben circle anaesthesia System

The Ruben circle anaesthesia system was studied in the spontaneous breathing mode, and under certain conditions there was incompetence of the replaceable mushroom control valve. This causes a reverse flow of gas which results in rebreathing of expired gas when the system is used on spontaneously breathing patients. A patient simulator was used to investigate the way in which the reverse flow of gas depends on ventilatory parameters and fresh gas flow. The inspired concentration of carbon dioxide increased for increased fresh gas flow and for decreased tidal volume. These results were confirmed by observations on anaesthetised adult and paediatric patients during spontaneous breathing. We conclude that the system in its present form, is not suitable for use on spontaneously breathing paediatric patients.