The study investigates the use of the various parameters of the semen analysis in predicting the fertility outcome in 82 infertile couples. The sperm density, % progressive motility, % normal morphology were divided into 'normal' and 'abnormal' based on the criteria proposed by WHO. The subsequent cumulative pregnancy rates were then calculated according to this criteria. A life-table method of analysis was used. All female related fertility factors were excluded. With the exception of a sperm density of less than 20 x 10(6) per ml the other parameters showed no significant correlation with the cumulative pregnancy rates at 12 months or 24 months respectively. We concluded that the semen analysis does not predict the probable outcome of the subsequent rates even when female fertility related factors were excluded apart from a sperm density less than 20 x 10(6) per ml.
The pelvic findings of 202 infertile women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were compared to that of 464 infertile women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy in Aberdeen, United Kingdom. Endometriosis was significantly more common in the women from Kuala Lumpur (51% against 22%, p less than 0.001). There was however no significant difference seen in the severity of the disease (AFS Classification, 1985). These findings confirm our clinical impression that endometriosis is more common in Asian women when compared to Caucasian women.
MeSH terms: Adult; Endometriosis/ethnology*; Endometriosis/epidemiology; Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female/ethnology*; Genital Neoplasms, Female/epidemiology; Humans; Malaysia/epidemiology; Scotland/epidemiology; European Continental Ancestry Group; Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Juvenile xanthogranuloma is a benign cutaneous growth presenting as papules or nodules. It is characterized by an intradermal collection of lipid-laden macrophages and varying degrees of fibroblastic proliferation. We have recently observed two patients with xanthogranulomas: one was found to have a papular type and the second patient had multiple nodular growths. We present these cases, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of skin nodules.
1. Examination of the polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic (PAGE) and SDS-PAGE patterns of snake venoms shows that these patterns are useful for species differentiation (and hence identification) for snakes of certain genera but have only limited application for snakes from some other genera, due either to the marked individual variations in the venoms or the lack of marked interspecific differences within the same genus. 2. There is no substantial intersubspecific difference in the electrophoretic patterns of the venoms. 3. In general there are no common characteristics in the electrophoretic patterns of the venom at the generic level because of the wide variations in the electrophoretic patterns of venoms of snakes within the same genus. 4. At the familial level, the venoms of Elapidae exhibited SDS-PAGE patterns distinct from those of Crotalidae.
The distribution of plasma coagulation factor XXIIB polymorphism was determined by PAG isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting in a group of 670 subjects comprising 375 Chinese, 110 Malays and 185 Indians. The frequencies of FXIIIB*1, FXIIIB*2, and FXIIIB*3 were found to be 0.27, 0.03 and 0.70 in the Chinese; 0.33, 0.05 and 0.64 in the Malays and 0.58, 0.08 and 0.33 in the Indians. The phenotypic distribution of FXIIIB alleles was at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in all three populations. A two-dimensional principal-components analysis on the basis of three common alleles at the FXIIIB locus among 19 populations, so far studied, clearly differentiates the Negroid, Mongoloid and Caucasoid populations into three major groups with the exception of Amerindians (Minnesota) and US Blacks showing some Caucasoid influence.
The relationship among body size (as indicated by wing length), age (as indicated by parity dissections), and malaria infection were observed in host-seeking Anopheles maculatus Theobald females collected in aboriginal villages of peninsular Malaysia. Both ELISA and salivary gland dissections were used to determine malaria infection. The wings of parous females were significantly longer than those of nulliparous females, suggesting that larger females live longer than smaller ones, and thus have a higher vectorial capacity. Body size differences were not detected between infected parous and uninfected parous females. Females infected with only oocysts were significantly larger than females infected with sporozoites. No correlation was found between the number of oocysts or sporozoites and body size in this small sample.
MeSH terms: Asia; Asia, Southeastern; Myanmar; China; Crime*; Developing Countries; Disease; Far East; India; International Agencies; Malaysia; Organizations; Pakistan; Social Problems; Thailand; United Nations; Virus Diseases; World Health Organization*; HIV Infections*; Substance-Related Disorders*
The objective of this two year retrospective study is to find out the pattern of ovarian tumours among Malaysian women. A total of 280 cases were reviewed. Of these 193 were benign, 81 were malignant and six cases belonged to borderline malignancy. In the general population, equal distribution of serous and mucinous tumours among the benign (15.4%) and malignant (4.3%) types is quite a striking feature. The teratomas were the commonest benign tumour among the Malays and Chinese. Serous cystadenomas were the commonest among the Indians. The Malays had higher incidence of malignant epithelial tumours whereas the Chinese had a higher incidence of metastatic and germ cell tumours. Endometroid tumours occurred from an earlier age of thirty years. There was a preponderance of mucinous tumours among the borderline variety.
CDC Light traps were used to study the attractant effect of CO2 and 1-octen-3-ol on trap catches of mosquito populations at three different locations in Malaysia. There was a significant increase in the number of mosquitos caught in traps baited with CO2 and CO2 with 1-octen-3-ol. The number of mosquitos caught in the CDC light trap and in the CDC light trap baited with 1-octen-3-ol alone were very few. 1-octen-3-ol and CO2 acted synergistically in attracting significantly greater numbers of Culex tritaeniorhynchus. However Anopheles sp. were not very attracted to light traps even with attractants added to them.
Twelve pleomorphic adenomas of minor salivary gland origin were examined for the distribution of S-100 protein, detected using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method. Strong S-100 protein immunoreactivity was noted in areas containing plasmacytoid cells, stellate and spindle cells against a myxochondroid or hyalinous stroma, and solid epithelial areas. Tubular and duct-like structures showed variable stainability. Stromal tissue and normal salivary glands were generally negative for S-100 protein. These findings were compared with those reported elsewhere.
To evaluate the effects of simple compensated fixed-dose iodine-131 therapy for thyrotoxicosis, the long-term results for 74 patients treated with a fixed dose of iodine-131 ranging from 5 to 12 mCi (185 to 444 MBq) were evaluated in the first 2 years of a trial. The dose selected was loosely based on the gross size of the thyroid gland. Routine antithyroid drug therapy was given for a minimum of 3 months after iodine-131 therapy. The mean (+/- SD) duration of follow-up was 74.5 +/- 42 months. The results indicated that roughly 25% of patients treated in this way will become hypothyroid after 5 years and that 85% are cured (need no further therapy during the follow-up period) using a single dose of iodine-131. Of those cured using a single iodine-131 dose, 81% were no longer receiving drugs after 6 months and 85% after 1 year. Such a regimen seems currently to be among the best available where prolonged periods of medication-free euthyroidism after therapy are sought.
Among several alkaloids, including dimeric indoles, isolated from Uncaria callophylla, gambirine which is an alkaloid unique to this plant, has been found to be another hypotensive principle from the plant. Intravenous injections of gambirine in the dose range of 0.2 to 10.0 mg/kg caused a dose-related fall in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures as well as heart rate. At all doses gambirine showed a prompt onset of action and at the higher doses (5.0-10 mg/kg), marked persistence of hypotension accompanied by severe bradycardia were observed. In addition, higher doses of gambirine produced a more marked decrease in diastolic than systolic pressure while at lower doses both decreased equally. It is suggested that the hypotensive effect of gambirine may be peripheral in origin and is associated, at least in part, with a cardiac action.
The prevalence and intensity of intestinal nematode infections were assessed during 3 anthelminthic interventions in an urban community in Malaysia. The prevalence levels of Ascaris lumbricoides at Interventions 1, 2 and 3 were 30.6%, 18.9% and 15.5%, respectively and the mean intensities were 1.9, 0.75 and 0.81 worms per person. For Trichuris trichiura, the prevalence levels at Interventions 1, 2 and 3 were 46.9%, 21.6% and 15.7%, respectively. The mean intensities for T. trichiura at Interventions 1, 2 and 3 were 3.30, 0.92 and 0.07 worms per person. No gender-related prevalence and intensity were observed for the two geohelminths in this community. Prevalences and intensity had convex age profiles. Although repeated chemotherapeutic intervention reduced both prevalence and intensity levels, intensity was a more sensitive indicator than prevalence. The results indicate that age-targetting treatment at school children of 7-12 years of age would be an appropriate strategy for this community.
A system for computerising histopathology records developed in-house using dBASE IV on IBM-compatible microcomputers in a local area network is described. The software package uses a horizontal main menu bar with associated pull-down submenus as interface between the machine and the user. It is very easy to use. The package provides options for selecting databases by years, entering/editing records, browsing data, making multi-characteristics searches/retrievals, printing data, and maintaining databases that includes backing-up and repairing corrupted databases.
MeSH terms: Database Management Systems*; Humans; Medical Records*; Pathology*; Software*
This paper describes the first Malaysian case of oesophagostomiasis. The patient was an 8-year-old Malay boy who presented to Ipoh General Hospital, Perak with abdominal pain and weight loss. Examination revealed multiple cavitated pseudotumours of the colon. A hemicolectomy was performed. Examination of the lesions revealed Oesophagostomum worms in the necrotic centres. The differential diagnoses and the pathology caused by Oesophagostomum are discussed. A brief review of the available literature is presented.
Immunophenotypic studies using immunofluorescent flow cytometry were performed on the blast cells of 36 patients with acute leukaemia using a panel of eight monoclonal antibodies. Six patients had blasts which co-expressed markers for lymphoid and myeloid differentiation, and which were therefore defined as biphenotypic hybrid acute leukaemia. Of the six, three patients were in the paediatric age group (below 12 years old) while the other three were more than 12 years old. Peripheral blood counts were variable; however, bone marrow infiltration was extensive (blasts > or = 75% in all). At the time of study, remission was achieved in only two patients. The authors' data show that biphenotypic hybrid acute leukaemia is not rare in Malaysia. This represents a subgroup of acute leukaemia identifiable by immunophenotyping but not by the French-American-British classification based on morphological and basic cytochemical studies alone. The recognition of this subgroup is important for both practical and theoretical reasons. There are implications for treatment of the individual patient because treatment directed at a single lineage may not be effective. The two colour flow cytometry proved to be a useful tool for diagnosis and classification of acute leukaemia.
The use of the colloidal-gold technique in electron microscopy immunocytochemistry has provided important information on the in situ localisation of intracellular antigens. We have developed a post-embedding technique for prolactin localisation on resin-embedded human pituitary tissue sections by the use of the protein-A gold conjugate. Human pituitary tissue obtained at autopsy was processed for electron microscopical study without post-osmication and then embedded in Epon. The indirect immunoperoxidase method was used for light microscopical targetting of lactotroph cells for subsequent electron microscopical antigen localisation. Ultra-thin sections were labelled with human anti-human prolactin followed by protein-A gold conjugate. Specific labelling was observed over secretory granules with a density of 15-30 particles per granule, as determined by the Quantimet 570 image analysis system. This technique provides a means of studying the pathophysiology of hormonal secretion at ultrastructural level and can be a useful tool in diagnostic and research investigations.
A teenage male was admitted to a hospital in the United Kingdom following the ingestion of strychnine. The typical spasms of strychnine poisoning were observed and he died during the fourth convulsion. The post mortem findings are presented, and strychnine poisoning is discussed.