Browse publications by year: 1996

  1. Fulltext Use of Wigglesworth pathophysiological classification for perinatal mortality in Malaysia
    Amar HSS, Abdul Hamid M, Wong SL
    Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., 1996 Jan;74(1):F56-9.
    PMID: 8653438
    A one year prospective study of perinatal deaths was conducted to test the feasibility of using the Wigglesworth pathophysiological classification in the Malaysian health service. Four regions with high perinatal mortality rates were selected. Deaths were actively identified. Nursing staff were trained to use the classification and every death was reviewed by a clinician. A total of 26,198 births and 482 perinatal deaths were reported. The perinatal mortality rate was 18.4. Only 14 (2.9%) deaths had their Wigglesworth category reclassified. Most deaths were in the normally formed macerated stillbirths (34.4%), asphyxial conditions (26.8%), and immaturity (20.1%) subgroups. The results were compared with data from other countries that used this classification. This study has shown that the Wigglesworth pathophysiological classification can be applied to perinatal deaths in the existing Malaysian health service.
    MeSH terms: Cause of Death*; Feasibility Studies; Humans; Infant Mortality*; Infant, Newborn; Malaysia/epidemiology; Prospective Studies; State Medicine
  2. Analysis of Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal isolated from different geographical areas using macrorestriction DNA analysis
    Kurazono H, Yamasaki S, Ratchtrachenchai O, Nair GB, Takeda Y
    Microbiol. Immunol., 1996;40(4):303-5.
    PMID: 8709866
    Vibrio cholerae O139 isolated from different countries, as well as from different locations within a country, were examined using macrorestriction DNA analysis to determine the clonality of the O139 strains. NotI digests of genomic DNA of representative strains from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, China, Thailand, and Malaysia revealed very similar but not identical patterns. Examinations of the banding patterns generated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of strains isolated within countries revealed complete homogeneity. These results further reiterate the spread of an identical clone of V. cholerae O139 although it appears that genetic polymorphism among the O139 strains is becoming apparent.
    MeSH terms: Asia; Vibrio cholerae/isolation & purification*; Sequence Analysis/methods; In Vitro Techniques
  3. Lipid and fatty acid contents in red tides from tropical fish ponds of the coastal water of South China Sea
    Shamsudin L
    Arch Physiol Biochem, 1996;104(1):36-42.
    PMID: 8724878
    Microplanktonic red tide blooms (dominated by dinoflagellates) were observed in brackish water fish ponds of Terengganu between March 1992 to January 1993. The first short-lived bloom (2-3 days) occurred in October 1992 while the second long-lived bloom (6-7 days) occurred in January 1993. The dominant dinoflagellate species comprised of Peridinium quinquecorne (> 90% total cell count) with considerable proportion of Protoperidinium excentricum. Ciliophora consisting of Tintinopsis sp. and Favella sp. were also present during the bloom period. The total ash, chlorophyll, phaeopigment, lipid and fatty acid content of the microplankton were studied. Considerable amounts (6-11% of the total fatty acid) of the polyunsaturated fatty acid 18:3w3 (linolenic acid) were present in the microplankton. However, high amounts of 20:5w3 (eicosapentanoic acid) and 22:6w3 (docosahexaenoic acid) were present with variable but usually high amounts of 22:4w6 and 22:5w6 acids. The latter microplankton bloom contained higher amounts of 20:5w3 and 22:6w3 acids than the earlier bloom. Lipid content were three to five times higher than chlorophyll a. There was an increase with successive day after bloom outbreak in the relative proportion of total C18, C20, and C22 fatty acid components. The algae microplankton contained the w3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) probably needed for the growth and survival rate of grazing pond animals.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Dinoflagellida/chemistry*; Fatty Acids/analysis*; Fisheries*; Lipids/analysis*; Malaysia; Oceans and Seas
  4. Peritoneal dialysis in Asia
    Cheng IK
    Perit Dial Int, 1996;16 Suppl 1:S381-5.
    PMID: 8728228
    The socioeconomic status of Asian countries is diverse, and government reimbursement policies for treatment of patients suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) vary greatly from one country to another. Both of these factors have a major impact not only on the choice of treatment for ESRD but also on the utilization of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in this region. Based on the data collected from 11 representative Asian countries, several observations can be made. First, the treatment rates for ESRD in these countries correlated closely with their gross domestic product (GDP) per capita income. Second, the PD utilization rate appeared to have a biphasic relationship with the GDP per capita income and treatment rate, in that countries with the highest and the lowest treatment rates tended to have lower PD utilization rates, whereas countries with modest treatment rates tended to have higher PD utilization rates. The reason for low PD utilization in countries with the highest treatment rates differs from that in countries with low treatment rates. In the former, because of full government reimbursement, there is little physician incentive to introduce PD as an alternative form of ESRD treatment to in-center hemodialysis (HD), whereas in the latter, the complete lack of government reimbursement prevents the introduction of PD as a form of treatment. This pattern is likely to change in the future because, of the 11 countries surveyed, all except Thailand have recorded a growth rate which is higher for PD than HD over the last three years. The rate of utilization of different PD systems varies greatly among different Asian countries. Automated PD has yet to gain popularity in Asia. Conventional straight-line systems remain the dominant PD systems in use in Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines, while in Malaysia and Singapore UV germicidal connection devices are most popular. However, in all these countries there has been a progressive shift over the last three years from the straight-line systems with or without germicidal connection devices to the disconnect systems. In China and India, where PD has been introduced only recently, the disconnect systems are used almost exclusively. The disconnect systems are also the most popular systems in use in Japan and Taiwan. As data concerning the cost-effectiveness of different PD systems becomes available, it is likely that trend towards a more liberal use of disconnect systems will continue in the future. The usage of low calcium peritoneal dialysate and the average number of daily CAPD exchanges also vary among the Asian countries. Low calcium peritoneal dialysate has been introduced only in Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, with the highest utilization rate (90%) recorded in Singapore. The Philippines had the lowest average number of daily peritoneal exchanges (6L) among the countries surveyed, followed by Hong Kong (6.4L), China and Indonesia (7L), and the rest (8L). The use of a lower number of exchanges was introduced in some countries, initially, mainly as a cost-saving measure based on the assumption that Asians are of small body build. The justification for the continued use of a lower number of exchanges among Asian patients is debatable, but is supported by the acceptable, long-term clinical outcome of patients given this form of dialysis prescription. It is suggested that long-term prospective studies on dialysis adequacy and clinical outcome should be done in different ethnic groups in Asia to see if the similar guidelines with regard to dialysis adequacy can be applied uniformly to Orientals and Caucasians.
    MeSH terms: Asia; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cross-Cultural Comparison*; Health Policy/economics; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic/economics*; Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy; National Health Programs/economics*; Peritoneal Dialysis/economics*; Peritoneal Dialysis/statistics & numerical data; Reimbursement Mechanisms/economics; Socioeconomic Factors
  5. Nested polymerase chain reaction for detection of Plasmodium falciparum infection in Malaysia
    Khoo A, Furuta T, Abdullah NR, Bah NA, Kojima S, Wah MJ
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1996 1 1;90(1):40-1.
    PMID: 8730308
    MeSH terms: Base Sequence; Humans; Malaysia; Molecular Sequence Data; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics*; Sensitivity and Specificity; RNA, Protozoan/genetics*; Polymerase Chain Reaction*; Malaria, Falciparum/diagnosis*; Genes, Protozoan; Parasitemia/diagnosis
  6. Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure following blowpipe dart poisoning
    Ho LM, Cheong I, Jalil HA
    Nephron, 1996;72(4):676-8.
    PMID: 8730441
    The latex of pokok ipoh (Antiaris toxocaria) and the root bark of akar ipoh (Strychnos species) have been the main sources of the poisonous principles in dart and arrow poisons prepared throughout south-east Asia. We report a fatal case of rhabdomyolysis and acute oliguric renal failure following oral ingestion of blowpipe dart poison. To our knowledge this is the first such report.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Female; Humans; Plants, Toxic/chemistry*; Rhabdomyolysis/chemically induced*; Rhabdomyolysis/pathology; Fatal Outcome; Acute Kidney Injury/chemically induced*; Acute Kidney Injury/pathology
  7. Blood pressure regulation by the kallikrein-kinin system
    Sharma JN, Uma K, Noor AR, Rahman AR
    Gen. Pharmacol., 1996 Jan;27(1):55-63.
    PMID: 8742494
    1. The kallikrein-kinin system has a significant role in regulating arterial blood pressure. 2. Reduced formation of the kinin compontents may cause hypertensive diseases. This is because of the fact that this system is responsible for vasodilatation, reduction in total peripheral resistance, natriuresis, diuresis, increasing renal blood flow and releasing various vasodilator agents. 3. Reduced kinin-kallikrein generation in hypertensive subjects may also be associated with genetic and environmental defects. 4. The kallikrein-kinin system when administered to hypertensive patients can lower their raised blood pressure to normotensive levels. 5. The mode of action of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors principally may be dependent on the kinin system protection.
    MeSH terms: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use; Base Sequence; Blood Pressure/physiology*; Humans; Hypertension/drug therapy; Hypertension/physiopathology*; Kallidin/physiology; Kallidin/chemistry; Kininogens/physiology; Kininogens/chemistry; Molecular Sequence Data; Kallikrein-Kinin System/physiology*
  8. Inhibition of rats adjuvant arthritis by a bradykinin antagonist Hoe 140 and its influence on kallikreins
    Sharma JN, Wirth KJ
    Gen. Pharmacol., 1996 Jan;27(1):133-6.
    PMID: 8742510
    1. This study examines the effect of Hoe 140, a bradykinin (BK) 2 receptor antagonist, indomethacin and prednisolone on chronic adjuvant arthritis of the knee in rats. We also evaluated the influence of Hoe 140 on BK-forming enzymes in the synovial and paw tissues. 2. Adjuvant arthritis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats in the right knee by injecting 0.05 ml of a fine suspension of heat-killed Mycobacterium tubercle bacilli in liquid paraffin (5 mg/ml). 3. Hoe 140 (1.5 mg/kg i.p.), indomethacin (2.5 mg/kg orally) and prednisolone (3.0 mg/kg orally) administration for 9 days resulted in significant suppression of knee joint swelling. Plasma and tissue kallikrein levels were raised (P < 0.01) in the synovial and paw tissues of adjuvant arthritic rats. Hoe 140 treatment reduced (P < 0.05) tissue kallikrein but increased (P < 0.01) plasma kallikrein levels in synovial tissue. 4. Hoe 140 treatment did not alter (P > 0.05) the raised plasma and tissue kallikrein levels in the paw tissue. The findings indicate that Hoe 140 may be a useful anti-inflammatory agent and BK plays a major role in this adjuvant-induced arthritis model.
    MeSH terms: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/pharmacology*; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology*; Arthritis, Experimental/blood; Arthritis, Experimental/chemically induced; Arthritis, Experimental/prevention & control*; Bradykinin/analogs & derivatives*; Bradykinin/pharmacology; Indomethacin/pharmacology; Kallikreins/metabolism*; Knee Joint; Male; Prednisolone/pharmacology; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats
  9. Molecular heterogeneity of beta-thalassaemia in Malaysia: a practical approach to diagnosis
    Thong MK, Law HY, Ng IS
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1996 Jan;25(1):79-83.
    PMID: 8779552
    The beta-thalassaemia mutations in 20 Malaysian children with beta-thalassaemia major were characterised by using a multi-modal approach, consisting of a slot-blot hybridisation with selected allele-specific oligonucleotides (ASO), followed by reverse dot-blot assay (RDB), amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) and genomic sequencing. This strategy yielded a 94.4% mutation detection rate. The 6 most common mutations were codons 41/42 (-TTCT), IVS II nt 654(C --> T), IVS I nt 5(G --> C), IVS I nt 1(G -->T), codon 35 (-C) and codon 19 (A --> G), which accounted for 83.3% of all mutations detected. A strategy of initial screening with the above 6 selected ASOs for slot-blot hybridisation followed by RDB assay for the less common Asian mutations would give a mutation identification of 91.7%. Another feasible approach would be to analyse alleles from a particular racial group, by a judicious selection of 4 ASOs common to that particular subpopulation and then supplement this with RDB assay. This could yield a 100% coverage for the Chinese subpopulation in Malaysia. With these strategies, a practical approach has been identified to overcome the pitfalls posed by the molecular heterogeneity of beta-thalassaemia to enable prenatal diagnosis and carrier screening to be carried out. Regional collaborative studies are to be encouraged as an indispensable tool in providing better health care services to our patients.
    MeSH terms: Base Sequence; Child; Child, Preschool; DNA/analysis*; Female; Genetic Testing*; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; Oligonucleotides; Pilot Projects; Polymerase Chain Reaction; beta-Thalassemia/diagnosis; beta-Thalassemia/ethnology; beta-Thalassemia/genetics*; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics
  10. Fulltext Nutritional aspects of changes in disease patterns in the Western Pacific region
    Cavalli-Sforza LT, Rosman A, de Boer AS, Darnton-Hill I
    Bull World Health Organ, 1996;74(3):307-18.
    PMID: 8789929
    One impact of socioeconomic progress on populations has been to reduce the number of cases due to diseases of undernutrition and microbial contamination of food, which affected mostly infants and young children, and to increase those due to diseases of excessive food consumption, which are affecting adults and a growing number of children. This article reviews the main dietary factors which have an influence on cardiovascular disease and cancer, and discusses the link between economic development and increased rates of chronic diseases. There is evidence that the noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors have risen rapidly in countries of the WHO Western Pacific Region. Data from 29 countries and areas in the region indicate that 70% of them show lifestyle diseases in three or more of the top five causes of death. While public health measures have been implemented by some countries to prevent and control nutrition-related chronic diseases, further action is needed.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology*; Cardiovascular Diseases/physiopathology; Child; Child, Preschool; Diet; Female; Health Policy; Humans; Infant; Life Style; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms/etiology*; Neoplasms/physiopathology; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  11. Pure-tone audiometry and auditory brainstem responses in noise-induced deafness
    Noorhassim I, Kaga K, Nishimura K
    Am J Otolaryngol, 1996 1 1;17(1):31-5.
    PMID: 8801813
    PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to find the relationship between pure-tone audiometry results and the auditory brainstem response wave abnormalities.

    SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) from 22 patients (44 ears) with diagnosed noise-induced permanent hearing loss were studied. Three indices of PTA were average thresholds of 0.5 kHz/, /1 kHz, and 2 kHz (PTA1); 2 kHz and 4 kHz (PTA2); and 4 kHz (PTA3) were subdivided into 3 thresholds of hearing. Their relationships with ABR results were analysed. The patterns of PTA from various groups of ABR wave patterns were studied.

    RESULTS: In this study, the abnormal ABR wave patterns were detected in 72.7% of the ears. The ears with prolonged ABR wave latency, absent early waves, prolong interpeak wave I-V latency was 20.5%, 18.2%, and 21.1%, respectively. Normal ABRs were recorded in 27.3% of the ears despite marked thresholds elevation of the PTA at high frequencies. Other relationships between PTA results and ABR wave results were discussed.

    CONCLUSION: There were relationships between severity of noise-induced hearing loss indicated by PTA and the patterns of ABR wave abnormalities among workers with noise-induced permanent hearing loss.

    MeSH terms: Aged; Audiometry, Pure-Tone*; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced/diagnosis*; Humans; Middle Aged; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem*; Occupational Health
  12. Fulltext Cervical cancer control in developing countries: memorandum from a WHO meeting
    Bull World Health Organ, 1996;74(4):345-51.
    PMID: 8823955
    This memorandum summarizes the report of a WHO Consultation on the Control of Cervical Cancer in Developing Countries, held on 6-7 November 1994, in New Delhi, India. Evaluated was the current situation with regard to cervical cancer and the relevance of current practices in screening. New pragmatic approaches to cervical cancer were proposed that are relevant for developing countries; this includes empowerment of women to come forward, and visual inspection-"downstaging".
    MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/epidemiology; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & control*; Developing Countries*; Female; Health Education; Humans; Mass Screening; Prospective Studies; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  13. Fulltext Evaluation of cold chain monitoring in Kelantan, Malaysia
    Hanjeet K, Lye MS, Sinniah M, Schnur A
    Bull World Health Organ, 1996;74(4):391-7.
    PMID: 8823961
    An analysis was carried out on a total of 883 cold chain monitor (CCM) cards, which had been attached to batches of poliomyelitis, measles, DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) and hepatitis B vaccines, during their transport and storage from the central store in Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan, a state in north-eastern Malaysia; 234 freeze watches attached to hepatitis B vaccines were also analysed. The monitor cards and freeze watches were observed at six levels between the central store and the periphery during distribution of the vaccines, and a colour change in any of the four windows (A, B, C, D) on the CCM cards or the freeze watches was recorded. In addition, 33 unopened vials of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), collected from refrigerators in 29 health facilities in Kelantan, were tested for potency using the tissue culture infective dose 50 (TCID50) method; 14 of them (42%) did not meet the WHO criteria for potent vaccines. The results showed that at the final destination 13.4% of all cards remained white while a colour change to blue was observed in 65% in window A, 16.6% in window B, and 4.4% in window C; none had turned blue in window D indicating that the vaccine had not been subjected to temperatures > or = 34 degrees C for 2 hours. All but 2 of the 234 freeze watches had turned purple, which indicates exposure of the hepatitis B vaccines to temperatures below 0 degree C. These results will assist health planners to correct the weaknesses identified in the cold chain system.
    MeSH terms: Cold Temperature*; Drug Stability*; Drug Storage/methods; Humans; Malaysia; Transportation/methods*; Vaccines*
  14. Racial variations in the extent of tooth root translucency in ageing individuals
    Whittaker DK, Bakri MM
    Arch Oral Biol, 1996 Jan;41(1):15-9.
    PMID: 8833585
    One hundred and ninety-eight single-rooted teeth from individuals aged 21-90 yr of Caucasian, Malay, Chinese Malay and Indian Malay origin were studied. Single or serial longitudinal sections of extracted teeth were cut following dye imbibition of patent dentinal tubules. The extent of sclerosis of apical dentinal tubules was assessed and correlated with the age of the individual. Correlation with age was higher in the Caucasian than the Malay races and within the Malaysian racial groups correlation with age was highest in the Malays and lowest in the Chinese. It is concluded that factors other than age may be important in the formation of sclerotic apical dentine in teeth of different racial origin. The effect of racial origin should be considered when using sclerosis as a means of age determination in forensic cases.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Age Determination by Teeth; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging/pathology*; Calcinosis/pathology; China; Dentin/ultrastructure*; Dentin, Secondary/pathology; Coloring Agents; Forensic Dentistry; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; India; Malaysia; Middle Aged; Tooth Root/ultrastructure*; Reproducibility of Results; European Continental Ancestry Group*; Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
  15. Electrophoretic profiles and biological activities: intraspecific variation in the venom of the Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma)
    Daltry JC, Ponnudurai G, Shin CK, Tan NH, Thorpe RS, Wüster W
    Toxicon, 1996 Jan;34(1):67-79.
    PMID: 8835335
    The Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) is of major clinical significance both as a leading cause of snakebite and as the source of ancrod (Arvin). Although its venom has been extensively studied, the degree to which venom composition varies between individuals is poorly known. We individually analysed the venoms of over 100 C. rhodostoma using isoelectric focusing. In all populations, females produced an intense band that was absent from all males, and significant ontogenetic variation was detected. Principal components analysis of the banding profiles also revealed strong geographic variation, which was significantly congruent with variation in the biological activities of the venom (phosphodiesterase, alkalinephosphoesterase, L-amino acid oxidase, arginine ester hydrolase, 5'-nucleotidase, thrombin-like enzyme, haemorrhagic activity). Studies of captive-bred snakes indicate that the intraspecific variation in venom is genetically inherited rather than environmentally induced. The intraspecific variation in venom composition and biological activity could be of applied importance to snakebite therapy, both in correct diagnosis of the source of envenomation and in the development of a more effective antivenom. Greater attention should be given to the source of C. rhodostoma venom used in research to ensure reproducibility of results.
    MeSH terms: Amino Acid Oxidoreductases/metabolism; Animals; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/metabolism; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Female; Hemorrhage/chemically induced; Isoelectric Focusing; Malaysia; Male; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases/metabolism; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/metabolism; Sex Factors; Snakes; Species Specificity; Thrombin/metabolism; Viper Venoms/enzymology*; Viper Venoms/metabolism; Viper Venoms/toxicity; Reproducibility of Results; 5'-Nucleotidase/metabolism; L-Amino Acid Oxidase; Mice
  16. Immunohistochemical expression of p53 proteins in Wilms' tumour: a possible association with the histological prognostic parameter of anaplasia
    Cheah PL, Looi LM, Chan LL
    Histopathology, 1996 Jan;28(1):49-54.
    PMID: 8838120
    Wilms' tumour (nephroblastoma) has been associated with chromosomal abnormalities at the 11p13, 11p15 and 16q regions. A study into the possibility of mutations occurring within p53, the ubiquitous adult tumour suppressor gene, in Wilms' tumour was carried out. Thirty-eight cases were studied. Of these 36 were categorised into the favourable histology group and two into the unfavourable histology group based on the National Wilms' Tumour Study criteria. Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from each case were stained with a polyclonal (AB565:Chemicon) and a monoclonal (DO7:Dako) antibody raised against p53 protein using a peroxidase-labelled streptavidin biotin kit (Dako). 'Cure' (disease-free survival of 60 months or longer) was documented in 39% of cases with favourable histology tumours. Eleven percent in this group succumbed to the disease. Both cases with unfavourable histology died. Four out of 36 (11%) tumours with favourable histology demonstrated weak to moderate staining with both AB565 and DO7 in more than 75% of tumour cells. In contrast, p53 protein expression in unfavourable histology tumours was significantly increased compared with the favourable histology group (P = 0.021) with both cases demonstrating immunopositivity in > 75% of tumour cells when stained with AB565 and DO7. The intensity of staining ranged from moderate to strong in both cases. It appears from this preliminary study that the immunohistochemical expression of p53 protein in Wilms' tumour, presumably a result of mutation in the p53 tumour suppressor gene, correlates with histological classification, histological categorisation being one of the useful features in the prognostic assessment of Wilms' tumours.
    MeSH terms: Anaplasia; Cell Count; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Kidney Neoplasms/genetics; Kidney Neoplasms/metabolism; Kidney Neoplasms/pathology*; Male; Wilms Tumor/genetics; Wilms Tumor/metabolism*; Wilms Tumor/pathology*; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Genes, p53/genetics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/biosynthesis*; Point Mutation
  17. Disease, race, and empire
    Anderson W
    Bull Hist Med, 1996;70(1):62-7.
    PMID: 8850070
    MeSH terms: Great Britain; Humans; India; Malaysia; Philippines; Tropical Climate; Tropical Medicine/history*; United States; Colonialism/history*; Continental Population Groups*; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century
  18. Stomach '96: Kuala Lumpur International meeting on diseases of the stomach. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 3-6 July 1996. Abstracts
    J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 1996;11 Suppl 2:A51-75.
    PMID: 8954201
    MeSH terms: Humans; Stomach Diseases*
  19. Transfer factor with anti-EBV activity as an adjuvant therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a pilot study
    Prasad U, bin Jalaludin MA, Rajadurai P, Pizza G, De Vinci C, Viza D, et al.
    Biotherapy, 1996;9(1-3):109-15.
    PMID: 8993768
    Overall survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at UICC stage IV still remains unsatisfactory even with combination chemotherapy (CT) and radio-therapy (RT). In view of the association of reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with the development and recurrence of NPC, immunotherapy in the form of transfer factor (TF) with specific activity against EBV (TF-B1) was suggested as an adjuvant to a combination of CT and RT in order to improve survival. In the present study, 6 UICC stage IV patients received TF-B1 and another 6 patients matched for disease stage were given TF prepared from peripheral blood leucocytes (TF-PBL). Results were compared with another 18 patients matched by age, sex, and stage of disease who received standard therapy without TF during the same period (C group). After a median follow up of 47.5 months, the survival for the TF-B1 group was found to be significantly better (P = < 0.05) than the PBL and C group. While the 8 patients with distant metastasis (DM), not treated with TF-B1 (6 in the control and 2 in the PBL group), died due to progressive disease (average survival being 14.3 months), both patients with DM in the TF-B1 group had complete remission: one died of tuberculosis after surviving for 3.5 years and another is still alive, disease free, after 4.2 years. Although the series involved a small number of cases, the apparent effect of adjuvant immunotherapy in the form of TF with anti-EBV activity is of considerable interest.
    MeSH terms: Adjuvants, Immunologic/therapeutic use*; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents/immunology; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*; Antiviral Agents/immunology; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use*; Herpesvirus 4, Human/immunology*; Humans; Immunity, Cellular/drug effects; Immunity, Cellular/immunology; Leukocytes/immunology; Leukocytes/chemistry; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/immunology; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/therapy*; Neoplasm Metastasis; Pilot Projects; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sex Factors; Transfer Factor/immunology; Transfer Factor/therapeutic use*
  20. Metabolism of goniothalamin in animal and microbial system
    El-Sharkawy S, Yusuf Z, Pihie AH, Ali AM
    Boll Chim Farm, 1996 Jan;135(1):35-40.
    PMID: 9004738
    Of the twenty microorganisms screened for metabolism of goniothalamin only Streptomyces aurofaciens ATCC 10762 and Nocardia species NRRL 5646 produced two metabolites, 3,4-dihydrogoniothalamin and 3,4,7,8 tetrahydrogoniothalamin. The identity of the isolated metabolites were established using TLC, HPLC, MS, IR, and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. In addition, the substrate had been transformed into two unknown metabolites by Aspergillus niger ATCC 11394 and Septomyxa affinis ATCC 6737 in low yield. Three of the metabolites were also detected and identified in the urine and blood samples of the goniothalamin-treated Sprague-Dawley rats. The obtained results are in agreement with and support the principle of microbial models of mammalian metabolism.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Female; Fermentation; Fungi/metabolism*; Pyrones/metabolism*; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats
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