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Biomedical subjects

H K Ma

Publications and source records attributed to H K Ma.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Further studies on immunological parameters in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

The total blood lymphocyte counts, T-cell counts, B-cell counts, percentage of T cells bearing Fc receptors for IgG (TG), lymphocyte responses to phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin A and serum IgA levels were measured in 15 patients with hydatidiform mole, 32 patients with malignant trophoblastic disease, 30 pregnant controls, and 34 normal non-pregnant controls. The mean percentage of TG was similar in all four groups but the mean absolute number of TG in patients with malignant trophoblastic disease was significantly lower than that in normal non-pregnant controls, due to the lower mean lymphocyte count and T-cell count in the former group. An immune profile score based on the T-cell count, B-cell count, lymphocyte response to mitogens, and serum IgA level was useful in predicting the subsequent development of malignant trophoblastic disease in patients with hydatidiform mole but was not helpful in predicting resistance to chemotherapy in malignant trophoblastic disease.

Adolescent↗

Fetal loss from umbilical cord abnormalities--a difficult case for prevention.

The summaries of 12 pregnancies in which fetal distress and death were thought to be the result of umbilical cord abnormalities are presented. These included six cases of stricture and torsion of the cord, one case of umbilical vein aneurysm, one case of perivascular haemorrhage near the fetal end of the cord, one case of umbilical vein thrombosis, two cases of true knot of the cord and one case of very short cord. The perinatal mortality was 75% in the whole group (9 out of 12 fetuses), there being eight stillbirths and one neonatal death. Of the 12 fetuses, only three were small for dates at delivery. Nine patients volunteered the history of a decrease in fetal movements, and non-stress cardiotocography (NST) was abnormal in eight patients. It was noted, however, that fetal death tended to occur rapidly after an abnormal test. Observations in our series indicated that antepartum fetal deaths due to umbilical cord abnormalities are still difficult to prevent, as it is often impossible to detect fetal distress in time for appropriate intervention. Prompt action to deliver the baby after an abnormal NST appears to be a necessary step to prevent antepartum deaths due to such causes.

Adult↗

The assessment of radio-response of cervical carcinoma by colposcopy.

Ninety-four patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix were investigated for radio-response during treatment using colposcopy and serial biopsies. In 31 patients, the results were further correlated with pathological examination of the Wertheim hysterectomy specimen. It is established that colposcopy can be as reliable as biopsy in predicting radio-response and can be employed complementary to serial biopsies and clinical examinations. The colposcopic features of cervical carcinomas undergoing irradiation are described.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Mixed lymphocyte reaction in gestational trophoblastic disease: presence of a specific plasma inhibitor of the response to paternal alloantigens.

One-way wife-husband and wife-unrelated donor mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) were performed for 17 patients with malignant gestational trophoblastic disease (MGTD) and 17 normal pregnant subjects in the first trimester. The response of patients with MGTD to the husbands' lymphocytes did not differ significantly from the response to donors' lymphocytes when the MLR was performed in pooled human serum. Autologous plasma from patients with MGTD suppressed the MLR to husbands' lymphocytes but not that to donors' lymphocytes. Plasma from pregnant subjects in the first trimester did not suppress the wife-husband MLR. It is postulated that the specific plasma blocking activity may contribute to the failure to reject the trophoblastic tumours.

Adult↗

Pregnancy hydronephrosis--a longitudinal ultrasonic evaluation.

The progression of physiological hydronephrosis through the 3 trimesters of pregnancy was assessed by ultrasonic measurement of calyceal diameters in 56 asymptomatic patients in a longitudinal study. A grading system basing on the maximum calyceal diameter was used; 89% of the patients showed at least mild dilatation before delivery. There was a preponderance of the right side being affected. In 6 patients (10.7%), severe dilatation was demonstrable and in all of them its onset appeared to be in the second trimester. The likelihood of progression to moderate or severe dilatation when only mild dilatation is demonstrated in the second trimester is low. Furthermore, it is not common for moderate dilatation in the second trimester to progress to severe dilatation in the third trimester. These findings appear to support the mechanical theory in the genesis of pregnancy hydronephrosis. Rapid regression of calyceal dilatation is not apparent in the first 5 days after delivery.

Dilatation, Pathologic↗

Cervical-vaginal bacterial flora in patients with cervical carcinoma treated with irradiation and febrile morbidity during intracavitary radium therapy.

The cervical-vaginal bacterial flora of 57 patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix were found to be identical to those reported in studies of different population groups, except for a lower frequency of anaerobic bacteria. Radiation suppressed significantly both the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Following 4,000 rads of external irradiation, 47.4% of the cervical cultures were bacteriologically sterile. During the first and second radium treatment, 21% and 25.5% of the patients respectively developed fever of 38 degrees C or more, the cause of which could not definitely be established. The significance of fever during radium treatment is discussed.

Adult↗

Relationships of seminal plasma prolactin with spermatozoal characteristics and fertilizing capacity in vitro.

Seminal plasma prolactin (PRL) levels were determined in 224 semen samples collected from fertile and suspected infertile men, and their relationships with spermatozoal characteristics and fertilizing capacity in vitro were evaluated. PRL concentrations were similar in normospermic and oligospermic samples, but were significantly lower in azoospermic samples. PRL concentrations were significantly higher in samples with high spermatozoal motility than in those with low spermatozoal motility. There were no significant differences in PRL concentrations between normal-morphology and abnormal-morphology samples, and between high-fertilizing capacity and low-fertilizing capacity samples. A low degree of positive correlation was observed between the PRL concentration and the spermatozoal motility. There were no significant correlations between the PRL levels, the other spermatozoal characteristics, and the spermatozoal fertilizing capacity in vitro. These findings indicate that the seminal plasma PRL levels are significantly depressed in azoospermic subjects and suggest that the seminal plasma PRL may play a role in the maintenance of spermatozoal motility. Whether there is a potential function of prolactin in semen on spermatozoal fertilizing capacity, however, cannot be inferred from the present study.

Animals↗

Oral etoposide in gestational trophoblastic disease.

Ten patients with persistent or metastatic trophoblastic disease following molar pregnancy were treated with etoposide orally, administered on an outpatient basis. All patients achieved sustained biochemical remission. The mean duration of treatment was 8 weeks. The side effects were mild. The use of etoposide in patients resistant to conventional chemotherapy is discussed.

Adolescent↗

High-dose cis-platinum in combination with adriamycin in the treatment of ovarian carcinoma.

Although promising potential of high dose cis-platinum in the treatment of ovarian carcinoma has been reported (6,7), a combination of adriamycin (60 mg/m2) and high dose cis-platinum (100 mg/m2) in 9 patients with advanced or recurrent ovarian carcinoma revealed no improved response compared to 13 patients receiving adriamycin (60 mg/m2) and cis-platinum (60 mg/m2). In addition to increased marrow toxicity, there is suggestion of synergism of cis-platinum to adriamycin cardiotoxicity. The efficacy of other agent/agents in combination with high dose cis-platinum should further be investigated.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Trends in perinatal mortality at a Hong Kong hospital.

Causes of perinatal mortality at Tsan Yuk Hospital, Hong Kong, were classified into 14 categories from the "P" list of stillbirths and neonatal mortality in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death. Trends for each category over the period 1970-1979 were examined by regression analysis. Overall perinatal mortality fell from 17.80 in 1970 to 10.94 in 1979. A low incidence of deaths from congenital abnormality and medical complication in the mother was observed. Significant statistical correlations were obtained in the trends in mortality associated with placental hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, difficult labor, hemolytic disease of the newborn, and prematurity. Improvements in perinatal mortality in these areas as well as inadequacies in perinatal care in other areas, are discussed.

Female↗

Pre-operative cervical dilatation in termination of first trimester pregnancies using 16, 16-dimethyl-trans-delta 2 PGE1 methyl ester vaginal pessaries.

The effect of a prostaglandin E1 analogue on the cervix prior to termination of first trimester pregnancy was studied in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial with 70 primigravid and 125 multigravid patients in the Hong Kong University Gynaecological Unit. One mg of 16, 16-dimethyl-trans-delta 2-prostaglandin E1 methyl ester (ONO 802) in the form of vaginal pessary was inserted 3 hours before vacuum aspiration. The cervical dilatation in patients receiving ONO 802 pessaries was significantly greater than that in patients who received no treatment or placebo pessaries but the difference in dilatation between patients who received no treatment or placebo was not significant. The blood loss during operation in patients receiving ONO 802 pessaries was also significantly less than that in patients receiving placebo pessaries. The side effects due to ONO 802 pessaries were mild and infrequent.

Abortifacient Agents↗

Stimulation of the zona-free hamster ova penetration efficiency by human spermatozoa after 17 beta-estradiol treatment.

17 beta-Estradiol (E2) stimulated the zona-free hamster ova penetration by human spermatozoa from both fertile and subfertile men after 5 hours of incubation in vitro. For spermatozoa samples from fertile men, the mean penetration rates increased significantly (P less than 0.05), from 35.6% +/- 3.5% (control) to 60.1% +/- 5.8% (E2 = 50 ng/ ml) and 50.5% +/- 2.6% (E2 = 100 ng/ml), respectively. E2 also increased the mean penetration rates of spermatozoa samples from subfertile men significantly (P less than 0.05), from 10.2% +/- 1.8% (control) to 30.5% +/- 7.2% (E2 = 50 ng/ml) and 33.1% +/- 6.6% (E2 = 100 ng/ml), respectively. These findings indicate that E2 can affect the fertilizing ability of human spermatozoa in vitro.

Animals↗

Schwangerschaftsprotein 1 (SP1) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with gestational trophoblastic disease.

The beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) and Schwangerschaftsprotein 1 (SP1) were measured by radioimmunoassay in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 46 postmolar and postpartum patients who developed gestational trophoblastic disease. There was a significant correlation between beta-hCG and SP1 serum levels. The mean serum SP1 level in high-risk patients was significantly higher than that in low-risk patients. There was a significant correlation between serum and CSF beta-hCG levels. The ratio of serum to CSF beta-hCG levels was low in the three patients with clinical evidence of intracranial metastasis. SP1 was present in the CSF of only one of these three patients, but it could be detected in the CSF of another four patients without clinical evidence of metastases in the central nervous system. The two low-risk patients with SP1 present in the CSF showed poor response to intramuscular methotrexate.

Brain Neoplasms↗