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Biomedical subjects

K T Tham

Publications and source records attributed to K T Tham.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Combined silver Perls's stain for differential staining of ringed sideroblasts and marrow iron.

During a study of nucleolar organiser regions, a modified silver stain was found to be a sensitive marker for the iron in ringed sideroblasts, more so than Perls's stain when the marrow iron stores were low. To enhance the usefulness of the silver stain, a combined silver Perls method was developed. This stains the ringed sideroblast iron black and haemosiderin blue, thus rendering the detection of ringed sideroblasts easier even when marrow iron stores are excessive. AT the same time, it allows marrow iron content to be evaluated. The silver reagent in this combined method probably shows phosphate rather than the iron present in the abnormal mitochondria in ringed sideroblasts. This facilitates the differential staining of ringed sideroblast "iron" and haemosiderin.

Bone Marrow↗

Silver stain for ringed sideroblasts. A sensitive method that differs from Perls' reaction in mechanism and clinical application.

A modified silver stain is described for the demonstration of ringed sideroblasts in bone marrow. It is more sensitive than Perls' reaction for that purpose, especially when iron stores of marrow are low or absent. Ringed sideroblasts may still be demonstrable by silver stain in cases of sideroblastic anemia without ringed sideroblasts, for which severe iron deficiency prevents detection of the abnormal sideroblasts by Perls' reaction. As iron has been reported to be present in mitochondria of ringed sideroblasts in the form of ferric phosphate, it is possible that the silver stain demonstrates the phosphate moiety and not the iron, thus explaining its greater sensitivity in iron deficiency as compared to Perls' reaction. Further study is necessary to confirm the staining mechanism, to elucidate the composition of iron deposits, and to explain the pathophysiology of sideroblastic anemia.

Anemia, Sideroblastic↗

Post-traumatic fat embolism--its clinical and subclinical presentations.

A prospective study of post-traumatic fat embolism among a group of Chinese patients suffering from fractures demonstrated an incidence of 8.75% in fracture patients with overt clinical features and a mortality rate of 2.5%. In a multiple-fracture group the incidence of fat embolism was 35%. The significant findings of 64% of the patients with a low arterial pO2 and 52% with positive cryostat tests for fat globules suggested a high incidence of subclinical presentation. The presence of large vacuoles in the cryostat sections is demonstrated and its significance discussed. The 'iceberg' phenomenon of fat embolism syndrome should be well recognized, particularly in patients with multiple fractures.

Adolescent↗

Rh(D) fraction incompatibility causing hemolytic disease of the newborn. Report of two cases in a Chinese family.

Two cases of hemolytic disease of new born in a Chinese family are reported. The hemolysis was due to the production in the mother of antibodies against fractions A, C, and D of Rh(D) antigen. The fractions were absent in the mother's red blood cells which are Rh(DB) but present in her babies. Rh(DB) may be detected by the use of two types of anti-D sera, one with and the other without anti-DB activity. For transfusion purpose, all DB patients so tested, would be regarded as Rh(D) negative.

Adult↗

Kimura's disease with salivary gland involvement.

Fourteen cases of Kimura's disease involving parotid and submandibular glands in Chinese patients are described to draw attention to this unique lesion which has been reported mainly in the Chinese and Japanese literature. Blood eosinophilia is almost always present, there is a male preponderance and the aetiology is unknown. Surgical excision is recommended though irradiation and steroid therapy have also been used.

Adolescent↗

Malignant melanoma in an ovarian cystic teratoma.

A case of malignant melanoma arising from an ovarian cystic teratoma is reported. The tumor was resected, but the patient died of metastases in the abdominal wall, peritoneal cavity, liver, and lungs. The possible histogenesis of the tumor is briefly discussed.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Unusual clear cell tumor of the kidney in infancy.

A large renal tumor in a 7-month-old infant was composed entirely of lobules of clear cells with inactive nuclei. Electron microscopy demonstrated features indicative of origin from renal tubules. The infant remains well 15 months after resection.

Humans↗

A method for the measurement of ultra-low amounts of prostaglandins in inflammatory exudates using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

A GC-MS assay for PGE2 and PGF2alpha has been described. The method is highly specific and sensitive down to the sub-picogram level. The assay has been used to measure the time dependence of PG concentration in carrageenan-induced inflammatory exudates and the results compared with a bioassay. Estimates of the extraction and purification yield of PGs from exudates have also been obtained.

Animals↗

Adherence to gastric epithelial cells induces expression of a Helicobacter pylori gene, iceA, that is associated with clinical outcome.

Most persons infected with Helicobacter pylori strains that produce vacuolating cytotoxin and possess cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) genotype nonetheless remain asymptomatic, suggesting that additional genes are important in virulence. We hypothesized that adherence to gastric epithelium provides stimuli that induce expression of some virulence genes. Our aims were to identify expression of H. pylori genes induced by adherence and to determine if such genes were correlated with peptic ulceration, mucosal interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels, and gastric inflammation. RNA was isolated from an ulcer-derived strain and a gastritis-derived strain that were exposed or not exposed to gastric epithelial cells. These RNAs were used for random arbitrarily primed reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to identify newly expressed transcripts unique to the ulcer-derived strain following adherence. Clinical isolates of H. pylori were characterized for presence of the newly identified gene, and mucosal IL-8 and inflammation were examined in gastric biopsies from the source patients. A novel H. pylori gene, iceA (induced by contact with epithelium), was identified. DNA sequences revealed two families, iceA1 and iceA2. iceA1 strains were significantly associated with peptic ulceration and increased mucosal concentrations of IL-8. Both iceA1 and iceA2 were expressed in vivo by respective H. pylori strains in gastric biopsies. Adherence to gastric epithelial cells in vitro stimulates the transcription of iceA1, an H. pylori gene that is highly correlated with pathological outcome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗