Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S C Poh

Publications and source records attributed to S C Poh.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis--treatment with progesterone.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is a rare devastating disease affecting women mostly of child-bearing age. It presents with spontaneous pneumothorax, chylous effusions, hemoptysis and progressive breathlessness. Most patients die from respiratory failure within 10 years. There are no controlled studies on the efficacy of various treatment regimens. We report our experience with progesterone therapy in three patients. Two failed to respond, one died about 11 years after presentation and another after 5 1/2 years. The third patient has survived 11 years after onset of disease.

Adult↗

Occupational asthma in Singapore--a review of cases from 1983 to 1990.

One of the newer occupational diseases in Singapore is occupational asthma. As on 31 December 1990 there were 35 confirmed cases of occupational asthma in the official statistics on occupational disease. We report in this paper our observations and experience based on these cases. The problem of under-reporting and the importance of early diagnosis are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia presenting with pleuropulmonary and gastric manifestations.

A case of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is reported in which the main clinical presentation was related to pulmonary infiltrations and pleural effusion. Serum protein studies demonstrated the characteristic monoclonal increase in immunoglobulin M (IgMK). Pleural and percutaneous lung biopsies showed dense lymphocytic infiltration. Gastric biopsy also showed focal atypical lymphoid hyperplasia. There was good clinical and radiological response to treatment with chlorambucil and prednisolone.

Aged↗

Occupational asthma due to isocyanates in Singapore.

Nine cases of occupational asthma due to isocyanates are described. The isocyanates involved included toluene diisocyanate (TDI), diphenyl-methane diisocyanate (MDI) and polyisocyanates. The importance of asking the occupational history in a patient with asthma is illustrated. The importance of early diagnosis and removal from further exposure is also discussed.

Adolescent↗

Sleep apnoea syndrome--a report of 14 cases.

Patients with sleep apnoea syndrome suffer considerable morbidity and an increased mortality. We reviewed the characteristics of 14 patients with sleep apnoea syndrome (11 males and 3 females) who were studied since 1986. All were less than or equal to 60 years of age with the majority in their 4th and 5th decade. Obesity was present in 8 patients (57%) and hypertension in 6 (43%). Overnight sleep studies showed that 11 patients had obstructive sleep apnoea, 2 had central and one had predominantly mixed sleep apnoea. Ten patients (71%) had some form of nose and/or throat pathology. Tonsillectomy seemed an effective therapeutic procedure in those with upper airway obstruction due to enlarged tonsils. Four out of 5 patients had significant symptomatic improvement post-tonsillectomy. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure was also effective in alleviating apnoeas and relieving symptoms in 4 other patients who had no obvious upper airway obstruction. A high proportion of our patients had obstructive sleep apnoea due to enlarged tonsils. Tonsillectomy offered a simple and effective therapy for such patients. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure was also effective in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea.

Adolescent↗

The effect of fresh orange juice on bronchial hyperreactivity in asthmatic subjects.

We studied 16 mild stable asthmatic subjects to determine if orange juice increases nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity (NSBH). In 9 subjects, bronchial responsiveness to histamine was assessed before and after water ingestion on the control day, and orange ingestion on a consecutive day. The mean (+/- SD) ratio of log10 PD20 FEV1 after water: log10 PD20 FEV1 before water (1.00 +/- 0.13) was not significantly different from the mean (+/- SD) ratio of log10 PD20 FEV1 after orange: log10 PD20 FEV1 before orange (0.97 +/- 0.12). To avoid the possibility of histamine tachyphylaxis, 7 subjects participated in a second protocol in which histamine PD20 FEV1 was determined on a control day (geometric mean 0.11 mg.) and again two days later, thirty minutes after ingestion of orange juice (geometric mean 0.06 mg). There was no significant difference in the PD20 FEV1 (p = 0.344). Our data show that ingestion of fresh orange juice per se did not heighten NSBH in our subjects. (PD20 FEV1 is the dose of histamine required to produce a twenty percent fall in forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1]).

Adolescent↗

The breathing patterns in Chinese and Indian adult males in the supine posture.

The breathing patterns in the supine posture during inspiration from functional residual capacity (simulating the "liver palpation" manoeuvre) were studied in two groups of young adult male Chinese and Indians with each group comprising 30 subjects. Both groups were matched for age, height and weight. Although the findings did not reach a statistically significant level, Indian subjects were found to breathe more with their abdomen compared to the Chinese during the manoeuvre. The two groups behaved similarly when they breathed with increasing amplitude from their resting tidal volume to full inspiratory capacity. There was also no difference between the two groups when they performed the total lung capacity manoeuvre.

Adult↗

Occupational asthma due to unheated polyvinylchloride resin dust.

Polyvinylchloride (PVC) resins are widely used in industry. Asthma due to the thermal degradation products of PVC are well documented. In this first case of occupational asthma due to unheated PVC resin dust the patient was exposed to PVC resin dust during the mixing of chemicals used for making plastic seals for bottle caps.

Adult↗

Mild haemolysis associated with flu-syndrome during daily rifampicin treatment--a case report.

We describe a woman with the 'flu' like syndrome and haemolysis whilst on a supervised daily rifampicin regimen for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Although these are known complications of rifampicin therapy, they often occur when therapy is intermittent or interrupted. Hence the case we describe is unique and is the first of its kind to be reported in Singapore.

Adult↗

Aeromonas endocarditis in a patient with chronic hepatitis-B infection.

Aeromonas, a genus of gram-negative bacteria normally found in water and soil, is well established as a pathogen in the animal kingdom. Often considered as a pathogen of low virulence, its role in human infections has recently been recognised. Aeromonas infections in humans range from cellulitis to septicaemia. Endocarditis is rare. We describe here a patient with a chronic liver disease with aeromonas bacteremia and endocarditis.

Aeromonas↗

Carcinoma of the lung with metastases to skeletal muscles.

A prominent feature of the natural history of carcinoma of the lung is that it invariably metastasizes to other organs. The well-known sites include lymph nodes, liver, adrenals, bones and brain. Spread is mainly by lymphatic and haematogenous routes, or by direct extension. However, like many other primary malignancies, the spread of carcinoma of the lung to skeletal muscles is rare. This is despite its bulk and abundant blood supply. Why this is so is unknown. A search of the literature revealed only 3 published case reports of carcinoma of the lung spreading to skeletal muscles. In this paper, we report a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung with multiple metastases to skeletal muscles.

Arm↗

Respiratory function in cadmium battery workers--a follow-up study.

The lung function status of workers in a cadmium-nickel battery factory was re-examined 3 years after an initial study which showed a mild restrictive effect. During this period, further measures were taken to reduce the cadmium exposure. Of the 44 'original' cadmium-exposed workers, 17 were still exposed to cadmium. Another 13 were transferred to non-cadmium work at least 6 months and 14 left the company at least 1 year before the present study. Blood and urine cadmium concentrations were considerably lower than previously, consistent with the decreased cadmium-in-air levels. The total lung capacity increased both in the workers who were still exposed to cadmium and those who ceased exposure. The latter group also had increased vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms decreased particularly in the workers who were no longer exposed to cadmium.

Adult↗