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Kar Fai Tam

Publications and source records attributed to Kar Fai Tam.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Potential use of the adenosine triphosphate cell viability assay in endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Adenosine triphosphate cell viability assay (ATP-CVA) was used previously to evaluate chemotherapy in uterine cancer cell lines. In this study, we have performed the ATP-CVA on endometrial cancer patients to study the feasibility of using ATP-CVA in endometrial cancer to determine the intrinsic chemosensitivity of the cytotoxic drugs. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma who presented for a staging operation were recruited. Endometrial cancer samples were obtained at the time of operation. In vitro ATP-CVA and chemosensitivity testing was performed using cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, etoposide, doxorubicin, 4-epidoxorubicin, and topotecan. RESULTS: Thirty-two of the 33 endometrial cancer samples were evaluable for SF50 (survival fraction at 50% of the peak plasma concentration [PPC]) using ATP-CVA. The median SF50 of carboplatin (0.33) was significantly less than the median SF50 of cisplatin (0.71), topotecan (0.93), paclitaxel (0.68), doxorubicin (1.0), etoposide (0.70), or 4-epidoxorubicin (0.88) (Wilcoxon signed rank test, P <.001). CONCLUSION: This study showed the feasibility of using the ATP-CVA in endometrial cancer to determine the intrinsic chemosensitivity of cytotoxic drugs.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2006

Single-dose methotrexate regimen in the treatment of low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of single-dose methotrexate in women with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective observational cohort study, 105 women with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia were treated with an intravenous bolus of 100 mg/m2 of methotrexate followed by a 12-hour infusion of 200 mg/m2. If the human chorionic gonadotropin level fell 10-fold after 2 weeks, no further chemotherapy was given. Characteristics between the 2 groups with or without complete remission with this regimen were compared. RESULTS: The overall complete remission rate with methotrexate was 84.8%, with 44.8% of women requiring a single dose of methotrexate alone. The pretreatment human chorionic gonadotropin level was found to be significantly higher in women who failed the single-dose methotrexate regimen (P = .001), and 10 of 11 patients with metastases required further doses. CONCLUSION: This regimen offers an effective option for women with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia without metastases and a low pretreatment human chorionic gonadotropin level.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Semi-quantitative fluorescent PCR analysis identifies PRKAA1 on chromosome 5 as a potential candidate cancer gene of cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Comparative genomic hybridization has frequently detected amplification of chromosome 5p in cervical cancer, but candidate cancer genes within the region are rarely known. Therefore, we pursued to identify potential candidate gene related to cervical cancer development. METHODS: A series of 128 cervical tumor samples were examined by semi-quantitative fluorescent differential PCR for copy number changes on three candidate genes (PRKAA1, CTNND2 and POLS) mapped to chromosome 5p and one gene (ERBIN) mapped to chromosome 5q12.3. The impact of gene copy number was later analyzed in relation to HPV infection, tumor stage or tumor radiosensitivity. RESULTS: DNA copy numbers of PRKAA1, CTNND2 and ERBIN were significantly different from normal controls (P < 0.05). DNA copy number changes did not correlate with HPV infection, tumor stages or tumor radiosensitivity. Using RT-PCR, PRKAA1 mRNA expression in seven tumor samples with known 5p amplification was amplified from 3- to 15-fold. Over-expression of PRKAA1 was further confirmed by immunohistochemical staining on 125 paraffin-embedded cervical cancer tissues. The expression level in cervical tumor was significantly higher than that in normal epithelium (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PRKAA1 gene codes for the catalytic alpha 1 subunit of the AMP-activated protein kinase which is an important cellular metabolic stress regulator. It might assist tumor cells growth under stress. Thus, PRKAA1 may be one of the potential candidate genes for cervical carcinogenesis.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗
PubMed2005

Mild postnatal anemia: is it a problem?

Mild postnatal anemia is common. However, determination of postnatal hemoglobin level or iron supplementation are not routine in many obstetric units. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of mild postnatal anemia and iron supplementation on women. One hundred fifty women who had postnatal hemoglobin levels between 80 and 99 g/L were randomly assigned into two groups with iron tablets or placebo provided from the time of diagnosis until reassessment at 6 weeks. The patients' general well-being, hemoglobin levels, iron status, side effects, and compliance were assessed. One hundred twenty-two women returned for reassessment. Twelve (9.8%) of the 122 women recruited and four (3.2%) of 122 nonanemic matched controls complained of dizziness 2 days after delivery; the difference was statistically significant (chi2 test, p<0.05). At 6 weeks postpartum, significantly more women were anemic (chi2 test, p<0.05) and iron deficient (chi2 test, p<0.01) in the placebo group. The score of general well-being as assessed by a 4-point scale was significantly higher in the iron supplementation group (Mann-Whitney test, p<0.05). The amounts of drugs consumed in both groups were comparable and the incidences of side effects were similar.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Maternal hemoglobin and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in Chinese women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between high maternal hemoglobin concentration at the initial antenatal visit and occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the third trimester in nonanemic women. METHODS: In a prospective observational study, 762 nondiabetic Chinese women with singleton pregnancies, whose initial visit hemoglobin concentration and mean cell volume were 10 g/dL or more and 80 fL or more, respectively, recruited at 28-30 weeks, had blood drawn for repeat measurement of hemoglobin concentration and iron parameters. These women were categorized by their initial visit hemoglobin concentration into quartiles, and the incidence of GDM was analyzed together with the maternal characteristics and iron status. RESULTS: The final study sample comprised 730 women. Compared with the rest, the group in the highest hemoglobin quartile (more than 13 g/dL) had a significantly higher incidence of GDM (18.7% versus 10.9%, P =.007), as well as greater age, weight, and serum ferritin and iron concentrations. Logistic regression was used to examine the effects of high body mass index (more than 25 kg/m(2)), advanced age (older than 34 years), parity of 1 or more, and hemoglobin in the highest quartile, on the incidence of GDM. Only advanced age (odds ratio 3.79, 95% confidence interval 2.33, 6.17) and hemoglobin in the highest quartile (odds ratio 1.73, 95% confidence interval 1.08, 2.78) emerged to be significant factors. CONCLUSION: A high maternal hemoglobin (more than 13 g/dL) at the initial prenatal visit in Chinese women is an independent risk factor for GDM. This may reflect a better nutritional status in these women, as suggested by the increased iron status.

Body Weight↗