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Biomedical subjects

Y C Chia

Publications and source records attributed to Y C Chia.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Streptococcal pharyngitis in a primary care clinic.

A study to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Directogen Group A Streptococcal Test was carried out in a primary care clinic in University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. The study also looked at the prevalence of streptococcal pharyngitis in the clinic. We found that the rapid test has a sensitivity of 90.9% and a specificity of 90.7%. Viral pharyngitis is the commonest form (63%) of pharyngitis followed by Group A Beta haemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis (14.2%). The presence of exudates, tonsillar enlargement and the presence of tender cervical lymph nodes have a significantly higher association with streptococcal pharyngitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Late-onset hemorrhagic cystitis associated with urinary excretion of polyomaviruses after bone marrow transplantation.

Hemorrhagic cystitis is a well known complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and is normally attributed to the use of high-dose cyclophosphamide in the preparative regimen. Hemorrhagic cystitis occurring late after BMT is unlikely to be due to the effects of this conditioning, and probably has an infective etiology. Three patients undergoing BMT for chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) developed terminal dysuria and hematuria at 38, 56, and 149 days post-BMT. Electron microscopy (EM) of urine voided at these times revealed large numbers of papovavirions, which were subsequently identified as BK virus. Urine samples inoculated onto human embryonic lung fibroblasts induced infection of the cells and replication of the virus as detected by EM of tissue culture fluid. Urine from one of these patients was examined by standard cytological techniques, and EM of urothelial cells showed nuclear inclusions consisting of nonencapsulated virus particles of diameter 40 nm, consistent with papovavirus. Five further patients were found to be excreting BK virus without symptoms of cystitis, although one of these patients did experience abnormalities of liver function that were otherwise unexplained. BK virus has already been implicated in hepatic dysfunction posttransplant, and in cystitis in nonimmunosuppressed children. We postulate that it may also be involved in the etiology of late hemorrhagic cystitis after BMT.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The role of platelets in mesangial localization: carbon uptake in thrombocytopenic rats.

The role of platelets in mesangial localization has been studied in Lewis rats following a single intravenous injection of colloidal carbon 32 mg/100 g body weight. Following carbon injection there was an abrupt thrombocytopenia (peripheral platelet count at 10 min 165 +/- 107 X 10(3)/mm3). Temporary sequestration of platelets in lung, liver and spleen was demonstrated using quinacrine-labelled platelets. Carbon was quantitated in blood, lung, liver and spleen by digestion and spectrophotometry and in glomerular mesangium by particle counting of histological sections under oil-immersion microscopy. In thrombocytopenic rats (busulphan 17.5 mg/kg weight) blood carbon levels (up to 1 h after injection) were higher than normal controls (P less than 0.01) and mesangial carbon content at 24 h was significantly increased (P less than 0.01). No significant alteration in mononuclear phagocytic function was detected at 24 h. In platelet-restored thrombocytopenic rats, (busulphan-treated, infused with homologous platelets) blood and mesangial carbon levels were decreased towards normal values. These findings show that (1) platelets are involved in the initial removal of carbon from the blood (2) mesangial localization is related to blood levels and (3) platelet numbers affect both these parameters. The finding of increased mesangial deposition in thrombocytopenic rats may have significance for immune complex glomerulonephritis where platelet numbers may be low due to persistent platelet activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Differences in properties between aromatic amino acid: aromatic keto acid aminotransferases and aromatic amino acid: alpha-ketoglutarate aminotransferases.

Homogenates of rat liver transaminate phenylpyruvate (PP), as well as alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG), in the presence of L-tyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) or L-tryptophan. Aminotransferase activity with phenylpyruvate and DOPA, but not with tyrosine, was inhibited by excess phenylpyruvate. Tyrosine and DOPA aminotransferase activities with phenylpyruvate were more heat stable than the corresponding activities with alpha-ketoglutarate. Aminotransferase activities with phenylpyruvate were not significantly induced following intraperitoneal injections of cortisol, glucagon or serotonin, compared with a 3 to 7-fold increase in the aminotransferase activities with alpha-ketoglutarate. Tyrosine:phenylpyruvate aminotransferase activity rose 40% at night, compared with a 300% increase in tyrosine:alpha-ketoglutarate aminotransferase activity. The results suggest that aminotransferases catalysing transfers between aromatic keto acids and aromatic amino acids are separate enzymes from those utilizing alpha-ketoglutarate as the acceptor keto acid.

Animals↗