Browsing by Author "Brink, S."

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Allergic asthma in different population groups in the western Cape : causative and complicating factors
    (Health and Medical Publishing Group -- HMPG, 1988-02) Joubert, J. R.; Brink, S.; Hentzen, G. M.
    Allergic asthma is a disease with a well-defined aetiology, the recognition and elimination of which could be achieved with relatively simple and inexpensive prophylactic treatment. Some of the well-known factors - respiratory tract infections, exposure to cigarette smoke, specific antigens and regular application of prophylactic treatment - which could cause or complicate asthma were studied in groups of white and coloured patients. More respiratory tract infections occurred in coloured patients and they were more exposed to their own and secondary cigarette smoke. Pets and grass pollen allergenicity was more common among whites while allergy to Aspergillus fumigatus and Ascaris lumbricoides was found more frequently among coloured patients. Both white and coloured patients had problems with regular prophylactic control of their symptoms with inhaled β-stimulants, even after an average of two education sessions per patient, but this was of greater dimension for the coloured (60%) than the white group (27%) (P < 0.001). It is not possible to separate causative from genetic factors when studying asthma in different population groups, but recognition of prevailing causative factors for each group could stimulate an educational approach aimed at control by prevention rather than treatment of acute attacks.
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    Effects of puff adder venom on coagulation, fibrinolysis and platelet aggregation in the baboon
    (Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG), 1974) Brink, S.; Steytler, J. G.
    The in vitro and in vivo hematological effects of puff adder (Bitis arietans) venom in the baboon (Papio ursinus) with regard to its effect on coagulation, fibrinolysis and platelet aggregation were studied. There is a delay in the intrinsic coagulation mechanism with fibrinolysis and in vitro fibrinogenolysis. Normal human platelets demonstrated an extreme susceptibility to puff adder venom in vitro. The aggregation of platelets with small dosages of venom was irreversible. The effect is related to the dosage, and appears to be the result of multiple enzyme activities, some of which are heat labile. In minimal amounts there is evidence of consumption of blood coagulation factors with sustained thrombocytopenia, but no fibrinolysis, where heparin therapy might have a beneficial effect. With larger dosages of venom the thrombocytopenia, hemorrhagic effects and shock are not prevented or corrected by heparin and heparinisation might even be harmful. The effect of heparin should be further investigated, since it might have a place in mildly affected cases of snakebite, where absorption into the blood has been slow or intermittent. It might be indicated when antivenene is not available or when patients are sensitive to serum.
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    Leucocyte ultrastructure and folate metabolism in Down's syndrome
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1977) Gericke, G. S.; Hesseling, P. B.; Brink, S.; Tiedt, F. C.
    Electron microscopic and hematologic investigation of peripheral blood showed a higher percentage of leukemia like nuclear ultrastructural abnormalities in the leucocytes of 30 individuals with Down's syndrome (mean 6,3%) than in normal controls (mean <1%). Most of these aberrations consisted of nuclear membrane abnormalities. Red cell folate values were very low in the group with Down's syndrome. Although mean serum folate and vitamin B12 levels were normal in this group, these individuals displayed increasing macrocytosis and decreasing serum folate levels with age. The whole group with Down's syndrome showed an increased mean corpuscular volume (MCV). The percentage of ultrastructural abnormalities did not correlate with folate levels when they were analysed individually. The existence of nuclear membrane abnormalities and folate deficiency, both of which may be associated with increased chromosome breakage, may be partly responsible for the increased leukemia risk in patients with Down's syndrome.
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    Leukaemogenesis in Down's syndrome
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1977) Gericke, G. S.; Hesseling, P. B.; Brink, S.; Becker, W. B.
    Due to the fixed karotype and documented malignancy risk in patients with Down's syndrome, recently described aetiological factors can be assigned to their proper places in a conceptual framework for leukaemogenesis in these individuals. This is a more profitable approach than those in which various types of karyotypic patterns are matched to different malignancies. It seems that viruses may play a special role, but they need interaction with other factors, most of which are present in Down's syndrome. A unifying concept which may be helpful in establishing research priorities is presented.
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    Mielomatose in Suid-Afrika : neem die insidensie toe?
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1984) Brink, S.; Rosenstrauch, W. J. C. J.; Van der Merwe, A. M.
    Multiple myeloma was once thought to be extremely rare, with an estimated frequency of less than 0.1% of all malignant tumours. In 1964 Oettle reported that available mortality statistics showed 171 deaths in the 10-year period 1949-1958 in the RSA for Whites, Coloureds and Asiatics aged 20 years and older. During the 5-year period 1968-1972 however, 222 cases of multiple myeloma appeared in the mortality records of the Central Statistical Service. Since 1964 150 new cases have been diagnosed at Karl Bremer Hospital and later at Tygerberg Hospital, with an average of 15 new cases per year from 1978 to 1982. Four examples of familial myelomatosis and one of familial macroglobulinaemia were found at these two hospitals. On 1 January 1983, 48 patients were on record who had attended the Tygerberg Hospital Haematology Clinic and 78 who had attended Groote Schuur Hospital, giving a total of 126 patients under treatment in the Western Cape during 1982. In addition, for the 6-year period from January 1971 to December 1976, 162 patients were reported from the haematology clinics at the Johannesburg General Hospital and Baragwanath Hospital. The true incidence of multiple myeloma in the RSA is problematical because there is no National Cancer Register; establishment of such a register would need the co-operation of all doctors in the country.
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    Mielopoiese : 'n kinetiese benadering
    (Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG), 1975) Brink, S.; Steytler, J. G.
    The mechanisms of hemopoietic cellular proliferation are more clearly understood when the granulocytic, monocytic and macrophagic elements of the bone marrow are studied by means of in vitro cultures. Better physiological insight into stimulating and inhibitory factors is obtained in this way. These studies are of diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic importance in the clinical handling of myeloid leukemia and neutropenia. It can be accepted today that the concept of myeloid leukemia as a neoplastic process with an increased production of autonomous cell populations is to a large extent outdated, and these cells can be induced in vitro to differentiate into mature polymorphs. In the past it has been demonstrated that in vitro successes are followed by in vivo results, and in particular it is hoped that with the development of techniques for concentration of colony stimulating factor, that this might be of therapeutic advantage in selected leukemia patients in the future.
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    Platelet antibodies in immune thrombocytopenic purpura and onyalai
    (HMPG, 1981) Brink, S.; Hesseling, P. B.; Amadhila, S.; Visser, H. S.
    A prospective study was undertaken to assess the nature, incidence and natural history of platelet antibodies in patients with immune throbocytopenic purpura (ITP) and patients with onyalai, using an immunofluorescent technique. Twelve patients under 14 years old and 11 patients 14 - 75 years old with ITP, and 24 patients with onyalai were studied. Alternate younger patients were treated with corticosteroids. Ten of the 12 children with ITP had IgG platelet antibodies in their serum, which disappeared as the platelet count recovered. Steroid therapy did not change the course of the disease or the antibody response. Of the 24 patients with onyalai, 23 had IgG antibodies and 18 had IgM antibodies, which were still present after 14 days and unrelated to the rise in platelet count. Steroid therapy did not affect the platelet count or the antibody titre. The difference in immune response of ITP and onyalai points to a difference in aetiology. The clinical presence of IgM antibodies in onyalai fits the hypothesis that a toxin, possibly acting as a hapten, is responsible for this form of thrombocytopenia.