Research Articles (Haematological Pathology)

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Browsing Research Articles (Haematological Pathology) by Author "Brink, S."

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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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    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.