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Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 179 in total

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pS2 expression in infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast correlates with oestrogen receptor positivity but not with histological grade and lymph node status

Looi LM, Azura WW, Cheah PL, Ng MH

Pathology, 2001 Aug;33(3):283-6.
PMID: 11523925

This investigation was carried out to gain insight into the prevalence of pS2 expression in invasive ductal breast carcinoma in the Malaysian population and its correlation with oestrogen receptor (ER) protein expression and tumour aggressiveness. Seventy consecutive infiltrating ductal breast carcinomas treated with mastectomy and axillary lymph node clearance were investigated, using the standard avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase method with microwave antigen retrieval and commercial monoclonal antibodies (Dako), for expression of pS2 and human ER. This was correlated against histological grade (modified Bloom and Richardson) and the presence of axillary lymph node metastasis of these carcinomas. Four (5.7%) were grade 1, 40 (57.1%) grade 2 and 26 (37.1%) grade 3 tumours. A total of 45 (64%) showed histological evidence of axillary lymph node metastasis. Forty (57%) were ER-positive, while 31 (44%) were pS2-positive. There was a statistically significant correlation between pS2 and ER expressions (chi2-test with Yates correction: P<0.005). There was no correlation between pS2 expression and histological grade (P>0.1) and the presence of lymph node metastasis (P>0.1). Our findings support the views that pS2 may be a co-marker of endocrine responsiveness in invasive breast cancer and that it does not influence breast cancer biology in terms of potential for metastatic spread.
A case of childhood hepatitis B virus infection related primary hepatocellular carcinoma with short malignant transformation time

Cheah PL, Looi LM, Lin HP, Yap SF

Pathology, 1991 Jan;23(1):66-8.
PMID: 1648195

A case of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) developing in a 10 year old boy who contracted Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the course of maintenance phase chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia was seen at University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. This case is of interest in that it (1) supports an etiological relationship between HBV infection and PHC, (2) manifested a distinctly short malignant transformation time, and (3) draws attention to the possible contributory role of chemotherapy in increasing the risk of developing PHC.
Mesangial IGM in minimal change glomerular disease: a clinicopathological study in a Malaysian population

Looi LM, Wang F, Lam KL, Chua CT

Pathology, 1985 Jan;17(1):41-4.
PMID: 3889788

During a 6 yr period, 105 (69%) of 153 patients in whom a histological diagnosis of minimal change glomerular disease was made had renal biopsy tissue suitable for immunofluorescence examination. Thirty seven (35%) patients showed glomerular mesangial deposits of IgM. All the patients presented with the nephrotic syndrome. We found no significant difference in age and sex prevalence, presentation, response to therapy and glomerular morphology between IgM positive and IgM negative groups. This study suggests that there is no necessity to categorize IgM positive minimal change glomerular disease as a separate entity.
Cyclophosphamide-induced transitional cell carcinoma of bladder in lupus nephritis

Chow SK, Looi LM, Loh CS, Yeap SS

Intern Med J, 2002 Mar;32(3):114-6.
PMID: 11885838 DOI: 10.1046/j.1445-5994.2002.d01-29.x
Telomerase activation and human papillomavirus infection in invasive uterine cervical carcinoma in a set of Malaysian patients

Cheah PL, Looi LM, Ng MH, Sivanesaratnam V

J Clin Pathol, 2002 Jan;55(1):22-6.
PMID: 11825919

AIM: Telomerase activity was studied in invasive uterine cervical carcinoma to assess whether it was activated during cervical malignant transformation and to look for a possible association with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in a set of Malaysian patients.
METHODS: Histologically confirmed invasive cervical carcinoma and benign cervices were assayed for telomerase activity using a commercial telomerase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit. The same cases were subjected to PCR detection of HPV using type specific (HPV types 6b, 11, 16, and 18) followed by L1 open reading frame (ORF) consensus primers.
RESULTS: HPV was detected in 18 (13 HPV-16, one HPV-6b, four only L1 ORF) of 20 invasive cervical carcinoma and one (only L1 ORF) of 19 benign cervices. Raised telomerase activity (A(450 nm) > 0.215) was detected in 11 cervical carcinomas, with A(450 nm) ranging between 0.238 and 21.790 (mean, 3.952) in positive squamous carcinomas, whereas A(450 nm) was only 0.222 in the one positive adenosquamous carcinoma. Five of 11 cervical carcinomas in stage I, three of six in stage II, both in stage III, and the only case in stage IV showed telomerase activation. Increased telomerase activity was noted in five of the 12 lymph node negative, five of the seven lymph node status unknown cases, and the one case with presumed lymph node metastasis. Ten of 18 HPV positive and one of two HPV negative cervical carcinomas showed telomerase upregulation.
CONCLUSIONS: Telomerase is activated in invasive cervical carcinoma. Although larger studies are needed, there seems to be no clear association between telomerase upregulation and HPV status, although there is a suggestion of increased telomerase activity in squamous carcinomas and late stage disease.
Squamous cell carcinoma antigen as an adjunct tumour marker in primary carcinoma of the lung

Cheah PL, Liam CK, Yap SF, Looi LM

J Clin Pathol, 1994 Jun;47(6):535-7.
PMID: 8063936

AIMS: To determine (1) the detection rate of primary carcinoma of the lung by serological assay of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen); and (2) whether addition of seroassay of squamous cell carcinoma related antigen before treatment improves detection sensitivity.
METHODS: A prospective study spanning 27 months was conducted at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Serum CEA (Abbott IMx) and serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (Abbott IMx) from patients clinically suspected of having primary carcinoma of the lung, were assayed using the microparticle enzyme immunoassay method.
RESULTS: Thirty seven cases of histologically confirmed primary lung carcinoma were studied. Of these, 17 were squamous cell carcinomas, 10 adenocarcinomas, nine small cell carcinomas, and one large cell carcinoma. The patients' ages ranged from 34-82 years. The male:female ratio was 3.6:1. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen was raised above the cutoff value of 1.5 ng/ml in 94.1% of squamous cell carcinomas, 20.0% of adenocarcinomas, and 11.1% of small cell carcinomas. By comparison, CEA was raised above the cutoff value of 3.0 ng/ml in 70.6% of squamous cell carcinomas, 77.8% of small cell carcinomas, and 100% of adenocarcinomas. CEA and squamous cell carcinoma antigen were not raised in the patient with large cell carcinoma and in 14 healthy volunteers. None of 15 patients with a variety of benign lung diseases showed a rise of CEA, while two patients--a 25 year old Indian woman with pneumonia and a 64 year old Malay man with bronchial asthma--had raised squamous cell carcinoma antigen values above the cutoff. Serum CEA and squamous cell carcinoma antigen values did not seem to correlate with stage or degree of differentiation of the tumours.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that CEA is a good general marker for carcinoma, particularly adenocarcinoma. In contrast, squamous cell carcinoma antigen is more specific for squamous carcinoma.
Fulltext Localised pigmented villonodular synovitis presenting as anterior knee pain

Goh JH, Saravanan S, Ng WM, Looi LM, Ali R

Malays Orthop J, 2010;4(1):50-52.
MyJurnal

We report a case of a 21 years old female who presented with a history of anterior knee pain for previous 3 months. Pain was localized to the anteromedial aspect of the left knee and aggravated by flexion. Clinical examination revealed a 2x2cm painful lump on the anteromedial aspect of the left medial condyle with no effusion. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an anterosuperior tear of the medial collateral ligament. The patient subsequently underwent left knee arthroscopic examination. Two yellowish pedunculated masses arising from the anteromedial portion of the synovium were discovered and completely excised. Histopathological examination of the excision biopsy revealed pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) with marked central necrosis. One year post excision, she is well with no signs or symptoms of recurrence. This case highlights an uncommon cause of anterior knee pain. Localized PVNS typically presents with mechanical symptoms, however, pain could arise from pedicle torsion and necrosis.
Fulltext Assessment of Telomere Length in Archived Formalin-Fixed, Paraffinized Human Tissue Is Confounded by Chronological Age and Storage Duration

Kong PL, Looi LM, Lau TP, Cheah PL

PLoS One, 2016;11(9):e0161720.
PMID: 27598341 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161720

Telomeres shorten with physiological aging but undergo substantial restoration during cancer immortalization. Increasingly, cancer studies utilize the archive of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues in diagnostic pathology departments. Conceptually, such studies would be confounded by physiological telomere attrition and loss of DNA integrity from prolonged tissue storage. Our study aimed to investigate these two confounding factors. 145 FFPE tissues of surgically-resected, non-diseased appendixes were retrieved from our pathology archive, from years 2008 to 2014. Cases from 2013 to 2014 were categorized by patient chronological age (0-20 years, 21-40 years, 41-60 years, > 60 years). Telomere lengths of age categories were depicted by telomere/chromosome 2 centromere intensity ratio (TCR) revealed by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization. Material from individuals aged 0-20 years from years 2013/2014, 2011/2012, 2009/2010, and 2008 were compared for storage effect. Telomere integrity was assessed by telomere fluorescence intensity (TFI). Epithelial TCRs (mean ± SD) for the respective age groups were 4.84 ± 2.08, 3.64 ± 1.21, 2.03 ± 0.37, and 1.93 ± 0.45, whereas corresponding stromal TCRs were 5.16 ± 2.55, 3.84 ± 1.36, 2.49 ± 1.20, and 2.93 ± 1.24. A trend of inverse correlation with age in both epithelial and stromal tissues is supported by r = -0.69, p < 0.001 and r = -0.42, p < 0.001 respectively. Epithelial TFIs (mean ± SD) of years 2013/2014, 2011/2012, 2009/2010 and 2008 were 852.60 ± 432.46, 353.04 ± 127.12, 209.24 ± 55.57 and 429.22 ± 188.75 respectively. Generally, TFIs reduced with storage duration (r = -0.42, p < 0.001). Our findings agree that age-related telomere attrition occurs in normal somatic tissues, and suggest that an age-based reference can be established for telomere studies on FFPE tissues. We also showed that FFPE tissues archived beyond 2 years are suboptimal for telomere analysis.
Mammographic breast glandularity in Malaysian women: data derived from radiography

Jamal N, Ng KH, McLean D, Looi LM, Moosa F

AJR Am J Roentgenol, 2004 Mar;182(3):713-7.
PMID: 14975974

This study was undertaken to estimate mammographic breast glandularity in Malaysian women from radiographic data.
Fulltext Aetiology and outcome of neonatal cholestasis in Malaysia

Lee WS, Chai PF, Boey CM, Looi LM

Singapore Med J, 2010 May;51(5):434-9.
PMID: 20593150

Little is known about the epidemiology, causes and outcomes of neonatal cholestasis in the Asian population beyond Japan and Taiwan.
Fulltext Rhabdomyosarcoma in childhood a 13 year review from the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur 1967 - 1980

Sinniah D, Tan HM, Lin HP, Looi LM

Singapore Med J, 1981 Jun;22(3):158-65.
PMID: 7302623

A review of rhabdomyosarcoma in childhood reveals that the pattern and results of treatment have changed with the introduction of multimodal therapy. Outcome in our series have been poor due to advanced disease, poor compliance to follow up resulting from poor socio-economics and educational levels of our patients and their faith in traditional medicine. Improvement in the prognosis can only be anticipated with earlier diagnosis and reduction in defaulter rate.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumour in a jejunal diverticulum: The eighth reported case worldwide with a brief review of the literature

Chiew SF, Toh YF, Looi LM, Cheah PL

Malays J Pathol, 2023 Dec;45(3):473-478.
PMID: 38155388

Jejunal diverticulosis is uncommon and so are gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) arising in the jejunum. GIST arising in a jejunal diverticulum is a rarity and to date there are only 7 cases in the English literature. Our case of GIST occurring in a jejunal diverticulum of a 48-year-old lady would be the first reported in Malaysia and the 8th in the world. As in most cases, the clinical presentation and radiological findings of this patient were non-specific. With a history of acute abdominal pain, vomiting and fever, the patient was provisionally diagnosed as a case of twisted ovarian cyst and subjected to laparotomy. An intact roundish jejunal diverticulum 5.0 cm x 5.0 cm, about 50 cm distal to the duodeno-jejunal junction was found and resected with a segment of small intestine. Microscopic examination showed a tumour of the cut open diverticular wall, with epithelioid to spindled cells, demonstrating a mitotic rate of 1-2 per 5 mm2, confined to, while infiltrating the wall of the diverticulum. The immunohistochemical profile of positive staining for CD117, DOG-1, smooth muscle actin and CD34, and negative expression of desmin and S100 protein, clinched the diagnosis of GIST. Based on the AFIP Criteria for risk stratification,1 the patient was categorised as having moderate risk for disease progression, and was not offered further targeted imatinib as an immediate measure. The patient has remained well at the time of writing i.e. 8 months following excision, and continues on active surveillance by the surgical and oncological teams, with the option of imatinib, should the necessity arise. This case is presented not merely for the sake of documenting its rarity, but as a reminder to stay alert for uncommon conditions in histopathology practice.
Fulltext Scientific misconduct encountered by APAME journals: an online survey

Looi LM, Wong LX, Koh CC

Malays J Pathol, 2015 Dec;37(3):213-8.
PMID: 26712665 MyJurnal

In June 2015, invitations were sent by email to 151 APAME journals to participate in an online survey with an objective of gaining insight into the common publication misconduct encountered by APAME editors. The survey, conducted through SurveyMonkey over a 20-day-period, comprised 10 questions with expansions to allow anecdotes limited to 400 characters, estimated to take less than 10 minutes to complete. Only one invitation was issued per journal, targeting (in order of priority) editors, editorial board members and editorial staff, and limited by email availability. 54 (36%) journals responded. 98% of respondents held Editor or Editorial Board positions. All respondent journals have editorial policies on publication ethics and 96% provide instructions related to ethics. 45% use anti-plagiarism software to screen manuscripts, the most popular being iThenticate, CrossCheck and Turnitin. Up to 50% of journals had encountered studies without IRB approval. Author misconduct encountered were (in rank order): plagiarism (75%), duplicate publication (58%), unjustified authorship (39%), authorship disputes (33%), data falsification (29%), data/image manipulation (27%), conflict of interest (25%), copyright violation (17%) and breach of confidentiality (10%). Reviewer misconduct encountered were: conflict of interest (19%), plagiarism (17%), obstructive behavior (17%), abusive language (13%) and breach of confidentiality (13%). Notwithstanding the limitations of the survey and the response rate, a few insights have been gained: (1) the need for strengthening the ethical culture of researchers/authors and reviewers, (2) anti-plagiarism software can improve plagiarism detection by about 15%, and (3) the need for technical support to detect plagiarism, duplicate publication and image manipulation.
Fulltext A comparison of 1995 WHO classification with 2003 ISN/RPS classification of lupus nephritis: a single centre observation

Chow TK, Looi LM, Cheah PL

Malays J Pathol, 2015 Dec;37(3):239-46.
PMID: 26712669

BACKGROUND: In the past, lupus nephritis was histologically classified according to the 1995 WHO Classification. With the introduction of the 2003 ISN/RPS Classification, many nephropathology services converted to this new classification. This study was undertaken to compare both classification systems in a single centre practice.
METHODS: 103 consecutive adequate renal biopsies initially reported as lupus nephritis in the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya were reassessed using the criteria of both the 1995 WHO Classification and the 2003 ISN/ RPS Classification.
RESULTS: The relative prevalence for each class using the WHO Classification were: Class I (1%), Class II (8.7%), Class III (6.8%), Class IV (60.2%), Class V (20.4%), Class VI (2.9%) while the prevalence using the 2003 ISN/RPS Classification were: Class I (1%), Class II (8.7%), Class III (6.8%), Class IV (61.2%), Class V (21.3%), Class VI (1%). Both classifications were essentially comparable with regards to Classes I, II and III. The differences in Classes IV, V and VI were significant in potential to alter patient management. The identification of segmental lesions (Class IV-S) over and above a global nephritis (Class IV-G) deserves more focused clinicopathological studies to gauge whether these groups have different clinical manifestations and outcomes. With regards Class V, the ISN/RPS system, by requiring that all mixed classes be stipulated in the diagnostic line, minimizes the chances of patients missing out on additional treatment. The ISN/ RPS system has stricter criteria for Class VI, which again minimizes patients missing out on therapy. On the whole, the ISN/RPS system is more user-friendly as criteria are more clearly defined which translates to more benefits to patient care.
Study site: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tissue microarray immunohistochemical profiles of p53 and pRB in hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatoblastoma

Azlin AH, Looi LM, Cheah PL

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(9):3959-63.
PMID: 24935581

The tumour suppressor genes, p53 and pRb, are known to play important roles in neoplastic transformation. While molecular routes to the uncontrolled growth of hepatocytes, leading to primary liver cancer have generated considerable interest, the roles of p53 and pRb mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatoblastoma (HB) remain to be clarified. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of p53 and pRb gene products in 26 HCC and 9 HB, sampled into tissue microarray blocks. 10 (38%) of 26 HCC showed > 10% tumour nuclear staining for p53 protein, 3 of these also being HbsAg positive. Conversely, none of 9 HB expressed nuclear p53 immunopositivity. Some 24 (92%) HCC and 8 (89%) HB showed loss of pRb nuclear expression. Two of the 26 HCC and one of the 9 HB showed >10% tumour nuclear staining for pRb protein. Our results suggest that p53 does not have an important role in the development of HB but may contribute in HCC. There is also loss of pRb expression in the majority of HCC and HB, supporting loss of pRb gene function in the hepatocarcinogenesis pathway. However, a comparison of the staining profiles of p53 and pRb proteins in HCC and HB did not reveal a consistent pattern to differentiate between the two types of tumours immunohistochemically. Hence the use of p53 and pRB protein expression has no contribution in the situation where there is a diagnostic difficulty in deciding between HCC and HB.
Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses: a rare case

Tang IP, Singh S, Krishnan G, Looi LM

J Laryngol Otol, 2012 Dec;126(12):1284-6.
PMID: 23084156 DOI: 10.1017/S0022215112002435

We report a rare case of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses with intracranial extension, and discuss the management of this rare tumour.
Human papillomavirus in cervical cancers of Malaysians

Cheah PL, Looi LM, Sivanesaratnam V

J Obstet Gynaecol Res, 2011 Jun;37(6):489-95.
PMID: 21349124 DOI: 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2010.01386.x

With cervical carcinoma remaining the second leading cancer among Malaysian women, it is imperative to clarify the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in this respect, considering the dearth of local information.
Fulltext Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis in Malaysian patients--a report of five cases

Lee WS, Chai PF, Looi LM

Med J Malaysia, 2009 Sep;64(3):216-9.
PMID: 20527271

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is characterized by early onset cholestasis, progressive liver cirrhosis, pruritus, poor growth and inexorable progression to liver cirrhosis in early childhood. The serum level of gamma-glutamyl transferase is low or normal, which is discordant with severe cholestasis. Five Malaysian patients with PFIC, who all had typical features of PFIC with early onset of severe and progressive cholestasis, pruritus, cirrhosis and liver failure, were described. Three patients died as a result of the disease, while another one died due to post-liver transplant complication. The only survivor has compensated liver cirrhosis. Patients with severe cholestasis but has spuriously low yGT should be suspected of having PFIC. Liver transplant, which is life-saving in a majority of patients with PFIC, should be considered in all patients with PFIC.
Intraoperative methylene blue sentinel lymph node mapping in colorectal cancer

Chan SH, Ng C, Looi LM

ANZ J Surg, 2008 Sep;78(9):775-9.
PMID: 18844907 DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2008.04648.x

Isosulfan blue is not available for clinical use in Malaysia. This study describes the use of methylene blue as an alternative to isosulfan blue in colorectal sentinel node mapping.
alpha1-Antitrypsin deficiency is not an important cause of childhood liver diseases in a multi-ethnic Southeast Asian population

Lee WS, Yap SF, Looi LM

J Paediatr Child Health, 2007 Sep;43(9):636-9.
PMID: 17688648

We conducted a prospective study to determine the role of alpha1-antitrypsin (alpha1AT) deficiency in the pathogenesis of neonatal cholestasis and other childhood liver diseases in a multi-ethnic Southeast Asian population.

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