Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Varghese

Publications and source records attributed to A Varghese.

76 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Iga nephropathy, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and crescentic glomerulonephritis in a patient with the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome is an uncommon cause of renal dysfunction. Because of the risk of bleeding in this condition, few patients have undergone a renal biopsy. Renal dysfunction has been attributed to the deposition of ceroid pigment in the tubules and interstitial fibrosis. We report a case with renal biopsy findings of ceroid deposition and interstitial fibrosis, but also of mesangial IgA deposition, crescentic glomerulonephritis, and an interstitial lymphocytic infiltrate. Furthermore, perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies of the IgG subclass were detected in a blood sample. It is well known that ceroid pigment in this syndrome accumulates in monocytes, macrophages and T lymphocytes and it has been suggested that this may affect their function. We suggest that this novel combination of renal changes might be explained on the basis of alterations in immune mechanisms in the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Renal cell carcinoma: the experience of Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Kuwait.

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study was undertaken to analyze the profile of patients presenting with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and treatment outcomes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Records of 49 patients (36 male, 16 female, 21-75 years) treated at the Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Kuwait for RCC during the period 1993-1998 were analyzed. Forty-one patients had a nephrectomy, 18 postoperative radiotherapy and 1 patient also received adjuvant immunotherapy with interferon. Patients with metastatic disease were treated with a variety of agents including interferon, chemotherapy (vinblastine) or a hormonal agent (megestrol acetate). Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software package. Overall survival and disease-free survival were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients presented with symptoms classically associated with RCC. Metastases at diagnosis were seen in 9 patients (18%), with lung being the most frequent site. The commonest tumor subtype was clear cell carcinoma (32.6%). Thirty-nine patients (80%) achieved a complete response to treatment and relapse was documented in 10 patients (26%). The majority of failures were distant, with lung metastases being the most common. Response to salvage treatment was poor. Overall survival was 83% at 2 years. The disease-free survival was 68 and 45% at 2 and 5 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although many patients presented with advanced local disease, a majority achieved complete response after radical surgery with or without postoperative radiation therapy. Salvage of metastatic disease proved difficult with interferon, chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Validation of EORTC quality-of-life questionnaire in Indian women with operable breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) module QLQ-C30 and the breast cancer-specific module BR-23 have been validated worldwide to assess the quality of life (QOL) in women with breast cancer. No such study has been published on Indian women using EORTC questionnaires. METHODS: QOL was assessed in relation to surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy in 299 Indian women with operable breast cancer (OBC) at the Breast Unit of Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai, from October 1998 to September 2001. The QLQ-C30 module was used to assess physical health, emotional, cognitive and social functioning, and the BR-23 module to assess breast cancer treatment-related symptoms. Assessment was done at 3 visits: visit 1 (after surgery); visit 2 (during adjuvant therapy) and visit 3 (on completion of adjuvant therapy). RESULTS: Of the 299 women at first visit, 274 (91.6%) completed the visit 2 questionnaire and 239 (80%) completed the visit 3 questionnaire. Only those women who filled the questionnaires at all 3 visits were included as 'valid visits' for analysis (193 of 299; 64.5%). The reliability and validity of the English and translated versions of the questionnaires were tested by Cronbach alpha (0.61-0.96) and item-scale correlation (0.63-0.93). Women with breast conservation treatment had a superior body image as compared to those with mastectomy (p <0.001). Physical, emotional and cognitive functions were not related to the type of surgery. Global QOL, physical, sexual and role functioning were found to deteriorate with chemotherapy (p < or = 0.01). Radiotherapy had only local adverse effects (p < 0.001 ), while hormone therapy had no adverse impact on QOL. CONCLUSION: QLQ-C30 and BR-23 questionnaires can be used reliably to assess QOL in Indian patients. The translated versions were found to be valid for further use in clinical trials on Indian women with breast cancer.

Adult↗