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Biomedical subjects

D Dhar

Publications and source records attributed to D Dhar.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Do behavior changes herald physical illness in adults with mental retardation?

A longitudinal study of 62 individuals with profound mental retardation was conducted to determine if direct care staff can identify behavior change prior to identifying symptoms of acute illness. Results indicate that staff were able to notice changes in sluggishness prior to the onset of illness. Self-care behavior was of borderline significance and there was no significant change in eight behavior dimensions (vocalizations, peer conflict, stereotypy, aggression, self injurious behavior, restlessness, distractibility, and depression). This finding should alert physicians and caregivers to the importance of prompt response to symptoms. Reliance on behavioral observation of direct care staff is not always sensitive enough to pick up changes in health status in less restrictive residential environments.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Event-related evoked potential responses (P300) following epidural methylprednisolone therapy in chronic low back pain patients.

P300 event-related potentials were recorded in 12 patients with chronic low back pain following epidural methylprednisolone administration. The values of absolute peak latencies and amplitudes of P300 were recorded before (baseline) and on the 5th and 10th days following epidural injection. Intensity of pain was also recorded using a 10-cm visual analogue scale score. The absolute peak latency of P300 significantly decreased on the 5th and 10th days following epidural methylprednisolone (p < 0.001) when compared with baseline value. Visual analogue scores also decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after the 5th and 10th days of epidural methylprednisolone. These observations suggest that following epidural methylprednisolone administration in chronic low back pain patients, significant improvement in cognitive functions and pain relief go hand in hand.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Somatosensory evoked potential changes following electro-acupuncture therapy in chronic pain patients.

Somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded in 20 healthy volunteers and 20 patients with chronic pain undergoing electro-acupuncture therapy. The values of absolute peak latency and amplitudes of N19 and P22 in the control group were compared with the corresponding baseline values in the study group and after electro-acupuncture therapy at three stages during a 10-treatment cycle. On these occasions the intensity of pain was recorded using a 100 mm visual analogue scale score. Each patient in the study group had 10 treatments given on alternate days. The absolute peak latency of N19 was significantly delayed (p < 0.05) in chronic pain patients when compared to the control group. This increase in latency of N19 persisted after the first electro-acupuncture treatment (p < 0.05), tended to revert to normal after the fifth treatment (p > 0.05) and reverted completely to control values after the 10th treatment (p > 0.05). Visual analogue scores also decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after the fifth and 10th electro-acupuncture sessions. These observations suggest that there is an interaction of the neural mechanisms of electro-acupuncture with the thalamic generator of somatosensory evoked potentials i.e. N19.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A case of reversible paraparesis following celiac plexus block.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Permanent and acute reversible paraplegia following celiac plexus block (CPB) have been reported. We report a case of prolonged reversible paraparesis after alcohol celiac plexus block. CASE REPORT: A 72-year-old man with primary multicentric pancreatic tumor and multiple hepatic metastases underwent alcohol celiac plexus neurolysis for severe abdominal pain radiating to the back. The patient had complete pain relief after the block but developed paresthesia of the left leg, which then spread to the right leg. Subsequently, loss of flexion and extension of the muscles supplying the left hip, knee, and foot developed. Deep tendon reflexes were brisk on the left compared to the right, and both plantar reflexes gave flexor responses. Magnetic resonance imaging and myelography were normal. Motor-evoked potential recordings showed a spinal cord lesion with involvement of the pyramidal and spinothalamic tracts. Somatosensory-evoked potentials indicated a relative sparing of dorsal column pathways. Physiotherapy was started, the sensory changes gradually subsided, and the patient was discharged 30 days after the block with clinically insignificant neurological deficit. CONCLUSIONS: Paraparesis following alcohol celiac plexus block may be reversible over an extended period of time.

Aged↗