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Biomedical subjects

K Rao

Publications and source records attributed to K Rao.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Value of sequential computed tomography in the multimodality treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.

Previous assessments of the value of sequential computed tomographic (CT) scanning in brain tumor patients have suffered from the heterogeneous nature of the study populations in regard to (a) pathology, (b) treatment plan, and (c) time of scanning. This report is based on the first 21 of 30 consecutive cases of glioblastoma multiforme entered into a cumulative high dose chemotherapy study. Each patient received a maximal surgical resection, 5800 to 6300 rads of radiation therapy, and BCNU (1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea) chemotherapy (beginning at 100 mg/m2/day X 3 days) every 8 to 10 weeks for the life of the patient. CT scans were obtained pre- and postoperatively at each admission for chemotherapy; the scan at the time of the first BCNU course served as the postradiotherapy scan. Edema was present on 94% of the initial scans, and 94% of the tumors demonstrated contrast enhancement. In 70 instances it was possible to compare clinical status and an enhanced scan at the time of adjuvant treatment. When the scan was improved or unchanged so was the patient (46 of 46), but worsening of the scan was accompanied by worsening of the patient only 62% of the time (15 of 24). Sequential CT scanning proved useful in (a) detecting the positive effect of a treatment plan in clinically stable patients; (b) detecting non-tumor related causes of clinical deterioration; (c) detecting early treatment failure as a prelude to reoperation and/or a change in drug protocol before clinical deterioration; and (d) detecting asymptomatic complications of the treatment plan (i.e., a 20% incidence of ventricular enlargement).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

CSF rhinorrhea associated with the empty-sella syndrome.

The empty-sella syndrome consists of the abnormal extension into the sella turcica of an arachnoid diverticulum filled with CSF, which displaces and compresses the pituitary gland. Such a diverticulum can erode through the sellar floor and lead to CSF rhinorrhea through the sphenoidal sinus. Empty-sella syndrome should be considered a diagnostic possibility in patients with nontraumatic CSF rhinorrhea. Diagnosis and treatment are best accomplished with a team approach involving the otolaryngologist, neurosurgeon, neuroradiologist, and neuroendocrinologist. Definitive diagnosis requires pneumoencephalography and thin-section polytomography. Attention should be directed to the possibility of a coexisting pituitary adenoma. Treatment can be accomplished by a transseptal, transsphenoidal approach with localization and repair of the leak.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Birth weight and development of cerebellar cortex.

Postnatal development of the cerebellar cortex in the mouse is characterised by proliferation of cells of the external granular cell layer, migration of the granule cells across the molecular layer and simultaneous maturation of the Purkinje cells. At the same time, there is elaboration of the folia and fissures of the cerebellum. These features were studied postnatally in relation to the age and weight of the animal in the inbred strain of C3HeB/FeJ mice fed on standard diet. In every litter there was a difference in body weight of the various pups, and for the present study, the lowest and highest weighing animals from each litter were used. The observations presented here are on animals at the 1st, 7th, 13th and 24th days postnatum. It appears that the size of the cerebellum and the degree of the development of the cerebellar cortex are directly proportional to the weight of the animal for that age period.

Aging↗
PubMed1978

Transient pseudoleukocytosis caused by cryocrystalglobulinemia.

A patient with Sjögren's syndrome and cryoglobulinemia was found to have pseudoleukocytosis when a leukocyte count was performed on an electronic particle counter. This apparent increase in the leukocyte count was found to be caused by spontaneous crystallization of the cryoglobulin. Further studies showed that this phenomenon was transient. Disappearance of the spontaneous crystal formation without a change in the level of cryoglobulin suggests the possibility of an interaction between the cryoglobulin and a plasma component. Factors affecting spontaneous crystallization of cryoglobulins and the laboratory as well as the clinical implications of pseudoleukocytosis are discussed.

Cold Temperature↗
PubMed1977

Somatostatin in human cerebrospinal fluid.

To determine whether somatostatin is found in the hypothalamus and extrahypothalamic brain, we studied autopsy brain tissue by specific immunoassay. The hypothalamus contained the highest concentration (16.7 +/- 2.4 S.D. pg per microgram of protein), with small amounts in brainstem, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, pineal gland and spinal cord. Cerebrospinal fluid of seven neurologically normal persons also contained somatostatin in concentrations ranging from 15 to 55 pg per milliliter. To determine whether brain disease leads to abnormal cerebrospinal-fluid somatostatin, we examined 30 patients with neurologic disease, of whom 20 of 24 with cord or cerebral disease had concentrations above the highest normal level. The wide variety of diseases with somatostatin elevation suggests nonspecific leakage from damaged brain tissue. Cerebrospinal-fluid somatostatin may provide a good index of brain damage. Although correlated statistically with cerebrospinal-fluid protein, somatostatin concentration in five of 24 cases exceeded the upper limit of normal by 3 S.D. while protein was normal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Elevated CSF gamma globulins with cerebral "glioma.".

A patient with a six-year history of seizures and a shorter history of a progressive hemiparesis, had a glioma. A partial frontal lobectomy was performed. The cerebrospinal fluid, 38 days post-operatively, prior to irradiation, had an increase in gamma globulins. Following cranial irradiation the CSF gamma globulin level returned to normal and the hemiparesis disappeared. The significance of these CSF changes is discussed.

Brain Neoplasms↗