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Biomedical subjects

R Venkatesh

Publications and source records attributed to R Venkatesh.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Personality and depression in Parkinson's disease.

The Parkinson's disease (PD) patient has been characterized as having a distinctive personality with introverted features. These personality traits are said to predate motor symptoms and are theorized to serve as a subtle clue to latent PD. To examine this hypothesis, we compared remote and current personality features in 35 PD subjects and 35 controls. Subjects' spouses completed a personality inventory (PI) characterizing patients' premorbid and current status. The premorbid PI of PD subjects differed from that of controls in being more "quiet," "generous," "cautious," and "even-tempered," and less "flexible." The characterization of the PD subjects' current personality differed greatly from reported premorbid personality features, i.e., significant change in 13 of 24 PI items. Personality inventory responses regarding both the PD subjects' premorbid and current personality correlated to symptoms of depression and disease severity. Cognition, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and rural versus urban residency did not correlate with PI responses. We conclude that PD patients are apt to be viewed as introverts premorbidly, and, with disease onset, more striking personality changes are recognized. These perceptions appear to be closely linked to depressed affect and correlate with motor impairment to a lesser extent.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1993

Serial nonenhancing magnetic resonance imaging scans of high grade glioblastoma multiforme.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from clinical experience has proven to be superior to all other diagnostic imaging modalities, including computed tomography (CT) in the detection of intracranial neoplasms. Although glioblastoma multiforme presents a challenge for all diagnostic imaging modalities including MRI, MRI is paramount to CT in detecting subtle abnormal water accumulation in brain tissue caused by tumor even before there is disruption of the blood brain barrier. Currently, clinical research and investigational trials on nonionic gadolinium contrast agents have proven that nonionic gadolinium HP-DO3A (ProHance) contrast agents have lower osmolality and greater stability, which make them superior compounds to gadolinium diethylenetriamine-pentacetic acid (Gd-DTPA). Therefore, the nonionic gadolinium contrasts have been safely administered more rapidly, in higher or multiple doses for contrast enhanced MRI without adverse side effects or changes in serum iron or total bilirubin, and the intensity of the area of enhancement and number of lesions detected were superior to that of Gd-DTPA (Magnevist) at the standard dose (0.1 mmol/Kg). Perhaps if the nonionic gadolinium contrast agent, ProHance, had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when this MRI was performed in 1990 it would have aided in providing contrast enhancement and visualization of the tumor lesion to assist in patient diagnosis and management. Magnetic resonance imaging also provides unique multiplanar capabilities that allow for optimal visualization of the temporal and occipital lobes of the brain without bone interference.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1988

Sensory motor neuropathy associated with AIDS.

Clinical, laboratory, and pathologic observations in six patients with sensory motor peripheral neuropathy associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are presented. Blood and urine testing failed to reveal other causes for peripheral neuropathy. Distinctive CSF findings included elevated human immunodeficiency virus-specific indices. Peripheral nerve pathology confirmed the results of electrodiagnostic studies and revealed axonal loss and demyelination. Epineurial and endoneurial mononuclear infiltrates were present in three patients, and in one with early neuropathy, retroviral-like particles were present in peripheral nerve axoplasm. The findings indicate that in some patients with AIDS, neuropathy may be the direct result of a viral insult, although the causes are likely multifactorial.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Magnetic resonance imaging of an adult with the Dandy-Walker syndrome.

A 30-year-old retired veteran was asymptomatic for two decades; he had carried out normal everyday living activities and was self-supporting. It was not until he was struck by an automobile, which resulted in head trauma, that the Dandy-Walker syndrome was incidentally discovered by computed tomography. Most patients with the Dandy-Walker syndrome or malformation are infants and seldom live into adulthood. Therefore, this patient is one of the very few patients with this malformation who remained in a state of cerebrospinal fluid compensation and lived to adulthood.The head trauma he received in the accident is believed to have activated neurological deficits, visual impairment, and diplopia. Although magnetic resonance imaging revealed severe hydrocephalus and lobar holoprosencephaly, the patient had no symptoms of increased intracranial pressure and no craniofacial deformities except for macrocephaly, and was capable of performing everyday living activities adequately.

Adult↗