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Biomedical subjects

S N Chou

Publications and source records attributed to S N Chou.

100 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Neurologic deficits secondary to spinal deformity. A review of the literature and report of 43 cases.

Forty-three cases of neurologic complications of untreated spinal deformities are reviewed. Kyphosis, averaging 95 degrees, was present in all but one patient. The most common deformity was a congenital kyphosis, present in 17 patients. The complication was more common in males, in the presence of thoracic deformities, and in the second decade. Treatment consisted of anterior spinal cord decompression in 25 patients, laminectomy in ten, Capener decompression in six, correction and fusion in five, and Hyndman-Schneider decompression in three. Laminectomy gave the worst results; six of ten patients who received this treatment showed deterioration. Anterior cord decompression gave the best results, with 16 of 25 showing improvement. A treatment plan for this complication is proposed. A plea for prevention is made, as it is far preferable to avoid this dreaded complication by early fusion of kyphotic problems.

Adolescent↗

Hypogammaglobulinemia and Nocardia brain abscesses.

The host defense responses to Nocardia asteroides are not known. We have investigated a patient with common variable adult onset hypogammaglobulinemia who developed fatal disseminated nocardiosis. The patient had low levels of serum immunoglobulins; the total lymphocyte count was normal as were the percentages of circulating T and B cells. Transmission electron microscopic studies demonstrated typical N. asteroides within the brain parenchyma and nonspecific inflammatory changes in the central nervous system. The findings suggest that humoral immunity may play a major role in the host defense of patients with this disease.

Abscess↗

Neural and vascular tissue reaction to aneurysm-coating adhesive (ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate).

The effect of ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate (Aaron-2-Alpha) obtained from two different manufactures was evaluated in 37 cats divided into two groups. The first group (n = 28) received a 9-year-old preparation. The second group (n = 9) received recently acquired adhesive. Aaron-2-Alpha was applied to the left cruciate cortex and left femoral neurovascular bundle under barbiturate anesthesia. Normal saline was applied on the right side for control. Survival was allowed for 2, 4, 7, and 14 days after application of the adhesive. The 2-day survival was excluded in the second group. Neuropathological examination revealed meningeal necrosis, neuronal and axonal degeneration, vascular wall degeneration, thrombosis, and inflammatory reaction in both groups of cats. The compounds tested are far from satisfying the ideal requirements for their safe use. Chemical degradation may take place in the adhesives stored for prolonged periods of time. Adhesives obtained from two different sources may contain adjuvants of different toxicity. Severe local tissue reaction could produce marked neurological deficits when adhesives are applied in critical areas.

Animals↗