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Biomedical subjects

S Rao

Publications and source records attributed to S Rao.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Osteogenesis imperfecta as a differential diagnosis of pathologic burst fractures of the spine. A case report.

A 22-year-old man suffered two noncontiguous burst fractures of the thoracic spine after minor motor vehicular trauma. He was diagnosed with pathologic spinal burst fracture associated with osteogenesis imperfecta Sillence Type 1A. The diagnosis was based on the relatively minor nature of the trauma, clinical characteristics, roentgenograms, and detailed family history. Osteogenesis imperfecta, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of severe burst fractures of the spine.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1993

Biomechanical comparison of bone graft used in anterior spinal reconstruction. Freeze-dried demineralized femoral segments versus fresh fibular segments and tricortical iliac blocks in autopsy specimens.

This study compares the compression strength of frozen corticocancellous iliac blocks and short fibular segments with freeze-dried, partially ("surface") demineralized microperforated (FDPDM) short femoral segments. Three blocks from each iliac crest and segments from the fibular and femoral diaphyses were retrieved. The femoral segments were microperforated, demineralized for 24 hours, and freeze-dried. All were then loaded to failure in a stress testing machine. The FDPDM showed a significantly higher failure load and stiffness than the fibular segments and the iliac crest segments. The femoral and fibular segments were similar in strength but significantly higher than iliac crest grafts. Compared with commonly used frozen grafts, freeze-dried partially demineralized femoral segments may be used safely as axial load-bearing struts in anterior spine reconstruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Direct photoaffinity labeling of tubulin with taxol.

BACKGROUND: Taxol is a potent inhibitor of the replication of eukaryotic cells and has significant antitumor activity in human malignancies. The drug induces the formation of bundles of stable microtubules and blocks cells in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle. In vitro, taxol enhances the polymerization of tubulin to microtubules that are resistant to depolymerization. Although it is evident that taxol interacts with the tubulin-microtubule system, no information has been available on the binding site for the drug on the microtubule. PURPOSE: Our purpose was to determine if taxol binds to one or both of the tubulin subunits. METHODS: In the absence of a photoaffinity-labeled analogue of taxol, [3H]taxol was used directly to photolabel tubulin. A complex of microtubule protein and [3H]taxol was irradiated by ultraviolet light and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The radiolabeled drug preferentially binds covalently to the beta-subunit of tubulin, and the binding can be competed with unlabeled taxol. IMPLICATIONS: This observation is the first step in a study to determine the binding site for taxol on the microtubule.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1992

Climate and admissions for mania in the tropics.

Seasonality of admissions for mania has been commonly reported. Most reports are from temperature zones. We analyzed admissions for mania covering a 9 year period and looked for any seasonal trends using existing methods. No seasonal variation was found. The hospital lies in the tropical zone with a relatively constant climate. This may influence the seasonal pattern of relapses in affective disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Metastatic malignancy of the cervical spine. A nonoperative history.

Of 48 patients with spinal metastases treated at the Kenneth J. Norris Cancer Center at The University of Southern California Medical Center in Los Angeles, California between 1984 and 1987, 19 consecutive patients with cervical metastatic disease were identified and followed until death or remission. Prostate, breast, and lung neoplasms accounted for 57% of the cervical metastases. Associated nonspinal skeletal, extraskeletal, or multiple-level spinal metastases were seen in 95% of patients. Mean time from diagnosis of primary tumor to cervical metastasis was 29 months and mean survival after that was 14.7 months. Pain was the initial symptom in 89% of cases. No patient had neurologic deficit and three (16%) had slight radiographic collapse and deformity. Only one (5%) patient had documented instability. All patients had nonoperative treatment with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination. Irrespective, the pain recurred in all patients by 6 months. Nonoperative treatment may be appropriate in the absence of significant neurologic deficit or instability. The return of symptoms by 6 months warrants alternative modes of therapy.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Radiotherapy and verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity. A study of 107 cases.

One hundred and seven cases of oral verrucous carcinoma treated primarily with radiotherapy at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, India between 1977 and 1987 were analysed concerning location within the oral cavity, clinical extent, and effectiveness of radiotherapy. The most common site was the buccal mucosa followed by the buccogingival sulcus. Only 13.2% of the patients presented with T1 or T2 tumours and 32.7% had clinically negative nodes. Biopsy had to be repeated more than once in 22 patients to get confirmation of invasive carcinoma. The 5-year survival rate was 35% for stage III and 26% for stage IV. The treatment results with radiotherapy were comparable with those for ordinary squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. It is felt that the treatment policy for verrucous carcinoma can be the same as for ordinary squamous cell carcinoma. In order to prevent delay in diagnosis and treatment, proper cooperation between the treating oncologist and the pathologist is essential.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Breastfeeding and weaning practices in relation to nutritional status of infants.

During the critical period of infancy, breastfeeding and weaning practices play an important role in determining the growth of an infant. The present study investigates the issue by observing 225 infants from Low Socio Economic (LSE) class (n = 150) and High Socio Economic (HSE) class (n = 75) for weight, height, and feeding practices. Almost all artificially fed (AF) infants in LSE class were malnourished while this was not so in the HSE class. However, the proportion of malnourished children in the LSE class for partially breastfed (BF + AF) group was comparable with exclusively breastfed (BF) group and was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than AF group indicating protective effect of partial breastfeeding against risks of contamination associated with weaning foods in such communities: The real bottleneck thus appears to be the lack of knowledge of handling and giving weaning foods in adequate quantities. Educating mothers appears to be the meaningful solution for improving the nutritional status of infants in poor communities.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1992

Blood viscosity parameter correlation with types of leukemia.

We investigated the hemorheological, hematological and biochemical parameters in 30 cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), 21 cases of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and 30 cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The parameters studied include whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), red cell filterability, hematocrit, platelet count and aggregation, fibrinogen, hemoglobin, leucocyte count, bleeding time and lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH). In the cases of ALL we observed significant decrease in whole blood viscosity, hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count but an increase in plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, bleeding time and LDH activity. In the cases of AML, we observed increase in whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, ESR, fibrinogen, leucocyte count, bleeding time and LDH activity but decrease in the hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count. In the cases of CML, we observed an increase of whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, ESR, fibrinogen elevation but decreases in bleeding time. In all cases, red cell filterability was unaffected.

Blood Sedimentation↗
PubMed1992

Carcinoma of the ampulla of vater after curative treatment for Hodgkin's disease.

A 43-yr-old woman developed carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater 20 yr after being successfully treated for Hodgkin's disease with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Conditions related to the chronic effect of radiation, such as narrowing and fibrosis of abdominal tissue, hampered her diagnosis and treatment. After a total pancreatectomy to remove the carcinoma, the patient recovered. However, 15 months later, she developed severe digestive disturbances, adrenal insufficiency, pulmonary emboli, and vasculitis. She died the next month of sepsis and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Although her complications probably were related to residual effects from therapy and surgery, she had no clinical evidence of tumor recurrence.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗
PubMed1992

Population-derived comparisons of ambulatory and office blood pressures. Implications for the determination of usual blood pressure and the concept of white coat hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory blood pressures (BPs) have generally been reported to be lower than office blood pressures, but population-based data are lacking. METHODS: To better characterize ambulatory and office BP relationships, we explored the interrelationships of BPs measured in the office by mercury sphygmomanometry, 24-hour ambulatory BP measured with a portable device, and echocardiographic left ventricular mass in a random sample of 50 men aged 51 to 72 years drawn from a much larger pool. Office BP was based on the mean of 10 measurements performed over five visits. RESULTS: Among all participants, mean 24-hour ambulatory and mean office BPs were highly correlated: r (systolic/diastolic) = .90/.79; and both mean 24-hour and mean awake ambulatory BPs were significantly higher than mean office BPs. For the subsample not receiving antihypertensive therapy, mean ambulatory and office BPs were similar in terms of their associations with Penn left ventricular mass index (LVMI). No association between BP and left ventricular mass was observed among the subjects receiving antihypertensive medication. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a single session of 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring is unlikely to improve the determination of usual BP in older white men beyond that achievable with BP carefully measured over five separate office visits; and that white coat hypertension is rare in this population.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Prolonged breast-feeding and malnutrition among rural Indian children below 3 years of age.

Long periods of exclusive as well as partial breast-feeding in poor communities are of considerable importance from a nutritional standpoint, as it is in these communities that malnutrition is predominant. Although benefits of exclusive breast feeding have been well documented, those for partial breast-feeding have not been examined. The present study in particular examines the effects of prolonged breast-feeding, i.e. exclusive breast-feeding beyond 6 months or partial breast-feeding up to 2-3 years, in terms of prevalent malnutrition and morbidity among rural children. A total of 395 children were observed for weight, height, information on duration of breast-feeding, age at weaning and morbidity in terms of recent illness in the 7 days prior to the day of visit. Exclusive breast-feeding beyond 6 months and up to 12 months appeared beneficial in terms of reduced morbidity. Beyond infancy, there was no evidence of any protective effect of partial breast-feeding. This could be due to poor lactational performance of mothers and their unawareness about it resulting in inadequate weaning foods being offered to partially breast-fed children. Significant differences in male and female children in the extent of malnutrition pointed towards discrimination against girls even in respect of exclusive breast-feeding. The study highlights the need for advocating proper weaning practices while recommending prolonged breast-feeding in poor communities.

Age Factors↗