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Biomedical subjects

Sheffali Gulati

Publications and source records attributed to Sheffali Gulati.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus presenting with developmental delay and intracranial calcification.

A one-year-boy presented with constipation, fever, failure to thrive and developmental delay from the neonatal period. Investigations revealed persistent hypernatremia and deranged renal functions. Diagnostic work-up was suggestive of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI). Computerized tomography of head revealed calcification in the frontal, thalamic and basal ganglia region. The rare association of NDI and intracranial calcification is discussed.

Brain Diseases↗

Prevention of developmental disabilities.

People with developmental disabilities have problems with major life activities such as language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living. Developmental disabilities begin anytime during development upto 22 years of age and usually last throughout a person's lifetime. It reflects the person's need for a combination and sequence of special interdisciplinary or generic care, treatment or other services that are of life-long or extended duration and that are individually planned and coordinated. They currently represent a large proportion of the childhood illnesses and disorders. The causes can be environmental, genetic or multifactorial. Prevention is important to reduce the neuromorbidity in the society. Strategies for prevention are discussed which take into account the possible causal associations.

Child↗

Familial combined hyperlipidemia in a North Indian kindred.

Familial combined hyperlipidemia is the most common genetic hyperlipidemia and is responsible for premature coronary artery disease. It is genetically heterogenous and no single diagnostic marker exists. The authors report an affected North Indian kindred spanning three successive generations with a possible autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance and all of them had combined dyslipidemia [elevated total cholesterol, predominantly the low density lipoprotein (LDL) fraction and elevated triglycerides]. The proband, a 4-month-old male baby, was incidentally discovered to have a lipaemic serum and so further evaluated. Both the index case and his maternal grandmother, a non-obese diabetic (type 2) with hypertension, had an atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype. Lipaemia retinalis was documented in this baby but xanthomas and coronary artery disease were not noted in the kindred. The present case report highlights the failure of dietary therapy in the proband and explores new options.

Cholesterol↗

Duchenne muscular dystrophy: prevalence and patterns of cardiac involvement.

UNLABELLED: In about 10% cases of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), death is due to cardiac dysfunction. The recognition of cardiomyopathy in DMD is thus important. OBJECTIVE: To assess cardiac involvement in DMD patients by clinical, radiographic, electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic monitoring and correlate clinical parameters, CPK levels, presence of gene deletion and steroid therapy with cardiac involvement. METHODS: Thirty patients beyond 6 years age, with DMD in advanced stage disease/non-ambulatory were recalled. A detailed clinical evaluation, CPK levels, gene deletion studies were carried out. Cardiac investigations included Chest X-ray, 12 lead ECG and echocardiography. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were non-ambulatory at the time of enrollment. Symptoms or signs suggestive of cardiac dysfunction were seen in only 10%. Gene deletion was identified in 70.3%. Around one-third patients had cardiomegaly. ECG abnormalities were present in 93.3% patients and commonest abnormality was R > 4 mm in V1. Ejection fraction (EF) < 55% was observed in 64.2% and EF < 50% in 17.8%. CONCLUSION: Cardiomyopathy of DMD is characterized by lack of symptoms and few physical signs. Presence of subtle changes like sinus tachycardia may suggest early cardiac involvement. Thus echocardiography is required for evaluation of cardiac dysfunction. Presence of gene deletion was associated with higher CT ratio. Older children have been found to have higher heart rates. No other significant correlation with clinical parameters, CPK levels, genotype and steroid therapy was observed. Early detection possibly leads to appropriate treatment thus reducing the morbidity.

Age of Onset↗

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.

Myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia is defined as a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by leukoerythroblastosis, tear drop erythrocytes, extramedullary hematopoesis and varying degree of myelofibrosis. It may be idiopathic or secondary to a large number of conditions. Here is a rare case of myelofibrosis occurring in a patient with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Status epilepticus in Indian children in a tertiary care center.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical profile, immediate outcome and possible risk factors of SE in pediatric age group admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a tertiary care center. METHODS: A retrospective study of case records of 451 neuroemergency patients admitted in PICU in a tertiary care center between January 1993 to April 2000, out of which 30 patients had status epilepticus. They were evaluated for their clinical presentation, laboratory parameters, treatment profile and immediate outcome. RESULTS: The age group varied from 1 to 120 months with mean of 56.6+/- 46.5 months. Seventeen patients were less than 60 months. Sixteen patients (53.3%) presented with SE as first presentation without prior history of seizure activity. Nine patients died (30%) during hospital course. Seizure duration> 45 minutes (p-0.001) and presence of septic shock (p-0.001) were associated with significantly more mortality. CONCLUSION: There is a need to abort seizure activity at the earliest and this improves immediate outcome.

Age Factors↗

Diagnostic dilemmas in fulminant subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).

This report describes an eleven-year-old boy with atypical features of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare complication of measles. He had only visual symptoms for 2 months followed by rapid neurological worsening to a vegetative state in 10 days. A diagnosis of SSPE was made based on the history of measles, characteristic ocular findings, compatible magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalographic changes, and elevated ratio of cerebrospinal fluid to serum anti-measles antibody titers.

Child↗

Intermittent hyperammonemic encephalopathy in a child with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.

Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency is an X-linked disorder and the most common inherited cause of hyperammonemia. Clinical manifestations are more severe in hemizygous males who often present in neonatal period. Heterozygous females may be asymptomatic until juvenile or adulthood. Fluctuating concentration of ammonia, glutamine and other excitotoxic amino acids result in a chronic or episodically recurring encephalopathy. The authors report a heterozygous female with OTC deficiency who presented with recurrent encephalopathy.

Brain Diseases, Metabolic↗

Erythema annulare centrifugum with autoimmune hepatitis.

Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC) is a rare disease entity characterized by dense perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates in dermis. It has been associated with a few conditions, though its etiology is largely unknown. To our knowledge there has been no reported association with autoimmune hepatitis described earlier. This child also was positive for hepatitis C virus antibodies, though HCV RNA was negative. We should keep in mind the false positivity of hepatitis C antibodies before deciding on its therapy.

Erythema↗

Familial hypercholesterolemia.

Abnormalities in the lipid profile though uncommon in pediatric practice pose an increased risk for developing heart disease. Studies suggest that adult cardiovascular disease has its roots in children and young adults. A significant correlation between atherosclerotic changes in children and young adults and total and LDL cholesterol levels also exists. The association is particularly true for Familial Hypercholesterolemia. We report a young boy aged 14 years who presented with all the features of Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

Adolescent↗

Neurofibromatosis type I: spinal neoplasia without symptoms.

Neurofibromatosis1 (NF-1) or von Recklinghausen disease is the most common of the neurocutaneous syndromes. It is characterized by presence of hamartomas in multiple organs. Inheritance is autosomal dominant but spontaneous mutations are seen in half the cases. The authors are reporting a classical case of this syndrome with spinal neoplasia which was interestingly asymptomatic. Authorities seem to agree that because the risk of developing intradural disease is significant in patients with NF-1, a routine MRI of the entire spine should be obtained.

Child↗

Central core disease.

Central core disease is a congenital myopathy characterized by generalized hypotonia, muscle weakness and presence of central cores on muscle biopsy. It generally presents during infancy. It is familial with autosomal dominant inheritance [Chromosome 19q13.1; Gene Locus RyR1 (Ryanodine receptor gene)]. We report here two cases of central core disease in a 3-year-old male child and 8 year old female child.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in pediatric neurology.

In the last three decades a range of non-invasive biophysical techniques have been developed, of which Magnetic Resonance (MR) has proved to be the most versatile. Its non-invasive and safe nature has made it the most important diagnostic and research tool in clinical medicine. MR Spectroscopy (MRS) is the only technique in clinical medicine that provides non-invasive access to living chemistry in situ. This article focuses mainly on proton MRS in brain and also phosphorus MRS in calf muscle, with particular reference to the pediatric population, the normal spectrum and its use in various disease conditions in the practice of pediatric neurology. Few representative case studies among different disease groups have also been detailed.

Adolescent↗

Mental retardation.

Mental retardation (MR) occurs in 2-3% of the general population. Prevalence of milder MR is seven to ten times more than severe MR. Cause of severe MR can be determined in 60-70% of cases, as compared to mild MR where 35-55% remain idiopathic. The diagnostic process is aided considerably if the timing of a developmental insult can be determined: prenatal, periatal, postnatal (not mutually exclusive). History plays a pivotal role in approaching a diagnosis. After clinical evaluation one should be able to assess whether the disorder is static or progressive; approximate developmental quotient; possible timing of insult and possible underlying genetic etiology. Investigations should be based on history and physical examination. The important category of tests include: thyroid function tests, cytogenetic studies, metabolic work-up, fragile-X screening, radiological investigations, electrophysiological studies and specific tests according to the suspected diagnosis. Having an etiological explanation aids in the development of a specific treatment plan; helps families understand prognosis and recurrence risk and on the community level assists in the development of preventive strategies.

Child↗

Schinzel acrocallosal syndrome.

Acrocallosal syndrome (ACLS), also known by its synonyms: Schinzel Acrocallosal syndrome and Hallux duplication, Postaxial polydactyly and absence of corpus callosum, is a rare genetic disorder that is apparent at birth. Although autosomal recessive inheritence has been suggested, ACLS often appears to occur sporadically. Typical characteristics of ACLS are hypoplasia/agenesis of corpus callosum, moderate to severe mental retardation, characteristic craniofacial abnormalities, distinctive digital malformations and growth retardation. It has not been reported from India so far. This article reports a 5-month-old boy with combination of abnormalities consistent with acrocallosal syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗