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Biomedical subjects

A Kuruvilla

Publications and source records attributed to A Kuruvilla.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Common mental disorders among primary care attenders in Vellore, South India: nature, prevalence and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: The study examined the nature and prevalence of and the factors associated with common mental disorders in primary care in Vellore, South India. METHOD: Consecutive attenders (N = 327) to a primary health care facility were recruited. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven (33.9%) subjects satisfied criteria for common mental disorders. Depression was the common presentation (83.8%). Indicators of low socio-economic status (being in debt, inability to buy food, having less than three square meals per day) and illiteracy were significantly associated with caseness. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with common mental disorders are commonly seen in primary health care settings. Illiteracy and poverty are associated with caseness. Primary health care research and policy needs to focus on common mental disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Intraoperative placement of a self-retaining Foley catheter for continuous drainage of malignant ascites.

Malignant ascites in advanced cancer is usually treated by repeated paracentesis, causing both discomfort and inconvenience to patients in the terminal stages of disease. We present a case of advanced ovarian carcinoma in which intraoperative placement of a Foley's self-retaining catheter into the peritoneal cavity was used to facilitate long-term continuous drainage of malignant ascites. This is a simple, convenient and cost-effective method which decreases the need for repeated hospital admissions. The aim complication might be peritonitis, but with proper care of the device and the use of antibiotics, this was not seen in our patient.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

'Wine Glass' appearance: a unique MRI observation in a case of primary lateral sclerosis.

Magnetic resonance images (MRI) in a patient with primary lateral sclerosis is described. T2WI, MRI of brain showed characteristic hyperintensities of the corticospinal tracts bilaterally, extending from the internal capsule to the brain stem - producing a 'wine glass' appearance on coronal sections, which has not been described so far to the best of our knowledge. Differential diagnosis of this interesting 'wine glass' appearance on MRI along with a review of the MR-signal abnormalities in motor neuron disease is discussed.

Brain↗
PubMed2002

Herbal formulations as pharmacotherapeutic agents.

Herbal medicines are popular as remedies for diseases by vast majority of world's population. Polyherbal preparations are products from medicinal plants. These are considered as safe since they are natural products. Herbal formulations which have reached widespread acceptability as therapeutic agents in India include noortropics, antidiabetics, hepatoprotective agents and lipid lowering agents. Pharmacological effects of many plants have been studied in various laboratories in India. However, there are many limitations regarding safety and efficacy of these preparations. Knowledge about active principles of herbal preparations are not well defined, information on toxicity and adverse effects of these formulations are lacking. Information regarding pharmacokinetics and bioavailability is not available. Packet inserts providing details regarding safety, and warning are not required for sale of these which are available as over the counter preparations. The risk of untested and unregulated remedies should be known to the lay public. Selection of plant material based on quality, standardisation of methods of preparation, enforcement of regulation regarding appropriate labels, are measures which will improve the quality and acceptability of herbal preparations as therapeutic agents. Documentation of research publications in journals and availability of information on website, are other measures to assist research in this field.

Herbal Medicine↗
PubMed2001

Pituitary tuberculoma mimicking adenoma: magnetic resonance imaging.

A case of a pituitary mass with clinical and MRI findings consistent with adenoma is presented. Transnasal transphenoidal excision biopsy showed it to be a pituitary tuberculoma. The patient was treated with antituberculous drugs, and a follow-up MRI 18 months later showed good response. MRI features and a review of published reports of the sellar tuberculoma are briefly discussed.

Adenoma↗
PubMed2001

Neurocysticercosis: a clinical and radiological appraisal from Kerala State, South India.

OBJECTIVES: Little has been published on Neurocysticercosis (NCC) in the State of Kerala, South India. This study was conducted to describe the clinical and radiological features of NCC in Kerala and also to study the frequency of NCC as seen in a tertiary referral setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated retrospectively 11 patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of NCC from 1986 to 1998. A pre-abstracted proforma containing detailed demographic data, dietary habits, clinical features and history of travel outside Kerala and neuroimaging findings were obtained from patient records and the data was tabulated and analysed. Follow up assessment was made three months after treatment. RESULTS: There were a total of 11 patients, including nine males and two females in the age range of 24 to 62 years and a mean age of 35.2 years. All were nonvegans, only 36% were pork eaters while 18% claimed consumption of salads and uncooked vegetables. 55% of patients were migrants. Migrants were defined as those who lived outside the state of Kerala for more than six months. Seizure was the most common presenting complaint and occurred in all patients (100%). Multiple ring enhancing lesions were seen on computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in 60%. Calcified lesions were noted in two patients. An isolated instance of miliary or disseminated cysticercosis with subcutaneous nodules and multiple brain lesions in MRI scan was observed. All patients received anticysticercal therapy besides anticonvulsants. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that NCC is rather uncommon in Kerala. Better socioeconomic status, high literacy rate, improved sanitation and health care in the state of Kerala could be reasons for this observation. A prospective case-control study of NCC in Kerala is needed to study these factors.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Initial experience with in-vitro fertilization technology in the English-speaking Caribbean.

This audit documents the first experience with in-vitro Fertilization technology in the English-speaking Caribbean. From 1996 to 2000, 121 cycles have been performed in 99 couples utilizing these techniques. After ovarian stimulation, 1,103 oocytes were retrieved (average 9.1) and of these, 65% fertilized normally, with embryo transfer possible in 111 cycles. Twenty-one pregnancies were recorded (21.2% per patient and 18.9% per embryo transfer) and the live birth rate per patient was 12.1%. The trend was for the success rate to be better in patients under age 36 years.

Adult↗