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Biomedical subjects

A Pathak

Publications and source records attributed to A Pathak.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Intramedullary spinal cord abscess: a case report.

An 11-year-old boy presented with pain in the back, urinary retention, paraplegia and loss of sensations below L1. Investigations revealed an intramedullary lesion. An intramedullary spinal cord abscess was found at surgery. The pus was evacuated and abscess was excised. Minimal recovery was seen following surgery. Early intervention and a high index of suspicion is required in such cases.

Abscess

Controversies in the management of subdural empyema. A study of 41 cases with review of literature.

Forty one cases of subdural empyema treated between 1977 and 1988 at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. Chandigarh, have been analysed. The patients ranged from 9 days to 80 years of age. There were 22 children, including 11 infants. Fever, altered sensorium and seizures were the most common symptoms present for 1 day to 6 months. Otogenic infection was the commonest aetiological factor followed by postoperative and posttraumatic causes. Thirty seven patients had supratentorial empyemas, including 4 with parafalcine collections, three had infratentorial empyemas, and in one there was extension of the empyema from the supratentorial to the infratentorial compartment. Therapeutic modalities used included percutaneous needle aspirations in infants and burr hole evacuation and craniotomies in adults. A wide spectrum of organisms was detected. Mortality in this series was 24%, which was mainly attributable to the deteriorated neurological status prior to treatment. A detailed review of the literature has been given, highlighting various controversies in the management of SDE. Important prognostic factors and a treatment plan are suggested.

Adolescent

Meningeal melanocytoma: report of two cases.

Two cases meningeal melanocytoma, one each at cranial and spinal location, are described. Neurological deficits in both cases improved following surgery. Pathological features of this rare tumour are discussed.

Adult

Tension pneumocephalus following evacuation of chronic subdural haematoma.

Five cases of a rare complication of tension pneumocephalus following evacuation of chronic subdural haematoma are described. This occurred in 8% of all cases of chronic subdural haematoma treated following installation of a CT scanner. The chronically compressed brain contributes to the ingress of this intracranial air. The increase in the brain bulk and gradual re-expansion of the brain, in the early postoperative period, competes with the trapped subdural air resulting in a rise in intracranial pressure leading to neurological deterioration. Twist drill craniostomy and aspiration, using a brain cannula with a three-way connector, has produced excellent results.

Child

Brain abscess following insertion of skull traction.

A case of brain abscess developing 2 weeks after insertion of skull tongs is reported. The abscess was treated with aspiration and appropriate antibiotic therapy and its complete resolution was confirmed by CT scan. The pathogenesis, through retrograde spread of superficial infection to durocortical veins, is discussed in the light of serial CT scans at different stages of formation and treatment of the abscess.

Adult

Inhibition of murine thymidylate synthase and human dihydrofolate reductase by 5,8-dideaza analogues of folic acid and aminopterin.

A series of 5,8-dideaza analogues of folic acid, isofolic acid, aminopterin, and isoaminopterin were evaluated for inhibition of thymidylate synthase, TS, from mouse L1210 leukemia cells with 10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid, CB3717, 4a, as the reference inhibitor. These compounds were also tested as inhibitors of human dihydrofolate reductase, DHFR, obtained from WIL2 cells. None of the analogues studied were as potent as 4a toward TS; however, 9-methyl-5,8-dideazaisoaminopterin, 6d, was only 2.5-fold less effective. Compound 4a was prepared by direct alkylation of the di-tert-butyl ester of 5,8-dideazafolic acid followed by hydrolysis of the resulting diethyl ester, which resulted from concomitant transesterification. It was found to be identical with a sample of 4a prepared by earlier methodology by using a variety of spectroscopic techniques. Its isomer, 9-propargyl-5,8-dideazaisofolic acid, 4b, which was synthesized by an analogous approach, was found to be dramatically less inhibitory toward TS than 4a. Each of the 2,4-diamino derivatives, including those possessing an allyl or propargyl group at N9, was an excellent inhibitor of DHFR, having a level of potency similar to that of methotrexate, MTX. However, many of these 5,8-dideazaaminopterin analogues were far more inhibitory toward TS than MTX.

Aminopterin

Group B streptococcal cellulitis.

We have described a 2-week-old infant with cellulitis in the left submandibular region due to beta hemolytic Streptococcus, group B, and presented 16 additional cases compiled from the literature.

Cellulitis