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Biomedical subjects

K B Das

Publications and source records attributed to K B Das.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Recurrent Guillain Barre' Syndrome: a clinical, electrophysiological and morphological study.

Of the 220 patients of acute idiopathic demyelinating polyneuritis (AIDP/GBS) seen over a seven year period, 15 patients (M:F:11:4) had a relapsing course (6.8%). Their ages ranged from 8 yrs to 70 yrs. They had 36 episodes at a variable interval of 3 months to 25 yrs. Relapse rate varied from one to four. Antecedent events were noted during 16 episodes in 9 patients but the triggering factors were varied. Clinical features of individual episodes were similar to the acute monophasic illness, although they differed inseverity from one episode to the other. Autonomic disturbances were rare. Albuminocytological dissociation was observed during 19 of the 24 episodes. Electrophysiological abnormalities were observed during 19 of the 24 episodes. Electrophysiological abnormalities were present in all and were comparable with patients of non-recurrent illness. Sural nerve biopsy in 3 patients showed evidence of demyelination, remyelination, Wallerian degeneration and myelin breakdown but none had features of inflammation. With the exception of one death, functional recovery was complete in the majority of patients, irrespective of the type of therapeutic intervention. Acute onset, frequent facial involvement, brief clinical course, near complete recovery and very long asymptomatic periods may distinguish these patients of acute relapsing demyelinating polyneuropathy (ARDP) from chronic relapsing demyelinating polyneuropathy. Relapses in GBS are however unpredictable and recurrent GBS is indistinguishable clinically, electrophysiologically and morphologically from the more frequently seen non-recurrent form of monophasic GB Syndrome. A biochemical or immunological marker may help in this distinction.

Adolescent↗

Acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy: a critical evaluation of diagnostic criteria for demyelination.

There is agreement on the clinical diagnostic criteria for acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP/GBS) however, there is lack of consensus for detection of demyelination. In order to critically evaluate the prevailing criteria, sixty-six patients who fulfilled NINCDS criteria and had typical features of GBS were studied for electrophysiological abnormalities of peripheral nerves by using standard methods (median, common peroneal, sural and ulnar) between 1 to 12 weeks after the onset of symptoms. The commonest abnormality on motor nerve conduction study was prolonged distal latency (75%-83%) followed by reduction in CMAP amplitude (63%-82%), decreased velocity (48%-62%), conduction block (17%-39%) and f-wave abnormalities (37.8%-59%). Sensory conduction abnormalities were detected in over 20% of median, 25% of ulnar and 33% of sural nerves. All the patients had abnormality of at least two motor conduction parameters in one nerve when values beyond 2 SD of the mean were considered abnormal and over 70% of patients had three abnormalities in two nerves or two abnormalities in three nerves. Comparison with the prevailing criteria for demyelination revealed that the number of patients fulfilling them varied widely: Albers et al. (1985): 74.2%, Albers et al. (1989): 40.9% and Cornblath: 30.3%. We believe that the current criteria for detection of demyelination in acute neuropathy are too strict, underestimate the underlying pathology in GBS and need reassessment.

Adolescent↗

Acrokeratosis paraneoplastica of Bazex.

Bazex disease is one of the rarer cutaneous paraneoplastic syndromes. It is characterized by psoriasiform changes on the digits, and in some patients spread to the ears, nose and in later stages to the limbs and trunk. The associated malignancy is typically a squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. We review the literature regarding acrokeratosis paraneoplastica of Bazex and report three cases which illustrate both the typical and some of the less common changes that are seen in the condition.

Aged↗

A study on the delivery practices in riverine & non-riverine blocks of the district of South 24-Parganas, West Bengal.

A cross sectional study was undertaken in three riverine and two non-riverine blocks of South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal to study the delivery practices and compare between two locality. During the reference period of one year, of 3073 total deliveries, 89.36% were home deliveries. Home deliveries were higher in the riverine blocks (95.07%) compared to non-riverine blocks (81.64%). 'Dai' conducted 58.36% and 90.62% of home deliveries in riverine and non-riverine blocks respectively. Only 18.4% of the 'Dai' were trained.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

Acute respiratory infections in children admitted in a hospital of Calcutta.

Analysis of records of admitted children (0-12 years) in Chittaranjan Sishusadan Hospital, Calcutta during 1987 revealed that acute respiratory infections contributed 20.1% of all admissions. Lower respiratory infections were common. 93.7% of children were below 5 years of age. Case fatality rate due to ARI was the highest (17.6%) during infancy. Higher number of admissions were observed during the monsoon months.

Acute Disease↗

Sensory dysfunction in GB syndrome: a clinical and electrophysiological study of 100 patients.

Studies of sensory system involvement in Guillain Barre' (GB) Syndrome are sparse in the literature. This communication presents the clinical and electrophysiological data of 100 patients of GB Syndrome evaluated over 5 years at NIMHANS, Bangalore, India. Sensory symptoms or signs were present in 45% and 59% of patients in upper and lower limbs respectively and were distal and symmetrical. Impairment of joint position and vibration sense was the commonest finding and was associated with a greater need for ventilatory support and autonomic disturbances. Sensory nerve conduction studies involved median, ulnar and sural nerves and electrophysiological evidence of abnormality was present in at least one sensory nerve in 80% of cases. These were: absent sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) in 19%-41%, reduced SNAP amplitude in 28-34% and reduced conduction velocity in 8%-15%. "Abnormal Median and normal Sural response", the pattern characteristic of demyelinating neuropathy, was noted in 29% of the cases. While sensory symptoms and signs were more frequent in lower limbs, electrophysiological abnormalities were more frequent in median and ulnar nerves. There was good association between motor and sensory conduction parameters in median and ulnar nerves. The time of performance of nerve conduction studies did not influence the results. Electro-clinical study of sensory system adds to our understanding of GB Syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Teenage primigravidae: a comparative study.

A review of history sheets of obstetric cases recorded in a district hospital in 1992 was done to compare the obstetric outcome in 200 teenage first pregnancies (Study group) with that in Control group i.e. 20 years to 29 years. It revealed that incidence of complications of pregnancy like anaemia, pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and preterm labour were significantly higher among teenage mothers. The normal mode of delivery was commoner in teenagers (82.5%) in comparison to control group (76.5%), probably because of higher number of low birth weight babies. The fetal outcome was significantly worse in teenage mothers with high incidence of perinatal mortality (8%) and low birth weight babies (35%). There was not a single newborn with birthweight above 3500 gms, in teenage group, whereas, control group had 5 babies (2.5%) in the category.

Adolescent↗