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Biomedical subjects

K Radhakrishnan

Publications and source records attributed to K Radhakrishnan.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Central nervous system infections in Benghazi, Libya: experience from a community-based adult medical neurology set-up.

During a 2-year period, a total of 43 incident cases of central nervous system infections occurred in the adult (aged 15 years and above) population in Benghazi, Libya. This comprised 17 patients with aseptic meningitis, 10 acute bacterial meningitis, four tuberculous meningitis, five encephalitis, four neurosyphilis, two hydatidosis and one bilharzial myelopathy. The aetiology of the aseptic meningitis and encephalitis could not be established. The annual incidence rates of aseptic, septic and tuberculous meningitis, and encephalitis were 3.4, 2, 0.8 and 1 per 100,000 population, respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Epidemiology of Parkinson's disease in Benghazi, North-East Libya.

An epidemiological study of Parkinsonism was carried out in Benghazi situated in North-Eastern Libya. On the prevalence day, January 1, 1985, a total of 163 patients with Parkinson's disease were found living in the investigated area, which had a population of 518,745. The crude prevalence rate was 31.4 per 100,000 population and the incidence rate was 4.5 per 100,000 population per year. The average age at death was 71.2 years and the mean duration of the illness was 6.7 years. Our findings suggest that the risk of Parkinson's disease observed in the present study is intermediate to that reported among the white and black races and comparable with the yellow race and the Sardinians.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1986

Guillain-Barré syndrome. A clinical electrophysiological and biochemical study.

Fifty-six consecutive patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome representing 49% of all cases of peripheral neuropathy (except those due to diabetes mellitus and leprosy) admitted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh over a period of three years were studied. All patients developed weakness of limbs within one day to three weeks. Attenuation of deep tendon jerks (98%) paresthesia (66%), cranial nerve involvement (41%) and antecedent infection (32%) were the common clinical features. The common patterns of motor weakness were predominantly proximal in all the four limbs (45%) or predominantly proximal in lower limbs along with distal muscles in upper limbs (29%). Electrodiagnostic studies revealed prolonged distal (motor) latency (82%), reduced motor nerve conduction velocity (74%), sensory nerve conduction abnormality (85%) and evidence of denervation (41%). Evoked motor response of median, ulnar, common peroneal and tibial nerves exhibited significant increase in duration and reduction in amplitude. The maximum incidence of electrophysiological abnormality occurred between four to 12 weeks after the onset of neurological symptoms. Four patients died and 11 showed poor recovery. Long intervals (greater than 3 weeks) between peak deficit and onset of recovery and coexistence of reduced motor nerve conduction velocity with evidence of denervation on EMG were found to be associated with poor recovery.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Stroke in the young: incidence and pattern in Benghazi, Libya.

Out of 329 cases of stroke registered in Benghazi between November 1, 1983 and October 30, 1984, 63 patients comprising 32 males and 31 females belonged to the 15-40-year age group (stroke in the young). The annual age-specific crude incidence of stroke in the young was 39.3 and 40.3 per 100,000 for men and women, respectively. The age-adjusted incidence rate for both sexes for the age-specific (15-40 years) population was 47 per 100,000. The sex-dependent difference in the incidence was not statistically significant. These results emphasize that the high incidence of stroke in the young in Benghazi is not a reflection of the age distribution of the population. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and hypercholesterolemia were important components of high stroke profile in the young. One or more risk factors were identified in 78% of total young stroke victims and in all the patients under the age of 30. Eight young stroke subjects died during the study period.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Incidence and pattern of cerebrovascular diseases in Benghazi, Libya.

During a 12 month study period, a total of 329 incident cases of stroke occurred in Benghazi, Libya. This provided an unadjusted annual incidence rate for stroke of 63 per 100,000 population; the corresponding rates for the male and female were 69 and 58 per 100,000 respectively. The sex dependent difference in the incidence was not statistically significant. Cerebral infarction was the commonest type of stroke accounting for 80.9%. The incidence rates increased with age in all categories of stroke. Hypertension and ischaemic heart disease were common risk factors among the male patients, while diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia were more frequent in the female patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Descriptive epidemiology of motor neuron disease in Benghazi, Libya.

A total of 23 patients with motor neuron disease (MND), encompassing 17 cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 4 of progressive muscular atrophy and 2 of progressive bulbar palsy, was diagnosed in Benghazi, north-eastern Libya, between 1980 and 1985. The male to female ratio was 2.3:1. The average incidence of MND was 0.89/100,000 population/year (0.87 when age and sex-adjusted to the Libyan population). Eighteen patients were alive on the prevalence day, September 15, 1985, which provided a prevalence rate of 3.47/100,000 population (3.42 if adjusted). Age-specific incidence rates were highest in the 50- to 59-year-old age group, 8.14/100,000/year for men and 6.10/100,000/year for women. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 51 years, and the median duration for the 5 dead MND patients after the onset of the disease was 30 months. The median survival time for all MND cases combined was 42 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Pseudotumour cerebri: incidence and pattern in North-Eastern Libya.

The present documentation of 23 female patients with pseudotumour cerebri seen in Benghazi, North-Eastern Libya, over a period of 2 years constituted 21 cases with idiopathic pseudotumour and 2 patients with associated endocrine diseases. The clinical, laboratory and CT scan findings indicated idiopathic hypoparathyroidism in 1 case. The association of pseudotumour and hypothyroidism in a 40-year-old woman is suggested to be more than coincidental. The patient group was significantly more obese. Moderate to severe visual loss occurred in 9 patients. The incidence and extent of visual impairment did not correlate with the duration of symptoms, degree of obesity, use of contraceptive pills, steroid treatment, the presence of systemic hypertension, menstrual irregularity or empty sella. The incidence of 1.7 per 100,000 for the total and 3.6 per 100,000 for the female population in Benghazi observed in the present study is believed to be more than the frequency (as assessed by the hospital incidence) reported from other regions. A high prevalence of obesity may partly explain the increased occurrence of pseudotumour cerebri in North-Eastern Libya.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Prevalence and pattern of multiple sclerosis in Benghazi, north-eastern Libya.

A search for Libyan patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was made in Benghazi, located on the southern Mediterranean coast at a latitude of 32 degrees N. Twenty-one clinically definite and probable cases were detected during the period July 1982-June 1984. On the basis of 2 probable incidental cases, the incidence for 1983 was 0.8 per 100 000 of the population at risk (10-50 years). On July 1st, 1984, the rough prevalence rate for the total population was 4 per 100 000 and the age-adjusted prevalence rate was 5.9 per 100 000. This study suggests that Benghazi falls within the medium frequency band for MS. High prevalence of brainstem involvement and cerebellar dysfunction and infrequent occurrence of the severe optic-spinal form and sphincter disturbance indicates that the present group of patients resembles Western pattern of MS as opposed to Asian MS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Syphilitic spinal neuroarthropathy with paraplegia.

The case of a 46-year-old male with syphilitic spinal neuroarthropathy complicated by paraplegia is reported. Marked sclerosis and osteophytes restricted to lumbo-dorsal spine, absence of ligamentous calcification and lack of long standing spinal symptoms in spite of the florid radiologic changes should raise the suspicion of neurogenic spinal arthropathy.

Cauda Equina↗
PubMed1985

Prevalence and pattern of spinocerebellar degenerations in northeastern Libya.

An intensive search over a two-year period for cases of cerebellar and spinocerebellar degenerations in Benghazi, Libya, made through polyclinics, university hospitals and a centre for the handicapped, revealed a total of 52 patients, among whom 30 were index cases; the remainder were detected on family study. Twenty-five patients lived in Benghazi, giving a crude prevalence of 4.8/100 000 population. There were 24 patients (10 families) with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), 13 (9 families) with early onset cerebellar ataxia with retained tendon reflexes (EOCA), 3 with Friedreich's ataxia (FA), 5 (1 family) with late onset cerebellar ataxia (LOCA) with pigmentary retinal degeneration and autosomal dominant inheritance, 6 single cases of LOCA and 1 with ataxia telangiectasia. There were 14 families with definite autosomal recessive inheritance and only 2 with dominant transmission. The large family size (average of 6.2 children per married woman in the patient group) and the high rate of consanguineous marriages contribute to the high incidence of familial cases, especially those with autosomal recessive inheritance. Nerve conduction studies were normal in HSP and abnormal in EOCA and FA. Computed tomographic scans revealed atrophy of the brainstem and cerebellum in 3 cases of EOCA and 2 with LOCA. No indigenous forms of the disease were observed and the clinical features differed little from the descriptions in literature. However, the relative rarity of patients with FA, in comparison with other types of hereditary ataxias, is striking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Anhidrosis with anisocoria: clinical and autonomic evaluation.

Four patients with anhidrosis associated with normal sweat glands at skin biopsy are reported. One patient had a positive family history. All of them had pupillary asymmetry. Pharmacologic tests evinced evidence of parasympathetic denervation of the pupil in three and sympathetic denervation in the other patient. Autonomic function tests revealed intact cardiovascular reflexes. Restricted involvement of functionally and geographically distant population of autonomic neurons suggests their possible ontogenetic or biochemical similarities.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Central neurofibromatosis.

Two patients with central form of neurofibromatosis are reported. Bilateral acoustic neuromas were diagnosed by computerized tomography (CT) scan in one and at autopsy in the other patient. The clinical and radiologic features in the first patient indicated associated bilateral optic nerve gliomas. The autopsied case in addition had multiple meningiomas and numerous nontumorous glial hamartomas. The clinical, pathologic and biochemical basis for classification of neurofibromatosis into central and peripheral forms are discussed.

Adolescent↗