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Biomedical subjects

N N Patel

Publications and source records attributed to N N Patel.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

The maturation of balance in children.

BACKGROUND: Balance function is known to change with age during infancy and childhood. However, the relative contributions of the three primary inputs to position sense are not fully understood. METHODS: In this paper we report the computerised dynamic posturography findings in a group of 60 healthy children from the age of five to 17. RESULTS: The results confirm that there is a progressive improvement in balance function with age. The EquiTest system that was used gave indications of the relative contributions of the three principal contributors to overall balance function and showed that somatosensory function was intact throughout the age range tested and that there are significant increases in vestibular function with age and visual contribution with height. The technique used was found to be reliable and repeatable in this paediatric sample. CONCLUSIONS: It is hoped that a better understanding of the normal age related development of balance will be helpful in dealing with children presenting with disequilibrium and vertigo.

Adolescent↗

The cost effectiveness of treatment modalities for thyrotoxicosis in a U.K. center.

OBJECTIVE: This study determined the cost effectiveness of treating thyrotoxicosis using thionamide therapy, radioiodine or surgery in the United Kingdom. DESIGN: One hundred thirty-five patients diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis (62% Graves' disease, 7% nodular disease, 5% thyroiditis, and 27% unknown aetiology) referred in 12 months were offered a fully informed choice of treatment modality. Thirteen patients with transient thyrotoxicosis were subsequently excluded from the analysis. Seventy-four patients (61%) received an 18-month course of thionamide therapy, 43 received radioiodine therapy (35%), and 5 had a thyroidectomy (4%) within the first year of diagnosis as their primary treatment. A successful outcome ("cure") was defined as euthyroidism 12 months after thionamide therapy or euthyroidism or hypothyroidism on thyroxine replacement at 24 months following radioiodine or thyroidectomy. Costs were calculated for outpatient attendances, laboratory tests, and initial and subsequent treatments. MAIN OUTCOME: In the thionamide group 73% were "cured" at 30 months after initiating treatment compared to 95% in the radioiodine group and 100% treated by thyroidectomy at 24 months. Cost per "cure" was calculated to be 3,763 pounds (5,644 dollars) per patient who received thionamides, 1,375 pounds (2,063 dollars) per patient given radioiodine and 6,551 pounds (9,826 dollars) per patient who underwent thyroidectomy. CONCLUSION: The most cost-effective primary treatment modality for thyrotoxicosis is radioiodine.

Antithyroid Agents↗

A randomized trial of Rapid Rhino Riemann and Telfa nasal packs following endoscopic sinus surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To compare Telfa with the Rapid Rhino Riemann nasal pack for use following endoscopic sinus surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, paired trial. SETTING: Tertiary otolaryngology hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-five adult patients undergoing bilateral endoscopic sinus surgery for either chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyps. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A visual analogue scale was used to assess discomfort caused by the presence of the packs in the nose and by their removal. The amount of bleeding was noted with the packs in place and following their removal. Crusting and adhesions were assessed 2 and 6 weeks following surgery. RESULTS: Both packs performed well giving good haemostasis and causing little bleeding on removal. Both packs caused only mild discomfort while in the nose. On the visual analogue scale of 0-10 cm the mean visual analogue score for Rapid Rhino Riemann pack was 1.7 and for Telfa 2.0 (P = 0.371). The Rapid Rhino Riemann pack caused significantly less pain on removal compared with the Telfa pack with a mean visual analogue score of 2.0 in comparison with 3.7 for Telfa (P = 0.001). There were less adhesions with the Rapid Rhino Riemann than Telfa pack but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.102). CONCLUSIONS: Both Telfa and Rapid Rhino Riemann packs can be recommended as packs that control postoperative haemorrhage, do not cause bleeding on removal and cause little discomfort while in the nose. The Rapid Rhino Riemann pack has the advantage of causing significantly less pain on removal.

Adult↗

Management of thyroglossal tract disease after failed Sistrunk's procedure.

Sistrunk's procedure for thyroglossal duct remnants has a very high success rate, there remains the occasional patient, however, that will have recurrent disease despite a competently performed operation. Applied anatomy and embryology proffer a solution to this problem. Extending the Sistrunk operation, with an anterior wide local excision remaining within normal tissue, enables removal of the entire thyroglossal tract remnant. A retrospective case note review was conducted to study our experience using this extended procedure to treat patients with thyroglossal tract disease that had recurred after a previous Sistrunk's operation. Six patients aged from five to 33 years were included in the study. There was one recurrence and the complication rate was comparable to the standard operation. It was concluded that a wide local excision is a valuable extension of the Sistrunk operation for the management of recurrent disease.

Adult↗

Penetrating injury of the cheek requiring skull base exploration.

We report a case of a very unusual penetrating injury of the middle third of the face. The patient was involved in a road traffic accident, and the indicator control lever became impaled in his right cheek. There was contralateral orbital damage resulting in loss of sight. The cribriform plate was breached and a pneumoencephalocele ensued. We discuss the modern management of such injuries including injury assessment. We emphasize the importance of crash scene information gathering and analysis of injury mechanisms. Facial injury zonal classification and imaging are reviewed in the context of the case. We discuss the reasons that led us to treat this patient via the subcranial approach.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Drain placement after thyroid surgery: the bra-strap line.

In cases of thyroid surgery that require a drain post-operatively, the authors suggest the subcutaneous tunnelling of the drain to exit in the bra-strap line. This simple but effective technique hides the potentially unsightly resultant scars that may be of concern to women wearing clothes that expose the upper chest and lower neck. The bra-strap line can be easily found in the patient and the authors have found no additional complications with exiting the drain at this site.

Drainage↗

Pyoderma gangrenosum of the eyelid and acute rhinosinusitis.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a destructive, necrotizing, noninfective ulceration of the skin. Periorbital PG is extremely rare, and may progress, with eventual loss of the eye. We report a 47-year-old woman who presented with a right periorbital swelling of 8 days duration and concurrent acute rhinosinusitis. A clinical diagnosis of right periorbital PG was made, and treatment instituted with intravenous methylprednisolone and antibiotics, resulting in rapid resolution of the condition. The clinical features in this case, together with the past history of histologically confirmed PG, enabled a rapid diagnosis to be made, with early administration of treatment resulting in minimal scarring. The clinical picture could easily be confused with periorbital cellulitis, and this case demonstrates the importance of considering the differential diagnoses of periorbital swelling.

Acute Disease↗

Proliferative myositis arising in the tongue.

We describe a rare case of proliferative myositis affecting the lateral border of the tongue. The site of the lesion and its gross pathological presentation were highly suggestive of a malignant process. Subsequent biopsy and characteristic histological appearance led to the diagnosis of this benign condition. This is the first reported case of a painful presentation of proliferative myositis involving the tongue. This report serves to remind the head and neck surgeon of the need to obtain histological diagnosis of malignancy before embarking upon radical surgical treatment. We recommend careful follow-up to ensure complete resolution of the lesion.

Biopsy↗

Rod photopigment deficits in albinos are specific to mammals and arise during retinal development.

Adult albino mammals have specific retinal defects, including reduced numbers of rod photoreceptors. To examine when this rod deficit arises and whether it exists in nonmammalian albinos, we have used absorbance spectrophotometry to measure photopigment levels in dark-adapted eyes taken from three groups of pigmented and albino animals: adult rodents (rats and mice), developing rats, and mature Xenopus frogs. Rhodopsin concentrations were consistently and significantly reduced in mammalian albinos compared to their wild-type counterparts from before the time of eye opening, but photopigment levels were similar in frogs of both pigmentation phenotypes. The results strongly suggest that deficits in the rod cell population arise early in development of the mammalian albino retina, but do not generalize to nonmammalian mutants lacking retinal melanin.

Albinism, Ocular↗