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Nikhil Patel

Publications and source records attributed to Nikhil Patel.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

DC cardioversion of persistent atrial fibrillation: a comparison of two protocols.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines for transthoracic direct-current cardioversion (DCCV) of atrial fibrillation (AF) recommend a step-up energy protocol. The aim of this study was to compare such a protocol with a protocol involving a high initial energy shock, anteroposterior paddle position and reversal of shock polarity, on cardioversion efficacy, total energy delivery, use of sedation and patient tolerability. METHODS: 261 patients (mean age 71+/-10 years, 62% male) referred for elective DCCV of persistent AF were enrolled. Patients were randomised to either protocol A: (1) 200 J anteroapical, (2) 360 J anteroapical, (3) 360 J anteroposterior; or protocol B: (1) 360 J anteroapical, (2) 360 J anteroposterior, and (3) 360 J posteroanterior. All procedures were performed under sedation with intravenous diazepam. RESULTS: Protocol B improved shock success rates (protocol A first shock success rate=42%, protocol B=68%, p<0.001; protocol A second shock success rate=72%, protocol B 86%, p=0.006; protocol A third shock success rate=83%, protocol B=92%, p=0.03) and required fewer shocks to achieve sinus rhythm (1.3+/-0.6) compared with protocol A (1.6+/-0.7, p<0.001). There were no differences in cumulative energy used (protocol A 473+/-286 J, protocol B 436+/-273 J, p=0.24) or sedation requirements (protocol A diazepam 22.1+/-9.0 mg, protocol B 21.7+/-8.9 mg, p=0.75). Both protocols were equally well tolerated by patients. CONCLUSION: High initial energy increased success rates and decreased the number of shocks but resulted in similar cumulative energy delivery, sedation use and patient tolerability compared with a conventional step-up protocol.

Aged↗

Dispersing nanotubes with surfactants: a microscopic statistical mechanical analysis.

A first theoretical study of surfactant-stabilized carbon nanotube dispersions is presented. Density functional theory is used to compute potential of mean force between nanotubes in an aqueous solution of cationic surfactant n-decyltrimethylammonium chloride. In agreement with experimental results, it is found that stable dispersions can be prepared for surfactant bulk concentrations below the critical micelle concentration. Computed density profiles of head and tail segments indicate that surfactants adsorb on nanotube surfaces in a random fashion rather than form cylindrical micelles, which is also in agreement with recent small-angle neutron scattering measurements.

Adsorption↗

Monitoring and management of antituberculosis drug induced hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Hepatotoxicity to antituberculosis therapy (ATT) poses a major challenge. This often results in inadequate therapy. The risk of fulminant hepatic failure and mortality is high once icteric hepatitis develops. There is no consensus on monitoring protocols and for the reintroduction of ATT. METHODS: All patients (from the Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Jagjivanram Hospital and the Department of Gastroenterology, Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, India) with a diagnosis of tuberculosis, who were to receive ATT during the study period, were included in the present study for prospective periodic laboratory monitoring for the development of hepatotoxicity. Those patients who developed hepatotoxicity formed Group A (n = 21), whereas those who did not develop hepatotoxicity were included in Group C (n = 179). For the purpose of comparison with Group A, all the patients who presented directly with ATT induced hepatotoxicity during the study period were categorized as Group B (n = 24). Group A and B were further studied after normalization of liver functions for sequential reintroduction with therapeutic doses at a weekly interval. RESULTS: In Group A, 66.6% (14 patients) of the patients were diagnosed in the asymptomatic period. Seven patients had symptomatic hepatitis, but none had icteric illness. There were no mortalities in Group A. In contrast, all the patients in Group B had symptomatic hepatitis (75% icteric hepatitis). There was a mortality rate of 16.6% (four patients). Of the 41 patients from Groups A and B who survived, reintroduction was successful in 38/39 (97.4%). In the remaining two patients who were in Group B, reintroduction was not attempted because of decompensated liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: Periodic laboratory monitoring is important in detecting hepatotoxicity at an early stage, thereby preventing mortality. Sequential reintroduction is often successful.

Adolescent↗

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is commonly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Prevalence of NASH in type 2 DM has not been well studied and there is an epidemic rise in type 2 DM in Asian and Western populations. Its association with chronic liver disease in the form of NASH makes it an important health problem. Hence we have studied its prevalence and correlation of biochemical parameters with histological grades of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in otherwise asymptomatic type 2 DM patients. METHODS: One hundred and forty-eight individuals were screened. Forty-eight individuals were excluded due to history of alcohol intake or liver disease as a result of other causes. One hundred non-alcoholic individuals with type 2 DM underwent abdominal ultrasonography (US abdomen). Forty-nine patients had evidence of fatty liver on US abdomen, and 32 of these 49 patients underwent liver biopsy. RESULTS: Four of 32 (12.5%) individuals had steatosis alone. Mild, moderate and severe NASH was present in 21/32 (65.5%), 4/32 (12.5%) and 3/32 (9.35%), respectively. Fibrosis was present in 7/32 (21.8%) patients (four grade 1 and three grade 3). There was no significant difference in body mass index (BMI), transaminase levels, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the prevalence of NASH is high in type 2 DM patients and liver biopsy is the only investigation to differentiate between non-alcoholic fatty liver and steatohepatitis.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Gastrointestinal luminal tuberculosis: establishing the diagnosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To study the profile of gastrointestinal luminal tuberculosis (GITB) patients who have been treated on a confirmed and a presumptive diagnosis. METHODS: A total of 260 patients who had an initial diagnosis of GITB were included in this retrospective analysis. Clinical, radiologic, endoscopic, histopathologic and microbiologic features of these patients were studied in detail. RESULTS: GITB was confirmed in 66.5% patients (cGITB), while 29.5% had presumed GITB (pGITB). In 3.9% patients, Crohn's disease (CD) was misdiagnosed initially as GITB. There was no significant difference in the clinical and radiologic features except a higher incidence of a radiologically abnormal ileocecal region in cGITB patients. Endoscopic biopsies from ulcerated masses and ulcers had the highest yield of confirmation (100% and 68%, respectively) when subjected to histopathology, acid-fast bacilli smear and culture studies. Confirmed diagnosis was obtained in 100% of cases occurring in the upper gastrointestinal tract, 66% of cases in the ileocecal region/colon and 40% of cases that had small bowel involvement. In 21% of cases, extraluminal sites helped to confirm the diagnosis. As the presence of diarrhea, bleeding, fistulae, perianal disease and extraintestinal manifestations favored a diagnosis of CD, the presence of these features initially or on subsequent follow up helped to minimize the misdiagnosis of GITB. CONCLUSIONS: As a differential diagnosis, CD must be ruled out before starting treatment for GITB. In our study, an intense search for histologic and microbiologic proof of the presence of TB from luminal and extraluminal sites established the diagnosis in 66.5% of cases. Surgery for establishing the diagnosis should be reserved for complicated cases.

Adult↗

Superselective microcoil embolization for the treatment of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of superselective microcoil embolization for the treatment of lower gastrointestinal (LGI) hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of LGI superselective microcoil embolization data for a 10-year period was performed. During this period, twenty-two patients with evidence on angiography of LGI bleeding underwent superselective microcoil embolization. Hemorrhage was treated in the colon (n = 19) and jejunum (n = 3). Ivalon was used adjunctively in two patients and gelfoam was used as a secondary agent in two additional patients. Postembolization ischemia was evaluated objectively in 14 patients by colonoscopy (n = 10), surgical specimen (n = 3), and barium enema (n = 1). All patients were followed for clinical evidence of bowel ischemia. Four patients died before further follow-up could be performed. Additionally, 122 cases of LGI hemorrhage treated with superselective microcoil embolization were identified in a review of the literature. A meta-analysis was then performed, combining the data in this study and the data from the literature, to estimate the rate of major and minor ischemic complications on a total of 144 superselective microcoil embolizations. RESULTS: Immediate hemostasis was achieved in all 22 patients in this study. Complete clinical success was achieved in 86% of patients (19 of 22 patients). Rebleeding occurred in 14% of patients (3 of 22 patients) and each underwent colonoscopic intervention with success. Postembolization objective follow-up was performed in 64% of patients (14 of 22 patients). Ten patients underwent follow-up colonoscopy; one patient received a follow-up barium enema; and three patients underwent subsequent surgery. Colonic resection (one partial and one total) was performed in two patients. The partial colectomy was performed in a patient who had been diagnosed with colonic polyps and dysplasia. The total colectomy was performed on a patient with history of chronic LGI bleeding complicated by long-term anticoagulation therapy and a history of tubular adenoma resection. The third surgical patient (16 months old) underwent a follow-up exploratory laparotomy after embolization of a proximal jejunal branch of the superior mesenteric artery. None of the three patients who underwent surgery were found to have postembolic ischemic changes in the bowel specimen. Four patients in this study died, for reasons unrelated to hemorrhage or embolization, before further follow-up could be performed. The last four patients were followed clinically and experienced no symptoms of intestinal ischemia. A minor ischemic complication was reported in 4.5% of patients (1 of 22 patients), and there were no major ischemic complications (0%) in this series. A review of the data from 122 cases of LGI superselective microcoil embolization in the literature is also presented. Combined with the data in this study, the minor complication rate was 9% (13 of 144 patients), and the major complication rate was 0% (0 of 144 patients). CONCLUSION: Superselective microcoil embolization is a safe and effective treatment for LGI hemorrhage.

Adolescent↗

Arc of buhler: incidence and diameter in asymptomatic individuals.

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and diameter of the Arc of Buhler by power injection digital subtraction angiography in asymptomatic patients. A retrospective evaluation of 120 combined celiac (CAx) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) angiograms was carried out on potential live related liver transplant donors (asymptomatic patients) performed from January 1999 to May 2002. The diameter of the Arc of Buhler was calculated with reference to the 5 French catheters used to perform the diagnostic angiograms. It was considered hemodynamically significant if it preferential filled the branches of the other visceral vessel. An Arc of Buhler was identified in 4 patients (3.3%). All 4 patients had a patent gastroduodenal artery (GDA) and none of the 4 had a hemodynamically significant stenosis of either the SMA or the CAx. All Arcs of Buhler found measured less than 2.5 mm in diameter and half of them (2 of the 4) filled the CAx when power injecting the SMA and/or vice versa. There is a low incidence of Arc of Buhler in asymptomatic patients; however, 50% of those encountered were hemodynamically significant. When evaluating the Arc of Buhler by angiography in the setting of pathology, it is important to have a reference diameter and hemodynamic reference in the normal setting, particularly when the prospect of GDA ligation or embolization is entertained in the presence of CAx or SMA occlusion.

Adult↗

Guillain-Barre syndrome associated with acute hepatitis E.

A 58-year-old woman presented with a brief icteric illness followed by progressive bilateral symmetrical hypotonic areflexic muscular weakness and unilateral infranuclear facial palsy. She was diagnosed to be suffering from Guillain-Barre syndrome and acute hepatitis E. Such an association has not been described till date.

Female↗

Primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis switch over: report of 2 cases.

Overlap syndrome in Autoimmune liver disease is not unusual but the switch over from one type of autoimmune liver disease to another is not well recognized. We report 2 cases of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) who with time, crossed over to autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Recognition of such switch over from PBC to AIH is important for appropriate change in management of the patients.

Adult↗