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Biomedical subjects

Padma Rao

Publications and source records attributed to Padma Rao.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Neonatal gastrointestinal imaging.

Radiological imaging is an important part of the evaluation and management of neonates with suspected anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical presentation is often non-specific, commonly with abdominal distension and vomiting for which the underlying cause may or may not be clinically apparent. In a proportion of patients, the clinical assessment alone may suffice in providing the diagnosis and no further imaging is necessary. The reader must have an understanding of the normal radiographic appearances of the gastrointestinal tract in neonates and appreciate normal variants and differences to adults. In certain cases, the abdominal radiograph alone is diagnostic. In others, sonography and contrast studies are useful adjunct investigations and the indications for CT and MRI are few, but specific. Appropriate radiological investigation will help to establish the diagnosis and guide surgical intervention whilst also avoiding unnecessary radiation. Some of the conditions require transfer to specialist paediatric institutions for care. Thus, in some circumstances it is appropriate for imaging to be delayed and performed at the specialist centre with early referral often essential for the continued well being of the child.

Digestive System Diseases↗

Multiple congenital cranial hemangiomas.

Though cranial hemangiomas are second only to vertebral hemangiomas in frequency, such lesions are rarely congenital and multiple. It is probable that the true incidence of congenital calvarial hemangiomas is higher than that reported in the literature, as they are unlikely to undergo imaging, most being asymptomatic and without a significant soft tissue component. We present a case of multiple congenital calvarial and skull base cavernous-type hemangiomas, diagnosed in a 4-day-old female, involving the right zygoma, maxilla, frontal and petrous temporal bones and contralateral squamous temporal bone. Surgical biopsy confirmed the radiological diagnosis as well as the concomitant multiple subcutaneous capillary-type hemangiomas which were identified clinically. No specific clinical syndrome or chromosomal abnormality was identified and the underlying cerebral parenchyma was normal with no intra-axial involvement. With conservative treatment, two lesions completely resolved and a further two lesions subsequently decreased in both size and degree of enhancement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of multiple congenital hemangiomas involving the calvarium and skull base. Despite this, the radiological features, combined with the clinical findings of multiple capillary hemangiomas, were characteristic enough to permit an accurate preoperative diagnosis. Osseous hemangiomas should feature prominently in any differential diagnosis of multiple hypervascular lesions, as they are common, more so when limited to an anatomical region, irrespective of site or age.

Female↗

Intussusceptions arising from two different sites in a child with cystic fibrosis.

Abdominal pain is common in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). We report on a 17-year old boy with CF and two recognized intussusceptions: the first colonic intussusception was presumed due to distal intestinal obstruction syndrome, and the second enteric one due to polypoid lesions containing heterotopic gastric mucosa. The presentation, pathology, management, and a literature review of intussusception in CF are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Monitoring of hydrocarbon emissions in a petroleum refinery.

In a petroleum refinery the hydrocarbon emissions which are mostly fugitive in nature are emitted from process, offsites and periodic accidental releases such as: materials storage & handling, process, equipment leaks, solvent evaporation, combustion sources, waste treatment etc. In India, the monitoring of such emissions in a refinery are limited as also the standards are not set for its limit in ambient air. Hence there is an urgent need for generating a database for such emissions. Recently in India, MoEF/CPCB has set some guidelines under CREP rules for monitoring such emissions in a refinery. A detailed monitoring of the hydrocarbon emissions from different sources in a typical 10.5 MMTPA Indian refinery is undertaken during 1999-2001 and the results are presented. It is observed that the storage tank emissions alongwith process leaks form the major contributor towards fugitive hydrocarbon emissions.

Air Pollutants↗