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Biomedical subjects

R P Sengupta

Publications and source records attributed to R P Sengupta.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Prognostic implications of p53 protein, epidermal growth factor receptor, and Ki-67 labelling in brain tumours.

The expression of p53 protein, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and Ki-67 nuclear antigen was examined by immunohistochemistry in biopsies of 16 types of human brain tumours, including 43 astrocytomas. P53 protein, almost certainly its mutant form, was expressed in seven of the 16, and EGFR in 11 of the 16 types of tumours. In astrocytomas both the proportion of tumours which expressed p53 or EGFR increased with grade of malignancy as did the mean Ki-67 labelling index (LI): p53-0% in grade 1, 17% in grade 2, 38% in grade 3, 65% in grade 4; EGFR-0% in grade 1, 33% in grade 2, 85% in grade 3, 95% in grade 4; mean Ki-67 L1-1.1% in grades 1 and 2, 8.3% in grade 3, and 13.4% in grade 4. Astrocytomas which expressed p53 or EGFR had a significantly higher Ki-67 LI at P less than 0.05 (11.8% and 10.7%, resp.) than those that did not (6.2% or 4.1%, resp.). Patients with astrocytomas expressing p53 or EGFR had a significantly reduced survival (P = 0.035 and P = 0.007, resp.): only 11% of the p53 + ve and 13% of the EGFR + ve patients were alive at 100 weeks following diagnosis compared to 36% of p53-ve or 60% of EGFR-ve patients. Patients with Ki-67 LI greater than 5% had a reduced survival (P less than 0.0001)--none survived beyond 86 weeks following diagnosis, whilst 63% of patients with less than 5% positive cells were still alive at 100 weeks. The univariate analysis showed that in astrocytomas expression of p53 mutants, EGFR protein, and Ki-67 greater than 5% are associated with malignant progression and poor prognosis. The multivariate analysis revealed that only tumour grade and Ki-67LI were independent prognostic factors for survival.

Adolescent

Neurosurgical experience with carotid endarterectomy: a 12-year study.

In the 13-year period from 1975 to 1988, 91 carotid endarterectomies were performed on 83 patients in a neurosurgical unit. Sixty-seven of these patients had continued to have symptoms after the best medical treatment. Seventy-one presented with transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs), nine with TIA and minor completed stroke (MCS), and three with MCS alone. Follow-up ranged from 8 months to 12 years with a mean of 5.5 years. Within the follow-up period, including operative complications, four deaths of cerebral origin (4.8%) and three major cerebral events (3.6%) occurred--an annual stroke morbidity and mortality rate of less than 1.5%, which compares favourably with a minimum stroke risk of 5% per annum for the first 3 years following a TIA and 3% for subsequent years. The annual stroke and/or vascular death rate including myocardial infarction was 3.5% compared to an expected stroke and/or vascular death rate of 7.4%. It appears that carotid endarterectomy is a useful adjunct to medical therapy. Myocardial ischaemia is the major cause of death in the follow-up period in this group of patients. It is suggested that patients with TIAs and MCS should be investigated, and those who do not respond to medical therapy should be identified for carotid endarterectomy.

Adult

Simple peroperative antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis in elective neurosurgical operations.

From August 1981 to February 1982 postoperative infections due to different strains of penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus occurred in 20 of 467 patients (4.3%) undergoing elective cranial and spinal operations. These infections were not attributable to defects in procedures or the theatre environment, therefore chemoprophylaxis was instituted. In the following 8 months, when patients were given penicillin G and sulphadiazine for 5 days commencing immediately postoperatively, S. aureus infections occurred in five of 579 patients (0.9%). In a subsequent randomized uncontrolled study, infections occurred in six of 265 patients receiving penicillin (2.3%), three of 270 receiving penicillin and sulphadiazine (1.1%) and one of 45 receiving erythromycin (2.2%) immediately postoperatively for 5 days. In a further study in which 587 patients received penicillin for 5 days commencing immediately preoperatively, infections due to S. aureus occurred in six (1.1%). Infections due to gram-negative organisms were seen in five (0.4%) of 1167 patients in the two uncontrolled studies.

Drug Therapy, Combination

Neurovascular decompression for cranial rhizopathies.

For some cranial rhizopathies, such as hemifacial spasm and glossopharyngeal neuralgia, treatment has been unsatisfactory. Neurovascular decompression now offers a cure in almost 90% of these cases. In spite of the availability of alternative minor surgical procedures for trigeminal neuralgia, neurovascular decompression, being non-destructive, is a superior method of treatment. Vascular compression may also play a role in atypical facial pain and decompression may offer relief in this intractable condition. Vascular compression was not observed on exploration for nervus intermedius neuralgia, spasmodic torticollis and Meniere's disease. However, microsurgical techniques for selective section of nerves have been beneficial in Meniere's disease and nervus intermedius neuralgia. Neurovascular decompression is a relatively major procedure and is associated with a complication rate of 15%, deafness being most significant. Surgical expertise, a familiar operating team and possibly intraoperative monitoring facilities can reduce these complications.

Adult

Symptomatic hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The results of a series of 500 consecutive patients who underwent aneurysmal surgery between 1969 and 1980 are reported. The incidence of significant symptomatic hydrocephalus secondary to spontaneous rupture of an intracranial aneurysm was 16.4%. Hydrocephalus was most frequent after rupture of aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery. Only one-third of the patients had more than one episode of subarachnoid hemorrhage before surgery. In 64% of the patients with preoperative hydrocephalus, there was angiographic evidence of spasm. In certain cases, the hydrocephalus must be treated before the offending aneurysm can be managed.

Adult

An unusual case of multiple intracranial aneurysms.

A 49-year-old female patient with six intracranial aneurysms, all of which were treated successfully by direct surgery, is reported. She had a major subarachnoid haemorrhage 10 years ago. Because of difficulty in identifying the offending aneurysm she was not surgically treated at that time. The natural progression of intracranial aneurysms, the problem of identifying the lesion in a patient with multiple aneurysms, and an example of excellent recovery of visual function following surgical treatment are discussed.

Carotid Artery, Internal

Spontaneous spinal subdural haematoma during general anaesthesia.

Spontaneous spinal subdural haematoma causing acute spinal cord compression is a well recognized condition and often responds well to early surgical intervention. In the elderly, the haematoma usually occurs as a result of minor trauma or atherosclerosis with hypertension. We present in this report the history of a patient who became paraplegic during a general anaesthetic for an operation for removal of a ureteral calculus. Rupture of a spinal vascular malformation was found to be responsible for the subdural haematoma, which remained undiagnosed until surgical exploration.

Anesthesia, General

Abscesses of the frontal lobe of the brain secondary to covert dental sepsis.

The bacterial species found in pus aspirated from brain abscesses in two patients were typical of those found in dental sepsis. Subsequently apical-root abscesses were demonstrated in the upper jaws of both patients. This evidence strongly suggests that these cerebral abscesses were secondary to dental sepsis which could have spread from the teeth to the frontal lobes by several possible antaomical pathways.

Actinobacillus Infections

Scope of surgery for intracranial aneurysm in the elderly: a preliminary report.

Thirty-two elderly patients were reviewed six months to six years after intracranial surgery for subarachnoid haemorrhage. Out of 24 patients whose surgical outcome had been satisfactory, one had died from an unrelated illness and the remainder were well and leading normal lives. Eight patients had a poor outcome, which in some cases was due to factors other than age. In only three could a poor outcome be attributed to early surgery and advanced age. The results confirm that in at least three-quarters of patients aged 60-65 the risk of further haemorrhage can be removed by surgery without causing a major neurological deficit.

Age Factors

Unruptured intracranial aneurysms--an unusual source of epilepsy.

Six patients with epilepsy were found to have intracranial aneurysms, mainly in the middle cerebral territory. The mechanism of production of these presenting symptoms is considered to be a minor haemorrhage with localized destruction of brain, or calcification in the aneurysmal wall behaving as a hamartoma. In the differential diagnosis of factors causing epileptic attacks, an intracranial aneurysm should be considered, and its presence should be excluded by angiography before any blind surgical procedure for epilepsy is undertaken.

Adolescent