Biomedical subjects

S Mathew

Publications and source records attributed to S Mathew.

111 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of two-dimensional echocardiography in early diagnosis of suspected acute dissection of ascending aorta.

Seven patients with acute dissection of ascending aorta are presented and the role of two-dimensional echocardiography in the early diagnosis of this condition is emphasized. There were 5 male and 2 female patients. The mean age of the patients was 36.7 +/- 11.2 years. The presenting symptoms were chest pain in 7, associated interscapular pain in 4, dyspnoea in 4 and syncopal episodes in 2 patients. Examination revealed hypertension in 3, pulses paradoxus in 2, asymetrically weak carotid and brachial pulses in 3, aortic regurgitation in 5 and neurological deficit in 2 patients. Echocardiography showed aortic root diameter of 42mm and the presence of an intimal flap in all the 7 patients and flap oscillations in 6 patients. Echocardiographic evidence of pericardial effusion was present in 6, cardiac tamponade in 3, aortic regurgitation in 5 and regional left ventricular wall motion abnormality in 1 patient. Surgical correction was done in 5 patients with 60% success rate. Two patients received only medical treatment. Aortic root dilatation of 60 mm, presence of an oscillating flap, evidence of cardiac tamponade and regional wall motion abnormality were found to be associated with poor prognosis.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Is vegetarianism a precipitating factor for gallstones in cirrhotics?

AIM: To study the association of factors such as alcohol, smoking and vegetarianism with presence of gallstones amongst cirrhotics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data on alcoholism, smoking and vegetarianism was collected from the case records of 669 cirrhotics with (76) or without gallstones (593) retrospectively. Relative risk for the factors was computed individually and in combination controlling for the effects of alcoholism and smoking on vegetarianism. RESULTS: Alcoholism and smoking were of low relative risk [R.R-1.27 (95% CI 0.82 to 1.96), and 1.02 (95% CI 0.65 to 1.61) respectively] while vegetarianism was associated with high risk for gallstone formation in cirrhotics [R.R 2.74 (95% CI 1.65-4.53)]. Vegetarian men had a relative risk of 3.02 (95% CI 1.75-5.22) irrespective of their alcoholic status. If women were alcoholic the relative risk increased to 7.03 (95% CI 3.26-15.12). Controlling for effects of gender and alcoholism, vegetarian cirrhotics had a 3 times greater risk for gallstone formation [Mantel Haenszel Relative Risk 3.18 (95% CI MHRR 1.82-5.56)]. CONCLUSIONS: Cirrhotic, vegetarian women in South India have a much higher risk for gallstones, if they are alcoholic. Alcoholic men who are vegetarians are at a greater risk for gallstone disease.

Alcoholism↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Composition of gallstones in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu State.

BACKGROUND: Gallstones in northern India are predominantly of the cholesterol type; such information on gallstones in southern India is scant. AIM: To analyze the composition of gallstones from patients residing in Coimbatore District in Tamil Nadu State. METHODS: The stones were classified using the Bernhoft criteria and was correlated with the morphological characteristics. RESULTS: Of the 105 gallstones analyzed, 67 (63.8%) were of the pigment variety and 36 (34.8%) of the intermediate/mixed type. There were only two cholesterol stones. The mean proportions of cholesterol, bilirubin and calcium in the pigment and intermediate stones were 7.1%, 26.1% and 7.8% and 30.2%, 18.4% and 6.3%, respectively. The mean proportion of bilirubin in the pigment stones was higher than in the intermediate type. Morphologically, pigment stones were black in 55% and amorphous in 63%; the intermediate stones were hard in 50% and of variegated color ranging from yellow to ivory white in 61%; both cholesterol stones were multiple, hard and brown. CONCLUSIONS: There is a predominance of pigment and intermediate gallstones (98%) in this district. These stones have reduced cholesterol and an increase in bilirubin and calcium proportions.

Adult↗