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Biomedical subjects

U Rao

Publications and source records attributed to U Rao.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Calmodulin binding to alpha 1-purothionin: solution binding and modeling of the complex.

CD and fluorescence spectroscopic measurements show that calmodulin (CaM) binds to purothionins (alpha 1-purothionin: alpha 1-PT; beta-purothionin: beta-PT) in 1:1 stoichiometry with an affinity similar to that exhibited with the tightest binding CaM-binding peptides. Using the available crystal structures of CaM and alpha 1-PT, a model has been built for the interaction of CaM and alpha 1-PT and subjected to potential energy minimization. In the model, there is a bend in the central helix of CaM similar to that suggested by Persechini and Kretsinger (J. Card. Pharm. 12:501-512, 1988). alpha 1-PT fits snugly into the cavity formed by the bent CaM molecule with each of its two helices making apolar interactions with each of the two hydrophobic clefts situated at the terminal domains of CaM. The complex is further stabilized by numerous polar and electrostatic interactions on the rims of the clefts. Our model is compared with two other similar models previously reported for the CaM complexes with other helical peptides and generalizations about the mode of CaM binding to target proteins are made, which have wide relevance to the function of CaM. By analogy, a similar model is predicted for a CaM-beta-PT complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Surgery for disseminated abdominal sarcoma.

Seventy-two consecutive patients with disseminated soft tissue sarcoma in the abdomen were prospectively placed in a program of debulking surgery. The tumor was completely resectable in 64% of the patients. Following the first exploration, the median survival was 23 months for those with resection of metastases and 9 months for those without resection (p less than or equal to 0.01); the former group had a survival rate of 28% at 3 years, 18% at 4 years, and 4% at 5 years (44%, 37%, and 10%, respectively, for low-grade sarcomas, i.e., grade I or II sarcomas), whereas in the latter group, none survived for 3 years. In the group with resection, patients with grade III tumors had a median survival longer by 6 months, and those with low-grade tumors by 28 months (p less than or equal to 0.001), over the respective median survival of patients with unresectable tumors. Metastasectomy appeared to prolong survival in all patients and significantly so in patients with low-grade tumors and those with long disease-free intervals.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Neuroleptics in pediatric psychiatry.

At the present time, neuroleptics are indicated for the treatment of acute psychotic states as well as Tourette's syndrome in children and adults. Neuroleptics may have a useful role in the attenuation of problem behaviors, such as stereotypies, hyperactivity, self-injury, and aggressive outbursts in infantile autism, pervasive developmental disorder NOS, and mental retardation, but they do not improve the underlying condition. Neuroleptics are not the agents of first choice for treatment of hyperactivity or aggression in children who do not have major developmental handicaps. Common and troublesome side effects associated with neuroleptic use in children and adolescents include sedation, extrapyramidal symptoms, and withdrawal dyskinesias; therefore, close monitoring is required. Neuroleptics should be used cautiously and only as an adjunct to other nonpharmacologic interventions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Chromosomes in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors. I. Synovial sarcoma.

It has been established that nonrandom chromosome rearrangements are characteristic of specific types of neoplasia. We present six new cases of sarcoma that had in common the same chromosome abnormality, i.e., a balanced translocation between chromosomes X and 18, t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2), and evaluate the 15 cases with this translocation in the literature. The histological diagnosis was synovial sarcoma in 19 cases and malignant fibrous histiocytoma and fibrosarcoma in the remaining two tumors, respectively. The translocation was found in tumors of both the biphasic and monophasic types, as well as in poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma. The two nonsynovial sarcomas with the t(X;18) were described as spindle cell tumors but failed to show the presence of cytokeratins by immunohistochemical stains. Even with the numerous variabilities on which this test depends, the cytogenetic analysis holds great promise as a tool for the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Axillary node dissection in malignant melanoma.

Axillary node dissection was performed in 212 patients with malignant melanoma. For 212 initial dissections plus 49 repeat procedures (261 operations), wound infection occurred in 25 (10%) and arm edema in 10 (4%), with other complications being infrequent. The arm edema resolved promptly and completely six (2%) patients after elevation of the arm, while four (2%) patients have had permanent, moderate edema. The estimated 5-year survival rate for patients with clinically and histologically negative nodes was 74%. Among those with histologically positive nodes, when the nodes were not palpable, this rate was 73%; when the nodes were palpable and less than 2 cm in diameter, it was 46%; when they were palpable and 2 to 4 cm in diameter, it was 22%; when the nodes were larger than 4 cm in diameter, it was 18%; and when the nodes were fixed, it was 13%. The 5-year survival rate for 17 patients with positive nodes above the level of the axillary vein was 18%; 1 of 6 patients with resection of the axillary vein due to involvement is disease-free 57 months later. In patients who developed recurrence, further resection when feasible resulted in 13% of these patients being disease-free 5 years after the original axillary dissection.

Axilla↗
PubMed1991

Child psychiatrists' views of DSM-III-R: a survey of usage and opinions.

The DSM-IV Child Psychiatry Work Group surveyed 460 child psychiatrists about their use of DSM-III-R and their reactions to specific proposed nosological revisions for DSM-IV. This paper presents the responses of the sample as a whole and of respondent subgroups with different theoretical, practice, and training characteristics. The survey indicates that DSM-III and DSM-III-R are widely used and generally accepted by child psychiatrists. Ninety-eight percent of respondents believe a criterion-based diagnostic system is useful, and 65% consider DSM-III-R to be an improvement over DSM-III. Depending on the diagnosis 47% to 66% of the respondents reported that they generally assess all applicable criteria and 28% to 49% often refer to the manual before assigning a diagnosis. A majority of respondents supported proposals for several new diagnostic subtypes. Ninety-three percent of respondents indicated that "adequacy of family support" was very valuable for treatment planning or estimating prognosis. Fifty-five percent of respondents admitted to diagnosing adjustment disorders in order to avoid the stigma associated with other disorders. Child psychiatrists who are psychodynamically oriented or practicing in an office-based setting or out of training for more than 10 years tend to use the DSM-III-R less rigorously.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Serum cholesterol and aggressive behavior in psychiatrically hospitalized children.

The relationship between serum cholesterol and a number of measures of impulsiveness and aggression was examined in 38 prepubertal, psychiatrically hospitalized children. Although care was taken to use reports and direct observations of both variables within 2 weeks of admission and 8 weeks later, no consistent relationship was found. The reasons for these findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Survival after groin dissection for malignant melanoma.

Groin dissection was performed in 158 patients with malignant melanoma (superficial dissection, 76 patients; radical dissection, 82 patients). Of 63 patients with palpable nodes, 57 patients (90%) had histologic involvement. Of 93 patients with nonpalpable nodes, 31 patients (33%) had histologically positive nodes. The 5-year survival rate for patients with histologically negative nodes (n = 69) was 77%; the 5-year survival rate for patients with histologically positive nodes (n = 89) was 43%. The respective 5-year disease-free survival rates were 72% and 34%. Of 57 patients with palpable, positive inguinal nodes, 21 patients (37%) had involvement of the deep nodes. Of 31 patients with nonpalpable, histologic involvement of the inguinal nodes, six patients (19%) had or developed involvement of the deep nodes. One of two patients with uncertain clinical status of the nodes preoperatively had positive deep nodes. In prophylactic node dissection, frozen section of the inguinal group of the nodes does not provide a reliable method, because of sampling errors, in determining microscopic involvement of the nodes and in deciding whether a superficial or radical groin dissection is to be done. For patients with positive nodes the 5-year survival rate was 48% when only the inguinal group was involved and was 28% when both inguinal and deep nodes were involved; the respective 5-year disease-free survival rates were 39% and 20%. Survival after therapeutic groin dissection may partly depend on the thoroughness of the procedure. Patients who have positive, deep nodes and who are undergoing an incontinuity dissection of the inguinal, iliac, and obturator nodes have an appreciable 5-year survival rate.

Female↗
PubMed1991

Limb salvage in soft tissue sarcomas with selective combination of modalities.

One hundred and seventy-one consecutive patients with soft tissue sarcomas were treated in the period 1977-1986. Of 144 patients with extremity sarcomas, only eight (6%) were managed with amputation. The overall estimated 5-year survival rate is 64%, and that for patients with extremity tumors is 71%. The 5-year local recurrence rate in extremity sarcomas was 6% for patients with minimum surgical margins 2 cm or greater and no further local therapy, and 6% for those with narrower surgical margins and adjuvant postoperative radiation; 80 patients (56%) were in the former group and 64 (44%) in the latter. With a selective combination of modalities, limb salvage can now be practiced in 94% of the patients with acceptable local control and survival rates.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1979

Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid following external irradiation.

Two patients with anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid following irradiation for Hodgkin's disease are presented, and the previously reported cases briefly reviewed. The risk of late development of thyroid carcinoma is life-long and high-dose irradiation in patients with prolonged life expectancy may result in anaplastic carcinoma as well as less malignant histological forms.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Extraosseous osteogenic sarcoma: case report.

Extraosseous osteogenic sarcoma is a highly malignant tumor, and in order to improve the chances of survival of those who have it, aggressive surgical treatment, including major amputations, should be performed. Based on the results obtained in the treatment of its osseous counterpart, the use of adjuvant chemotherapy is strongly recommended. Evaluation should not be done because it is usually followed by local recurrence.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Lymphocytic infiltration in murine tumors.

Histologic grading of the histiolymphocytic reaction in nodules of T241 or B16 murine tumors in 94 C57BL/6J mice was performed at various time intervals post-inoculation. The infiltrate occurring in the first four days was generally sparse and no significant difference was observed between two different dose control inocula, suggesting a weak primary localization. Comparison between control inocula, and challenge inocula in mice harboring the same tumor for 10 days, showed a somewhat denser infiltrate initially in the challenge inocula. Despite the immunogenicity of these tumors, as shown by concomitant immunity, lymphocytic infiltration was generally sparse, consistent with an hypothesis of deficient localization of immunocompetent cells at tumor sites.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Tourniquet infusion chemotherapy in extremities with malignant lesions.

Tourniquet infusion chemotherapy involves the direct injection of a chemotherapeutic drug into the main artery of an extremity with prior application of an external tourniquet proximally on this extremity set at above the level of systolic pressure for ten minutes. Thus, the drug is not diluted and pushed by the blood into the venous circulation before diffusion into the tissues has occurred. This technique, applied in seven patients for a total of 40 instances, proved to be safe. Skin erythema and blisters, which are reversible, occur in the treated area. Complete clinical regression was achieved in all six patients with evaluable tumor, with high percentages of tumor necrosis. It was possible to avoid amputation in five of the seven patients treated. This technique appears superior to perfusion, but the long term permanence of regression has not yet been ascertained.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Mesenteric fibromatosis in Gardner's syndrome.

Two patients with mesenteric fibromatosis in Gardner's syndrome were treated by us. These tumors are slow-growing and may remain quiescent for long periods. Review of similar cases in the literature discloses that less than half of these tumors have been removed, pointing to the difficulty of their resection. Dissection of the infraduodenal portion of superior mesenteric vessels may help define whether these tumors are resectable. Radiation therapy or treatment with antiestrogens may be helpful in the treatment of unresectable tumors.

Adult↗