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Biomedical subjects

V Balakrishnan

Publications and source records attributed to V Balakrishnan.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1971

A note on the distribution of cancer in some endogamous groups in Western India.

Endogamous groups in Western India have been known to have a wide degree of genetic diversity. Analysis of the data available on some of the endogamous groups belonging to two main communities attending the Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay, viz. Hindus from Maharashtra, and Hindus from Gujarat show that one of the endogamous groups, the Maharashtrian Brahmin has a significantly different pattern of cancer site distribution compared to the other groups studied. Maharashtrian Brahmins have a low relative frequency of cancer of the oral cavity and high relative frequencies of cancer of the oropharynx and cancer of the oesophagus. The tobacco chewing habit pattern seems to have a bearing on the proportion of cancer of the oral cavity observed in the groups studied. However, in the case of cancer of the oropharynx and cancer of the oesophagus, factors besides smoking and chewing habits seem to be playing a role. A further study is indicated to clarify the points raised by the study.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Photorefractive keratectomy for myopia of 6 to 12 diopters.

To conduct a prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy, stability and safety of the use of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) to correct myopia of greater than -6.00 diopters (D) in Singapore. Two hundred thirty-three eyes of 176 patients with a mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction of -8.70 +/- 2.3 D (range, -5.75 D to -18.13 D) underwent PRK with a 193nm ArF excimer laser (ExciMed, Summit) for myopic corrections of between -6.20 D and -11.90 D. The first 66 of 233 eyes that reached at least 1 year of postoperative follow up are reported. One year postoperatively, the mean manifest spherical equivalent refraction was -1.50 D +/- 1.90 D (range -6.25 D to +3.25 D); 34% of eyes were within +/- 1.00 D of attempted correction; uncorrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 75% of eyes. No eyes lost two or more Snellen lines of spectacle corrected visual acuity. Central corneal haze was mild in 20% of eyes and moderate in 3% of eyes. Five eyes developed ocular hypertension that subsequently resolved with treatment. Excimer laser PRK is reasonably effective and safe in the treatment of -6.00 D to -12.00 D of myopia. However, it is less accurate than PRK in eyes with low to moderate myopia and is more likely to result in significant corneal haze.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Idiopathic colonic varices.

Idiopathic varices of the colon are rare, with only a few reports in literature. We report 30-year-old man who presented with melena and had hepatic flexure varices detected at colonoscopy. Investigations for portal hypertension were negative. No treatment was given.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Natural course of asymptomatic pancreatic pseudocyst: a prospective study.

AIM: To study the natural course of asymptomatic pseudocysts of the pancreas. METHODS: Thirty patients (age range 18-68 years, mean 44; 24 men) with asymptomatic pseudocysts of the pancreas were enrolled between December 2001 and December 2003, and were followed up every month. Those who developed symptoms due to pseudocyst (increasing pain or features of obstruction such as vomiting or jaundice) were subjected to an endoscopic or surgical drainage procedure. End point of the study was either spontaneous resolution of pseudocyst or drainage procedure. RESULTS: Eighteen (60%) of 30 patients had resolution of the pseudocyst over an average duration of 5 months. Maximum diameter of less than 7.5 cm and cyst volume less than 250 mL were significantly more frequent in patients with resolution of pseudocyst than in those without (14/18 vs 2/12 [p=0.001] and 15/18 vs 2/12 [p=0.0003], respectively). Presence of internal debris was associated with non-resolution (9/12 vs 2/18; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Pseudocysts with less than 7.5 cm diameter, volume less than 250 mL, and absence of internal debris were associated with spontaneous resolution within an average duration of 5 months.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Incidental detection of tubular esophageal duplication in gastric cardia malignancy.

Congenital esophageal duplications represent about 15% of digestive tract duplications. We report a 38-year-old man who presented with longstanding heartburn and recent dysphagia. Endoscopy showed communicating tubular duplication of lower esophagus with ulceroproliferative growth at the gastric cardia extending into the lower esophagus. Histology of radical esophagogastrectomy specimen showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of gastric cardia without evidence of Barrett's esophagus.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Infiltrating Strongyloides stercoralis presenting as duodenal obstruction.

Small intestinal obstruction due to Strongyloides stercoralis is rare and has not been reported in an immunocompetent patient. We describe a 70-year-old immunocompetent man presenting with duodenal obstruction secondary to severe S. stercoralis infestation, as documented on duodenal biopsy. He was treated with ivermectin, with which he recovered remarkably.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Skeletal infections in cirrhotics.

There are few reports of skeletal infections in patients with cirrhosis. We present two such cases, both with alcoholic liver disease, seen over a period of one year. The first, a 46-year-old man, presented as pyrexia of unknown origin, and was found to have pyogenic discitis; he responded to antibiotic and surgery. The second, a 42-year-old man, presented with chest wall abscess and was diagnosed to have tubercular osteomyelitis; he expired despite treatment with non-hepatotoxic anti-tubercular drugs.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors determining successful outcome following pneumatic balloon dilation in achalasia cardia.

BACKGROUND: Pneumatic balloon dilation is a popular method of treating patients with achalasia cardia. It may be useful to know the factors that predict response to this treatment. AIM: To determine predictors of outcome following pneumatic balloon dilation in patients with achalasia cardia. METHODS: Records of 62 patients who had undergone pneumatic dilation using Rigiflex balloon dilators (Boston Scientific, Boston, MA, USA) were reviewed. Follow-up data were available for 52 patients. Data from patients with and without improvement in symptoms were compared. RESULTS: Of the 52 patients (age mean 44 [range 11-68] years; 27 male; median symptom duration 20 [4-90] months], 42 (81%) patients had response in symptoms after balloon dilatation. On univariate analysis, the responders more often had age> 40 years (26/42 [62%] versus 1/10 [10%], p=0.003), and less often had lower esophageal sphincter pressure> 50 mmHg (8/10 [80%] versus 10/42 [24%], p=0.0007) and mid-esophageal body hypocontraction (7/10 [70%] versus 12/24 [29%] p=0.01) than the non-responders. On multivariate analysis only age <or= 40 years (p=0.02) was associated with poor outcome. CONCLUSION: Younger age may predict non-response to balloon dilation using Rigiflex balloon dilators in patients with achalasia cardia.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alcohol: its health and social impact in India.

Alcoholic beverages have been used in human societies since the beginning of recorded history. The patterns of alcohol intake around the world are constantly evolving, and alcohol is ubiquitous today. Research has contributed substantially to our understanding of the relation of drinking to specific disorders, and has shown that the relation between alcohol consumption and health outcomes is complex and multidimensional. Increases in the average volume of drinking are predicted for the most populous regions of the world in Southeast Asia including India. Cultural differences apparently influence the pattern of alcohol consumption. In addition, alcohol is linked to categories of disease whose relative impact on the global burden is predicted to increase. Therefore, it is appropriate to implement policies with targeted harm reduction strategies. The crucial need, from a public health perspective, is for regular means of coordination whereby prevention of alcohol-related problems is taken fully into account in policy decisions about alcohol control and regulation in the market for alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tropical pancreatitis - a distinct entity, or merely a type of chronic pancreatitis?

Tropical pancreatitis was described 50 years ago as a disease of the tropical regions, particularly southern India, with young age at onset, malnutrition, rapid progression, severe pancreatic damage with multiple large ductal calculi, and absence of history of alcoholism or biliary tract disease as its hallmarks. Over the years, chronic pancreatitis in southern India has shown a change, with increase in older patients, occurrence of milder disease including milder diabetes, increasing longevity, and increasing association with alcoholism and smoking. This article looks at changes in the disease and in dietetic, environmental and socioeconomic factors over the years, in an attempt to understand the environment-gene interactions in its causation. This analysis shows that tropical pancreatitis may represent one end of the wide spectrum of chronic pancreatitis in the tropics, with alcoholic pancreatitis representing the other extreme.

Adult↗