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Vikas Gupta

Publications and source records attributed to Vikas Gupta.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Diffusion tensor imaging in late posttraumatic epilepsy.

PURPOSE: The main objective of this study was to use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to search and quantify the extent of abnormality beyond the obvious lesions seen on the T2 and fluid-attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance images in patients with chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI) with and without epilepsy. METHODS: DTI was performed on 23 chronic TBI patients (with late posttraumatic epilepsy, n=14; without epilepsy, n=9) and 11 age-matched controls. The ratios of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) between the regions of interest beyond the T2/FLAIR-visualized abnormality and the corresponding contralateral normal-appearing region were calculated. FA and MD ratios were compared for relative changes in these parameters among the TBI subjects with and without epilepsy and controls. Tissue volumes exhibiting abnormalities on DTI also were measured in these patients. RESULTS: The mean regional FA ratio was significantly lower, whereas the mean regional MD value was higher in patients with TBI compared with controls. The mean regional FA ratio was significantly lower in TBI patients with epilepsy (0.57+/-0.059) than in those without epilepsy (0.68+/-0.039). Although the regional MD ratio was higher in TBI patients with epilepsy (1.15+/-0.140) relative to those without epilepsy (1.09+/-0.141), the difference did not reach statistical significance. The tissue volume with low FA value also was found to be higher in TBI patients with epilepsy than without. CONCLUSIONS: Severity of injury as predicted by the DTI-derived increased volume of microstructure damage is associated with delayed posttraumatic epilepsy in TBI patients. These findings could be valuable in predicting epileptogenesis in patients with chronic TBI.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Epidemiology and outcomes of health-care-associated pneumonia: results from a large US database of culture-positive pneumonia.

CONTEXT: Traditionally, pneumonia developing in patients outside the hospital is categorized as community acquired, even if these patients have been receiving health care in an outpatient facility. Accumulating evidence suggests that health-care-associated infections are distinct from those that are truly community acquired. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the microbiology and outcomes among patients with culture-positive community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), health-care-associated pneumonia (HCAP), hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective cohort study based on a large US inpatient database. PATIENTS: A total of 4,543 patients with culture-positive pneumonia admitted into 59 US hospitals between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2003, and recorded in a large, multi-institutional database of US acute-care hospitals (Cardinal Health-Atlas Research Database; Cardinal Health Clinical Knowledge Services; Marlborough, MA). MAIN MEASURES: Culture data (respiratory and blood), in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay (LOS), and billed hospital charges. RESULTS: Approximately one half of hospitalized patients with pneumonia had CAP, and > 20% had HCAP. Staphylococcus aureus was a major pathogen in all pneumonia types, with its occurrence markedly higher in the non-CAP groups than in the CAP group. Mortality rates associated with HCAP (19.8%) and HAP (18.8%) were comparable (p > 0.05), and both were significantly higher than that for CAP (10%, all p < 0.0001) and lower than that for VAP (29.3%, all p < 0.0001). Mean LOS varied significantly with pneumonia category (in order of ascending values: CAP, HCAP, HAP, and VAP; all p < 0.0001). Similarly, mean hospital charge varied significantly with pneumonia category (in order of ascending value: CAP, HCAP, HAP, and VAP; all p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis justified HCAP as a new category of pneumonia. S aureus was a major pathogen of all pneumonias with higher rates in non-CAP pneumonias. Compared with CAP, non-CAP was associated with more severe disease, higher mortality rate, greater LOS, and increased cost.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2004

Trisomy 4 as the sole cytogenetic abnormality in a patient with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Trisomies as sole cytogenetic abnormalities are extremely rare in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We describe here the clinical features and immunophenotyping, cytogenetic, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) findings in a T-cell ALL patient with trisomy 4 as the sole cytogenetic abnormality. The leukemic clone was positive for CD2, CD7, CD34, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT); CD13 was weakly expressed. Data on the tracking of the leukemic clone with immunophenotyping, cytogenetic, and FISH studies are discussed. The present case is compared with the three previous reported cases of trisomy 4 in ALL. Due to the rarity of this cytogenetic abnormality, its prognostic significance in ALL remains unclear.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Cavernous sinus thrombosis presenting with diplopia in an allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipient.

Although neurological complications are common in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplant (alloBMT), cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) has rarely been described. An allograft recipient is described who presented with diplopia and developed CST in the early post-transplant period likely caused by a filamentous fungus. Clinical course and serial radiological studies of this patient are described and correlated with autopsy findings.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Favorable effect on acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease with cyclophosphamide and in vivo anti-CD52 monoclonal antibodies for marrow transplantation from HLA-identical sibling donors for acquired aplastic anemia.

Between August 1989 and November 2003, 33 patients at our center with acquired aplastic anemia underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from HLA-identical sibling donors with cyclophosphamide and in vivo anti-CD52 monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) for conditioning. The median age at BMT was 17 years (range, 4-46 years). Before BMT, 58% were heavily transfused (>50 transfusions), and 42% had previously experienced treatment failure with antithymocyte globulin-based immunosuppressive therapy. Unmanipulated bone marrow was used as the source of stem cells in all patients except 1. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was with cyclosporine alone in 19 (58%) patients; 14 received anti-CD52 MoAb in addition to cyclosporine. The conditioning regimen was well tolerated without significant acute toxicity. Graft failure was seen in 8 patients (primary, n = 4; secondary, n = 4). Of those whose grafts failed, 4 survived long-term (complete autologous recovery, n = 2; rescue with previously stored marrow, n = 1; second allograft, n = 1). The cumulative incidence of graft failure and grade II to IV acute and chronic GVHD was 24%, 14%, and 4%, respectively. None developed extensive chronic GVHD. With a median follow-up of 59 months, the 5-year survival was 81% (95% confidence interval, 68%-96%). No unexpected early or late infectious or noninfectious complications were observed. We conclude that the conditioning regimen containing cyclophosphamide and anti-CD52 MoAb is well tolerated and effective for acquired aplastic anemia with HLA-matched sibling donors. The favorable effect on the incidence and severity of GVHD is noteworthy in this study and warrants further investigation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Clinico-biological features and prognostic significance of PML/RARalpha isoforms in adult patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy.

Debate exists over the clinical relevance of molecular heterogeneity of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Based on the genomic breakpoint in PML gene, three different PML/RARalpha isoforms are recognized: intron 3 [short (S)], intron 6 [long (L)] and exon 6 [variable (V)]. Studies on the prognostic significance of PML/RARalpha isoforms have reported contradictory results. This discrepancy may be related to differences in the treatment protocols, as some studies used ATRA alone during induction therapy. We analyzed the clinical course of 61 consecutive newly diagnosed patients with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of APL, treated with ATRA and chemotherapy at Princess Margaret Hospital from January 1994 to January 2002. The results of RT PCR at diagnosis were available on 48 patients. In this study, we report on clinico-biological features and prognostic significance of PML/RARalpha isoforms in these 48 patients. Of 48 patients, 19(40%) had the S isoform and 29 (60%) had the L/V isoform. Median white blood cell (WBC) count for patients with S isoform was 8.6 [interquartile range Q1-Q3 i.e. IQR 3.2-29] compared to 1.8 [IQR 1.0-4.9] for the L/V isoform group (P 0.001). No difference was seen in number of patients achieving of molecular remission after induction and consolidation treatment in the two-isoform groups. The patients with S isoform had significantly inferior relapse-free survival (RFS) at 3 years compared to L/V isoform patients [48% (95% C.I. 19 77) vs. 92% (95% C.I. 82-100), P0.006]. In a univariate analysis, S isoform status (P 0.006) and high WBC count ( > or = 5 x 10(9)+/l) (P 0.017) were significant prognostic factors for RFS. No difference in overall survival was seen between the two isoform groups (P 0.35). Our results suggest that based on molecular characterization, it may be possible to identify a subgroup of APL patients at higher-risk of relapse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Prognostic significance of trisomy 4 as the sole cytogenetic abnormality in acute myeloid leukemia.

Trisomy 4 is a recurrent but rare cytogenetic abnormality reported in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). The prognostic significance of this abnormality in patients with AML is not clear. We report here four cases of trisomy 4 as the sole cytogenetic abnormality in AML patients treated at our institute during the last 15 years and systematically review all reported cases of trisomy 4 as a solitary cytogenetic abnormality in AML with the aim of studying the disease demography and prognostic significance of this abnormality. Collective data on 30 patients (including four in the present report) showed complete remission (CR) rates of 76.6%. Median relapse free survival and overall survival were 7 months (95% CI 5-17) and 9 months (95% CI 3-17), respectively. Given the limitations of reported literature, the prognosis of AML patients with trisomy 4 appears to be poor compared with the intermediate risk cytogenetics. Collaborations between major institutions and cooperative groups are needed to collect better quality data to understand the prognostic significance of such rare karyotypic abnormalities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Acute promyelocytic leukemia: a case-based review.

Retinoid therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is one of the major achievements of leukemia research in the last 15 years. Use of all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has changed the prognosis of APL from a fatal leukemia to a highly curable disease. This case-based review examines the available clinical and scientific data to form evidence-based decisions in the management of APL. The main aim of this review is to highlight recent progress made in the management of APL and address the role of maintenance therapy, prognostic factors for relapse and treatment of relapsed disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Surgical management and outcome of tuberculous atlantoaxial dislocation: a 15-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: Tuberculous atlantoaxial dislocation is a rare disease entity. However, tuberculosis continues to be endemic in developing countries. Its earliest clinical presentation may be nonspecific, and delay in diagnosis may lead to irreversible neurological deficit. The management of tuberculous atlantoaxial dislocation includes ventral cervicomedullary decompression, occipitocervical arthrodesis, and administration of antituberculous medications. METHODS: Eighteen patients with tuberculous atlantoaxial dislocation who presented with neck pain and/or occipital headache, restriction of neck movement, difficulty swallowing, and signs of myelopathy were studied. Four patients had evidence of associated pulmonary tuberculosis. Plain x-rays of the cervical spine, computed tomographic scans, and magnetic resonance images were obtained in all patients for diagnosis and to assess the degree of dislocation and cervicomedullary compression. Simultaneous anterior neural decompression, via a transcervical retropharyngeal approach, and posterior arthrodesis were performed on all patients while they remained under anesthesia. Antituberculous chemotherapy was continued for 18 months. RESULTS: Histopathological analysis of excised tissue was consistent with tuberculosis in all patients. However, Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli was positive in two cases, and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was negative in all patients. Patients with severe myelopathy experienced marked improvement. One patient died of fulminant resistant tuberculous meningitis. CONCLUSION: The transcervical retropharyngeal approach to the craniovertebral junction provides direct access to the lesion and avoids the potential bacterial contamination of the oral and pharyngeal cavity. It also prevents the development of persistent fistulae. Posterior stabilization should be performed directly after anterior neural decompression, while the patient remains under anesthesia, to prevent neurological deterioration before subsequent posterior fixation. This technique also is helpful for early mobilization of patients. The aim of surgical treatment should be to obtain biopsy tissue and to perform radical excision of epidural granulation tissue/abscess and infected bone using microsurgical technique. Antituberculous medication must be continued for 18 months with four drug regimens, and continuous monitoring of drug toxicity should be performed throughout the course of treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Isolated tuberculous abscess in biceps brachii muscle of a young male.

Tuberculosis of muscles without coexistent active skeletal or extraskeletal involvement is very rare. A case of tuberculous abscess of biceps brachii muscle in a young immunocompetent male is presented. A good response was seen with antitubercular treatment. Tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any unexplained soft tissue swelling in people born in tubercular endemic areas, who are immunosuppressed or had an injury to the affected area.

Abscess↗