ABSTRACT
Pattern evoked responses were recorded in 46 patients of tuberculosis on ethambutol and 16 healthy subjects. Deterioration in visual acuity was documented in two patients (4.3%). P100 latency was delayed in 16 cases (34.8%), while in 12 patients (26.1%) both latency and amplitude were affected. A cut off latency value of > or = 140 ms was associated with ophthalmological findings. The incidence of subclinical toxicity as detected by visual evoked response (VER) was higher in older subjects, patients on higher doses of ethambutol (> or = 20 mg/kg/day) and longer duration of treatment. Of two cases with objective ocular signs, one who reported for follow up after two months had recovered completely after stopping ethambutol. Recording of VER is an extremely useful objective test for subclinical optic nerve damage.
Subject(s)
Antitubercular Agents/adverse effects , Ethambutol/adverse effects , Evoked Potentials, Visual , Optic Neuritis/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Optic Neuritis/chemically induced , Reaction Time , Visual Acuity/drug effectsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To study the change in trend in maternal mortality over the last decade and to find out specific causes of death. METHOD: A retrospective study was carried out at Lady Harding Medical College, New Delhi, to analyze the causes of maternal deaths. The admission ledgers of patients admitted over two 3-year periods (1979-1981 and 1989-1991) were studied to ascertain the total number of maternal deaths and the specific causes of death. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-eight deaths occurred during 1979-1981 and 149 deaths during 1989-1991. During the same period there were 23,098 and 37,763 total births, respectively, the overall maternal mortality rate thus significantly declining from 684/100,000 total births in 1979-1981 to 394/100,000 total births in 1989-1991. Sepsis followed by hemorrhage and hepatitis were the leading causes of maternal deaths over the decade. CONCLUSION: Health education and availability of health services, largely at a community level, would contribute to reducing the incidence of preventable causes of maternal deaths such as sepsis and hemorrhage.
Subject(s)
Maternal Mortality/trends , Population Surveillance , Birth Rate/trends , Cause of Death , Female , Health Education , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Incidence , India/epidemiology , Patient Admission/statistics & numerical data , Patient Admission/trends , Primary Prevention , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Clinical, biochemical and nerve conduction studies were performed in 100 cases of tuberculosis taking isonicotinic acid hydrozide (isoniazid) for more than 12 weeks. Electro-physiological studies were carried out in a similar number of normal age and sex matched controls. In 16 percent of cases an abnormality was documented in the motor nerve conduction velocity, amplitude and terminal latency of the common peroneal, ulnar and median nerves; of these, only two patients had objective evidence of neuritis. The occurrence of isoniazid neuropathy was found to be more in the fourth decade of life (10 of 16), in those who had taken the drug for over six months (13 of 16), and in 'slow' inactivators (10 of 16).
Subject(s)
Electromyography , Isoniazid/adverse effects , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/chemically induced , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology , Acetylation , Action Potentials/drug effects , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Female , Humans , Isoniazid/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , Motor Neurons/drug effects , Neural Conduction/drug effects , Paresthesia/physiopathology , Reflex, Stretch/drug effects , Sensation Disorders/physiopathology , Sulfamethazine/blood , Sulfamethazine/urineABSTRACT
We report the results of computed tomography (CT) in 170 patients who developed seizures. Localized signs could be demonstrated by neurologic examination in 23.5%. CT findings were normal in 64 patients (37.6%). The commonest abnormality was a focal ring or disc enhancing lesion in 66 patients (62.3%) followed by calcification (18 patients; 16.9%), cerebral atrophy (9; 8.5%), vascular lesions (7; 6.6%), tumours (4; 3.8%) and congenital hydrocephalus (2; 1.9%). The occurrence of abnormal CT was higher (74.3%) in patients with partial seizures.
Subject(s)
Brain/diagnostic imaging , Epilepsy/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Brain Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Calcinosis/diagnostic imaging , Child , Child, Preschool , Contrast Media , Female , Granuloma/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Seizures/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Fourteen consecutive patients with motor neuron disease were studied during a period of one year. Seven patients were in the second decade of life, with eleven below the age of 40 years. Males accounted for 13 cases. Four had sustained some trauma in the past, one had poliomyelitis. Younger patients (average age 17.9 years) usually had an asymmetrical lower motor neuron lesion which was gradually progressive (the Norris score reached an average of 89.9 in a mean period of 36.9 months). A largely symmetrical distribution affecting both the upper and lower motor neurons and the lower cranial nerves with a rapidly downhill course (the Norris score fell to 80.3 in 12.9 months) were the features observed in older patients (average age 46.7 years). Cerebrospinal fluid protein was raised in four cases. Anti-neural antibodies were not demonstrable in any of the patients.
Subject(s)
Motor Neuron Disease , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Electromyography , Female , Humans , India , Male , Middle Aged , Motor Neuron Disease/cerebrospinal fluid , Motor Neuron Disease/epidemiology , Motor Neuron Disease/physiopathology , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
A clinical analysis and electrophysiological study was performed in 40 cases of peripheral neuropathy. Motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and electromyography (EMG) were also recorded in 20 healthy volunteers. Twelve cases were of diabetic neuropathy (DN), nine of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), eight of idiopathic, six of leprous, three of toxic neuropathy and one each of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) and carcinomatous neuropathy. The onset was insidious in a majority of the cases (70%), the presenting symptom being paraesthesia (27.5%). A variable sensory loss was the commonest finding (77.5%). Two patients each had evidence of cranial nerve involvement and affection of urinary bladder and bowel. In both DN and GBS there was a significant reduction in the MNCV especially in the peroneal nerves. In DN 41.6% had evidence of decreased motor unit potentials and 16.6% showed spontaneous fibrillatory activity. For GBS these figures were 77.7% and 8.3% respectively. The peripheral nerve involvement was variable in leprosy and the EMG was normal in all, but one case.
Subject(s)
Electrodiagnosis/methods , Electromyography/methods , Neural Conduction/physiology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Muscles/innervation , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/physiopathology , Peroneal Nerve/physiopathology , Ulnar Nerve/physiopathologyABSTRACT
The allelopathic effects ofProsopis juliflora were studied both in the laboratory and in nature and compared with that ofProsopis cineraria to understand the chemical nature of allelochemics. Both species occupy the same habitats butP. cineraria does not appear to have any toxic effect on other plants under its canopy.P. juliflora is highly allelopathic and does not allow the growth of any other species. Leaf extracts and leaf leachates ofP. juliflora were inhibitory. Decaying leaves were also inhibitory at early stages of decomposition. Live roots were not found to be inhibitory in cogermination and interplanting of seeds. Chemical investigation of the extracts showed the allelopathic compounds to be phenolic in nature in both the species. Slow decomposition and heavy accumulation of leaf litter belowP. juliflora may possibly result in accumulation of toxic substances in soil layers, inhibiting growth of other species.
Subject(s)
Electrocardiography , Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Monitoring, Physiologic , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A 7 year old girl had pseudo-ainhum, spina-bifida occulta, A hemivertebra and focal, neurogical deficit. The disease process was progressive for the last three years leading to amputation of the third digit and formation of constricting bands around -the fourth and the fifth digits of the left foot.
