Cerebral palsy has traditionally been associated with hypoxic ischemic brain damage. This study was undertaken to demonstrate structural and perfusion brain abnormalities. Fifty-six children diagnosed clinically as having cerebral palsy were studied between 1 to 14 years of age and were subjected to 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain and Technetium-99m-ECD brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan. Male to female ratio was 1.8:1 with a mean age of 4.16 ± 2.274 years. Spastic cerebral palsy was the most common type, observed in 91%. Birth asphyxia was the most common etiology (69.6%). White matter changes (73.2%) such as periventricular leukomalacia and corpus callosal thinning were the most common findings on MRI. On SPECT all cases except one revealed perfusion impairments in different regions of brain. MRI is more sensitive in detecting white matter changes, whereas SPECT is better in detecting cortical and subcortical gray matter abnormalities of perfusion.
A prospective randomised controlled trial with captopril/enalapril was carried out on 25 patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) of various aetiologies in NYHA Class II & III to study the effect of Ace inhibitors on exercise tolerance. The control group (Gp-A) comprising of 12 patients received conventional treatment (digitalis and diuretics) and the test group (Gp-B) with 13 patients were in addition given captopril/enalapril as tolerated. They were followed up for a mean period of 101.6+50.6 days (approx 3 months). Ten patients from each group could complete the study. The exercise testing was done on treadmill using a suitable protocol and end-points, at the beginning and end of study. None of the clinical and noninvasive parameters showed significant difference, however the mean exercise duration in Group A improved from 7.84+3.34 to 9.2 +3.16 minute (P <0.05) and in Group B increased from 7.91+4.6 to 10. 92+4.66 minute (p < 0.001). On comparing the benefits of the two groups the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).lt is concluded that Ace inhibitor improves the exercise tolerance in CHF and the benefit is evident despite any improvement in clinical and noninvasive indices of left ventricular function. MJAFI 1998; 54: 331-334
A 47-day-old female infant presented with congenital inguinal hernia, seizure on the 2nd day of life, fever, progressive jaundice, acholic stools and distension of abdomen. She was suspected to have choledochal cyst with extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) and referred for an Hepatobiliary Tc-99m iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan. On HIDA scan, a functional diagnosis of ruptured choledochal cyst was made which was not possible on anatomical imaging like ultrasound (USG)/computed tomography (CT) scan. This was supported thereafter by bilious aspirate on abdominal paracentesis. Immediate laparotomy with T-tube insertion was done. The child improved dramatically after the procedure. Biliary peritonitis secondary to cyst perforation or rupture is a rare complication reported to occur in 1–2% cases of choledochal cyst. Early diagnosis and management is the key to reduce the morbidity and mortality.
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