Tata Memorial Hospital

About: Tata Memorial Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Mumbai, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Breast cancer. The organization has 3187 authors who have published 4636 publications receiving 109143 citations.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: end-result analysis of treatment and prognostic factors in Indian patients.

Abstract: Acute Lymphatic Leukemia (ALL) patients seen during the period 1974-1978 at the Tata Memorial Hospital. Bombay, are analyzed retrospectively to evaluate the clinical features at presentation, results of sequential therapy, and prognostic factors. A total of 301 patients were registered during the study period. There were 153 evaluable patients. Of these 73 patients received induction therapy with vincristine and prednisolone (VP) followed by cranial prophylaxis (cranial radiotherapy, 2,400 rads, and 10 weekly intrathecal injections of methotrexate 7.5 mg/m20 and continuous oral maintenance with daily 6-mercaptopurine and weekly methotrexate (group A). Another 39 patients (group B) received pulse therapy with vincristine and prednisolone during maintenance therapy. Finally 41 patients (group C) received L-asparaginase during induction and pulse therapy in addition to drugs as in group A. Of the 153 patients, 88 (58%) achieved complete response after induction treatment. Induction remission was 53% with vincristine and prednisolone (group A and group B), whereas it was 70% in group C. The difference in complete response rate in group C was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). The 3-year survival in our series was 22%, with median survival of 11 months. Group C patients receiving L-asparaginase along with vincristine and prednisolone showed 41% 3-year survival compared to 16% for group B. The 3-year survival in group A patients was only 7%, probably owing to lack of pulse therapy during maintenance treatment. The prognostic factors such as age, sex, WBC count, and mediastinal node were compared for induction remission and total survival. Possible factors relating to poor results in our series as compared to developed countries are discussed.

Brachytherapy in India - a long road ahead.

Abstract: Brachytherapy can play a very important role in the definitive cure by radiation therapy in India. However, except for in a handful of centres, the majority of hospitals use it only for intracavitary treatment. The most probable reasons for such are the lack of logistical resources in terms of trained personal and supporting staff, rather than lack of radiotherapy machines and equipment. In this article, the authors look into the various aspects of brachytherapy in India: from its beginning to present days. The authors point out the resources available, shortcomings, and some possible solutions to make use of brachytherapy more popular and effective. Apart from presenting a picture of the present scenario, the article pays attention to the positive signs of brachytherapy becoming more popular in the near future.

The Effects of Aging on Testicular Volume and Glucose Metabolism: an Investigation with Ultrasonography and FDG-PET

Abstract: To investigate the effects of senescence on testicular volume and metabolism by quantitative analysis of volumetric and functional data provided by genital ultrasonography (US) and 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose–positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), respectively. Three hundred twenty (PET 173, US 147) male subjects (average age, 47.9 ± 24.1 years; range, 11–90 years) who previously underwent US or FDG-PET imaging were included in this retrospective study. Testicular volumes and FDG maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were correlated with age using polynomial regression and Pearson linear regression analysis. With cross-sectional analysis, the best-fit curves demonstrated statistically significant overall correlations between changes in both the volume and metabolism (SUVmax) of the testicle and increasing age (volume: R 2 = 0.42, p = 0.0002; SUVmax: R 2 = 0.26, p < 0.0001). Testicular volume rapidly increases during puberty and peaks at age 30 years. Subsequently, the volume of the testes stabilizes in a plateau-like manner until age 60 years. After age 60 years, this study shows that testicular volume decreases significantly. Testicular glucose metabolism increases until age 40 years, after which it declines gradually over time at a constant rate. Testicular volume and metabolism appear to be significantly affected by advancing age at different rates during the different stages of lifespan. The rapid increase in testicular volume and metabolism parallel the onset and progression of puberty and positively correlate with increasing age up to ages 30–40 years. Between ages 40 and 60 years, testicular volume and metabolism remain relatively constant with only a minimal decline. After age of 60 years, the testicular volume significantly declines, while testicular metabolism progressively declines until age 90 years.