The research activities of the department include:

• Surgical strategies in craniopharyngiomas and outcome

• Transcallosal approach for colloid cysts

• Anatomy of the Circle of Willis by CT angiography with surgical references to intracranial aneurysms

• Surgical results of cervical median corpectomy

• Surgical treatment for spinal tuberculosis

• Surgical treatment of cervical spine injury

• Grading of temporal lobe contusions

About 90 children have taken part in a detailed assessment of children with mental retardation in and around Chennai and the trial of Ayurvedic preparations for the improvement of cognitive and behavioural function in these children.

A dementia research project in collaboration with the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, has been taken up.

In collaboration with Monash University, Australia, a database of patients with Motor Neuron Disease (MND), including the Madras variety, has been established and detailed studies including genetic surveys are planned.
 

Areas of research activities:

• Epidemiology of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

• Natural history and complications of Juvenile Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus and its management

• Diabetic foot and complications

• Multiple facets of diabetes in young people: Formation of computerised database and on-line electronic medical record system for collaborative study with the University of Exeter, U.K.

• Alternative and new modalities in chronic wound management, evidence for change - A south Indian perspective

Research Unit on Leprosy and Tuberculosis

The highlights of the research work carried out by the Unit are:

    Treatment of Leprosy

• Drug therapy

• Action of newer antibiotics on M. leprae

• Vaccine therapy

    In vitro cultivation of M.leprae

• Development of medium VL (M) and VL3

• Mode of multiplication of the armadillo strain of M. leprae

• Action of some compounds and growth factors on M. leprae

    Tuberculosis

Evaluation and continuous improvement of the rapid isolation and cultivation of M. tuberculosis.
 

A clinical study to assess the efficacy of Vaca and Katuki in the management of obesity and lipid disorders (Medoroga) is being carried out. The drug combination of Vaca and Katuki has been found to reduce serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), and to increase HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). Body weight anthropometric measurements and skinfold thickness show statistically significant reduction.

Several ayurvedic medications like Brahmi, Vaca, Jatamamsi, Arjuna, Punarnava Mandur, Chandraprabhavati and Sweta Parpati have been found helpful in the treatment of hypertension (Vyanabala Vaishamya). Near normalcy of systolic and diastolic blood pressure has been noted. Relief from the presenting symptoms was observed. Improvement in the general well-being of the patients has also been reported.

Research in treating malaria included a clinical trial of Admall, an ayurvedic compound formulation, in the management of malarial fever and a study of Indukantha Ghritam as a prophylactic agent in controlling chronic malarial fever.
 

As part of the collaboration with Lund University, Sweden, PROMED has developed methods using a photomultiplier device for detecting highly poisonous organophosphorus pesticides used extensively in India (these pesticides are banned in foreign countries).

The investigation on the homologous series of enzymes such as trypsin, a-amylase, and subtilisin is ongoing. Some of these enzymes - those that function at low temperatures - are specially supplied to us by Novo Nordisk, Denmark, the largest producer of enzymes in the world.

Top