Cannabinoid receptor gene polymorphisms and cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia and controls

Objective: To test the hypothesis that genetic variations of cannabinoid receptors contribute to the pathophysiology of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Methods: In this genetic association case-control study, cannabinoid receptor polymorphisms CNR1 rs12720071 and CNR2 rs2229579 were tested for association with neurocognitive performance in 69 patients with schizophrenia and 45 healthy controls. Neurocognition was assessed by the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). Results: We found a consistent association between CNR1 rs12720071 polymorphism and the cognitive performance of patients in several cognitive domains. Patients with C/C polymorphism presented significantly worse performance in motor speed, verbal fluency, attention/processing speed and reasoning/problem solving. Conclusion: Although limited, our data support the hypothesis that CNR1 variations may be associated with the pathogenesis of cognitive deficits of schizophrenia.

Functional capacity: a new framework for the assessment of everyday functioning in schizophrenia

Historically, measures of everyday functioning have focused exclusively on real-world performance. Despite the unquestionable value of “real-world functioning”, it has become clear that instruments for its assessment might not be as accurate as desirable. Functional capacity is a domain of everyday functioning that can be assessed through performance-based measures. In the last decade, functional capacity has become a cornerstone for the assessment of everyday functioning, since, alongside measures of real-world functioning, it provides a much more comprehensive picture of functional outcomes than any measurement alone. Functional capacity is more stable and less vulnerable to influence from environmental factors than other domains, and its correlation with cognitive functions has encouraged the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) project to suggest that a performance-based measure of functional capacity be included as a co-primary assessment of cognition in clinical trials. Functional capacity assessment instruments may be also useful in the evaluation of remission in schizophrenia. Validation of these instruments in different countries is desirable, and should always include cross-cultural adaptation; within large countries, adjustment for regional variations should be considered.

Tratamento cirúrgico de pseudoaneurisma de artéria isquiática: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Surgical treatment of false aneurysm of the sciatic artery: case report and literature review

A persistência da artéria isquiática é uma rara variação anatômica, com poucos casos descritos na literatura, manifestando-se por formação de aneurisma, massa pulsátil em glúteo, isquemia aguda ou crônica de membro inferior e compressão de nervo isquiático. O diagnóstico é confirmado com exames de imagem: mapeamento duplex, angiotomografia e angiorressonância magnética. O tratamento é indicado nos casos sintomáticos ou quando há formação de aneurisma, realizado através de ligadura ou embolização por via endovascular, sendo necessário a revascularização do membro nos casos em que a artéria isquiática é a principal responsável pelo suprimento sangüíneo do membro. Apresentamos o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino, 43 anos, com pseudoaneurisma de artéria isquiática confirmada por mapeamento duplex e angiorressonância magnética, com quadro de neuropatia isquiática por compressão nervosa e dor local. A paciente foi submetida à exploração cirúrgica com ligadura da artéria isquiática e remoção dos trombos. No seguimento de 12 meses, apresentou importante melhora da dor e realizou fisioterapia motora para recuperação das funções neurológicas do membro.

The persistent sciatic artery is a rare anatomical variation, with few cases described on the literature. It presents clinically as aneurysm formation, pulsate gluteal mass, acute or chronic limb ischemia and sciatic nerve compression. Diagnosis is confirmed by imaging methods: duplex scan, CT angiographt and magnetic resonance angiography. Treatment is indicated in symptomatic cases and when there is aneurysm formation and it is performed by ligation of the sciatic artery or endovascular embolization, associated with limb revascularization in the cases the sciatic artery is the main blood supply to the limb. We report the case of a 43 year-old female patient, ,with a false aneurysm of the sciatic artery confirmed by duplex scan and magnetic resonance angiography who had local pain and sciatic neuropathy due to neural compression. Surgical exploration was performed, with ligation of sciatic artery and thrombus removal. At the 12 months follow up there was significant pain relief and she was performing motor physical therapy to recover the neurological functions of the limb.

Manejo da gangrena de Fournier: experiência de um hospital universitário de Curitiba / Management of Fournier's gangrene: experience of a university hospital of Curitiba

OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados obtidos no Serviço de Cirurgia Geral do Hospital Universitário Cajuru - PUCPR, com o tratamento da gangrena de Fournier. MÉTODOS: Foram revisados os prontuários de 40 pacientes com diagnóstico de Gangrena de Fournier internados no hospital universitário Cajuru de Novembro de 1999 a Abril de 2006, analisando-se as variáveis: sexo, idade, fatores predisponentes, etiologia, localização da lesão, exames laboratoriais, procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados, antibioticoterapia e utilização de câmara hiperbárica. RESULTADOS: A etiologia mais comum foi de origem anorretal. O agente etiológico mais prevalente foi a E. coli. O fator predisponente predominantes foi a diabetes mellitus, A maioria dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino. A localização e extensão da lesão mais freqüente foi a perineal. Todos foram submetidos à desbridamento cirúrgico, 17 à colostomia e dois à cistostomia. Todos os pacientes utilizaram antibiótico, sendo os mais usados: metronidazol e gentamicina. Vinte e seis pacientes submeteram-se à terapia hiperbárica. A mortalidade global foi de 20%. CONCLUSÃO: A Síndrome de Fournier, apesar de todos os avanços terapêuticos atuais, continua apresentando altos índices de mortalidade. O reconhecimento precoce da infecção associado a tratamento agressivo e invasivo são medidas essenciais para se tentar diminuir esses índices prognósticos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results obtained in the Department of General Surgery, Cajuru University Hospital - PUCPR, with the treatment of Fournier's gangrene. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 40 patients diagnosed with Fournier's gangrene admitted to the Cajuru University Hospital from November 1999 to April 2006, analyzing gender, age, predisposing factors, etiology, lesion location, laboratory tests , surgical procedures, antibiotic use and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. RESULTS: The most common etiology was the anorectal origin. The most prevalent etiological agent was E. coli. The predominant predisposing factor was diabetes mellitus. The majority of patients were male. The location and extent of injury was usually in the perineum. All underwent surgical debridement, 17 with associated colostomy and two with combined cystostomy. All patients received antibiotics, the most used being metronidazole and gentamicin. Twenty-six patients underwent hyperbaric therapy. The overall mortality was 20%. CONCLUSION: Fournier's syndrome, despite all the advances in treatment today, continues to show high mortality rates. Early recognition of infection associated with invasive and aggressive treatment are essential for attempting to reduce these prognostic indices.

Síndrome de Lemierre: relato de caso / Lemierre syndrome: case report

A síndrome de Lemierre é uma doença rara, mais comum em jovens, causada frequentemente pelo Fusobacterium necrophorum. Inicia-se com faringite e propaga-se até a veia jugular interna, promovendo uma fonte de bacteremia contínua e êmbolos sépticos pulmonares. Manifestações clínicas incluem febre, alterações respiratórias e massa cervical. O diagnóstico é realizado por tomografia computadorizada e duplex scan, além de hemocultura ou cultura direta. O tratamento é realizado com antibióticos beta-lactâmicos resistentes a beta-lactamases, sendo a cirurgia raramente necessária. Paciente do sexo feminino, 34 anos, com quadro de orofaringite, evoluiu em 48 horas com queda do estado geral, febre, aumento de volume e dor em região cervical esquerda...

Lemierre syndrome is a rare disease. It often affects young adults and is most frequently caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. The initial event is pharyngitis, which extends to the internal jugular vein, serving as source of continuous bacteremia and septic pulmonary emboli. Clinical manifestations include fever, respiratory distress, and swollen cervical lymph nodes. Diagnosis is established based on blood culture or direct blood culture and confirmed by computed tomography and/or duplex scan. Treatment consists of administration of beta-lactamase resistant beta-lactam antibiotics...