The effects of environmental enrichment on biochemical and metric parameters of aged rats / Efeitos do ambiente enriquecido em parametros bioquímicos e métricos de ratos idosos

The enriched environment (EE) is a promoter of physical activity, by its characteristics such as ample room for movement and exploration, presence of wheels, tunnels and toys. The maintenance of animals in enriched environment can bring a range of benefits, but the majority of the researches investigate cognitive parameters and changes related to the nervous system. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the maintenance of aged rats in enriched cages on biochemical and metric parameters. Wistar rats were randomly distributed (n=6) into two groups during 6 weeks: control (C) in a conventional cage and enriched environment (EE). The body mass were recorded weekly and the body length at the end of the study. After euthanasia, blood was collected for analysis of glucose, triglycerides and the brain was collected for analysis of mass. The EE group had higher brain mass and lower gain of body weight compared to control group. The control group animals had normal values of blood glucose and triglyceride levels, and the maintenance in an EE did not promote changes in these parameters. Therefore, it can be concluded that the EE group increases brain mass and reduces the gain of body weight without changing the blood glucose and triglycerides in aged animals.

O ambiente enriquecido (AE) pode ser considerado como promotor de atividade física, pelas suas características como um amplo espaço para deslocamento e exploração, a presença de rodas de atividade, túneis e brinquedos. A manutenção de animais em ambiente enriquecido pode proporcionar uma série de benefícios, mas grande parte dos estudos tem focado a investigação de parâmetros cognitivas e alterações relacionadas ao sistema nervoso. O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar os efeitos da manutenção de ratos idosos em gaiolas enriquecidas sobre parâmetros bioquímicos e métricas. Ratos Wistar foram distribuídos aleatoriamente ( n = 6) em dois grupos durante 6 semanas: controle (C) mantido em gaiola convencional e ambiente enriquecido (AE) . A massa corporal foi registrada semanalmente e o comprimento corporal ao final do estudo. Após a eutanásia, amostras de sangue foram coletadas para análise de glicose e triglicérides e o encéfalo foi coletado para registro da massa. O grupo AE apresentou maior massa encefálica e menor ganho de peso corporal, em comparação ao grupo controle. Os animais do grupo controle apresentaram valores normais de glicose e triglicerídeos no sangue e a manutenção no AE não promoveu alterações nestes parâmetros. Portanto, pode ser concluído que a manutenção no AE aumenta a massa encefálica e reduz o ganho de peso corporal sem alterar a glicose e triglicerídeos no sangue de animais idosos.

Extradural Dermoid Cyst Located in the Lateral Sphenoid Ridge

Dermoid cysts are rare congenital tumors that occur primarily at the midline at a characteristic intradural location. However, dermoid cysts located at extradural and lateral regions have been rarely reported until now. In the present study, the authors demonstrate the unusual instance of an intracranial extradural dermoid cyst at the lateral sphenoid ridge. A 53-year-old woman admitted because of progressive headache and dizziness. The patient had no neurologic deficits, and magnetic resonance imaging with no contrast enhancement revealed a mass at the right sphenoid ridge. The mass was accompanied with sphenoid bone erosion visible on computed tomography. The patient underwent right pterional craniotomy, and the tumor including the capsule was totally resected. Presence of a dermoid cyst was confirmed with histopathological examination. The patient had no complications during the postoperative period. This study suggests that dermoid cyst should be considered for differential diagnosis of extradural and lateral intracranial masses.

Enfermedad de chagas como causa de masa cerebral ocupante en paciente con leucemia linfoblástica en remisión / Chagas' disease as a cause of cerebral mass in a patient with lymphoblastic leukemia in remission

Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 15 años, oriunda de la provincia de Chaco, con diagnóstico de leucemia linfoblástica hace 2 años, actualmente en mantenimiento, con buena respuestaal tratamiento. El motivo de consulta fue cefalea y fiebre de 20 días de evolución. Al ingreso se realizaron: hemocultivos(negativos) y tomografía computada de cerebro, que mostró una lesión hipodensa con compromiso de sustancia blanca a nivel occípito-parietal izquierdo. Se realizó una resonancia nuclear magnética de cerebro y se observó lesión occipital izquierdahipointensa en T1 e hiperintensa en T2, con refuerzo periférico con gadolinio y área central hipodensa, rodeada de importante edema con efecto de masa. La serología para Chagas fuepositiva, como así también la parasitemia. Inició tratamientocon benznidazol, con buena evolución clínica y reducción de la lesión al mes de tratamiento.

We report the case of a 15-year-old female patient, native of the province of Chaco, diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia 2 years ago. She was currently in maintenance therapy, with good response to treatment. Twenty days before she began with headacheand fever. At admission, blood cultures were negative, and brain computed tomography showed a hypodense lesionwith involvement of white matter in left occipital-parietal area. A brain MRI was performed, and a hypointense left occipital lesion was observed in T1. The lesion showed peripheral gadoliniumenhancing and was hyperintense on T2, with a hypodense central area surrounded by significant edema with mass effect. Chagas serology was positive, as well as the parasitemia.The patient was treated with benznidazole, with good response to therapy: a significant clinical improvement and mass reduction were observed, within the first month of treatment.

CO2 Laser in Microneurosurgery

The laser is a new surgical modality that utilizes high intensity beams radiant energy to vaporize of coagulate tissue. Radiant energy is generated by stimulated emission of photons resulting in a unidirectional monochromatic beam that is temporary coherent small diameter beams of great power density are achievable by this means. The author reviewed 24 months experience with a CO2 laser involving neurosurgical operations to 45 neurosurgical lesion, i, e. brain tumor 25, intracerebral hemorrhage 15, cerebral paragonimiasis 1, cysticercosis 1, brain abscess 1, and arteriovenous malformation of brain 1 and spine 1 were removed with the use of Shaplan CO2 laser since 1981. We have conclude that there had been a significant reduction in blood loss and neurological morbidity though it was readily conceded that the number of operations were relatively small. The particular advantages of the combination of CO2 laser and microscope were felt to be precision reduction of mechanical trauma good hemostasis and low cost. Especially the blood loss and replacement during operation have been reduced.

Laser Surgery in Neurosurgical Diseases

The laser is a new surgical modality that utilizes high intensity beams of radiant energy to vaporize or coagulate tissue. Radiant energy is generated by stimulated emission of photons, resulting in a unidirectional monochromatic beam that is temporary coherent small diameter beams of great power density are achievable by this means. The author reviewed 12 months experience with a CO2 laser involving neurosurgical operations. 29 neurosurgical lesion, i, e. brain tumor 17 intracerebral hemorrhage 10, cerebral paragonimiasis 1, and arteriovenous malformation 1, were removed with the use of Shaplan, CO2 laser since 1981. We have conclude that there had been a significant reduction in blood loss and neurological morbidity through it was readily conceded that the number of operations were relatively small. The particular advantages of the combination of CO2 laser and microscope were felt to be precision, reduction of mechanical trauma, good hemostasis and low cost. Especially the blood loss and replacement during operation have been reduced.

Laser Surgery in Neurosurgical Diseases

The laser is a new surgical modality that utilizes high intensity beams of radiant energy to vaporize or coagulate tissue. Radiant energy is generated by stimulated emission of photons, resulting in a unidirectional monochromatic beam that is temporary coherent small diameter beams of great power density are achievable by this means. The author reviewed 12 months experience with a CO2 laser involving neurosurgical operations. 29 neurosurgical lesion, i, e. brain tumor 17 intracerebral hemorrhage 10, cerebral paragonimiasis 1, and arteriovenous malformation 1, were removed with the use of Shaplan, CO2 laser since 1981. We have conclude that there had been a significant reduction in blood loss and neurological morbidity through it was readily conceded that the number of operations were relatively small. The particular advantages of the combination of CO2 laser and microscope were felt to be precision, reduction of mechanical trauma, good hemostasis and low cost. Especially the blood loss and replacement during operation have been reduced.