Análise da mastigação e deglutição na paralisia cerebral com deficiência visual: estudo de caso / Analysis of chewing and swallowing in cerebral palsy with a visual impairment: study of case / Análisis de la masticación y la deglución en la parálisis cerebral con discapacidad visual: un estudio de caso

Introdução: A Paralisia Cerebral pode acarretar alterações em qualquer uma das fases da deglutição, causando uma disfagia neurogênica. No entanto, desordem neurológica e deficiência visual associada é um tema pouco estudado. A criança com a ausência do canal visual, geralmente tem pouca noção na estrutura do espaço e até mesmo em relação à sua estrutura corporal e organizacional. É sabido que a Paralisia Cerebral discorre atrasos no padrão mastigatório e da deglutição, mas questiona-se se a deficiência visual pode interferir ou não neste desempenho. Objetivo: O propósito deste estudo foi analisar as funções de mastigação e o tempo de deglutição em criança com paralisia cerebral e deficiência visual associada. Método: Esta pesquisa é de natureza exploratória e descritiva, desenvolvida por meio de um estudo de caso clínico de uma criança com paralisia cerebral e deficiência visual associada. Três consistências de alimento foram examinadas: líquido (suco), pastosa (iogurte) e sólido (pão), sendo cronometrado o tempo gasto para deglutir cada uma delas, durante o horário normal de alimentação. Resultados: os resultados mostraram que a criança com Paralisia Cerebral e Deficiência Visual apresenta dificuldades na função de mastigação e leva mais tempo para deglutir nas consistências sólida e líquida. Conclusão: A deficiência visual associada à paralisia cerebral pode acentuar na dificuldade das funções de mastigação e deglutição.

Introduction: Cerebral Palsy can cause changes in any of the phases of swallowing, causing neurogenic dysphagia. However, neurological disorder and associated visual impairment is a poorly studied topic. The child with the absence of the visual channel, generally has little idea of the structure of the space and even of its body and organizational structure. It is known that Cerebral Palsy has delays in chewing and swallowing patterns, but it is questioned whether visual impairment can interfere or not in this performance. Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze chewing functions and swallowing time in children with cerebral palsy and associated visual impairment. Method: This research is exploratory and descriptive in nature, developed through a clinical case study of a child with cerebral palsy and associated visual impairment. Three food consistencies were examined: liquid (juice), pasty (yogurt) and solid (bread), with the time spent swallowing each of them during the normal feeding time being timed. Results: the results showed that the child with Cerebral Palsy and Visually Impaired presents difficulties in chewing function and takes more time to swallow in solid and liquid consistencies. Conclusion: Visual impairment associated with cerebral palsy may accentuate the difficulty in chewing and swallowing functions.

Introducción: La parálisis cerebral puede provocar cambios en cualquiera de las fases de la deglución, provocando disfagia neurogénica. Sin embargo, el trastorno neurológico y la discapacidad visual asociada es un tema poco estudiado. El niño con ausencia del canal visual, generalmente tiene poca idea de la estructura del espacio e incluso de su cuerpo y estructura organizativa. Se sabe que la parálisis cerebral tiene retrasos en los patrones de masticación y deglución, pero se cuestiona si la discapacidad visual puede interferir o no en este desempeño. Objetivo: El propósito de este estudio fue analizar las funciones de masticación y el tiempo de deglución en niños con parálisis cerebral y discapacidad visual asociada. Método: Esta investigación es de naturaleza exploratoria y descriptiva, desarrollada a través de un estudio de caso clínico de un niño con parálisis cerebral y discapacidad visual asociada. Se examinaron tres consistencias de alimentos: líquido (jugo), pastoso (yogur) y sólido (pan), y se pasó el tiempo de deglución de cada uno de ellos durante el tiempo normal de alimentación. Resultados: los resultados mostraron que el niño con parálisis cerebral y deficiencia visual tiene dificultades en la función de masticación y toma más tiempo para tragar en forma sólida y líquida. Conclusión: la discapacidad visual asociada con la parálisis cerebral puede acentuar la dificultad en las funciones de masticación y deglución.

Prolactinoma en una adolescente como causa de alteraciones visuales / Prolactinoma as the cause of visual alterations in a female adolescent

Introducción: los prolactinomas corresponden a la mitad de las causas etiológicas de los adenomas de presentación en la población pediátrica, lo cual les proporciona una gran importancia para tenerlos como diagnóstico diferencial ante el estudio de un tumor hipofisario. Las alteraciones visuales no corresponden al síntoma más común, sin embargo, es necesario tenerlo presente, especialmente ante la identificación de un macroadenoma. Presentación del caso: paciente femenina, de 16 años de edad, con un macroadenoma en estudio, que fue identificado como un macroprolactinoma. La sintomatología principal de consulta correspondió a alteraciones visuales y cefalea. Recibió tratamiento médico por Endocrinología Pediátrica con cabergolina, con estabilidad en el tamaño y características de la masa tumoral, y disminución de los niveles de prolactina sérica. Conclusiones: en la población pediátrica los prolactinomas que producen afectaciones visuales son más frecuentes en el sexo masculino, sin embargo, también puede ocurrir en el femenino; su diagnóstico implica la realización de estudios de laboratorio especializados y neuroimágenes, así como la participación activa de Endocrinología Pediátrica. Se resalta la importancia del tratamiento médico con agonistas dopaminérgicos, como la primera opción en esta entidad antes de plantear decisión quirúrgica, y es necesario un seguimiento médico cuidadoso al respecto(AU)

Introduction: prolactinomas account for half of the etiological causes of presentation adenomas in the pediatric population, hence their important role as differential diagnosis in the study of a pituitary tumor. Visual alterations are not their most common symptom, but they should be borne in mind, particularly in the identification of a macroadenoma. Case presentation: female 16-year-old patient with a macroadenoma under study which was identified as a macroprolactinoma. The main symptoms at presentation were visual alterations and headaches. She received medical treatment with cabergoline at the Pediatric Endocrinology service, achieving stability in the size and characteristics of the tumor mass, and a reduction in serum prolactin levels. Conclusions: in the pediatric population, prolactinomas causing visual alterations are more common in males, but they can also occur among females. Their diagnosis includes specialized laboratory tests and neuroimaging, as well as the active involvement of the Pediatric Endocrinology service. Mention must be made of the medical treatment with dopaminergic agonists as the first choice for this condition before indicating surgery, and careful medical follow-up is required in this respect(AU)

Factors affecting visual loss and visual recovery in patients with pseudotumor cerebri syndrome / Fatores que influenciam na perda e na recuperação visual de pacientes com a síndrome do pseudotumor cerebral

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate the frequency of visual loss (VL), possible predictive factors of VL, and improvement in patients with pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) syndrome. Methods: We reviewed 50 PTC patients (43 females, seven males) who underwent neuro-ophthalmic examination at the time of diagnosis and after treatment. Demographic data, body mass index (BMI), time from symptom onset to diagnosis (TD), maximum intracranial pressure (MIP), occurrence of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), and treatment modalities were reviewed. VL was graded as mild, moderate, or severe on the basis of visual acuity and fields. Predictive factors for VL and improvement were assessed by regression analysis. Results: The mean ± SD age, BMI, and MIP were 35.2 ± 12.7 years, 32.0 ± 7.5 kg/cm2, and 41.9 ± 14.5 cmH2O, respectively. Visual symptoms and CVT were present in 46 and eight patients, respectively. TD (in months) was <1 in 21, 1-6 in 15, and >6 in 14 patients. Patients received medical treatment with (n=20) or without (n=30) surgery. At presentation, VL was mild in 16, moderate in 12, and severe in 22 patients. Twenty-eight patients improved and five worsened. MIP, TD, and hypertension showed a significant correlation with severe VL. The best predictive factor for severe VL was TD >6 months (p=0.04; odds ratio, 5.18). TD between 1 and 6 months was the only factor significantly associated with visual improvement (p=0.042). Conclusions: VL is common in PTC, and when severe, it is associated with a delay in diagnosis. It is frequently permanent; however, improvement may occur, particularly when diagnosed within 6 months of symptom onset. .

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar a frequência de perda visual (PV) e os possíveis fatores preditivos para perda e para melhora visual em pacientes com a síndrome do pseudotumor cerebral (SPC). Métodos: Foram revisados 50 pacientes com SPC submetidos a exame neuroftalmológico no momento do diagnóstico e após o tratamento. Dados demográficos, índice de massa corpórea (IMC), tempo decorrido entre o início dos sintomas e o diagnóstico (TD), pressão intracraniana máxima (PIM), ocorrência de trombose venosa cerebral (TVC), e as modalidades de tratamento foram revisadas. PV foi graduada em discreta, moderada e grave, baseada na acuidade e no campo visual. Fatores preditivos para perda e melhora visual foram avaliados por análise de regressão linear. Resultados: Quarenta e três pacientes eram do sexo feminino. A média de idade, o IMC e a PIM (± desvio padrão) foram: 35,2 ± 12,7 anos, 32,0 ± 7,5 kg/cm2 e 41,9 ± 14,5 cmH2O, respectivamente. Sintomas visuais estavam presentes em 46 e TVC em 8 pacientes. TD (em meses) foi <1 em 21, 1-6 em 15 e >6 em 14 pacientes. Pacientes receberam tratamento clinico apenas (n=30) ou associado a tratamento cirúrgico (n=20). Na apresentação a PV era discreta em 16, moderada em 12 e grave em 22 pacientes. Vinte e oito pacientes melhoraram e 5 pioraram. PIM, TD e hipertensão arterial correlacionaram significativamente com PV grave. O melhor fator preditivo para PV grave foi o TD>6 meses (p=0,04; razão de chances 5,18). TD entre 1 e 6 meses foi o único fator significativamente associado com melhora visual após tratamento (p=0,042). Conclusões: Perda visual é comum na SPC e quando grave se mostra relacionado a atraso no diagnóstico. É usualmente permanente mas pode haver melhora visual especialmente quando a doença é diagnosticada nos primeiros 6 após o início dos sintomas. .

Evaluation of parasitological and molecular techniques for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of schistosomiasis mansoni in a low transmission area

This study evaluated parasitological and molecular techniques for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of schistosomiasis mansoni. A population-based study was performed in 201 inhabitants from a low transmission locality named Pedra Preta, municipality of Montes Claros, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Four stool samples were analysed using two techniques, the Kato-Katz® (KK) technique (18 slides) and the TF-Test®, to establish the infection rate. The positivity rate of 18 KK slides of four stool samples was 28.9% (58/201) and the combined parasitological techniques (KK+TF-Test®) produced a 35.8% positivity rate (72/201). Furthermore, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ELISA assay produced a positivity rate of 23.4% (47/201) using the first sample. All 72 patients with positive parasitological exams were treated with a single dose of Praziquantel® and these patients were followed-up 30, 90 and 180 days after treatment to establish the cure rate. Cure rates obtained by the analysis of 12 KK slides were 100%, 100% and 98.4% at 30, 90 and 180 days after treatment, respectively. PCR-ELISA revealed cure rates of 98.5%, 95.5% and 96.5%, respectively. The diagnostic and assessment of cure for schistosomiasis may require an increased number of KK slides or a test with higher sensitivity, such as PCR-ELISA, in situations of very low parasite load, such as after therapeutic interventions.

Encuesta de ceguera y deficiencia visual evitable en Panamá / Survey on avoidable blindness and visual impairment in Panama

OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia de ceguera y deficiencia visual en adultos de 50 años o más de Panamá, identificar sus principales causas y caracterizar la oferta de servicios de salud ocular. MÉTODOS: Estudio poblacional transversal mediante la metodología estándar de evaluación rápida de ceguera evitable. Se seleccionaron 50 personas de 50 años o más de cada uno de 84 conglomerados escogidos mediante muestreo aleatorio representativo de todo el país. Se evaluó la agudeza visual (AV) mediante una cartilla de Snellen y el estado del cristalino y del polo posterior por oftalmoscopía directa. Se calculó la cobertura de cirugía de catarata y se evaluó su calidad, así como las causas de tener AV < 20/60 y las barreras para acceder al tratamiento quirúrgico. RESULTADOS: Se examinaron 4 125 personas (98,2% de la muestra calculada). La prevalencia de ceguera ajustada por la edad y el sexo fue de 3,0% (intervalo de confianza de 95%: 2,3-3,6). La principal causa de ceguera fue la catarata (66,4%), seguida del glaucoma (10,2%). La catarata (69,2%) fue la principal causa de deficiencia visual (DV) severa y los errores de refracción no corregidos fueron la principal causa de DV moderada (60,7%). La cobertura quirúrgica de catarata en personas fue de 76,3%. De todos los ojos operados de catarata, 58,0% logró una AV < 20/60 con la corrección disponible. CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de ceguera en Panamá se ubica en un nivel medio con respecto a la encontrada en otros países de la Región. Es posible disminuir este problema, ya que 76,2% de los casos de ceguera y 85,0% de los casos de DV severa corresponden a causas evitables.

OBJECTIVE: Determine prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in adults aged > 50 years in Panama, identify their main causes, and characterize eye health services. METHODS: Cross-sectional population study using standard Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness methodology. Fifty people aged > 50 years were selected from each of 84 clusters chosen through representative random sampling of the entire country. Visual acuity was assessed using a Snellen chart; lens and posterior pole status were assessed by direct ophthalmoscopy. Cataract surgery coverage was calculated and its quality assessed, along with causes of visual acuity < 20/60 and barriers to access to surgical treatment. RESULTS: A total of 4 125 people were examined (98.2% of the calculated sample). Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of blindness was 3.0% (95% CI: 2.3-3.6). The main cause of blindness was cataract (66.4%), followed by glaucoma (10.2%). Cataract (69.2%) was the main cause of severe visual impairment and uncorrected refractive errors were the main cause of moderate visual impairment (60.7%). Surgical cataract coverage in individuals was 76.3%. Of all eyes operated for cataract, 58.0% achieved visual acuity < 20/60 with available correction. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of blindness in Panama is in line with average prevalence found in other countries of the Region. This problem can be reduced, since 76.2% of cases of blindness and 85.0% of cases of severe visual impairment result from avoidable causes.

Social Exclusion of Students with Visual Impairments at a Tertiary Institution in KwaZulu-Natal

Objectives: People with visual impairment experience exclusion and marginalisation from family; mainstream school; the community and university. The experience of social exclusion is multistructural; multidimensional and complex. This article is based on a study that aimed to describe the social exclusion of students with visual impairment at a tertiary institution where the authors are employed.Design: The study was qualitative. It used an exploratory design to provide compelling data on the insider perspectives of students.Setting and subjects: Fifteen students participated in the study; of whom nine were men and six women. Eleven students were partially sighted and four were blind. All the subjects were from the university where the authors are employed.Results: The study established that participants' exclusion from access to opportunities and development left them psychologically; socially; financially and emotionally scarred.Conclusion: The study established that visual impairment and poverty were related and that women experienced oppression on two counts. The first was because of their disabled status and the second was oppression by other female students at the university. Recommendations are for changes within families; schools; communities and universities

The Ocular Complications of an Envenomous Snakebite

An envenomous snakebite is an important public health problem that can lead to irreversible loss of vision. Snake venom neurotoxins mainly act on the peripheral nervous system at the neuromuscular junction; and result in the implication of the cranial nerves. Consequently; mild neurological symptoms that relate to cephalic muscle paralysis; including exotropia; ptosis; diplopia and ophthalmoplegia; can occur. This happens because the extraocular muscles are especially susceptible to neurological muscular blockage. Other neurological complications of snake venom include accommodation paralysis; optic neuritis; globe necrosis; keratomalacia; uveitis; and loss of vision due to cortical infarction. Haemostatic complications may include subconjuctival haemorrhage; hyphema; and vitreous and retinal haemorrhages. Another rare complication of a snakebite is ocular injury. Snakebite injuries are often accompanied by facial swelling; periorbital ecchymosis; massive subconjuctival haemorrhage; severe corneal oedema and exophthalmos in the affected eye. Unfortunately; such injuries result in permanent loss of vision; as early evisceration is deemed necessary to reduce the amount and effect of the venom in the affected eye. With such a variety of ocular complications as a result of a venomous snakebite; it is important for primary care physicians to have some basic knowledge of the management of these complications; as they may prove to be vital where patients present with a snakebite and possible venom injection in the eye

Pattern of causes and management of permanent loss of voice studied at a tertiary care hospital

To determine the frequency of causes of hoarseness leading to permanent loss of voice and discuss their management. This descriptive study was carried out at the department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from January 2009 to December 2011. All these patients were evaluated in terms of detailed history, thorough examination and relevant investigations. Biopsy from laryngeal mass was taken in case of tumours. Total laryngectomy was performed in patients with advanced laryngeal tumours provided with preoperative counseling regarding postoperative handicaps. The patients with laryngeal narrowing due to trauma were subjected to laryngeal stenting. The data was analyzed using SPSS 15. Out of 16 patients 10 were male and 6 were female with male: female ratio of 1.6:1. The ages ranged from 09-75 years with mean age of 43.68 +/- S.D 18.65 years. Majority of patients [68.75%] had low socioeconomic status. Main presentation of these patients was hoarseness [100%]. The commonest cause of change of voice was laryngeal carcinoma [n-6, 37.5%], followed by blast injury [25%].Endolaryngeal stenting was the commonest [43.75%] procedure performed for traumatic laryngeal stenosis followed by total laryngectomy. Most of the patients gained good esophageal speech. It is concluded that beside laryngeal cancer, trauma to the larynx is a common cause of permanent loss of voice resulting due to increased incidence of violence in our set up. Esophageal speech can be easily and successfully instituted in laryngectomized patients among other voice rehabilitative options

Profile of School Going Children with Visual Impairment.

Eye is the most vital organ of human body; apart from serving the function of vision, it enables us to do our tasks with coordination. Any abnormality in the eye can impair vision and make the person handicapped for life. WHO estimates that 153 million people worldwide live with visual impairment due to uncorrected refractive errors, 8 million are blind and 12.8 million are in age group of 5-15 years1. In India prevalence of defective vision in age group of 6-15 years is around 13 %2,3. The school children form a special group because they are most vulnerable to the effects of reduced vision and its impact on learning capability and educational potential. In addition, the management of refractive errors is perhaps the simplest and the most effective eye care that can be provided by involving the community4. The school children are more prone to develop decreased visual acuity owing to increased near work due to stressful academic schedule, nutritional deficiencies and excessive viewing of television, playing videogames. Poor vision in childhood affects academic performance in school and has a negative influence on future of child. Considering these issues the present study was carried out to find out the factors affecting vision of school children and to suggest preventive and remedial measures for defective vision.

Disfunção pré-frontoparietal durante o processamento de informação visuoauditiva em pacientes idosos com esquizofrenia crônica e efeitos da medicação / Parieto-prefrontal dysfunction during visuo-auditory information processing in elderly, chronic schizophrenic patients and medication effects

OBJETIVOS: Em pacientes com primeiro episódio de esquizofrenia, estudos com ressonância magnética funcional (RMf) têm demonstrado disfunção pré-frontoparietal durante estimulação acústica e visual. O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a rede pré-frontoparietal em pacientes idosos com esquizofrenia utilizando o mesmo paradigma. Adicionalmente, foram presumidos efeitos favoráveis na ativação cerebral pelo antipsicótico atípico clozapina em comparação a neurolépticos típicos. MÉTODOS: Foram investigados 18 pacientes com esquizofrenia crônica e 21 controles saudáveis idosos. Nove pacientes com esquizofrenia haviam sido medicados com clozapina e nove haviam recebido neurolépticos típicos por décadas. Concomitantemente às avaliações com escalas psicopatológicas e neuropsicológicas foi utilizado um paradigma de estimulação auditiva e visual em um aparelho de ressonância magnética de 1,5 Tesla para investigar a resposta BOLD em diferentes áreas cerebrais. RESULTADOS: Comparados a controles saudáveis, os pacientes com esquizofrenia apresentaram diminuição na ativação cerebral nos córtices pré-frontal e parietal, assim como no giro do cíngulo anterior medial. Nessas regiões, os pacientes medicados com clozapina apresentaram resposta BOLD aumentada em comparação aos pacientes tratados com neurolépticos típicos. DISCUSSÃO: O presente estudo confirmou a presença de distúrbios na rede pré-frontoparietal em pacientes idosos com esquizofrenia, apontando assim para a preservação de déficits de ativação cerebrais e a influência de distúrbios do desenvolvimento neural em esquizofrenia crônica até a velhice. CONCLUSÃO: O antipsicótico atípico clozapina parece facilitar a ativação de áreas cerebrais mesmo em pacientes idosos com esquizofrenia crônica.

OBJECTIVES: In first-episode schizophrenia patients, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has shown prefronto-parietal dysfunction during acoustic and visual stimulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the prefronto-parietal network in elderly schizophrenia patients using the same paradigm. Additionally, we hypothesized favourable effects on brain activation by the atypical antipsychotic clozapine compared to typical neuroleptics. METHODS: We investigated 18 elderly, chronic schizophrenia patients and 21 elderly healthy controls. Nine schizophrenia patients had been medicated with clozapine and 9 had been receiving typical neuroleptics over decades. In addition to assessments with psychopathological and neuropsychological rating scales we used an acoustic and visual stimulation paradigm in a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner to investigate BOLD-response in different brain areas. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls schizophrenia patients showed decreased brain activation in the prefrontal and parietal cortex as well as medial anterior cingulate gyrus compared to healthy controls. In these regions, patients medicated with clozapine showed increased BOLD-response compared to patients treated with typical neuroleptics. DISCUSSION: Our study confirmed prefronto-parietal network disturbances in elderly schizophrenia patients thus pointing to the preservation of brain activation deficits and the influence of neurodevelopmental disturbances in chronic schizophrenia until old-age. CONCLUSION: The atypical antipsychotic clozapine seems to facilitate brain activation even in elderly, chronic schizophrenia patients.

Quedas relacionadas a distúrbios visuais na população idosa / Falls related visual disorders in aged population

Objetivo: Informar os profissionais de saúde sobre o papel da visão na estabilidade postural do idoso e as principais alterações visuais que acometem este específico, alertando-os para a importância da detecção precoce e do tratamento destes agravos na prevenção das quedas. Método: Estudo da revisão em sites médicos, no qual foram incluídos 14 artigos originais e seis artigos de revisão, versando sobre a relação entre distúrbios visuais e quedas em idosos. Resultados: Todos os artigos selecionados relataram a importância do sistema visual na manutenção da estabilidade postural e na prevenção das quedas em idosos. A capacidade visual dos gerontes está associada à sua independência funcional, autonomia e qualidade de vida. Conclusão: A função visual tem importante participação na manutenção do equilíbrio corporal dos idosos, sendo que a detecção precoce das alterações visuais tratáveis e a adaptação dos ambientes às dificuldades dos idosos contribuem para a prevenção das quedas.

Risk Factors for Falls among the Community-Dwelling Elderly in Korea / 간호학회지

Community-based centres were surveyed to determine the frequency of and risk factors for falls among elderly Koreans. We examined fall-related risk factors, including physiological and physical health, psychosocial functions, self-reported physical capacity and activity, vision, and the use of medication, among 351 elderly people aged 65 years or older, with ambulatory. Forty-two per cent of elderly Korean subjects reported at least one episode of falling in the previous 12 months, 38% of whom had consequences that required either the attention of a physician or hospitalization. Factors significantly associated with an increased risk of falling were a restricted activity during the previous five years (adjusted OR 1.3), use of alternative therapy (adjusted OR 2.7), low knee flexor and extensor-muscle strength (adjusted OR 1.21 and 1.20), and poor balance with closed eyes (adjusted OR 8.32). We conclude that falls among older persons living in the community are common in Korea and that indicator of bad health and frailty or variables directly related to neuromuscular impairment are significant predictors of the risk of falling.

Evaluation of headache intensity in migrainous patients with visual handicap through the tactile analogical scale (TAS)

The tactile analogue scale (TAS) was elaborated to be used in blind subjects or those who can not use the vision during their crises. The objective of this study was to characterize, from TAS, the architecture of migraine attacks in subjects with visual disability. For that, 11 migrainous with visual disturb (MVD) subjects were studied and 22 migrainous subjects with no visual disability as a control group. All patients fulfilled the criteria for migraine and the patients of the group studied showed visual acuteness less than 20/200. To evaluate the results, the patients of the group MVD were subdivide within two groups, according to their visual acuteness: subgroup A subjects with subnormal vision and subgroup B amaurotic ones. In subgroup A measurement 46 attacks with average of the migraine attacks of the 56.50 mm, in the subgroup B 45 attacks with average of the 59.58mm and in the control group 92 attacks with average of the 49.88mm. When subgroup B and control group were compared there was a significant statistic difference (p=0.022). Through these outcomes we can observe that the migrainous subjects with no visual afference show a higher pain intensity during the migraine crises comparing to those subjects with no visual handicap. The study suggests that, as in other forms of sensibility, the total visual loss can also interfere in the nociceptive control of the pain during the migraine attacks

Eye lesions and onchocerciasis in a rural farm settlement in Delta State, Nigeria.

Between December 1999 and September 2000, an investigation on 326 inhabitants who voluntarily participated in screening for eye lesions and onchocerciasis in a rural farm settlement in Aniocha North local government area of Delta State, Nigeria was carried out. Microfilariae were reported in the skin tissues of 134 (41.1%) inhabitants. Of these, males had more microfiladermia (49.9%) than their female counterparts (33.3%). The percentage prevalence of the clinical signs of onchocerciasis in the farm settlement was hanging groin 14.1%, onchocercal nodules 25.1%, onchocercal dermatitis 27.6% and scrotal enlargement 3.7%. The percentage prevalence of the eye lesions among the onchocerciasis infected inhabitants was cataract 7.4%, glaucoma 3.7%, optic atrophy 0.6% and uveitis 18 (5.5%). Impaired vision occurred among 80 (24.5%) inhabitants and blindness was reported among 2 (0.6%) inhabitants.

Manejo quirúrgico de los craneofaringiomas / Surgical treatment of craniopharyngioma

Presentamos 24 casos de craneofaringiomas operados en el Departamento de Neuro-Oncología del Instituto de Enfermedades Neoplásicas en el lapso de ocho años (1985-1992). Trece pacientes (54.1 por ciento) fueron menores de 14 años; la edad promedio en general fue de 17.3 años (rango 1-60); once pacientes fueron mujeres (45.8 por ciento) y 13 varones (54.2 por ciento). Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron cefalea y déficit visual y endocrino. Diecisiete casos (66.6 por ciento) correspondieron a tumores mayores de 4.0 cm. Se realizó resecció total del tumor en cuatro pacientes, subtotal en 15 casos y biopsia más aspiración del quiste en cinco. Las complicaciones operatorias más frecuentes fue diabetes insípida (14 casos). La mortalidad operatoria fue de 8.3 por ciento (dos casos. Cuatro pacientes están perdidos de vista y la mortalidad tardía es de 8.3 por ciento; la media de seguimiento de los casos de los 16 restantes es de 38.4 meses. Nueve pacientes llevan una vida normal o casi normal, pero todos ellos reciben tratamiento de substitución hormonal y algunos requieren de tratamientos antidepresivos; seis pacientes tienen aún problemas no resultos de obesidad, fallas en la memoria, déficit intelectual o visual.

Malformación de Chiari (o Arnold-Chiari I): observación de un caso / Chiari (or Arnold-Chiari Type I) malformation

Malformación de Chiari es la designación actualmente más usada y adecuada para señalar el desplazamiento de las amígdalas cerebelosas dentro del canal raquídeo cervical. Es una entidad de observación infrecuente en adultos, siendo sus síntomas más característicos los de cefaleas, fenómeno de Lhermitte y trastornos en la marcha por ataxia y/o espasticidad. Presentamos el caso de un paciente adulto, destacando la presencia de síntomas característicos y otros -hipertensión arterial y cuadrantopsia por infarto cerebral- que creemos relacionados a su malformación. Asimismo se apunta que el diagnóstico no se pudo hacer con la tomografía computada pero en cambio fue hecho sin dudas con la resonancia nuclear magnética