Neuroanatomical correlation between choroid plexus mass in thechoroidal fissure and the interventricular foramen area

Introduction: Our aim was to evaluate the correlation between choroid plexus mass (g) in the choroidalfissure and the ipsilateral interventricular foramen area, bilaterally. Material and methods: We analyzed sevencadaveric specimens with exposed brain, reaching the transcallosum access in all specimens, dissecting thecorpus callosum to reach the left and right choroidal fissure. After identifying the thalamostriate and septalveins, we localized the interventricular foramen scrapping all the choroid plexus in that region as well asits posterior extension allowing us to completely visualize the III ventricle. The area of the interventricularforamen was calculated with a pachimeter using the formula ðR2. The choroid plexus mass was measured withan appropriate scale. The choroid plexus mass and ipsilateral interventricular foramen correlation was evaluatedby the Pearson correlation. Results and conclusion: Neither difference between right and left choroid plexusmass was observed (Student t test – p = 0.374) nor with interventricular foramen area (p = 0.345) andwe decided to evaluate the 14 results together. There was correlation between choroid plexus mass and itsrespective IF (r = 0.6863; p < 0.01). A better knowledge of the choroidal fissure is very important to a moreprecise approach to the pathologic processes that affect the III ventricle. Different from the transforaminal,interforniceal, subchoroidal, and subforniceal, the choroidal fissure access is a natural approach. We speculatethat undetermined etiology hydrocephaly may have its origins in a deficit of ventricular drainage or in thechoroid plexus excess.

Manual de procedimientos para la detección de infecciones intrahospitalarias / Manual of procedures for the detection of hospital infections

El presente manual se halla dividido en dos secciones. La primera sección cubre principalmente las diversas funciones del Laboratorio de Microbiología en ele proceso de control de infecciones. La segunda sección cubre la esturctura del programa de control de infección y las medidas de prevención.

Laboratorio / Laboratory

El objetivo principal de este primer módulo es de familiarizar a los profesionales de laboratorio con el problema de la infecció intrahospitalaria y proporcionarle los insturmentos necesarios para jugar el rol que le corresponde en el contexto hospitalario.

Prevención de infección / Prevention of infection

El segundo modulo se refiere a la identificación de los principales servicios del hospital en riesgo de producir infecciones intrahospitalarias instaurar la vigilancia epidemiológica correspondiente, impulsar para que le laboratorio se convierta en un actor y generador de conocimiento sobre la prevalencia de microorganismos patógenos, el laboratorio debe cumplirun rol importante en el apoyo al comite de control y prevención de infecciones con que cuente el hospital en el tema de identificación de actividades de riesgo, control de desinfectantes y seguimiento al personal de salud.

Molecular analysis of sex determination in sex-reversed and true hermaphroditism

The SRY (sex region of Y) gene determines testis formation but not all cases of sex reversal in humans can be explained by alterations in this gene. We studied on 46,XY female, four 46,XX males, and nine true hermaphrodites (TH): three with an XY and six with an XX chromosomal constitution. The SRY gene was identified in the XX males and the TH with a Y chromosome but was not demonstrated in the XY female and the six XX TH. The Y-heterochromatin region was also identified in one 46,XX male, indicating a low grade mosaicism undetected by cytogenetics. The amplification of the amelogenin gene showed the presence of a 977-bp band that belongs to the short arm of chromosome X in all patients but the absence of a 780-bp band of the short arm of chromosome Y in three 46,XX males and in all the 46,XX TH. These studies demonstrate that the molecular study of sex-reversed patients and TH will help to understand the complex mechanisms of sex determination. The SRY gene is involved but other genes on the X chromosome and autosomes still remain to be studied.

Sindrome de Laron: uma causa de baixa estatura grave / Laron's syndrome: a cause of severe small stature

Os autores apresentam dois casos de baixa estatura (BE) do tipo sindrome de Laron em criancas brasileiras e em cujas arvores genealogicas aparecem apenas brasileiros, portugueses e italianos, diferentemente da casuistica do Prof. Laron onde os pacientes sao oriundos do oriente medio. Sao comentados dados relacionados com a evolucao dos valores de hGH (hormonio de crescimento humano) e SmC (somatomedina C) ou IGF-I ("insulin like growth factor"). Em 1966, Laron descreveu um quadro clinico de baixa estatura (BE) grave praticamente superponivel aos aspectos clinicos e metabolicos da deficiencia hipofisaria de hGH porem contrapondo-se a esta por apresentar os niveis basais de hGH muito elevados. Posteriormente, verificou-se que na BE do tipo Laron, alem dos niveis elevados de hGH, sao registrados valores muito baixos de SmC ou IGF-I. A diminuicao da producao de IGF-I seria uma consequencia da falta de receptores celulares de hGH. O receptor de hGH consiste numa sequencia de 620 aminoacidos ancorada a membrana da celula atraves da regiao compreendida pelos aminoacidos 247-72. A porcao extracelular e conhecida como "proteina ligadora do hHG". Quando o hGH se liga a esta "proteina" sucede-se uma serie de reacoes dentro da celula e cuja consequencia principal e a resposta de crescimento....