Mal de desembarque / Mal de debarquement

Resumen El síndrome de mal de desembarque es un cuadro clínico de mareo y oscilaciones corporales persistente, descrito siglos atrás cuando los marineros llegaban a tierra después de navegar. Actualmente, se sabe que este cuadro clínico ocurre también al bajarse de cualquier medio de transporte, ya sea marítimo, aéreo o terrestre. Cuando el cuadro clínico tiene una duración de tres o más días, se denomina mal de desembarque persistente, y se asocia a cefalea y mayores niveles de ansiedad y síntomas depresivos. A continuación, presentamos el cuadro clínico de un paciente que consultó por mareo persistente posterior a un paseo en bote en el mar. Se discute diagnóstico y manejo terapéutico.

Abstract Mal de Debarquement is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent self-motion dizziness and increased oscillatory body sway, that was described centuries ago after sailors landed in port. Nowadays, it is known that mal de debarquement could appear after any travel in a motion vehicle, including airplanes, ships and cars. When the duration of the symptoms lasts longer than three days, a persistent mal de debarquement is diagnosed, and it is associated with headache and higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Here, we present a clinical case of a persistent mal de debarquement that attended to the Otolaryngology clinics at the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile after a boat trip in the sea. We discuss diagnosis and clinical management.

CHANGES OF FREE AMINO ACIDS IN PLASMA AND BRAIN OF RATS DURING SIMULATED SEA SICKNESS AND POST-ADAPTATION / 营养学报

Objective: To observe the changes of free amino acids (FAAs) in plasma and brain of rats during simulated sea sickness and post–adaptation. Method: Pica or kaolin consumption was used as an indicator to judge the development of sea sickness and adaptation when SD rats were stimulated by Crampton sea sickness simulator. FAAs concentrations in plasma and brain of rats were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after simulated sea sickness and post-adaptation. Results: After simulated sea sickness stimulation for 1 d, the levels of Cys and Ile were increased, and Gly and Pro decreased significantly in plasma. The increase of BCAA/AAA ratio was also found. In brain, the contents of Ala, Cys+Met, Tyr, His, and total amino acids were remarkably decreased. After simulated sea sickness stimulation for 21 d, no changes of FAAs were observed in plasma and brain but the ratio of Glu/ GABA was increased in brain. There were no differences of FAAs, Glu/GABA ratio and BCAA/AAA ratio in plasma and brain of tolerant and susceptible sea sickness rats. Conclusion: The levels of amino acids, especially those related to neurotransmitter synthesis, in plasma and brain were changed significantly during sea sickness.