[The evaluation of ratio of oncomarkers in search of initial focus of tumor: on the occasion of fiftieth anniversary of discovery of alpha-fetoprotein as an oncomarker].

The article presents research data testifying the dominant value of HAFP behavior in diagnostic of oncological diseases. The importance of study of profile of main oncomarkers in patient is demonstrated. The method of hydrohelium biochips, developed in the institute of molecular biology, was used to determine 9 key oncomarkers. The application of this method made it possible to essentially complete the information map in 8 patients according to clinical interpretation of disease. In economically justified variant, this method is able to shorten period of study of patient, to specify character of pathological process and to transfer examination load of patients to the out-patient level.

[Surgery by anterior approach in cervical myelopathy with a narrow canal]. / Cirugía por vía anterior en la mielopatía cervical con canal estrecho.

Twenty four patients with spastic paraparesis due to cervical myelopathy were operated on by the anterior approach. They all received anterior cervical discectomy and/or osteophytes resection with the operating microscope, without fusion. There were no deaths and no one deteriorated after surgery. The results in the 21 patients with a year or more of post-operative follow-up are described. Seven had a congenital narrow canal associated with discopathy, with a history of up to 9 years. In 6, the spastic paraparesis improved, in 2, dramatically. One patient had no change. The other 14 patients had a normal cervical canal. Eight had an excellent result, and only one did not improve. The patients with a narrow canal were a little worse than those with a normal canal, but both groups are not quite comparable. More experience is needed, but the evidence suggest that the anterior approach give good results in cervical myelopathy with discopathy associated with narrow canal, without mortality or post-operative deterioration.

[Atrophy of the hippocampus of vascular origin. Clinico-pneumoencephalographic study]. / Atrofia hipocámpica de origen vascular. Estudio clínico-neumoencefalográfico.

Among 20 patients with symptoms of cerebrovascular insufficiency, dissociation between memory disturbances and cognitive functions, and PEG studies, there were 13 cases showing atrophy of the hippocampus. The neurological and psychological studies included memory functions tests, IQ, and the analysis of language and praxia. Complementary tests included standard EEG records, EEGs obtained with nasopharingeal electrodes and PEG tomography with selective filling of both temporal horns, in order to demonstrate the inner and lower surface of the temporal lobes. The volume of the Ammon horn was reduced in 13 cases. Hippocampal atrophy was unilateral in 11 patients and bilateral in 2. The fact that hippocampal atrophy was demonstrated by PEG studies in 13 out of 20 cases, appears to be highly significant. This clinico-neuroradiological correlation seems to indicate that hippocampal atrophy, following ischemia in the deep distal vertebro-basilar-posterior cerebral territory, disturbs the function of axial structures (Papez circuit or limbic system) apparently leading to the disturbances of memory functions observed in this group of patients.

[Ischemic cerebral vascular pathology. History and updating]. / Patología vascular cerebral isquémica. Historia y actualización.

This is a contribution to the memory of Professor Román Arana Iñíguez. He, with Professor Néstor Azambuja made possible our participation, in the Joint Study of Extracranial Arterial Occlusion from the National Institutes of Health, with 23 U.S. Universities. This research was started on March 1963 and ended on June 1971. It was directed by Dr. Arana, who gave impetus to our work and to our active participation on the subject at meetings held in Uruguay and abroad. A brief historiography of the subject is made, with emphasis in the chronology of our advances as compared to those of other leading countries.

[Memory disorders in posterior vertebrobasilar cerebral artery insufficiency]. / Trastornos de la memoria en la insuficiencia arterial vértebro-basilar-cerebral posterior.

A clinical and neuropsychological study of 10 vascular patients with signs of circulatory insufficiency in the vertebro-basilar-posterior cerebral territory in whom the dominant symptom was loss of memory with relative idemnity of other intelectual functions is presented. In 5 cases clinical signs of acute infarct in the posterior cerebral artery territories existed in the form of amnesic infarct. The disturbances and the localization of the lesion confirmed by paraclinical examinations (EEG, angiography of the posterior circulation, radioisotope scan) are discussed.