Unilateral absence of the basal ganglia plus epilepsy without motor symptoms.

A patient with absence of the basal ganglia and refractory epilepsy without impairment of pyramidal or extrapyramidal motor function is reported. Imaging findings suggest a vascular insult as etiology. Preserved motor function could be explained by neuronal plasticity involving contralateral corticostriatal and pallidothalamic connections and points to a lesion received in early pregnancy.

Etiology of acute diarrhea among children in Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brazil.

To study the main enteropathogens causing diarrhea in the region of Ribeirão Preto regarding serogroups and serotypes, the feces of 1836 children under 10 years old, from both sexes, attack of acute gastroenteritis, were analysed during a period of 4 years in Adolfo Lutz Institute - Ribeirão Preto, SP. The pathogens identified by standard methods were the following: Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., Yersinia spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. Positive samples were 22.8% (419) with 1.7% association of pathogens. Larger isolates were mainly from children 0 to 11 months old. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) was most frequent (8.7%) with predominance of serogroup O119 (40.2%), followed by Shigella (6.2%), 63.6% of which S. sonnei.

Deep brain stimulation in epilepsy.

Since the pioneering studies of Cooper et al. to influence epilepsy by cerebellar stimulation, numerous attempts have been made to reduce seizure frequency by stimulation of deep brain structures. Evidence from experimental animal studies suggests the existence of a nigral control of the epilepsy system. It is hypothesized that the dorsal midbrain anticonvulsant zone in the superior colliculi is under inhibitory control of efferents from the substantia nigra pars reticulata. Inhibition of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) could release the inhibitory effect of the substantia nigra pars reticulata on the dorsal midbrain anticonvulsant zone and thus activate the latter, raising the seizure threshold. Modulation of the seizure threshold by stimulation of deep brain structures-in particular, of the STN-is a promising future treatment option for patients with pharmacologically intractable epilepsy. Experimental studies supporting the existence of the nigral control of epilepsy system and preliminary results of STN stimulation in animals and humans are reviewed, and alternative mechanisms of seizure suppression by STN stimulation are discussed.

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae as etiological agents of conjunctivitis outbreaks in the region of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

In the study of conjunctivitis outbreaks occurring from September 1994 to September 1996 in the region of Ribeirão Preto, conjunctival exudates of 92 patients were cultivated in Instituto Adolfo Lutz Laboratory I, Ribeirão Preto. Most cases occurred in the age range 2-7 years. The etiological agents which were most frequently isolated from the analyzed cases were: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, in 40.22% and 21.74%, respectively. 51.35% of the S. pneumoniae isolated strains were not typable. The oxacillin-resistant S. pneumoniae strains were submitted to the minimum inhibitory concentration test (MIC) and three of them presented intermediate resistance, whereas only one was highly resistant to penicillin.

[Epidemiologic markers of Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella agona]. / Marcadores epidemiológicos de Salmonella typhimurium e Salmonella agona.

Among S. typhimurium and S. agona strains isolated during the period from 1971 to 1987, the biotypes, colicine types and resistance patterns were determined for 734 S. typhimurium and 631 S. agona strains. Among 734 S. typhimurium strains 65 biotypes were disclosed with prevalence of biotypes 1a (28.34%), 1b (29.84%) and 9 bi (18.28). Concerning S. agona, the biotype 1a represented by 87.16%, was the commonest clone among our strains. Although colicine typing added little information to characterize these serotypes, it should be usefull when applied in epidemiological study of outbreaks. It was observed multiply antimicrobial resistance mainly among human strains, particularly from nosocomial origins.