Action observation versus motor imagery in learning a complex motor task: a short review of literature and a kinematics study.

Both motor imagery and action observation have been shown to play a role in learning or re-learning complex motor tasks. According to a well accepted view they share a common neurophysiological basis in the mirror neuron system. Neurons within this system discharge when individuals perform a specific action and when they look at another individual performing the same or a motorically related action. In the present paper, after a short review of literature on the role of action observation and motor imagery in motor learning, we report the results of a kinematics study where we directly compared motor imagery and action observation in learning a novel complex motor task. This involved movement of the right hand and foot in the same angular direction (in-phase movement), while at the same time moving the left hand and foot in an opposite angular direction (anti-phase movement), all at a frequency of 1Hz. Motor learning was assessed through kinematics recording of wrists and ankles. The results showed that action observation is better than motor imagery as a strategy for learning a novel complex motor task, at least in the fast early phase of motor learning. We forward that these results may have important implications in educational activities, sport training and neurorehabilitation.

7Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans(TMEP): estudio retrospectivo de 11 casos / Telangiectasia macularis eruptive perstans: a retrospective study of eleven cases

La trelangiectasia Macularis Eruptiva Perstans (TMEP) es una rara forma de mastocitosis cutánea que se presenta casi con exclusividad en la población adulta. Es una enfermedad crónica causada por el incremento de mastocitos en distintos tejidos. Los signos y síntomas de la enfermedad son secundarios a la liberación de histamina los diferentes óghanos, siendo la piel el más frecuente afectado. Presentamos 11 casos clínicos de TMEP y realizamos una revisión bibliográfica

7Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans(TMEP): estudio retrospectivo de 11 casos / Telangiectasia macularis eruptive perstans: a retrospective study of eleven cases

La trelangiectasia Macularis Eruptiva Perstans (TMEP) es una rara forma de mastocitosis cutánea que se presenta casi con exclusividad en la población adulta. Es una enfermedad crónica causada por el incremento de mastocitos en distintos tejidos. Los signos y síntomas de la enfermedad son secundarios a la liberación de histamina los diferentes óghanos, siendo la piel el más frecuente afectado. Presentamos 11 casos clínicos de TMEP y realizamos una revisión bibliográfica(AU)

Sindrome de lipodistrofia secundaria a inhibidores de las proteasas en pacientes hiv positivos (HALS) / Syndrome of perpheral lipodystrophy a proteasa inhibitor in positive HIV patients

Sobre la base de la bibliografía encontrada sobre sindrome de lipodistrofia HIV (associated lipodystrofy sindrome) (HALS) se estuduó una población de 30 pacientes (18 hombres y 12 mujeres) con serología positiva para HIV, en tratamiento con inhibidores de la proteasa; con la finalidad de observar la detección de la distribución de la grasa corporal y el comportamiento de lípidos e hidratos de carbono. Encontramos que a partir del tercer mes de tratamiento se producían modificaciones humorales caracterizadas por el aumento en sangre de colesterol, triglicéridos, transaminasas hepáticas y glucemia. La distribución de la ghrasa corporal mostro patrón de obesidad central: aumento en abdomen, tronco y cuello con atrofia muscular en miembros y cara. Todos los pacientes presentaron disminución de peso, no tan marcada como la descripta en los estudios publicados. Los inhibidores de la proteasa son drogas que alteran el metabolismo de los lípidos produciendo sindrome de lipodistrofia (HALS). Además comentamos nuevas teorías sobre patogenia y tratamiento.

Sindrome de lipodistrofia secundaria a inhibidores de las proteasas en pacientes hiv positivos (HALS) / Syndrome of perpheral lipodystrophy a proteasa inhibitor in positive HIV patients

Sobre la base de la bibliografía encontrada sobre sindrome de lipodistrofia HIV (associated lipodystrofy sindrome) (HALS) se estuduó una población de 30 pacientes (18 hombres y 12 mujeres) con serología positiva para HIV, en tratamiento con inhibidores de la proteasa; con la finalidad de observar la detección de la distribución de la grasa corporal y el comportamiento de lípidos e hidratos de carbono. Encontramos que a partir del tercer mes de tratamiento se producían modificaciones humorales caracterizadas por el aumento en sangre de colesterol, triglicéridos, transaminasas hepáticas y glucemia. La distribución de la ghrasa corporal mostro patrón de obesidad central: aumento en abdomen, tronco y cuello con atrofia muscular en miembros y cara. Todos los pacientes presentaron disminución de peso, no tan marcada como la descripta en los estudios publicados. Los inhibidores de la proteasa son drogas que alteran el metabolismo de los lípidos produciendo sindrome de lipodistrofia (HALS). Además comentamos nuevas teorías sobre patogenia y tratamiento. (AU)

Brain injury in a healthy child one year after periureteral injection of Teflon.

This report presents the case of a previously healthy 6-year-old girl who had an ischemic injury corresponding to the territory perfused by the lateral branches of the lenticulostriate arteries of the middle cerebral artery. Stroke in childhood is rare, and the specific causes are identified in only half the cases. Our patient was carefully studied for any hereditary or acquired risk factors for stroke, but we found only one, an endoscopic injection of Teflon performed 1 year before to correct vesicoureteral reflux. This suggests the risk of potential migration of Teflon particles to the brain, where they can block the microcirculation.

Long-term follow-up of dermatitis herpetiformis in children.

Dermatitis herpetiformis was diagnosed in seventy-six children by its clinical features and by detection of granular IgA deposits in the papillary dermis of perilesional skin. Enteric alterations demonstrated by measurement of D-xylose absorption and by small intestinal biopsies were detected in over 90% of all patients. A complete follow-up was obtained for all children who were followed for 3 to 10 years. Treatment with a gluten-free diet alone led to a reversal of the intestinal abnormality in 100% of our children and to the disappearance of cutaneous lesions in 82% of reported cases. This suggests that a complete remission of symptoms can be obtained with a gluten-free diet alone. Dapsone alone is effective therapy for the rash but does not affect the intestinal alterations. Furthermore, the lack of side effects to dietetic therapy for a long period of time makes the diet the treatment of choice in this disease.

HLA-ABC and DR antigens in celiac disease. A study in a pediatric Italian population.

HLA phenotypes of 64 Italian pediatric patients with celiac disease (CD) were compared with those of a group of healthy controls. DR3 and DR7 are significantly increased as reported in other populations. In addition an increase of heterozygotes DR5/DR7 was observed in our patients. The Hardy-Weinberg distribution in the patients group shows a disequilibrium due to the genotype DR5/DR7. Our data confirm that more than one HLA gene product is associated with CD: one with DR3 and the other with DR7.