[Intramedullary cysticercosis: case report]. / Cisticercose intramedular. Relato de caso.

Cysticercosis is the most ordinary parasitary disease involving the nervous system. The involvement of the spine is rare, ranging from 0.7% to 5.8%, and the intramedullary incidence is rather uncommon. We report the case of a 52-year-old female patient with intramedullary cysticercosis at the C4-C5 level, treated at the Neurology and Neurosurgery Service of Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte. The patient was operated with the complete exeresis of the lesion and had a good outcome. Forty-five cases of intramedullary cysticercosis were found in the literature review. We conclude that although it is a rare pathology, intramedullary cysticercosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of intramedullary lesions, mainly in cases of patients with previous diagnosis for neurocysticercosis and also of those who live in endemic areas.

GnRH agonist for postpartum contraception: biochemical, hormonal and endometrial effects.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether GnRH agonist administration induces changes in biochemical, hormonal and endometrial parameters in breastfeeding women. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Starting at 6 weeks postpartum, fully breastfeeding mothers began treatment with GnRH agonist, receiving 300 micrograms and 600 micrograms per day by nasal spray for 6 months. A third group of breastfeeding women who were users of IUDs served as controls. Eighteen biochemical analyses were quantified in serum. Blood samples were collected at 0, 3 and 6 months after treatment and endometrial biopsies were obtained at 0 and 6 months. No other method of contraception was employed. RESULTS: Interindividual and intergroup differences were observed in clinical chemistry. According to the hormonal levels and the histopathologic analysis, various grades of follicular activity were found in the treated groups. No pregnancies occurred. CONCLUSION: Because GnRH agonist treatment had no significant deleterious effects on the parameters studied, this treatment could represent a feasible and safe approach to postpartum contraception.

[Binswanger's disease: evolution of thought and a proposed diagnostic triad]. / Enfermedad de Binswanger: evolución de las ideas y propuesta de un trípode diagnóstico.

We review the evolution of the concept of Binswanger's disease from his original description in 1894 to our days. We emphasize the conceptual impact caused by CAT scan. Finally, we propose a diagnostic triad based on clinical, neuropathological and radiological trends. We believe Binswanger's disease has a clear identity despite the lack of solid diagnostic criteria.

[Extrapyramidal syndrome and hypoparathyroidism. On the identity of Fahr disease]. / Síndrome extrapiramidal e hipoparatireoidismo. Acerca da identidade da doença de Fahr.

Bilateral calcifications in the basal ganglia associated with neurological manifestations was diagnosed as Fahr disease for a long time. We present the cases of two patients with bilateral calcifications in the basal ganglia who presented hypoparathyroidism and extrapyramidal syndrome. Based on literature review we discuss the identity of Fahr disease and the relationship between calcifications in the basal ganglia and manifestations of endocrine system dysfunctions.

[Sociodemographic conditions and nutritional status of children under 1 year old in peripherical areas of Guadalajara, México]. / Condiciones sociodemograficas y estado nutricional de niños menores de un año en areas perifericas de Guadalajara, México.

A random population sample was studied with a view to determining the proportion of children of less than on year of age whose weight is less than the minimum adequate weight (MAW) for their age, as well as to identifying factors of a socio-demographic nature that could be associated with this problem and the socio-sanitary importance of these factors. The sample studied was of children of less than one year of age, born between 05/01/1990 and 04/30/1991, whose mothers were entitled to the services of the Mexican Institute of Social Security, in Tlaquepaque and Tonalá, municipalities adjacent to the Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara, the second most important city in Mexico. The ponderal assessment of the infants was performed on the basis of tables which the Latin-American Perinatology Center had developed for this purpose. Through the use of logistic regression, Odds Ratios (OR) were estimated, with 90% confidence intervals (CI). The model thus prepared was adjusted by means of the H* statistics. Likewise, the population's attributable risk (PAR) was calculated, as well as the probability that a child would not reach the MAW for its age, in the presence or absence of particular risk factors. The results indicate that nearly one fifth of the infants studied do not reach MAW.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Raeder paratrigeminal neuralgia as expression form of intracavernous giant aneurysm]. / Nevralgia paratrigeminal de Raeder como forma de expressão de aneurisma gigante intracavernoso.

The authors report the case of a 50-year-old female patient with right orbital headache secondary to a giant intracavernous aneurysm, diagnosed as Raeder paratrigeminal neuralgia. The patient was surgically treated with internal carotid artery trapping together with brain revascularization (superficial temporal artery to a deep branch of the middle cerebral artery). The patient had an excellent outcome. The identity of the syndrome and the differential diagnosis are discussed based on literature review.

Estudio anatomopatológico de la sustancia blanca periventricular en condiciones normales y patológicas / Periventricular white matter study in normal and pathological conditions

La presencia de áreas hipodensas en sustancia blanca periventricular vistas con tomografía computada o como imágenes hipertensas en las ponderaciones en T2 de la resonancia nuclear magnética pueden corresponder a un hallazgo de etiopatogenia controvertida. Se efectuó un estudio neuropatológico incluyendo los tres tipos de pacientes que más comúnmente pueden presentar estos hallazgos en los estudios por imágenes: enfermos con demencia tipo Alzheimer, individuos con afección cerebrovascular crónica y pacientes con envejecimiento normal. Los resultados de la anatomía patológica permiten plantear diferentes mecanismos fisiopatológicos para esta afección de la sustancia blanca periventricular, proponiendo que en parte corresponden a un envejecimiento de la sustancia periventricular y a una concomitante disminución de la población neuronal cortical (AU)

Estudio anatomopatológico de la sustancia blanca periventricular en condiciones normales y patológicas / Periventricular white matter study in normal and pathological conditions

La presencia de áreas hipodensas en sustancia blanca periventricular vistas con tomografía computada o como imágenes hipertensas en las ponderaciones en T2 de la resonancia nuclear magnética pueden corresponder a un hallazgo de etiopatogenia controvertida. Se efectuó un estudio neuropatológico incluyendo los tres tipos de pacientes que más comúnmente pueden presentar estos hallazgos en los estudios por imágenes: enfermos con demencia tipo Alzheimer, individuos con afección cerebrovascular crónica y pacientes con envejecimiento normal. Los resultados de la anatomía patológica permiten plantear diferentes mecanismos fisiopatológicos para esta afección de la sustancia blanca periventricular, proponiendo que en parte corresponden a un envejecimiento de la sustancia periventricular y a una concomitante disminución de la población neuronal cortical

Production of exocellular polysaccharide by Azotobacter chroococcum.

Environmental conditions affect the production of extracellular polysaccharide by Azotobacter chroococcum ATCC 4412. Production of exocellular polymer from a variety of carbon sources depended on the air flow rate. A high sucrose concentration in medium (8%) markedly favored expopolysaccharide production, which reached 14 g/L in about 72 h. In cell suspensions incubated in the presence of 8% sucrose in a nitrogen-free medium, biopolymer final concentration of 9 g/L corresponds to 68 g/g biomass. Maximum efficiency of sucrose conversion into exopolysaccharide peaked at 70% for initial disaccharide concentration of 6%. High performance liquid chromatography and gas liquid chromatography of acid hydrolysates of the exopolymer revealed the presence of mannuronosyl, guluronosyl, and acetyl residues, but not neutral sugars. The infrared spectrum corroborated the presence of carboxylate anions and O-acetyl groups in the exopolymer. Though the presence of more than one kind of polysaccharide cannot be ruled out, these data suggest that, under the experimental conditions used in this work, only a type of alginate-like exopolysaccharide is produced by A. chroococcum ATCC 4412.

Experimental study of a new porous tracheal prosthesis.

We studied the efficacy of a new tracheal prosthesis made of expanded polytetrafluorethylene reinforced with spiral silicone rings to repair circumferential tracheal defects in rabbits. Results showed an adequate consistency of prosthesis, adequate tolerance without producing tracheal stenoses, and impermeability to air, allowing a correct invasion by granulation tissue. This process was faster than any found in any other porous tracheal implant so far tested. We proved that epithelialization results from capillary invasion through the prosthetic pores and from growth from both tracheal ends. We conclude that this prosthetic material can be useful in repairing tracheal defects and may be the optimal tracheal graft for humans.