Voltage-clamp: a useful approach to study in vitro duodenal iron transport in the mouse.

The mechanism(s) controlling iron absorption remain(s) uncertain despite the progress in the identification of genes selectively expressed in the duodenum. The availability of experimental models of iron absorption is critical to the clarification of such mechanism(s). In the present study, a simple method for studying in vitro iron absorption in mouse duodenum is described. Short circuit current, open circuit potentials and epithelial conductances were measured in mouse duodenal segments. Also, unidirectional 55Fe fluxes at different pH conditions were measured in mice with varying iron status. The findings reinforce evidence for an adaptive response of the iron absorptive process according to the body iron status. Significant differences are demonstrated between iron fluxes measured in normal and parenterally iron loaded mice and at acidic compared to neutral pH environment. Also, a significant difference was observed between transepithelial potential measured in duodenum from iron-loaded compared to untreated mice. Advances in the understanding of the mechanism(s) of iron absorption can be brought by the application of voltage-clamp techniques to the electrophysiologic study of iron overload mouse models.

Cluster-tic syndrome: report of five new cases.

The so-called short lasting primary headaches include heterogenic entities that can be divided between those without pronounced autonomic activation and those where this activation is evident, which includes the cluster-tic syndrome. We report five new cases with age closer to the trigeminal neuralgia's one, and concomitance of cluster headache and trigeminal neuralgia, which is less frequent in the literature. We also discuss briefly the pathophysiology of these clinical entities, suggesting that the trigeminus nerve is a common pathway of pain manifestation.

[Use of chlorpromazine in the treatment of headache at an emergency service]. / Uso de clorpromazina para tratamento de cefaléia no serviço de emergência.

Therapeutic measures, with intravenous chlorpromazine, taken during acute headache are evaluated in fourteen patients at the emergency room in Santa Casa de São Paulo. Four patients had the diagnosis of migraine with aura and five patients migraine without aura. Four patients had diagnosis of chronic daily headache with intermittent and superimposed migrainous events. Finally one patient had the diagnosis of chronic paroxysmal hemicrania. All patients were diagnosed according to International Headache Society criteria. The intravenous chlorpromazine dose used was 0.7 mg/Kg diluted in 5% glucose solution and the dose never exceeded 50 mg. The time of drug administration was never less than 60 minutes. The results were considered excellent in all cases. Some patients presented side effects, particularly orthostatic hypotension, always moderate and transitory. This study has clearly demonstrated that intravenous chlorpromazine (0.7 mg/Kg) was highly effective in terminating episodes of primary headache.

Trigonocephaly.

Trigonocephaly has been described either as an isolated anomaly or as part of the clinical spectrum of some well-known syndromes. Treatment, complications, and prognosis are closely related to the manifestations of the associated anomalies. We report on the main types of syndromes with trigonocephaly and the management of this condition.

Hypoglossia-hypodactyly syndrome in a Brazilian child: clinical and surgical aspects.

We describe a Brazilian child born with the hypoglossia-hypodactyly syndrome, complicated by bands joining the maxilla to the mandible. Clinical findings are presented, along with the surgical repair procedure.