Microdissecção de fibras do nervo genito-femural do rato albino. Análise em condições normais e na intoxicação crônica por diclorodifeniltriclo-roetano (DDT)

Orientador: Lineu Cesar WerneckDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná. Curso de Pós-Graduação em Medicina InternaSem resumo e abstrac

Intoxicaçoes por inseticidas: microdissecção de nervos e histoquimica de musculos em 10 casos

É relatado o estudo de nervo sural e músculos em 10 pacientes com intoxicações crônicas por inseticidas organoclorados e organofosforados, sendo utilizadas técnicas de microdissecção de nervos e histoquímica de músculos. Foram estudados os nervos surais de 9 pacientes por microdissecção, tendo sido encontrado anormalidades em todos, predominando a presença de fibras dos tipos C, D e grande quantidade de fibras G, conforme a classificação de Dyck; o nervo do décimo paciente apresentava-se totalmente desmielinizado. Em 8 casos foram estudados músculos com inclusão em parafina e por histoquímica, sendo encontrada denervação em seis; os restantes eram músculos normais. Os autores concluem que o processo atua predominantemente nos axônios, provocando degeneração axonal distal, com fenômeno de "dying back"

Botulinum neurotoxin type-A when utilized in animals with trigeminal sensitization induced a antinociceptive effect

ABSTRACT Purpose of the study was evaluate the possible antinociceptive effect of botulinum neurotoxin type-A (BoNT/A) in an experimental model of trigeminal neuralgia. Method Neuropathic pain was induced by surgical constriction of the infraorbital nerve in rats. A control group underwent a sham procedure consisting of surgical exposure of the nerve. Subgroups of each group received either BoNT/A or isotonic saline solution. The clinical response was assessed with the -20°C test. Animals that underwent nerve constriction developed sensitization; the sham group did not. Results The sensitization was reversed by BoNT/A treatment evident 24 hours following application. Pronociceptive effect was observed in the sham group following BoNT/A. Conclusion BoNT/A has an antinociceptive effect in sensitized animals and a pronociceptive effect in non-sensitized animals

Professor Abraham Akerman

The authors present a historical review of the contribution of Professor Abraham Akerman to Brazilian neurology, including the famous sign known as “the Alajouanine-Akerman unstable ataxic hand”

Is the patent foramen ovale closure the best option?

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is indicated in some cases to protect patients against embolic events. The aim of this study was to certify that the method of PFO closure to prevent microemboli (MES) is reliable, using contrast enhanced transcranial Doppler (cTCD) as a diagnostic and follow-up tool. METHODS: cTCD was performed before and after PFO closure in 20 patients. Results obtained a minimum of 12 months after the procedure were analyzed in this study. RESULTS: After the procedure, 14 patients (82%) showed no microemboli in cTCD at rest, but after provocative Valsalva maneuver (VM) microembolic phenomenon were still detected in 14 (70%): 7 (35%) <10 MES, 3 (15%) 10-20 MES and 4 (20%) had more than 20 MES ("curtain"). Only six of the total patients presented no MES in both resting and VM. CONCLUSION: These results showed a large percentage of patients with MES detection in a bubble study with transcranial Doppler more than one year after the procedure of PFO closure, showing right-to-left residual shunting. Despite the small number of patients, this study provides important data about this therapeutic decision