Stroke Chameleons Manifesting as Distinct Radial Neuropathies: Expertise Can Hasten the Diagnosis

Objective: Stroke chameleons encompass an atypical group of syndromes that do not initially appear to be cerebrovascular accidents. The objective of this study was to report patients with different lesions of central origin clinically presenting as wrist drop and with a semiology similar to that produced by peripheral lesions of the radial nerve at different topographical levels. Methods: This is a case series study of patients presenting with wrist drop during the acute phase of stroke who were assessed by clinical examination and CT and MRI brain scans. Results: Three cases presenting as monoparesis were evaluated. In all patients, the MRI revealed restricted diffusion in the pre- and post-central gyrus. Electromyography showed that the functionality of the radial, median, and ulnar nerves were intact in all three cases. The monoparesis resolved completely within 1 month of rehabilitation therapy, and no evidence of recurrent or new events was reported during the 6-month follow-up after stenting. Conclusion: The central message of this study is that when acute onset symptoms are present in a relatively old patient with vascular risk factors, stroke should be considered as the possible aetiology until proven otherwise, and the appropriate steps should be taken to avoid a delay in the treatment and to improve outcomes

Nutritional performance of cattle grazing on low-quality tropical forage supplemented with nitrogenous compounds and/or starch

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of protein and/or starch supplementation on the nutritional performance of cattle grazing on low-quality tropical forage. Five crossbred steers (Holstein × Gyr) with an average body weight (BW) of 397 kg that were fitted with ruminal and abomasal cannulae were used. The animals were kept in individual signal-grass (Bracharia decumbens) paddocks. Five treatments were evaluated: 1 - control (without supplementation); 2 - supplementation with 1 g of crude protein (CP) per kg of BW; 3 - supplementation with 2.5 g of starch per kg of BW; 4 - supplementation with CP and starch as described for treatments 2 and 3; and 5 - supplementation as described for treatment 4 but replacing the corn starch with a mixture of corn starch and nitrogenous compounds, thereby resulting in an energy supplement of 150 g CP/kg of dry matter. The experiment was performed according to a 5 × 5 Latin square design in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement. The forage intake was not affected by any of the factors evaluated in this study. The production of microbial nitrogen in the rumen was not affected by nitrogen or starch supplementation. The apparent nitrogen balance was only increased when both starch and nitrogen were supplied. Supplementation with both starch and nitrogenous compounds for cattle grazing on low-quality tropical forage is characterized by an interactive metabolic effect that increases nitrogen accretion by the animals

A nova política dos governadores The new politics of governors

Este artigo analisa o incremento do poder dos governadores e o ressurgimento dos interesses políticos estaduais como determinantes do comportamento dos congressistas durante a transição democrática. Para isso, os autores explicam como os governos militares fracassaram em reduzir a influência das redes políticas estaduais sobre a classe política e como os governadores remergiram e tornaram-se atores fundamentais para derrubar o regime autoritário. Por fim, fornecem exemplos de como os interesses estaduais e os governadores tiveram papel-chave durante a transição e ainda continuam a tê-lo na política brasileira contemporânea.<br>This article analyzes the increase in the power of state governors and the resurgence of the state-based interests of the members of the National Congress during Brazil's transition to democracy. The 1964-85 military regime's failure to reduce the influence of state-based interests and the reemergence of the state governors as powerful political actors in Brazil are explained. Examples are provided of how state interests and state governors have influenced the transition process and continue to play key roles in contemporary Brazilian politics