Pre- and Post-surgical Poor Seizure Control as Hallmark of Malignant Progression in Patients With Glioma?

BackgroundRegarding brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE), there is an increasing number of evidence about a relationship between epileptogenesis and oncogenesis. A recent study suggests a role of post-surgery seizure outcome on the survival of patients with low-grade glioma (LGG), underlying the need for a targeted and aggressive epilepsy treatment. ObjectiveThis study aims at investigating the possible correlation between pre- and post-surgical seizure control and tumor progression in patients who underwent surgery for LGG. MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of patients affected by LGGs and BTRE, in a single high-volume neurosurgical center. Seizure control was assessed before surgery and at 3 years of follow-up. Patients with histological progression in high-grade glioma (HGG) have been evaluated. Clinical features, pre-surgical electroencephalograms (EEGs), and electrocorticography (ECoG) have been analyzed. ResultsAmong 154 subjects, we collected 32 patients who presented a tumor progression in HGG during the follow-up period. The majority had poor seizure control both pre- and post-surgery, never being in Engel class Ia throughout the whole history of their disease. Almost all patients with poor seizure control had pathological ECoG recording. Clinical features of seizures did not correlate with seizure outcome. On the univariate analysis, the age, the post-operative Engel class, and the extent of resection (EOR) were the prognostic factors significantly associated with oncological outcome; nevertheless, on multivariate analysis, Engel class significance was not confirmed, and the only predicting factor were age and EOR. ConclusionsAlthough not confirmed on multivariate analysis, post-surgical seizure control could be a relevant factor to consider during follow-up of BRTE, in particular, when gross total resection is not achieved. Pathological findings on the ECoG may suggest a "hidden" propensity to malignant progression, strictly related to the persistent neuronal hyper-excitability. Further studies with longer follow-up period are needed to confirm our observations

Predictors of postoperative seizure outcome in low grade glioma: From volumetric analysis to molecular stratification

The importance of the extent of resection (EOR) has been widely demonstrated as the main predictor for survival, nevertheless its effect on tumor related epilepsy is less investigated. A total of 155 patients were enrolled after a first-line surgery for supratentorial Diffuse Low Grade Gliomas (DLGGs). Postoperative seizure outcome was analyzed stratifying the results by tumor volumetric data and molecular markers according to 2016 WHO classification. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were computed to asses EOR, residual tumor volume, and 06T2T1 MRI index (expressing the tumor growing pattern) corresponding to optimal seizure outcome. A total of 70.97% of patients were seizure-free 18 months after surgery. Better seizure outcome was observed in IDH1/2 mutated and 1p/19q codeleted subgroup. At multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.014), EOR (p = 0.030), 06T2T1 MRI index (p = 0.016) resulted as independent predictors of postoperative seizure control. Optimal parameters to improve postoperative seizure outcome were EOR 65 85%, 06T2T1 MRI index 64 18 cm3, residual tumor volume 64 15 cm3. This study confirms the role of EOR and tumor growing pattern on postoperative seizure outcome independently from the molecular class. Higher 06T2T1 MRI index, representing the infiltrative component of the tumor, is associated with worse seizure outcome and strengthens the evidence of common pathogenic mechanisms underlying tumor growth and postoperative seizure outcome

Caracterização de indicadores da qualidade do solo, com ênfase às áreas de várzea do Rio Grande do Sul.

bitstream/item/33606/1/documento-169.pd

Risk Assessment by Pre-surgical Tractography in Left Hemisphere Low-Grade Gliomas

Background: Tracking the white matter principal tracts is routinely typically included during the pre-surgery planning examinations and has revealed to limit functional resection of low-grade gliomas (LGGs) in eloquent areas. Objective: We examined the integrity of the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus (SLF) and Inferior Fronto-Occipital Fasciculus (IFOF), both known to be part of the language-related network in patients with LGGs involving the temporo-insular cortex. In a comparative approach, we contrasted the main quantitative fiber tracking values in the tumoral (T) and healthy (H) hemispheres to test whether or not this ratio could discriminate amongst patients with different post-operative outcomes. Methods: Twenty-six patients with LGGs were included. We obtained quantitative fiber tracking values in the tumoral and healthy hemispheres and calculated the ratio (HIFOF\u2013TIFOF)/HIFOF and the ratio (HSLF\u2013TSLF)/HSLF on the number of streamlines. We analyzed how these values varied between patients with and without post-operative neurological outcomes and between patients with different post-operative Engel classes. Results: The ratio for both IFOF and SLF significantly differed between patient with and without post-operative neurological language deficits. No associations were found between white matter structural changes and post-operative seizure outcomes. Conclusions: Calculating the ratio on the number of streamlines and fractional anisotropy between the tumoral and the healthy hemispheres resulted to be a useful approach, which can prove to be useful during the pre-operative planning examination, as it gives a glimpse on the potential clinical outcomes in patients with LGGs involving the left temporo-insular cortex

Rotação de culturas em áreas de várzea e plantio direto de arroz.

bitstream/item/32365/1/documento-89.pd

DESAFIOS E APRENDIZADOS DAS AÇÕES DE EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL NA OCUPAÇÃO VISTA ALEGRE DO JUÁ, SANTARÉM, PARÁ

O recorrente aumento das zonas urbanas e a redução das áreas arborizadas acarretam baixa qualidade aos ambientes de convivência social. A educação ambiental entra como ferramenta auxiliadora de criação e manutenção dessas áreas. Com objetivo de contribuir para a qualidade ambiental em uma zona de ocupação irregular no município de Santarém, Pará, desenvolveu-se um trabalho de arborização, atrelando ações educativas, associando preservação e educação. Procedeu-se com a atividades de produção de mudas e plantio de espécies arbóreas, junto a práticas educacionais voltadas a educação ambiental, como discussão de temáticas ambientais. Foram desenvolvidas atividades de contação de histórias, construção de maquetes e desenhos, além de práticas de produção de mudas, compostagem, plantio e cuidados com as espécies arbóreas. Ocorreu contribuição significativa para com as crianças e jovens, na formação de uma consciência crítica, incentivando-as a agir de maneira mais ativa dentro do contexto abordado. Palavras-chave: Educação ambiental; produção de mudas; compostagem; consciência ecológica

Relações de resistência mecânica à penetração e produtividade do milho doce.

Ao longo do tempo, o manejo intensivo do solo altera suas condições físicas. Características, estas, capazes de influenciar a disponibilidade de água, de oxigênio, resistência mecânica a penetração e, consequentemente, o desenvolvimento e produtividade das plantas. Sistemas de cultivo que promovem menor revolvimento do solo (sistemas conservacionistas) podem reduzir os efeitos da compactação e a associação com rotação de culturas potencializa sua capacidade de regenerar as propriedades físicas perdidas, além de trazer significativas vantagens econômicas. Tendo em vista estas vantagens, neste estudo visou-se a análise da resistência mecânica a penetração um sistema de faixas experimentais com três repetições dispostas em blocos compostos por 12 tratamentos que associam três manejos de solos (CC ? cultivo convencional, CM ? cultivo mínimo, PD ? plantio direto) e quatro plantas de cobertura (amendoim, feijão, guandu e crotalária) em sucessão a cultura do milho doce (Zea mays L.). Houve diferença signifcativa nos valores de Resistência Mecânica à Penetração, do solo submetido aos diferentes sitemas de cultivo. O plantio direto apresentou maior resistência mecânica na camada até 10 cm, a crotalária apresentou menores valores de resistência mecânica no cultivo convencional, sendo que o amendoim foi a cultura que apresentou menores valores de resistência mecânica no plantio direto

Bcl-2 protein family: Implications in vascular apoptosis and atherosclerosis

Apoptosis has been recognized as a central component in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, in addition to the other human pathologies such as cancer and diabetes. The pathophysiology of atherosclerosis is complex, involving both apoptosis and proliferation at different phases of its progression. Oxidative modification of lipids and inflammation differentially regulate the apoptotic and proliferative responses of vascular cells during progression of the atherosclerotic lesion. Bcl-2 proteins act as the major regulators of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis signalling pathways and more recently it has become evident that they mediate the apoptotic response of vascular cells in response to oxidation and inflammation either in a provocative or an inhibitory mode of action. Here we address Bcl-2 proteins as major therapeutic targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis and underscore the need for the novel preventive and therapeutic interventions against atherosclerosis, which should be designed in the light of molecular mechanisms regulating apoptosis of vascular cells in atherosclerotic lesions

Form Follows Sound

Sonic interaction is the continuous relationship between user actions and sound, mediated by some technology. Because interaction with sound may be task oriented or experience-based it is important to understand the nature of action-sound relationships in order to design rich sonic interactions. We propose a participatory approach to sonic interaction design that first considers the affordances of sounds in order to imagine embodied interaction, and based on this, generates interaction models for interaction designers wishing to work with sound. We describe a series of workshops, called Form Follows Sound, where participants ideate imagined sonic interactions, and then realize working interactive sound prototypes. We introduce the Sonic Incident technique, as a way to recall memorable sound experiences. We identified three interaction models for sonic interaction design: conducting; manipulating; substituting. These three interaction models offer interaction designers and developers a framework on which they can build richer sonic interactions