Cysticidal therapy - Impact on seizure control in epilepsy associated with neurocysticercosis

Objective: To evaluate the clinical features and seizure control of epilepsy related to neurocysticercosis. Method: 18 patients with partial epilepsy and neurocysticercosis were treated with albendazol or praziquantel and followed from 3 months to 12 years. We analyzed results from the CSF exam, interictal electroencephalogram (EEG), head computerized tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Results: The patients' mean age was 36.4 years. The mean duration of epilepsy was 16 years, 83% patients had simple partial seizures; 17% had complex partial seizures. All patients underwent routine EEGs; 62% had abnormalities and 38% were normal. A relationship was observed between focal EEG abnormality and the location of cyst in 28% of the patients. The CSF exams showed pleocytosis in 33% of the patients, and 28% had elevated protein levels. Only 22% of patients had positive titer for cysticercosis in the CSF. In all patients who had somatosensory and special sensory seizures there was a relationship between location of the cysts and seizure semiology (n = 11). After cysticidal therapy, 83% patients had a significant improvement in controlling seizures. Conclusion: In this group, we found a predominance of simple partial seizures and a relationship between somatosensory and special sensory seizures and the location of the cysts. Cysticidal therapy was effective in controlling seizures in these patients and should be considered for patients with partial seizures and semiology related to cyst location.5841014102

CO2 laser and fluoride on the inhibition of root caries-an in vitro microbial model

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)An increase in the dental caries prevalence on root surfaces has been observed mainly in elderly. This research assessed, in vitro, the effectiveness of a pulsed CO2 (lambda = 10.6 mu m) laser associated or not with fluoride, in reducing human root dentine demineralization in conditions that mimic an oral high cariogenic challenge. After sterilization, root dentine specimens were randomly assigned into 6 groups (n = 30), in triplicate. The groups were Control (C), Streptococcus mutans (SM), Fluoride (F), Laser (L), Fluoride + laser (FL), and Laser + fluoride (LF). Except for the control group, all the specimens were inoculated with SM and immersed 3 times a day in a 40% sucrose bath. After a 7-day cariogenic challenge, the mineral loss and lesion depth were evaluated by transverse microradiography and fluoride in the biofilm was determined using an ion-selective electrode. Results were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance, at 5% of significance level. For groups C, SM, F, L, FL and LF, the means (standard-deviation) of mineral loss were 816.3 (552.5)(a), 3291.5 (1476.2)(c), 2508.5 (1240.5)(bc), 2916.2 (1323.7)(c), 1839.7 (815.2)(b) and 1955.0 (1001.4)(b), respectively; while lesion depths were 39.6 (22.8)(a), 103.1 (38.9)(c), 90.3 (44.6)(bc), 91.7 (27.0)(bc), 73.3 (26.6)(b), 75.1 (35.2)(b), respectively (different superscript letters indicate significant differences among groups). In conclusion, irradiation of root dentine with a pulsed CO2 laser at fluency of 12.0 J/cm(2) was able to inhibit root surface demineralization only when associated with fluoride. No synergy effect on the inhibition of root dentine mineral loss was provided by the combination of fluoride application and laser irradiation.20918381843Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNPq [201746/2007-7

Observation of Van Hove singularities in twisted graphene layers

Electronic instabilities at the crossing of the Fermi energy with a Van Hove singularity in the density of states often lead to new phases of matter such as superconductivity, magnetism or density waves. However, in most materials this condition is difficult to control. In the case of single-layer graphene, the singularity is too far from the Fermi energy and hence difficult to reach with standard doping and gating techniques. Here we report the observation of low-energy Van Hove singularities in twisted graphene layers seen as two pronounced peaks in the density of states measured by scanning tunneling spectroscopy. We demonstrate that a rotation between stacked graphene layers can generate Van Hove singularities, which can be brought arbitrarily close to the Fermi energy by varying the angle of rotation. This opens intriguing prospects for Van Hove singularity engineering of electronic phases.Comment: 21 pages 5 figure

Location of chlorogenic acid biosynthesis pathway and polyphenol oxidase genes in a new interspecific anchored linkage map of eggplant

© Gramazio et al.; licensee BioMed Central. 2014. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated

High success and low mortality rates with non-invasive ventilation in influenza A H1N1 patients in a tertiary hospital

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 2009, an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by influenza A H1N1 virus occurred worldwide. Some patients required Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. The use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in these patients is controversial, as the aerosol dispersion may contaminate the environment and health-care co-workers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Describe the respiratory profile, the mortality rate, and the benefit of using NIV in patients with confirmed diagnosis of influenza AH1N1 who were admitted in the ICU during the year 2009.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 1, 401 cases of influenza A H1N1 were confirmed in our hospital by real-time RT-PCR in 2009, and 20 patients were admitted to the ICU. The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 74 years (median of 42). Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) was present in 70% of patients. The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 7 (range 7 to 25). Of the 14 patients who developed ARF, 85.7% needed NIV and 14% needed invasive MV at admission. Our success rate (41.6%) with NIV was higher than that described by others. The hospital mortality rate was 2.1%. When influenza A H1N1 arrived in Brazil, the disease was already on endemic alert in other countries. The population was already aware of the symptoms and the health-care system of the treatment. This allowed patients to be properly and promptly treated for influenza A H1N1, while health-care workers took protective measures to avoid contamination.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In our study we found a high success and low mortality rates with non-invasive ventilation in patients with influenza A H1N1.</p