Tradução comentada das Aguafuertes Gallegas (1935), de Roberto Arlt

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dacriocistografia na propedêutica da via lacrimal excretora de adultos

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os achados dacriocistográficos em indivíduos suspeitos de obstrução de vias lacrimais excretoras. MÉTODOS: O estudo foi retrospectivo, tendo sido avaliadas as dacriocistografias de 100 indivíduos adultos, suspeitos de obstrução nasolacrimal, atendidos na Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística descritiva e teste do qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo feminino e maiores de 60 anos, apresentando obstrução baixa, localizada no seio de Arlt, com saco lacrimal graus 2 ou 3. Vias lacrimais pérvias, com e sem dilatação, também foram encontradas, assim como alterações nasais, como hipertrofia de cornetos. CONCLUSÃO: A dacriocistografia foi importante para diagnosticar o local da obstrução, o grau de dilatação das vias lacrimais, assim como as alterações de estruturas vizinhas. Estas informações sem dúvida são úteis para o planejamento cirúrgico e como indício prognóstico.

Use of homeopathic preparations in experimental studies with healthy plants

Background. The last comprehensive review of experimental research on effects of homeopathic treatments on plants was published in 1984, and lacked formal predefined criteria to assess study quality. Since then several new studies with more advanced methods have been published.Objectives: To compile a review of the literature on basic research in homeopathy with healthy plants with particular reference to studies investigating specific effects of homeopathic remedies.Methods: The literature search included English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish publications from 1920 to April 2009, using predefined selection criteria. We included experiments with healthy whole plants, seeds, plant parts and cells. The outcomes had to be measured by established procedures and statistically evaluated. We developed a Manuscript Information Score (MIS) and included only publications which provided enough information for proper interpretation (MIS >= 5). A formallised Study Methods Evaluation Procedure (SMEP) was used to evaluate these studies, and the subgroup of studies with adequate controls to identify specific effects.Results: A total of 86 studies in 79 publications was identified, 43 studies included statistics, 29 had MIS >= 5, and 15 studies investigated the specificity of homeopathic preparations. Specific effects of decimal, centesimal and fifty millesimal potencies were found including dilution levels far beyond the Avogadro number. In consecutive series of potencies only some of the tested potencies showed effects. There were many individual studies with diverse methods and very few reproduction trials.Conclusions: Healthy plant models seem an useful approach to investigate basic research questions about the specificity of homeopathic preparations. More investigations with more advanced methods are recommended, especially in the sectors of potentisation techniques, effective potency levels and conditions for reproducibility. Systematic negative control experiments should become a routine procedure to control the stability of the experimental systems. Homeopathy (2009) 98, 228-243.

Obstrução nasolacrimal congênita - Diagnóstico e tratamento

Patients with congenital nasolacrimal obstruction (CNLO) were evaluated at the Lacrimal Apparatus Service of Botucatu Faculty of Medicine - UNESP from 1990 to 1993. 45 children were seen at this period with CNLO. The diagnosis was confirmed by dacryocystography (DCG). Obstruction was unilateral in 77,7% of the patients; 68,1% at Arlt Sinus and 43,6% had lacrimal sac grade 1. Probing was made in children older than 6 months, under general anaesthesia, after DCG was performed. Cure was greater in children age 6 to 12 months with obstruction at Hasner's Valve and without dilation of lacrimal sac.

Cinedacryocystography in the diagnosis of lacrimal obstruction in children

Purpose: To analyze the cinedacryocystography in children with congenital nasolacrimal obstruction suspicion. Methods: The cinedacryocystographic examination was done in 143 children (58% of girls and 42% of boys) younger than 5 years old, suspected of congenital nasolacrimal obstruction. The exams were done under general anesthesia and the children were probed immediately when obstruction was detected. Results: Epiphora, discharge or both were the most common complaints. Nevertheless 11% children had undergone unsuccessfully probing once, no one had any radiologic evaluation previously. The cinedacryocystographic exam showed nasolacrimal duct obstruction in 65,73%. Permeable lacrimal vies were presented in 34,3% of the children with epiphora. The obstruction was mainly at the Arlt's sinus. Using the cinedacryocystography, it was possible to observe the lacrimal sac enlargement and alterations in the contiguous structures such as hypertrophic turbinates (91,1%), sinusitis (44,6%) and septum deviation (24,1%). Conclusion: Cinedacryocystographic evaluation provides important information about lacrimal system obstruction in children, therefore, it is useful in all children with suspected congenital lacrimal obstruction.