Efeitos da radioterapia no tecido ósseo

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos da radioterapia e a acurácia da mensuração do nível de cinza do tecido ósseo em imagens radiográficas. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Quatro ratos Wistar foram submetidos a radioterapia externa (dose única de 3.000 cGy) em uma área de 2 cm × 2 cm na perna direita. Os animais foram sacrificados seis semanas após a radioterapia, e tanto as pernas irradiadas quanto as contralaterais (não-irradiadas) foram avaliadas na sua espessura, radiografadas de forma padronizada e processadas histologicamente (hematoxilina-eosina e picrossírius). As radiografias foram digitalizadas e a média dos níveis de cinza foi mensurada no programa Image Tool®. RESULTADOS: A espessura do fêmur foi maior na perna contralateral do que na irradiada (p < 0,05). Radiograficamente, observou-se maior quantidade de tecido ósseo na perna contralateral em relação à perna irradiada, porém sem diferença estatística significante (p > 0,05). Histologicamente, foi possível observar, na perna irradiada, diminuição do número de osteócitos e dos canais de Havers, porém sem diferença estatística significante (p > 0,05). Por outro lado, foi observado aumento significante de adipócitos, com conseqüente diminuição de tecido medular na perna irradiada (p < 0,05) e maior atividade osteoblástica na perna contralateral (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: A radioterapia, na dose aplicada, determinou diminuição da atividade de remodelação óssea, que pôde ser detectada radiograficamente na maioria dos espécimes avaliados.

Achados da tomografia computadorizada em metástases pancreáticas do carcinoma de células renais

OBJETIVO: Apresentar os achados da tomografia computadorizada observados em quatro pacientes submetidos a nefrectomia radical por carcinoma de células renais e que apresentaram metástases pancreáticas. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Os quatro pacientes foram submetidos a nefrectomia radical por carcinoma de células renais, estádios T1 (n=2) e T3a (n=2). O intervalo médio entre a nefrectomia e a detecção das metástases foi de oito anos. Dois pacientes apresentaram metástase pancreática solitária (confinada ao pâncreas) e dois apresentaram metástases pancreáticas única e múltiplas, respectivamente, ambos com recorrência tumoral no rim contralateral. RESULTADOS: As metástases pancreáticas foram visualizadas, na tomografia computadorizada, como lesões hipervascularizadas, solitária (n=2), única (n=1) ou múltiplas (n=1). Foi realizada pancreatectomia parcial em dois pacientes com metástase solitária. Estes pacientes estão livres da doença quatro e dois anos após a cirurgia, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: Metástases pancreáticas de carcinoma de células renais são raras, podendo ocorrer muitos anos após a apresentação inicial. Metástases pancreáticas múltiplas e metástases pancreáticas associadas a recorrência tumoral no rim contralateral são incomuns. À tomografia computadorizada, as metástases pancreáticas aparecem como lesões hipervascularizadas e solitárias, simulando tumores das ilhotas celulares. O tratamento cirúrgico das lesões solitárias deve ser considerado.

Distinct contributions of Brodmann areas 1 and 2 to body ownership.

Although body ownership-i.e. the feeling that our bodies belong to us-modulates activity within the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), it is still unknown whether this modulation occurs within a somatotopically defined portion of S1. We induced an illusory feeling of ownership for another person's finger by asking participants to hold their palm against another person's palm and to stroke the two joined index fingers with the index and thumb of their other hand. This illusion (numbness illusion) does not occur if the stroking is performed asynchronously or by the other person. We combined this somatosensory paradigm with ultra-high field functional magnetic resonance imaging finger mapping to study whether illusory body ownership modulates activity within different finger-specific areas of S1. The results revealed that the numbness illusion is associated with activity in Brodmann area (BA) 1 within the representation of the finger stroking the other person's finger and in BA 2 contralateral to the stroked finger. These results show that changes in bodily experience modulate the activity within certain subregions of S1, with a different finger-topographical selectivity between the representations of the stroking and of the stroked hand, and reveal that the high degree of somatosensory specialization in S1 extends to bodily self-consciousness.

Pseudocisto pulmonar pós-traumático em jogador de futebol: relato de caso

Pseudocistos pulmonares são lesões raras que se desenvolvem no parênquima pulmonar após traumas fechados e de grande energia, cujo diagnóstico se baseia na associação da história clínica com exames de imagem. Relata-se a seguir um pseudocisto pulmonar ocorrido no parênquima contralateral ao trauma em um homem de 31 anos que apresentou episódio de hemoptise após queda durante partida de futebol.

Brain imaging studies in severe somatization

Somatization was described 4000 years ago but the pathophysiology of the, phenomenon is unknown. The aim of this investigation was to explore whether central nervous system (CNS) pathology is associated with severe somatization which was operationalized as somatization disorder (SD) and undifferentiated somatoform disorder. The study sample consisted of severely somatizing people who were included into the study after a multi-phase screening procedure in order to exclude psychiatric comorbidities and physical illnesses. Diagnosis of somatization disorder or undifferentiated sofatoform disorder were set according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th ed. (DSM-IV). The first study explored the regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (rCMRGlc) in severely somatizing females and found it to be reduced in several regions of the brain compared to healthy controls. The second study observed brain morphology with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on the findings from the first study and showed enlarged caudate nuclei in somatizing women compared to healthy volunteers. The third study investigated temperament factors and brain metabolism, and their association with severe somatization. Low caudate and putamen metabolism, low novelty seeking as well as high harm avoidance were found to be associated with severe somatization in women, reduced caudate metabolism having the strongest association. The last study is a report of man with left-side gradient of multiple symptoms of unknown origin in the body. The examination revealed a hypermetabolic nucleus putamen on the contralateral side. All the main results reported in these four articles are original findings. The results suggest that CNS pathology is involved in the pathophysiology of severe somatization.

Preparação e caracterização de substratos SERS ativos: um estudo da adsorção do cristal violeta sobre nanopartículas de prata

The structural characterization of molecules used in the sterilization of blood for transfusions, such as crystal violet (CV), is relevant for understanding the action of these prophylactic drugs. The characterization is feasible by surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) of CV in solution or on surfaces. The limit of detection of CV by SERRS, in the presence of colloidal particles, using 514.5 nm as excitation radiation, was found to be around 1 ppb. The characterization of CV was also made by SERS, by using different active-particles-containing substrates, proving the versatility of this technique for the study of such structures. The results suggest that the controlled production of highly efficient SERS-active substrates may allow qualitative and quantitative analysis, with high sensitivity, with potential applications in medical and environmental fields.

Survival and Quality of Life among Patients with Severe Lower Extremity Peripheral Arterial Disease

Lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with decreased functional status, diminished quality of life (QoL), amputation, myocardial infarction, stroke, and death. Nevertheless, public awareness of PAD as a morbid and mortal disease is low. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of major lower extremity amputation due to PAD, the extent of reamputations, and survival after major lower extremity amputation (LEA) in a population based PAD patient cohort. Furthermore, the aim was to assess the functional capacity in patients with LEA, and the QoL after lower extremity revascularization and major amputation. All 210 amputees due to PAD in 1998–2002 and all 519 revascularized patients in 1998–2003 were explored. 59 amputees alive in 2004 were interviewed using a structured questionnaire of QoL. Two of each amputee age-, gender- and domicile-matched controls filled in and returned postal self-administered QoL questionnaire as well as 231 revascularized PAD patients (the amount of these patients who engaged themselves to the study), and one control person for each patient completed postal self-administered QoL questionnaire. The incidence rate of major LEA was 24.1/100 000 person-years and it was considerably high during the years studied. The one-month mortality rate was 21%, 52% at one-year, and the overall mortality rate was 80%. When comparing the one-year mortality risk of amputees, LEAs were associated with a 7.4-fold annual mortality risk compared with the reference population in Turku. Twenty-two patients (10%) had ipsilateral transversions from BK to AK amputation. Fifty patients (24%) ended up with a contralateral major LEA within two to four amputation operations. Three bilateral amputations were performed at the first major LEA operation. Of the 51 survivors returning home after their first major LEA, 36 (71%) received a prosthesis; (16/36, 44%) and were able to walk both in- and outdoors. Of the 68 patients who were discharged to institutional care, three (4%) had a prosthesis one year after LEA. Both amputees and revascularized patients had poor physical functioning and significantly more depressive symptoms than their controls. Depressive symptoms were more common in the institutionalized amputees than the home-dwelling amputees. The surviving amputees and their controls had similar life satisfaction. The amputees felt themselves satisfied and contented, whether or not they lived in long-term care or at home. PAD patients who had undergone revascularizations had poorer QoL than their controls. The revascularized patients’ responses on their perceived physical functioning gave an impression that these patients are in a declining life cycle and that revascularizations, even when successful, may not be sufficient to improve the overall function. It is possible that addressing rehabilitation issues earlier in the care may produce a more positive functional outcome. Depressive symptoms should be recognized and thoroughly considered at the same time the patients are recovering from their revascularization operation. Also primary care should develop proper follow-up, and community organizations should have exercise groups for those who are able to return home, since they very often live alone. In rehabilitation programs we should consider not only physical disability assessment but also QoL.

Evaluation of cotton stalks destroyers

The destruction of the cotton crop residues (cotton stalks) is a mandatory procedure in Brazil for prophylactic issues, but is a subject unexplored by the research and there are few studies that deal with this issue. However, this is not encouraged in recent decades, studies aimed at developing and evaluating equipment for this purpose. The present study had the objective to evaluate six methods for mechanical destruction of cotton crop residues. Each method was defined based on the principle of operation of the active parts of the equipment, which were tested in medium texture soil and in a clayey one. The variables used to evaluate the efficiency of the equipment were the regrowth rate, the theoretical field capacity and energy demand. The equipment with convergent concave disks (DCC) and flat cutters discs from manufacturer A (CPS-a) showed the best results in cotton stalks destruction in both soil types. The harrow disc (GPD) was efficient only in clay soil. It was concluded that the equipment with convergent concave disks, among those tested, was the most efficient to destroy cotton stalks, regardless of soil type, and that the harrow disc was not included among the best performers.

Hepatectomia regrada por videolaparoscopia

With the improvement of laparoscopic techniques, endoscopic liver surgery has become feasible. While laparoscopic wedge liver resection are performed more frequently, laparoscopic (anatomical or nonanatomical) liver resection are still at an early stage of development and are somewhat controversial. We reporte laparoscopic hepatic resection without use of sophisticated laparoscopic instruments. A 47-year-old woman underwent radical mastectomy for adenocarcinoma in 1995. 1n the postoperative follow-up presented, a lesion in the left hepatic lobe and, after laparoscopic approach, left lateral segmentectomy was performed. The hepatic resection elapsed without complications. The surgical time was 4 hours and the blood loss was minimal, without transfusion being necessary.The abdominal drain was removed in 24 hours and the patient was discharged in the second postoperative day. Compared to the classic approach by laparotomy, this method was less traumatic, required a shorter hospital stay, and followed by faster recovery.

Carcinoma diferenciado da tireóide: a validade da complementação da tireoidectomia

OBJETIVO: Analisar a invasão tumoral do lobo contralateral da glândula tireóide no carcinoma diferenciado, correlacionando o risco/benefício com as complicações decorrentes de uma segunda intervenção. MÉTODO: De outubro/93 a dezembro/96 foram operados 20 pacientes com carcinomas diferenciados da glândula tireóide. Os parâmetros analisados foram sexo, idade, tipo de operação, tipo de complicações, histopatológico da peça cirúrgica e invasão do lobo contralateral. Eram dois pacientes do sexo masculino (10%) e 18 do feminino (90%); as idades variaram de 17 a 89 anos; o tipo histológico mais freqüente foi o carcinoma papilífero (13 casos), seguido do folicular (seis casos) e carcinoma de células de Hürthle (um caso). Como primeiro procedimento cirúrgico houve 11 lobectomias + istmectomias, quatro lobectomias subtotais e uma istmectomia. Cinco pacientes não realizaram a totalização (um por fibrose, três por perda de seguimento e um por ser microcarcinoma). RESULTADOS: Na análise do lobo contralateral realizada em 15 pacientes, 11 resultaram negativas e outras quatro positivas (26,6%). As complicações apresentadas foram rouquidão (dois casos revertidos com tratamento fonoterápico), hipoparatireoidismo (dois casos, um transitório e um permanente). CONCLUSÃO: A totalização da tireoidectomia é um procedimento importante no tratamento do tumor maligno da tireóide pela alta porcentagem de metástase contralateral (26,6%). Além disso, é um procedimento com mortalidade nula e pequena incidência de complicações.

Carcinoma folicular de tireóide: estudo retrospectivo

OBJETIVOS: Abordar o diagnóstico, tratamento e evolução do carcinoma folicular da tireóide. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva dos dados de 38 pacientes submetidos à tireoidectomia por carcinoma folicular puro, num período de 10 anos no HC-FMUSP. O tempo médio de seguimento foi de três anos e três meses. Nove pacientes eram do sexo masculino (23,7%) e 29 do sexo feminino (76,3%), com idades entre 19 e 87 anos (média=49,5). RESULTADOS: Em 17 (58,6%) dos doentes, observou-se nódulo único à ultra-sonografia, e 23 (79,3%) tinham nódulos frios à cintilografia. Sintomatologia esteve presente em 33 pacientes (86,8%). A punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF), realizada em 27 pacientes, revelou padrão folicular em 24 (88,9%), carcinoma papilífero em 2 (7,4%) e bócio em 1 (3,7%). Tireoidectomia total foi o tratamento final em 34 pacientes e esvaziamento cervical foi realizado em três casos. Apenas 5 (13,1%) obtiveram confirmação diagnóstica ao exame de congelação intra-operatória. Houve 2 (5,2%) óbitos pela doença e 5 (13,1%) pacientes apresentam-se vivos com doença. O aumento da tireoglobulina (TG) correlacionou-se com o aparecimento de metástase em 100% dos casos. CONCLUSÕES: Concluímos que pacientes com carcinoma folicular de tireóide geralmente apresentam-se com nódulo único ou predominante ao primeiro exame, cuja PAAF é de padrão folicular. O exame de congelação raramente confirma o diagnóstico. Em nosso serviço, o tratamento de escolha é a tireoidectomia total, permitindo um seguimento mais adequado e confiável do paciente e prevenindo o crescimento de lesões subclínicas no lobo contralateral. A evolução geralmente é favorável.

Cognitive Auditory Evoked Potentials in Investigation of Hearing Discrimination

Preattentive perception of occasional deviating stimuli in the stream of standard stimuli can be recorded with cognitive event-related potential (ERP) mismatch negativity (MMN). The earlier detection of stimuli at the auditory cortex can be examined with N1 and P2 ERPs. The MMN recording does not require co-operation, it correlates with perceptual threshold, and even complex sounds can be used as stimuli. The aim of this study was to examine different aspects that should be considered when measuring discrimination of hearing with ERPs. The MMN was found to be stimulusintensity- dependent. As the intensity of sine wave stimuli was increased from 40 to 80 dB HL, MMN mean amplitudes increased. The effect of stimulus frequency on the MMN was studied so that the pitch difference would be equal in each stimulus block according to the psychophysiological mel scale or the difference limen of frequency (DLF). However, the blocks differed from each other. The contralateral white noise masking (50 dB EML) was found to attenuate the MMN amplitude when the right ear was stimulated. The N1 amplitude was attenuated and, in contrast, P2 amplitude was not affected by contralateral white noise masking. The perception and production of vowels by four postlingually deafened patients with a cochlear implant were studied. The MMN response could be elicited in the patient with the best vowel perception abilities. The results of the studies show that concerning the MMN recordings, the stimulus parameters and recording procedure design have a great influence on the results.

Enxerto peritoneal autógeno e fibroplasia: estudo experimental

OBJETIVO: Avaliar se o enxerto autógeno de peritônio permanece vivo e que tipo de tecido conjuntivo predomina no local. MÉTODO: Foram utilizados 30 ratos machos para o enxerto de um fragmento de peritônio parietal do segmento ântero-superior do abdome, no interior do canal inguinal, fixado com monofilamento. Após 20 dias os animais foram sacrificados, a área doadora reparada e a área do enxerto foram retiradas para estudo histológico á microscopia óptica de luz. Em cinco animais a parede abdominal e o canal inguinal contralateral, sem enxerto, foram utilizados para o estudo de sua anatomia microscópica. RESULTADOS: Houve um predomínio de fibroblastos (células jovens) no enxerto, em relação ao receptor e de colágeno denso não modelado em toda a área da intervenção, predominando no receptor, com índice de significância p < 0,01. CONCLUSÕES: O enxerto permanece vivo. O padrão histológico do tecido conjuntivo predominante no local é o tecido conjuntivo denso não modelado.

Aspectos morfológicos da utilização intraperitoneal de prótese de dupla face na inguinoplastia em cães

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os aspectos morfológicos do comportamento de prótese de dupla face aplicada em inguinoplastia laparotômica em cães, com fixação intraperitoneal com a face de látex voltada às vísceras. MÉTODOS: Vinte cães distribuídos em dois grupos (n=10) foram submetidos à laparotomia infraumbilical com fixação da prótese de dupla face em uma região inguinal e de uma prótese controle de polipropileno contralateral. Foram pesquisados no 14° e 28° dia de pós-operatório achados macroscópicos referentes à obstrução e fístula intestinais, encistamento, incorporação e aderências. A análise microscópica envolveu o processo inflamatório e reparador. RESULTADOS: Não ocorreram processos infecciosos, obstrução ou fístula intestinal. As próteses apresentaram boa acomodação e incorporação. As aderências ocorreram em maior prevalência e intensidade com a prótese de polipropileno (p<0,05). As aderências com a borda da prótese de dupla face ocorreram em 65% na média dos grupos, sendo que, destas, 35% em média a aderência se fazia com o disco de polipropileno na face parietal. A análise dos achados microscópicos não mostrou diferença estatística entre as próteses (p>0,05). CONCLUSÃO: A prótese de dupla face na sua face parietal soma as vantagens do potencial de incorporação aos tecidos observados com o polipropileno às de biocompatibilidade do látex na sua face visceral. A pequena distância entre o disco de polipropileno e a borda da prótese de dupla face (2 cm) aliada à sua fixação com apenas cinco grampos é insuficiente para evitar que o epíploon migre em direção ao processo inflamatório desencadeado pelo polipropileno na face parietal.

Evaluation of prognostic factors of decompressive craniectomy in the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE: to determine predictive factors for prognosis of decompressive craniectomy in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), describing epidemiological findings and the major complications of this procedure.METHODS: we conducted a retrospective study based on analysis of clinical and neurological outcome, using the extended Glasgow outcome in 56 consecutive patients diagnosed with severe TBI scale treated in the emergency department from February 2004 to July 2012. The variables assessed were age, mechanism of injury, presence of pupillary changes, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score on admission, CT scan findings (volume, type and association of intracranial lesions, deviation from the midline structures and classification in the scale of Marshall and Rotterdam).RESULTS: we observed that 96.4% of patients underwent unilateral decompressive craniectomy (DC) with expansion duraplasty, and the remainder to bilateral DC, 53.6% of cases being on the right 42.9% on the left, and 3.6% bilaterally, with predominance of the fourth decade of life and males (83.9%). Complications were described as transcalvarial herniation (17.9%), increased volume of brain contusions (16.1%) higroma (16.1%), hydrocephalus (10.7%), swelling of the contralateral lesions (5.3%) and CSF leak (3.6%).CONCLUSION: among the factors studied, only the presence of mydriasis with absence of pupillary reflex, scoring 4 and 5 in the Glasgow Coma Scale, association of intracranial lesions and diversion of midline structures (DML) exceeding 15mm correlated statistically as predictors of poor prognosis.