Questionário de qualidade de vida na epilepsia: resultados preliminares

Seizures happen for brief periods of time, but the feelings of anxiety and helplessness, adaptation to the restrictions impose by the life-style and variety of other problems affect more the quality of life in epilepsy. This study proposes a protocol that regards the objectives of a quality of life assessment in health and is applied to a population that attends a university hospital. It contains 65 items and assesses the psychosocial performance, physical limitation, cognitive aspects, perception of control, self-concept, as well as perception of health and quality of life. The results of reliability and validity are discussed.

The G209A mutation in the alpha-synuclein gene in Brazilian families with Parkinson's disease

A missense G209A mutation of the alpha-synuclein gene was recently described in a large Contursi kindred with Parkinson's disease (PD). The objective of this study is to determine if the mutation G209A of the alpha-synuclein gene was present in 10 Brazilian families with PD. PD patients were recruited from movement disorders clinics of Brazil. A family history with two or more affected in relatives was the inclusion criterion for this study. The alpha-synuclein G209A mutation assay was made using polymerase chain reaction and the restriction enzyme Tsp45I. Ten patients from 10 unrelated families were studied. The mean age of PD onset was 42.7 years old. We did not find the G209A mutation in our 10 families with PD. Our results suggest that alpha-synuclein mutation G209A is uncommon in Brazilian PD families.

Orbital apex syndrome due to aspergillosis: case report

We report the case of a 73-year-old female who presented facial numbness and pain in the first division of the trigeminal nerve, ptosis, diplopia and visual loss on the right side for the previous four months. The neurological, radiological and histological examination demonstrated a rare case of invasive fungal aspergillosis of the central nervous system, causing orbital apex syndrome, later transformed in temporal brain abscess. She died ten months later due to respiratory and renal failure in spite of specific antimycotic therapy.

Machado-Joseph disease versus hereditary spastic paraplegia: case report

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is the most common autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia and presents great phenotypic variability. MJD presenting with spastic paraparesis was recently described in Japanese patients. We report the case of 41-year-old woman with the phenotype of complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia. Her father died at the age of 56 years due to an undiagnosed progressive neurological disease that presented parkinsonism. She had an expanded allele with 66 CAG repeats and a normal allele with 22 repeats in the gene of MJD. MJD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of autosomal dominant complicated HSP. A patient with the phenotype of complicated HSP and relatives with other clinical features of a neurodegenerative disease should raise the suspicion of MJD.

Identification of family variables in parents' groups of children with epilepsy

OBJECTIVE: To verify the effectiveness of the support group in the identification of family variables linked to epilepsy. METHOD: Pre-test were applied to parents of 21 children with benign epilepsy of childhood recently diagnosed, from 5 to 15 years, who participated in the groups at HC/Unicamp. There was a presentation of an educational video, discussion and application of the post-test 1. After six months, the post-test 2 was applied. RESULTS: The beliefs were: fear of swallowing the tongue during the seizures (76.19%) and of a future mental disease (66.67%). Facing the epilepsy, fear and sadness appeared. 76.19% of the parents presented overprotection and 90.48%, expected a new seizure. In the post-test 1, the parents affirmed that the information offered had modified the beliefs. In the post-test 2, 80.95% didn't report great doubts about epilepsy and 90.48% considered their relationship with their children better. CONCLUSIONS: The demystification of beliefs supplied from the groups influenced the family positively, prevented behavior alterations and guaranteed effective care in the attendance to the child with epilepsy.

Transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade: proposta de avaliação neuropsicológica para diagnóstico

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. The aim of this research was to contribute more precisely to the diagnosis of ADHD, to propose a battery of neuropsychological assessment and to analyze the contribution of each test. We studied 10 matched pairs of children with ADHD and normal controls (7 to 11 years). Inclusion criteria were: presence of ADHD typical behavior, positive diagnosis of ADHD based on DSM-IV, normal IQ, normal neurological examination and parental consent. We used extensive neuropsychological battery. The results showed differential sensitivity for detection of attentional problems in children with ADHD, although most tests did not reach statistical significance. The item, errors, of WCST revealed statistically significant difference between the two groups: ADHD performance was inferior to controls . In conclusion the neuropsychological assessment battery used in this research contributed to the diagnosis of ADHD.

Aspectos técnicos da monitorização da pressão intracraniana pelo método subaracnóideo no traumatismo craniencefálico grave

Two hundred and six patients with severe head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale of 8 points or less after nonsurgical resuscitation on admission), managed at Intensive Care Unit-Hospital das Clínicas - Universidade Estadual de Campinas were prospectively analysed. All patients were assessed by CT scan and 72 required neurosurgical intervention. All patients were continuously monitored to evaluate intracranial pressure (ICP) levels by a subarachnoid device (11 with subarachnoid metallic bolts and 195 with subarachnoid polyvinyl catheters). The ICP levels were continuously observed in the bedside pressure monitor display and their end-hour values were recorded in a standard chart. The patients were managed according to a standard protocol guided by the ICP levels. There were no intracranial haemorrhagic complications or hematomas due the monitoring method. Sixty six patients were punctured by lateral C1-C2 technique to assess infectious complications and 2 had positive cerebrospinal fluid samples for Acinetobacter sp. The final results measured at hospital discharge showed 75 deaths (36,40%) and 131 (63,60%) survivors. ICP levels had significantly influenced the final results (p<0,001). The subarachnoid method to continuously assess the ICP levels was considered aplicable, safe, simple, low cost and useful to advise the management of the patients. The ICP record methodology was practical and useful. Despite the current technical advances the subarachnoid method was considered viable to assess the ICP levels in severe head injury.

Terminologia para as técnicas analíticas de eletromigração em capilares

This is a contribution that presents a translation of the work Terminology for Analytical Capillary Electromigration Techniques by Riekkola and collaborators (Pure Appl. Chem., Vol. 76, No. 2, 443-451, 2004) from IUPAC© for the Portuguese Language. Additional terms that had not been defined in native Portuguese were included for the benefit of the local community. Additional notes were also included to clarify some important concepts and to highlight the differences between techniques.

Saúde dos adolescentes: um estudo de base populacional em Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil

We estimated the prevalence of chronic diseases and other health problems reported by adolescents in relation to social and demographic variables and nutritional status. This cross-sectional population-based survey analyzed data from the Health Survey in Campinas, São Paulo State, Brazil, 2008. We used descriptive statistics and associations between variables with the chisquare test. Prevalence of chronic diseases among adolescents was 19.17%, with asthma showing the highest prevalence (7.59%), followed by heart disease (1.96%), hypertension (1.07%), and diabetes 0.21%. Prevalence rates were 61.53% for health problems, 40.39% for allergy, and 24.83% for frequent headache or migraine. After multivariate analysis using Poisson regression, the factors associated with chronic disease were age 15 to 19 years (PR = 1.38), not attending school (PR = 1.46), having children (PR = 1.84), and obesity (PR = 1.54). Female gender (PR = 1.12) was statistically associated with health problems. The study illustrates that adolescence is a life stage in which chronic disease and health problems can occur.

Composição florística de uma floresta ripária na Reserva Estadual de Porto Ferreira, SP

The point-centred quarter method (63 points) was applied in Porto Ferreira State Reserve (21º49'S and 47º25'W) in an area (1.08ha) on the right margin of Moji Guaçu river, including two woody individuals per quarter - one with DBH < 10cm and at least 130cm high, the other with DBH > 10cm. The results obtained were compared with those published by other authors for a riparian forest (Mata da Figueira) at Moji Guaçu Ecological Station (about 100 km upstream on the same river). At Porto Ferreira 107 species were found, of which 80 were exclusive, compared with the Mata da Figueira where of the 59 species listed, 31 were exclusive. The two area shared 27 common species, thus accounting for a low Sørensen similarity of 48.6%. The great environmental heterogeneity of the floodplains, as well as the degree of anthropic disturbance, could account for this floristic variation. The greatest numbers of species were shown by Leguminosae (20), Myrtaceae (17), Rutaceae (9), Euphorbiaceae (7), and Lauraceae, Meliaceae, Moraceae and Rubiaceae (6 species each). There appears to be little difference at the family level among the periodically flooded and non-flooded forests of the State of São Paulo, but the species show different degreees of preference for habitat. The floristic composition of the two areas presented a mixture of typical species with others of non-flooded forests. The latter would occur on the floodplain probably by a) adaptation of the root system to relatively short flooding periods; b) shorter periods of flooding on the higher points of the microrelief of the floodplain, and c) greater aeration due to running water.

Lianas da estação ecológica do Noroeste Paulista, São José do Rio Preto/Mirassol, SP, Brasil

Lianas are characteristic, abundant and ecologically important members of tropical forest but they have been neglected in floristics and phytossociological studies. This work presents a floristic survey of the lianas species at Estação Ecológica do Noroeste Paulista (EENP), and a comparison of the list of species recorded in this work with those reported for other fragments of São Paulo state. The EENP (20º48'36'' S and 49º22'50'' W) is at 468 m of altitude and comprises an area of 168,43 ha, divided into three fragments of vegetation. Samples of lianas were collected in the interior and along the edges of the forest fragments. It was identified 105 species: 99 Magnoliopsida (60 genera and 22 families); six Liliopsida (three genera and three families). The richest families in species comprised 59% of the total of lianas sampled. The dendrogram of similarity showed a low similarity between the forest situated in the littoral (Atlantic Forest) and those located in the interior of the state of São Paulo. Some other authors, also analysing the similarity of forest of the interior and Atlantic Forest of São Paulo state, but considering only the trees reported similar result.

Produção de serapilheira e decomposição do material foliar em um cerradão na Estação Ecológica de Jataí, município de Luiz Antônio, SP, Brasil

We estimate litter production and leaf decomposition rate in a cerradão area, physiognomy little studied and very threatened in São Paulo State. During the period of study, litter production was 5646.9 kg.ha-1.year-1, which the 'leaf' fraction corresponded to 4081.2 kg.ha¹.year¹; the 'branch' fraction, to 1066.1 kg.ha-1.year-1; the 'reproductive structures' fraction, to 434.1 kg.ha-1.year-1; and the 'miscellaneous' fraction to 65.5 kg.ha-1.year-1. Litter production was highly seasonal and negatively correlated with relative humidity and air temperature. Leaf production was negatively correlated with relative humidity, rainfall, and air temperature. There was no significant difference between litter production found in this study and those in two other sites with cerradão and semideciduous forest, but these physiognomies differed significantly from the cerrado sensu stricto. Leaf decomposition rate (K) was 0.56. Half-life of the decomposing material was 1.8 years and turnover time was 2.3 years.

O comportamento de crianças durante atendimento odontológico

This research intended to investigate the use of diazepam in conjunction with behavioral strategies to manage uncooperative behavior of child dental patients. The 6 participants received dental treatment during 9 sessions. Using a double-blind design, children received placebo or diazepam and at the same time were submitted to behavior management produces (distraction, explanation, reinforcement and set rule and limits). All sessions were recorded in video-tapes biped in 15 seconds intervals, in which observers recorded child's (crying, body and/or head movements, escape and avoidance) and dentist's behavior. The results indicated that diazepam, considering the used dose, was only effective with one subject. The other participants didn't permit the treatment and showed an increase in their resistance. The behavioral preparation strategies for dental treatment should have been more precisely planned in order to help the child to face the real dental treatment conditions mainly in the first sessions avoiding to reinforce inappropriate behaviors.

As relativas que são fáceis na aquisição do português brasileiro

The acquisition of Portuguese by two Brazilian children (aged 2;0 -5;0) is discussed in an attempt to describe and explain the first relative clauses produced in naturalistic, observational studies, according to the framework of generative syntax theory. The results show that at around 3;0: a) the child starts to deal with relative clauses as modifiers of N; b) cleft sentences appear before relative clauses, and c) the first relatives confirm the prevalence of the vernacular strategy of relativization in Brazilian Portuguese identified by other studies based on adult data.

Variação sazonal da fotossíntese, condutância estomática e potencial da água na folha de laranjeira 'Valência'

Seasonal variation in environmental conditions may influence gas exchange rates as well as water relations in perennial species. This work was carried out to evaluate photosynthetic rates (A), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (g) and leaf water potential (psi f ) in 'Valencia' orange trees grafted on four different rootstocks. Measurements were made twice a day: from 9h00 to 11h00 a.m. and from 1h00 to 3h00 p.m., during January, March and July. A and g were significantly lower and psif was significantly more negative, in the afternoon. The decrease in A may be related to the reduction in g, due to the increase in the vapor pressure deficit between the air and the leaf (VPDair-leaf ) in the afternoon, when temperatures are higher. In spite of the partial stomatal closure in the afternoon, the values for E were approximately the same as those measured in the morning, due to the increase in the VPDair-leaf . A decrease in A and g could also be noted from January to July, that is, from the hot and humid summer months, to the colder and drier winter ones. It was suggested that the decrease in A and g observed from January through March, may be related to the decrease in plant growth rates, which could have influenced the source-sink relationships, since the climatic conditions for both months were similar. The decrease in A and g showed in July, seems to be related to the decrease in both the night temperature and the growth rate of plants.