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Biomedical subjects

J M Lima

Publications and source records attributed to J M Lima.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Reliability of isoelectrofocusing for the detection of Hb S, Hb C, and HB D in a pioneering population-based program of newborn screening in Brazil.

Out of 128,326 newborns in the first 6-month period of a population-based screening program in Minas Gerais, Brazil, a second sample was obtained at the age of 6 months from 4,635 carriers of Hbs AS, AC, and AD which were detected by isoelectrofocusing. Discordance in results occurred in only 27 cases (0.6%): in seven there was a history of hemotransfusion; errors during pipetting or transcription of results occurred in seven cases; it was difficult to differenciate between Hbs S and D in eight patients; and the causes were not elucidated in five patients. The incidence of Hbs FS and FSC for the total population was 1:2,800 and 1:3,450, respectively. Isoelectrofocusing is a very reliable method for distinguishing AS, AC, or AD carriers from patients presenting with [corrected] variant hemoglobin and beta(+)-thalassemia combinations, and may be widely used in massive newborn screening programs.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMed2000

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Brazil: 1998 national survey.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the epidemiologic characteristics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Brazil in 1998. METHOD: Structured Clinical Report Forms (CRFs) sent to 2,505 Brazilian neurologists from January to September 1998 to be filled with demographic and clinical data regarding any ALS patient seen at any time during that year. RESULTS: Five hundred and forty CRFs were returned by 168 neurologists. Data on 443 patients meeting the criteria of probable or definite ALS according to El Escorial definition were analysed: 63 probable (14.2%) and 380 definite (85. 8%). Two hundred and fifty-nine (58.5%) of the patients were male, mean age of onset was 52. Spinal onset occurred in 306 patients (69%); bulbar onset in 82 (18.5%), and both in 52 (11.7%). Twenty-six (5.9%) had a family history of ALS. Two hundred and fifty-nine (58.6%) were seen by private practitioners, and 178 (40. 2%) at a hospital clinic. Age-ajusted incidence shows a peak incidence at the 65-74 years old range. CONCLUSIONS: The disease's characteristics are similar to those described in international studies, except for age of onset (Brazilian patients are younger). This difference is not confirmed when figures are age-adjusted.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed2000

The new drugs and the strategies to manage epilepsy.

After a short historical review of the development of the pharmaceutical treatment of the epilepsies the author reviews some of the possible strategies to manage patients with the different types of epilepsies and epileptic syndromes using the classical drugs. A strategy used by most of the physicians uses Sodium Valproate as the first line drug for almost all patients. This may be replaced by other drugs according to their efficacy against the different types of seizures to be treated whenever VPA has not enough efficacy or isn t well tolerated. On the other hand epileptologists use the different drugs according to the different epilepsies and epileptic syndromes depending on the relative efficacy of each drug available and the possible side effects. He then describes succinctly the better-known new drugs and makes some comments on the coming drugs now in development. Finally he proceeds to include them in the strategies above described. Lamotrigine and possibly Topiramate are good candidates to replace VPA in the one drug strategy. Lamotrigine, Oxcarbamazepine and possibly Gabapentin may be used in the future as 1st line drugs in selected patients. Vigabatrin is already used as one of the better alternatives for West syndrome and Oxcarbamazepine has replaced Carbamazepine in countries where it s available to the public. Some drawbacks have been apparent with these drugs like the hepatic and haematological toxic effect of Felbamate or the apparently irreversible fields constriction provoked by Vigabatrin, which did limit their use.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1996

[Mansonic neuroschistosomiasis: clinical, laboratory and therapeutic aspects].

The authors report 16 patients bearing the meningomyeloradicular form of Mansonic neuroschistosomiasis diagnosed according to clinical, laboratorial and image criteria. Patients have been observed at the Neurology Ambulatory of the Federal University of Bahia, within the period of April/91 to December/93. They have been treated with praziquantel, associated to corticosteroids. The aim has been to evaluate the drug's efficiency and safety in decreasing the neurological signs and symptoms.

Adolescent↗