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Biomedical subjects

M M Lima

Publications and source records attributed to M M Lima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The influence of female gender on the outcome of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

PURPOSE: Women appear to have a greater risk of death than men after open surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The aim of this study is to compare outcomes after endovascular AAA repair in men and women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1994 to November 2000, 305 patients (281 men and 24 women) underwent AAA repair with use of endovascular techniques. Outcomes measured included perioperative mortality, percentage of procedures aborted or converted to open abdominal AAA repair, deployment success rate, angiographic success rate, major complication rate, and percentage of patients with endoleaks. RESULTS: Patients of both genders were comparable with respect to mean age (74.4 in men vs 75.9 in women; NS). According to the Society for Vascular Surgery/International Society of Cardiovascular Surgery risk stratification method, men and women were also comparable in age risk score (0.60 vs 0.67; NS), pulmonary risk score (0.50 vs 0.83; NS), and renal risk score (0.28 vs 0.17; NS). However, the cardiac risk score was higher in men (1.31 vs 0.80; P <.05) and maximum AAA diameter was greater in men (57.0 mm vs 52.1 mm; P <.01). Eight perioperative deaths (2.6%) occurred (2.8% of men, 0% of women; NS). Proportionately more procedures were aborted in women than men: four (16.7%) versus six (2.1%; P <.01). Conversion to open repair occurred in four men (1.4%) and no women (NS). Deployment success was achieved in 96.4% of men and 83.3% of women (P <.01). Angiographic success was achieved in 84.1% of men and 80% of women (NS). Of 46 major complications, 42 (14.9%) occurred in 281 men and four (16.7%) occurred in 24 women (NS). Sixty-seven patients had endoleaks: 60 were men (22.1%) and seven were women (35%; NS). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference between men and women with respect to perioperative mortality and major complication rates. These findings indicate that being a woman does not adversely influence the outcome of endovascular AAA repair. However, women had a higher rate of aborted procedures. Precise preoperative evaluation may help reduce this problem in women.

Aged↗

[Effects of food deprivation levels on the oogenesis of Panstrongylus megistus].

The effects of various levels of food deprivation on the oogenesis of P. megistus was studied. Immediately after the imaginal ecdysis, six groups (GI to GVI) of 15 couples each were formed. Each group was fed as follows: GI -- on days 5 and 25; G-II -- on days 5 and 35; GIII -- on days 5 and 45; GIV -- on day 20; GV -- on day 30; GVI -- on day 40 after the imaginal ecdysis. After the established fasting period, all groups were fed fortnightly. Fifteen couples were in the control group (CG), which was fed on the day 5 after the imaginal ecdysis and subsequently fortnightly. GI produced more eggs, matings and fertile eggs. GII had longer life spans, higher fecundity and hatchings. GIII had a shorter life span, low fecundity, fertility and hatchings. GVI presented the least favorable results for all parameters, except for the pre-oviposition period. The CG had the best results in all parameters when compared with all experimental groups.

Animals↗

Clinical aspects of neurocysticercosis in children.

The purpose of this report was to evaluate the clinical aspects of neurocysticercosis in children from a Brazilian region. A retrospective study of 25 children with this neuroparasitosis was performed. The diagnosis was based on clinical, cerebrospinal fluid, and neuroimaging findings. The patients were predominantly male (72%), were 1 to 11 years of age (average = 8 years, 6 months), and most resided in urban areas (68%). The more frequent manifestations were epileptic seizures (72%), headache (60%), learning disability (24%), behavioral changes (12%), psychomotor involution (8%), and intracranial hypertension (4%). The neurologic examination was normal in 80% of the patients. Twenty-two children received only symptomatic drugs. Three patients underwent treatment with cysticidal drugs, one with praziquantel and two with albendazole, with complete remission of the signs in one patient (33%) and improvement in two others (67%). Of the 25 patients, 43.4% had remission and 47.8% had improvement. We emphasize the need to consider neurocysticercosis as a differential diagnosis in children coming from endemic areas and presenting with learning disabilities, behavioral changes, and psychomotor involution. The clinical aspects in most of the children from the Botucatu region suggest a spontaneous resolution of neurocysticercosis without the need for cysticidal treatment.

Albendazole↗

[Neurocysticercosis and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: case report].

Report of a girl with the epileptic, hydrocephalic and encephalitic form of neurocysticercosis, diagnosed by cerebrospinal fluid and computed tomography exams, during her second year of life and an evolution with multiple types of seizures, prolonged periods of intracranial hypertension due to obstruction in the ventriculoperitoneal shunt, psychomotor regression and blindness until she was 10 years old, when the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome was diagnosed. Nowadays the patient is 16 years old and presents complex partial seizures with automatism not completely controlled with clobazan and oxcarbazepine, associated to left spastic hemiparesis, universal hyperreflexia, psychomotor agitation, self-mutilation, amaurosis and severe mental retardation. The association between neurocysticercosis and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome was first described in 1973 by Frochtengarten & Scarante in a Brazilian girl with a similar clinical picture.

Adolescent↗

[HIV/tuberculosis co-infection: a request for a better surveillance].

The increasing endemicity of tuberculosis resulting from causes such as immigration, poverty, a declining public health infrastructure and co-infection by HIV/Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is leading to a change in tuberculosis control programmes. One of the main reasons for the resurgence of tuberculosis is HIV infection--the risk of tuberculosis is greater in HIV patients than in the majority of the population as can be seen from numerous research projects. The need for systematic testing for HIV infection in all tuberculosis patients by undertaking confidential HIV tests on admission to a tuberculosis programme is brought out. This measure would increase the number of cases diagnosed and provide data for better surveillance of the co-infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Epilepsy with continuous spike-waves during slow wave sleep: a clinical and electroencephalographic study.

We report four children with epilepsy with "continuous spike-waves during slow wave sleep" (CSWSS). The main clinical features were partial motor seizures, mental retardation and motor deficit. The EEG findings were characterized by nearly continuous (> 85%) diffuse slow spike and wave activity in two patients, and localized to one hemisphere in two other cases during non-REM sleep. The treatment was effective in improving the clinical seizures, but not the EEG pattern. We believe that this epileptic syndrome has been overlooked and routine sleep EEG studies on epileptic children may disclose more cases of CSWSS.

Age Factors↗

Atypical EEG pattern in children with absence seizures.

We studied four children with diagnosis of absence seizures (generalized primary epilepsy), and with a generalized delta activity on the EEG during clinical attacks provoked by hyperventilation. The lack of ictal generalized spike-and-wave discharges with a frequency of 3 Hz in our patients, makes this an atypical pattern. All children had complete control of their seizures and disappearance of the EEG changes with valproate. We concluded that generalized delta activity observed on EEG during the hyperventilation in children should not always be considered as a normal finding for age, since it could be an ictal event of an absence seizure.

Child↗

Atypical pattern related to 14 Hz positive spikes.

We studied two children with a history of headache and a normal physical and neurological examination whose EEG showed an electroencephalographic pattern recently published, the N-shape potential associated with the 14 Hz positive spikes. This graphoelement was observed only during the asleep state.

Adolescent↗

Subclinical rhythmic electrographic discharge in adults: an atypical evolution.

The subclinical rhythmic electrographic discharge in adults (SREDA) has been rarely reported. We describe the case of a 71 year-old man with transient ischemic attack, whose EEG showed an atypical evolution of this uncommon pattern. The computed tomography scan and cerebrospinal fluid were normal. We are not aware of any other report in the literature with this atypical evolution of SREDA.

Aged↗

Dipole reversal: an ictal feature in a patient with benign partial epilepsy of childhood with centro-temporal spike.

We describe the case of a 15-year-old boy who had the diagnosis of benign partial epilepsy of childhood with centro-temporal spike. During the EEG a subclinical electrographic seizure was recorded. The discharges were clearly electropositive in T4 with positive phase reversal between derivations F8-T4 and T4-T6. The whole episode lasted less than one minute (45 sec). The interictal right medio-temporal spikes reemerged after 60 sec and were electronegative in the same location after the end of the electrographic seizures. The mechanisms underlying this uncommon pattern on EEG is not well established.

Adolescent↗

Complex partial status epilepticus in a child.

Complex partial status epilepticus (SE) has been reported rarely in children. We describe the clinical case of a 14 year-old girl with complex partial seizures (CPS) since age 10 who developed a complex partial SE probably because she was not adherent to treatment. The neurologic examination and computed tomography scan were normal. During the SE she received diazepam and phenytoin and became free of the seizures after 5 minutes. The ictal EEG showed spikes and slow waves over the right temporal region.

Adolescent↗

Atypical clinical and electroencephalographic pattern in a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

We describe an atypical clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) pattern observed during the course of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in a 14 year-old boy. In this patient with a two weeks history of partial complex seizures, the atypical EEG pattern was characterized by an initial left temporal focus which evolved to periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) and, only during the 3rd and 4th weeks the typical bilateral and generalized periodic complexes appeared.

Adolescent↗

Agenesis and lipoma of corpus callosum. Case report.

The agenesis and lipoma of the corpus callosum is a very rare association. We report the case of a 18-years old woman with rare epileptic seizures since the age of 6 years, normal neurological examination, as well as normal electroencephalogram. The brain computed tomography scanning and the magnetic resonance showed the lipoma and the agenesis of the corpus callosum.

Adolescent↗

Feeding behavior of different species of Chagas' disease vectors stimulated with blood sources at different temperatures.

1. The feeding behavior of six triatomid species toward latex condoms filled with blood at 26 +/- 1 and 36 +/- 1 degrees C was observed for 4 h. 2. The species studied were Triatoma infestans, Triatoma brasiliensis, Triatoma vitticeps, Triatoma pseudomaculata, Rhodnius prolixus and Panstrongylus megistus, and 34 to 348 insects were studied in each group (average, 190). All the life stages of each species were used. 3. Although most insects (80%, average for 6 species) preferred the warmer blood, 54% of the individuals of all species fed on blood kept at 26 degrees C. For Triatoma pseudomaculata, a higher proportion of insects fed on blood at 26 degrees C (92%) than on blood at 36 degrees C (65%). 4. These results suggest that bait containing insecticides which are effective through the digestive tract may be useful in the control of these vectors even at room temperature.

Animals↗

Chromosome studies in the red howler monkey, Alouatta seniculus stramineus (Platyrrhini, Primates): description of an X1X2Y1Y2/X1X1X2X2 sex-chromosome system and karyological comparisons with other subspecies.

In the red howler monkey, Alouatta seniculus stramineus (2n = 47, 48, or 49), variations in diploid chromosome number are due to different numbers of microchromosomes. Males exhibit a Y;autosome translocation involving the short arm of an individual biarmed autosome. Consequently, the sex-chromosome constitution in the male is X1X2Y1Y2, with X1 representing the original X chromosome, X2 the biarmed autosome (No. 7), Y1 the Y;7p translocation product, and Y2 the acrocentric homolog of 7q. In the first meiotic division, a quadrivalent with a chain configuration can be observed in spermatocytes. Females have an X1X1X2X2 sex-chromosome constitution. Chromosome heteromorphisms were observed in pair 13, due to a pericentric inversion, and pair 19, due to the presence of constitutive heterochromatin. Microchromosomes, which varied in number between individuals, were also heterochromatic. NOR-staining was observed at two separate sites on a single chromosome pair (No. 10). A comparison of A.s. stramineus with A.s. macconnelli shows that these two subspecies have identical diploid chromosome numbers (47, 48, or 49), again due to a varying number of microchromosomes, and that they share a similar sex-chromosome constitution. Their karyotypes, however, are not identical, but can be derived from each other by a reciprocal translocation. Further comparisons with other A. seniculus subspecies reported in the literature indicate that this taxon is not karyologically uniform and that substantial chromosome shuffling has occurred between populations that have been considered to be subspecies by taxonomic criteria based on their morphometric attributes.

Alouatta↗

Poisoning by chemical non-medicinal products in Brazil: clinical and laboratory findings in 132 patients.

One hundred and thirty-two patients with suspected exogenous intoxication were analysed according to clinical manifestation and toxicological results. Detection of toxic substances was performed in blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid. The greatest occurrence of chronic exogenous intoxication was in males aged 21 to 50 years old. Peasants and industrial workers were the most affected. 70% of all patients showed neurological manifestations. There was clear predominance of central nervous system impairment associated with poisoning with herbicides and organophosphates.

Adolescent↗

[Neurologic manifestations in 93 patients with exogenous poisoning caused by non-therapeutic chemical substances].

Ninety-three patients with neurological manifestations and suspected exogenous intoxication were analysed. The detection of toxic substances was performed in the blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid. There was clear predominance of the central nervous system impairment than the peripheric, and an apparent tropism of herbicides and organophosphates to the central nervous system compared with the peripheral nervous system, and considering the manifestations caused by carbamates and organochlorines. The authors analyse some probable action mechanism of these substances in the nervous system, and show the most frequently neurological signs and symptoms found.

Adolescent↗