Biomedical subjects

S Antoniuk

Publications and source records attributed to S Antoniuk.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Neurocysticercosis in children: clinical study and follow-up of 112 patients].

INTRODUCTION: Neurocysticercosis (NC) is the infection of the central nervous system caused by the Taenia solium larva. It is related to a wide variety of clinical symptoms and pathological findings. AIM: Clinical study, diagnosis, treatment and evolution of 112 patients with NC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 112 patients with NC, between 1 and 14 years of age, were evaluated and followed from 18 months up to 13 years. RESULTS: The most common clinical symptoms were epileptic seizures and signs of intracranial hypertension. The disease progressed as follows: active forms were seen in around 39% of the cases (viable cysts in 3% and transitional/granulomatous form in 36%), encephalitic form in 22% and inactive form (calcifications) in 39%. In the great majority of the cases, a treatment with anti-helmitic was not used. The control of the crises was positive in 86% of the cases -94% in the transitional forms, 93% in the inactive forms and 68% in the encephalitic form-. Recurrence of crises happened after suspension of the medication in 12,5% of the granulomatous form and in 11,2% of the inactive form. Neurological sequelae occurred only in the encephalitic form (12/25 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical findings and clinical evolution of neurocysticercosis in children is related to the evolutive form of the disease. The clinical evolution, including control of the crises and radiological control, is benign in the inactive and active forms, except in the encephalitic forms. The extraparenquimatous form is quite rare in the pediatric group.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Prevalence of headache in children of a school from Curitiba, Brazil, comparing data obtained from children and parents.

This study analyzed prevalence, frequency and cause of headache among 460 children ranging from 10 to 14 years-old from a Brazilian school. A questionnaire was handed both to children and parents to know if there would be differences among children and parental reports. The lifetime prevalence of headache was 93.5% (children reports) and 93.3% (parental reports). The last year prevalence was 90% (children) and 89.8% (parents). Headache episodes were frequent in 17.6% (children) and 18.5% (parents). The most often reported cause was "flu" (39.1% by children, and 46.7% by parents). This study demonstrated that the prevalence of headache in children is high; moreover, there were noted few differences between data obtained from children and parents. So, we could say that when the objective of a epidemiologic study is to determine the prevalence of headache in children, both children and parental reports may be used.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

[Tuberous sclerosis: case report with histopathological and ultrastructural study].

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a group of autosomal disorders characterized by hamartomas and benign neoplastic lesions that invariably affect the central nervous system. We report a case of tuberous sclerosis that is the first presenting ultrastructural findings of this phacomatosis in the Latin American literature. The patient was a 2 year old girl presenting West syndrome non responsive to the clinical treatment with vigabatrin, trileptal and clonazepan, and undergoing left frontal lobectomy. The histopathological and ultrastructural findings were compatible with tuberous sclerosis. These results may help to further understand this controversial phacomatosis, warning to the clinical presentation as West syndrome.

Brain↗

PubMed1997

[Anatomo-pathological and ultrastructural features of mucopolysaccharidosis. Case report].

The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are lysosomal storage diseases in which a specific enzyme defect causes glycosaminoglycans storage in tissues. The authors present a necropsy case of a 10 years old boy with clinical and laboratorial diagnosis of MPS. The necropsy revealed thickening of meninges, cardiac valves and hepatomegaly. The microscopical examination of the brain showed finely vacuolated histiocytes around blood vessels and meninges. Systemic deposits of vacuolated histiocytes in cardiac valves and liver were also detected. The ultrastructural examination of the brain, liver and spleen showed filamentous material accumulated in vacuolated histiocytes and hepatocytes and features neuronal storage disease.

Brain↗

PubMed1997

[Electron microscopy study in neurodegenerative diseases in childhood].

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders in which there is storage of abnormal material in cells throughout the body due to an enzyme defect. The authors present the experience in the diagnosis of the neurodegenerative diseases in infancy by electron microscopical study of skin, conjunctival and rectum material of 89 patients and 2 necropsy cases. The age of the patients ranged from 49 days to 13 years with speak age of incidence in first year of life (n = 28). Fifty patients were female and 39 were male. The most frequent sites of biopsy were the skin and conjunctival. Of the total 89 patients, 15 had a definitive diagnosis (16.8%) including 4 cases of gangliosidosis, 3 cases of mucopolysaccharidosis, a case of Gaucher's disease, a case of Niemann-Pick disease, 3 cases of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis and 3 cases of storage disease which could not be specified. The authors studied all these patients within clinic and ultrastructural aspects and concluded that electron microscopy is an important method in diagnosis of storage diseases but with a low sensitivity as a single "screening" test for patients with progressive encephalopathy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

[Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis. Report of 4 cases with study by rectal histochemistry, conjunctiva electron microscopy and necropsy].

The authors present the neuropathological and clinical findings of four cases of ceroid lipofuscinosis or Batten's disease. In two cases the autopsy findings showed brain atrophy and nerve cells packed with cytoplasmic granules compatible with lipofuscin. One case was diagnosed by histochemical techniques in frozen sections of rectal biopsy which showed myoenteric ganglion cells with cytoplasmic acid phosphatase positive material as well as numerous macrophages filled with lipofuscin in the mucosae. The fourth case diagnosed by electron microscopy of conjunctival biopsy which showed cytoplasmic inclusions of membranous, curvilinear and fingerprint types.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Difference in early development of presumed monozygotic twins with Rett syndrome.

Normal early development has generally been insisted on as an essential criterion for the diagnosis of Rett syndrome. A new set of monozygotic female twins is reported. Twin 1 was considered to be abnormal from birth while delay was not suspected in twin 2 until she was about one year old. Some regression occurred during the second year in both twins, who are now clinically indistinguishable from each other at age 4 years. Other than a slight difference in head circumference at birth, no environmental factor which could account for the clinical difference has been identified.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidermal nevus syndrome - a case report]

OBJECTIVES: To present the case of a patient with an epidermal nevus since birth and its relationship to neurologic signs and symptoms, emphasizing the importance of cutaneous manifestations as early markers of syndromes involving the Central Nervous System. METHODS: Clinical, radiological and histopathological data were analyzed. RESULTS: We report the case of a boy with an erythematous lesion on the neck and cheek since birth. At 9 months the lesion was velvety and slightly brown in color, with associated hemihypertrophy of the face. After 3 months he was hospitalized for having seizures. Computerized tomography of the brain disclosed hemimegalencephaly ipsilateral to the cutaneous lesions. DISCUSSION: The cutaneous findings can be an indicator of neurologic disease since both tissues have the same embryological origin: the neural crest. Thus, the Pediatrician must recognize these cutaneous signs which appear early in life and characterize some of the Neurocutaneous Syndromes so that a proper diagnosis and follow-up can be made.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Krabbe s disease - case report]

OBJECTIVE: Report a case of Krabbés disease with necropsy. METHODS: Review of medical and necropsy records. RESULTS: An 8 months-old male patient developed tremors, swallowing difficulty and excessive salivation for 4 months prior to admission, evolving with vomiting and fever. Physical examination showed microcephaly and diffuse pigmentation of the retinae. Neurological examination showed flexion of upper limbs with spastic hyperthony, symmetrical global hyperreflexia, nystagmus and spontaneous spasms. EEG showed multifocal irritative activity. There was increase in both CSF protein and gamaglobulin. The patient evolved with transitory hyperthermia, vomiting and pneumopathy, dying on the 23rd day after admission. Post mortem studies revealed microcephaly with widening of brain sulci. Histological examination revealed several globoid cells in the deep portion of the white matter, reactive gliosis and demyelination. CONCLUSIONS: These findings were similar to those in the world literature, indicating a poor prognosis due to substantial brain damage.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiology of neurocysticercosis].

INTRODUCTION: Cysticercosis remain an important health problem in developing countries. Its transmission is related to soil contamination with human feces. This parasitosis is found in Africa, Asia and Latin America, where the greatest incidences are seen in Mexico and Brazil. DEVELOPMENT: Human cysticercosis is acquired from the ingestion of ova of Taenia solium, excreted by human carriers in their feces, followed by the development of cyst in human tissue. The risk of contamination with Taenia ova is related to the contact with Taenia solium carriers. Recently, it has been shown that, in humans, the most common route of infection is ingestion of Taenia solium eggs from contaminated food or water. In United States of America and Europe, the frequency of cysticercosis is increasing due to increasing immigration and more frequent travels to endemic regions. The infected individual becomes a carrier and source of infection by oral-fecal contamination. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention is the single most important factor in reducing the frequency of cysticercosis. The transmission cycle of cysticercosis could be interrupted by improving sanitary conditions, and eliminating human cysticercosis. The treatment of Taenia carriers could be effective in prevention of cysticercosis, by reducing the excretion of its eggs and, so, reducing the risk of infection. At long date, education--washing hands before eating and after using bathroom, drinking boiled water--and improvements in sanitation, health care and socio-economic status are essential in prevention of human cysticercosis.

Anthelmintics↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage in the premature infants].

OBJECTIVE: To review intracranial hemorrhage originated in the subependymal germinal matrix region. DEVELOPMENT: Incidence rates of germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH) range from 20 to 40% of infants born before 32 weeks gestational age or with birth weight less than 1,500 g. Because the GMH is usually diagnosed during the first 72 postnatal hours, that is the optimal time to perform ultrasound scans. The pathogenesis of GMH is multifactorial and related to vascular, intravascular and extravascular factors. The grading system relies on the detection of blood in the germinal matrix region and into the ventricular system. Ultrasound scans are the diagnostic method of choice, once it is easy to perform and has low costs. In a prospective study of 146 preterm infants (< 2,200 g), the incidence of GMH in those weighing less than 1,501 g, was 36%. GMH occurred mainly in the first week of life (65%) and in 70% of cases was classified as grade I. Risk factors found to be related to the GMH were: general anesthesia for cesarean section, Apgar score below 4 in the first minute or below 8 in the fifth minute, low birth weight, the presence of respiratory distress, patent ductus arteriosus, anemia, repeated arterial functions and umbilical arterial catheterization. Mean gestational age, systolic and diastolic pressure in the first 24 hours of life and hematocrit were lower in patients with GMH. CONCLUSIONS: GMH is frequent in the preterm infant, and occurs mainly in the first week of life. Ultrasound scans are the method of choice for the diagnosis and follow-up. Risk factors associated were hypoxia and excessive handling.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗