Vascular Myelopathies.

There are many vascular disorders that can affect the spinal cord, and their prevalence and etiology are highly influenced by age, sex, and risk factors. This article reviews the embryology and anatomy of the spinal cord, as well as several vascular conditions, describing their clinical and imaging presentation, emphasizing the different imaging modalities' contributions to increasing specificity and better defining the most appropriate therapy strategy for improving the patient's prognosis.

Temporomandibular joint: from anatomy to internal derangement.

The temporomandibular joint can be affected by various conditions, such as joint dysfunction, degenerative changes, inflammatory processes, infections, tumors, and trauma. The aim of this pictorial essay is to help radiologists identify and describe the main findings on magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the temporomandibular joint, given that the correct diagnosis is essential for the appropriate treatment of patients with temporomandibular joint disorders.

Imaging Aspects of the Hippocampus.

The hippocampus is one of the most sophisticated structures in the brain, owing to its complex anatomy, intriguing functions, relationship with other structures, and relevant associated symptoms. Despite being a structure analyzed for centuries, its anatomy and physiology in the human body are still being extensively studied, as well as associated pathologic conditions and potential biomarkers. It can be affected by a broad group of diseases that can be classified as congenital, degenerative, infectious or inflammatory, neoplastic, vascular, or toxic-metabolic disease.

Imaging Patterns of Toxic and Metabolic Brain Disorders.

Toxic and metabolic brain disorders are relatively uncommon diseases that affect the central nervous system, but they are important to recognize as they can lead to catastrophic outcomes if not rapidly and properly managed. Imaging plays a key role in determining the most probable diagnosis, pointing to the next steps of investigation, and providing prognostic information. The majority of cases demonstrate bilateral and symmetric involvement of structures at imaging, affecting the deep gray nuclei, cortical gray matter, and/or periventricular white matter, and some cases show specific imaging manifestations.

Convenient enzymatic resolution of (R,S)-2-methylbutyric acid catalyzed by immobilized lipases.

The application of several immobilized lipases has been explored in the enantioselective esterification of (R,S)-2-methylbutyric acid, an insect pheromone precursor. With the use of Candida antarctica B, using hexane as solvent, (R)-pentyl 2-methylbutyrate was prepared in 2 h with c 40%, ee 90%, and E = 35, while Thermomyces lanuginosus leads to c 18%, ee 91%, and E = 26. The (S)-enantiomer was obtained by the use of Candida rugosa or Rhizopus oryzae (2-h reaction, c 34% and 35%, ee 75 and 49%, and E = 10 and 4, respectively).

Acute kidney injury in HIV-infected children: comparison of patients according to the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: To assess clinical and laboratory data, and acute kidney injury (AKI) in HIV-infected children using and not using highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) prior to admission.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted with HIV-infected pediatric patients (<16 years). Children who were using and not using HAART prior to admission were compared.

Hemophagocytic Syndrome in Children With Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a serious complication of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The aim of this study is to describe demographical, clinical and laboratory features of HLH in children with VL.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort of children with HLH and VL admitted to a tertiary hospital in Northeast, Brazil, from January 2012 to April 2014.

Proteinuria in adults with sickle-cell disease: the role of hydroxycarbamide(hydroxyurea) as a protective agent.

Background: Renal abnormalities are often seen in sickle cell disease (SCD).

Objective: To investigate the role of hydroxycarbamide as a protective agent in sickle cell nephropathy.

Setting: Patients with SCD followed at a Hematology outpatients clinic.

Acute kidney injury in a tropical country: a cohort study of 253 patients in an infectious diseases intensive care unit.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent and potentially fatal complication in infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical aspects of AKI associated with infectious diseases and the factors associated with mortality.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in patients with AKI who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary infectious diseases hospital from January 2003 to January 2012.

Factors associated with thrombocytopenia in severe leptospirosis (Weil's disease).

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate factors associated with thrombocytopenia in a large cohort of patients with leptospirosis in an endemic area.

Methods: This retrospective study included 374 consecutive patients with leptospirosis who were admitted to tertiary hospitals in Fortaleza, Brazil. All patients had a diagnosis of severe leptospirosis (Weil's disease).

Renal tubular dysfunction in sickle cell disease.

Background/aims: Kidney abnormalities are one of the main chronic complications of sickle cell disease (SCD). The aim of this study is to investigate the occurrence of renal tubular abnormalities among patients with SCD.

Methods: This is a prospective study with 26 SCD adult patients in Brazil.

Evaluation of renal function in patients with psoriasis using immunobiologicals.

The aim of this study was to evaluate renal function in patients with psoriasis using immunobiologicals. A prospective study was conducted with 15 patients with confirmed diagnosis of psoriasis who were starting to use immunobiologicals. The mean age was 41 ± 11 years, with 60% females.

Comparative analysis of pediatric and adult visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare clinical manifestations, laboratory data, morbidity and mortality between adults and children with visceral leishmaniasis, with a focus on kidney function.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study with 432 patients with visceral leishmaniasis diagnosed at 1 center in the northeast of Brazil. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to age (>21 years and ≤ 21 years old).

Interaction of MTHFR C677T and A1298C, and MTR A2756G gene polymorphisms in breast cancer risk in a population in Northeast Brazil.

Polymorphisms in genes encoding enzymes of folate metabolism are a focus of breast cancer risk studies due of the role of these enzymes in DNA methylation, synthesis, and repair. MTHFR, encoding for 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, is one of the most studied genes in this regard, but findings are controversial, and the majority of studies have analyzed polymorphisms individually. In this case control study, we examined the combination of the polymorphisms MTHFR C677T and A1298C with MTR A2756G, where MTR, methionine synthase, is an important enzyme of the folate cycle in the methylation pathway.