Brain magnetic resonance imaging features in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders patients with or without aquaporin-4 antibody in a Latin American population.

Introduction: There is scarce evidence comparing the behavior in magnetic resonance (MRI) between positive and negative aquaporin-4 antibody neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (P-NMOSD and NNMOSD, respectively). The aim of this study was to describe and compare MRI features through a quantitative and qualitative analysis between P-NMOSD and NNMOSD patients in a cohort from Latin American (LATAM) patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the MRI and medical records of NMOSD patients as defined by the 2015 validated diagnostic criteria, and with at least 3 years of follow-up from disease onset (first symptom).

Clinical features and prognosis of late-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in a Latin American cohort.

Background: We aimed to assess the clinical, paraclinical, imaging and prognostic features of patients with late-onset neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (LO-NMOSD; ≥ 50 years at disease onset) LO-NMOSD, compared with early onset-NMOSD (EO-NMOSD, ≤ 49 years at disease onset), in Latin American (LATAM).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with NMOSD, as defined using the 2015 validated diagnostic criteria. We included patients from Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela.

Brain and spinal MRI features distinguishing MS from different AQP4 antibody serostatus NMOSD at disease onset in a cohort of Latin American patients.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) previously used criteria (Matthews's criteria, MC) for differentiating multiple sclerosis (MS) from neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) in Caucasian and non-Caucasian populations (Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela) with positive (P-NMOSD), negative (N-NMOSD), and unknown (U-NMOSD) aquaporin-4 antibody serostatus at disease onset and to assess the added diagnostic value of spinal cord MRI in these populations.

Methods: We reviewed medical records, and MRIs were assessed by two blinded evaluators and were scored using MC. Short-segment transverse myelitis (STM) was added as a new criterion.

Central Nervous System Idiopathic Inflammatory Demyelinating Disorders in South Americans: A Descriptive, Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study.

The idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease (IIDD) spectrum has been investigated among different populations, and the results have indicated a low relative frequency of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) among multiple sclerosis (MS) cases in whites (1.2%-1.5%), increasing in Mestizos (8%) and Africans (15.

Activation of upregulated angiotensin II type 2 receptors decreases carotid pulse pressure in rats with suprarenal abdominal aortic coarctation.

Our aim was to determine whether angiotensin type 2 receptors (AT2R) are involved in the depression of carotid pulse pressure (PP) in rats with suprarenal aortic coarctation (SrC). We tested the effects of losartan, PD123319, and CGP42112 on PP in SrC and Sham-operated anesthetized rats. PP increased in SrC rats.

Acute intravenous injection and short-term oral administration of N(G) -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester to the rat provoke increased pressor responses to agonists and hypertension, but not inhibition of acetylcholine-induced hypotensive responses.

In experiments in vivo, we studied whether the endothelial dysfunction induced by nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibition is simultaneously or sequentially manifested as a reduced level of endothelium-dependent agonist-induced vasodilatation, an increased responsiveness to vasoconstrictors, and hypertension. Vascular responses to acetylcholine, phenylephrine, and angiotensin II were measured in pithed rats after acute intravenous injection (100 mg/kg) and short-term oral administration of N(G) -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 60 mg/kg per day) for 1 and 3 days (L-NAME(1d) and L-NAME(3d), respectively). Pithed rats were chosen because drug-induced cardiovascular responses reflect only peripheral effects.

Microlithiasis of the epididymis and the rete testis.

Testicular microlithiasis is a well-defined clinical and pathologic entity easily diagnosed through testicular echography; however, its association with cancer and infertility is now under debate. Many efforts have been done in recent years to clarify the spectrum of lesions observed in testicular microlithiasis, but no published data as to the existence of a possible microlithiasis of the epididymis and the rete testis have been found. We have observed microlithiasis of the epididymis and the rete testis in surgical (8 epididymis and 6 testis) and autopsy specimens (12 cases).