Chronic axonal-demyelinating polyradicular neuropathy associated with mycosis fungoides: a case report.

Case of a 58-year-old patient diagnosed as having mycosis fungoides (MF) who presented with sensory ataxia, limbs weakness and neurophysiological and laboratory signs indicative of autoimmune chronic mixed axonal-demyelinating sensory-motor polyradicular neuropathy. The possibility that MF may be associated with an immunomediated peripheral neuropathy, even in the absence of a direct invasion of the nerves and widespread visceral involvement, should be considered.

The lower limb flexion reflex in humans.

The flexion or flexor reflex (FR) recorded in the lower limbs in humans (LLFR) is a widely investigated neurophysiological tool. It is a polysynaptic and multisegmental spinal response that produces a withdrawal of the stimulated limb and resembles (having several features in common) the hind-paw FR in animals. The FR, in both animals and humans, is mediated by a complex circuitry modulated at spinal and supraspinal level.

Neurophysiological approach to central pain modulation in primary headaches.

The study of CNS pain-modulating pathways has led to important discoveries about the role of central nociceptive structures such as PAG and hypothalamus in the pathophysiology of episodic and chronic primary headaches. Functional neuroimaging studies have revealed that primary headaches are characterised by different patterns of activation of central pain modulatory structures. A future model of headache pathophysiology investigating the contribution of CNS pain-modulating pathways will probably increase our understanding of pain processing in primary headaches.

[Competence approach in teaching-learning process].

The work relates the experience of the teaching-learning process based on the competence approach. The detail of that teaching process reveals the authors concern with the few occurrence of studies about the practical development of the competences theme in the Educational Practice and, point out to the need of more studies production in that dimension.

Quality of life in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

The authors evaluated quality of life in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease by administering the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire to 121 Italian patients. Patients scored lower on all of the SF-36 scales compared with Italian normative data. Scores were lower in nonworking vs working patients, women vs men, and older vs younger patients, but not between patients with demyelinating vs axonal forms or between patients who had undergone orthopedic foot surgery vs those who had not.

Apical and basolateral 4F2hc and the amino acid exchange of L-DOPA in renal LLC-PK1 cells.

The present study aimed to examine the presence and define the role of 4F2hc, a glycoprotein associated with the LAT2 amino acid transporter, in L-DOPA handling by LLC-PK1 cells. For this purpose we have measured the activity of the apical and basolateral inward and outward transport of [14C] L-DOPA in cell monolayers and examined the influence of 4F2hc antisense oligonucleotides on [14C] L-DOPA handling. The basal-to-apical transepithelial flux of [14C] L-DOPA progressively increased with incubation time and was similar to the apical-to-basal transepithelial flux.

Enhanced trigemino-cervical-spinal reflex recovery cycle in pain-free migraineurs.

Objective: To evaluate trigemino-cervical-spinal reflexes (TCSRs) in a group of migraine patients during the pain-free period.

Background: TCRSs are part of a complex nocifensive response involving the cervical and the upper limb muscles, and are modulated by supraspinal inhibitory pathways; it may, thus, be possible to use TCRSs to explore the trigeminal system in migraineurs.

Methods: A total of 43 migraine patients without aura (MWoA, 32 patients) or with typical aura (MWA, 11 patients) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects took part in the study.

Myoclonus of the scapula after acute long thoracic nerve lesion: a case report.

We describe a patient who presented myoclonus in the left scapula 3 months after a traumatic lesion of the left long thoracic nerve. Myoclonic activity was recorded as pseudorhythmic electromyographic bursts repeated at a frequency of 2 to 4 Hz, each lasting between 100 and 200 msec, in the left serratus-dorsalis muscle region, trapezius, and deltoid muscles. A combination of peripheral and central mechanisms may have induced the myoclonus in this case.

Entrapment neuropathy in patients with spastic cerebral palsy.

We performed nerve conduction and needle electromyographic tests in 29 patients with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) and severe limb deformities. Nerve conduction abnormalities were detected in 32 of 400 sensory or motor nerves, while 11 of 29 patients (37.9%) showed abnormal nerve conduction, indicating one or more entrapment neuropathies.

Abnormal head nociceptive withdrawal reaction to facial nociceptive stimuli in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Trigemino-cervical-spinal reflexes (TCSRs) are complex brainstem stereotyped nociceptive responses involved in a defensive withdrawal reaction of the head from facial nociceptive stimuli.

Objective: The present study was undertaken to collect data on possible TCSR abnormalities in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and investigate any correlation with motor signs and L-DOPA administration.

Methods: TCSRs were registered from the semispinalis capitis and biceps brachii muscles after electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve in 18 patients with PD and 24 controls.

Use of cyanoacrylate in skin closure for ovariohysterectomy in a population control programme.

N-butyl-cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive was evaluated as a skin closure material in a population control programme. Fifty-two female cats underwent ovariohysterectomy: skin closure of 25 of those cats was undertaken with nylon (3-0) and in 27 with the adhesive. Twenty-three cats spent the postoperative period confined in cages and 29 were free within a 50-square-metre fenced area.

Spinal myoclonus with giant somatosensory evoked potentials and enhanced long-loop reflex: a case report.

We describe a patient with an ischaemic lesion of the cervical spinal cord who presented with clinical evidence of stimulus-sensitive, multisegmental myoclonic jerks restricted to the truncal and proximal limb muscles and accompanied by electrophysiological features (giant somatosensory evoked potentials and enhanced long-loop reflex) of cortical myoclonus. We hypothesize that these features might result from a loss of inhibitory influences on the sensory input to cortical structures: a concomitant contribution of spinal and cortical hyperexcitability seems to have played a crucial role in inducing myoclonus in our patient.

Effects of diffuse noxious inhibitory controls on temporal summation of the RIII reflex in humans.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNICs) on the temporal summation of the nociceptive flexion reflex (RIII reflex) in humans. Recordings were obtained from 36 healthy adults (16 M, 20 F), and the area and temporal summation threshold (TST) of the RIII reflex were measured. The subjective intensity of the painful sensation was rated on an 11-point visual analogue scale (VAS).

Sanitary conditions of a colony of urban feral cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) in a zoological garden of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The colony of urban stray cats living in the Rio de Janeiro zoological garden was studied in order to develop a population and health control program. As many cats as possible were captured during two months (47 animals) and were classified according to gender, age, weight and coat markings. They were submitted to a general health evaluation, examined for the presence of ectoparasites and sent to a surgical neutering program.

Cloning and gene silencing of LAT2, the L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) transporter, in pig renal LLC-PK1 epithelial cells.

Organ-specific overexpression of type 2 L-amino acid transporter (LAT2) in the kidney of the spontaneous hypertensive rat (SHR), accompanied by an enhanced ability to take up L-DOPA, may constitute the basis for the enhanced renal production of dopamine in the SHR in an attempt overcome the deficient dopamine-mediated natriuresis. To understand the physiological role of LAT2-mediated L-DOPA handling, we used 21-nucleotide small interfering RNA duplexes (siRNA) to specifically suppress LAT2 expression in LLC-PK1 cells, a cell line that retains several properties of proximal tubular epithelial cells and takes up L-DOPA largely through Na+-independent transporters. After cloning the LLC-PK1 LAT2 gene, one target region of LAT2 mRNA (nt 97-117) was selected by scanning the length of the LAT2 gene for AA-dinucleotide sequences and downstream 19 nucleotides.

High- and low-affinity transport of L-leucine and L-DOPA by the hetero amino acid exchangers LAT1 and LAT2 in LLC-PK1 renal cells.

The present study examined the functional characteristics of the inward and outward L-[14C]DOPA and L-[14C]leucine transporters in LLC-PK1 cells. Uptake was initiated by the addition of Hanks' medium with a given concentration of L-[14C]DOPA or L-[14C]leucine. Saturation experiments were performed in cells incubated for 6 min with 0.

A survey of gastrointestinal helminths in cats of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in 135 cats over 1 year of age and inhabiting the metropolitan region of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was investigated by necropsy. These animals had two distinct origins: 99 cats (29 males and 70 females) were derived by capture in public areas (feral/stray) and 36 (12 males and 24 females) from shelters. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites was 89.

Over-expression of renal LAT1 and LAT2 and enhanced L-DOPA uptake in SHR immortalized renal proximal tubular cells.

Background: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) may have an increased renal production of dopamine. LAT2 promotes L-DOPA renal uptake, and this may determine the rate of dopamine synthesis. The present study evaluated L-DOPA inward and outward transfer in immortalized renal proximal tubular epithelial cells of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY).

Organ-specific overexpression of renal LAT2 and enhanced tubular L-DOPA uptake precede the onset of hypertension.

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) might have increased renal production of dopamine. L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) uptake in renal epithelial cells is promoted through the type 2 L-type amino acid transporter (LAT2), and this might rate-limit the synthesis of renal dopamine. The present study evaluated L-DOPA uptake in isolated renal proximal tubules of SHR and normotensive controls (Wistar-Kyoto rats [WKY]).

Trigemino-cervical-spinal reflexes in humans.

Introduction: Electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve (SON) induces late reflex responses in the neck muscles; these responses are hypothesised to be polysynaptic reflexes participating in a defensive withdrawal retraction of the head from facial nociceptive stimuli. Such responses may extend to the proximal muscle of the arms.

Objective: (1) to investigate reflexes in the upper limb muscles (trigemino-spinal responses, TSR) and their relationship with trigemino-cervical responses (TCR); and (2) to identify the nociceptive component of such reflexes and their functional significance.

Muscular cramps: proposals for a new classification.

Muscle cramps are involuntary, painful, sudden contractions of the skeletal muscles. They are present in normal subjects under certain conditions (during a strong voluntary contraction, sleep, sports, pregnancy) and in several pathologies such as myopathies, neuropathies, motoneuron diseases, metabolic disorders, hydroelectrolyte imbalances or endocrine pathologies. There has been considerable uncertainty in the literature regarding the classification and nomenclature of muscle cramps, both because the term "cramp" is used to indicate a variety of clinical features of muscles, leading to its use as an imprecise "umbrella" term that includes stiffness, contractures and local pain, and because the spectrum of the diseases in which it appears is wide.

Sympathetic skin response evoked by laser skin stimulation.

The objective of this study was to evoke sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) in healthy subjects using laser stimulation and to compare these responses with those induced by conventional electrical stimuli. Twenty healthy subjects were investigated. SSRs were obtained using electrical and laser stimuli delivered to the wrist controlateral to the recording site.

Psychophysiological approach in Parkinson's disease: L-dopa effects on preprogramming and control activity.

To investigate whether preprogramming (Bereitschaftspotential, BP) and control activity (skilled performance positivity, SPP) in a complex task are sensitive to L-dopa, movement related potentials (MRPs) were recorded in 12 non-demented Parkinson's disease (PD) patients before and after acute L-dopa administration, and in 17 control subjects. After L-dopa administration, the PD patients scored a significantly higher percentage of correct performances ( p<0.05), linked to a decreased BP amplitude ( p<0.

Effect of painful heterotopic stimulation on the cutaneous silent period in the upper limbs.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of heterotopic painful stimulation (HPS) on the cutaneous silent period (CSP) and the withdrawal flexor reflex (WFR) in the upper limbs, in an attempt to better identify the nociceptive component of the CSP and its functional relationship with the flexor reflex.

Methods: The CSP at different stimulus intensities, the WFR and the H/M ratio were studied in 12 healthy adults. Neurophysiological measurements were recorded in the following 4 conditions: (1) control session; (2) non-painful session (dipping hand in water at 25 degrees C); (3) painful (cold pressor test, CPT); and (4) after-effect (3-8 min after taking hand out of water at 5-6 degrees C).

Electromyographic mixed nerve and cutaneous silent period in evaluating the A-delta fibres in a patient with hereditary sensory-autonomic neuropathy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate A-delta fibre function in a patient with hereditary sensory-autonomic neuropathy (HSAN). We used the mixed and cutaneous silent period techniques in addition to a conventional electromyographic investigation in a patient with type 2 HSAN, a rare disease characterised by wide-spread sensory and variable autonomic dysfunction caused by incomplete development of sensory and autonomic neurons. Whereas the stimulation of one digital nerve did not show any evidence of silent period in either the left or the right hand, the simultaneous stimulation of two digital nerves, as well as the stimulation of a mixed nerve, revealed a measurable delayed and shortened silent period.