The Influence of Fluoxetine on the Sensorimotor Function of the Sciatic Nerve in Wistar Rats after Axonotmesis: An Experimental Animal Model.

Background: Fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant, raises extracellular serotonin levels and promotes angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Numerous animal models have shown its beneficial effects on recovery from peripheral nerve injury.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to analyze the influence of fluoxetine on the sensory-motor function recovery of the sciatic nerve in Wistar rats after axonotmesis.

GLP-1 receptor agonists for Parkinson's disease: An updated meta-analysis.

Introduction: Treatments for Parkinson's disease (PD) focus on symptom reduction through dopaminergic therapies, without clear evidence of disease-modifying effects. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists may reduce neuroinflammation by decreasing microglia activation in PD. Clinical trials suggest these agents have disease-modifying potential in PD.

Cluster headache and galcanezumab: the first real-world Brazilian study and an expert consensus on its use among other treatments.

Objective: To present the first Brazilian real-world results with galcanezumab and provide a consensus expert opinion on the prophylactic treatment of cluster headache (CH) in Brazil.

Methods: The first part of the study (real-world results) was observational, prospective, uncontrolled, and descriptive. A sample of 44 consecutive patients with episodic or chronic CH were evaluated and treated in a traditional tertiary clinic from March 2020 to June 2024.

Topiramate Inhibits Capsaicin-Induced Mast Cell Degranulation and CGRP Release in Rat Dura Mater.

Background/objectives: Migraine is a disease that stands out for its high prevalence and socioeconomic costs. It involves the entire trigeminovascular system, the signaling substances, and their targets. However, the role of meningeal mast cells in migraine is still unclear.

Practical techniques for safely removing long-term implanted ventricular catheters to minimize bleeding.

Introduction: Removing ventricular catheters, particularly those implanted for extended periods, poses significant challenges for neurosurgeons due to potential complications such as bleeding from adhesions to the ependyma or choroid plexus.

Objective: This study aimed to review various techniques for safely removing ventricular catheters, emphasizing methods that minimize the risk of hemorrhagic complications.

Methods: A comprehensive narrative review focused on techniques developed and documented in the literature for safely detaching ventricular catheters adhered to brain structures.

Morphometric Analysis of the Retrolabyrinthine Approach to the Posterior Fossa.

Introduction: The retrolabyrinthine approach provides shorter working distance and less cerebellar retraction compared with the retrosigmoid approach to the internal acoustic canal (IAC) and cerebellopontine angle cistern. However, exposure of the ventral surface of the brainstem and petroclival region may be restricted. Trautmann's triangle (TT), an area intimately related to this region, demonstrates significant anatomical variability, which may adversely affect the ease of the approach.

Brazilian Portuguese translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and content validation of the pediatric lower urinary tract symptom score.

Background: Early screening instruments for professionals are important to reduce the cost and time of diagnosing pediatric lower urinary tract dysfunction. This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate pediatric lower urinary tract symptom scores.

Methods: This methodological study was conducted in 2019 in two phases: translation and cross-cultural adaptation, and content validation.

Anatomical Implications of Chiari I and Basilar Invagination (Type B) in the IV Ventricle and Cisterna Magna.

Objective: To analyze the anatomical changes of the IV ventricle and cisterna magna in the Chiari malformation I (CMI) and basilar invagination (type B).

Methods: This is a controlled study with 161 exams of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of adults grouped into control (n = 37), basilar invagination (BI; n = 31), Chiari malformation I (CMI; n = 37), and CMI+BI (n = 56). The MRIs were analyzed using the visualization software Osirix (Pixmeo, Bernex, Geneva, version 3.

Computed Tomography Assessment of the Retrolabyrinthine Approach.

Introduction This study aimed to evaluate preoperative radiological assessments of the retrolabyrinthine approach to identify and describe anatomical constraints that may anticipate a more challenging situation for neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists specialized in skull base surgery. Materials and methods The study included 75 adult patients who underwent high-resolution computed tomography angiography scans of the head, with the aim of analyzing the side of the dominance of the sigmoid sinus (SS), the level of pneumatization of the mastoid portion of the temporal bone, and the height of the jugular bulb. Results The results showed that dominant SS and type 2 jugular bulbs were more common on the right side, while smaller type 1 bulbs were significantly more common on the left.

Decompressive craniectomy: Comparative analysis between surgical time and better prognosis.

Background: Malignant ischemic stroke is characterized by the involvement of 2/3 of the area of the middle cerebral artery, associated with cerebral edema, intracranial hypertension (ICH) and cerebral herniation, generating high morbidity and mortality. Over the years, several therapies have been studied in an attempt to reverse or reduce the damage caused by this vascular disorder, including decompressive craniectomy (DC), a surgical technique reserved for cases that evolve with refractory ICH.

Methods: This study seeks to perform a comparative analysis on the effectiveness of decompressive craniectomy using four randomized clinical trials and the results found in the retrospective study conducted in a neurosurgical reference center between 2010 and 2018.

Storage and purification adaptations for the isolation of total RNA from the dura mater.

Background: RNA extraction is a step that precedes several molecular techniques. The fibrous tissue, more specifically the dura mater, has several limitations in routine protocols, and lacks optimization protocols to overcome these problems.

Objective: To test stock reagents and purification kits, optimizing commercial kit protocols for RNA extraction from the dura mater.

Investigating the Effects of Differential Learning on Golfers' Pitching Performance as a Function of Handicap.

Traditionally, golf instruction has been oriented toward imitation of role models, guided by errors that surround a channel of supposedly correct repetition. Recent motor learning approaches relying on the dynamics of living systems suggest the inclusion of additional noise during practice for supporting players' movement exploration and improving adaptability that in consequence will lead to increased performance. While the effectiveness of this approach has now been demonstrated in many sports, research exploring the effects of differential learning (DL) in golf is scarce, especially when considering different shot distances and players with various handicap levels.

Diffusion of Technology in the Teaching of Neuroanatomy in Times of Pandemic: A Medical and Academic Perspective on Learning.

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused major changes in many sectors of society worldwide. The issue of medical education stands out since it had to adapt to the rules of social isolation, ensuing discussions about the computerization of teaching methodology, particularly in neuroanatomy. In particular, the latter showed satisfactory adaptability to new technologies and highly promising learning results.

Predicting SARS-CoV-2 Variant Spread in a Completely Seropositive Population Using Semi-Quantitative Antibody Measurements in Blood Donors.

SARS-CoV-2 serologic surveys estimate the proportion of the population with antibodies against historical variants, which nears 100% in many settings. New approaches are required to fully exploit serosurvey data. Using a SARS-CoV-2 anti-Spike (S) protein chemiluminescent microparticle assay, we attained a semi-quantitative measurement of population IgG titers in serial cross-sectional monthly samples of blood donations across seven Brazilian state capitals (March 2021−November 2021).

Case Report: Pott's Edematous Tumor: Complicated Frontal Sinusitis - An Unremembered Diagnosis.

Pott's Puffy tumor, also called Pott's edematous tumor (PET), is a subperiosteal abscess of the frontal bone, associated with osteomyelitis of the frontal bone. In this paper, we report the case of a 16-year-old patient who presented with headache associated with progressive forehead swelling and fever. Clinical and imaging exams pointed to the hypothesis of PET associated with brain abscess.

Characteristics of residency programs and residents' learning experience in Brazil: a multispecialty, nation-wide study.

Factors associated with the optimal physician resident learning are yet to be fully understood. We aimed to correlate the characteristics of residency programs with the learning perception of residents. This was a cross-sectional study using an online structured questionnaire published on social networks, enrolling physician residents from almost all specialties in Brazil.

Brain ventricles, CSF and cognition: a narrative review.

The brain ventricles are structures that have been related to cognition since antiquity. They are essential components in the development and maintenance of brain functions. The aging process runs with the enlargement of ventricles and is related to a less selective blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier and then a more toxic cerebrospinal fluid environment.

Individual and residency program factors related to depression, anxiety and burnout in physician residents - a Brazilian survey.

Background: Psychological distress is common among medical trainees. This study aimed to assess the frequency of depression, anxiety and burnout among physician residents and their association with both individual and residency program-related factors.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study applying an online survey in a national-wide sample of medical residents from Brazil.

Decompressive Craniectomy for Malignant Ischemic Stroke: An Institutional Experience of 145 Cases in a Brazilian Medical Center.

Background: Malignant ischemic stroke (MIS) occurs in a subgroup of patients with cerebrovascular accident who sustain massive or significant cerebral infarction. It is characterized by neurological deterioration owing to progressive edema, raised intracranial pressure, and cerebral herniation. Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is a surgical technique that can be used to treat select cases of this condition in the presence of medically refractory intracranial hypertension.

Histomorphometry of mast cells in the convexity of human intracranial dura mater.

Mast cells, known as pro-inflammatory effector cells, are immunocytes present in the meninges and may be involved in the pathophysiology of migraine. This study aims to evaluate the histomorphometric parameters of mast cells located in the convexity of the human intracranial dura mater. For this, samples of intracranial dura mater from eight human fresh cadavers were collected between 8- and 24-h post-mortem.

The anatomy of the brain - learned over the centuries.

This article reports the evolution and consolidation of the knowledge of neuroanatomy through the analysis of its history. Thus, we propose to describe in a historical review to summarize the main theories and concepts that emerged throughout brain anatomy history and understand how the socio-historical context can reflect on the nature of scientific knowledge. Therefore, among the diverse scientists, anatomists, doctors, and philosophers who were part of this history, there was a strong influence of the studies of Claudius Galen (AD 129-210), Leonardo da Vinci (1452- 1519), Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564), Franciscus Sylvius (1614-1672), Luigi Rolando (1773-1831), Pierre Paul Broca (1824-1880), Carl Wernicke (1848-1905), Korbinian Brodmann (1868-1918), Wilder Penfield (1891-1976), Mahmut Gazi Yasargil (1925), and Albert Loren Rhoton Jr.