Conservative management of pituitary tumor apoplexy.

Pituitary tumor apoplexy is a rare neuroendocrine syndrome resulting, in most cases, from hemorrhage or infarctation of a pre-existing pituitary adenoma. Treatment recommendations vary; some authors advocate urgent surgical decompression of the tumor, whereas others suggest that conservative management can lead to recovery of neuro-ophthalmologic function. We describe two patients with pituitary tumor apoplexy who had clinically non-functioning macroadenomas and hypopituitarism, including hypogonadism.

Trigone ventricular meningiomas: surgical approaches.

Objective: Report our experience with trigone ventricular meningiomas and review the surgical approaches to the trigone.

Method: From 1989 to 2006, six patients with meningiomas of the trigone of the lateral ventricles underwent microsurgical resection. Their clinical features, image, follow up, and surgical approaches were retrospectively analyzed.

European 1: a globally important clonal complex of Mycobacterium bovis.

We have identified a globally important clonal complex of Mycobacterium bovis by deletion analysis of over one thousand strains from over 30 countries. We initially show that over 99% of the strains of M. bovis, the cause of bovine tuberculosis, isolated from cattle in the Republic of Ireland and the UK are closely related and are members of a single clonal complex marked by the deletion of chromosomal region RDEu1 and we named this clonal complex European 1 (Eu1).

Intrasellar chondroid chordoma: a case report.

Chordomas are tumors derived from cells that are remnants of the notochord, particularly from its proximal and distal extremes, they are mainly midline and represent approximately 1% of all malignant bone tumors and 0.1 to 0.2% of intracranial neoplasms.

Comparison of two risk stratification models in elective coronary artery bypass patients.

Objective: To compare the Cleveland Clinical Score and EuroSCORE when evaluating patients submitted to elective CABGS in Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil. METHODS; This was a cohort study of 202 patients given CABGS between January 2006 and March 2007. Surgical risk was categorized according to the Cleveland Clinic Score and the EuroSCORE as low, medium or high.

Changes in functional capacity of patients two years after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Objective: To check changes in the functional capacity of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) by testing six-minute walk test (6MWT) following two years.

Methods: A prospective cohort study where 215 patients were enrolled who underwent CABG, 13 did not meet the criteria for inclusion. 202 patients were evaluated preoperatively, 13 died during hospitalization and 6 in the follow up of two years.

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis: immunoblotting analysis for the detection of IgG subclasses in the diagnosis of symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs.

During a seroepidemiological survey 2004-2006 from areas in Brazil endemic for American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL), serum samples from 10 dogs with ulcerated cutaneous lesions (S-ACL) and 52 asymptomatic dogs (AS-ACL) of unknown age and breed living in areas endemic for ACL were monitored for 1 year for ulcerated cutaneous lesions and immunoblotting using peroxidase-conjugated secondary anti-IgG, anti-IgG1 and anti-IgG2 dog antibodies. We reported that antibodies against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in the sera of 22/52 dogs with asymptomatic disease showed intense reactivity to peptides larger than 66 kDa. We believe that dogs harboring subclinical amastigotes show an immunoblotting profile similar to that of symptomatic animals because a dog with self-healing presented antigens greater than 66 kDa.

Iatrogenic cortical aneurysm post-craniotomy.

Taking into account the number of craniotomies performed every day around the world, iatrogenic aneurysm post-craniotomy is extremely rare with only anecdotal cases reported in literature. We report an iatrogenic aneurysm affecting a cortical vessel which probably developed during dural closure of a conventional craniotomy. The aneurysm was discovered 6 months after surgery on a routine control angiography.

L4-L5-S1 human dermatomes: a clinical, electromyographical, imaging and surgical findings.

There is substantial controversy in literature about human dermatomes. We studied L4, L5, and S1 inferior limb dermatomes by comparing clinical signs and symptoms with conduction studies, electromyographical data, neurosurgical findings, and imaging data from computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After analyzing 60 patients, we concluded that L4 is probably located in the medial aspect of the leg, L5 in the lateral aspect of the leg and foot dorsus, and S1 in the posterior aspect of the backside, tight, leg and plantar foot skin.

C5 and C6 human dermatomes: a clinical, electromyographical, imaging and surgical findings.

There is substantial controversy in literature about human dermatomes. In this work, C5 and C6 superior limb dermatomes were studied. The method consisted of comparing clinical signs and symptoms with conduction studies, electromyographical data, neurosurgical findings, and imaging findings obtained by computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for each patient.

Giant fusiform aneurysm arising from fenestrated posterior cerebral artery and basilar tip variation: case report.

Objective: A giant fusiform aneurysm in the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is rare, as is fenestration of the PCA and basilar apex variation. We describe the angiographic and surgical findings of a giant fusiform aneurysm in the P1-P2 PCA segment associated with PCA bilateral fenestration and superior cerebellar artery double origin.

Clinical Presentation: A 26-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of visual blurring.

Mixed germ cell tumor of the pituitary-hypothalamic region presenting as craniopharyngioma: case report and review of the literature.

Craniopharyngiomas and germ cell tumors (GCT) may affect the pituitary-hypothalamic region during childhood. Although different in origin, their clinical and radiological features may be similar. In this article we present a 5-year-old girl with clinical and radiological findings (computer tomography calcification) that were initially considered as craniopharyngioma.

Corneal power measurements with the Pentacam Scheimpflug camera after myopic excimer laser surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate corneal power measurements by a rotating Scheimpflug camera (Pentacam, Oculus) in eyes that have had myopic excimer laser surgery.

Setting: Private practice, Bologna, Italy.

Methods: This prospective comparative interventional case series comprised 16 eyes of 16 patients who had myopic excimer laser surgery and for whom all perioperative data were available.

Traumatic subdural hygromas: proposed pathogenesis based classification.

Background: Traumatic subdural hygroma (TSHy) is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the subdural space after head injury. It appears to be relatively common, but its onset time and natural history are not well defined. Considered a benign epiphenomenon of trauma, the pathogenesis of TSHy is still unclear and many questions remain unanswered.

A form of dysplasia or a fortuitous association? A cerebral aneurysm inside an arachnoid cyst: case report.

Objective: Although arachnoid cysts and intracranial aneurysms are very common lesions, their association in the same patient is rare. We present a case of a middle cerebral artery aneurysm ruptured into an arachnoid cyst. We found only six cases with intracystic hemorrhage reported in the literature.

Peripapillary detachment in pathologic myopia: Unusual OCT findings.

Purpose: To report an unusual case of myopic peripapillary retinal detachment (PPRD) imaged by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: Observational case report.

Results: OCT showed a nonreflective space between the retinal pigment epithelium and the neurosensory retina with the presence of bridging tissue that could be defined as an outer retinal schisis, which is not typical of myopic PPRD.

The effect of scan diameter on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurement using stratus optic coherence tomography.

Objective: To study how customizing the peripapillary scan diameter on the basis of optic nerve head (ONH) diameter affects retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements using Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: Retinal nerve fiber layer was examined using 1 fixed-diameter circular scan (3.4 mm) and 2 customized-diameter scans (at 0.

Correlation between attempted correction and keratometric refractive index of the cornea after myopic excimer laser surgery.

Purpose: Given that the standard keratometric refractive index of 1.3375 is no longer valid after excimer laser surgery, we aimed to investigate how this value changes postoperatively and if any correlation to the attempted correction exists.

Methods: The pre- and postoperative data of 98 patients who underwent either myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) or LASIK were reviewed.

Traumatic subdural hygroma: five cases with changed density and spontaneous resolution.

Thirty-four consecutive adult patients with subdural traumatic hygroma were analysed for clinical evolution, serial computed tomography scan (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) over a period of several months. Five of the patients presented CT scan and MRI evolution data showing increasing density over a period of 11 days to 6 months post trauma. In these five patients, final clinical and CT scan data were benign, with complete spontaneous resolution.

[Record of Dasypus novemcinctus (Mammalia: Xenarthra) parasited by Tunga terasma (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) in Alegre, State of Espírito Santo, Brazil].

During a survey of Mycobacterium leprae in wild armadillos in the State of Espírito Santo, thirty-four armadillos were captured in the municipality of Alegre (20 degrees 45'S, 41 degrees 29'W, 150m). The armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus were examined by clinical and macroscopic examination. In four armadillos (11.

Corneal melting associated with topical diclofenac use after laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy.

We report a case of corneal melting associated with topically applied preservative-free diclofenac (Voltaren Ofta) after laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy. Keratolysis was detected on day 5; further progression toward perforation was arrested by immediate suspension of diclofenac and prescription of topical dexamethasone with 24-hour patching. At the last follow-up, the visual acuity had improved from counting fingers to 20/20.

Detection and quantification of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in optic disc edema using stratus OCT.

Objective: To investigate the ability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess changes in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in optic disc edema.

Methods: Prospective observational case series in a private eye clinic (Centro Salus). Twelve consecutive eyes (9 patients) with optic disc edema were analyzed, including 6 patients with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, 1 patient with multiple sclerosis-associated papillitis, and 2 patients with bilateral papilledema.