Zika and the Eye: Pieces of a Puzzle.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus mainly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes from Aedes genus. Other ways of transmission include the perinatal and sexual routes, blood transfusion, and laboratory exposure. Although the first human cases were registered in 1952 in African countries, outbreaks were only reported since 2007, when entire Pacific islands were affected.

Predictors of Recurrent Falls in People with Parkinson's Disease and Proposal for a Predictive Tool.

Background: Falls are a debilitating problem for people with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objectives: To compare clinical and functional characteristics of non-fallers, single and recurrent fallers (≥2 falls); to determine predictors of time to second fall; and to develop a predictive tool for identifying people with PD at different categories of falls risk.

Methods: Participants (n = 229) were assessed by disease-specific, self-report and balance measures and followed up for 12 months.

INFANTS WITH CONGENITAL ZIKA SYNDROME AND OCULAR FINDINGS FROM SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL: SPREAD OF INFECTION.

Background/purpose: To describe the ocular findings of two infants with congenital Zika syndrome born in São Paulo state, Brazil, outside the primary outbreak region.

Methods: Two female infants with congenital Zika syndrome were submitted to a complete screening for infectious diseases, as well as ocular examination, fundus photography, and optical coherence tomography of the retina. One of the infants was submitted to ocular ultrasound.

The Role of MAPT Haplotype H2 and Isoform 1N/4R in Parkinsonism of Older Adults.

Background And Objective: Recently, we have shown that the Parkinson's disease (PD) susceptibility locus MAPT (microtubule associated protein tau) is associated with parkinsonism in older adults without a clinical diagnosis of PD. In this study, we investigated the relationship between parkinsonian signs and MAPT transcripts by assessing the effect of MAPT haplotypes on alternative splicing and expression levels of the most common isoforms in two prospective clinicopathologic studies of aging.

Materials And Methods: using regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, study and neuropathology, we evaluated 976 subjects with clinical, genotyping and brain pathology data for haplotype analysis.

Comparison of Self-report and Performance-Based Balance Measures for Predicting Recurrent Falls in People With Parkinson Disease: Cohort Study.

Background: Balance confidence and fear of falling are factors associated with recurrent falls in people with Parkinson disease (PD). However, the accuracy for predicting falls on the basis of self-report measures has not been widely investigated.

Objective: The study objectives were: (1) to compare the accuracy of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) with that of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Functional Reach Test (FRT), and Timed "Up & Go" Test (TUG) for predicting recurrent falls in people with PD and (2) to explore the ability of combinations of up to 3 tests to predict recurrent falls.

Disability is an Independent Predictor of Falls and Recurrent Falls in People with Parkinson's Disease Without a History of Falls: A One-Year Prospective Study.

Background: Predictors of falls in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) who have not previously fallen are yet to be identified.

Objectives: We aimed to identify predictors of all falls and recurrent falls in people with PD who had not fallen in the previous year and to explore the timing of falls in a 12-month follow-up period.

Methods: Participants with PD (n = 130) were assessed by disease-specific, self-report and balance measures.

Tuberculin skin testing in inflammatory bowel disease patients from an endemic area of Brazil.

Objective: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder involving the gastrointestinal tract. Immunosuppressive drugs are usually prescribed to treat IBD patients, and this treatment can lead to tuberculosis reactivation. This paper aimed to analyze tuberculin skin test (TST) results in IBD patients at a reference center in Brazil.

Pulmonary effects after partial liver ischemia and reperfusion: experimental model.

Objective: To describe an experimental model of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury with systemic manifestations, represented by pulmonary involvement, which may be used by those who intend to comprehend this phenomenon.

Methods: Fourteen Male Wistar rats (200-250g) were allocated to two groups, G1 with eight rats submitted only to laparotomy and G2, six rats submitted to hepatic ischemia and reperfusion. Hepatic (serum aminotransferases, mitochondrial respiration, histology) and pulmonary (Evans blue test) functions were analyzed.

Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors for lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review.

Objective: • To review the evidence in support of the effectiveness of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: • Relevant studies were identified by performing a literature search using MEDLINE® and The Cochrane Library®. The criteria used during the search included randomized, placebo-controlled trials of treatment for LUTS secondary to BPH using the International Prostate Symptom Score as an outcome measure.

Initial experience with 'inverted U' staged buccal mucosa graft (bracka) for hypospadias repair.

Objective: To describe a modification of the Bracka procedure ('inverted U'), used to enlarge the graft and diminish the risk of graft contracture compromising the subsequent urethral reconstruction.

Material And Methods: Inverted U Bracka procedure was performed in 10 children in whom previous hypospadias correction had failed. The surgical steps are identical to the original Bracka procedure.