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Objective  The aim of the present study is to evaluate the artery of Adamkiewicz by multidetector computed tomography angiography (MCTA) in a Brazilian population. Methods  Two independent observers evaluated 86 coronary MCTA examinations. The variables studied included the identification of the artery of Adamkiewicz at its origin level, and its entry side in the spine. Results  The artery of Adamkiewicz was detected in 71 (82.5%) examinations. The origin level was identified between the 9th and 11th thoracic vertebrae (T9 and T11) in 56 (79.2%) patients. In 65 (91.5%) patients, the artery was on the left side. The identification of the artery of Adamkiewicz using MCTA showed high reproducibility. Conclusions  Our results were consistent with the literature regarding the identification of the artery of Adamkiewicz using MCTA, suggesting that this technique should be considered as an option to recognize this structure. In addition, we found that the distribution of the artery of Adamkiewicz in the Brazilian population is similar to that of other populations, that is, its most common origin is at the left side, between the 8th and 12th thoracic vertebrae (T8-T12)., Competing Interests: Conflito de Interesses Os autores declaram não haver conflito de interesses.

Objective: To establish reference values for measures of blood flow velocities and impedance indexes in healthy individuals through conventional transcranial Doppler (TCD) and to observe their variations in relation to the age and sex., Method: 88 asymptomatic volunteers were examined without antecedents of cardiac, peripheral or cerebrovascular diseases. The TCD were accomplished by the same examiner. The middle, anterior and posterior cerebral arteries were studied through the temporal acoustic window and the vertebral and basilar arteries through the suboccipital acoustic window. The values of mean velocity (MV), peak-systolic velocity (PSV), final diastolic velocity (FDV), resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of each examined arterial segment were filed., Results: The reference limits found by us were similar to the described by other authors for all of the studied parameters. There was tendency of the flow velocities decrease and of the impedance indexes increase with moving forward of the age. The values of velocities in the women were superior to the found in men., Conclusion: TCD was shown useful in the evaluation of hemodynamic cerebral for our population. Our results are similar to the other studies, so much in the reference values as in relationship with the age and the sex.

Forty two patients (22 adults and 20 children or adolescents) with cerebral dysrithmia were included in a therapeutic trial using barbexaclone: 28 patients suffered from grand mal crises, 2 had associated GM and petit mal and 12 showed disturbances of behaviour without clinical crises. The patients were observed from 6 to 13 months. Four patients failed to complete the trial due to various side effects; 25 patients with GM and 11 with behaviour disturbances showed a very good response; two patients with associated petit mal failed to show any improvement. Side effects such as insomnia and irritability were seen in 8 patients. The authors concluded that barbexaclone is an excellent therapeutic agent in the treatment of grand mal and in patients with behaviour disturbances without convulsive crises.