Search

Copyright of Polis (07176554) is the property of Polis - Revista Academica Universidad Bolivariana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Chronic subdural hematomas (CSDHs) are common in neurosurgical practice. There are no publications that report large series of the epidemiological characteristics of this pathology in Brazil. The purpose is to describe a large series of surgical cases and analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with CSDH admitted into Neurosurgical Services at the Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil from 2006 to 2011. Age, sex, clinical feature, etiology, surgical procedure, side, clinical outcome, and recurrence were reviewed. Statistical tests were used to analyze data, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The series included 778 patients. There were 643 (82.6%) male patients with a mean age of 64.3 ± 15.9 (range, 14-93) years. The principal symptom was headache (58.9%). The most frequent origin was a fall (282 cases, 36.2%), but the origin remained unclear in 281 (36.1%) patients. Mild head injury occurred in 540 (69.4%) cases. Burr holes with drainage were used as the surgical procedure in 96.5% patients, and 687 (88.3%) patients had a positive outcome. Mortality was 0%. Recurrence was observed in 42 cases. Conclusions: The occurrence of CSDHs is more common in elderly men. Treatment with burr holes and drainage is a simple and safe method for treatment. In our experience, CSDH presents decreased morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Envenomation by snakes of the genus Bothrops is characterized by local pain, systemic bleeding, tachycardia, acute renal failure, as well as swelling and redness caused by the enzymatic and proteolytic action of venom. The toxicological and histological effects of the venom of Bothrops itapetiningae, one of the smallest pit vipers in Brazil, were characterized using BALB/c male mice as models. Venom impacts on liver, kidney, and plasma enzymes that were evaluated at six concentrations. We observed lethality, toxicity, edema forming, and hemorrhagic symptoms such as polymorphonuclear infiltration, hydropic degeneration, and ischemic necrosis. Moreover, increases of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatise, and creatinine levels were observed in the presence of venom. We assessed LD50, minimal hemorrhagic dose, minimal edematogenic activity, and platelet aggregation, improving our knowledge of B. itapetiningae venom toxic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the intensity and spatial distribution of deep vertical mixing of abyssal zones within the Brazil Basin. Estimation of deep vertical mixing rates; Derivation of vertical fluxes from large-scale temperature and density; Significance of the relationship between turbulent dissipation and bathymetric roughness.

Reports on the progress of the observational program, the Deep Basin Experiment, which is part of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment. Description of water flow in the deep Brazil Basin; Existence of a deep western boundary current (DWBC); Location for eddy formation and apparent flow away from the boundary into the interior.

The chemical composition, [Mg0.015 (2),Al1.20 (2),Si2.99 (1),Ca3.00 (2),Ti0.027 (3),Mn0.017 (3), Fe0.75 (3)]O12 (magnesium alumin­ium silicon calcium titanium manganese iron dodeca­oxide), of a natural garnet collected at Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil was determined by electron microprobe analysis. The structure refinement from X-ray powder data is insensitive to the small amounts of Ti, Mn and Mg. The determined cation distribution using the Rietveld method is {Ca32+}[Al1.338 (8)3+,Fe0.662 (8)3+](Si34+)O122−, which is in agreement with a solid solution of the grossular-andradite series. The arrangement of the cations around the O atom is best described as a highly distorted tetrahedral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bariatric surgery is the only predictable method to obtain weight loss in severe obesity. Poor physical performance of obese individuals may be mediated by the peripheral metaboreflex, which controls blood flow redistribution to exercising muscles. Weight reduction improves exercise capacity through several possible mechanisms that are insufficiently understood. We hypothesized that the metaboreflex is one among the causes of improvement in exercise capacity after weight loss. This study thus aimed to examine the effect of bariatric surgery on exercise performance and metaboreflex., Methods: Severely obese patients were assessed before and 3 months after bariatric surgery. Metaboreflex was evaluated by the technique of selective induction by post-exercise circulatory occlusion (PECO+) after isometric handgrip exercise at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction. The exercise capacity was assessed by 6-min walking test., Results: Seventeen patients completed the protocol. Body mass index decreased from 46.4 ± 2 to 36.6 ± 2 kg/m2 (P < 0.001). The distance walked in 6 min increased from 489 ± 14 to 536 ± 14 m (P < 0.001). The peripheral metaboreflex activity, expressed by the area under the curve of vascular resistance, was lower after than before bariatric surgery (42 ± 5 to 20 ± 4 units, P = 0.003). Heart rate, blood pressure, and vascular resistance were also significantly decreased. The correlation between change in distance walked in 6 min and change in peripheral metaboreflex activity was not significant., Conclusions: Weight loss after bariatric surgery increases exercise capacity and reduces peripheral metaboreflex, heart rate, and blood pressure. Further investigation on the role of metaboreflex regarding mechanisms of exercise capacity of individuals with obesity is warranted.

Two new aporphine alkaloids, N-nitrosoanonaine (1) and N-nitrosoxylopine (2), were isolated from the aerial parts of Duguetia furfuracea, a weed found in several Brazilian regions. Their structures were elucidated by NMR analysis, CHN analysis, CD, IR, and MS data. The single-crystal X-ray structural determination of the structure of 1 was also performed.