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Cervical deformity, particularly kyphosis, is frequently encountered in surgical practice. While many cases are asymptomatic, some patients may have significant pain and disability. We provide a brief review of the pathophysiology of cervical deformity and the technical aspects of deformity correction in the cervical spine. Anterior techniques reviewed here include anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), anterior corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) and anterior osteotomy (ATO). Posterior techniques include laminectomy and fusion, posterior column osteotomy (PCO) and pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO). This is a fast-evolving field as our understanding of cervical deformity matures and longer-term surgical outcomes are available.

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Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a remodeling process mediated by several growth factors and cytokines. This process has been extensively studied in vitro and with pathologic specimens obtained during surgery for scoliosis or back pain. However, the occurrence and temporal evolution of these molecules during normal aging, particularly in the cervical segment, is not known. Our objective was to study and compare the presence of putative mediators in the IVD of young (<35 years, G1) and elderly (>65 years, G2) presumably asymptomatic individuals. Thirty C4-5 and C5-6 discs and thirty L4-5 and L5-S1 discs per group were collected during the autopsy of individuals whose family members denied a history of neck or back pain. Discs were divided into anterior, central (lumbar only) and posterior sectors for analysis. Immunohistochemistry for TNF-α, IL-1ß, VEGF, NGF-ß, BDNF, TIMP-1, MMP-1, -2 and -3 was performed and reactivity compared between groups and sectors. All of these molecules were detected in every disc sector of both G1 and G2. Most statistical comparisons (25/45, 55.6%) revealed an increase in mediator expression in G2 in relation to G1. Regional differences in the expression of remodeling enzymes were rare; NGF-ß and BDNF had slightly higher expression in the cervical segment of elderly individuals. A senescent profile with elevated VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-3 was observed across most G2 disc regions and were generally elevated from G1. In conclusion, the mere presence of any of the studied molecules inside the IVD cannot be considered pathologic. Expression of remodeling enzymes and inflammatory mediators is relatively similar across different vertebral segments and disc regions leading to a common degenerated pattern, while neurotrophins have slightly higher expression in cervical discs. These findings support the concept that disc remodeling in different segments follows a similar pathway that can be potentially mediated to avoid structural failure.

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The transcondylar variation of the far-lateral, retrosigmoid approach is intended for pathologies in the anterolateral portion of the foramen magnum. That area is more clearly visualized when a fraction of the ipsilateral occipital condyle is removed. In this study, the biomechanical effect of this approach on occiput-C2 rotation was investigated. Our hypothesis was that the biomechanical characteristics are significantly altered following the transcondylar approach. Five human cadaveric upper cervical spine specimens (occiput-C7) were used in the study. Torsional moments were applied from zero to a maximum of 1.5 N m to the left and to the right using a mechanical testing machine. The resulting rotational motions of the O-C1, C1-2, and O-C2 segments were measured in the intact specimen and after a simulated right-sided transcondylar approach with resection of 2/3 of the condyle, confirmed by CT scanning and visual inspection. After the posterior two-thirds of the occipital condyle were removed, the neutral zone (NZ) increased 1.3° to the left and 2° to the right at C0-C1, and 7.4° to the left and 6.2° to the right at C1-2. The cumulative increase in NZ between O and C2 was 8.7° to the left and 8.2° to the right. The transcondylar approach also resulted in significant increases in range of motion (ROM) in axial rotation to both sides in all segments. ROM increased 2.8° to the left and 2.4° to the right between C0 and C1, 7.3° to the left and 5.4° to the right between C1 and C2, and 10.1° to the left and 7.8° to the right between CO and C2. Upon inspection, the area of the occipital condyle where the alar ligament attaches had been completely removed in three of the five specimens. Removing the posteromedial two-thirds of one occipital condyle alters the normal axial rotational movements of the craniovertebral junction on both sides. The insertion of the alar ligament can be inadvertently removed during condylar resection, and this could contribute to atlanto-axial instability. There is a biomechanical substrate to cranio-cervical instability following a transcondylar approach; these patients may need to be followed over several years to ensure it does not progress and necessitate occipito-cervical fusion.

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AIM: To evaluate effects of pre- and postnatal protein deprivation and postnatal recovery on the myenteric plexus of the rat esophagus. METHODS: Three groups of young Wistar rats (aged 42 d) were studied: normal-fed (N42), protein-deprived (D42), and protein-recovered (R42). The myenteric neurons of their esophagi were evaluated by histochemical reactions for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), nitrergic neurons (NADPH)-diaphorase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), immunohistochemical reaction for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The cytoplasms of large and medium neurons from the N42 and R42 groups were intensely reactive for NADH. Only a few large neurons from the D42 group exhibited this aspect. NADPH detected in the D42 group exhibited low reactivity. The AChE reactivity was diffuse in neurons from the D42 and R42 groups. The density of large and small varicosities detected by immunohistochemical staining of VIP was low in ganglia from the D42 group. In many neurons from the D42 group, the double membrane of the nuclear envelope and the perinuclear cisterna were not detectable. NADH and NADPH histochemistry revealed no group differences in the profile of nerve cell perikarya (ranging from 200 to 400 microm(2)). CONCLUSION: Protein deprivation causes a delay in neuronal maturation but postnatal recovery can almost completely restore the normal morphology of myenteric neurons.

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AIM: To evaluate the effects of protein deprivation on the myenteric plexus of the esophagus of weanling rats. METHODS: Pregnant female Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups: nourished (N), receiving normal diet, and undernourished (D), receiving a protein-deprived diet, which continued after birth. At twenty-one days of age, 13 esophagi from each group were submitted to light microscopy and morphometrical analysis employing the NADH diaphorase, NADPH diaphorase and acetylcholinesterase techniques. Three other esophagi from each group were evaluated with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: In both the NADH- and the NADPH-reactive mounts, the neurons of the N mounts were more intensely stained, while in the D esophagi only the larger neurons were reactive. Many myenteric neurons of N were intensely reactive for AChE activity but only a few neurons of D exhibited these aspects. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that the granular reticulum of N showed large numbers of ribosomes aligned on the outer surface of its regularly arranged membrane while the ribosomes of D were disposed in clusters. The chromatin was more homogeneously scattered inside the neuron nucleus of N as well as the granular component of the nucleolus was evidently more developed in this group. Statistically significant differences between N and D groups were detected in the total estimated number of neurons stained by the NADPH technique. CONCLUSION: The morphological and quantitative data shows that feeding with protein-deprived diet in 21-d old rats induces a delay in the development of the myenteric neurons of the esophagus.

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São raras as espondilodiscites fúngicas decorrentes de espéciesdo gênero Candida, sendo que até 2004 foram descritos menos de 75 casos. RELATO DE CASO: Homem, 42 anos, com história de etilismo por 35 anos, foi admitido com quadro de dorem abdome inferior com irradiação para membros inferiores e fraqueza dos mesmos nos últimos 3 meses. Os achados do exame físico foram: atrofia muscular em região glútea, dor àmobilização da articulação coxo-femoral, lombalgia em níveis L4 e L5 e força muscular grau II de parte distal de membros inferiores. O paciente foi internado e introduziu-se empiracamenteclindamicina e ciprofloxacina por suspeita de espondilodiscite, confirmada por meio do exame de Ressonância Magnética (RM)...

Fungic Spondilodiscit decorrent of Candida generus species arerare, being less than 75 cases described until 2004. Case Report: Man, 42 years old, with 35 years history of alcohol abuse, was admitted with a lower abdomen pain with irradiation toinferior members and weakness of them in the past 3 months. The physical exam were: gluteus muscular atrophy, mobilization pain of the coxo-femoral articulation, L4 and L5 back pain andmuscle strength grade II in the inferior member distal part. The patient was admitted and initiated clindamicin and ciprofloxacin with the suspect of spondilodiscit, confirmed by MagneticRessonance (RM)..

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Introduction: Adequate blood flow monitoring in cerebral aneurysm surgery is still a challenge today. Even though pre- and postoperative care is frequently emphasized, intraoperative monitoring is often forgotten. Case description: The authors report the clipping of a giant internal carotid artery aneurysm; however, after the frontal lobe retractor was released, the aneurysm clips rotated and flow reduction could be detected via continuous transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. Ischaemia was avoided by repositioning the clips with gelatin sponge and cellulose hemostat. Discussion: Somatosensory evoked potential recording, intraoperative angiography and microvascular and transcranial Doppler are the most popular methods for intraoperative cerebral blood flow monitoring; however, each of methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. None of them can perfectly measure cerebral blood flow, detect insufficient aneurysm clipping and 2 avoid stenoses; costs, the additional surgical time and potential morbidity must also be considered. Ideally, intraoperative monitoring would be prolonged to the final stages of the surgical procedure so that unusual causes of ischemia such as clip rotation may be avoided. Perhaps new monitoring methods will overcome these difficulties; today, the .perfect. monitoring method should be tailored for each patient and the vessels involved.

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OBJECTIVE: The filum terminale (FT) is a fibrovascular band involved in the pathophysiology of tethered cord syndrome (TCS). Its morphological and ultrastructural properties remain largely unknown even though they are thought to play a role in the generation of TCS in adult patients with normal level conus medullaris. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty fresh adult human cadavers had their fila measured and removed. Transversal and longitudinal sections of the proximal, middle, and distal thirds of FT were submitted to light microscopy analysis with four different techniques. Five fila were selected for longitudinal and transversal scanning electron microscopy analysis. RESULTS: The bulk of the FT is composed of 5- to 20-microm thick longitudinal bundles of Type 1 collagen separated by 3- to 10-microm intervals, although capillaries and other elements may be present. A delicate (0.05-1.5 microm) meshwork of predominantly Type 3 collagen transversal fibers connects these bundles. Abundant longitudinally oriented elastic and elaunin fibers are found inside collagen bundles. A complex tridimensional structure is evidenced on electron microscopy. CONCLUSION: The longitudinal arrangement of collagen bundles and the impressive amount of elastic and elaunin fibers should elicit considerable elastic properties to the FT. An altered elasticity mechanism has been proposed for TCS; further studies are needed with TCS patients to define whether the collagen structure, Type 1/Type 3 proportion, or elastic fiber content are altered, which could lead to new histopathological definitions of TCS, helping neurosurgeons in the difficult management of TCS patients with normal level conus medullaris.

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A craniectomia fronto-temporoparietal com duraplastia éuma das opções terapêuticas nos acidentes vasculares cerebraisdo tipo isquêmico (AVCi) com evolução maligna, ou seja, comhipertensão intracraniana refratária, de modo a preservar avida do paciente. O objetivo desta nota técnica é a descriçãode uma técnica de duraplastia destinada a evitar a extrusão dematerial encefálico pelas bordas da abertura dural e o conseqüenteprejuízo do retorno venoso. Material e método: Foirealizada craniectomia fronto-temporoparietal em dez cadáveresadultos frescos, conforme técnica convencional. Um retalho depericrânio, com 12 cm de diâmetro, foi retirado e posicionadosobre a dura-máter, no local a se realizar a abertura dural. Apósa realização de pontos cardeais, cada lado da abertura duralfoi realizado, enquanto simultaneamente suturado o retalhode pericrânio, de modo a evitar a teórica extrusão de tecido encefálico, com bom resultado fi nal. Discussão: A opção pelotratamento cirúrgico, nos casos de AVCi com evolução maligna,permanece um ponto controverso. Nuances técnicas na realizaçãoda craniectomia e duraplastia podem, teoricamente, infl uirno edema perilesional que agrava esta doença com evoluçãotão grave. Um ponto fundamental é o diâmetro mínimo de 12cm para a duraplastia; buscou-se com a descrição desta técnicamelhorar, ainda mais, as condições para que estes pacientestenham melhor evolução. Este estudo cadavérico demonstrauma técnica de fácil execução e bom resultado fi nal; aguardam-se resultados de sua aplicação clínica para verififi car suaverdadeira eficácia.

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Neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) is an underdiagnosed clinical entity. Its pathophysiology is multifactorial but largely unknown. We report two cases of NPE and review the literature on NPE cases reported since 1990. A 21-year-old man had a seizure episode following cranioplasty. He became increasingly dyspneic, and clinical and laboratory signs of respiratory failure were evident. Chest radiography and computed tomography showed bilateral diffuse infiltrates. After supportive measures were taken, complete respiratory recovery occurred in 72 hours. A 52-year-old woman had several seizure episodes following subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a cavernoma. She became increasingly dyspneic upon arrival at the hospital. After tracheostomy and oxygen support were established, chest radiography showed bilateral diffuse infiltrates. Respiratory recovery was excellent, and the patient was eupneic with normal results of chest radiography 48 hours later. Fourteen reports (21 cases) were found. Thirteen patients were female, and the mean age of the patients was 31.6 years. The most frequent underlying factor was subarachnoid hemorrhage (42.9%). Symptom onset occurred <4 hours after the neurologic event in 71.4% of cases. One third of the patients presented with pink frothy sputum. Chest radiography showed bilateral diffuse infiltrates in 90.5% of cases. Supportive measures included oxygen support and vasoactive drugs. Recovery was usually very rapid: 52.4% of patients recovered in <72 hours. Almost 10% of patients died of NPE. Our two cases had clinical and laboratory features in common with most NPE cases. Physicians should remember NPE when neurologic patients suddenly become dyspneic. The mortality rate is high, but surviving patients usually recover very quickly.

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Os autores avaliam as dificuldades clínicas pré-operatórias,as complicações e as condutas para o manuseio deriscos nas cirurgias de meningiomas em pacientes idosos.Foram estudados 34 pacientes de 1994 a 2002 com 65 a 86anos de idade. Todos os casos apresentavam algum tipo decomorbidade, estando entre as mais freqüentes: insuficiênciacoronariana, insuficiência cardíaca congestiva, enfisema pulmonar,osteoartrose cervical, diabetes melito e artrite reumatóidedo idoso. A localização mais comum foi parassagitalposterior e convexidade frontal (6 casos cada). Quanto àmorbidade cirúrgica, 2 casos apresentaram déficit motorpermanente e 3 casos foram reabordados para descompressãodevido a infarto venoso extenso por trombose de seio. Trêspacientes morreram no período pós-operatório por associaçãoentre edema cerebral por infarto venoso e complicaçõesde ordem pulmonar. Conclui-se que a cirurgia dosmeningiomas em idosos deve ser meticulosamente programadadevido às co-morbidades inerentes, mas não deve sernegligenciada simplesmente em virtude da idade do paciente.

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Descrever a anatomia intradural do Filum terminalis (FT) e relacionar sua origem, comprimento e insercao com a coluna lombar e sacral em 31 cadaveres de adultos sem...

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Avaliamos a prevalencia de algumas doencas parasitarias no municipio de Cajati-SP (Vale do Ribeira), atraves da Bandeira Cientifica-1998, do Departamento Cientifico do Centro Academico Oswaldo Cruz, da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo. Durante uma semana de intervencao, foram colhidas amostras em pacientes que buscaram ativamente um dos 3 postos de saude locais, englobando...

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