RESUMO
This is a report on our experience in the application of biomagnetism in perinatal medicine. We provide a brief description of our research work in fetal magnetoencephalography and fetal magnetocardiography in normal, preeclamptic and IUGR pregnancies, together with hemodynamics of the umbilical cord and uterine arteries, providing a new approach to biomagnetism as a non invasive imaging modality in the investigation of perinatal complications.
Assuntos
Retardo do Crescimento Fetal/fisiopatologia , Feto/fisiologia , Magnetocardiografia/métodos , Magnetoencefalografia/métodos , Pré-Eclâmpsia/fisiopatologia , Diagnóstico Pré-Natal/métodos , Cordão Umbilical/fisiologia , Feminino , Retardo do Crescimento Fetal/diagnóstico , Grécia , Humanos , Pré-Eclâmpsia/diagnóstico , Gravidez , Cordão Umbilical/irrigação sanguínea , Útero/irrigação sanguíneaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive tool for the electrical stimulation of neural tissue. TMS can be applied as single pulses of stimulation, pairs of stimuli separated by variable intervals to the same or different brain areas, or as trains of repetitive stimuli at various frequencies. CASE REPORT: A 2-years-old male infant was referred to our department with a history of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encephalitis, treated with foscarnet and steroids, for he developed mutism and ataxia and loss of the ability to eat, walk and talk. Brain imaging revealed loss of white matter around ventricles and progressive global brain atrophy, findings consistent with encephalopathy. Serology for antibodies against EBV infection was positive and the diagnosis of acute and prolonged EBV infection was made. There was an improvement of the clinical findings after the application of TMS with proper field characteristics (intensity: 1-7.5 pT, frequency: 8-13 Hz). CONCLUSIONS: Our case illustrates the possibility of therapeutic applications of TMS (in the order of pT) with proper field characteristics to normalize pathologically decreased levels of brain cortex activity. TMS might provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of the neural circuitry, be developed into clinically useful diagnostic and prognostic tests, and have therapeutic uses in various diseases.
Assuntos
Encefalopatias/diagnóstico , Encefalopatias/terapia , Terapia por Estimulação Elétrica/métodos , Terapia por Estimulação Elétrica/tendências , Estimulação Magnética Transcraniana/métodos , Estimulação Magnética Transcraniana/tendências , Atrofia/diagnóstico , Atrofia/terapia , Atrofia/virologia , Encéfalo/patologia , Encéfalo/fisiopatologia , Pré-Escolar , Encefalite Viral/diagnóstico , Encefalite Viral/terapia , Encefalite Viral/virologia , Infecções por Vírus Epstein-Barr/complicações , Humanos , Magnetismo , Masculino , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Our experience in the application of biomagnetism in gynaecologic oncology is presented. We provide a brief description of our research work in the investigation of biomagnetic activity in benign and malignant ovarian and breast diseases, and an evaluation of uterine myomas, providing a new approach of biomagnetism as a non invasive imaging modality for assessing gynaecologic tumours.