Microcephaly caused by congenital Zika virus infection and viral detection in maternal urine during pregnancy.

Currently Latin America is undergoing a major epidemic of Zika virus, which is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Concern for Zika virus infection has been increasing as it is suspected of causing brain defects in newborns such as microcephaly and, more recently, potential neurological and autoimmune complications including Guillian-Barré syndrome and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. We describe a case of virus infection in a 25-year-old woman during the first trimester of her pregnancy, confirmed by laboratory tests only for the detection of viral particles in maternal urine, with imaging studies demonstrating the progression of cranial and encephalic changes in the fetus and later in the newborn, such as head circumference reduction, cerebral calcifications and ventriculomegaly.

Microcephaly caused by congenital Zika virus infection and viral detection in maternal urine during pregnancy / Microcefalia causada por infecção congênita pelo Zika virus e detecção viral na urina materna durante a gestação

Summary Currently Latin America is undergoing a major epidemic of Zika virus, which is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Concern for Zika virus infection has been increasing as it is suspected of causing brain defects in newborns such as microcephaly and, more recently, potential neurological and autoimmune complications including Guillian-Barré syndrome and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. We describe a case of virus infection in a 25-year-old woman during the first trimester of her pregnancy, confirmed by laboratory tests only for the detection of viral particles in maternal urine, with imaging studies demonstrating the progression of cranial and encephalic changes in the fetus and later in the newborn, such as head circumference reduction, cerebral calcifications and ventriculomegaly.

Resumo Atualmente, a América Latina está passando por uma grande epidemia de Zika vírus, transmitido por mosquitos Aedes. A preocupação pela infecção pelo Zika vírus vem aumentando, uma vez que é suspeita de causar defeitos cerebrais em recém-nascidos, como a microcefalia e, mais recentemente, potenciais complicações neurológicas e autoimunes, como síndrome de Guillian-Barré e encefalomielite disseminada aguda. Descrevemos um caso de infecção pelo vírus em uma mulher de 25 anos durante o primeiro trimestre de gestação, confirmado dentre os exames laboratoriais apenas pela detecção de partículas virais na urina materna, com estudos de imagens demonstrando a evolução das alterações cranianas e encefálicas no feto e no recém-nascido, como redução do perímetro cefálico, calcificações cerebrais e ventriculomegalia.

Cervicomedullary primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the spine: Case report.

BACKGROUND: Intramedullary primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are tumors found rarely in the cervical region, with only five such cases described in the literature. The available literature contains only one report regarding cervicomedullary junction PNET. CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors present a case report of a 45-year-old male patient who had undergone urgent hospitalization owing to progressive tetraparesis and subtle impairment of respiratory function. He underwent magnetic resonance imaging, which showed an extensive enhancing cervical intramedullary tumor extending from C5 to the bulbar region. Since he developed severe impairment of respiratory function, he required tracheostomy. He then underwent microsurgery 2 days after his admission, and a partial tumor resection was performed. The pathological diagnosis of PNET of the cervicomedullary junction (CMJ) was made. He had slight worsening of strength after surgery with subsequent deterioration over the next 3 weeks. The tumor displayed aggressive growth; thus, radiotherapy was indicated. Unfortunately, he developed severe febrile neutropenia and died after 2 weeks of radiotherapy. Given the rarity of the condition, we wish to review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment options of his population. CONCLUSION: Intramedullary PNETs of the cervical spine and CMJ are exceedingly rare in adults; treatment of such patients remains a challenge, despite the modern neurosurgical armamentarium that is available.

Late evaluation of the relationship between morphological and functional renal changes and hypertension after non-operative treatment of high-grade renal injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anatomical and functional renal alterations and the association with post-traumatic arterial hypertension. METHODS: The studied population included patients who sustained high grades renal injury (grades III to V) successfully non-operative management after staging by computed tomography over a 16-year period. Beyond the review of medical records, these patients were invited to the following protocol: clinical and laboratory evaluation, abdominal computed tomography, magnetic resonance angiography, DMSA renal scintigraphy, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The hypertensive patients also were submitted to dynamic renal scintigraphy (99mTc EC), using captopril stimulation to verify renal vascular etiology. RESULTS: Of the 31 patients, there were thirteen grade III, sixteen grade IV (nine lacerations, and seven vascular lesions), and two grade V injuries. All the patients were asymptomatic and an average follow up post-injury of 6.4 years. None had abnormal BUN or seric creatinine. The percentage of renal volume reduction correlates with the severity as defined by OIS. There was no evidence of renal artery stenosis in Magnetic Resonance angiography (MRA). DMSA scanning demonstrated a decline in percentage of total renal function corresponding to injury severity (42.2 ± 5.5% for grade III, 35.3 ± 12.8% for grade IV, 13.5 ± 19.1 for grade V). Six patients (19.4%) had severe compromised function (< 30%). There was statistically significant difference in the decrease in renal function between parenchymal and vascular causes for grade IV injuries (p < 0.001). The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring detected nine patients (29%) with post-traumatic hypertension. All the patients were male, mean 35.6 years, 77.8 % had a familial history of arterial hypertension, 66.7% had grade III renal injury, and average post-injury time was 7.8 years. Seven patients had negative captopril renography. CONCLUSIONS: Late results of renal function after conservative treatment of high grades renal injuries are favorable, except for patients with grades IV with vascular injuries and grade V renal injuries. Moreover, arterial hypertension does not correlate with the grade of renal injury or reduction of renal function.