Vitamin D supplementation combined with aerobic physical exercise restores the cell density in hypothalamic nuclei of rats exposed to monosodium glutamate.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: In view of the increase in the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in childhood and adolescence, this study proposed the early and combined use of treatments to restore brain areas related to satiety. The vitamin D supplementation, aerobic exercise and the combination of these interventions on the structure of arcuate (ARC) and ventromedial (VMH) nuclei of hypothalamus were investigated in monosodium glutamate (MSG)-treated rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were separated into five groups: Control group (CT); Obese group injected with MSG (OB); Obese group supplemented with vitamin D (OBvd); Obese group submitted to forced swimming training (OBexe) and Obese group treated with vitamin D supplementation and forced swimming training (OBvd + exe). RESULTS: In the OB group, the visceral fat weight was significantly higher, there was a reduction in the number of glial cells in the ARC nucleus and also in the number of neurons in the ARC and VMH nuclei. Aerobic exercise was able to reduce the visceral fat weight in the OBexe group. The combination of treatments used in the OBvd + exe group reversed the loss of neurons and glial cells produced by MSG in the ARC nucleus. All treated groups exhibited a higher number of neurons in VMH nucleus, but an increase in the glial cells were observed only in the OBexe and OBvd + exe groups. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of obesity treatment can be favored through the early and combined use of vitamin D supplementation and aerobic exercise, since these therapies are able to restore brain nuclei involved in the control of food intake.

Characterization of a cerebral palsy-like model in rats: Analysis of gait pattern and of brain and spinal cord motor areas.

In an attempt to propose an animal model that reproduces in rats the phenotype of cerebral palsy, this study evaluated the effects of maternal exposure to bacterial endotoxin associated with perinatal asphyxia and sensorimotor restriction on gait pattern, brain and spinal cord morphology. Two experimental groups were used: Control Group (CTG) - offspring of rats injected with saline during pregnancy and Cerebral Palsy Group (CPG) - offspring of rats injected with lipopolysaccharide during pregnancy, submitted to perinatal asphyxia and sensorimotor restriction for 30days. At 29days of age, the CPG exhibited coordination between limbs, weight-supported dorsal steps or weight-supported plantar steps with paw rotation. At 45days of age, CPG exhibited plantar stepping with the paw rotated in the balance phase. An increase in the number of glial cells in the primary somatosensory cortex and dorsal striatum were observed in the CPG, but the corpus callosum thickness and cross-sectional area of lateral ventricle were similar between studied groups. No changes were found in the number of motoneurons, glial cells and soma area of the motoneurons in the ventral horn of spinal cord. The combination of insults in the pre, peri and postnatal periods produced changes in hindlimbs gait pattern of animals similar to those observed in diplegic patients, but motor impairments were attenuated over time. Besides, the greater number of glial cells observed seems to be related to the formation of a glial scar in important sensorimotor brain areas.

Tratamento Cirúrgico de fratura de seio frontal / Surgical Treatment of Frontal Sinus Fracture

O Seio Frontal está localizado no osso Frontal, em uma região muito importante da face. É uma cavidade óssea pneumática, que tem forma triangular, com a maior porção no assoalho da órbita. Cerca de 4% da população não apresenta o Seio Frontal. As fraturas do Seio Frontal são originadas a partir de acidentes de grande intensidade, como os causados por acidentes com veículos automotores ou agressões importantes e normalmente estão associadas às fraturas de terço médio da face, principalmete as do complexo Naso-orbito-Etmoidal e as do complexo Zigomático. Esse tipo de fratura representa de 5 a 15% de todas as fraturas da face, podendo causar transtornos funcionais e estéticos muito importantes ao paciente, com alguns sinais e sintomas característicos. Exames complementares são fundamentais para o correto diagnóstico e planejamento cirúrgico. Vários tratamentos têm sido propostos, de acordo com a classificação das fraturas. Dentre os acessos mais utilizados, estão o acesso coronal, acesso transcutâneo e endoscopia. Todos têm excelentes resultados, quando bem indicados, devendo-se respeitar a técnica cirúrgica adequada, a expectativa e o grau de cooperação do paciente, a possibilidade de acompanhamento pós-operatório para proservação e conclusão do caso clínico de maneira satisfatória.

The frontal sinus is located in the frontal bone in an important region of the face. It is a pneumatic triangular-shaped bone cavity, the largest portion of which is on the floor of the orbit. About 4% of the population do not have a frontal sinus. Frontal sinus fractures are caused by accidents of great intensity, such as those caused by cars or physical aggression and are usually associated with fractures of the midface, particularly the naso-orbit-ethmoid and zygomatic complex. This kind of fracture, which has a number of characteristic signs and symptoms, represents 5 to 15% of all facial fractures, and can cause the patient very severe aesthetic and functional disorders. Investigations are essential for an accurate diagnosis and surgical planning. Several treatments have been proposed, according to the classification of the fractures. The main approaches to this fracture are the coronal and transcutaneous and endoscopy. All have excellent results when well indicated, with due consideration for the correct surgical technique, the expectation of success, the degree of cooperation of the patient and the possibility of postoperative follow-up to preservation and conclusion of the clinical case satisfactorily.