Average spectral power changes at the hippocampal electroencephalogram in schizophrenia model induced by ketamine.

The use of ketamine (Ket) as a pharmacological model of schizophrenia is an important tool for understanding the main mechanisms of glutamatergic regulated neural oscillations. Thus, the aim of the current study was to evaluate Ket-induced changes in the average spectral power using the hippocampal quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG). To this end, male Wistar rats were submitted to a stereotactic surgery for the implantation of an electrode in the right hippocampus. After three days, the animals were divided into four groups that were treated for 10 consecutive days with Ket (10, 50, or 100 mg/kg). Brainwaves were captured on the 1st or 10th day, respectively, to acute or repeated treatments. The administration of Ket (10, 50, or 100 mg/kg), compared with controls, induced changes in the hippocampal average spectral power of delta, theta, alpha, gamma low or high waves, after acute or repeated treatments. Therefore, based on the alterations in the average spectral power of hippocampal waves induced by Ket, our findings might provide a basis for the use of hippocampal QEEG in animal models of schizophrenia.

[Antidepressant drugs]. / Drogas antidepressivas.

Depression is a disorder of mood that causes strong impact on the patient and his family's quality of life. The increasing number of cases and its social consequences have made depression a great public health problem. Some depressant patients develop suicide thoughts and may try suicide later. The disease occurs in all ages and its prevalence is of 7.4%. Women aged 15 to 29 are more likely to be affected, whereas people aged 50 or older are less affected. The presence of depression worsens the prognostic of other clinical conditions when compared to not depressant patients. This paper describes the main drugs used in the treatment of depression and correlates the drug with the neurobiology of the disease. Aiming the study of the pharmacologic and therapeutic characteristics of antidepressant drugs, a literature review was performed using electronic databases (Pubmed and Lilacs), papers and books related to the theme. The main antidepressant drugs are classified according to their chemical structure or their action on neurotransmitters. An important point in the therapy is the understanding of the pharmacokinetics of the drugs. The choice of the drug must consider the symptoms, the patient's age, other drugs in use, the history of pharmacological treatments and so forth. No drug is significantly better than the other in the treatment of depression. The important thing in choosing a drug is to have the best therapeutic response, the reduction of symptoms, a good adherence to therapy, few side effects and secure drug interaction. By understanding the use of these drugs, it will be possible to give the patient and his family a better quality of life.

Motor neuron diseases in the University Hospital of Fortaleza (Northeastern Brazil): a clinico-demographic analysis of 87 cases

In this retrospective (1980-1998) study, we have analyzed clinico-demographically, from the records of the University Hospital of Fortaleza (Brazil), a group of 87 patients showing signs and symptoms of motor neuron diseases (MNDs). Their diagnosis was determined clinically and laboratorially. The WFN criteria were used for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis. The clinico-demographic analysis of the 87 cases of MNDs showed that 4 were diagnosed as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), 5 cases as ALS subsets: 2 as progressive bulbar paralysis (PBP), 2 as progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) and 1 as monomelic amyotrophy (MA), and 78 cases of ALS. The latter comprised 51 males and 27 females, with a mean age of 42.02 years. They were sub-divided into 4 groups according to age: from 15 to 29 years (n= 17), 30 to 39 years (n= 18), 40 to 69 years (n= 39) and 70 to 78 years (n= 4). From the 78 ALS patients, 76 were of the classic sporadic form whilst only 2 were of the familial form. The analysis of the 87 patients with MNDs from the University Hospital of Fortaleza showed a predominance of ALS patients, with a high number of cases of juvenile and early onset adult sporadic ALS

Epilepsia partialis continua (Koshevnikov): a preliminary case report

We report on the preliminary clinical and electrophysiological aspects of an in-patient possibly presenting epilepsia partialis continua (Koshevnikov). We discuss the different etiologies and emphasize on the possible idiopathic form in this case

Tropical spastic paraparesis in Northeastern Brazil

Os autores apresentam 10 casos de provável paraparesia espástica tropical (PET) oriundos do Nordeste do Brasil (Hospital das Clínicas - Universidade Federal do Ceará). Os sintomas consistem de fraqueza dos membros inferiores, marcha espástica hiperreflexia, disfunçäo esfincteriana e sinais variados de distúrbio proprioceptivo. Outras etiologias de mielopatias foram excluídas pelos exames complementares. A idade dos pacientes ia de 21 a 59 anos, todos eram da raça negra e havia discreto predomínio de mulheres. Recentemente, tem-se atribuído ao retrovírus HTLV-I a etiologia da PET. Por falta de condiçöes técncias ainda näo pudemos determiná-la em nossos pacientes

A propósito de um caso de associaçäo de polimiosite com miastenia gravis tardia

Os autores relatam um caso clínico de associaçäo de polimiosite com miastenia gravis, dissertando sobre as características específicas de cada patologia assim como a possibilidade e significado etiopatológico da associaçäo das duas. Enfatizam as medidas terapêuticas tomadas e seus resultados, e a forma rara de polimiosite seguida posteriormente de miastenia

A proposito de um caso de associacao de polimiosite com miastenia gravis tardia

Os autores relatam um caso clinico de associacao de polimiosite com miastenia gravis, dissertando sobre as caracteristicas especificas de cada patologia assim como a possibilidade e significado etiopatologico da associacao das duas. Enfatizam as medidas terapeuticas tomadas e seus resultados, e a forma rara de polimiosite seguida posteriormente de miastenia.