Cortical Brain Functions ­ The Brodmann Legacy in the 21st Century

In 1909, Korbinian Brodmann described 52 functional brain areas, 43 of them found in the human brain. More than a century later, his devoted functional map was incremented by Glasser et al in 2016, using functional nuclear magnetic resonance imaging techniques to propose the existence of 180 functional areas in each hemisphere, based on their cortical thickness, degree of myelination (cortical myelin content), neuronal interconnection, topographic organization, multitask answers, and assessment in their resting state. This opens a huge possibility, through functional neuroanatomy, to understand a little more about normal brain function and its functional impairment in the presence of a disease.

Disorders of Consciousness: Practical Management in an Emergency Room

Lowering of the level of consciousness is a very common presentation at the emergency room, often without any history that helps finding an etiology. This emergency requires quick empirical measures to reduce neuronal mortality, with additional protection against sequelae. According to the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) guidelines, there are current emergency neurological support protocols, such as the Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS) created by the Neurocritical Care Society. The present paper shows how to approach unconscious patients, highlighting possible etiologies and proposed treatments.

Non-Invasive Intracranial Pressure Evaluation in an Emergency Room ­ Point-of-Care Ultrasonography

Point-of-care ultrasound ismodifying conducts in emergency care. The variousmedical specialties, in addition to traditional indications in cases of multiple trauma, are using this technique for rapid diagnosis at the bedside without patient mobilization and without radiation. Point-of-care ultrasound in neurocritical patients, through its transorbital window, can estimate the intracranial pressure by a non-invasive method. Through the measurement of the diameter of the optic nerve sheath 3mmposterior to the retina, the intracranial pressure is estimated if the value of the diameter is >5mm, as it has been verified in other studies. The present article describes the most current data on this topic, and it also highlights the need formoremulticentric and randomized trials to determine the correct cut-off points that represent the high sensibility and specificity of the method.

Brain Concussion: New Classifications and Current Physiopathological Knowledge of the Disease

The present review paper aims to update the definition and classification of cerebral concussion, highlighting its pathophysiological mechanisms. The high prevalence of cerebral concussion in emergency rooms around the world makes it necessary to know its proper management to avoid its late sequelae, which traditionally compromise cognitive aspects of behavior. New evidence on potential neuroprotective treatments is being investigated.

Unveiling the Insular Lobe of Reil: Neurophysiological and Anatomical Features

The insular lobe has long been investigated, from its anatomical descriptions to its neurophysiological activity. Located in a central location, the insular lobe participates in several afferent and efferent pathways, forming part of the eloquent and fundamental structures that make up the central core of the brain. The lobe of the insula has participation in language function, such as speech, sensory (e.g., taste), limbic, autonomic (visceral), also forming part of complex associative circuits, including part of the circuits of mirror neurons. Several functional descriptions attributed to the insular lobe have beenmade in patients suffering fromcerebrovascular diseases, as well as in those with epilepsy. Much progress and many descriptions have also been made in patients with tumors. Despite much information already available about the insular lobe, it is likely that much will be discovered in the coming years.

Neurogenic Shock: Clinical Management and Particularities in an Emergency Room

Neurogenic shock has a strong impact in traumatology. It is an important condition, associated with lesions in the neuraxis and can be medullar and/or cerebral. In the last years, its pathophysiology has been better understood, allowing a reduction in the morbimortality with more precise and efficacious interventions taking place in the emergency room. In this review article, the author presents the current aspects of the management of neurogenic shock, highlighting the neuroprotective measures that improve the outcome. Many pharmacologic interventions are still questionable and need more prospective studies to accurately assess their real value. The best moment for neurosurgical intervention is also debatable. Quite clearly, the initial proceedings in the emergency room are fundamental to guarantee the adequate conditions for neuroplasticity and neuronal rehabilitation.

A novel method for resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering via photoelectron spectroscopy detection.

A method for measuring resonant inelastic X-ray scattering based on the conversion of X-ray photons into photoelectrons is presented. The setup is compact, relies on commercially available detectors, and offers significant flexibility. This method is demonstrated at the Linac Coherent Light Source with ∼0.5 eV resolution at the cobalt L3-edge, with signal rates comparable with traditional grating spectrometers.

Uso rotineiro do colar cervical no politraumatizado. revisão crítica / Routine cervical collar use in polytrauma patients: a critical review

Conforme o conhecimento médico avança, medidas terapêuticas inquestionáveis na medicina de urgências e emergências passaram a ser reconsideradas. O uso do colar cervical no paciente politraumatizado intuitivamente poderia trazer segurança ao paciente, evitando uma possível piora da sua lesão raquimedular. Evidências atuais, no entanto, provam não somente que muitas vezes este dispositivo não traz benefício como agrava lesões intracranianas. Apresentamos aqui uma pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva por meio de revisão narrativa da literatura, trazendo dados recentes quanto à correta indicação para utilização do colar cervical no politraumatizado, apontando também seus malefícios e erros técnicos em sua utilização.(AU)

With the advance of medical knowledge, emergency and urgency medical procedures, once taken for granted, have been modified. Intuitively, the use of a cervical collar in polytrauma patients could be safe for the patient, avoiding a secondary spinal injury. However, recent evidence prove that sometimes this device not only gives no benefit to the patient but also worsen intracranial injuries. This is a qualitative and descriptive research using a narrative review of the literature, and which brings recent data on the correct indication of the cervical collar in the polytrauma patient, showing the harms and technical errors of its use.(AU)

High-speed fixed-target serial virus crystallography.

We report a method for serial X-ray crystallography at X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs), which allows for full use of the current 120-Hz repetition rate of the Linear Coherent Light Source (LCLS). Using a micropatterned silicon chip in combination with the high-speed Roadrunner goniometer for sample delivery, we were able to determine the crystal structures of the picornavirus bovine enterovirus 2 (BEV2) and the cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus type 18 polyhedrin, with total data collection times of less than 14 and 10 min, respectively. Our method requires only micrograms of sample and should therefore broaden the applicability of serial femtosecond crystallography to challenging projects for which only limited sample amounts are available. By synchronizing the sample exchange to the XFEL repetition rate, our method allows for most efficient use of the limited beam time available at XFELs and should enable a substantial increase in sample throughput at these facilities.

Aspectos neurofuncionais do cerebelo: o fim de um dogma / Neurofunctional Aspects of Cerebellum: The End of a Dogma

Há séculos o cerebelo é considerado uma estrutura do sistema nervoso central responsável exclusivamente pela coordenação do movimento, fazendo diversas conexões com as áreas motoras e associativas do córtex cerebral. No entanto, nos últimos anos, avanços em neuroimagem funcional têm atribuído ao cerebelo funções cognitivo- afetivas, identificando-as anatômica e funcionalmente. Nesta revisão, os autores trazem as mais recentes informações sobre as funções cerebelares, considerando a síndrome cognitivo-afetiva correlacionada ao cerebelo e pondo fim a mais um dogma das neurociências.

For centuries the cerebellum is considered a structure of the central nervous system solely responsible for coordination of the movement, making several connections with themotor areas and associations areas of the cerebral cortex. However, in recent years, advances in functional neuroimaging has assigned the cerebellum cognitive-affective functions, identifying the anatomy and functionally pathways. In this review, the authors come with the latest information about the cerebellar functions, whereas the syndrome cerebellar cognitive-affective, it correlated, putting an end to more a dogma in neuroscience.

The X-ray Pump-Probe instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source.

The X-ray Pump-Probe instrument achieves femtosecond time-resolution with hard X-ray methods using a free-electron laser source. It covers a photon energy range of 4-24 keV. A femtosecond optical laser system is available across a broad spectrum of wavelengths for generating transient states of matter. The instrument is designed to emphasize versatility and the scientific goals encompass ultrafast physical, chemical and biological processes involved in the transformation of matter and transfer of energy at the atomic scale.

The X-ray Correlation Spectroscopy instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source.

The X-ray Correlation Spectroscopy instrument is dedicated to the study of dynamics in condensed matter systems using the unique coherence properties of free-electron lasers. It covers a photon energy range of 4-25 keV. The intrinsic temporal characteristics of the Linac Coherent Light Source, in particular the 120 Hz repetition rate, allow for the investigation of slow dynamics (milliseconds) by means of X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. Double-pulse schemes could probe dynamics on the picosecond timescale. A description of the instrument capabilities and recent achievements is presented.

Síndrome metabólica na criança e no adolescente / Metabolic syndrome in the child and teenager

Tem havido muita discussão sobre a "entidade síndrome metabólica" em crianças e adolescentes, com muitos autores recomendando que não se use o termo porque ele traz mais confusão do que esclarecimento. Trata-se de um conjunto de alterações que pode já estar presente em crianças e que condiciona um risco cardiovascular aumentado. Independentemente de questões de definição, é extremamente importante que se pesquise em crianças e adolescentes a presença de fatores de risco cardiovascular que podem tornar-se evidentes em idades posteriores, sem que qualquer ação tenha sido feita adotada para minimizar o problema, por falta de diagnóstico prévio. A obesidade, com sua alarmante disseminação pelo mundo todo, tem trazido para as mãos dos pediatras problemas antes só vivenciados pelos clínicos de adultos, como resistência à insulina, diabetes mellitus tipo 2, dislipidemia, esteatose hepática, apneia obstrutiva do sono, todos comprometendo o futuro cardiovascular dessas crianças. O trabalho faz extensa revisão do tema, enfatizando a importância da detecção do problema e da tomada de medidas que possam fazer com que nossas crianças atinjam o objetivo de uma vida saudável, que ultrapasse os 100 anos.

Puberdade precoce / Precocious puberty

Os autores discorrem sobre a importância do reconhecimento da puberdade precoce na criança, definindo o conceito da patologia, analisam seu diagnóstico laboratorial, etiologia, avaliação laboratorial e o tratamento.

Déficit de crescimento: como abordar e tratar? / Growth deficit: how to manage and treat?

Os autores repassam os mecanismos fisiológicos envolvidos no crescimento intrauterino e pós-natal, bem como as principais causas de baixa estatura. A importância da anamnese e do exame físico é enfatizada, juntamente com uma avaliação laboratorial e de imagem que permita situar a criança num contexto diagnóstico e propor um tratamento. Enfatiza-se a dificuldade de estabelecer o diagnóstico etiológico em grande número de casos e a importância da saúde geral no crescimento normal, implicando em que as doenças crônicas se constituem em causa importante de baixa estatura. Em termos de tratamento, nem sempre é a administração de hormônio de crescimento necessária para que se normalize o crescimento. No entanto, atualmente muitas indicações de hormônio de crescimento recombinante humano prescindem da demonstração de deficiência na produção hormonal e muitas situações clínicas, como a síndrome de Turner, o pequeno para a idade gestacional e a baixa estatura idiopática se beneficiam do tratamento, mesmo que não sejam deficientes em hormônio de crescimento. A demora do encaminhamento de uma criança com baixa estatura pelo pediatra pode significar uma perda irreparável em sua altura final e fica a mensagem de que nosso objetivo básico é propiciar que a criança desfrute de seu pleno potencial genético e não ter por objetivo "criar um gigante" ou uma criança acima de suas possibilidades de crescimento. Dar falsas expectativas sobre o crescimento de uma criança pode ser mais deletério do que informar a real capacidade de crescimento que esta criança em particular possui e valorizá-la da forma que é, pois crescimento não é sinônimo de "sucesso na vida"...

Encefalopatias: etiologia, fisiopatologia e manuseio clínico de algumas das principais formas de apresentação da doença / Encephalopathies: etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical management of some major forms of disease presentation

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: As encefalopatias compõem um grupo heterogêneo de etiologias, onde a pronta e correta atuação médica direcionada à causa da doença, pode modificar o prognóstico do paciente. O objetivo deste estudo foi rever os aspectos fisiopatológicos das diferentes encefalopatias bem como seus principais fatores desencadeantes e manuseio clínico.CONTEÚDO: Foram selecionadas as mais frequentes encefalopatias observadas na prática clínica e discutir sua fisiopatologia, bem como sua abordagem terapêutica, destacando: encefalopatia hipertensiva, hipóxico-isquêmica, metabólica, Wernicke-Korsakoff, traumática e tóxica.CONCLUSÃO: Trata-se de uma complexa condição clínica que exige rápida identificação e preciso manuseio clínico com o intuito de reduzir sua elevada taxa de morbimortalidade. O atraso no reconhecimento dessa condição clínica poderá ser extremamente prejudicial ao paciente que estará sofrendo lesão cerebral muitas vezes irreversível.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Encephalopathies comprise a heterogeneous group of clinical conditions, in which the prompt and adequate medical intervention can modify patient prognosis. This paper aims to discuss the pathophysiological aspects of different encephalopathies, their etiology, and clinical management.CONTENTS: We selected the main encephalopathies observed in clinical practice, such as hypertensive, hypoxic-ischemic, metabolic, Wernicke-Korsakoff, traumatic, and toxic encephalopathies, and to discuss their therapeutic approaches.CONCLUSION: This is a complex clinical condition that requires rapid identification and accurate clinical management with the aim of reducing its high morbidity and mortality rates. Delay in recognizing this condition can be extremely harmful to the patient who is suffering from often irreversible brain injury.

Morphometry and spatial correlation of the foramen magnumand spinal cord through the magnetic resonance in normalyoung adults – anatomical and clinical aspects

to establish the spatial relationship between the surfaces of foramen magnum (FM) and spinal cord (SC) identifying how much of the FM surface is occupied by the SC. Material and methods: 40 normal adults (23 females) with a mean age of 22 yrs (18-25) were evaluated through MRI to evaluate the sagittal and transversal diameter of foramen magnum and spinal cord. The surface area of FM and spinal cord was calculated, in the craniovertebral junction. Results: the sagittal diameter was consistently greater than the transversal diameter in the FM with a mean value of 34.78 mm. On the other hand, the transversal diameter was bigger in the spinal cord, with the mean value of 12.18 mm. The spinal cord occupies 82.93% of the FM surface in the craniovertebral junction. There was no difference between sexes. Conclusions: The better knowledge of craniovertebral junction anatomy is helpful in the neurosurgical planning and in the diagnosis of diseases that present intracranial hypertension.

Síndrome de Lance-Adams depois de parada cardiorrespiratória prolongada: relato de caso / Lance-Adams syndrome post longtime cardiac arrest: case report

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A síndrome de Lance-Adams (SLA) é caracterizada por mioclonias pós-hipóxicas crônicas, podendo surgir dias, semanas ou meses após grave lesão isquêmica ao sistema nervoso central. Sua incidência é muito baixa, sendo uma doença rara, com poucos casos descritos na literatura mundial. O objetivo desse estudo foi relatar um caso de SLA após parada cardiorrespiratória, discutindo algumas hipóteses de sua fisiopatologia e terapêutica. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo feminino, 50 anos, evoluiu com parada cardiorrespiratória por 30 minutos, durante a recuperação pós-anestésica, após submeter-se à gastroplastia redutora. Evoluiu em coma profundo por um mês, ficando em estado vegetativo persistente por quatro meses apresentando mioclonias generalizadas de difícil controle que melhoravam apenas durante o sono. Sua recuperação neurológica era evidente, escala de coma de Glasgow 11, quando evoluiu a óbito por hipertermia de origem central não responsiva as medicações, após 120 dias de internação. CONCLUSÃO: A SLA ainda possui fisiopatologia desconhecida, as medicações atuais podem como no presente caso, não atenuar os movimentos involuntários. Com a melhora das manobras de reanimação cardiorrespiratória podem ocorrer mais casos de SLA, exigindo maior conhecimento clínico desta doença.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Lance-Adams syndrome (LAS) is characterized by a chronic myoclonus state after central nervous system hypoxemia that appears days, weeks or months after the insult. Its incidence is very low, being a rare disease, with few cases report in the world-wide literature. The aim of this study is to report a case of LAS after cardiac arrest, discussing some therapeutics hypotheses and physiopathological pathways.CASE REPORT: Female patient, 50 years old, presented a thirty minutes cardiac arrest during post-anesthetic recovery after a successful gastric bypass. Evolved into a deep coma for a month, progressing to vegetative persistent state for four months, during which she presented chronic generalized myoclonus, difficult to control with classical pharmacological agents. His neurological recovery was evident, Glasgow coma score 11 when she evolved to death by central origin hyperthermia unresponsive to medications, after 120 days of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The Lance-Adams syndrome has yet an unknown pathophysiology mechanism that impairs our clinical approaches. Classical pharmacological agents may be ineffective, as in our case, does not alleviate completely the involuntary movements. With the improvement of cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques, more cases of LAS should be faced, requiring more clinical knowledge of this disease.

Meningite asséptica / Aseptic meningitis

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: As meningites assépticas (MA) representam a grande maioria das meningites presentes em nosso meio. Os principais causadores dessa doença são os enterovírus. O quadro clínico caracteriza-se por cefaleia, fotofobia, sinais de irritação meníngea, náuseas, vômitos e febre. A grande dificuldade diagnóstica é que estes mesmos sintomas são encontrados nos quadros de meningites bacterianas, mais graves, demandando condutas mais agressivas. O objetivo deste estudo foi rever o assunto, destacando o manuseio dos casos suspeitos bem como suas etiologias e fisiopatologias. CONTEÚDO: Conceitos de MA, suas etiologias virais e não virais, incluindo àquelas causadas pela utilização de medicamentos. CONCLUSÃO: Devido às sobreposições sintomatológicas, introduziu-se empiricamente a antibioticoterapia intra-hospitalar no momento da suspeita de infecção meníngea, observando a evolução clínico-laboratorial do paciente.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aseptic meningitis (AM) representing the vast majority of meningitis in our society. The main cause of this disease is the enteroviruses. The clinical picture is characterized by headache, photophobia, and signs of meningeal irritation, nausea, vomiting and fever. The diagnostic difficulty is that these same symptoms are found in the tables of bacterial meningitis, the most serious, demanding more aggressive treatment. This article aims to review the issue, emphasizing the management of suspected cases as well as its etiology and pathophysiology. CONTENTS: Address the concept of AM, its viral and nonviral etiologies, including those caused by medication use. CONCLUSION: Due to the overlap of the symptoms, we introduced an empirical intrahospital antibiotic treatment at the moment we suspect meningeal infection, observing the evolution of clinical and laboratory signs.