Clinical profile of a cohort of neonates with seizures: Association between semiology, etiology, and electroencephalographic findings.

BACKGROUND: Seizures are the most common sign of neurologic dysfunction, reflecting a wide variety of central nervous system disorders. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study of neonates with a clinical diagnosis of seizures was conducted in order to verify relationships between clinical aspects and EEG findings. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the EEG recording available as: 1) with confirmatory ictal EEG; 2) with altered but non-ictal EEG; and 3) without any EEG recording. Variables related to pregnancy and birth history, neonatal complications, and seizure semiology (by video or clinical description) were compared to EEG findings. RESULTS: 97 neonates were included (39.1% preterm, 54.6% male), 71 with available EEG data (56.3% with ictal EEG). The group without EEG presented clinical characteristics significantly different from the others such as extreme prematurity, low birth weight, and higher neonatal mortality (P = 0.002, 0.001, and 0.003, respectively). The most common etiology was hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) (46.4%) followed by vascular disorders, which predominated in extremely preterm neonates (P = 0.006). Sequential seizure was the most common type (44.6%) and was more frequently identified in term neonates (46%). In 51.2% of the ictal recordings the main finding was electrographic seizure without clinical manifestation. Discharge using antiseizure medication was higher among those with ictal or altered non-ictal EEG (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HIE is still a frequently etiology for neonatal seizures. Even if the patients in the sample were not under continuous EEG, the substantial proportion of electrographic seizures without clinical manifestations detected suggests the importance of continuous EEG monitoring in neonates at increased risk of seizures.

Cessação do tabagismo: revisão dos diferentes métodos / Tobacco cessation: a review of different methods

Objetivos: O artigo revisa os métodos de tratamento atualmente mais indicados para cessação do tabagismo. Métodos: Uma busca nas bases Medline/Pubmed e Lilacs foi realizada com termos referentes a cessação do tabagismo, produtos utilizados para cessar o tabagismo e taxa de abstinência. Foram selecionadas revisões sistemáticas e ensaios clínicos em texto completo, publicados nos últimos 5 anos, em língua inglesa ou portuguesa, tendo como participantes humanos adultos. Após análise foram incluídos 10 artigos para revisão. Resultados: Em relação à terapia comportamental, o emprego de aconselhamento telefônico teve pior desfecho em comparação aos contatos pessoais (p=0.01) e à combinação de ambos (p=0.01). A abordagem proativa favorece a taxa de abstinência (p<0.001). O incentivo financeiro, no entanto, não teve efeitos sobre a taxa de abstinência a longo prazo (p=0.95). Quanto à terapia farmacológica, a bupropiona (OR 1.84) e a vareniclina (OR 2.88), isoladamente, aumentaram a taxa de abstinência comparadas ao placebo, tendo a vareniclina demonstrado resultados superiores (OR 1.57). A Terapia de Reposição Nicotínica combinada com bupropiona ou nortriptilina não resultou em aumento na taxa de abstinência quando comparada à Terapia de Reposição de Nicotina em monoterapia (OR 0.99). A nortriptilina também aumentou a taxa de abstinência, com poucos efeitos adversos (RR 2.03). A associação de bupropiona e vareniclina gerou maior taxa de abstinência em um mês comparada à monoterapia com vareniclina (p=0.029). Não houve diferença significativa entre Terapia de Reposição de Nicotina por goma comparada ao adesivo transdérmico em relação à redução do tabagismo (p>0.05). Conclusões: Diversos medicamentos são eficazes e estão disponíveis para auxílio à cessação do tabagismo. Deve-se avaliar o contexto clínico de cada paciente, ofertando a terapia mais adequada a cada caso. Abordagens proativas e motivacionais, além da facilitação do acesso aos recursos de tratamento também melhoram as taxas de abstinência.

Aims: This article aims to present a review of tobacco cessation methods currently most indicated in order to update health professionals. Methods: It was performed a search in Medline/Pubmed and Lilacs using terms referring to smoking cessation, smoking cessation products and Abstinence Rate. Systematic reviews and clinical trials in full text articles, published in the last five years in English or Portuguese, having human adults as participants, were selected. After analysing adequacy to the subject, 10 articles were included to be reviewed. Results: Regarding to non-pharmacological therapies, telephone counselling showed worse results in comparison to personal therapy (p=0.01) and also comparing to the combination of them (p=0.01). Besides, a proactive approach enhances abstinence rate when compared to usual approach (p<0.001). Cash incentive did not result in a higher abstinences rates in long term when compared to control group (p=0.95). In relation to pharmacological therapy, bupropion (OR 1.84) and varenicline (OR 2.88), separately, increased abstinence rate in comparison to placebo, although varenicline showed superior results (OR 1.57). Nicotine Replacement Therapy in combination with bupropion or nortriptilin did not result in a higher abstinence rate when compared to Nicotine Replacement Therapy as monotherapy (OR 0.99). Nortriptilin enhances abstinence rate, with little adverse events (RR 2.03). Combination of bupropion and varenicline resulted in an increased abstinence rate in one month in comparison to varenicline as single therapy (p=0.029). There was no significant difference between Nicotine Replacement Therapy with nicotine gum and patch in relation to smoking reduction (p>0.05). Conclusions: Many medications were found to be effective and are available for smoking cessation. Clinical context of each patient should be evaluated, offering the most appropriate therapy. Proactive approaches and simplified access to resources also improve abstinence rates.