Apert syndrome: factors involved in the cognitive development

Apert syndrome is characterized by craniosynostosis, symmetric syndactyly and other systemic malformations, with mental retardation usually present. The objective of this study was to correlate brain malformations and timing for surgery with neuropsychological evaluation. We also tried to determine other relevant aspects involved in cognitive development of these patients such as social classification of families and parents education. Eighteen patients with Apert syndrome were studied, whose ages were between 14 and 322 months. Brain abnormalities were observed in 55.6% of them. The intelligence quotient or developmental quotient values observed were between 45 and 108. Mental development was related to the quality of family environment and parents education. Mental development was not correlated to brain malformation or age at time of operation. In conclusion, quality of family environment was the most significant factor directly involved in mental development of patients with Apert syndrome.     

Neurovascular coupling analyzed non-invasively in the human brain

Most functional brain imaging methods detect neuronal activations indirectly through the accompanying neurovascular response. Here, we demonstrate that a novel methodological approach, the combination of DC-magnetoencephalography (DC-MEG) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), allows non-invasive assessment of the dynamics of neurovascular coupling in the human brain: detecting directly slow neuronal processes (with time constants of 30s), DC-MEG revealed, even in unaveraged recordings, sustained neuronal activations at pericentral hand cortices contralateral to repetitive finger movements; these were accompanied by the ensuing local vascular response showing similar dynamical features as quantified by simultaneously recorded NIRS. This non-invasive approach opens a new avenue for the understanding of neurovascular coupling during physiological tasks as well as in diseases involving slow neuronal depolarization shifts and alterations of blood flow, such as stroke or migraine.     

Acaricidal activity of the essential oils from Eucalyptus citriodora and Cymbopogon nardus on larvae of Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae) and Anocentor nitens (Acari: Ixodidae)

The present study evaluated the acaricidal activity of essential oils from Eucalyptus citriodora and Cymbopogon nardus on non-engorged larvae of Amblyomma cajennense and Anocentor nitens. In order to carry out the study, six groups were formed, each concentration being a treatment (6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, and 50%, respectively) and also with the creation of a control group (distilled water) and a positive control (Deltametrine). For each treatment, approximately 100 larvae of these ticks were placed onto filter papers (2 × 2 cm) impregnated with the concentrations used to test. Next, the envelopes were closed bearing inside the filter paper with measurements of 6 × 6 cm. For each group, six repetitions were performed, and after 24 h live and dead larvae were counted. This procedure was carried out for two essential oils on the two species of ticks. For A. cajennense, the acaricide efficacy of E. citriodora oil was of 10.8%, 35.3%, 34.5%, and 53.1%, whereas the efficacy of C. nardus was of 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 61.1% at concentrations of 6.25%, 12.5%, 25.0%, and 50.0%, respectively. In relation to A. nitens, the acaricide efficacy of E. citriodora oil was of 20.1%, 84.5%, 89.2%, and 100.0%, whereas the efficacy of C. nardus was of 0.0%, 90.8%, 100.0%, and 100.0% at concentrations of 6.25%, 12.5%, 25.0%, and 50.0%, respectively. The results indicate that the essential oils tested showed a promising acaricidal activity mainly on A. nitens larvae.     

Adhesive capsulitis of the knee

The authors describe the case of a 42-year-old woman presenting with significant knee pain and disability. Her imaging findings using contrast MR imaging and FDG PET/CT suggested adhesive capsulitis, which was confirmed by arthroscopy, histology, and the clinical outcome.