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Biomedical subjects

E R Cardoso

Publications and source records attributed to E R Cardoso.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Pediatric head injury caused by off-road vehicle accidents.

Morbidity and mortality from pediatric head injuries associated with the use of off-road vehicles are increasing. We reviewed all such injuries admitted to acute care hospitals in the two largest urban centers in Manitoba between April 1979 and August 1986. Of 375 injured children, 83 suffered head injury, 70 boys and 13 girls. Ages ranged from 2 to 15 years, with a mean of 10.4 years. Head injury was defined as any injury involving face, scalp or nervous system. Dirtbikes were implicated in 34 accidents, snowmobiles in 28, 3-wheel ATV's in 19, and 4-wheel ATV's in 2. About 85% of accidents occurred in a rural setting. Loss of vehicle control was the most common cause of injury. Alcohol or drug abuse were not factors. Fifty (60.2%) patients suffered loss of consciousness, prolonged in 6 (7.2%). All head-injured children also suffered at least one associated injury, mainly involving the musculoskeletal system. Associated spinal injury occurred in 18%. The average hospital stay was 13 days. Three (3.6%) patients died as a result of head injury.

Accidents↗

Obstructive sleep apnea leading to increased intracranial pressure in a patient with hydrocephalus and syringomyelia.

Rises in intracranial pressure from normal baseline values up to 50 cm H2O occurred shortly after the onset of obstructive sleep apnea in a patient with myelomeningocele, hydrocephalus, Arnold-Chiari malformation, and syringomyelia. Tonsillar hypertrophy caused the airway obstruction during sleep, because the obstructive sleep apnea and also the periodic elevation of intracranial pressure disappeared after tonsillectomy. Only one report from Japan has previously described three patients with elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressures during obstructive sleep apnea. It is conceivable that episodic airway obstruction and concurrent intracranial hypertension may have contributed to the development of syringomyelia in our patient.

Adolescent↗

Neuropathology of congenital hydrocephalus in the SUMS/NP mouse.

The neuropathology of congenital hydrocephalus in SUMS/NP mice was investigated in this study. Hydrocephalus occurred with an incidence of 16.5% and was evident in the form of an enlarged head soon after birth. The condition was progressive; affected mice gradually became noticeably smaller than normals, acquired functional disturbances and died before ever breeding. Hydrocephalic mice exhibited enormous dilatation of the lateral ventricles, thinning of the cortex and compression and distortion of the diencephalon and striatum. Examination of the midbrain in these animals revealed that the proximal cerebral aqueduct was diminished in size, occluded or absent. Evidence of its anomalous development was seen as early as day 15 of foetal development. This is in substantial agreement with previous reports on this strain. Although the mechanism by which this occurs is still unknown, abnormal development of the adjoining diencephalon and/or rostral midbrain is likely to be involved.

Age Factors↗

Hereditary hydrocephalus in laboratory animals and humans.

Cerebral ventricle dilatation secondary to disturbed flow of CSF has been observed as an inheritable trait in a variety of laboratory animals as well as in humans. In few groups, however, has the neuropathology been adequately elucidated. In most cases, defective development of the cerebral aqueduct or of the subarachnoid space has been observed. Further study is needed to understand the developmental mechanisms that fail and give rise to hydrocephalus in such models.

Animals↗

Effect of subarachnoid hemorrhage on intracranial pulse waves in cats.

The influence of vasoconstrictors of intracranial arteries on the amplitude and configuration of the intracranial pulse wave (ICPW) was investigated. Continuous pressure recordings from the descending aorta (systemic arterial pressure) and the third cerebral ventricle (intracranial pressure) were obtained from anesthetized cats. Computerized analysis of the configuration, amplitude, and frequency spectrum of ventricular wave (ICPW) and aortic pulse wave (SAPW) was performed. Artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was injected intracisternally. In 24 control cats, 2 ml artificial CSF was injected into the cisterna magna. This produced a significant increase in amplitude of the ICPW but no change in the SAPW. Ten animals received 14 intracisternal injections of 2 ml autologous blood which caused narrowing of the amplitude of the ICPW as well as of all its components (P1, P2, and P3), with no significant change in the SAPW's. Eight animals were also subjected to cisternal injection of 2 ml of a 10(-4)-M solution of 5-HT, resulting in findings similar to those produced by autologous blood. Frequency spectrum of the intracranial and aortic pulse waves showed a high degree of correlation between wave amplitudes and height of the fundamental wave in the FFT record. These results suggest that the cerebral vasospasm that follows cisternal injections of blood and 5-HT in cats can be diagnosed by analysis of the ICPW. This method may allow early diagnosis and continuous monitoring of cerebral vasospasm in humans.

Animals↗

Sub-pial infiltration of blood products following experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage.

The authors studied the trans-pial penetration of blood products into the cerebral cortex of cats within the first hour following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Twenty-two animals were subjected to SAH by cisternal injection of blood, and 13 were used as controls. The brains were fixed in situ and the histological sections were examined under the fluorescence microscope. The cerebral parenchyma of the control animals displayed a homogeneous greenish autofluorescence. In the animals with SAH, the subarachnoid blood showed a yellow autofluorescence that also penetrated into the superficial cortex. The possible clinical implications of the observation are discussed.

Animals↗

Posttraumatic hydrocephalus--a retrospective review.

The authors retrospectively reviewed all cases of acquired hydrocephalus admitted to the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Glasgow, Scotland, within a 5-year period and encountered 17 cases of posttraumatic hydrocephalus. These represented 0.7% of 2374 cases of severe head injury. Hydrocephalus became symptomatic within 1 year from the time of injury in 16 of 17 cases. Meningitis, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, posterior fossa mass, supratentorial clot with contralateral ventricular dilatation, and craniotomy contributed to the development of posttraumatic hydrocephalus. After shunting, eight patients (50%) improved markedly and four (25%) slightly.

Adolescent↗

Pituitary apoplexy: a review.

The authors present a critical review of the literature on the hemorrhagic complications of pituitary adenomas, especially those leading to apoplexy. They emphasize the distinction between pituitary apoplexy, hemorrhages leading to sudden endocrine alterations, and asymptomatic hemorrhages. Moreover, they speculate upon the possible pathophysiology of pituitary apoplexy and its predisposing factors. The clinical presentation, natural history, radiological findings, and differential diagnosis are also discussed. Finally, the historical evolution of the treatment of pituitary apoplexy is reviewed, with emphasis on the surgical treatment.

Adenoma↗

Pituitary apoplexy and vasospasm.

Two cases of pituitary apoplexy complicated by cerebral vasospasm are described. They emphasize the importance of angiography in the investigation of a protracted clinical course after pituitary apoplexy. The pathophysiology of postapoplectic vasospasm is discussed.

Adult↗

The blood-brain barrier following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage. Part 1: Response to insult caused by arterial hypertension.

In three groups of cats, the authors studied the effect of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to the penetration of Evans blue-protein complex. One group received arterial hypertension alone, one group SAH alone, and one group SAH followed by arterial hypertension. Animals subjected to arterial hypertension alone showed areas of BBB breakdown. However, when cats were rendered hypertensive after SAH, there were no demonstrable BBB lesions. The SAH was produced by intracisternal injection of whole blood and hypertension by the intravenous injection of metaraminol. The preservation of the BBB after SAH is discussed. Vasospasm is considered as a possible hemodynamic variable responsible for the protection of the BBB from hypertensive damage. The need for a new model is proposed to further investigate the state of the BBB after SAH.

Animals↗

The blood-brain barrier following experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage. Part 2: Response to mercuric chloride infusion.

Under controlled physiological conditions, fresh blood was injected into the cisterna magna of 10 adult cats to produce subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Damage to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was induced 30 minutes after SAH by the intracarotid injection of a 6 x 10(-5)M solution of mercuric chloride (HgCl2). A control series of five cats received the same injection of HgCl2. Intravenously injected Evans blue dye was used to indicate areas of BBB damage. The lesions were confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. All control animals showed BBB damage in the hemisphere injected with HgCl2. Of the animals in the test group with SAH, 90% were free from lesions. When lesions were present, the distribution differed from that in the control group. These results bear a similarity to the reported absence of HgCl2 lesions during the acute stages after total cerebral ischemia. This suggests that the cellular components of the BBB participate in a general metabolic inhibition following SAH.

Animals↗

Analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid pulse wave in intracranial pressure.

The configuration of the intracranial pressure (ICP) pulse wave represents a complex sum of various components. Amplitude variations of an isolated component might reflect changes in a specific intracranial structure. Fifteen awake patients suffering from hydrocephalus, benign intracranial hypertension, or head injury underwent ICP monitoring through a ventricular catheter and were subjected to three standardized maneuvers to alter the intracranial dynamics: head elevation, voluntary hyperventilation, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) withdrawal. A 12 degrees head elevation and fractionated CSF withdrawal caused a mild ICP drop and a proportionate amplitude reduction of all the wave components. Voluntary hyperventilation caused a comparable fall in ICP, and a disproportionate reduction in the amplitude of the wave components, especially the P2 component. It is postulated that the decrease in amplitude of the P2 component reflects the reduction of the cerebral bulk caused by hyperventilation. Head elevation and CSF withdrawal caused a decrease of global ICP but no specific changes in any intracranial structure, and consequently the configuration of the pulse wave remained unchanged. The establishment of relationships between anatomical substrate and particular wave components is promising since potentially it could be useful for monitoring conditions such as vasoparalysis, impaired cerebrovascular reactivity, and cerebral edema.

Brain Injuries↗

Thoracic myelopathy secondary to ossified ligamentum flavum.

The authors report a case of ossification of the ligamentum flavum at T-10 and T-11 associated with compressive myelopathy. Metrizamide myelography with computerized tomography allowed precise preoperative diagnosis and anatomic localization of the lesion. The patient had satisfactory and prompt improvement after surgical intervention.

Humans↗

Long-term multi-dimensional outcome following isolated traumatic brain injuries and traumatic brain injuries associated with multiple trauma.

We retrospectively investigated long-term, multi-dimensional quality-of-life outcomes in 68 male patients who suffered pure head injuries and 63 male head-injured patients with associated multiple trauma. Results indicated that patients sustaining associated multiple trauma were significantly younger and more deeply comatose on admission. Trends were found to suggest that patients sustaining associated multiple trauma also remain in coma longer, and experience more difficulties in social interaction and overall psychosocial functioning, but less difficulties in mobility compared with pure-head-injured patients. These findings should be taken into account in the evaluation of results of treatment as well as in the planning and allocation of resources for head-injured patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗