Objective: To analyse the diagnostic capacity of barium enema (BE) in the diagnostic investigation for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) was analyzed for transition zone (TZ) identification and rectosigmoid index (RSI) ≤1.0 determination. Patients and Methods: BE images were analyzed retrospectively by 2 examiners and the results were compared with the histopathology of rectal biopsies. Results: TZ identification and RSI ≤1.0 were assessed separately and combined in 43 patients. Twelve (27.9%) patients had the diagnosis of HD based on rectal biopsies. TZ identification presented better diagnostic capacity for the 2 examiners than RSI ≤1.0. However, interexaminer agreement was higher for RSI ≤1.0 than for TZ identification. The combination of TZ identification and RSI ≤1.0 increased the sensitivity (83.3%–92.3%) and the negative predictive value (90.4%–92.3%). Conclusion: Therefore, the high diagnostic sensitivity of TZ identification combined to RSI ≤1.0 reinforces the usefulness of these BE parameters in the screening for Hirschsprung's disease.

No abstract

No abstract

Purpose: To evaluate a model for studying the toxicity in nervous tissue and meninges using ultrasound to guide needle insertion into the subarachnoid space of rabbits, with the objective of avoiding injuries triggered by the puncture and by intraneural injection of solutions. Methods: Forty-five adult female rabbits were divided into 3 groups (G): G1 underwent subarachnoid puncture, G2 underwent subarachnoid injection of saline solution and G3 underwent subarachnoid injection of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. A needle was inserted into the S1-S2 subarachnoid space guided by ultrasound. The sensitivity and motility of the animals were evaluated for 3 days, after which the animals were sacrificed for removal of lumbar and sacral portions of the spinal cord for histological examination by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Results: All animals had motor function and pain sensitivity on the evaluation period. No animal had complication during or after the procedures. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a useful and safe method for the correct identification of the subarachnoid space of rabbits.

No abstract

No abstract

BACKGROUND: The influence of the placement of a band on the outcomes of one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) has not been appropriately studied yet. OBJECTIVE: To compare early weight loss and glucose metabolism parameters following banded versus non-banded OAGB. METHODS: A prospective randomized study, which evaluated 20 morbidly obese individuals who underwent banded and non-banded OAGB and were followed-up for three months. Weight loss (percentage of excess weight loss - %EWL and percentage of body mass index loss - %BMIL) and glucose metabolism outcomes (glucose, insulin and homeostasis model assessment - HOMA) were compared. RESULTS: The banded group presented a significantly higher %EWL at one month (29.6±5.5% vs 17.2±3.4%; P<0.0001) and two months post-surgery (46±7% vs 34.2±9%; P=0.004544), as well as a significantly higher %BMIL at one month (9.7±1.1% vs 5.8±0.8%; P<0.0001), two months (15±1.4% vs 11.5±2.1; P=0.000248), and three months (18.8±1.8% vs 15.7±3.2%; P=0.016637). At three months, banded OAGB led to significant decreases of insulin (14.4±4.3 vs 7.6±1.9; P=0.00044) and HOMA (3.1±1.1 vs 1.5±0.4; P=0.00044), whereas non-banded OAGB also led to significant decreases of insulin (14.8±7.6 vs 7.8±3.1; P=0.006) and HOMA (3.2±1.9 vs 1.6±0.8; P=0.0041). The percent variation of HOMA did not significantly differ between banded and non-banded OAGB (P=0.62414); overall, the percent variation of HOMA was not correlated with %EWL (P=0.96988) or %BMIL (P=0.82299). CONCLUSION: Banded OAGB led to a higher early weight loss than the standard technique. Banded and non-banded OAGB led to improvements in insulin resistance regardless of weight loss.

PURPOSE:To evaluate the effect of ketamine S (+) 5% with no preservatives and administered as a subarachnoid single puncture on the spinal cord and meninges of rabbits. METHODS:Twenty young adult female rabbits, each weighing 3500-5000 g and having a spine length between 34 and 38 cm, were divided by lot into two groups (G): 0.9% saline in G1 and ketamine S (+) 5% in G2, by volume of 5 μg per cm column (0.18 mL).After intravenous anaesthesia with ketamine and xylazine, the subarachnoid space was punctured at S1-S2 under ultrasound guidance, and a random solution was injected. The animals remained in captivity for 21 days under medical observation and were sacrificed by decapitation. The lumbosacral spinal cord portion was removed for immunohistochemistry to assess the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and histology was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stain. RESULTS:No histological lesions were found in the nervous tissue (roots and cord) or meninges in either group. CONCLUSION:The ketamine S (+) 5% unpreserved triggered no neurological or histological lesions in the spinal cord or meninges of rabbits.Key words: Anesthesia, Spinal. Ketamine. Injections, Spinal. Spinal Cord. Rabbits. Effects caused by the spinal administration of ketamine S (+) 5% with no preservatives, using a single puncture, and located on the spinal cord and meninges in rabbits