Abstract Objective Analysis of the effectiveness of early Parental Coaching in the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Method Randomized, controlled and blinded clinical trial to analyze parent-child interaction videos. Results The sample consisted of 18 children being followed up at the Autism Outpatient Clinic of a Neuropediatric Center in southern Brazil diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, between 29 and 42 months of age, randomly allocated to two groups: the Study Group (SG; n = 9), which received Parental Coaching performed by a professional certified by the Early Start Denver Model; and the Control Group (CG; n = 9), which was in a routine follow-up, without treatment and training of parents by a trained professional. The parents of the SG were willing to attend weekly meetings and to apply the instructional techniques at home with their children. It took 12 weeks and an average of 2 h per meeting. Conclusions The learning rate for comprehensive development skills in the Early Start Denver Model checklist, such as receptive communication, expressive communication, social capacity, imitation, cognition, games, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, behavior, and personal independence was significantly higher in the SG, as well as the strategies and the quality of interaction between parents and children. Thus, Parental Coaching presents as a possibility of early intervention in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Neste estudo demonstramos a importância da avaliação e seguimento de crianças com dificuldades no aprendizado, através de equipe multidisciplinar, assim como determinar a necessidade de intervenção em pacientes deste grupo. Avaliamos 69 crianças, provenientes da Escola Estadual Aline Picheth, em Curitiba, cursando primeira ou segunda séries do primeiro grau, através de exame neurológico básico e evolutivo, lista de sintomas, avaliação linguística, social e psicológica (WISC-III, Bender Infantil, WPPSI-gravuras). Houve predominância de meninos (84,1%), presença de história familiar positiva em 42% e alterações de escrita em 56,5%. O diagnóstico encontrado com maior frequência foi déficit de atenção e hiperatividade, em 39,1%. Com este estudo, nós almejamos reduzir as taxas de retenção escolar e enfatizar a importância da avaliação e, se necessário, intervenção multidisciplinar em casos de dificuldades de aprendizado.

With this article we intend to demonstrate the importance of evaluation and follow up of children with learning disabilities, through a multidisciplinary team. As well as to establish the need of intervention. We evaluate 69 children, from Aline Picheth Public School, in Curitiba, attending first or second grade of elementary school, through general and evolutionary neurological examination, pediatric checklist symptoms, and social, linguistic and psychological (WISC-III, Bender Infantile and WPPSI-figures) evaluation. The incidence was higher in boys (84,1%), familiar history of learning disabilities was found in 42%, and writing abnormalities in 56,5%. The most frequent diagnosis was attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, in 39,1%. With this program, we aimed to reduce the retention taxes and stress the importance of this evaluation, and, if necessary, multidisciplinar intervention in the cases of learning disabilities.

OBJETIVO: descrever sobre a prevalência e características da epilepsia em crianças com paralisia cerebral atendidas num serviço terciário. MÉTODO: um total de 100 pacientes com paralisia cerebral foi estudado retrospectivamente, tendo como critérios de inclusão o seguimento regular por pelo menos 2 anos. Os tipos e a incidência de epilepsia foram correlacionados com as diferentes formas de paralisia cerebral. Outros fatores associados com a ocorrência de epilepsia como idade da primeira crise, crises neonatais e história familiar de epilepsia também foram analisados. RESULTADOS: o tempo de seguimento variou de 24 a 151 meses (média 57 meses). A prevalência total de epilepsia foi 62%. Os pacientes com as formas hemiplégicas e tetraplégicas de paralisia cerebral tiveram a maior incidência de epilepsia: 70,6% e 66,1%, respectivamente. A primeira crise ocorreu durante o primeiro ano de vida em 74,2% dos pacientes com epilepsia. As epilepsias do tipo generalizada e parcial foram as predominantes (61,3% e 27,4%, respectivamente). Trinta e três (53,2%) de 62 pacientes permaneciam há pelo menos um ano livres das crises. Crises neonatais e história familiar de epilepsia estiveram associadas com maior incidência de epilepsia. CONCLUSÕES: epilepsia na paralisia cerebral pode ser prevista se ocorrerem crises no primeiro ano de vida e no período neonatal, e se existe história familiar de epilepsia.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and characteristics of epilepsy in patients with cerebral palsy in a tertiary center. METHODS: a total of 100 consecutive patients with cerebral palsy were retrospectively studied. Criteria for inclusion were follow-up period for at least 2 years. Types and incidence of epilepsy were correlated with the different forms of cerebral palsy. Other factors associated with epilepsy such as age of first seizure, neonatal seizures and family history of epilepsy were also analysed. RESULTS: follow-up ranged between 24 and 151 months (mean 57 months). The overall prevalence of epilepsy was 62%. Incidence of epilepsy was predominant in patients with hemiplegic and tetraplegic palsies: 70.6% and 66.1%, respectively. First seizure occurred during the first year of life in 74.2% of patients with epilepsy. Generalized and partial were the predominant types of epilepsy (61.3% and 27.4%, respectively). Thirty-three (53.2%) of 62 patients were seizure free for at least 1 year. Neonatal seizures and family history of epilepsy were associated with a higher incidence of epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: epilepsy in cerebral palsy can be predicted if seizures occur in the first year of life, in neonatal period and if there is family history of epilepsy.

Relatamos nossa experiência com imunoglobulina endovenosa (IGEV), plasmaferese e terapêutica de suporte no tratamento de 13 pacientes com síndrome de Guillain-Barré (SGB). Dos 13 pacientes, 7 receberam IGEV, 2 plasmaferese e 4 terapêutica de suporte. No 15° dia após a administração da IGEV, todos os pacientes deste grupo apresentaram melhora de pelo menos 1 grau na escala de Hughes et al. modificada. Dos 2 pacientes submetidos a plasmaferese, 1 apresentou melhora de 1 grau 5 dias após o procedimento. Entre os 4 pacientes que receberam tratamento de suporte, 2 apresentaram melhora dentro de 20 dias de evolução. No grupo que recebeu IGEV os escores finais foram menores e não houve recidivas. Assim, estes resultados sugerem que a IGEV diminui o tempo necessário para a melhora clínica quando comparado com tratamento suportivo.

We report our experience with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasmapheresis and supportive care in 13 patients with the Guillain-Barré syndrome. Seven of 13 patients received IVIG, 2 plasmapheresis and 4 supportive care. At 15th day after IVIG administration, all patients in this group had improved at least one disability grade. In the plasmapheresis group, 1 improved at 5th day after the procedure. Two of the 4 patients that received supportive care improved at 20th day of evaluation. In the IVIG group, the final scores were lower and had no relapses. These results suggest faster clinical improvement with IVIG when compared with supportive measures.