Increasing restrictions on the use of artificial pigments in the food industry, imposed by the international market, have increased the importance of raw materials containing natural pigments. Of those natural substances with potential applications turmeric rhizomes (Curcuma longa L), are one of the most important natural sources of yellow coloring. Three different pigments (curcumin, desmetoxycurcumin, and bis-desmetoxycurcumin) constitute the curcuminoids. These pigments are largely used in the food industry as substitutes for synthetic dyes like tartrazin. Extraction of curcuminoids from tumeric rhizomes with supercritical CO2 can be applied as an alternative method to obtain curcuminoids, as natural pigments are in general unstable, and hence degrade when submitted to extraction with organic solvents at high temperatures. Extraction experiments were carried out in a supercritical extraction pilot plant at pressures between 25 and 30 MPa and a temperature of 318 K. The influence of drying pretreatment on extraction yield was evaluated by analyzing the mass transfer kinetics and the content of curcuminoids in the extracts during the course of extraction. The chemical identification of curcuminoids in both the extract and the residual solid was performed by spectrophotometry. Mass transfer within the solid matrix was described by a linear first-order desorption model, while that in the gas phase was described by a convective mass transfer model. Experimental results showed that the concentration profile for curcuminoids during the supercritical extraction process was higher when the turmeric rhizomes were submitted to a drying pretreatment at 343 K.

A neurotoxic peptide, granulitoxin (GRX), was isolated from the sea anemone Bunodosoma granulifera. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of GRX is AKTGILDSDGPTVAGNSLSGT and its molecular mass is 4958 Da by electrospray mass spectrometry. This sequence presents a partial degree of homology with other toxins from sea anemones such as Bunodosoma caissarum, Anthopleura fuscoviridis and Anemonia sulcata. However, important differences were found: the first six amino acids of the sequence are different, Arg-14 was replaced by Ala and no cysteine residues were present in the partial sequence, while two cysteine residues were present in the first 21 amino acids of other toxins described above. Purified GRX injected ip (800 µg/kg) into mice produced severe neurotoxic effects such as circular movements, aggressive behavior, dyspnea, tonic-clonic convulsion and death. The 2-h LD50 of GRX was 400 ± 83 µg/kg.

É relatado um caso de granuloma tuberculoso epidural lombar determinando uma síndrome radicular semelhante à observada em hérnias discais. O diagnnóstico só pode ser firmado durante e após a cirurgia. A descompressão cirúrgica com excisão do granuloma, associada ao tratamento específico, mostrou-se eficaz.

A case of tuberculous granuloma producing a radicular syndrome in a 58 year-old white male is reported. Excision of the granuloma and the administration of antituberculous therapy was followed by complete recovery.

É apresentado o caso de paciente de 53 anos de idade com quadro de rebaixamento mental e comprometimento piramidal, com evolução progressiva até mutismo acinético em 6 meses de evolução. Um pneumencefalograma mostrou aumento simétrico do sistema ventricular. Uma biópsia cerebral permitiu encontrar alterações neuronais, gliose e estado espongioso que permitiram classificar o caso como de moléstia de Creutzfeldt-Jakob. São discutidos os achados eletromicroscópicos.

The case of a patient 53 years old that had a picture of cortical impairment and pyramidal disfunction, leading in 6 months to acinetic mutism is reported. The histopathology lead to the diagnostic of Creutzeldt-Jakob disease, with neuronal loss, gliosis and status spongiosus. The electron-microscopic examination showed that the status spongiosus was due to cellular processes, some having vesicular bodies sugestive of pre-synaptic vesicles.

É relatado o caso de um menino de oito anos de idade com crises convulsivas generalizadas, sem alteração mental, evoluindo com déficit motor difuso e progressivo até o óbito. No exame anatomopatológico foi encontrada acentuada atrofia cortical cerebral, assim como lesões degenerativas também nas demais localizações da substância cinzenta, incluindo a medula espinhal. O achado de lesões disgenéticas associadas levou os autores a rotularem o caso como sendo o de moléstia de Alpers.

A case of degeneration of the gray matter in infancy is reported. An 8 years old boy has repeated generalized seizures, without mental deterioration for over a year. During 6 days he presented diffuse motor deficit and profound coma, till death. Histologically there were found lesions similars to those previously reported as Alpers' disease, i.e. diffuse neuronal loss in encephalic and spinal cord gray matter and disgenetic lesions in cerebral white matter.

É apresentado um caso de neurolues congênita (meningovascular e parenquimatosa) associada a hidrocefalia do tipo bloqueado. A natureza luética da afecção foi confirmada por exames paraclínicos e histopatológico. O registro do caso se justifica pelo fato da não existência na literatura compulsada de outro semelhante comprovado histopatològicamente. A hidrocefalia ocorreu em conseqüência do bloqueio do sistema ventricular pelo processo inflamatório de natureza crônica.

A case of meningovascular and parenchymatous neurosyphilis associated with a non-communicating hydrocephalus is reported. The syphilitic nature of the disease was confirmed by laboratory and histopathological findings. The authors were unable to find in the medical literature other reports of histologically documented cases of hydrocephalus secondary to a block of the ventricular system determined by neurosyphilis.

Os autores apresentam técnica de diagnóstico citológico para neoplasias do sistema nervoso central, aplicável ao diagnóstico rápido intra-operatório. A técnica é baseada em esfregaços não fixados, corados pela tionina. O controle dos resultados foi feito tanto com esfregaços fixados e corados pela técnica de Papanicolaou, como mediante cortes histológicos do mesmo material. Os resultados obtidos são concordes com dados já publicados na literatura por outros autores. Os autores julgam que as técnicas citológicas suplantam com vantagens as técnicas histológicas de congelação, para o diagnóstico neuropatológico intra-operatório.

A technique based on unfixed thionine stained smears for cytologic diagnosis of intra-cranial tumors during neurosurgical operations is presented. The controls were both cytological (fixed, Papanicolaou stain) and histological (paraffin embedded). The technique substitutes with advantages the routine frozen section diagnosis. The results are in agreement with previous data reported in the literature using other cytologic techniques for the same purpose.

Os hemangioendoteliomas primitivamente ósseos são neoplasias muito raras e de diagnósticos clínico e radiológico difíceis. Em virtude de seu crescimento rápido, grande capacidade infiltrativa e metastatização precoce, o prognóstico é geralmente sombrio, mesmo com cirurgia radical seguida de radioterapia. Relatamos um caso de hemangioendotelioma maligno, localizado no crânio, em criança de 6 anos de idade, cujo diagnóstico radiológico foi de displasia fibrosa óssea. O doente foi operado, sendo feita exérese aparentemente total da neoplasia e, a seguir, irradiado com cobaltoterapia em doses elevadas; tais medidas, contudo, não impediram a progressão do processo neoplásico. A quimioterapia, com Enduxan intravenoso, determinou a cura clínica e radiológica do paciente. São discutidos varios aspectos referentes ao diagnóstico do hemangioendotelioma maligno, tendo em vista a grande confusão existente na literatura em relação à nomenclatura e classificação desses tumores.

The primary localization of hemangioendothelioma in the bone is very rare and the clinical and radiological diagnosis is often difficult. Due to the rapid growth, invasive properties and early metastatization, the evolution of these neoplasms is often progressive, despite the radical removal followed by radiotherapy. A case of a malignant hemangioendothelioma of the skull in a 6-year-old male patient is reported. The radiological aspects supported the diagnosis of fibrous dysplasia of bone. The patient was operated on, and an apparently total removal of the tumor was performed, followed by cobaltotherapy; however, the growth of the neoplasm was not arrested. Thus, chemotherapy with intravenous Enduxan (50 mg per day) was employed during a month, with clinical recovery and radiological cure of the process. Some clinical features on the differential diagnosis of hemangioendothelioma are discussed due to the confusion on the terminology and classification of these tumors.

É relatado um caso de paciente apresentando a forma crônica da doença de Chagas, no qual foi observada a presença de encefalite chagásica aguda, com demonstração de leishmanias no sistema nervoso central. O caso é único na literatura, sendo interpretado como devido a agravamento da forma crônica da doença de Chagas pela presença de leucemia linfática crônica associada. A existência de leucemia linfática pode levar à extinção de clones linfocitários responsáveis por fenômenos imunitários, criando, assim, condições para o agravamento e agudização da forma crônica da doença de Chagas.

A case of chronic Chagas disease, associated with chronic lymphocitic leukemia is reported. Acute manifestations of Chagas disease, characterized by acute encephalitis, with demonstration of Leishmaniae in the central nervous system were observed. This aspect is unique in the literature, since Chagas encephalitis appears only as a manifestation of the acute form of the disease, and not as a complication of the chronic form. The fact is interpreted, in this case, as secondary to alteration of the immune state, due to the presence of chronic lymphocitic leukemia.

Registro de caso de paciente com quadro mórbido relacionável ao da heredopatia atática polineuritiforme (doença de Refsum). O diagnóstico é discutido frente aos aspectos clínicos, laboratoriais e histopatológicos encontrados e sua relação com os achados referidos na literatura como próprios a essa moléstia.

The case of a patient with many of the clinical characteristics commonly referred to in Refsum's disease is reported. Ichthyosis was noted in the patient and in other members of the family. Cerebrospinal fluid proteins were normal. Serum copper and caeruloplasmin concentrations were hight, as well as transaminases. Histological findings common to neuritis interstitialis hypaertrophica were found on examination of a peripheric nerve segment obtained by biopsy. Studies on the occurrence of phytanic acid could not be carried out. The relationship between the case reported and Refsum's syndrome is discussed.

Os autores apresentam uma sistematização das lesões que podem ser encontradas na moléstia de Recklinghausen. Foram observados 4 casos de forma nervosa central da moléstia. Em todos existiam tumores bilaterais nos ângulos pontocerebelares, constituindo uma das manifestações mais importantes da doença, sendo mesmo a única em um dos casos (forma central pura). Nos demais, portadores de formas mistas, além de outras lesões centrais (neurofibromas, meningeomas, ninhos de células atípicas), havia lesões periféricas discretas. Tumores intrarraquidianos originados nas bainhas radiculares foram os causadores da sintomatologia inicial em 3 pacientes. Em dois casos em que o córtex foi examinado histológicamente, foram encontrados ninhos de células gliais atípicas, característicos da forma central da neurofibromatose. Duas lesões relativamente raras foram encontradas no segundo caso: angioma cortical e neurite intersticial hipertrófica do plexo braquial. Em pacientes portadores de neurofibromatose periférica ou raquídea, como também em seus familiares, devem ser sempre procuradas lesões centrais, principalmente tumores do nervo acústico. O exame neuro-radiológico de escolha para confirmar o diagnóstico dêstes tumores é a iodoventriculografia.

The authors present a systematization of the lesions seen in Recklinghausen's disease. Four cases of the nervous central type of the disease were studied. In all the cases there were bilateral pontine-cerebellar tumors, one of the most important findings for diagnostic purposes, which was the only manifestation of the disease in one of them (pure central form). In the others, with mixed types, besides various central lesions (neurofibromas, meningeomas) there were mild peripheral lesions. Intravertebral tumors orinating from radicular sheaths were the cause of the initial symptoms in three patients. In the two cases where the cerebral cortex was histologically studied, groups of atypical glia cells characteristic of the central type of neurofibromatosis were found. Two relatively rare lesions were found in the second case : cortical angioma and hypertrophic intersticial neuritis of the brachial plexus. In patients with peripheral or intravertebral neurofibromatosis, as well as in their relatives, central lesions must be sought for, especially tumors of the acoustic nerve. The neurological diagnostic procedure of choice in such tumors is the contrasted ventriculography with Lipiodol.

A propósito da passagem de contraste, nas angiografias por via carotídea, para vasos não pertencentes ao território de distribuição da artéria na qual o contraste foi injetado, foi feita uma revisão de 700 angiografias. O segmento pós-comunicante da artéria cerebral posterior ipsilateral foi encontrado em 42,5% dos casos; o segmento pós-comunicante da artéria cerebral anterior contralateral apareceu em 49,4%; maior ou menor extensão do segmento pré-comunicante da artéria cerebral anterior do lado oposto foi encontrada em 9,85%; a artéria cerebral média bem como o segmento pré-comunicante da cerebral anterior do lado oposto foram encontrados em 4,85% dos casos. A freqüência da visibilização de outras artérias não pertencentes ao território do vaso no qual o contraste foi injetado pode ser fàcilmente verificada no quadro 1. O motivo principal desta publicação foi dado por um grupo de 22 angiografias, nas quais o contraste, injetado por via carotídea, penetrou também no sistema vértebro-basilar. O fato verificado nestas 22 angiografias cerebrais tem sido relatado raramente. Da discussão do mecanismo pelo qual o contraste penetra no tronco basilar, chegando mesmo, por vêzes, até às artérias vertebrais, resultou uma hipótese segundo a qual o fenômeno seria condicionado por hipotensão arterial, acentuada, mas passageira, produzida por um reflexo hiperativo do seio carotídeo provocado pela própria injeção do contraste. Se fôr comprovada esta hipótese, a demonstração angiográfica de todo o sistema arterial encefálico com uma só injeção de contraste por via carotídea poderá ser viável, deliberadamente, empregando hipotensão induzida e controlada.

In order to study the contrast filling of arteries which are not part of the injected vessel territory, a series of 700 carotid-angiographies performed in the "Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo" is reviewed. The post-communicating segment (see fig. 3) of the ipsilateral posterior cerebral artery was filled in 42.5% of the cases. The post-communicating segment of the contralateral anterior cerebral artery was found in 49.4%; the contralateral sylvian artery as well as the corresponding pre-communicating portion of the anterior cerebral artery was filled in 4.85% of the cases; the pre-communicating segment of the contralateral anterior cerebral alone was seen in 9.85%). The incidence of contrast filling of other arteries which do not belong to the vascular bed of the injected artery can be seen in table 1. In 19 instances out of the 700 angiographies reviewed, the contrast medium filled the basilar artery and its main branches. Three similar cases, from the private clinic, are included in this report on account of their peculiar aspects. Carotid-angiographies in which the basilar artery is filled have been reported as being very unusual; Torkildsen fount just one case in a series of 2,800 carotid-angiographies. The authors emphazise the value of the systemic blood pressure in the mechanism of contrast filling of the basilar; according to them a severe drop in systemic blood pressure is an essential point. This hypotension being transient and rapidly reversible may be related to a hyperactive carotid sinus reflex. Although it represents merely an hypothesis, the authors think it envolves a very practical interest; once it was proved, the visualization of the entire intracranial arterial field could be achieved by injecting the contrast medium in a carotid artery, under induced and controlled blood hypotension.