Lethargic encephalitis (LE) is a Central Nervous System disorder following an upper respiratory tract infection, characterized by sleep disturbances, clinical symptoms corresponding to basal ganglia involvement and in some cases, neuropsychiatric sequelae. We report a 18-year-old mole with a history of sinusitis treated with azithromycin, two weeks before, presenting with fever, headache, confusion and myoclonus. Urine analysis was positive for cannabis. Cerebro spinal fluid analysis showed mononuclear pleiocytosis (109xmm³) and an increase in protein concentration ofl.6 g/dl. Forty eight hours after admission, the patient required mechanical ventilation and subsequently a status epilepticus appeared. Ten days later, fever, rigidity and resting tremor appeared. A magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperintensities in FLALR sequence in the right insular cortex. The patient continued with extreme rigidity, catatonia and mutism. Considering the possibility ofa LE, methyl prednisolone 1 g/day was administered for five consecutive days followed by prednisone 40 mgl day, observing a dramatic improvement of rigidity and tremors.

A colonização e sucessão da comunidade de algas perifíticas em substrato natural (Nymphaea spp.) foi avaliada em um reservatório raso (Lago das Ninféias, PEFI, SP). O estudo avaliou as fontes de variabilidade da estrutura da comunidade perifítica em dois períodos climáticos, contribuindo para o maior entendimento da dinâmica da comunidade em região tropical. A amostragem das variáveis abióticas e bióticas foi realizada a cada três dias até o 12º dia e cada cinco dias até completar 30 dias no período seco e chuvoso. Os pecíolos de Nymphaea spp. foram aleatoriamente selecionados e limpos. A estrutura do perifíton foi analisada através da clorofila-a, densidade de espécies algais, biovolume, riqueza e diversidade de espécies. O período chuvoso caracterizou-se pelos maiores valores de temperatura e disponibilidade de nutrientes e o período seco pela maior disponibilidade de luz. Os maiores valores de biomassa, densidade e biovolume algal foram observados no período seco. Fases e trajetórias sucessionais distintas foram identificadas em cada período climático. As condições limnológicas mudaram sazonalmente no interior dos bancos de macrófitas e, consequentemente, influenciaram a estrutura da comunidade de algas perifíticas. Concluiu-se que a estrutura da comunidade de algas perifíticas foi sensível às alterações autogênicas (sucessão), mas a escala sazonal foi a principal fonte de variabilidade da estrutura da comunidade.

Colonization and succession of a periphytic algal community on a natural substrate (Nymphaea spp.) was evaluated in a shallow reservoir (Lago das Ninféias, PEFI, SP). This study aimed to evaluate the environmental factors responsible for the structural variability of a periphytic algal community. Samplings of abiotic and biological variables were carried out every three days up to the 15th day, and later at five days intervals for 30 days in the dry (4/07 to 08/03/2007) and rainy (9/01 to 02/08/2008) seasons. The petioles of Nymphaea spp. were randomly selected and cleaned. Periphytic algal structure was analyzed by measuring chlorophyll-a, algal density, biovolume, species richness and diversity. The rainy season was characterized by high temperature and nutrient availability and the dry season had the highest light availability. Periphyton biomass, algal density and biovolume were higher in the dry season than in rainy season. Different successional phases and trajectories were identified in each climatic period. Limnological conditions inside macrophyte stands changed seasonally, and consequently influenced the periphytic algal structure. The final conclusion is that the periphytic algae structure was sensitive to autogenic changes (succession), but the seasonal scale was the main source of variability in community structure.

The term asthenia comes from the Greek (¢sqsneia, a: privation, without; esthénos: vigor, force), it means absence of strength, vigor or force. It is a symptom, difficult to define, with a set of vague sensations, different for each patient. It is a frequent cause of consult, almost 30% in ambulatory settings. The chronic fatigue represents up to 10% of these cases, and the 0.2-0.7% belongs to the chronic fatigue syndrome. It is very important to differentiate asthenia from weakness, dizziness or dyspnoea, since patients may confuse them. The factor time in asthenia is very useful for its characterization, it was defined to the prolonged fatigue when it lasts for more than a month and chronic when the duration is greater than 6 months. The depression is the commonest fatigue cause, representing approximately half of the cases. The most effective treatment of the asthenia is to solve the underlying cause, although up to 20% of the patients remain without diagnosis. The diagnosis of the chronic fatigue syndrome is of exclusion and the criteria of the international consensus of year 1994 are due to use. The high frequency of the symptom entails an enormous social and economic cost and it is for that reason so important for physicians to have a correct manage of this symptom.

El término astenia deriva del griego (¢sqsneia, a: privación, sin, esthénos: vigor, fuerza), significa ausencia de fortaleza, vigor o fuerza. Es un síntoma difícil de definir, que implica un conjunto de sensaciones vagas, distintas para cada individuo. Es un motivo habitual de consulta representando hasta el 30% de la consulta ambulatoria. A su vez, la fatiga crónica representa del 1 al 10% de estos casos, y el 0.2- 0.7% del total pertenece al síndrome de fatiga crónica. Es importante saber diferenciar la astenia de la debilidad y de la disnea, ya que los pacientes habitualmente le dan el mismo significado. El factor tiempo en la astenia es útil para su caracterización. Se definió a la fatiga como prolongada cuando su duración es mayor a un mes y crónica cuando la misma supera los 6 meses. La sistematización de las entidades capaces de provocar astenia deberá guiar la búsqueda de síntomas y signos físicos, así como la indicación de estudios complementarios. La depresión es la causa más común de fatiga, representando aproximadamente la mitad de los casos. El tratamiento más efectivo de la astenia es solucionar la causa subyacente; no obstante hasta un 20% de los pacientes queda sin diagnóstico. El diagnóstico de síndrome de fatiga crónica es de exclusión y se deben usar los criterios del consenso internacional del año 1994¹. En cuanto a su tratamiento, existe evidencia a favor de utilizar ejercicio físico graduado y terapia cognitiva. La alta frecuencia del síntoma conlleva un enorme costo social y económico consumiendo recursos de manera desmesurada, por lo que es importante que los médicos estén familiarizados con este síntoma.

The prolific life of Jonathan Hutchinson is reviewed. The importance of triads, a set of signs and symptoms that lead to the suspicion of the presence of one or more clinical entities, that are a demonstration of associative thinking, is also discussed. Nowadays, when technology plays a very important role in medicine, we would like to underscore the value of history taking and physical examination as useful clinical tools.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease with several causes and diverse clinical course. In our environment there are not many papers on this entity and they approach punctual features inside the broad spectrum picture. The aim of this study is to determinate clinical features, etiology, handling and evolution of patients diagnosed with AP admitted in our Hospital during a three years period. The clinical records of patients with AP admitted at the British Hospital of Buenos Aires between April 2004 and April 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic data, etiology, treatment, severity of the illness, morbidity and mortality were evaluated. Ninety seven patients were diagnosed with AP during the analyzed period. Forty nine were male (50.5%). The average age was 58.5 ± 1.6 years (range 21-93). Ninety two patients presented only one episode of AP and five patients suffered two or more (recurrent pancreatitis). According to the etiology, 48 had a biliary origin, 23 were idiopathic, 11 post biliary tract procedures, 2 recognized an alcoholic origin and 13 other causes. The median hospital stay was 7 days. Twenty five percent required admission in Intensive Care Unit. Most of the patients (n: 66; 72%) presented mild episodes according to the Ranson Score. The median of beginning oral feeding was 3 days. Regarding to complications, 13% have multiple organ failure, 8% pancreatic necrosis (4 infected), only one patient had a pseudocist and another patient a peripancreatic abscess. Mortality rate was 7.2% (7 cases, all with Ranson = 3). Although this is a short series, the biliar origin is still the most prevalent etiology in our population. The low number of alcoholic origin caught our attention. Mortality was similar to that described in other series, but the number of local complications was lower. Our data are consistent with other papers regarding management and prognosis, and update the Argentine casuistic.

La pancreatitis aguda (PA) es una patología con múltiples etiologías y de curso clínico diverso. En nuestro medio son escasas las comunicaciones acerca de esta entidad y en general abordan temas puntuales dentro del amplio espectro del cuadro. El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar las características clínicas, la etiología, el manejo y la evolución de los pacientes internados en nuestra institución con diagnóstico de PA. Se analizaron retrospectivamente los registros clínicos de los pacientes con diagnóstico de PA entre abril de 2004 y abril de 2007. Se evaluaron los datos poblacionales, etiología, tratamiento instaurado, gravedad y morbimortalidad. En el período analizado, 97 pacientes fueron internados con diagnóstico de PA. Cuarenta y nueve fueron de sexo masculino (50.5%). La edad promedio fue de 58.5 ± 1.6 años (rango 21-93). Noventa y dos pacientes presentaron un solo episodio de PA, y 5 pacientes dos o más episodios (pancreatitis recurrente). Según su etiología, 48 fueron de origen biliar, 23 idiopáticas, 11 post-procedimientos en la vía biliar, 2 de origen alcohólico y 13 de otras causas. La mediana de estadía hospitalaria fue 7 días. El 25% requirió internación en Unidad de Terapia Intensiva. Según la escala de Ranson la mayoría de los pacientes (n: 66; 72%) presentaron cuadros leves. La mediana de inicio de alimentación oral fue de 3 días. Con respecto a las complicaciones, 13% presentaron falla multiorgánica, 8% necrosis pancreática (4 infectadas), sólo un paciente desarrolló un seudoquiste y otro un absceso pancreático. La mortalidad fue 7.2% (7 casos, todos con Ranson ≥ 3). La PA de origen biliar resultó ser la más común y si bien la presente es una serie pequeña, llama la atención el bajo número de PA de origen alcohólico. Aunque el número de complicaciones locales fue menor, la mortalidad fue similar a la descripta en la literatura. Nuestros datos también son coincidentes en cuanto al manejo y pronóstico de la PA. El presente trabajo actualiza la casuística en Argentina.

Trata-se de uma análise do discurso realizada sobre a Norma Operacional Básica do Sistema Único de Saúde - NOB-SUS 01/96, com o objetivo de localizar no seu enunciado sinais que permitissem a identificação das correntes de pensamento que influenciaram a política de saúde priorizada pelo gestor federal nos primeiros anos do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). A autora distingue uma peculiaridade do gênero de discurso adotado na portaria ministerial: sua estruturação sobre aspectos isolados da legislação e em bandeiras defendidas por outras comunidades discursivas e a articulação com preceitos legais redefinidos - esforço para autorizar a argumentação oficial de pertinência da manutenção do controle do processo de descentralização pelo gestor federal. A análise conclui que uma norma infralegal não pode atribuir uma superioridade hierárquica (função de mediação) aos gestores estaduais e federal sobre os gestores municipais nem dar às Comissões Intergestores a atribuição legal dos Conselhos de Saúde, transformados em meros ratificadores de decisões. O estudo realizado para obtenção do grau de mestre em Comunicação e Cultura (UFRJ) verificou que a outorga de privilégios não previstos na Lei para os gestores estaduais e federal volta a se manifestar com mais ênfase na Norma Operacional da Assistência à Saúde - NOAS 01/01.

A discourse analysis carried out on basic operating standard Norma Operacional Básica do Sistema Único de Saúde (NOB-SUS 01/96) of the Brazilian public health care system aiming at locating signs that could allow to identify lines of thought which have influenced health care policies prioritized by the federal administration. The author points out a peculiarity in the kind of discourse employed by the ministry directive: its structure is based on isolated aspects of legislation and on ideas advocated by other discourse communities, articulated with redefined legal principles - an effort towards authorizing the official reasoning in favor of the relevance in keeping the decentralization process under the control of the federal administration. The analysis concludes that an infra-legal standard can neither grant state and federal administrations a hierarchical superiority (mediation function) over municipal administrations, nor can it transfer the legal responsibilities pertaining to Health Councils over to inter-administration commissions (Comissões Intergestores) , thus making the former mere decision ratifiers. This study found that granting privileges not contemplated in the legislation to state and federal administrations surfaced again and more strongly so in 2001 in yet another operating standard.

Trata-se de uma análise do discurso realizada sobre a Norma Operacional Básica do Sistema Único de Saúde - NOB-SUS 01/96, com o objetivo de localizar no seu enunciado sinais que permitissem a identificação das correntes de pensamento que influenciaram a política de saúde priorizada pelo gestor federal nos primeiros anos do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). A autora distingue uma peculiaridade do gênero de discurso adotado na portaria ministerial: sua estruturação sobre aspectos isolados da legislação e em bandeiras defendidas por outras comunidades discursivas e a articulação com preceitos legais redefinidos - esforço para autorizar a argumentação oficial de pertinência da manutenção do controle do processo de descentralização pelo gestor federal. A análise conclui que uma norma infralegal não pode atribuir uma superioridade hierárquica (função de mediação) aos gestores estaduais e federal sobre os gestores municipais nem dar às Comissões Intergestores a atribuição legal dos Conselhos de Saúde, transformados em meros ratificadores de decisões. O estudo realizado para obtenção do grau de mestre em Comunicação e Cultura (UFRJ) verificou que a outorga de privilégios não previstos na Lei para os gestores estaduais e federal volta a se manifestar com mais ênfase na Norma Operacional da Assistência à Saúde - NOAS 01/01.

A discourse analysis carried out on basic operating standard Norma Operacional Básica do Sistema Único de Saúde (NOB-SUS 01/96) of the Brazilian public health care system aiming at locating signs that could allow to identify lines of thought which have influenced health care policies prioritized by the federal administration. The author points out a peculiarity in the kind of discourse employed by the ministry directive: its structure is based on isolated aspects of legislation and on ideas advocated by other discourse communities, articulated with redefined legal principles - an effort towards authorizing the official reasoning in favor of the relevance in keeping the decentralization process under the control of the federal administration. The analysis concludes that an infra-legal standard can neither grant state and federal administrations a hierarchical superiority (mediation function) over municipal administrations, nor can it transfer the legal responsibilities pertaining to Health Councils over to inter-administration commissions (Comissões Intergestores) , thus making the former mere decision ratifiers. This study found that granting privileges not contemplated in the legislation to state and federal administrations surfaced again and more strongly so in 2001 in yet another operating standard.

The term paroxysmal sympathetic storms is used to define episodic alterations in body temperature, blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate, size of pupil, and level of consciousness coinciding with hyperhidrosis, excessive salivation and extensor posturing. All the cases were presented after severe diffuse axonal head injury. We present two young patients with diffuse axonal head injury that develop in their evolution hypertension, tachycardia and fever without evidence during the episodes of epileptiform activity and without any infectious cause with excellent answer to the treatment with beta-blockers and morphine. We consider that the correct diagnosis of this entity minimizes the application of unnecessary studies allowing an appropriate treatment.

El término tormenta simpática paroxística se utiliza como sinónimo de alteraciones episódicas de la temperatura corporal, la presión arterial, la frecuencia respiratoria y cardíaca, el tamaño pupilar y el nivel de conciencia, que coinciden con hiperhidrosis, salivación excesiva y postura extensora. Esto siempre en el contexto de una injuria axonal difusa grave que sigue a un traumatismo encéfalo-craneano (TEC) grave. Presentamos dos pacientes jóvenes con injuria axonal difusa secundaria a TEC grave, que desarrollan en su evolución cuadros de hipertensión arterial, taquicardia y fiebre, sin evidencia durante los episodios de actividad epileptiforme y habiéndose descartado la causa infecciosa, que responden favorablemente al tratamiento con beta-bloqueantes y morfina. Consideramos que el correcto diagnóstico de esta entidad minimiza la solicitud de estudios innecesarios permitiendo iniciar un tratamiento adecuado.