The present study compared losses of weight and length in specimens of Atherinella brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) after fixation in formalin 10% during ten days, and posterior preservation in ethanol 70% for 45 days, in two solvents: freshwater and marine water. Additionally, correction factors were proposed to calculate the correction for weight and length from preserved specimens. The specimens were weighted and measured after collection (fresh), and with 10, 20, 27, 34, 41 and 55 days of fixation plus preservation. The largest losses in weight occurred during the first 20 days (10.35 ± 0.31% - freshwater; 11.29 ± 0.44% - marine water), continuing with lesser intensity up to the 27th day in freshwater dilution, and up to the 34th day in marine water dilution. Weight losses stabilized by the 34th day for both freshwater (11.77 ± 0.33%) and marine water (13.62 ± 0.41%). The largest losses in the total length for the two methods were also observed in the first 20 days (7.42 ± 0.27% - freshwater; 9.76 ± 0.26 - marine water), stabilizing after the 27th day in freshwater (8.60 ± 0.26%) and 20th day in marine water (9.76 ± 0.26%). The losses of weight and total length were significantly dependent on fish size, with smaller individuals suffering the most significant losses. Complete regression equations were proposed for the retro-calculation of fresh weight and total length from the preserved specimens for freshwater (Wfresh = 1.0536W P + 0.0416; TLfresh = 0.9588TL P + 5.8437) and marine water (Wfresh = 1.0868W P + 0.0451; TLfresh = 0.8621TL P + 10.425).

São relatados 35 casos de pacientes com síndrome de hipertensão intra-craniana causada por processos inflamatórios crônicos do sistema nervoso central. Apesar da multiplicidade dos agentes etiológicos, a conduta neuro-cirúrgica para a solução da hipertensão intracraniana é semelhante nestes processos. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos. O grupo 1 inclui 7 pacientes nos quais o quadro clínico e neuro-radiológico era de lesão expansiva intracerebral. Estes pacientes foram submetidos a cranotomia com exerese do processo expansivo: tratava-se de cisticercos múltiplos em 5 casos, tuberculoma em um e granuloma blastomicótico em outro. A mortalidade foi nula e não houve recidiva da hipertensão intracraniana. Nos pacientes do grupo 2 as lesões fundamentais são representadas pela ependimite granulosa e leptomeningite crônica das cisternas basais. Os quadros clínico e neuro-radiológico são de hidrocefalia com dilatação ventricular e frequentemente sem sintais neurológicos focais. O prognóstico nestes casos é mais grave devido quase sempre à progressão da doença. Nos 28 pacientes incluídos neste grupo o tratamento de escolha foi a derivação ventriculoatrial ou ventrículoperitonial. A mortalidade foi de 39,2%.

A study into the neurosurgical approach to thirty-five patients with increased intracranial pressure due to inflamatory diseases affecting the central nervous system and meninges is reported. The entities under consideration were found to have similar surgical aspects despite the heterogeneity of etiologic agents. As regards the surgical treatment, two groups of cases were recognized. Group 1 comprises 7 patientes with symptoms of a space-occupying lesion; in these patients craniotomies were perfomed with good results. Group 2 included the remainder 28 cases with acquired hydrocephalus. In this group differents methods for ventricular drainage were used, but ventriculo-auriculostomy and specially ventriculo-peritoneal shunts proved to give more gratifying results. Chemotherapy was administred when the etiologic agent was disclosed. Corticosteroids were institued to reduce inflammatory reations and cerebral edema. A review of the literature supported the practical classification and surgical techniques employed.

Estudos histoquímicos, bioquímicos e ultraestruturais permitiram recentemente distinguir dois tipos de entidades nosológicas dentre as doenças conhecidas como "Idiotia amaurótica familiar" (IAF). O primeiro, que inclue a doença de Tay-Sachs, ou tipo infantil de IAF, é constituido por doenças de armazenamento de gangliósides. Sua patogenia é conhecida, baseando-se em deficiências de enzimas lisossômicos. O segundo grupo, cuja patogenia é desconhecida, foi recentemente designado "Ceróide-lipofuscinose neuronal" (CLN) por Zeman e colaboradores. Corresponde aos tipos infantil tardio, juvenil e adulto de IAF, caracterizando-se histopatologicamente pelo acúmulo intraneuronal de lipopigmentos. Os autores descrevem quatro casos de Ceróide-lipofuscinose neuronal, sendo dois irmãos do tipo infantil tardio (Jansky-Bielschowsky) e um casal de irmãos do tipo juvenil (Spielmeyer-Sjögren). Uma autópsia e três biópsias corticais revelaram distensão de moderada a intensa dos neurônios por lipopigmentos, assim como gliose e atrofia cerebral generalizada. Acúmulo simi- lar foi também encontrado no baço, no fígado e no miocárdio. Os casos descritos são os primeiros da literatura brasileira em que o material de acúmulo foi identificado histoquimicamente como lipopigmento. Além de breve resumo da clínica da CLN, discutem-se problemas relativos à identificação da substância intraneuronal por histoquímica e microscopia eletrônica.

Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (NCL) is a recent term, proposed for acurate designation of the late-onset types of Amaurotic Family Idiocy (AFI). Histopathology shows ubiquitous intraneuronal accumulation of lipopigments, being the most important factor for characterization of the entity at present time. Biochemical changes and pathogenesis are obscure. NCL is in contrast to the infantile type of AFI (Tay-Sachs disease), in which intraneuronal accumulation of gangliosides (sphingolipids) is due to the well known deficiency of a lysosomal enzyme. The authors report on four cases of NCL, two brothers of the late infantile (Jansky-Bielschowsky) type and a brother and a sister of the juvenile (Spielmeyer-Sjögren) type. One autopsy and three cortical biopsies revealed moderate to severe distention of the neurons by lipopigment, with nerve cell loss, gliosis and cerebral atrophy. Lipopigment was also increased in liver, heart and spleen. The patients were the first in Brazilian literature in whom the storage material was identified as lipopigment by histochemical methods. A brief summary of the clinical features of NCL is presented, and relevant problems are discussed, concerning interpretation of the nature of the storage material, and significance of the disease for gerontological research.

Relato de um caso de aneurisma gigante da artéria cerebral média esquerda operado com sucesso. O aneurisma que apresentava medidas de 35 x 27 x 23 mm determinou manifestações clínicas de hipertensão intracraniana. A sua exerese total resultou em pronto desaparecimento dos sintomas.

A case of giant aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery, in a 28-year-old right-handed woman, successfuly operated is reported. The aneurysm measur- ing 35 x 27 x 23 mm showed clinical manifestations as a space-occupying lesion. The patient recovered completely after the total excision of the aneurysm.

São relatados os casos de 9 pacientes com abscessos intracranianos submetidos à aspiração. Apenas um paciente faleceu. Dois apresentaram seqüelas: um com hemiparesia e outro com convulsões focais. Em 5 casos foi feita cirurgia de urgência com alívio imediato da hipertensão intra-craniana.

The cases of nine pacients with intracranial abscess operated on by aspiration are reported. Only one patient did not survive. One pacient developed postoperative seizures and, another, hemiparesis. In 5 cases it was necessary a relief of increased intracranial pressure by neurosurgical emergency.