RESUMO As áreas irrigadas caracterizam-se pela intensificação dos cultivos e, por conseqüência, por uma intensa utilização do solo. Isso resulta em uma maior pressão de degradação da estrutura do solo, ocasionando muitas vezes

Our purpose is to report a case of trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia treated with microvascular decompression. A 63-year-old man sought treatment for a recurrent lancinating left facial pain in V2 and V3 trigeminal territories. The computed tomography angiography revealed a mechanical compression of the left trigeminal nerve due to vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia. The patient was submitted to a left suboccipital craniotomy. Shredded Teflon® was introduced in the conflicting neurovascular area, achieving a satisfactory decompression. The patient’s pain resolved immediately. Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia is a rare cause of trigeminal neuralgia and a successful outcome can be achieved with microvascular decompression.

We report the first case of symptomatic thoracic spinal cord compression caused by postsurgical pseudomeningocele. A 49-year-old man sought treatment for progressive loss of strength in the lower extremities ten months after full neurological recovery for a thoracic (T11) intradural-extramedullary schwannoma. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a postsurgical thoracic (T11-T12) pseudomeningocele. The surgical approach showed an inadequate dural closure with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid fistula. The defect was sealed with suture, muscle and biological glue covering. The patient had a good recovery. Pseudomeningocele must take part of the differential diagnosis of myelopathy after thoracic spine surgery.

The purpose of this study is to report a rare case of primary meningeal high grade Burkitt-type lymphoma presenting as the first clinical manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A 38-year-old Caucasian man, with a negative past medical history, sought treatment after experiencing global headache for five days. CT-Scan revealed a right front-temporo-parietal hyperdense subdural expansive mass. A craniotomy was performed and a hard white subdural was microsurgically dissected. Some hours after the surgery, the patient developed hemispheric cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension syndrome. Decompressive craniotomy was performed and the patient had an excellent recovery. Screening blood tests diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus infection. Further investigation ruled out systemic diseases. Eleven days after the initial surgery, the patient developed an acute respiratory failure and sepsis, dying on that day. Pathological studies diagnosed Burkitt-type lymphoma.

Abstract:The assessment of soil contamination and natural self-purification dynamic soil processes can be accomplished by numerous eco-hygienic and sanitary means without additional pollution. Among these, sublethal earthworm avoidance behavior tests have proven to be most effective. The aim of this case study was to determine the soil pollution risk in five large swine farms in Romania by using an avoidance behavior test as a screening tool with adult specimens of the earthworm Eisenia fetida (ISO 17512-1:2008 qualitative test). Two soil samples were extracted at 100 to 300 m (328 to 984 ft) and 500 to 1,000 m (1,640 to 3,280 ft) distance from each swine farm, and a single sample was taken at 1,300 m (4,265 ft) distance. The results were analyzed statistically using the Anderson-Darling Normality Test (NIST/SEMATECH) and have shown that out of the 11 soil samples, the earthworms strongly avoided (p ≤ 0.005) 4 of them, confirming a potential eco-risk. The majority of the samples avoided by the specimens were collected at the 500 to 1,000 m range. However, the soil sample taken 1,300 m away from the farm showed that, at this distance, the soil had no sign of contaminants, as earthworms preferred the testing soil to the reference sample. In our opinion, this simple assessment, which produces fast and accurate results, should be included in a battery of tests as a helpful early qualitative screening tool in soil contamination assessment procedures to reveal a potential eco-risk.