Affonso Luiz Ferreira

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound accelerates the regeneration of the sciatic nerve after neurotomy in rats.

The biophysical qualities of pulsed ultrasound (US) led us to appraise its effect on the regeneration of a peripheral nerve. In this study, our intention was to evaluate the effects of pulsed US on the axotomy of the sciatic nerve in rats. The proximal stump of the nerve was stimulated on 12 consecutive days with pulsed US and the effects of the sonication were evaluated through morphological and morphometric techniques. Our findings suggest that sonication leads to a rapid regeneration of the nerve after axotomisation. These affirmations are based on the counting of different types of fibre components in mixed nerves and the morphological recovery of the same in comparison with nerves of animals submitted to sham operation.

Lesões isquêmicas do testículo de cães mediante garroteamento temporário do cordão espermático

Ischemia due to testicular torsion is considered to be an urologic emergency in men. There is controversy about the time necessary to cause morbidity or reversibility of the ischemic lesions of germ cells. The objective of the present study conducted on dogs was to determine the critical time of onset and the reversibility of the lesions after garroting the spermatic cord. The results showed that 2 hours is the critical period of ischemia survival in germ cells. After 60 days there was full recovery of the germinal epithelium. Animals with periods of ischemia of 2h and 30min presented testicular necrosis when examined 60 days later.

Use of fresh autogenous vaginal tunic in the experimental lamellar keratoplasty in dogs (Canis familiaris, LINNAEUS, 1758)

Autogenous vaginal tunics have been researched in lamellar keratoplasty in dogs using fresh autogenous grafts in the repair of superficial keratectomies. Fourteen dogs have been used for the evaluation at the early, intermediary and late postoperative periods. Photophobia, blepharospasm, ocular discharge, edema, neovascularization and pigmentation have been observed. The results have showed that the original procedure is useful for the repair of corneas after superficial keratectomies.

Thermic effects of acupuncture on Taixi ( Kl 3) evaluated by means of infrared telethermography

Abstract Objective To observe the eventual thermic effects of stimulating Taixī ( Kl 3) by telethermography. Methods Nine individuals of both sexes, chosen randomly, participated in this study. The temperature of the room where the experiment was carried out was not above 21 °C. At the start of the experiment the volunteer stayed for exactly ten minutes in the room for acclimatization, then the first thermographic image was recorded for standardization purposes. Following this, an acupuncture needle was inserted at Kl 3 only in the right leg, whose depth was limited to obtain Deqi, only manual stimulation for 15 min permanence in the site. After this period, new images were recorded. Results Significant reduction of all the right leg temperatures, by about 1.1 °C in all the volunteers that received the acupuncture at the Kl 3 was noted, with a coefficient variation of P 0.05. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that manual stimulation of the Kl 3 influences significantly peripheral vascular circulation, by means of sympathetic stimulation causing vasoconstriction.

Lesões da parede da artéria carótida da cobaia após clampagem temporária com destaque para a rede de vasa vasorum

Foram estudadas as lesoes provocadas nas arterias carotidas de cobaias (Cavia porcellus), com diâmetros variando de 1 a 2 mm, submetidas a clampagem temporaria (10 e 30 minutos), com microclampes empregados em microneurocirurgia, utilizando-se injecao intravital da mistura de gelatina liquida e tinta da China para contrastacao dos vasa vasorum. As arterias foram diafanizadas e observadas ao microscopio optico e posteriormente observadas atraves de cortes histologicos. Foram verificadas lesoes agudas na intima, na camada media e na rede de vasa vasorum adventicial, que ocorreram independentemente da duracao da clampagem. Os resultados sugerem que existe uma pressao critica exercida pelos microclampes, acima da qual deixa de haver uma relacao direta entre a pressao exercida e o grau de lesao da parede arterial. A observacao das arterias 30 dias apos a clampagem temporaria evidenciou recuperacao parcial em relacao as lesoes agudas embora tenham persistido alteracoes na intima e na camada media, que poderao constituir pontos fracos na parede arterial. As alteracoes graves dos vasa vasorum observadas agudamente e o quadro morfologico reacional verificado tardiamente nao apresentaram diferencas quanto a pressao exercida pelo microclampe. Nao foi possivel correlacionar o grau de lesao da parede arterial e as alteracoes dos vasa vasorum. O trauma mecânico provocado pelas lâminas do microclampe pareceu mais importante na genese destas lesoes. Apesar das lesoes graves observadas na parede das arterias clampadas temporariamente, em nenhum caso verificou-se trombose e oclusao vascular no local da clampagem.