Browsing by Author "FANTIN, A"

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    VENTILATORY DRIVE AND RESPIRATORY MUSCLE FUNCTION IN PREGNANCY
    (AMER LUNG ASSOC, 1991) CONTRERAS, G; GUTIERREZ, M; BEROIZA, T; FANTIN, A; ODDO, H; VILLARROEL, L; CRUZ, E; LISBOA, C
    It has been demonstrated that during pregnancy expiratory reserve volume (ERV) decreases and minute ventilation (VE) increases initially and then stabilizes. In order to determine the role of thoracoabdominal mechanics, control of breathing, and inspiratory muscle function in these alterations, we studied inspiratory pressures, lung volumes, thoracic configuration, and respiratory drive in 18 normal pregnant women at Weeks 13, 21, 30, and 37 of pregnancy. Ten of them were studied 6 months after delivery. Transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) was measured at Week 37 and 3 months after delivery in an additional group of seven women. VE as well as VT/Tl increased early during gestation and remained unchanged thereafter. In contrast, mouth occlusion pressure (P0.1) increased progressively during pregnancy, from 1.53 +/- 0.16 (mean +/- SE) to 2.02 +/- 0.18 cm H2O, and fell significantly to 1.1 +/- 0.15 cm H2O after delivery, indicating that effective respiratory impedance increases during pregnancy. Mean P0.1 correlated with progesterone plasma levels (r = 0.918 p < 0.05). No changes in Plmax, PEmax, and Pdi(max), were observed. End-expiratory gastric pressure (Pga) increases significantly during pregnancy: 11.8 +/- 0.8 versus 8.4 +/- 1.12 cm H2O after delivery (p < 0.012). This increment was correlated with the fall in ERV observed in late pregnancy (r = 0.74 p < 0.05). Our results demonstrate that during pregnancy ventilatory drive and respiratory impedance increase with the consequent stabilization of VE, but our data do not permit us to differentiate whether the increment in P0.1 is secondary to the increase in impedance or to the rise in progesterone. Respiratory muscle function remains normal despite the alteration of thoracic configuration.
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    VISUAL-FIELD DEFECTS IN VASCULAR-LESIONS OF THE LATERAL GENICULATE-BODY
    (1992) LUCO, C; HOPPE, A; SCHWEITZER, M; VICUNA, X; FANTIN, A
    Corresponding retinal nerve fibres begin their path in the eyes and end in a single visual cortical cell. Because of this arrangement, lesions in the anterior visual pathway produce incongruent visual field defects and in the posterior pathway congruent field defects. The lateral geniculate body is on the anterior third of the visual pathway. A lesion of this nucleus produces moderately to completely congruent visual field defects. Five patients with ischaemic lesions of the lateral geniculate body are reported. Two patients had a wedge-shaped homonymous hemianopia, two other cases had congruent superior homonymous quadrantic defects and the fifth a quadruple sector defect. The lateral geniculate body has a dual blood supply from the anterior choroidal artery (branch from internal carotid artery) and from the lateral choroidal artery (branch from the posterior cerebral artery). A schematic diagram has been devised which shows that a knowledge of the visual field disrupted can identify the arterial system involved.