Desmoplastic fibroma of the proximal ulna

A young man presented with desmoplastic fibroma in the proximal ulna. This rare tumour was treated by curettage and bone grafting.     

Hysteroscopy and three-dimensional ultrasonography in uterine diverticulum diagnosis: a case report

The authors describe a case report of a uterine diverticulum in a postmenopausal woman with abnormal uterine bleeding, confirmed by 3-dimensional ultrasonography and hysteroscopy. They comment on the clinical significance of this rare lesion.     

Predictive factors for motile sperm recovery using testicular biopsy in nonobstructive azoospermic patients

Objective: The objective of the presentstudy was to assess the predictive value ofhormone values, histological analysis for thefinding of motile spermatozoa on testicularbiopsy in nonobstructive azoospermia.Methods: This cross-sectional studyassessed serum follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone, prolactin and totaltestosterone values in 50 patients undergoingtesticular biopsy prior to ICSI. P< 0.05 wasconsidered significant.Results: Recovery was successful in 28cases, and motile spermatozoa were retrieved in7. Significant differences were detectedbetween presence of motile spermatozoa andabsence of spermatozoa in terms of FSH values(P = 0.003, one-way ANOVA). The other variablesdid not present statistical differences. Areceiver operating characteristic curve showedthat FSH levels below 17.00 IU/L werepredictive of motile spermatozoa recovery.Conclusions: FSH values can serve as apredictive factor for the recovery of motilespermatozoa using biopsy in azoospermicpatients. On the other hand, histologicalanalysis and other hormone values were nothelpful in the prediction of motile sperm.     

Association between smoking and paracoccidioidomycosis: a case-control study in the State of Espírito Santo,Brazil

Paracoccidioidomycosis, the main systemic mycosis in Brazil, requires long-term, high-cost treatment and leaves serious sequelae in the lungs, the organ most frequently affected and further subject to aggressive external risk factors like smoking. The influence of tobacco and alcohol consumption on chronic paracoccidioidomycosis was investigated using a case-control study. Data on occupation, place of residence, and living habits were obtained from 70 cases and 180 controls residing in the same geographic areas. The risk of becoming ill was 14 times greater among smokers and 3.6 times greater among individuals with an alcohol intake of more than 50 g/day. Logistic regression showed as significant variables: tobacco consumption for more than 20 years (OR = 10.1), smoking manufactured (not hand-rolled) cigarettes (OR = 4.8), and alcohol intake > 50 g/day (OR = 2.9). Cases who smoked 20 or more cigarettes/day became ill on average eight years before others (p = 0.002). Alcohol intake > 50 g/day had no statistically significant impact on age at onset of illness (p = 0.78). The study concludes that smoking stands as an important risk factor for the development of chronic paracoccidioidomycosis. As for alcoholism, there is evidence that it acts as a co-factor, together with smoking.     

Analysis of the effects of the continuous electrode paste band on precordial leads of the electrocardiogram

OBJECTIVE - To determine if the application of a continuous electrode paste band on precordial leads results in alteration of the electrocardiographic tracing as compared with an adequate amount of electrode paste, and if the former condition does not cause uniform morphologies from V1 to V6. METHODS - The amplitude and morphology of the electrocardiographic waves on the precordial leads in electrocardiographic tracings, which were performed with standard (control group) or excessive (continuous band) application of the electrode paste, were compared. RESULTS - None of the 106 patients studied showed uniformity of the QRS morphology from V1 to V6. The eletrocardiographic alterations identified in the tracings performed with a continuous electrode paste band that showed statistical significance in relation to the control group were the following: inversion of the P wave in V1; inversion of the T wave in V1, V2, and V3; appearance of R' waves in V1 and V2; disappearance of S waves in V1; appearance of S waves in V5 and V6; alterations in the amplitude of almost all waves, in all leads. CONCLUSION - Application of a continuous electrode paste band in the precordial leads may cause significant alterations in the electrocardiographic tracing obtained.