The Publication Rate of Abstracts Presented at the 2003 Urological Brazilian Meeting

OBJECTIVE: To determine the publication rate of orally-presented abstracts from the 2003 Urological Brazilian Meeting, as well as the factors determining this publication rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The publication rate of the 313 orally-presented abstracts at the 2003 Urological Brazilian Meeting was evaluated by scanning the Lilacs, Scielo and Medline databases. The time between presentation and publication, the state and country of the abstract, the research methodology (cross-sectional, case-control, retrospective case series, prospective case series or clinical trial), whether drugs were utilized and the topic of the study were all characterized. RESULTS: Thirty-nine percent of the abstracts were published after a median time of 14 months (range: 1 to 51 months). There were high publication rates for cross-sectional abstracts (75%), drug utilization studies (51.3%), clinical trials (50%) and prospective case series' (48.1%). However, there was only a moderate statistical trend towards a higher publication rate in the prospective case series (p=0.07), while the retrospective case series' showed statistically lower publication rates than the other groups (33.7%, p=0.04). Abstracts on laparoscopic surgery had the highest publication rate (61.9%, p=0.03) compared to others topics. In 57% of the unpublished abstracts, there was no interest in or attempt to publish, and rejection was responsible for the lack of publication of only 4% of the abstracts. CONCLUSION: The publication rate of the orally-presented abstracts from the 2003 Urological Brazilian Meeting was comparable to that of international congresses. The subsequent publication of presented abstracts and the selection of prospective studies with stronger evidence should be encouraged and may improve the scientific quality of the meeting

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Aspectos morfológicos do prepúcio de crianças portadoras de hipospádia com e sem o uso de creme de testosterona a 1%

The goal of this study is to analyze the different histological features of the foreskins of children with hypospadia, that has and has not recieved application of testosterone cream, and compare them with circumcised patients. The foreskin of 09 circumcised children (G1), 13 children with hypospadia, who did not receive testosterone (G2), and 13 children who received topical 1% testosterone propionate (G3) were included in this study. The histological evaluation of the collagen fiber was done with Picrosirius staining to analyze the density of these fibers. Masson`s trichrome was used evaluate the homogeneity of the collagen fibers and its quantification as their surface density, which was obtained through a videomicroscopy system superimposed with a cycloid arch test system. Elastic fiber density and homogeneity was evaluated with resorcin-fucsin of Weigert. Androgen receptor histochemistry was used to stain intensity and the number of stained cells. With the von Willebrand factor and the same video-microscopy system superimposed with a cycloid arch test system, the number and volume density of the blood vessels was obtained. Picrosirius histochemistry did not show differences among the study groups (p= 0.905). With Masson`s trichrome, testosterone-treated patients (G3) had lower homogeneity (p=0.001) and surface density of the collagen fibers (0.3 ± 0.1 collagen fibers) than those untreated (G2) (0.4 ± 0.1 collagen fibers) (p<0.001). Circumcised children had a denser pattern of elastic fiber distribution (p=0.003), and the elastic fibers were also less homogeneous (p=0.008) than the other groups. The histochemistry for androgen receptor showed a greater staining pattern in children of G1 compared to G3 (p=0.011). Testosterone-treated foreskins (G3) had an increased absolute numbers of blood vessels (8.5 ± 1.3 vessels/field) (p<0.001) and an increased blood vessel volume density (50.5% ± 7.8 vessel/points) compared to untreated subjects (G2) (24.8% ± 8.6 vessel/points) (p<0.001). Topical 1% testosterone propionate produced neovascularization, in absolute numbers and volume density, and reduced fibrous tissue. Treated children had less homogeneous distribution patterns of vessel-surrounding collagen fibers, suggesting a lower maturity of these fibers, with less collagen deposition.O objetivo do presente estudo é analisar e comparar os diferentes aspectos histológicos do prepúcio de crianças com hipospádia, com e sem aplicação prévia de testosterona, comparando com o de crianças postectomizados. O prepúcio de nove crianças postectomizadas (G1), 13 crianças com hipospádia sem uso de testosterona (G2) e 13 com hipospádia que fizeram aplicação tópica de propionato de testosterona a 1% por 30 dias (G3) foram incluídas no estudo. Avaliação histológica dos prepúcios para fibras colágenas foi feita com picrosírius, usado para avaliar densidade dessas fibras. Com o Tricrômio de Masson foi avaliada a homogeneidade das fibras colágenas e sua quantificação através do sistema de arcos ciclóides sobreposto a um sistema de vídeomicroscopia, onde obtive-se a densidade de superfície. Resorcina-fucsina de Weigert foi usada para avaliar a densidade e homogeneidade das fibras elásticas. Com o receptor de andrógeno avaliou-se o número e intensidade das células coradas. Fator de Von Willebrand foi usado para avaliar o número e densidade de volume dos vasos sanguíneos. O picrosírius, não mostrou diferenças entre os grupos estudados (p= 0,905). Com o Tricrômio de Masson, observamos que os pacientes tratados com testosterona (G3) apresentaram uma menor homogeneidade (p= 0,001) e menor densidade de superfície de fibras colágenas (0,3 ± 0,1 fibras colágenas) que aqueles não tratados (0,4 ± 0,1 fibras colágenas) (p< 0,001). As crianças postectomizadas apresentaram um padrão de distribuição de fibras elásticas mais denso (p= 0,003) e menos homogêneo (p= 0,008) que os demais grupos. A marcação para receptor de andrógeno foi maior nas crianças do G1 quando comparadas ao G3 (p=0,011). O prepúcios tratados com testosterona (G3) apresentaram aumento do valor numérico absoluto de vasos (8,5 ± 1,3 vasos/campo) (p< 0,001) e aumento da densidade de volume destes vasos (50,5% ± 7,8 vasos/ponto) quando comparados com o grupo não tratado (G2) (24,8% ± 8,6 vasos/ponto) (p< 0,001). O uso tópico de propionato de testosterona a 1% foi capaz de provocar neovascularização, em número absoluto e densidade de volume, e reduzir o tecido fibroso. Crianças tratadas apresentaram padrão de distribuição de fibras colágenas menos homogêneo próxima aos vasos o que sugere menor maturidade destas fibras com menos deposição de colágeno

Streptococcus agalactiae em gestantes:Incidência em laboratório clínico de Juiz de Fora (MG) - 2007 a 2009

Streptococcus agalactiae ou estreptococos do grupo B de Lancefield (EGB) foi descrito inicialmente como um importante agente da mastite bovina. Esta bactéria pode ser encontrada no trato gastrintestinal, pele, vias respiratórias superiores e aparelho urogenital de seres humanos. Sua relevância clínica está associada à possibilidade de transmissão para recém-nascidos, durante o parto, ocasionando diversas doenças, como sepse, meningite, pneumonia e osteomielite. A prevalência da colonização materna pelo EGB no Brasil varia de 14,9 a 21,6%, sendo que a mundial varia de 10 a 30 %. O objetivo do trabalho é traçar a evolução da frequência de colonização pelo EGB em parturientes atendidas em um serviço de microbiologia clínica de Juiz de Fora (MG), no período de 2007 a 2009. Os espécimes clínicos (material vaginal e ou anal) foram recuperados de 911 gestantes e processados utilizando-se técnicas de cultura microbiológica clássica. As colônias sugestivas de EGB foram submetidas à identificação bioquímica através do sistema automatizado ATB Expression (bioMerieux, França). Das 911 gestantes avaliadas, 16,6% exibiram cultura positiva para EGB. O ano de 2009 apresentou o maior índice de solicitações médicas (39,9% ; 363 solicitações) e mais alta taxa de incidência de colonização materna (27,5%). Concluiu-se que o EGB é um micro-organismo prevalente entre as parturientes atendidas em um serviço de microbiologia clínica de Juiz de Fora. Entretanto, face ao crescimento do número de detecções do EGB, torna-se fundamental o reconhecimento, por parte do Ministério da Saúde, da importância de se incluir no programa de pré-natal a estratégia de detecção laboratorial de colonização das gestantes por EGB

Correlation between pelvic floor strength and physical activity level in healthy men.

The male pelvic floor muscles comprise a pair of compound muscle layers referred to as the levator ani. Studies have shown that pelvic floor muscle strength is affected by physical activity. This study aimed to assess male pelvic floor muscle strength through manometry of the external anal sphincter and evaluation of its association with physical activity level, BMI, and rectal pressure in healthy men. To assess physical activity level over the previous week, we used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire 8 (IPAQ). Pelvic floor muscle strength was assessed via anorectal manometry. The results shows a negative correlation between resting pressure and MET, a positive correlation between rectal pressure and resting and maximum pressure. The novel finding of this study is a negative correlation between walking and pelvic floor strength. This study raises new questions about the understanding of the interaction among physical activity, intraabdominal pressure, and pelvic floor strength in the physiology of continence in men

Prevalência e resistência a antibióticos de Stenotrophomonas maltophilia em amostras clínicas: estudo epidemiológico de 10 anos

Introduction: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging opportunistic pathogen, mainly associated with nosocomial infections. Therapeutic options for the treatment of S. maltophilia infections are limited because of their resistance to a wide variety of antibiotics. Objective: To investigate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of isolates identified as S. maltophilia from hospitalized patients recovered from a clinical laboratory located in Juiz de Fora - Minas Gerais, as well as to analyze epidemiological data of these patients. Materials and Methods: Consecutive, non duplicate isolates of S. maltophilia (n=58) for the 10-year period were analyzed. All samples were identified using the automated Vitek 2® Compact system (BioMérieux/France). Antibiotic resistance standards were performed using the disk diffusion method. Patient records were evaluated and data such as age, gender, clinical specimen, and in-hospital death rate attributed to S. maltophilia infection were also analyzed. Results: From a total of 39,547 (100%) clinical specimens analyzed, 58 (0,14%) unreplicated isolates were identified as S. maltophilia. 70,6% of S. maltophilia isolates were isolated from tracheal secretion and 15,5% from blood. All samples were sensitive in vitro to the antibiotics tested. In-hospital death frequency associated with S. maltophilia infection was 44,7%. Individuals from a wide age range (0-100 years) were affected by S. maltophilia infection, with females being the most prevalent (56,9%). Conclusion: Pneumonia and Bacteremia were the most frequent clinical syndromes caused by S. maltophila. A moderate mortality rate associated with S. maltophila infections was observed, despite the high sensitivity in vitro to the antibiotics tested. New studies are necessary in order to generate data and information that may be useful in early diagnosis, management and correct treatment of infections associated with S. maltophila, especially those with a profile of antibiotic resistance.Introdução: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia é um patógeno oportunista emergente, associado, principalmente, a infecções nosocomiais. As opções terapêuticas para o tratamento de infecções por S. maltophilia são limitadas, devido a sua resistência a uma grande variedade de antibióticos.Objetivo: investigar a prevalência e a resistência aos antibióticos de isolados identificados como S. maltophilia, a partir de pacientes hospitalizados, recuperados em um laboratório clínico, localizado em Juiz de Fora – Minas Gerais, bem como analisar dados epidemiológicos destes pacientes.Materiais e Métodos: Isolados consecutivos, não duplicados de S. maltophilia (n=58),referentes ao período de 10 anos foram analisados. Todas as amostras foram identificadas utilizando o sistema automatizado Vitek 2® Compact (BioMérieux/França). Os padrões de resistência aos antibióticos foram realizados utilizando o método de disco difusão. Os prontuários dos pacientes foram avaliados e dados como idade, sexo, espécime clínico, bem como índice de óbito intra-hospitalar atribuído à infecção por S. maltophilia foi igualmente analisado. Resultados: De um total de 39.547 (100%) espécimes clínicos analisados, 58 (0,14%) isolados não replicados foram identificados como S. maltophilia. 70,6% dos isolados de S. maltophilia foram isolados de secreção traqueal e 15,5% de sangue.Todas as amostras foram sensíveis, in vitro, aos antibióticos testados.Frequência de óbito intra-hospitalar associado à infecção por S. maltophilia foi de 44,7%. Indivíduos de ampla faixa etária (0-100 anos) foram acometidos por infecção por S. maltophilia, sendo o sexo feminino o mais prevalente (56,9%). Conclusão: Pneumonia e bacteremia foram as síndromes clínicas mais frequentes causadas por S. maltophila. Constatou-se moderada taxa de mortalidade associada a infecções por S. maltophilia, apesar da alta sensibilidade in vitro aos antibióticos testados. Novos trabalhos se fazem necessários, a fim de gerar dados e informações que possam ser úteis no diagnóstico precoce, manejo e tratamento correto de infecções associadas a S. maltophilia, em especial aquelas com perfil de resistência aos antibóticos

A prospective evaluation of plastibell® circumcision in older children

Introduction and Objective Circumcision is one of the oldest surgical procedures and one of the most frequently performed worldwide. It can be done by many different techniques. This prospective series presents the results of Plastibell® circumcision in children older than 2 years of age, evaluating surgical duration, immediate and late complications, time for plastic device separation and factors associated with it. Materials and Methods We prospectively analyzed 119 children submitted to Plastic Device Circumcision with Plastibell® by only one surgeon from December 2009 to June 2011. In all cases the surgery was done under general anesthesia associated with dorsal penile nerve block. Before surgery length of the penis and latero-lateral diameter of the glans were measured. Surgical duration, time of Plastibell® separation and use of analgesic medication in the post-operative period were evaluated. Patients were followed on days 15, 45, 90 and 120 after surgery. Results Age at surgery varied from 2 to 12.5 (5.9 ± 2.9) years old. Mean surgical time was 3.7 ± 2.0 minutes (1.9 to 9 minutes). Time for plastic device separation ranged from 6 to 26 days (mean: 16 ± 4.2 days), being 14.8 days for children younger than 5 years of age and 17.4 days for those older than 5 years of age (p < 0.0001). The diameter of the Plastibell® does not interfered in separations time (p = 0,484). Late complications occurred in 32 (26.8%) subjects, being the great majority of low clinical significance, especially prepucial adherences, edema of the mucosa and discrete hypertrophy of the scar, all resolving with clinical treatment. One patient still using diaper had meatus stenosis and in one case the Plastibell® device stayed between the glans and the prepuce and needed to be removed manually. conclusions Circumcision using a plastic device is a safe, quick and an easy technique with low complications, that when occur are of low clinical importance and of easy resolution. The mean time for the device to fall is shorter in children under 6 years of age and it is not influenced by the diameter of the device