Identifying and modeling patterns of tetrapod vertebrate mortality rates in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The accidental oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 has caused perceptible damage to marine and freshwater ecosystems. The large quantity of oil leaking at a constant rate and the long duration of the event caused an exponentially increasing mortality of vertebrates. Using data provided by NOAA and USFWS, we assessed the effects of this event on birds, sea turtles, and mammals. Mortality rates (measured as the number of carcasses recorded per day) were exponential for all three groups. Birds were the most affected group, as indicated by the steepest increase of mortality rates over time. For sea turtles and mammals, an exponential increase in mortality was observed after an initial delay. These exponential behaviors are consistent with a unified scenario for the mortality rate for tetrapod vertebrates. However, at least for mammals, pre-spill data seem to indicate that the growth in the mortality rate is not entirely a consequence of the spill.

Diagnosis and treatment of prostatic abscess

OBJECTIVES: Present and discuss the pathogenesis, diagnostic methods and treatment of the prostatic abscess. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have retrospectively studied the medical records of 9 patients diagnosed and treated for prostatic abscess, between March 1998 and December 2000, assessing age, context, associated diseases, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods. We have compared the data found with those described in literature, based on Medline data. RESULTS: Mean age was 52.6 years. Three patients had previous diabetes mellitus diagnosis, and one was infected by HIV virus. Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate confirmed the diagnosis of prostatic abscess in all 7 cases in which it was performed. All cases received antibiotic treatment, and 77.8 percent needed concomitant surgical treatment. Two cases of microabscess were treated only with antibiotics. Four patients were submitted to perineal catheter drainage, 2 were submitted to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and one patient required both procedures. Mean hospitalization time was 11.2 days, and most frequent bacterial agent was S. aureus. All patients were discharged from the hospital, and there was no death in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Prostatic abscess should be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and surgical drainage (perineal puncture or TURP). Microabscess may heal without surgery

Diagnosis and treatment of prostatic abscess.

OBJECTIVES: Present and discuss the pathogenesis, diagnostic methods and treatment of the prostatic abscess. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have retrospectively studied the medical records of 9 patients diagnosed and treated for prostatic abscess, between March 1998 and December 2000, assessing age, context, associated diseases, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods. We have compared the data found with those described in literature, based on Medline data. RESULTS: Mean age was 52.6 years. Three patients had previous diabetes mellitus diagnosis, and one was infected by HIV virus. Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate confirmed the diagnosis of prostatic abscess in all 7 cases in which it was performed. All cases received antibiotic treatment, and 77.8% needed concomitant surgical treatment. Two cases of microabscess were treated only with antibiotics. Four patients were submitted to perineal catheter drainage, 2 were submitted to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), and one patient required both procedures. Mean hospitalization time was 11.2 days, and most frequent bacterial agent was S. aureus. All patients were discharged from the hospital, and there was no death in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Prostatic abscess should be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and surgical drainage (perineal puncture or TURP). Microabscess may heal without surgery.

Litíase urinária na gestaçäo / Urinary lithiasis in pregnancy

A urolitíase durante o período gestacional é uma patologia que pode determinar riscos à saúde materna e fetal. Diagnóstico e a terapêutica desta patologia envolvem várias especialidades médicas e deve ser do conhecimento do médico plantonista de emergência, do ginecologista, obstetra, infectologista, radiologista e do urologista. Apresentamos neste artigo uma revisao atualizada sobre a litíase urinária na gestaçäo