[Female workers health: the case of a laundry at a sodium chlorate factory]. / Saúde das trabalhadoras: o caso da lavanderia de uma indústria química de cloro-soda.

This article presents a case study on working and health conditions of female workers and former workers in the laundry at a sodium chlorate plant. The women's main function was to wash uniforms of workmen who handled metallic mercury during production and maintenance. The aim of this study is to show the health effects of this work process by analyzing workplace conditions, evaluating clinical aspects in the women, and performing individual interviews in order to obtain more precise information based on their personal experience. The authors demonstrate how harmful this type of work is to the women workers' health, posing a serious risk for them in particular and workers' conditions in general in the factory. They also point out that most of what is known about women's occupational activity (in terms of its contents and risks), in addition to their specific problems and different diseases, may be disguised by gender relationships.

[Comparative study of cardioplegia and intermittent cross-clamping in myocardial revascularization surgery]. / Estudo comparativo da cardioplegia e do clampeamento intermitente em cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of two methods for myocardial preservation during coronary artery by pass graft (CABG): the intermittent aortic cross-clamping (IACC) and the cold hyperkalemic solution (CHS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty-three patients operated for CABG between October/83 to May/84 were studied retrospectively. Those operated in emergency situations, reoperations and those who required concomitant additional procedures were excluded. The surgical technique used in both groups was essentially the same. Group I comprised 93 cases (40-70 years-old, median 57.7% y; 86% male) in which IACC were used. Group II comprised 70 cases (37-72 years old, median 67.7 y; 80% male) in which CHS (St. Thomas) was injected into the aortic root. The patients were evaluated in the immediate postoperative period at 3, 6, 12 months and then in variable periods until the 61 months of late follow-up. Myocardial ischemia and infarction, the use of drugs and the hospital time recovery were evaluated. The occurrence of symptoms, return to work, physical capacity, reinternations, reoperations and late deaths were evaluated in the late follow-up. RESULTS: During hospital period, no death was observed. Perioperative myocardial infarct was similar in both groups (group I = 2.1% and group II = 1.4%) statistical difference in the others parameters was observed. Of 95.5% of the patients who had postoperative observations, 80% had a late follow-up ranged from 30 to 61 months (median 38 months). One patient of each group had a cardiac death. In both groups (group I--1 patient and group II--4 patients) coronary insufficiency symptoms related were present and no statistical difference in the others parameters was observed. CONCLUSION: CHS or IACC were efficient and similar methods for myocardial protection in an elective group of patients submitted to a CABG in the immediate and late follow-up.

The resistant ovary syndrome.

A patient is described with primary amenorrhoea, raised FSH and LH levels and ovaries containing many primary follicles. These features were characteristic of the "resistant ovary syndrome". After ovarian wedge resection the patient began to menstruate.