[A missing name in the history of chagasic megaesophagus: Joseph Cooper Reinhardt (1809/10-1873)]. / Um nome que faltava na história do megaesôfago chagásico: Joseph Cooper Reinhardt (1809/10-1873).

The book entitled "Brazil and the Brasilians", written by the Reverends Kidder and Fletcher and firstly published in the United States in 1857, reports the travels of these two missionaries throughout Brazil and includes a section entitled "A new disease". This section contains data regarding the clinical picture, the natural history and the epidemiology of a commom disease in Brazilian hinterland, which was known as "mal de engasgo". These informations were collected in 1855 by Rev. Fletcher from an anonymous North American physician, who worked in Limeira, State of São Paulo, and is called in the book merely as "Dr.-". The present work reports the results of an investigation carried out aiming at the identification of "Dr.-" and discloses documental evidence that "Dr.-" was actually Dr. Joseph Cooper Reinhardt (1809/10-1883). Dr. Reinhardt worked for many years in the citites of Limeira and Campinas, State of São Paulo, and probably had an extensive knowledge regarding the main features of this particular disease, which would be known, nearly 100 years later, as chagasic megaesophagus. The authors point out that, from now on, any account of the history of chagasic megaesophagus must include the name of Dr. Joseph Cooper Reinhardt.

[Aspiration cytology of the thyroid using a fine needle. Technical aspects]. / Citologia aspirativa por agulha fina da tiroide. Aspectos técnicos.

Fine needle aspiration cytology is the diagnostic test of choice for evaluating thyroid nodules. It's an easy and inexpensive method with low mobility which allows a safe diagnosis in patients with goiter, a therapeutic approach in benign cystic lesions as well as an early diagnosis and therapeutic guidance in thyroid cancer. The authors report fine needle aspiration cytology technical aspects as well as its possible complications. The authors also report briefly the cytologic patterns and its differential diagnosis.

[Histological aspects of the endometrium in users of intrauterine devices]. / Aspectos histológicos do endométrio em portadoras de dispositivos-intra-uterinos.

PIP: The large scale use of IUDs in Portugal is very recent. To evaluate their effects (Lippes Loop, Gynet, and Gravigard) on the histologic pattern of the endometrium, we have studied endometrial biopsies prior to insertion and following removal of the devices. The results of the histologic and, in some cases, cytologic study, are presented for 471 patients. 77.4% of the endometrial biopsies showed patterns of a normal menstrual cycle. 3.48% of the cases presented chronic and acute endometritis. Different patterns of endocrine dysfunction were present in 11.4% of the remaining cases. No case of foreign body reaction was detected. No clinical symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, or uterine perforation were seen. It is concluded that the use of IUDs may produce definite changes in the endometrium but they are often subtle ones. (author's)^ieng

[Churg-Strauss allergic granulomatosis]. / Granulomatose "alérgica" de Churg-Strauss.

A 65 year old female patient with a 2 year history of bronchial asthma disseminated petechial, papulopustular and ulceronecrotic eruption and an isolated episode of intestinal bleeding. Chest X rays showed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and laboratory examination revealed eosinophilia (17%) leucocytosis (22.900) and a severe renal insufficiency. Cutaneous biopsy revealed a necrotizing, leucocytoclastic vasculitis of the small blood vessels in the dermis as well as the hypodermis. The patient died 2 days after diagnosis and corticosteroid therapy had been started. Necropsy showed granulomatous and/or vasculitic lesions of the lungs, spleen, kidneys and skin. The clinical and laboratory aspects are discussed and the relevant literature is reviewed.