Impacts of the use of biological pest control on the technical efficiency of the Brazilian agricultural sector.

This paper aimed to assess the impact of the intensive use of biological control on the technical efficiency of the Brazilian agricultural sector. The study also considered the influence of factors such as technical assistance, rural financing, and membership in cooperatives or class entities on efficiency measures. It was estimated stochastic production frontiers for regions intensively using and not using biological control, considering potential selection bias. Results demonstrate that areas with intensive use of biological pest management have a 0.863 technical efficiency score, while this score is 0.823 for nonintensive areas. This means that the intensive regions would be closer to their efficiency frontiers. Additionally, technical assistance and membership in cooperative or class entities increase efficiency by 6 and 2.5%, respectively. It can be concluded that the intensive adoption of biological control can raise the productive performance of the Brazilian agricultural sector. Therefore, it must be highlighted the importance of formulating joint policies (e.g., credit+rural extension) for the adoption of biological control to be a feasible option to promote the sustainable development of the Brazilian agricultural sector.

Clear cell carcinoma simulating the "endometrioid-like variant" of yolk sac tumor.

The authors report a case of clear cell carcinoma of the ovary simulating the "endometrioid-like variant" of YST only recently described by Clement. The tumor was characterized histologically by a villoglandular component intermingled with an endometrioid like glandular pattern, nuclear pleomorphism with abnormal mitotic figures, eosinophilic hyaline PAS-D resistant bodies and diffuse, typical sopranuclear and subnuclear vacuolization according to Clement's description. Clinical features as the old age of the patient and laboratory investigations, suggested the possibility of a surface epithelial origin of the neoplasia, that was substantiated by subsequent additional sections and by immunohistochemical staining for AFP, AAT and CEA.

Primary carcinoma of fallopian tube: experience of six cases.

Between 1980 and 1993, six cases of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube were diagnosed and treated at the Hospital of Rovigo. Median age was 64.6 years; the most frequent symptom was atypical vaginal bleeding; only one patient presented a history compatible with hydrops tubae profluens. No patient in this series had a correct preoperative diagnosis. In Papanicolau smears and endometrial currettage, one case was positive for cancer. Primary surgical treatment was performed in all cases, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Histologic differentiation was Grade 2 in three patients and Grade 3 in three patients. Staging was by a system analogous to the FIGO classification for ovarian carcinoma. Two patients had Stage I disease; one, Stage II; two, Stage III; and one, Stage IV. Two patients died 14 and 37 months after the initial diagnosis. Three patients without clinical evidence of disease underwent second look procedures; the patients were alive and disease free with follow up ranging from 45 to 55 months. One patient is alive 4 months after surgery. In this series survival was not associated with grade, but was dependent upon stage. In our study, the prognostic value of the second- and third-look procedures are discussed.

CA-125 monitored therapy with GnRH analogue of pelvic endometriosis.

Thirteen patients affected by endometriosis have been treated with GnRH analogue Buserelin. CA-125 serum levels have been monitored before, during and after treatment. Analysis of data suggests the hypothesis of an individualized follow up by means of repeated assays of CA-125 and their reference to pre and post treatment graphs.