This study examined the impact of sex reassignment surgery on the satisfaction with sexual experience, partnerships, and relationship with family members in a cohort of Brazilian transsexual patients. A group of 19 patients who received sex reassignment between 2000 and 2004 (18 male-to-female, 1 female-to-male) after a two-year evaluation by a multidisciplinary team, and who agreed to participate in the study, completed a written questionnaire. Mean age at entry into the program was 31.21+/-8.57 years and mean schooling was 9.2+/-1.4 years. None of the patients reported regret for having undergone the surgery. Sexual experience was considered to have improved by 83.3% of the patients, and became more frequent for 64.7% of the patients. For 83.3% of the patients, sex was considered to be pleasurable with the neovagina/neopenis. In addition, 64.7% reported that initiating and maintaining a relationship had become easier. The number of patients with a partner increased from 52.6% to 73.7%. Family relationships improved in 26.3% of the cases, whereas 73.7% of the patients did not report a difference. None of the patients reported worse relationships with family members after sex reassignment. In conclusion, the overall impact of sex reassignment surgery on this cohort of patients was positive.

Epididymal abnormalities in undescended testes are probably more common than suggested in the literature but only sporadic reports are found on this subject. For many years discussions have centered around the ideal age to operate on patients with undescended testes and consequently increase chances for future fertility. We analyzed 66 patients (82 testes) treated for undescended testis in our department, with special distinction between ectopia and cryptorchidism. Abnormalities ranged from simple epididymal elongation to more complex forms, such as complete disruption between the testis and epididymis. Among 49 ectopic testes the epididymides of 19 (38.8%) displayed more severe abnormalities in addition to elongation, while 16 (32.6%) showed only an elongated epididymis and 14 (28.6%) were normal. Among the 33 cryptorchid testes 29 (87.9%) showed the more complex anomalies and elongation, 3 (9.1%) were normal and only 1 (3%) was elongated. Our results demonstrate a much higher incidence of complex epididymal abnormalities in cryptorchidism (p less than 0.001). Elongated epididymis may present problems for sperm maturation and transportation, although with no other associated abnormality most can be regarded as patent. In our theory cases of elongation plus other major abnormalities probably are associated with severe impairment in sperm maturation and hindered transportation, with the future intrascrotal or extrascrotal position of the testis or early surgical repair being of little importance in terms of fertility.

PURPOSE:To design an animal model of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in kidneys and evaluate the role that predetermined ranges of local hypothermia plays on markers of stress-oxydative as well as on histologic sections. METHODS:Twenty eight male rats Wistar, under general anesthesia, undergone right nephrectomy (G0, control group) followed by left kidney ischemia during 40 min. Four temperatures groups were designed, with seven animals randomized for each group: normothermic (G1, ±37 o C), mild hypothermia (G2, 26 o C), moderate hypothermia (G3, 15 o C) and deep hypothermia (G4, 4 o C). Left kidney temperature was assessed with an intraparenchymal probe. Left nephrectomy was performed after 240 min of reperfusion. After I/R a blood sample was obtained for f2-IP. Half of each kidney was sent to pathological evaluation and half to analyze CAT, SOD, TBARS, NO 3 , NO 2 . RESULTS:Histopathology showed that all kidneys under I/R were significantly more injured than the G0 (p<0.001). TBARS had increased levels in all I/R groups compared with the G0 (p<0.001). CAT had a significant difference (p<0.03) between G1 and G4. Finally, no difference was found on SOD, NO 3 , NO 2 nor on f2-IP. CONCLUSION:This model of I/R was efficient to produce oxidative-stress in the kidney, showing that 4ºC offered significant decrease in free radicals production, although tissue protection was not observed.