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The aim of this study was to evaluate the uterine health and fertility of postpartum beef cows subjected to timed AI (TAI) protocols at different days from calving. Lactating Nelore cows (Bos indicus; n = 244) were used in this study. The TAI protocols were initiated between 20 and 60 days postpartum (DPP). Cows were subjected to an estradiol-progesterone based TAI protocol. The cows were divided into three groups according to the days postpartum at the time the hormonal treatment was initiated: 1) Early (n = 64), cows between 20 and 30 DPP; 2) Middle (n = 115), cows between 31 and 45 DPP; and 3) Late (n = 65), cows between 46 and 60 DPP. At Day 0 of the protocol, endometrial cytobrush samples were collected. Slides for polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell counting were prepared and cytobrush was used for RNA extraction and analysis of relative abundance of il1, il6, il8, and tnf mRNA. Cows from the Early group had less (P < 0.05) pregnancies per AI (P/AI) than cows from Middle and Late groups; 29.7% (19/64), 45.2% (52/115), and 52.31% (34/65), respectively. Accordingly, the Early group had a greater (P < 0.05) proportion of PMN cells in the uterus than Middle and Late groups; 9.0%, 3.8%, and 2.2%, respectively. Relative abundances of il1 and il8 mRNA were greater (P < 0.05) in the Early group than Middle and Late groups. These results indicate that beef cows subjected to TAI protocols early postpartum (< 30 DPP) are less likely to become pregnant, which is associated with increased inflammation and relative abundance of mRNA for the proinflammatory cytokines il1 and il8., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The tumoral form of schistosomiasis mansoni is rare and has not been described in the brain, in which schistosome eggs usually elicit a granulomatous inflammation. A 20-year-old Brazilian man had the tumoral form of schistosomiasis of the cerebellum which was treated surgically. Histological study of the excised cerebellar mass demonstrated a massive granulomatous reaction around Schistosoma mansoni eggs and massive necrotic areas. To our knowledge, this is the first case of schistosomiasis mansoni of the brain presenting as a posterior fossa mass with the characteristic necrotic granulomas.

We report a case of bilateral papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis thought to be a component of the von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. The patient was hospitalized initially because of infertility. He had undergone a craniotomy 2 years previously for the diagnosis of a cerebellar hemangioblastoma. Funduscopy had revealed angiomatous lesions of the left eye. The von Hippel-Lindau syndrome is discussed briefly and the importance of long-term urological followup for possible presentation of silent renal carcinoma is emphasized. Patients with bilateral epididymal papillary cystadenoma are prone to have other components of the von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, and clinical studies are indicated in all such patients.