Abstract Objective To investigate Incidental Thyroid Carcinoma (ITC) by comparing the results of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) cytology and the postoperative pathological findings. Methods Data of 1479 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy were retrieved. Three hundred eighty-six patients were excluded due to insufficient data. Each surgical specimen studied received two histopathological diagnoses: the local diagnosis ‒ for the same area in which the FNAB was performed; and the final diagnosis, which includes a study of the entire surgical specimen. Results A thousand and ninety-three patients were investigated. FNAB result was malignant in 187 patients, benign in 204, suspicious or indeterminate in 668 cases, and inconclusive in 34 cases. The prevalence of ITC was 15.1%. Most of the ITC in this series was less than 0.5 cm. The incidence of ITC was higher in Bethesda III (17.5% ITC) and IV (19% ITC) than in Bethesda II cases (1.5% false negatives and 9% ITC). Conclusion Although the incidence of false-negative results in Bethesda II nodules is only 1.5%, 9% of these patients had ITC in the thyroid parenchyma outside the nodule that underwent preoperative FNAB. The incidence of ITC in the same scenario was even higher in Bethesda III (17.5%) and Bethesda IV cases (19%). Ultrasonography-guided FNAB is an excellent method for the assessment of thyroid nodules. However, biopsy sites should be carefully selected. Despite the high incidence of incidentalomas, total thyroidectomy should not always be the treatment of choice due to its rare but potentially serious complications. The findings of the present study can assist future clinical decisions towards active surveillance strategies for the management of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Most thyroid diseases are nodular and have been investigated using ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), the reports of which are standardized by the Bethesda System. Bethesda category III represents a heterogeneous group in terms of lesion characteristics and the malignancy rates reported in the literature. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the differences in the malignancy rates among Bethesda III subcategories. METHODS: Data from 1,479 patients who had thyroid surgery were reviewed. In total, 1,093 patients (89.6% female, mean age 52.7 (13-89) years) were included, and 386 patients were excluded. FNAB results (based on Bethesda Class) and histopathological results (benign or malignant) for coincident areas were collected. Bethesda III patients were subcategorized according to cytopathological characteristics (FLUS: follicular lesion of undetermined significance, Bethesda IIIA; AUS: atypia of undetermined significance, Bethesda IIIB). Data were correlated to obtain the malignancy rates for each Bethesda category and the newly defined subcategory. RESULTS: FNAB results for these patients were as follows: Bethesda I: 3.1%; Bethesda II: 18.6%; Bethesda III: 35.0%; Bethesda IV: 22.1%; Bethesda V: 4.1%; and Bethesda VI: 17.1%. The malignancy rates for Bethesda Class IIIB were significantly higher than those for Bethesda Class IIIA (p<0.001) and Bethesda Class IV (p<0.001). Bethesda Class IIIA showed significantly lower malignancy rates than Bethesda Class III overall (p<0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Improvements of the Bethesda System should consider this subcategorization to better reflect different malignancy rates, which may have a significant impact on the decision-making process.

Atemoias cv. African Pride foram colhidas na maturidade fisiológica com o objetivo de avaliar a influência da aplicação de 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP) sobre a maturação pós-colheita. Foram testados: doses de 1-MCP (0, 100, 200 e 400 nL.L-1); e tempo de armazenamento (0, 8 e 15 dias sob refrigeração, a 14,5 ± 2,0 ºC e 60 ± 6% de UR, seguidos de 2, 4 e 5 dias a 23,8 ± 2,0 ºC e 65 ± 5% UR). O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em fatorial 4x 6 (dose de 1-MCPx tempo de armazenamento) e quatro repetições. Apesar da interação estatisticamente significativa entre os fatores sobre a perda de massa, as diferenças entre tratamentos em cada avaliação não foram superiores a 1,3%. Os frutos tratados apresentaram-se mais firmes, com acidez titulável ligeiramente maior e atraso inicial no acúmulo de sólidos solúveis. A redução no conteúdo de pectina somente foi observada a partir do 15º dia, quando já havia ocorrido a maior taxa de amaciamento. A aparência também foi preservada pelo 1-MCP, verificando-se, nos frutos tratados, ausência de manchas e/ou microrganismos até o 17º dia. A dose de 200 nL.L-1 foi a mais eficiente, pois atrasou a perda de firmeza e manteve o teor de pectina ligeiramente maior.

Atemoya fruits (cv. African Pride) were harvested at physiological maturity stage with the objective of evaluating the influence of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) application on postharvest maturation. The following parameters were analyzed: 1-MCP doses (0, 100, 200 and 400 nL.L-1) and time of storage (0, 8 and 15 days under refrigeration, at 14.5 ± 2.0 ºC and 60 ± 6% RH, followed by 2, 4, and 5 days at 23.8 ± 2.0 ºC and 65 ± 5% RH). The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 4x 5 (dose of 1-MCPx time of storage) factorial with four replications. Besides the statistically significant interaction between the factors on weight loss, the differences among the treatments in each evaluation were not higher than 1.3%. The fruits treated were firmer, presented slightly higher titratable acidity, and an initial delay in the increase of soluble solids. The reduction on pectin content was only observed from the 15th day onwards, when the highest softening rate occurred. The appearance was also maintained by 1-MCP and the absence of spots and/or microorganisms was observed in the treated fruits until the 17th day. The most efficient dose was 200 nL.L-1 because it delayed the firmness loss and maintained the pectin content slightly higher.

A qualidade da haste floral de roseira é afetada por inúmeros defeitos, como botão pequeno ou presença de doenças e ferimentos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as características morfológicas (comprimento e retidão da haste e do botão floral) e fitossanitárias (incidência de míldio, oídio, mofo cinzento e dano causado por lagarta) de sete variedades de roseira cultivadas em ambiente protegido. As características foram observadas em três avaliações. O comprimento médio de haste floral variou de 56,1 a 83,3cm, enquanto que o comprimento médio dos botões variou de 4,7 a 5,2cm. Foram observados sintomas de míldio, oídio, mofo cinzento e injúria causada por lagarta nas hastes florais, sendo o oídio o principal problema fitossanitário observado, tendo afetado de 2,9 a 41,3% das hastes, dependendo da variedade. Cerca de 70% das hastes de cada variedade apresentaram características do tipo de C ou D durante a etapa de classificação. Esses resultados reforçam a necessidade da avaliação das diversas características das variedades adquiridas, antes da implementação do cultivo comercial.

The quality of the rose's floral stem can be affected by numerous faults as small button or diseases and injuries. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological (length and rightness of stem and rose bud) and fitossanitary (downy mildew, powdery mildew, gray mold and caterpillar damage) characteristics in seven varieties of rose grown in a greenhouse. The characteristics were analyzed three times. The average length of floral stems ranged from 56.1 to 83.3cm, while the average length of buttons ranged from 4.7 to 5.2cm in the varieties evaluated. Symptoms of downy mildew, powdery mildew, gray mold and damage caused by caterpillar were observed, although powdery mildew were the main problem witch affect from 2,9 to 41,3% of floral stems. About 70% of the stems of all varieties showed characteristics of type C or D during the classification stage. These results reinforce the necessity of evaluating new varieties before the implementation of commercial cultivation.

Com o objetivo de selecionar pedúnculos de cajueiro-anão precoce (Anacardium occidentale L. var. nanum) para comercialização in natura, foram avaliados 09 clones selecionados a partir de um experimento de competição sob irrigação, no município de Mossoró-RN. O clone CCP 76 foi utilizado como testemunha. Os cajus foram colhidos em agosto de 1997 e avaliados quanto às seguintes características: textura, tamanho (diâmetros apical e basal e comprimento), formato, coloração (carta de cores e pigmentos) e peso (total e pedúnculo). Dentre os materiais avaliados, apenas o CCP 09 apresentou cor inferior à testemunha, sendo que os clones CAP 6 (500), END 157, END 189 e END 329 destacaram-se com coloração mais intensa que a mesma. Além da testemunha, apenas os clones END 157, 183 e 189 apresentaram pedúnculos que podem ser classificados como tipo 4 (de maior valor comercial), enquanto, com relação à forma, apenas os clones CAP 6 (500), END 157 e END 183 apresentaram formato piriforme. O clone END 157 apresentou as melhores características para comercialização in natura, inclusive quando comparado à testemunha. Os clones END 183 e 189 apresentaram resultados semelhantes à testemunha, com exceção da cor para o 183 e do formato para o 189.

Nine clones of early dwarf cashew (Anacardium occidentale L. var. nanum) were evaluated within an experiment of clone competition under irrigation in Mossoró-RN, Brazil, with the objective of selecting cashew apples for fresh fruit market. Clone CCP 76 was used as a control. Cashews were harvested in august 1997 and evaluated for: firmness, size (upper and lower diameter and length), shape, color (color chart and pigment content) and weight (whole and apple). Only clone CCP 09 among those evaluated produced poorer coloring than control CCP 76, while in apples from clones CAP 6 (500), END 157, END 189 and END 329 the color was more intense than in control. Only clones END 157, END 183 and END 189 besides the control produced apples that can be classified as type 4 (highest commercial value), whilst only clones CAP 6 (500), END 157 and END 183 produced pear shaped apples. Clone END 157 presented the best characteristics for fresh fruit market even when compared to control. Results for clones END 183 and END 189 were similar to control, except for color in END 183 and shape in END 189.

O presente trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar algumas características físicas e a distribuição dos nutrientes nos frutos de maracujá doce (Passiflora alata Dryand.), segundo sua classificação. Os frutos classificados como tipo 8 foram maiores e mais pesados que os dos tipos 9 e 12, apresentando maior peso de casca e de polpa. Independentemente da classificação dos frutos, o N, P, B, Cu, Fe e Zn estão distribuídos em maior quantidade na polpa do que na casca dos frutos. O K, Ca, S e o Mn estão distribuídos em maior quantidade na casca do que na polpa dos frutos. O magnésio apresenta uma distribuição na casca levemente superior à da polpa. Na média dos três tipos de frutos, os valores obtidos por fruto (casca+polpa) foram: 578,6 mg de N; 81,9 mg de P; 740,6 mg de K; 56,8 mg de Ca; 64,6 mg de Mg; 98,3 mg de S; 452,3 mg de B; 302,5 mg de Cu; 1471 mg de Fe; 167,5 mg de Mn, e 644,1 mg de Zn.

The present work was conducted in Botucatu, state of São Paulo, in order to evaluate some physical characteristics and the nutrient distribution in sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata Dryand.), by type. The fruit classified as type 8 were larger than those classified as type 9 and 12, have larger weight of peel and pulp. Independently of fruit classification, N, P, B, Cu, Fe, and Zn were found in larger quantities throughout the pulp than in the peel. K, Ca, S, and Mn were present in greater quantity in the peel than in the pulp. Mg showed slightly larger presence in the peel. The fruits of sweet passion fruit presented, in average: 578.6 mg of N; 81.9 mg of P; 740.6 mg of K; 56.8 mg of Ca; 64.6 mg of Mg; 98.3 mg of S; 452.3 mg of B; 302.5 mg of Cu; 1471 mg of Fe; 167.5 mg of Mn; and 644.1 mg of Zn.