ABSTRACT Introduction and objective: To evaluate changes in verumontanum anatomy in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who used 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) and to propose an anatomical classification of the verumontanum. Materials and Methods: We studied 86 patients with BPH and 7 patients without the disease (age under 40 years-old who underwent kidney or ureteral lithotripsy). Of the patients with BPH, 34 (mean age=67.26) had 5-ARIs use and 52 (mean age=62.69) did not use the drug. During surgeries, photographs of the seminal colliculus were taken and later, with the aid of software (Image J), the length (longitudinal diameter) and width (transverse diameter) of the verumontanum were measured in all patients. During the procedure, we evaluated the different types of verumontanum. For statistical analysis, the R-Project software was used. Results: In the group of patients with BPH who were taking medication (group 1), the mean measures of length and width of the verumontanum were 4.69mm and 2.94mm respectively. In the group of patients with BPH who did not use the drug (group 2), the mean diameters were 4.54mm and 3.20mm respectively. In the control group (group 3), the average length and width were 5.63mm and 4.11mm respectively. There was an increase in longitudinal and transverse measurements of the control group with an increase in body mass index (BMI) (p=0.0001 and p=0.035 respectively). In addition, there was a reduction in transverse diameter in the group of BPH using 5-ARI with increased prostate volume (p=0.010). We found five different verumontanum types: “volcano” (51.61%), “lighthouse” (24.73%), “whale tail” (12.90%), “hood” (5.38%) and “castle door” (5.38%), which we propose as an anatomical classification. Conclusion: Veromontanum has smaller measurements in patients with BPH regardless of treatment. In the control group, there was an increase in verumontanum diameters with an increase in BMI. The volcano type of verumontanum was the most frequent regardless of groups and BMI.

New environmental laws have restricted the use of hardwood trees in overhead power lines structures, such as, poles and cross-arms, leading companies to seek alternative materials. Reforested wood coated with polymeric resin has been proposed as an environmental friendly solution, with improved electrical properties and protection against external agents, e.g. moisture, ultraviolet radiation and fungi. However, the single thin layer of resin, normally applied on such structures reveal to be inefficient, due to be easily damage during handling. In this paper, we present a composite coating, based on geotextile fibers and polyurethane resin that is suitable for wooden structures. Results obtained from two different tree species (from managed and reforested areas) coated with the composite reveal that the additional layer not only provided a stronger adhesion between wood and ccoating layer but also a further improvement in the electrical properties and better protection against abrasion and moisture.

Brazil's electric power utilities have commonly employed native timbers as the main material for manufacturing cross-arms for distribution lines. However, the increasingly high costs of these timbers and Brazil's new environmental laws have contributed to change this situation, spurring research on new materials for application in transmission and distribution systems. This paper discusses two reforested wood species, Pinus elliottii and Eucalyptus citriodora, coated with castor oil-based polyurethane resins, as an alternative material for distribution line cross-arms, from the standpoint of their mechanical and electrical properties and their low cost. Numerical simulations and a complete description of the entire coating process are also part of this work.