Brazilian Consensus on Photoprotection

Brazil is a country of continental dimensions with a large heterogeneity of climates and massive mixing of the population. Almost the entire national territory is located between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn, and the Earth axial tilt to the south certainly makes Brazil one of the countries of the world with greater extent of land in proximity to the sun. The Brazilian coastline, where most of its population lives, is more than 8,500 km long. Due to geographic characteristics and cultural trends, Brazilians are among the peoples with the highest annual exposure to the sun. Epidemiological data show a continuing increase in the incidence of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers. Photoprotection can be understood as a set of measures aimed at reducing sun exposure and at preventing the development of acute and chronic actinic damage. Due to the peculiarities of Brazilian territory and culture, it would not be advisable to replicate the concepts of photoprotection from other developed countries, places with completely different climates and populations. Thus the Brazilian Society of Dermatology has developed the Brazilian Consensus on Photoprotection, the first official document on photoprotection developed in Brazil for Brazilians, with recommendations on matters involving photoprotection

A method to determine agro-climatic zones based on correlation and cluster analyses

Determining agro-climatic zones (ACZs) is traditionally made by cross-comparing meteorological elements such as air temperature, rainfall, and water deficit (DEF). This study proposes a new method based on correlations between monthly DEFs during the crop cycle and annual yield and performs a multivariate cluster analysis on these correlations. This ‘correlation method’ was applied to all municipalities in the state of São Paulo to determine ACZs for coffee plantations. A traditional ACZ method for coffee, which is based on temperature and DEF ranges (Evangelista et al.; RBEAA, 6:445–452, 2002), was applied to the study area to compare against the correlation method. The traditional ACZ classified the “Alta Mogina,” “Média Mogiana,” and “Garça and Marília” regions as traditional coffee regions that were either suitable or even restricted for coffee plantations. These traditional regions have produced coffee since 1800 and should not be classified as restricted. The correlation method classified those areas as high-producing regions and expanded them into other areas. The proposed method is innovative, because it is more detailed than common ACZ methods. Each developmental crop phase was analyzed based on correlations between the monthly DEF and yield, improving the importance of crop physiology in relation to climate

Polineuropatia do paciente crítico: registro de caso Critical illness polyneuropathy: case report

A polineuropatia do paciente crítico é de natureza axonal, aguda e de predomínio motor, desenvolvendo-se em pacientes sépticos ou com falência de múltiplos órgãos que geralmente necessitam de ventilação mecânica em unidade de tratamento intensivo. Seu diagnóstico é corroborado por achados eletroneuromiográficos e, geralmente, a evolução é satisfatória e rápida. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente de 35 anos que, após internação em unidade de tratamento intensivo devido a septicemia e retirada de feto morto, desenvolveu tetraparesia com melhora importante em quatro meses. A eletroneuromiografia mostrou diminuição de amplitudes de potenciais sensitivos e motores, ondas positivas e fibrilações. A biópsia de nervo sural evidenciou neuropatia axono-mielínica em atividade. Estando esses achados condizentes com os da literatura, acreditamos tratar-se de caso de polineuropatia do paciente crítico.<br>The critical illness polyneuropathy has an acute onset and an axonal predominantly motor nature. It occurs in sepsis or in multiple organ failure usually requiring mechanical ventilation in critical care units. Electroneuromyography corroborates the diagnosis. Usually it courses satisfactorily. We report on a 35-year-old female patient who, after a permanence in a critical care unit due to sepsis and removal of a dead phetus, developed tetraparesis. She had an important improvement in four months. Electromyography showed reduction of amplitude of motor and sensory action potentials, positive waves and fibrillations. The sural nerve biopsy showed axon-myelinic neuropathy. These findings are consistent with those in literature and we believe they support the diagnosis of critical illness neuropathy

La búsqueda del compromiso actitudinal: tendencia de la conducta ética del enfermero gerente A busca pelo comprometimento atitudinal: tendência da conduta ética do enfermeiro gerente The search for attitudinal commitment: tendency in the manager nurse's ethical behavior

Históricamente, las funciones gerenciales del enfermero han revelado que su conducta es compatible con el compromiso programático. Ese hecho fue constatado a través del análisis de 18 estudios efectuados en servicios de salud ubicados en diferentes regiones de Brasil. Desde los años 90, estudiosos del área de gestión alertan que compromiso, interdisciplinaridad, riesgo, incertidumbre, espiritualidad e involucramiento ético, constituirán características del capital humano insertado en las organizaciones del siglo XXI. En ese ambiente mucho más humano, la integridad de las personas y su forma de relacionarse en el trabajo se deben fundamentar en la dimensión del SER. Para afrontar la demanda de las instituciones de salud en el nuevo siglo, se empieza a solicitar del enfermero una conducta permeada por la ética del compromiso actitudinal. Así, nuestro objetivo es estimular una reflexión crítica sobre esa tendencia ética del enfermero y proponerla como valor esencial en la gerencia ejercida por él.<br>Historicamente, as funções gerenciais do enfermeiro evidenciam que sua conduta é compatível com o comprometimento programático. Esse fato foi constatado através da análise de 18 estudos realizados em serviços de saúde localizados em diferentes regiões do Brasil. Desde os anos 90, especialistas da área de gestão alertam que compromisso, interdisciplinaridade, risco, incerteza, espiritualidade e envolvimento ético constituirão características do capital humano inserido nas organizações do século XXI. Nesse ambiente muito mais humano, a integridade das pessoas e sua forma de relacionar-se no trabalho devem fundamentar-se na dimensão do SER. Para enfrentar a demanda das instituições de saúde no novo século, se começa a solicitar do enfermeiro uma conduta permeada pela ética do comprometimento atitudinal. Assim, nosso objetivo é propiciar reflexão crítica sobre essa tendência ética do enfermeiro e, em conclusão, propô-la como valor essencial na gerência exercida por ele.<br>Historically, nurses' management functions have evidenced that their conduct is compatible with programmatic commitments. This fact was observed in the analysis of 18 studies carried out in healthcare services located in different Brazilian regions. Since the 1990's, management experts have alerted that traits such as commitment, interdisciplinarity, risk, uncertainty, spirituality, and ethical involvement will frame the characteristics of the human capital of 21st century organizations. In this much more humane environment, people's integrity and their way of relating at work must be based on the dimension of BEING. In order to face the new century institutions' healthcare demands, nurses are now urged to present a conduct permeated by the ethics of the attitudinal commitment. Thus, this study aims to stimulate a critical reflection on this ethical trend of nurses and finally propose that this trend be an essential value in nursing management processes