La catástrofe urbana

La catástrofe urbana es pot llegir com un text que oscil.la entre la ciencia, i la ficció. Després de presentar-se a les primeres pagines amb el ropatge terminologic d'un tractat de sociologia urbana, la catastrofe de la que parla I'opuscle prové de I'horitzó apocalíptic, d'un cemés enlla, del futur on i'han projectat el cinema i la mateixa ciencia. Aquí la catastrofe ja és entre nosaltres, forma part de I'ordre familiar i quotidia com <<el dors buit de la ciutat,car .aquella perdua que volen conjurar les diverses visions que en tenim, ja s'ha produit.The urban catastrophe can be interpreted as a text which oscillates betwen «sciencie» and ((fiction)), following an introduction to the terminology of an urban sociological treatise, the catastrophe, of which the dusk speaks, originates in the apocalyptic horizon, beyond the future where cinema and sciencie itself have been projected. Here the catastrophe is already among us, forming part of the family and daily order like 4he empty back of thecity., since 4hat loss which the various visions we share wish to cal1 up, has already occured

A regeneração das actinotriquias da nadadeira caudal da carpa (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus, 1758) sob a ação do naproxeno

A conglomerate of small, rigid, fusiform spicules known as actinotrichia sustains the edge of tail fins of teleost. After amputation, these structures show an extremely fast regenerative capacity. In this study we observed the effect of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, used in the treatment of degenerative articular diseases, during the process of actinotrichia regeneration. For this purpose, regenerating tissue from animals in contact with the drug was submitted to histochemical and ultrastructural analysis in comparison to tissue from animals under normal conditions, i.e., not in contact with the drug in question. Actinotrichia regeneration was similar in both animals, indicating that naproxen, at the dose used in the present study, did not interfere with actinotrichia synthesis during the regenerative process of the tail fin. This could be because naproxen did not influence the expression of the genes required for the regeneration process, such as the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) gene, which is involved in actinotrichia formation.A borda da nadadeira caudal de teleósteo é sustentada por um conglomerado de espículas pequenas, rígidas e fusiformes chamadas actinotriquias. Essas estruturas, após a amputação, apresentam uma capacidade regenerativa extremamente rápida. Neste trabalho estudamos o efeito de uma droga anti-inflamatória não esteroide, o naproxeno, utilizada no tratamento de doenças articulares degenerativas, durante o processo de regeneração da actinotriquia. Para isso foram feitas análises histoquímicas e ultraestruturais do tecido em regeneração de animais em contato com a droga comparada com animais em condições normais, ou seja, sem contato com a droga em questão. Os animais em contato com a droga apresentaram a regeneração da actinotriquia de modo semelhante ao dos animais mantidos em condições normais, indicando que o naproxeno, na dose utilizada neste trabalho, não interferiu na síntese das actinotriquias durante o processo regenerativo da nadadeira caudal. Isto talvez seja porque o naproxeno não tenha influenciado a expressão dos genes necessários para o processo de regeneração, tal como o gene Sonic hedgehog (Shh), que está envolvido na formação da actinotriquia.11651172Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Influence Of Indomethacin On The Regenerative Process Of The Tail Fin Of Teleost: Morphometric And Ultrastructural Analysis.

When partially amputated or severely injured, teleost fins suffer a regenerative process called epimorphic regeneration characterised by the following stages: the formation of a multistratified epidermal layer, the disorganisation and distal migration of multipotent mesenchymal cells, the proliferation of these cells in order to form the blastema, continuous proliferation of distal blastema to facilitate the growth, and differentiation of the proximal blastema in order to restore its lost structure. The regeneration of the fin is extremely sensitive to the action of some drugs that can interfere in its structure restoration. For this reason, and also based on papers relating that indomethacin can interfere somehow in the tissue restoration of many different organisms, the aim of this work is to evaluate the possible effects of this drug in three different doses in the regeneration of the teleost fish tail fin, taking into consideration the synthesis, the disposition and organisation of lepidotrichial matrix components, the restoration of actinotrichia, as well as the fin area itself. Therefore, histochemical, ultrastructural and morphometric analysis were done and it was observed that indomethacin in doses of 20 and 30 mg.L-1 caused a delay in the regenerative process of the dermal skeleton (lepidotrichia and actinotrichia) of the tail fins. These doses could have interfered, momentarily, in the process of blastemal cell differentiation in the cells responsible for the synthesis and disposition of actinotrichia and lepidotrichia or, even interfered in the signalling necessary for the recent differentiated cells to begin synthesising the components of the dermal skeleton.70889-9

Early Effects of Long-Term Neurotoxic Lead Exposure in Copper Works Employees

The situation of exposure in a copper works facility in Germany enabled early lead-induced neurotoxic effects to be investigated in the workers. The aim of the investigation was to study the long-term effects of small doses of lead on psychometric/psychophysiological performance of workers. The study involved 70 male lead exposed workers and 27 male controls with no neurotoxic exposure. All test persons were subjected to the method of investigation involving performance data, physiological strain data, and the subjective state. It was found that of the psychometric performance parameters, only the mainly motor performance parameters had a potential for being neurotoxic early indicators. Preferably centrally influenced performance parameters were found to be less suitable early indicators. The lead-exposed subjects exhibited a slowed poststrain resetting behaviour of the vegetative nervous system, which correlated with the individual blood lead level. This was attributed to vagus depression, which had already started in the prevailing situation of exposure and was reflected by diminished cardiac phase duration variability. Our results indicate that it is necessary to more critically choose the lead level standards in the air on the working area. Heart rate variability may be affected even at small lead concentration

The impact of music-imaginative pain treatment (MIPT) on psychophysical affect regulation – a single case study

Music-imaginative Pain Treatment (MIPT) is part of the multi-professional treatment plan for hospitalised patients in departments for psychosomatic medicine. MIPT is an intervention that encourages the patient to create music representing pain and relief from pain and promotes active engagement and self-reflection. This single case study of a 46-year-old female patient diagnosed with chronic pain disorder with somatic and psychological factors includes narrative, demographic, psychometric, and cardiophysiological data. During the interventions, early childhood stress, which is a risk factor for developing chronic pain, turns out to be a crucial focal point in therapy and conspicuous in her handling of the music. Social trauma is considered an appropriate concept for a deeper understanding of the case

Immer gleichartiger: Konvergenzfaktoren im Tertiärbereich des schweizerischen Bildungssystems

Im tertiären Bildungssystem, das in der Schweiz aus Universitäten, Fachhochschulen sowie Institutionen der Höheren Berufsbildung besteht, wirken eine Reihe von Konvergenzfaktoren. Die Aufgabenteilung und Profildifferenzierung, die bei der Etablierung der verschiedenen Institutionstypen vorgesehen war, ist dadurch nicht mehr klar gegeben. Der Beitrag analysiert diese Konvergenzfaktoren und berücksichtigt dabei speziell die Situation der Fachhochschulen. Zum Schluss werden zwei mögliche Entwicklungsszenarien beschrieben, die aus der aktuell problematischen Situation herausführen könnten

Influência da indometacina no processo regenerativo da nadadeira caudal de teleósteo: análise morfométrica e ultraestrutural

When partially amputated or severely injured, teleost fins suffer a regenerative process called epimorphic regeneration characterised by the following stages: the formation of a multistratified epidermal layer, the disorganisation and distal migration of multipotent mesenchymal cells, the proliferation of these cells in order to form the blastema, continuous proliferation of distal blastema to facilitate the growth, and differentiation of the proximal blastema in order to restore its lost structure. The regeneration of the fin is extremely sensitive to the action of some drugs that can interfere in its structure restoration. For this reason, and also based on papers relating that indomethacin can interfere somehow in the tissue restoration of many different organisms, the aim of this work is to evaluate the possible effects of this drug in three different doses in the regeneration of the teleost fish tail fin, taking into consideration the synthesis, the disposition and organisation of lepidotrichial matrix components, the restoration of actinotrichia, as well as the fin area itself. Therefore, histochemical, ultrastructural and morphometric analysis were done and it was observed that indomethacin in doses of 20 and 30 mg.L-1 caused a delay in the regenerative process of the dermal skeleton (lepidotrichia and actinotrichia) of the tail fins. These doses could have interfered, momentarily, in the process of blastemal cell differentiation in the cells responsible for the synthesis and disposition of actinotrichia and lepidotrichia or, even interfered in the signalling necessary for the recent differentiated cells to begin synthesising the components of the dermal skeleton.Quando parcialmente amputadas ou severamente injuriadas, as nadadeiras de teleósteos sofrem um processo de regeneração chamado de regeneração epimórfica, caracterizado pelas seguintes fases: formação de uma capa epidermal multiestratificada, desorganização e migração distal de células mesenquimais multipotentes, proliferação dessas células para formar o blastema, proliferação contínua do blastema distal para facilitar o crescimento e diferenciação do blastema proximal para restaurar as estruturas perdidas. A regeneração que a nadadeira sofre é extremamente sensível à ação de algumas drogas que podem interferir na reparação de suas estruturas. Em vista disso, e também pelo fato de que há relatos na literatura de que a indometacina pode interferir de alguma maneira na restauração tecidual de diversos organismos, o objetivo deste trabalho foi o de avaliar os possíveis efeitos desta droga, em três doses diferentes, na regeneração da nadadeira caudal de peixe teleósteo, considerando a síntese, deposição e organização dos componentes da matriz lepidotriquial, a regeneração da actinotriquia, bem como a área da nadadeira como um todo. Para isso, foram feitas análises histoquímica, ultraestrutural e morfométrica, e foi observado que a indometacina, nas doses de 20 e 30 mg.L-1, apresentou um atraso no processo de regeneração das unidades esqueléticas (lepidotriquias e actinotriquias) das nadadeiras caudais. Essas doses podem ter interferido, momentaneamente, no processo de diferenciação das células blastemais nas células responsáveis pela síntese e deposição das actinotriquias e das lepidotriquias ou, até mesmo, na sinalização necessária para que as células recém-diferenciadas dessem início à síntese dos componentes das unidades esqueléticas.889897Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Improvement of pain experience and changes in heart rate variability through music-imaginative pain treatment

Music-imaginative Pain Treatment (MIPT) is a form of music therapy addressing pain experience and affective attitudes toward pain. It includes two self-composed music pieces: one dedicated to the pain experience (pain music, PM) and the other to healing imagination (healing music, HM). Our non-experimental study addresses patients with chronic somatoform pain disorders participating in MIPT. The goal is to gain insight into the direct effect mechanisms of MIPT by combining outcome measures on both the objective physiological and subjective perception levels. The research questions are directed toward changes in pain experience and heart rate variability and their correlations. Thirty-seven hospitalized patients with chronic or somatoform pain disorders receiving MIPT participated in this study. Demographic data and psychometric measures (Symptom Check List SCL90, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire CTQ) were collected to characterize the sample. Subjective pain experience was measured by McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and Heart Rate Variability by 24 h-ECG. Data analysis shows a reduction of reported pain from MT1 = 19.1 (SD = 7.3) to MT2 = 10.6 (SD = 8.0) in all dimensions of the SF-MPQ. HRV analyses shows a reduced absolute power during PM and HM, while a relative shift in the autonomic system toward higher vagal activity appears during HM. Significant correlations between HRV and MPQ could not be calculated. Findings are interpreted as a physiological correlate to the psychological processes of the patients. Future studies with more participants, a control-group design, and the integration of medium- and long-term effects are recommended

Alterations In Ubiquitin Ligase Siah-2 And Its Corepressor N-cor After P-mapa Immunotherapy And Anti-androgen Therapy: New Therapeutic Opportunities For Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

The present study describes the role of the ubiquitin ligase Siah-2 and corepressor N-CoR in controlling androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) signaling in an appropriate animal model (Fischer 344 female rats) of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), especially under conditions of anti-androgen therapy with flutamide. Furthermore, this study describes the mechanisms of a promising therapeutic alternative for NMIBC based on Protein aggregate magnesium-ammonium phospholinoleate-palmitoleate anhydride (P-MAPA) intravesical immunotherapy combined with flutamide, involving the interaction among steroid hormone receptors, their regulators and Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Our results demonstrated that increased Siah-2 and AR protein levels and decreased N-CoR, cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and estrogen receptors levels played a critical role in the urothelial carcinogenesis, probably leading to escape of urothelial cancer cells from immune system attack. P-MAPA immunotherapy led to distinct activation of innate immune system TLRs 2 and 4-mediated, resulting in increase of interferon signaling pathway, which was more effective in recovering the immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment and in recovering the bladder histology features than BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) treatments. The AR blockade therapy was important in the modulating of downstream molecules of TLR2 and TLR4 signaling pathway, decreasing the inflammatory cytokines signaling and enhancing the interferon signaling pathway when associated with P-MAPA. Taken together, the data obtained suggest that interferon signaling pathway activation and targeting AR and Siah-2 signals by P-MAPA intravesical immunotherapy alone and/ or in combination with AR blockade may provide novel therapeutic approaches for NMIBC.84427-444