Characterization of the benthic environment of a coastal area adjacent to an oil refinery, Todos os Santos Bay (NE-Brazil)

Com o intuito de determinar as características sedimentológicas e físico-químicas do ambiente bentônico e também o nível, distribuição e prováveis fontes dos hidrocarbonetos alifáticos e policíclicos aromáticos, foram coletadas amostras de sedimento em 28 estações localizadas na porção nordeste da Baía de Todos os Santos. A região central e leste da área de estudo apresentaram características de ambientes deposicionais com predomínio de silte e argila e com maiores teores de carbono orgânico total, nitrogênio e enxofre. As razões C/N variaram entre 8,8 e 27,6 indicando uma origem mista da matéria orgânica com contribuições marinha e continental relativamente variáveis. As concentrações de hidrocarbonetos alifáticos totais variaram entre 1,56 e 246,91 µg.g-1 de sedimento seco, correspondendo as maiores concentrações às estações localizadas na região central e leste da área de estudo. A Mistura Complexa não Resolvida (UCM) representou entre 60 e 90% dos hidrocarbonetos alifáticos totais, indicando um alto grau de contribuição antrópica e a presença de resíduos de petróleo degradado. As concentrações de hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos totais variaram de 8 a 4163 ng.g-1 de sedimento seco. A maior concentração de hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos foi registrada na estação 5 situada na área adjacente à refinaria de petróleo.In order to determine the sedimentological and physico-chemical characteristics of the benthic environment and also the level, distribution and probable sources of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, sediment samples were collected at 28 stations in the northeast portion of Todos os Santos Bay. The centre and the east region of the study area showed characteristics of depositional environments with the predominance of silt and clay and high percentages of TOC, nitrogen and sulphur. The molar C/N ratios varied between 8.8 and 27.6 indicating a mixed origin of organic matter with variable marine and continental contributions. Total aliphatic hydrocarbon concentrations ranged between 1.56 and 246.91 µg.g-1 dry weight, corresponding the high concentrations to the stations situated in the centre and in the east region of the study area. The UCM represented between 60 and 96% of the total aliphatic hydrocarbons, indicating a high degree of anthropogenic contribution and the presence of petroleum degraded residues. Total PAH concentrations varied from 8 to 4163 ng.g-1 dry weight. The highest total PAH concentration was recorded at station 5 situated adjacent to the oil refinery

X-metabolomics : a software tool for dynamic mass spectroscopy automated signal processing

One of the major challenges of today's biotechnology is to be able to obtain the maximum of metabolic information for the holistic interpretation of biological systems. Herein we present a new computational application for gas-chromatography mass spectroscopy automated signal processing, named 'X-Metabolomics', that shows to be a potential framework for dynamic systems as fermentation processes interpretation by compounds and pathways identification and quantification and moreover for new metabolites discovery. Our GC-MS signal processing pipeline is implemented into an X-window interface using Tcl/Tk interface and based on R statistical programming environment for comprehensive statistical computing of results and access to 'Bioconductor' bioinformatics platform under Unix, Linux and MacOS. This approach focuses on the robustness of peak extraction algorithms for further identification, quantification and biological interpretation by multivariate analysis, evolving the following steps: i) peaks extraction; ii) supervised filtering; iii) identification of candidate fragments and removal of possible contaminants; iv) compounds identification/quantification; v) compounds expression and co-expression in time-course; and vi) sample classification and biological interpretation by multivariate analysis. 'X-Metabolomics' can be an useful tool in different fields such as pharmacology, genetics, living cells systems, promising to be innovative and very helpful for new drug discovery and new advances in dynamic systems understanding

Bisphosphonate-associated jaws osteonecrosis: an important complication of oncology treatment

Os bisfosfonatos são um grupo de medicamentos utilizados no tratamento de doenças malignas metastáticas e em outras doenças ósseas como osteoporose e doença de Paget. A despeito dos seus benefícios, uma importante complicação denominada de osteonecrose dos maxilares vem sendo observada nos pacientes usuários crônicos dos bisfosfonatos que se caracteriza clinicamente por exposições ósseas na região maxilofacial persistente, acompanhadas de osteomielite, geralmente sintomáticas e cujo tratamento é complexo. Este estudo tem por objetivo revisar a literatura sobre a osteonecrose associada ao uso dos bisfosfonatos, em especial, em oncologia, no período de 2003 a 2008. Serão apresentados e discutidos os fatores de risco, aspectos etiopatogênicos, clínicos, imagenológicos, terapêuticos e preventivos desta doença. Devido à dificuldade de tratamento da osteonecrose associada aos bisfosfonatos, o foco deve ser a prevenção, sendo o ideal a eliminação de quadros infecciosos orais antes da terapia com os bisfosfonatos ter sido iniciada e minimizar traumas em boca após o uso destes medicamentos.Bisphosphonates are drugs used in the treatment of malignant metastatic diseases and in other bone lesions such as osteoporosis and Paget´s disease. Besides their benefits, jaw osteonecrosis, an important side effect, has been observed in long-term users of these drugs. Jaw osteonecrosis is clinically characterized by prolonged maxillary and mandible bone exposure accompanied by osteomyelitis. These lesions are usually symptomatic and difficult to treat. This study has the objective of reviewing publications from 2003 to 2008 about bisphosphonate-associated jaw osteonecrosis, in particular in relation to oncology. Risk factors, and etiopathological, clinical, radiographic, therapeutic, and preventive aspects of this condition are presented and discussed. Due to the difficulty to treat this disease, the focus must be prevention, with the ideal therapy being the elimination of oral infections before treatment with bisphosphonates is initiated thereby attempting to minimize possible traumas to the mouth with the use of these medications

Management of Stress, Pleasure, Suffering and Burnout at Work

This study sought to identify and analyse the relationships between burnout syndrome, occupational stress and pleasure and suffering at work from young Brazilian workers’ perspective. The research was conducted with a probabilistic sample of younger employees living in São Paulo, Brazil, who returned 493 valid questionnaires. The data were submitted to exploratory factor analysis, followed by structural equation modelling. The results highlight stress symptoms’ influence on defensive strategies, which in turn directly enhance pleasure and reduce suffering at work. Pleasure and suffering are both positively and negatively related to burnout dimensions

Management of Stress, Pleasure, Suffering and Burnout at Work

935-940This study sought to identify and analyse the relationships between burnout syndrome, occupational stress and pleasure and suffering at work from young Brazilian workers’ perspective. The research was conducted with a probabilistic sample of younger employees living in São Paulo, Brazil, who returned 493 valid questionnaires. The data were submitted to exploratory factor analysis, followed by structural equation modelling. The results highlight stress symptoms’ influence on defensive strategies, which in turn directly enhance pleasure and reduce suffering at work. Pleasure and suffering are both positively and negatively related to burnout dimensions

LÍQUEN ESCLEROSO DA VULVA – REVISÃO DE 208 CASOS

Introduction: Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disease that preferentially affects the anogenital region and postmenopausal Caucasian women. Aims: Retrospective characterization of patients with vulvar LS diagnosed and treated at our Department (Vulvar Pathology Consultation), between 1986 and 2004. Material and Methods: A total of 208 Caucasians women were included in the study. We consulted clinical charts and performed statistical analysis of the following variables: age, location, clinical signs and symptoms, association with other disea- ses, treatment modalities, follow-up and complications. Results: The mean duration of LS was 6.3 years. The mean age at diagnosis was 59.6 years. The mean age at development of symptoms was 53 years. One hundred and eighty-two (87.5%) patients were in the postmenopausal period. Pruritus was the predominant symptom (90.9%). Only 39 (18.8%) patients did not developed vulvar atrophy. One hundred and forty-two (68.2%) had not narrowing of the vaginal in- troitus. Histological examination confirmed LS in 185 cases (93.9%) and it was compatible with LS in the remaining 12 (6.1%). Topical testosterone propionate (TP) was used in 88 (42.3%) cases, topical corticosteroids in 24 (11.5%) and both in 76 (36.6%). The mean follow-up was 9.5 years. Nine (4.3%) women developed vulvar SCC and the mean age at diagnosis was 68.2 years. Conclusions: LS prevailed in post-menopausal women. Vulvar pruritus and atrophy were the main clinical findings. Most cases were confirmed by histology. Topical TP was the most commonly used therapy. Malignancy occurred in nine cases.KEYWORDS – Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus; Testosterone Propionate; Glucocorticoids; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell.Introdução: O líquen escleroso (LE) é uma dermatose inflamatória crónica idiopática com predilecção ano- genital, sendo mais comum na mulher no período pós-menopausa. Objectivos: Análise retrospectiva dos casos de LE vulvar diagnosticados e tratados na consulta de Patologia Vulvar, entre 1986 e 2004. Material e Métodos: Um total de 208 caucasianas foi incluído no estudo. Foram consultados processos clínicos e realizado estudo estatístico das variáveis idade, localização, sintomas e sinais clínicos, associação com outras patologias, tratamento, follow-up e complicações. Resultados: A duração média do LE foi de 6,3 anos. A idade média das mulheres à data do diagnóstico foi de 59,6 anos e à data do desenvolvimento dos sintomas de 53 anos. Cento e oitenta e duas (87,5%) encontravam-se no período pós-menopausa. O prurido foi o sintoma predominante (90,9%). Apenas 39 (18,8%) doentes não apresentavam atrofia vulvar e 142 (68,2%) não tinham envolvimento do intróito vaginal. O exame histológico confirmou LE em 185 (93,9%) e foi compatível nos restantes 12 (6,1%). O propionato de testosterona (PT) foi utilizado em 88 (42,3%) casos, os corticói- des tópicos em 24 (11,5%) e ambos em 76 (36,6%). O follow-up médio foi de 9,5 anos. Nove (4,3%) mulheres desenvol- veram CEC vulvar, sendo a idade média das mesmas ao diagnóstico de 68,2 anos. Conclusões: O LE predominou no período pós-menopausa. O prurido e atrofia vulvar foram os achados clínicos mais frequentes. A maior parte dos casos foi confirmado por histologia. O PT tópico foi a arma terapêutica mais usada. A malignização ocorreu em nove casos.PALAVRAS-CHAVE – Vulva; Líquen Escleroso; Propionato de Testosterona; Corticóides; Carcinoma Espinocelular

Exploratory evaluation of iron and its speciation in surface waters of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica

Abstract The determination of dissolved iron concentrations and speciation was conducted for the first time in surface seawater coastline samples collected during the austral summer of 2020 in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. The technique of competitive ligand exchange/adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry with 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene as the competing ligand was evaluated, showing a sensitivity between 14.25 and 21.05 nA nmol L-1 min-1, with an LOD of 14 pmol L-1 and a mean blank contribution of 0.248 nmol L-1. Physicochemical parameters such as pH (7.85 ± 0.2), salinity (32.7 ± 0.8) and dissolved oxygen (51.3 ± 26.6%) were compatible with those of the literature; however, the average temperature (4.2 ± 0.8 °C) was higher, possibly as a reflection of global warming. The dissolved iron mean value was 18.9 ± 6.1 nmol L-1, with a total ligand concentration of 23.6 ± 12.2 nmol L-1 and a conditional stability complex constant of 12.2 ± 0.2, indicating humic substances as possible ligands. On average, the calculated free iron concentrations were 0.7 ± 0.3 pmol L-1. Relatively high concentrations of iron indicate a possible local source of Fe, likely predominantly from upwelling sediments and secondarily from ice-melting waters, which does not limit the growth of the phytoplankton