Prevention and non-pharmacological management of pain in newborns

Objective: to describe the main non-pharmacological interventions for pain relief in newborns available in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Method: an exploratory search of the MedLine, Lilacs and Scielo online databases was conducted to retrieve references of studies published from 2004 to 2013. Results: several non-pharmacological interventions were shown to be effective, to represent low risk for neonates and to have a low operational cost. The ones most often discussed in the literature were: oral administration of glucose/sucrose, non-nutritive sucking, breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, facilitated tucking and swaddling. Conclusion: healthcare teams should be familiar with these methods and use them more effectively in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit daily routines, so as to ensure that newborns receive qualified and more human care

DETECÇÃO DE RESÍDUOS DE DISPARO DE ARMA DE FOGO EM LARVAS CADAVÉRICAS POR ICP OES

Considerando o grande aumento das mortes violentas, principalmente no Brasil, e a crescente utilização de armas de fogo para cometer tais crimes, a balística forense associada a entomologia forense se tornam grandes aliadas nas investigações criminais. As concentrações de chumbo (Pb), bário (Ba) e antimônio (Sb), caracerísticos de resíduos de disparo de arma de fogo (GSR GunShot Residue), foram monitoradas em larvas de moscas (imaturos de Chrysomya albiceps). As coletas sucederam em um cadáver de porco, do sexo feminino, morto com três disparos realizados com pistola Taurus®, calibre .40 a curta distância (entre 25 e 40 cm), sendo dois disparos na região cefálica e um na região abdominal, em um período de 2 a 12 dias após a morte, durante o inverno, sob a influência da chuva e alta umidade relativa do ar. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a aplicabilidade da técnica de espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP OES) para a quantificação de Pb, Ba e Sb proveniente de GSR em larvas cadavéricas num ambiente não controlado, simulando um caso real de homicidio. Foi possível detectar e quantificar os três elementos traço de interesse pela técnica proposta, onde as concentrações mantiveram-se praticamente constante durante o estágio de putrefação. Concentrações mínimas (Pb = 382,26 μg·L-1; Ba = 140,50 μg·L-1; Sb = 39,18 μg·L-1) e as concentrações máximas (Pb = 522,66 μg·L-1; Ba = 190,30 μg·L-1; Sb = 56,14 μg·L-1) foram encontradas durante o terceiro e quinto dia post mortem, respectivamente. As amostras também foram analisadas pelo teste colorimétrico usando rodizonato de sódio (reação Feigl-Suter) apresentando resultado negativo para todas as soluções obtidas a partir dos imaturos de Chrysomya albiceps. Uma hipótese para a constância nas concentrações dos três elementos, é que de acordo com a literatura, as larvas da espécie Chrysomya albiceps podem exercer papel como predadora intraguilda de larvas de outras espécies de Dípteras, além de realizar canibalismo. Sendo assim, a técnica de ICP OES apresenta maior sensibilidade na quantificação frente ao convencional teste colorimétrico, mostrando ser uma técnica aplicável a esse tipo de matriz. É importante notar que o desenvolvimento tal pesquisa é de grande importância forense e é uma técnica que apresenta potencial para aplicação futura em casos de morte violenta, em que a vítima se encontra em decomposição inicial, moderada e avançada. Nesse aspecto, o desenvolvimento e aperfeiçoamento de metodologias eficientes são de grande relevância para a elucidação de crimes

Atividade microbiana do solo sob diferentes cultivos irrigados em um Argissolo Vermelho Amarelo distrófico no Submédio São Francisco.

Este trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar a atividade biológica do solo sob diferentes cultivos com uso de irrigação e sua comparação com áreas de Caatinga. As amostras foram coletadas em novembro de 2006 em áreas com cultivo de manga, uva, culturas anuais, banana e em reserva de vegetação natural, no Campo Experimental da Embrapa Semi-¡rido no Distrito Irrigado de Bebedouro

Effect of Carbon Support, Capping Agent Amount, and Pd NPs Size for Bio-Adipic Acid Production from Muconic Acid and Sodium Muconate

The effect of support, stabilizing agent, and Pd nanoparticles (NPs) size was studied for sodium muconate and t,t-muconic acid hydrogenation to bio-adipic acid. Three different activated carbons (AC) were used (Norit, KB, and G60) and carbon morphology did not affect the substrate conversion, but it greatly influenced the adipic acid yield. 1% Pd/KB Darco catalyst, which has the highest surface area and Pd surface exposure, and the smallest NPs size displayed the highest activity. Furthermore, the effect of the amount of the protective agent was studied varying metal/protective agent weight ratios in the range of 1/0.00-1/1.20, using KB as the chosen support. For sodium muconate reduction 1% Pd/KB_1.2 catalyst gave the best results in terms of activity (0.73 s-1), conversion, and adipic acid yield (94.8%), while for t,t-muconic acid hydrogenation the best activity result (0.85 s-1) was obtained with 1% Pd/KB_0.0 catalyst. Correlating the results obtained from XPS and TEM analyses with catalytic results, we found that the amount of PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) influences mean Pd NPs size, Pd(0)/Pd(II) ratio, and Pd surface exposure. Pd(0)/Pd(II) ratio and Pd NPs size affected adipic acid yield and activity during sodium muconate hydrogenation, respectively, while adipic acid yield was related by exposed Pd amount during t,t-muconic acid hydrogenation. The synthesized catalysts showed higher activity than commercial 5% Pd/AC

Tectonics and fluvial dynamism affecting the Tiber River in prehistoric Rome

Open access funding provided by Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia within the CRUI-CARE Agreement. Research funding was provided by Loeb Classical Library Foundation, Gerda Henkel Foundation, American Philosophical Society, Etruscan Foundation, Fondazione Lemmermann, University of Michigan, University of St Andrews, and the Leverhulme Trust.Geomorphological investigations in Rome’s river valley are revealing the dynamism of the prehistoric landscape. It is becoming increasingly apparent that paleogeographic conditions that defined Rome in the historical era are the product of changes since the Bronze Age, which may be the result of local fault activity in addition to fluvial dynamism. Through a dedicated borehole chronostratigraphic study, integrated by 14C and archaeological dates, and paleomagnetic investigations, we offer here new evidence for fault displacement since ca. 4500 years/BP. We present the failure of the sedimentary fabric of a clay horizon caused by liquefaction processes commonly linked with seismic shaking, interpreting an (ca. 4 m) offset to signify the existence of a fault line located at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. In addition, we show evidence for another (ca. 1 m) offset affecting a stratigraphic horizon in the river channel, occurring along another hypothesized fault line crossing through the Tiber Valley. Movement along this fault may have contributed to a documented phase of fast overflooding dated to the sixth century BCE which eventually led to the birth of the Tiber Island. The most plausible scenario implies progressive deformation, with an average tectonic rate of 2 mm/year, along these inferred fault lines. This process was likely punctuated with moderate earthquakes, but no large event necessarily occurred. Together, the available evidence suggests that during the early centuries of sedentary habitation at the site of Rome, active fault lines contributed to significant changes to the Tiber River valley, capable of challenging lowland activities.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Late-onset neonatal sepsis in preterm infants with birth weight under 1.500g

Objective: the research objective was to characterize preterm infants with birth weight under 1500 g, and to identify the incidence of late-onset neonatal sepsis among this population. Methods: a prospective cohort study with a sample of 30 preterm newborns that weighed under 1500 g and were hospitalized in the NICU of the university hospital. Data were collected from January to December 2013 using a structured instrument. Results: of the 30 neonates included in the study, 14 developed late-onset neonatal sepsis with a prevalence of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Conclusions: the incidence of late-onset neonatal sepsis indicates a vulnerability in preterm infants due to immunological immaturity. These results reveal that knowledge of the profi le of newborn infants admitted to the NICU and the risk factors to which they are exposed are central to the planning of nursing care for these patients. Future studies should address strategies for preventing nosocomial infection