HEALTH-SICKNESS REPRESENTATIONS OF A GROUP OF WOMEN FROM THE OUTSKIRTS OF BELO HORIZONTE (1994-1996)

Este trabalho é resultado de uma pesquisa de campo, qualitativa, realizada nos bairros Solimões e Conjunto Jardim Felicidade, na região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, com o objetivo de identificar as representações do processo saúde-doença de um grupo de mulheres residentes nos mesmos. Para sua execução optou-se por realizar a observação participante, entrevistas semi-estruturades e análise de conteúdo das entrevistas, segundo metodologia proposta por BARDIN, 1977), TRIVIÑOS 1987) e MINAYO (1993). As entrevistas foram realizadas no período de novembro de 1994 à julho de 1995 com trinta mulheres com idades entre 18 e 40 anos, todas com filhos de 0 a 5 anos. As entrevistas tiveram uma duração média de 60 minutos. Através da análise de conteúdo das entrevistas chegou-se às categorias de representação do processo saúde-doença. A doença é representada como incapacidade funcional e utilitária do corpo. A saúde, além de ser representada como o oposto da doença, ou seja, a capacidade funcional e utilitária do corpo, possui ainda outras representações, tais como: um modo de vida saudável, assistência médica de qualidade e, ainda, equilíbrio e harmonia nas relações com a natureza, com Deus. Este estudo evidencia que estas representações estão estreitamente relacionadas com as alternativas terapêuticas utilizadas pelos moradores. Tais alternativas, representadas por medicina científica, medicina caseira, automedicação, benzeção, curandeirismo e cura religiosa são buscadas de acordo com as concepções do processo saúde-doença.This paper is a result of a field research based on qualitative data, carried out with a group of women living at Solimões and Conjunto Jardim Felicidade neighborhoods, in themetropolitan arca of Belo Horizonte - MG, with the goal of identifying their representations ofthe health-sickness process. The data were collected througlh participative observation, semi-structured interviews and analyses of the interviews, according to the methodology proposed by BARDIN (1977), TRIVINOS (1987) and MINAYO (1993). The interviews, that lastedapproximately 60 minutes, were conducted from November, 1994 to July, 1995 with thirty women varying from 18to 40 years of age, all of them with children between 0 and 5 years old. The analyses of the content of the interviews provided the categories of representation of the healtl^l-sickness process. Sickness is represented as funcional and utilitarian incapacity of the body. Health, besides beh^lgrepresented as the contrary of sickness, in other words, a functional and utilitarian body, has yet many other representations, such as: a healthy lifestyle, qualified medical assistance, and also balanced and harmonious relations with nature and God. This study shows that these representationsare stricky related to the therapeutic alternatives adopted in the neighborhoods. Such alternatives, represented by scientific medicine, home medich^le, selfmedication, “blessings”, “witch doctors”, and miraculous cures are sought according to the conceptions of the health-sickness process

Crop rotation effects on weed communities of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) agricultural fields of the Flat Inland Pampa

Extensive grain crop production systems in the Flat inland Pampas mainly include soybean, double-crop wheat-soybean and maize in rotation. Due to difficult-to-control weed problems, farmers are tending to intensify the rotations in their fields by increasing the number of double crops or by including cover crops before the main crop. Land use intensification may be characterized using the intensification sequence index (ISI), which is the number of crops per year considering all crops sown in a particular periodPostprint (updated version

Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase / vascular adhesion protein-1 activity exerts an antidiabetic action in Goto-Kakizaki rats

n this study we have explored whether the bifunctional protein semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO)/vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) represents a novel target for type 2 diabetes. To this end, Goto-Kakizaki (GK) diabetic rats were treated with the SSAO substrate benzylamine and with low ineffective doses of vanadate previously shown to have antidiabetic effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The administration of benzylamine in combination with vanadate in type 2 diabetic rats acutely stimulated glucose tolerance, and the chronic treatment normalized hyperglycemia, stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes, and reversed muscle insulin resistance. Acute in vivo administration of benzylamine and vanadate stimulated skeletal muscle glucose transport, an effect that was also observed in incubated muscle preparations coincubated with adipose tissue explants or with human recombinant SSAO. Acute administration of benzylamine/vanadate also ameliorated insulin secretion in diabetic GK rats, and this effect was also observed in incubated pancreatic islets. In keeping with these observations, we also demonstrate that pancreatic islets express SSAO/VAP-1. As far as mechanisms of action, we have found that benzylamine/vanadate causes enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins and reduced protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in adipocytes. In addition, incubation of human recombinant SSAO, benzylamine, and vanadate generates peroxovanadium compounds in vitro. Based on these data, we propose that benzylamine/vanadate administration generates peroxovanadium locally in pancreatic islets, which stimulates insulin secretion and also produces peroxovanadium in adipose tissue, activating glucose metabolism in adipocytes and in neighboring muscle. This opens the possibility of using the SSAO/VAP-1 activity as a local generator of protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors in antidiabetic therapy

The role of soil characteristics, soil tillage and drip irrigation in the timber production of a wild cherry orchard under Mediterranean conditions

Over the last decade high-quality timber plantations have increased in Europe because of the constanthigh market price of timber and economical incentives from the EU. These latter are mainly due to timberplantations’ role in CO2capture. Noble wood plantations have also been established in Mediterraneanareas, but many of them suffer from low growth rates due to deficient plantation management and/ornon-optimal environmental conditions. Furthermore, little information exists about soil and water man-agement in these plantations and how different soil characteristics may affect management results. Inthis study, a trial was established in a pure wild cherry plantation under Mediterranean conditions. Thetrial evaluated the effects that soil type (low soil quality versus good performance for woody crops), soilmanagement (soil tillage versus no tillage), irrigation regime (drip irrigation versus no irrigation) andtheir interactions may have on wood production. Soil water content and the spontaneous vegetation thatappeared in the alleys of the no-tillage treatments were also measured.The results showed that sandy-clay-loam soil with a water-holding capacity of 101.5 ± 5.2 mm had 65%more wood volume increase during the study period than sandy-loam soil with a water-holding capacityof 37.9 ± 8.0 mm. Conventional tillage or zero tillage with the presence of spontaneous vegetation did notdiffer significantly in wood volume increment, regardless of the type of soil. Although soil water contentwas significantly increased by tillage in sandy-loam soil, this effect was not enough to increase tree woodvolume. On the other hand, the application of drip irrigation did increase wood production by up to 50%.Therefore, 10 years less on the plantation’s rotation length can be anticipated when applying irrigation:from 40 to 30 years (sandy–clay–loam soil) and from 56 to 46 years (sandy-loam soil).In conclusion, deep soil characterization of the site is essential before deciding whether to develop aplantation of this type in areas under soil water content limitations caused by deficient soil structureand texture. In addition, our results show important savings can be made by reducing soil tillage, as lesstillage leads to greater ground cover and biodiversity. Further investigations are required to examinehow long-lasting the effects are and what other benefits can be expected when this type of plantation ismanaged in a more sustainable way.Postprint (author's final draft

Cobrança das estruturas de telecomunicação localizadas no interior de unidades de conservação de proteção integral, no âmbito de Minas Gerais / Charging for telecommunications structures located inside integral protection conservation units, in Minas Gerais

O presente artigo analisa a cobrança das estruturas de telecomunicação erigidas no interior de Unidades de Conservação de Proteção Integral (UCPIs), tendo como fundamento o Princípio do Poluidor-Pagador. Para tanto, foi realizada pesquisa bibliográfica e documental. Analisaram-se os instrumentos normativos destinados à implementação da cobrança. Demonstrou-se que o valor obtido com a implementação da cobrança é instrumento econômico promissor para resolver alguns problemas relacionados à sustentabilidade e à conservação das UC’s

Las comunidades de malezas del cultivo de soja asociadas a la intensificación agrícola en el centro de Buenos Aires

En los últimos años, la región pampeana de la Argentina experimentó profundos cambios en las tecnologías agronómicas aplicadasPostprint (published version

Mitochondrial cristae-remodeling protein OPA1 in POMC neurons couples Ca2+ homeostasis with adipose tissue lipolysis

Appropriate cristae remodeling is a determinant of mitochondrial function and bioenergetics and thus represents a crucial process for cellular metabolic adaptations. Here, we show that mitochondrial cristae architecture and expression of the master cristae-remodeling protein OPA1 in proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, which are key metabolic sensors implicated in energy balance control, is affected by fluctuations in nutrient availability. Genetic inactivation of OPA1 in POMC neurons causes dramatic alterations in cristae topology, mitochondrial Ca2+ handling, reduction in alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in target areas, hyperphagia, and attenuated white adipose tissue (WAT) lipolysis resulting in obesity. Pharmacological blockade of mitochondrial Ca2+ influx restores α-MSH and the lipolytic program, while improving the metabolic defects of mutant mice. Chemogenetic manipulation of POMC neurons confirms a role in lipolysis control. Our results unveil a novel axis that connects OPA1 in POMC neurons with mitochondrial cristae, Ca2+ homeostasis, and WAT lipolysis in the regulation of energy balance

O risco de déficit de energia elétrica no Brasil

Periodicidade: Irregular; Data de início e fim da coleção na biblioteca: 1996-2001Equipe responsável: Edna Maria B. Gama Coutinho, Antonio Claret Silva Gomes, Elíada A.S. Teixeira Faria, Heloísa Helena de Oliveira Fernandes

Gás natural: ampliando a participação na matriz energética brasileira

Periodicidade: Irregula