Mestiçagens e identidades intercontinentais nas sociedades lusófonas

O presente volume reúne uma selecção de nove trabalhos que foram maioritariamente apresentados ao colóquio Mestiçagens e identidades intercontinentais nos espaços lusófonos, que teve lugar na Universidade de Évora a 9 e 10 de Julho de 2012. Com esta publicação, pretendem os organizadores complementar o número especial da revista Perspectivas, onde foram publicados os restantes oito textos igualmente apresentados no mesmo colóquio e versando, na sua maior parte, questões do Brasil colonial, mas no qual se incluíram também contribuições sobre a Ásia portuguesa e o Japão da autoria dos mesmos organizadores. Tal repartição por volumes distintos obedeceu exclusivamente a razões que se prendem com o seu financiamento, pese embora a preocupação na arrumação dos textos segundo um critério predominantemente geográfico. Assim, as contribuições aqui reunidas, debruçando-se sobre objectos sociais em Portugal, Cabo Verde, Brasil, Moçambique, Índia, Malaca, Timor e Filipinas, conferem ao presente volume uma marca geograficamente ampla e diversificada, desdobrando-se também em abordagens provenientes de diferentes áreas disciplinares dentro das ciências sociais e humanas, da história à antropologia, à sociologia e à literatura. A despeito de este conjunto de textos reflectir a diversidade na formação científica dos seus autores, foi intenção dos organizadores criar um espaço de reflexão em que diferentes linguagens e metodologias se cruzam para questionar o tema fulcral proposto: as identidades mestiças no plural e nas suas múltiplas facetas e cambiantes

Differential expansion of circulating human MDSC subsets in patients with cancer, infection and inflammation

Background Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a functional myeloid cell subset that includes myeloid cells with immune suppressive properties. The presence of MDSC has been reported in the peripheral blood of patients with several malignant and non-malignant diseases. So far, direct comparison of MDSC across different diseases and Centers is hindered by technical pitfalls and a lack of standardized methodology. To overcome this issue, we formed a network through the COST Action Mye-EUNITER (www.mye-euniter.eu) with the goal to standardize and facilitate the comparative analysis of human circulating MDSC in cancer, inflammation and infection. In this manuscript, we present the results of the multicenter study Mye-EUNITER MDSC Monitoring Initiative, that involved 13 laboratories and compared circulating MDSC subsets across multiple diseases, using a common protocol for the isolation, identification and characterization of these cells. Methods We developed, tested, executed and optimized a standard operating procedure for the isolation and immunophenotyping of MDSC using blood from healthy donors. We applied this procedure to the blood of almost 400 patients and controls with different solid tumors and non-malignant diseases. The latter included viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis B virus, but also psoriasis and cardiovascular disorders. Results We observed that the frequency of MDSC in healthy donors varied substantially between centers and was influenced by technical aspects such as the anticoagulant and separation method used. Expansion of polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSC exceeded the expansion of monocytic MDSC (M-MDSC) in five out of six solid tumors. PMN-MDSC expansion was more pronounced in cancer compared with infection and inflammation. Programmed death-ligand 1 was primarily expressed in M-MDSC and e-MDSC and was not upregulated as a consequence of disease. LOX-1 expression was confined to PMN-MDSC. Conclusions This study provides improved technical protocols and workflows for the multi-center analysis of circulating human MDSC subsets. Application of these workflows revealed a predominant expansion of PMN-MDSC in solid tumors that exceeds expansion in chronic infection and inflammation

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Proceedings Of The 23Rd Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress: Part Two

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