Female Sterilization: Comparative Study of Hysteroscopic versus Laparoscopic Sterilization

Overview and Aims: Female sterilization is increasingly requested as a contraceptive method. Hysteroscopic sterilization by transcervical placing of Essure® micro-inserts in the initial portion of the tubes is a recent alternative to laparoscopic sterilization. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hysteroscopic versus laparoscopic sterilization. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Population: A total of 98 women undergoing sterilization in an outpatient clinic between July 2005 and July 2009. Methods: Patients’ age, associated diseases, anesthesic risk, procedure time, discomfort, adverse events and success rate were evaluated. Results: Mean age at surgery was 37.8 years (19-49), and there were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding this parameter. Women in the hysteroscopic group had a significant number of associated diseases (98% versus 47%), obesity (31% versus 6%), and anesthesic risk (ASA III- 31% versus 0%). The mean duration of the procedure was the same for both techniques (laparoscopy 28 minutes and hysteroscopy 26 minutes). All laparoscopic sterilizations were successfully completed. In the hysteroscopic group 4% failed to complete the technique. There were no cases of severe pain. Women in the hysteroscopy group reported pain less frequently (40% versus 57%, χ2 p<0.05). Long term success rate was similar in both groups (96% for hysteroscopy and 98% for laparoscopy). Conclusions: In spite of a higher incidence of associated diseases, obesity and anesthetic risks in the hysteroscopy group, there were no significant differences in the duration of the procedure, adverse events and success rate. The hysteroscopic approach can therefore be considered an alternative to laparoscopy, eliminating the need for incisional surgery and for general anaesthesia. If women with high surgical risk and several associated diseases can safely undergo this procedure, it could well become the preferred method for women who want a permanent and irreversible contraceptive method

Tectónica de piel fina en el Domo de Tharsis, Marte: pruebas de una neotectónica marciana

A photogeological reconnaissance of Viking mosaics and images of the Tharsis dome, Mars, has been carried out. Fourteen new areas of transcurrent faulting have been located which, together with other structures previously detected, permit to support a model in which the Thaumasia Plateau, the southeastern part of the Tharsis dome, is proposed to be an independent lithospheric block that experienced buckling and thrust faulting in Late Noachian or Early Hesperian times as a result of an E-W-directed compression. Evidence is presented that this stress field, rather than the Tharsis uplift, was decisive in the inception of Valles Marineris, that we consider a transtensive, dextral accident. The buckling spacing permits moreover to tentatively reconstruct a Martian Hesperian lithosphere similar in thickness to the mean present terrestrial oceanic lithosphere, thus supporting the possibility of a restricted lithospheric mobility in that period. Tharsis lithosphere was again subjected to shear stresses in Amazonian times, a period in which important accidents, such as strike-slip faults, wrinkle ridges, and straight and sigmoidal graben were formed under a thin-skin tectonic regime. The possible causes of those stresses, and especially their relationships to a putative period of plate tectonics, are discussed

O sistema de gestão ambiental do ISCTE-IUL: um modelo de integração-qualidade-sustentabilidade

O artigo pretende partilhar a experiência do ISCTE - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL) na integração da sustentabilidade na cultura de qualidade. O ISCTE-IUL assumiu o compromisso com a Qualidade enquanto pilar do seu desenvolvimento estratégico, materializando-se num Sistema Interno de Garantia da Qualidade (SIGQ-IUL). Por seu lado, a sustentabilidade institucional – nas dimensões ambiental, social e económica – constitui também uma aposta estratégica e transversal que tem vindo a ser implementada nas práticas de gestão da instituição, no ensino, na investigação e na extensão universitária. O ISCTE-IUL é certificado de acordo com a Norma Portuguesa ISO 9001 desde 2008. O projeto da Sustentabilidade foi iniciado em 2016 e envolve um conjunto de ações para a melhoria do desempenho sustentável da instituição, das quais se destacam a implementação do Sistema de Gestão Ambiental (SGA) do ISCTE-IUL e a obtenção da respetiva certificação em 2018. Considerando a abrangência do SIGQ-IUL, um primeiro desafio prendia-se com o modelo previsto para a integração da Sustentabilidade, tendo sido adotada uma integração com relativa autonomia. Discutimos as implicações que o SGA colocou a diferentes níveis, com especial destaque para a necessidade de assumir a Sustentabilidade enquanto fator-chave da estratégia e da prática diária da Instituição, desde logo ao nível do campus, onde se procura a gestão eficiente dos recursos e a diminuição dos impactes ambientais negativos. Por outro lado, todo este processo tem-se traduzido em mais uma experiência de partilha, envolvimento e aprendizagem muito positivos para o ISCTE-IUL, com um contributo relevante para a melhoria da qualidade. A comunicação centra-se em dois aspetos: (i) a apresentação do modelo de integração da Sustentabilidade no SIGQ-IUL e (ii) o desenho e a implementação do SGA. Por último, uma nota conclusiva, resumindo os desafios particulares da Gestão da Sustentabilidade no ISCTE-IUL que presidem à conceção do Sistema de Gestão Ambiental.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Building a Portuguese Coalition for Biodiversity Genomics

The diverse physiography of the Portuguese land and marine territory, spanning from continental Europe to the Atlantic archipelagos, has made it an important repository of biodiversity throughout the Pleistocene glacial cycles, leading to a remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems. This rich biodiversity is under threat from anthropogenic drivers, such as climate change, invasive species, land use changes, overexploitation or pathogen (re)emergence. The inventory, characterization and study of biodiversity at inter- and intra-specific levels using genomics is crucial to promote its preservation and recovery by informing biodiversity conservation policies, management measures and research. The participation of researchers from Portuguese institutions in the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative, and its pilot effort to generate reference genomes for European biodiversity, has reinforced the establishment of Biogenome Portugal. This nascent institutional network will connect the national community of researchers in genomics. Here, we describe the Portuguese contribution to ERGA’s pilot effort, which will generate high-quality reference genomes of six species from Portugal that are endemic, iconic and/or endangered, and include plants, insects and vertebrates (fish, birds and mammals) from mainland Portugal or the Azores islands. In addition, we outline the objectives of Biogenome Portugal, which aims to (i) promote scientific collaboration, (ii) contribute to advanced training, (iii) stimulate the participation of institutions and researchers based in Portugal in international biodiversity genomics initiatives, and (iv) contribute to the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and engaging the public to preserve biodiversity. This initiative will strengthen biodiversity genomics research in Portugal and fuel the genomic inventory of Portuguese eukaryotic species. Such efforts will be critical to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity and will contribute to ERGA’s goal of generating reference genomes for European species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Global morphology of night-time <i>Nm</i>F2 enhancements

International audienceAn overall statistical study of night-time enhancements of NmF2 has been carried out. All available foF2 observations since 1955 at 53 ionosonde stations distributed worldwide in the latitude range fgeom = 15° - 60° were used in the analysis. More than 200 000 station-nights of data were analysed. This large data base allowed us to study seasonal, solar cycle and spatial variations of the NmF2 nighttime enhancements. Both pre-midnight and post-midnight NmF2 peaks demonstrate distinct variations with geophysical conditions, indicating different physical mechanisms responsible for their formation

Global morphology of night-time <i>Nm</i>F2 enhancements

An overall statistical study of night-time enhancements of NmF2 has been carried out. All available foF2 observations since 1955 at 53 ionosonde stations distributed worldwide in the latitude range fgeom = 15° - 60° were used in the analysis. More than 200 000 station-nights of data were analysed. This large data base allowed us to study seasonal, solar cycle and spatial variations of the NmF2 nighttime enhancements. Both pre-midnight and post-midnight NmF2 peaks demonstrate distinct variations with geophysical conditions, indicating different physical mechanisms responsible for their formation.Key words. Ionosphere (mid-latitude ionosphere, ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions) Radio science (ionospheric physics

Una aproximación crítica a la propuesta de fenómenos ionosféricos como presursores sísmicos

En este trabajo se presentan algunos de los posibles efectos de los terremotos sobre la ionosfera, encuadrando su estudio en la predicción de los fenómenos sísmicos. Después de una breve descripción de la evolución de esta predicción, y en particular del papel desarrollado por los efectos sismoelectromagnéticos, se describen algunos de los fenómenos observados, agrupándolos de acuerdo con la capa ionosférica en la que se manifiestan. Finalmente se discute su capacidad de ser utilizados como indicadores de la ocurrencia de un evento sísmic

Laparoscopia em Tumor Quístico Gigante do Ovário na Adolescência. A Propósito de um Caso Clínico

A eficácia e segurança da cirurgia laparoscópica na resolução dos tumores quísticos benignos do ovário tem sido demonstrada por inúmeros estudos. As dimensões do tumor quístico do ovário foi, até há algum tempo atrás, factor limitante na opção cirúrgica: se superior a 10 cm a laparotomia era a indicação. Actualmente, a cirurgia laparoscópica está associada a muitas vantagens: redução da hemorragia operatória, menos complicações pós-operatórias, menor tempo de hospitalização, mais rápida recuperação e melhor resultado estético. Os autores descrevem o caso de uma adolescente de 15 anos de idade, com um tumor quístico gigante do ovário (mais de 30 cm), ocupando todos os quadrantes do abdómen, e que foi tratado laparoscopicamente com sucesso após punção/drenagem aspirativa sob controle ecográfico. Conclusão: Com uma criteriosa selecção dos doentes, a laparoscopia cirúrgica é segura em doentes com quistos benignos gigantes do ovário