Life as Concept and as Science in Early Modern Thought

What are early modern life sciences, the sciences of? What is the relation of philosophical considerations on living versus dead matter, or the possibility of animate matter, to such sciences? In this entry I examine such questions

Diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer during pregnancy

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: One third of all cervical carcinomas occur during the reproductive period. Cervical carcinoma is the second greatest cause of death due to cancer during this phase. The estimated frequency of cervical cancer during pregnancy is one case for every 1,000 to 5,000 pregnancies. The aim here was to provide information about the difficulties in diagnosing and managing cervical neoplasia during pregnancy. MATERIALS: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken through the PubMed, Cochrane, Excerpta Medica (Embase), Literatura Latino Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs) and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) databases, using the following words: pregnancy, cervical cancer, diagnosis and management. RESULTS: There was a consensus in the literature regarding diagnosis of cervical carcinoma and management of preneoplastic lesions during pregnancy. However, for management of invasive carcinoma, there was great divergence regarding the gestational age taken as the limit for observation rather than immediate treatment. CONCLUSION: All patients with cytological abnormalities should undergo colposcopy, which will indicate and guide biopsy. Conization is reserved for patients with suspected invasion. High-grade lesions should be monitored during pregnancy and reevaluated after delivery. In cases of invasive carcinoma detected up to the 12th week of pregnancy, patient treatment is prioritized. Regarding diagnoses made during the second trimester, fetal pulmonary maturity can be awaited, and the use of chemotherapy to stabilize the disease until the time of delivery appears to be viable.CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Um terço dos carcinomas de colo ocorrem no período reprodutivo, sendo que esta é a segunda causa de morte por câncer nessa fase. A freqüência estimada do carcinoma de colo uterino na gravidez é de um caso para cada 1.000 a 5.000 gestações. O objetivo foi informar sobre as dificuldades frente ao diagnóstico e manejo da neoplasia cervical durante a gravidez. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Revisão sistemática da literatura foi realizada no PubMed, Cochrane, Excerpta Medica (Embase), Literatura Latino Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs) and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), usando as seguintes palavras: gestação, câncer cervical, diagnóstico e manejo. RESULTADOS: A literatura apresenta consenso quanto ao diagnóstico do carcinoma cervical e a conduta das lesões pré-neoplásicas durante a gestação. No manejo do carcinoma invasor há grande divergência quanto à idade gestacional considerada como limite para a adoção da observação em vez do tratamento imediato. CONCLUSÃO: Toda paciente com citologia alterada deve realizar colposcopia, a qual indicará e a biópsia. A conização é reservada para pacientes com suspeita de invasão. As lesões de alto grau devem ser acompanhadas durante a gestação e reavaliadas após o parto. Em casos de carcinoma invasor em gestantes com até 12 semanas o tratamento da paciente é priorizado. Nos diagnósticos ocorridos no segundo trimestre, pode-se aguardar a maturidade pulmonar fetal e o uso da quimioterapia para estabilizar a doença até o momento do parto parece ser viável

Ethical issues of bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia

Since the 1990s there has been an increase in bioarchaeological research in many parts of Southeast Asia by both locals and non-locals. Southeast Asian countries are characterised by varied social, cultural and political histories, but there are also some broad similarities in terms of poor economic development that limits much local research, and strong nationalism and rigid bureaucratic procedures for research. All have implications for non-local and local bioarchaeological research. Despite the growth in bioarchaeological research, the ethics of the practice of bioarchaeology in this region remain relatively underexplored. This chapter presents some of the main ethical issues of research with human remains in the region focusing on the countries of Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines, from a non-local and local researcher viewpoint. We review a range of ethical issues, including the varied way different cultures respond to bioarchaeological work, local-non-local partnership in research, community archaeology, bioarchaeological methods including post-excavation management, and looting of archaeological sites. With the recent development of local expertise in bioarchaeology in the region, the repatriation of skeletal samples to Thailand, the increase in local training, and partnerships between local and non-local bioarchaeologists, there is much promise for the further development of local research in the field