Sobre a Aventura da Modernidade

O objetivo principal deste é a exposição do tema modernidade através de diversas visões, que, segundo a nossa interpretação, ainda que contrastantes, não são necessariamente “adversárias”, mas complementares por entenderem de diferentes pontos de vista o mesmo foco: a modernidade. Propomos trazer ao leitor – professor em formação – uma breve descrição de conceitos circunscritos à modernidade pós-revolução industrial, com base em Anthony Giddens (1991), Marshall Berman (2007), Danilo Marcondes (2006) e Octavio Paz (1984) – sem esquecer as preciosas reflexões críticas e artísticas do poeta Charles Baudelaire (1996). Esta é a razão pela qual este artigo se chama A aventura da Modernidade, pois investimos na idéia de modernidade como resultado do cruzamento de reflexões sociológicas, filosóficas e literárias; como observa Giddens (1991), cada análise tem a sua validade, uma vez que a nossa realidade torna-se um desafio que, nas palavras de Konder (2009), atualiza o mito – que ronda o homem de tempos e tempos – da Esfinge diante do Édipo moderno. “Decifra-me ou te devoro”, eis como nos sentimos ao lidar com rede conceitual tão complexa, vulnerável e necessária à teorização e ao ensino da literatur

Nosocomial Infection Among Children With Symptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

A prospective cohort study was conducted during a 15-month period to compare nosocomial infections (NIs) among pediatric patients without (n = 989) and with (n = 50) symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Patients with symptomatic HIV infection presented higher overall NI incidence density rates (relative risk, 1.65; P = .0001), and may represent a population at high risk for the acquisition of N

Healthcare-Associated Infections Among Neonates in Brazil

Abstract Objective: To describe the epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) among neonates. Design: Prospective surveillance of HAIs was conducted during 2 years. Infections beginning within 48 hours of birth were defined as HAIs of maternal origin. Death occurring during an active episode of HAI was considered related to HAI. Setting: Seven neonatal units located in three Brazilian cities. Patients: All admitted neonates were included and observed until discharge. Results: Twenty-two percent of 4,878 neonates had at least one HAI. The overall incidence density was 24.9 per 1,000 patient-days, and 28.1% of all HAIs were maternally acquired. HAI rates ranged from 12.3% in the group with a birth weight (BW) of more than 2,500 g to 51.9% in the group with a BW of 1,000 g or less. The main HAIs were bloodstream infection (BSI) and pneumonia. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Enterobacter species, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the main pathogens. Forty percent of all deaths were related to HAI. Central venous catheter (CVC)-associated BSIs per 1,000 CVC-days ranged from 17.3 (BW, 1,501 to 2,500 g; device utilization [DU], 0.11) to 34.9 (BW, ≤ 1,000 g; DU, 34.92). Ventilator-associated pneumonia per 1,000 ventilator-days ranged from 7.0 (BW, ≤ 1,000 g; DU, 0.34) to 9.2 (BW, 1,001 to 1,500 g; DU, 0.14). Conclusions: The high proportion of HAIs of maternal origin highlights perinatal care issues in Brazil and the need to improve the diagnosis of neonatal HAIs. The very low BW group and device-associated infections should be priorities for prevention strategies in this populatio

Loxosceles gaucho spider venom and its sphingomyelinase fraction trigger the main functions of human and rabbit platelets

Loxosceles venoms can promote severe local and systemic damages. We have previously reported that Loxosceles gaucho spider venom causes a severe early thrombocytopenia in rabbits. Herein, we investigated the in vitro effects of this venom and its sphingomyelinase fraction on the main functions of platelets. Whole venom and its fraction induced aggregation of both human and rabbit platelets. Aggregation was dependent of plasma component(s) but independent of venom-induced lysophosphatidic acid generation. There was no increase in the levels of lactate dehydrogenase during platelet aggregation, ruling out the possibility of platelet lysis. The increased expression of ligand-induced binding site 1 (LIBS1) induced by L. gaucho venom and its sphingomyelinase fraction, as well as of P-selectin by the whole venom, evidenced the activation state of both human and rabbit platelets. Adhesion assays showed an irregular response when platelets were exposed to the whole venom, whereas the sphingomyelinase fraction induced a dose-dependent increase in the platelet adhesion to collagen. These findings evidence that L. gaucho venom and its sphingomyelinase fraction trigger adhesion, activation, and aggregation of both human and rabbit platelets. Thus, this work justifies the use of rabbits to investigate Loxosceles venom-induced platelet disturbances, and it also supports research on the role of platelets in the pathogenesis of loxoscelism.Fil: Tavares, Flávio L.. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Peichoto, María Elisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Rangel, Danieli de Morais. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Barbaro, Kátia Cristina. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Cirillo, Maria Cristina. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Santoro, Marcelo Larami. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Sano Martins, Ida S.. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; Brasi

Sulforaphane: An emergent anti-cancer stem cell agent

Cancer is a major public health concern worldwide responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates. Alternative therapies have been extensively investigated, and plant-derived compounds have caught the attention of the scientific community due to their chemopreventive and anticancer effects. Sulforaphane (SFN) is one of these naturally occurring agents, and studies have shown that it is able to target a specific cancer cell population displaying stem-like properties, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). These cells can self-renewal and differentiate to form highly heterogeneous tumor masses. Notably, most of the conventional chemotherapeutic agents cannot target CSCs once they usually exist in a quiescent state and overall, the available cytotoxic drugs focus on highly dividing cells. This is, at least in part, one of the reasons why some oncologic patients relapse after standard therapy. In this review we bring together studies supporting not only the chemopreventive and anticancer properties of SFN, but especially the emerging anti-CSCs effects of this natural product and its potential to be used with conventional antineoplastic drugs in the clinical setting

Parâmetros Alimentares de Hoplias malabaricus, como ferramenta de análise Ambiental na Lagoa Feia, RJ, Brasil

Dentre as quase 25.000 espécies de peixes conhecidas no mundo, destaca-se a Hoplias malabaricus (Bloch, 1794) por apresentar características alimentares bem amplas. Trata-se de um peixe caçador de emboscada que por ser carnívoro piscívoro e topo de cadeia, tem se tornado motivo de discussão quanto ao papel que desempenha na regulação de outras populações de peixes. Não se limitando a piscivoria quando jovem também se alimenta de larvas de insetos, e quando adulta complementa sua alimentação com pequenos crustáceos. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar parâmetros alimentares da população de Hoplias malabaricus nos períodos chuvoso e de estiagem na Lagoa Feia no Rio de Janeiro, a fim de se constatar possíveis mudanças no padrão alimentar dessa espécie em função das pressões antrópicas nesse ambiente. Para isso os exemplares de Hoplias malabaricus foram obtidos Novembro/09 e Julho/10. Dos espécimes foram analisados os conteúdos estomacais, e determinados índices de repleção estomacal (IRE) e estados de repleção estomacal (ERE), dos quais os resultados demonstraram majoritariamente a espécie Cyphocharax gilbert como índice alimentar preferencial da Hoplias malabaricus, o que não é comum visto a sua característica amplitude alimentar. Outro fato importante foram os altos índices de captura de alimento mesmo em períodos onde comumente a taxa alimentar da traíra é reduzida. Dessa forma esses indícios apontam para possíveis alterações na dinâmica da comunidade aquática dessa lagoa, certamente em função de perturbações pontuais ou difusas humanas, o que está levando a um aumento na oferta de aliment

Identification of two novel adenoviruses in smooth-billed ani and tropical screech owl

Avian adenoviruses (AdVs) are a very diverse group of pathogens causing diseases in poultry and wild birds. Wild birds, endangered by habitat loss and habitat fragmentation in the tropical forests, are recognised to play a role in the transmission of various AdVs. In this study, two novel, hitherto unknown AdVs were described from faecal samples of smooth-billed ani and tropical screech owl. The former was classified into genus Aviadenovirus, the latter into genus Atadenovirus, and both viruses most probably represent new AdV species as well. These results show that there is very limited information about the biodiversity of AdVs in tropical wild birds, though viruses might have a major effect on the population of their hosts or endanger even domesticated animals. Surveys like this provide new insights into the diversity, evolution, host variety, and distribution of avian AdVs