New perspectives on difficult-to-treat tuberculosis based on old therapeutic approaches

Tuberculosis (TB) is an important clinical and public health issue worldwide. Despite improved treatment success rates following the introduction of antibiotics in daily clinical practice, the expected decline in incidence has been hampered by HIV epidemics and multi- and extensively drug-resistant TB. During the pre-antibiotic era, TB therapies were mainly based on improving hygiene conditions, strengthening the immune system, and targeting the rest of the affected lungs with invasive techniques. Detailed knowledge of old non-pharmacological therapies might support physicians and researchers in the identification of new solutions for difficult-to-treat patients. We performed a narrative literature review on the main old therapeutic options prescribed for patients with TB. The main recommendations and contraindications of sanatorium therapies (i.e., bed rest, fresh air, sunlight) and pulmonary collapse techniques are reviewed, evaluating their physiological basis and their impact on patient outcomes. We report studies describing new interventional pulmonary and surgical techniques and assess new perspectives based on old medical and surgical treatments, whose potential implementation could help complicated patients. Keywords: Tuberculosis, Collapse therapy, Hemoptysis, Sanatorium, Sunlight, Vitamin D, Surger

Promoting seed germination of Bunias erucago, a Mediterranean leafy vegetable

Knowledge of germination and propagation requirements are crucial for the use of plant genetic resources. Here, we compare different treatments to improve the germination of Bunias erucago (Cruciferae), a Mediterranean vegetable herb of growing commercial interest. Its cultivation is limited by the poor germination shown by the seeds which are enclosed in indehiscent silicles. To improve the germination, we investigated four treatments: (1) pre-soaking silicles in water for 48 hours; (2) scarification of silicles with sandpaper; (3) seed extraction; and (4) seed exposure to gibberellic acid (GA3). The same treatments (except the GA3 treatment) were also used to investigate seedling emergence under glasshouse conditions. In the absence of treatments and/or soaking in water, there was very low final germination (< 10%), while scarification and seed extraction increased the germination to ∼40% and > 90%, respectively. Scarification was the most effective treatment in a horticultural context, since the brittleness of seeds makes their extraction too delicate and time-consuming. The seedling emergence results confirmed those of seed germination in the laboratory, underlining the effectiveness of the treatments for plant cultivation. Seed germination performance varied among wild populations, underlining the importance of provenance when using wild plants as new crops

Bronchoscopic sampling techniques in the era of technological bronchoscopy

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Ecophysiology of seed dormancy and the control of germination in early spring-flowering Galanthus nivalis and Narcissus pseudonarcissus (Amaryllidaceae)

Seed dormancy induction and alleviation in the winter-flowering moist temperate woodland species Galanthus nivalis and Narcissus pseudonarcissus are complex and poorly understood. Temperature, light and desiccation were investigated to elucidate their role in the germination ecophysiology of these species. Outdoor and laboratory experiments simulating different seasonal temperatures, seasonal durations, and temperature fluctuations; the presence of light during different seasons; and intermittent drying (during the summer period) over several ‘years’ investigated the importance of these factors in germination. Warm summer-like temperatures (20°C) were necessary for germination at subsequent cooler autumn-like temperatures (greatest at 15°C in G. nivalis and 10°C in N. pseudonarcissus). As the warm temperature duration increased so did germination at subsequent cooler temperatures; further germination occurred in subsequent ‘years’ at cooler temperatures following a second, and also third, warm period. Germination was significantly greater in darkness, particularly in G. nivalis. Dormancy increased with seed maturation period in G. nivalis, because seeds extracted from green capsules germinated more readily than those from yellow. Desiccation increased dormancy in an increasing proportion of N. pseudonarcissus seeds the later they were dried in ‘summer’. Seed viability was only slightly reduced by desiccation in N. pseudonarcissus but was poor and variable in G. nivalis. Shoot formation occurred both at the temperature at which germination was greatest and also if 5°C cooler. In summary, continuous hydration of seeds of both species during warm summer-like temperatures results in the gradual release of seed dormancy; thereafter, darkness and cooler temperatures promote germination. Cold temperatures, increased seed maturity (G. nivalis), and desiccation (N. pseudonarcissus) increase dormancy while light inhibits germination

O Papel do Poder Judiciário na Efetivação das Políticas Públicas de Saúde no Estado do Espírito Santo: (IN) Existência de Diálogo entre as Partes

The fundamental right to health, especially from the 1988 Constitution on, is inserted in the list of social rights that have been going through the process of judicialization. In this context, the present study had as its goal to analyze the (non)existence of dialogue between the parties involved in the judicialization of health in the state of Espirito Santo. The research was made by the evaluation of the mechanisms currently available to the fulfillment of health public policies set by the constitution. After that, the participation of the Center of Technical Support with the judges in the State of Espirito Santo was also evaluated. A case analysis was  also  conducted  on  the  entered  decision  on  the  Court Injunction  nº  0025675-15.2013.8.08.0000 (100130043811), looking to evaluate how the process of granting the medication took place. Lastly, some instruments that could effectively help in the concretion of the fundamental right to health were suggested. Through these analysis, it was perceived that with the lack of Technical Support and especially in sight of the disability of communication between the Public and the Judicial Branches, many times premature and onerous judgments are made to one of the parties. However, the mechanisms on the New Code of Civil Procedures and the Center of Technical Support for Judges are important instruments that seek to promote cooperation between social actors and that must be used to materialize the fundamental dialogue between the parties.O direito fundamental à saúde, principalmente a partir da Constituição de 1988, insere-se no rol de direitos sociais que vêm sofrendo o processo de judicialização. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar a (in)existência de diálogo entre as partes envolvidas na judicialização da saúde no Estado do Espírito Santo. A pesquisa realizou-se por meio da avaliação de atuais mecanismos disponíveis para a realização de políticas públicas de saúde previstas no texto constitucional. Posteriormente, também foi avaliada a atuação do Núcleo de Assessoramento Técnico (NAT) aos Juízes no Estado do Espírito Santo. Também foi feita análise de caso da decisão proferida no Mandado de Segurança nº 0025675-15.2013.8.08.0000 (100130043811), com o intuito de avaliar como se desenvolveu, naquele processo, o procedimento de concessão de medicamento. Por fim, foram sugeridos alguns instrumentos que poderiam ajudar na efetiva concretização do direito fundamental à saúde. A partir de tais análises, percebeu-se que diante da falta de assessoramento técnico e principalmente tendo em vista a deficiência de comunicação existente entre o Poder Público e o Judiciário, muitas vezes realizam-se julgamentos precoces e onerosos a uma das partes. Todavia, os mecanismos do Novo Código de Processo Civil e do Núcleo de Assessoramento aos Juízes, são importantes instrumentos que objetivam promover a cooperação entre os atores sociais e que devem ser utilizados para que se concretize o fundamental diálogo entre as partes

"From city to network, is there some stop?”: Estação Psicanálise in the Covid-19 pandemic

Este texto procura pensar o atravessamento da pandemia de Covid-19 no coletivo Estação Psicanálise, um grupo heterodoxo de psicanalistas que realizam atendimentos em espaço público na cidade de Campinas. Com as medidas de isolamento, nosso dispositivo se transformou. O texto procura pensar tais transformações, a partir de três leituras diferentes sobre o impacto da pandemia no dispositivo: sobre sua história, sobre a formação do analista e sobre os efeitos psíquicos nos sujeitos escutados pelos analistas do coletivo.El texto intenta pensar en los atravesamientos de la pandemia de Covid-19 en el colectivo Estação Psicanálise, un grupo heterodoxo de psicoanalistas que realizan atendimientos clínicos en espacio público en Campinas. Con las medidas de aislamiento social nuestro dispositivo se transformó. En este texto intentaremos pensar estas transformaciones, desde tres diferentes lecturas acerca de los impactos de la pandemia en nuestro dispositivo: en su historia, en la formación del analista y en los efectos psíquicos en los sujetos escuchados por los analistas del colectivo.Cet article analyse la traversée de la pandémie de Covid-19 dans le collectif Station Psychanalyse, un groupe hétérodoxe de psychanalystes qui fournissent des services dans l'espace public à Campinas. Avec les mesures d'isolement, notre dispositif a été transformé. Le texte présente des réflexions sur ces transformations, à partir de trois lectures différentes sur l'impact de la pandémie sur le dispositif: sur son histoire, sur la formation de l'analyste et sur les effets psychiques sur les sujets écoutés par les analystes du collectif.This text aims to reflect on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the collective Estação Psicanálise, an heterodox group of psychoanalysts that conducts appointments in public spaces in Campinas. Due to social distancing precautions our clinical device was transformed. The text aims to consider these transformations from three different perspectives about the pandemic’s impact on our clinical device: on its history, on the formation of the analyst and on the psychological effects for the subjects attended to by our collective

From building regulations and local health rules to the new local building codes. A national survey in Italy on the prescriptive and performance requirements for a new performance approach

BACKGROUND: World Health Organization has highlighted the need to strengthen the relationship between health and built environment factors, such as inappropriate housing conditions. Building Regulations and Local Health Rules provide safety and building hygiene in construction practices. Currently the Italian Government is giving rise to a Building Regulation Type and the paper aims to verify the present contents of recent innovative Local Health Rules and Building Regulations of several Italian municipalities for supporting the performance approach of the future Building Regulations including hygienic issues. METHODS: The analysis examines both Building Regulations and Local Health Rules of a sample of about 550 cities, analysing some specific fields of interest: urban field, outdoor issues, housing features, housing restrictions, and qualitative aspects. RESULTS: The analysis focuses on some specific aspects defining the general data reported in Building Regulations and Local Health Rules, in particular around surfaces, heights, lighting and aeration ratio, basements and semi-basements, gas radon, building greenery, etc. CONCLUSION: The investigation permitted to have a wide vision on the present State of the Art in order to highlight some innovative aspects and design approaches of Building Regulations and Local Health Rules. New perspectives in the new regulations should have a performance approach, starting also from the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Drought avoidance adaptive traits in seed germination and seedling growth of Citrullus amarus landraces

Abstract Citrullus lanatus cultivation is affected by drought stress. Citrullus species that grow wild and domesticated in arid areas, are considered potential useful donors of drought tolerance traits. Here, we evaluated the response of seed germination, seedling establishment and growth to different water availabilities in eleven landraces of C. amarus, from most of their cultivation range and in one C. lanatus commercial cultivar ('Sugar Baby'). 'Sugar Baby' germinated to lower water potential better than all C. amarus landraces, while seedling establishment was much higher in C. amarus than in C. lanatus. Finally, seedling growth of C. amarus landraces and the C. lanatus cultivar followed different patterns depending on water availability, showing enhanced biomass growth under wet conditions and no changes between dry and wet growing treatments, respectively. The different water use strategies in seed germination and seedling growth found in the two crops highlight drought avoidance strategies linked to the species growing environment in C. amarus, not present in the C. lanatus cultivar. The high seedling establishment, the plastic responses to water availabilities and the strong root system, indicate that genetic resources of C. amarus may have important applications in breeding programmes and in the selection of water-use efficient rootstock lines

O Processo da Avaliação no Ensino e na Aprendizagem de Matemática

This paper reports on a study using qualitative analysis of an intervention, developed with students from a public middle school, located in Maua, Sao Paulo. The objective was to discuss how the diversity of assessment tools can contribute to significant mathematical learning. Both formal and informal components of the evaluation process were analyzed. All assessments studied in this work were embedded in the process of teaching and learning mathematics, and were used as formative assessments. Through an interpretative analysis of all the data, case studies were developed, showing evidence of improved performance of the students with respect to the mathematical understanding of the topics studied. It also shows the importance of using a collection of diverse assessment tools in formal and informal evaluations of the learning of mathematics. Key words: Assessment. Mathematics Education. Middle School.Este artigo decorre de uma pesquisa de intervenção com análise qualitativa, desenvolvida com alunos de duas 7ª séries do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola da rede pública estadual, localizada na cidade de Mauá, em São Paulo. O objetivo deste estudo foi discutir como a diversidade de instrumentos de avaliação pode contribuir para uma formação matemática significativa. Analisou-se um processo de avaliação realizado em diferentes etapas de interação: informal e formal. Tanto as atividades informais de avaliação quanto as formais estiveram, nesta pesquisa, atreladas ao processo de ensino e aprendizagem matemática, numa perspectiva de avaliação formativa. Através de uma análise interpretativa dos dados, construíram-se estudos de caso, nos quais se evidencia um melhor desempenho dos alunos no que respeita aos conhecimentos matemáticos estudados, comprovando a importância da diversidade de instrumentos de avaliação formal e informal no processo avaliativo da aprendizagem matemática. Palavras-chave: Avaliação. Educação Matemática. Ensino Fundamental