Crise Ambiental e Pandemia: Descaminhos no Brasil e Rumos para uma Nova Governança

A rápida degradação do meio ambiente em termos globais atingiu um novo patamar, ainda mais preocupante, com a eclosão da pandemia de Covid-19 no início de 2020. É cada vez mais evidente que o novo coronavírus soou um alerta aos efeitos indiretos do desmatamento, sobretudo em florestas tropicais, como a Amazônica. A concepção da sociedade de risco, proposta pelo sociólogo alemão Ulrich Beck, representa uma oportunidade para ampliar a discussão sobre possíveis intersecções entre as crises ambiental e sanitária, reforçando a urgência de se promover, de maneira articulada, medidas de contenção de endemias, epidemias e pandemias na relação com o desmatamento e consequente retirada da cobertura vegetal, orientadas por políticas públicas baseadas no conhecimento técnico-científico. Observa-se, porém, que a difusão dessa compreensão na gestão pública colide com os obstáculos impostos pelo próprio governo federal brasileiro. Tais barreiras são sustentadas pelo negacionismo histórico e científico, considerado um princípio norteador de decisões que favorecem a disseminação da Covid-19 e o agravamento da destruição ambiental no país. Para enfrentar esse desafio, é necessário fortalecer estruturas de governança democrática e participativa, estreitando a relação entre ciência e sociedade na busca por soluções integradas para combater problemas socioambientais cada vez mais complexos.The rapid degradation of the environment has reached a new level, even more worrying, with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is increasingly evident that the new coronavirus has sounded a warning that calls attention to the indirect effects of deforestation, especially in tropical forests such as the Amazon rainforest. The concept of the so-called risk society, proposed by the German sociologist Ulrich Beck, represents an opportunity to broaden the discussion on possible intersections between the environmental and health crises, reinforcing the urgency of articulated measures to contain epidemics and the deforestation supported by public policies based on science. However, it is observed that the dissemination of this understanding in public management collides with the Brazilian federal government's obstacles. Such barriers are supported by historical and scientific denial, considered a guiding principle for decisions that favour the dissemination of Covid-19 and the aggravation of environmental crises in Brazil. To face this challenge, it is necessary to strengthen democratic and participatory governance structures, strengthening the relationship between science and society to search for solutions to combat increasingly complex socio-environmental problems

Unexpected discovery of surgical gauze during a robotic radical prostatectomy identified as a capturing lymph node on magnetic resonance

Multiparametric magnetic resonance, plays a crucial role in several steps of the management of prostate cancer. Various factors could alter the interpretation and reduce the accuracy of MR. Among these the group of the retained surgical items, can produce serious implications for the health of patient, as well as medical-legal consequences. Here we report the case of a patient, with a prostate tumor, who performed a mp-MRI of the prostate, where it was reported as collateral finding, compatible thesis with lymphadenopathy. During robotic assisted radical prostatectomy, was found a gauze, which persisted asymptomatic, retained after a previous right inguinal hernioplast

Can the electronic nose diagnose cronic rhinosinusitis? A new experimental study

In otorhinolaryngologist's experience the nasal out-breath of people affected by chronic nasal or paranasal infections may be characterized by peculiar odours. In a previous study we showed that an electronic nose (EN), examining nasal out breath was able to distinguish subjects affected by chronic rhinosinusitis from healthy subjects. The present study is aimed at analysing the intensity and the quality of the odorous components present in the air expired by patients affected by rhinosinusitis, using a new EN based on gas-chromatography and surface acoustic wave analysis. In the gas-chromatographic tracings of the pathologic subjects there were six peaks, which were not present in control group cases. These peaks correspond to odorous components, whose chemical composition ranges from C6 to C14. Peaks obtained were compaired with other tracings revealed from specific bacterial and fungal cultures analyses and we appreciated some analogies

Influence of the microbiota on the effectiveness and toxicity of oncological therapies, with a focus on chemotherapy

Recent studies have highlighted a possible correlation between microbiota composition and the pathogenesis of various oncological diseases. Also, many bacterial groups are now directly or indirectly associated with the capability of stimulating or inhibiting carcinogenic pathways. However, little is known about the importance and impact of microbiota patterns related to the efficacy and toxicity of cancer treatments. We have recently begun to understand how oncological therapies and the microbiota are closely interconnected and could influence each other. Chemotherapy effectiveness, for example, appears to be strongly influenced by the presence of some microorganisms capable of modulating the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the compounds used, thus varying the real response and therefore the efficacy of the oncological treatment. Similarly, chemotherapeutic agents can modulate the microbiota with variations that could facilitate or avoid the onset of important side effects. This finding has or could have considerable relevance as it is possible that our ability to modulate and modify the microbial structure before, during, and after treatment could influence all the clinical parameters related to pharmacological treatments and, eventually, the prognosis of the disease

Ambiente e Sociedade em Tempos de Emergência Climática: Do Resgate Histórico ao Momento Atual

O sexto relatório do IPCC trouxe um forte alerta para a questão climática no mundo. O aviso chega em um cenário de desastres naturais que se espalharam ao redor do mundo nos últimos meses. A complexidade desse processo de transformação de um planeta, não apenas crescentemente ameaçado, mas também diretamente afetado pelos riscos socioambientais e seus danos, é cada vez mais notória. A emergência climática foi uma das grandes pautas de 2021, marcando importantes eventos internacionais relacionados à temática. Na América Latina e no Caribe, as inundações são o tipo de desastre mais comum desde o ano 2000. O debate sobre justiça e desigualdades sociais relacionadas às mudanças climáticas se intensificou ao longo da última década, devido à crescente incidência de eventos climáticos extremos. A injustiça climática advém da exposição de populações pobres a alterações climáticas criadas e exacerbadas pela atividade degenerativa humana. No Brasil, aproximadamente 85% dos desastres naturais estão relacionados às chuvas ou à falta delas. O país apresenta um histórico de tragédias climáticas relacionadas a esse desequilíbrio hídrico. A construção de uma justiça climática brasileira se faz necessária por meio da criação de políticas públicas e de planos de ação nesse sentido.The sixth IPCC report brought a strong alert to the climate issue in the world. The warning comes against a backdrop of natural disasters that have spread around the world in recent months. The complexity of this process of transforming a planet, not only increasingly threatened, but also directly affected by socio-environmental risks and their damage, is increasingly notorious. The climate emergency was one of the great agendas of 2021, especially with important international events related to the theme. In Latin America and the Caribbean, floods have been the most common type of disaster in the region since the year 2000. The debate on justice and social inequalities related to climate change has intensified over the last decade, due to the increasing incidence of extreme weather events. Climate injustice stems from exposing poor populations to climate change, created and exacerbated by degenerative human activity. In Brazil, approximately 85% of natural disasters are related to rain or lack of it. The country has a history of climatic tragedies related to this water imbalance. The construction of a Brazilian climate justice is necessary through the creation of public policies in the creation of action plans in this sense

The role of short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, in oncological immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors: the effectiveness of complementary treatment with Clostridium butyricum 588

The discovery of immune checkpoints (CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1) and their impact on the prognosis of oncological diseases have paved the way for the development of revolutionary oncological treatments. These treatments do not combat tumors with drugs "against" cancer cells but rather support and enhance the ability of the immune system to respond directly to tumor growth by attacking the cancer cells with lymphocytes. It has now been widely demonstrated that the presence of an adequate immune response, essentially represented by the number of TILs (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) present in the tumor mass decisively influences the response to treatments and the prognosis of the disease. Therefore, immunotherapy is based on and cannot be carried out without the ability to increase the presence of lymphocytic cells at the tumor site, thereby limiting and nullifying certain tumor evasion mechanisms, particularly those expressed by the activity (under positive physiological conditions) of checkpoints that restrain the response against transformed cells. Immunotherapy has been in the experimental phase for decades, and its excellent results have made it a cornerstone of treatments for many oncological pathologies, especially when combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Despite these successes, a significant number of patients (approximately 50%) do not respond to treatment or develop resistance early on. The microbiota, its composition, and our ability to modulate it can have a positive impact on oncological treatments, reducing side effects and increasing sensitivity and effectiveness. Numerous studies published in high-ranking journals confirm that a certain microbial balance, particularly the presence of bacteria capable of producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially butyrate, is essential not only for reducing the side effects of chemoradiotherapy treatments but also for a better response to immune treatments and, therefore, a better prognosis. This opens up the possibility that favorable modulation of the microbiota could become an essential complementary treatment to standard oncological therapies. This brief review aims to highlight the key aspects of using precision probiotics, such as Clostridium butyricum, that produce butyrate to improve the response to immune checkpoint treatments and, thus, the prognosis of oncological diseases

UTILIZAÇÃO DE SUBPRODUTOS E RESÍDUOS DE FRUTAS NA SUPLEMENTAÇÃO DE OVINOS (Ovis aries)

A utilização de subprodutos e resíduos de frutas na suplementação de ovinos tem-se demonstrado uma importante alternativa sustentável, sendo capaz, de minimizar os danos ambientais e ao mesmo tempo diminuir o custo de produção aos proprietários. Diversos aspectos, como digestibilidade, comportamento ingestivo, características de carcaça, desempenho, dentre outros, estão sendo avaliados quanto à inclusão de resíduos e subprodutos de frutas na suplementação ovina. Apesar de sua grande relevância, são poucos os estudos abordando esta temática, sugerindo-se novas pesquisas quanto a esse aspect

Expected performance of the ASTRI-SST-2M telescope prototype

ASTRI (Astrofisica con Specchi a Tecnologia Replicante Italiana) is an Italian flagship project pursued by INAF (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica) strictly linked to the development of the Cherenkov Telescope Array, CTA. Primary goal of the ASTRI program is the design and production of an end-to-end prototype of a Small Size Telescope for the CTA sub-array devoted to the highest gamma-ray energy region. The prototype, named ASTRI SST-2M, will be tested on field in Italy during 2014. This telescope will be the first Cherenkov telescope adopting the double reflection layout in a Schwarzschild-Couder configuration with a tessellated primary mirror and a monolithic secondary mirror. The collected light will be focused on a compact and light-weight camera based on silicon photo-multipliers covering a 9.6 deg full field of view. Detailed Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to estimate the performance of the planned telescope. The results regarding its energy threshold, sensitivity and angular resolution are shown and discussed.Comment: In Proceedings of the 33rd International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2013), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). All CTA contributions at arXiv:1307.223