Private Law and State Paternalism: Too Much Legal Regulation of Private Life?

This article analyses the adverse effect of paternalistic attitudes adopted by the State, especially the legal regulation of private life. Often, the State has adopted certain positions, especially through the issuance of rules and legal decisions in areas where Private Law and freedom of choice has prevailed, such as private contracts. Due to a protectionist position adopted by the State, legal regulation of private life has increased. The Judiciary resolves questions that arise daily in private orbit precisely because it is considered as the only social actor able to implement its own decisions. In such a way, this study seeks to analyze the possible consequences of this state altruistic posture. It is interesting to note that such a posture is authoritative at the same time, since individuals are considered eternally vulnerable and minimizes principles of Private Law. This, ultimately, could lead from a democratic system to an authoritarian one

Avaliação de laboratórios brasileiros na determinação de alguns parâmetros de qualidade de biocombustíveis

This work shows the results of a Proficiency Testing performed by a partnership between INMETRO and ANP. The performance of 49 Brazilian laboratories (using the z-score statistical test) in determining 10 quality parameters of ethanol fuel and biodiesel was evaluated. The certified reference values were provided by INMETRO, allowing a more rigorous assessment of the laboratories. For hydrous ethanol, the acidity parameter showed the lowest number of laboratories with satisfactory results (48%), while 85% of the laboratories presented satisfactory results for ethanol content. For biodiesel, the percentage of laboratories with satisfactory results ranged from 46% (kinematic viscosity) to 92% (acid number)

Antibacterial activity of Baccharis dracunculifolia in planktonic cultures and biofilms of Streptococcus mutans

Summary: Streptococcus mutans is an important cariogenic microorganism, and alternative methods for its elimination are required. Different concentrations of Baccharis dracunculifolia essential oil (EO) were tested to determine its minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) in planktonic cultures, and this concentration was used in S. mutans biofilms. Additionally, we assessed the effect of a 0.12% chlorhexidine (CHX) and saline solution in S. mutans biofilms. The biofilms were grown in discs of composite resin for 48 h and exposed to B. dracunculifolia, CHX or saline solution for 5 min. The viability of the biofilms was determined by counting the colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml) in agar, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The MIC of the B. dracunculifolia EO to planktonic growth of S. mutans was 6%. In biofilms of S. mutans clinical isolates, B. dracunculifolia EO (6%) and CHX resulted in reductions of 53.3–91.1% and 79.1–96.6%, respectively. For the biofilm formed by the S. mutans reference strain, the reductions achieved with B. dracunculifolia EO and CHX were, respectively, 39.3% and 88.1%. It was concluded that B. dracunculifolia EO showed antibacterial activity and was able to control this oral microorganism, which otherwise causes dental caries. Keywords: Streptococcus mutans, Baccharis, Biofilms, Dental carie

Formação profissional ética: um compromisso a partir das diretrizes curriculares? Ethical professional education: a commitment based on the curricular guidelines?

Esta reflexão problematiza o discurso e a prática que se estabelecem em torno do tema da formação ética dos profissionais da saúde e, mais particularmente, do cirurgião-dentista, situando o atual momento de implantação das Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais no ensino superior brasileiro. Procura-se, desta forma, indicar alguns limites e possibilidades para uma formação ética condizente com o novo perfil profissional almejado.<br>This reflection questions the discourse and practice surrounding the ethical education of health professionals and, more particularly, of dentists, situating the current state of deployment of the National Curriculum Guidelines in Brazilian Higher Education. The goal is to point to a few limits and possibilities for an ethical education in line with the new professional profile that is sought

I Consenso Nacional para Padronização dos Laudos de FAN HEp-2 The first Brazilian Consensus for Standardization of ANA in HEp-2 Cells

A análise da presença de auto-anticorpos feita por imunofluorescência indireta em células HEp-2 constitui-se em um método de triagem escolhido na maioria dos laboratórios clínicos. A ausência de uma nomenclatura definida para a descrição dos laudos tem trazido problemas na utilização clínica do teste, pelas dificuldades no controle de qualidade e na padronização dos resultados, que, por sua vez, embora similares, recebiam denominações diferentes. O I Consenso Brasileiro para Padronização dos Laudos de FAN HEp-2 reuniu em agosto de 2000, em Goiânia, diversos especialistas de todo o Brasil. Esses emitiram pareceres em consenso para os distintos padrões: nucleares, nucleolares, citoplasmáticos e aparelho mitótico. Foram feitas recomendações sobre os critérios para a leitura de uma lâmina, bem como para relação entre a diluição de triagem e o sistema óptico utilizado.<br>The technique of immunofluorescence using HEp-2 cells as substrate is the screening method of choice for the presence of autoantibodies in many clinical laboratories. The lack of a specific terminology for reporting results brings problems in quality control, clinical utility of the test, and standardization attempts. The first Brazilian Consensus for Standardization of ANA in HEp-2 Cells took place in Goiânia in August 2000. Several laboratory specialists with experience in the methodology showed up. They established guidelines for the description of ANA patterns in the Portuguese language, encompassing distinct descriptions for nuclear, nucleolar, cytoplasmic and mitotic apparatus patterns of fluorescence. Recommendations were also established regarding screening titers, final dilution titer, and on morphological criteria for reading the slides