Estudos sobre a paz e cultura da paz

Segundo o autor, a cultura da paz implica uma mudança quer na forma como a “alta cultura” lida com a realidade quer no tipo de abordagem que o senso comum faz às relações sociais, sendo que a ruptura com a ideologia conservadora, ou seja, com o senso comum realista só é possível graças a estas alterações. O autor realça tanto a importância que os estudos sobre a paz têm para o surgimento de um conceito amplo de paz, desenvolvido por Johan Galtung, como o facto destes estarem estrategicamente orientados para a transformação do sistema internacional. Sequentemente, conclui que a paz é uma categoria moral e cultural que só pode ser alcançada através do comportamento quotidian

DESAFIOS E APRENDIZADOS DAS AÇÕES DE EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL NA OCUPAÇÃO VISTA ALEGRE DO JUÁ, SANTARÉM, PARÁ

O recorrente aumento das zonas urbanas e a redução das áreas arborizadas acarretam baixa qualidade aos ambientes de convivência social. A educação ambiental entra como ferramenta auxiliadora de criação e manutenção dessas áreas. Com objetivo de contribuir para a qualidade ambiental em uma zona de ocupação irregular no município de Santarém, Pará, desenvolveu-se um trabalho de arborização, atrelando ações educativas, associando preservação e educação. Procedeu-se com a atividades de produção de mudas e plantio de espécies arbóreas, junto a práticas educacionais voltadas a educação ambiental, como discussão de temáticas ambientais. Foram desenvolvidas atividades de contação de histórias, construção de maquetes e desenhos, além de práticas de produção de mudas, compostagem, plantio e cuidados com as espécies arbóreas. Ocorreu contribuição significativa para com as crianças e jovens, na formação de uma consciência crítica, incentivando-as a agir de maneira mais ativa dentro do contexto abordado. Palavras-chave: Educação ambiental; produção de mudas; compostagem; consciência ecológica

Trailing Boom on Fungicides Application on Wheat, Bean and Soybean

This study aimed to determine the influence of air-assisted and trailing boom technologies on fungicide applications to control diseases incidence and severity on wheat, bean and soybean. The experiments were conducted in three different sites in the Campos Gerais (PR) region in a completely randomized blocks design. In the wheat crop season of 2011, the treatments were: i) control (no fungicide application on the plants); fungicide spray with ii) nozzles in conventional ground boom sprayer; iii) nozzles in trailing boom; and iv) nozzles in conventional boom sprayer + trailing boom simultaneously. In the bean and soybean crop season of 2011-12, we added an extra treatment of boom with air-assisted sprayer, since the farmers had this technology available. We conclude that at the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), the diseases controlled with fungicides presented lower severity and incidence compared with the control treatment for all the crops evaluated. The fungicide spraying technology aggregated to air-assisted and trailing boom did not differ from the conventional boom sprayer for disease control and yield components of wheat, beans and soybeans

Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 restores endothelial function in renovascular hypertension

Background: the clipping of an artery supplying one of the two kidneys (2K1C) activates the renin-angiotensin (Ang) system (RAS), resulting in hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. Recently, we demonstrated the intrarenal beneficial effects of sildenafil on the high levels of Ang II and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and on high blood pressure (BP) in 2K1C mice. Thus, in the present study, we tested the hypothesis that sildenafil improves endothelial function in hypertensive 2K1C mice by improving the NO/ROS balance.Methods: 2K1C hypertension was induced in C57BL/6 mice. Two weeks later, they were treated with sildenafil (40 mg/kg/day, via oral) or vehicle for 2 weeks and compared with sham mice. At the end of the treatment, the levels of plasma and intrarenal Ang peptides were measured. Endothelial function and ROS production were assessed in mesenteric arterial bed (MAB).Results: the 2K1C mice exhibited normal plasma levels of Ang I, II and 1-7, whereas the intrarenal Ang I and II were increased (similar to 35% and similar to 140%) compared with the Sham mice. Sildenafil normalized the intrarenal Ang I and II and increased the plasma (similar to 45%) and intrarenal (+15%) Ang 1-7. the 2K1C mice exhibited endothelial dysfunction, primarily due to increased ROS and decreased NO productions by endothelial cells, which were ameliorated by treatment with sildenafil.Conclusion: These data suggest that the effects of sildenafil on endothelial dysfunction in 2K1C mice may be due to interaction with RAS and restoring NO/ROS balance in the endothelial cells from MAB. Thus, sildenafil is a promising candidate drug for the treatment of hypertension accompanied by endothelial dysfunction and kidney disease.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)State Agency for the Development of Science and Technology (FAPES/Universal)Univ Fed Espirito Santo, Hlth Sci Ctr, Lab Translat Physiol, Vitoria, ES, BrazilEmescam Sch Hlth Sci, Vitoria, ES, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, Div Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Espirito Santo, Hlth Sci Ctr, Pharmaceut Sci Grad Program, Vitoria, ES, BrazilUniv Fed Paraiba, Hlth Sci Ctr, Dept Physiol & Pathol, BR-58059900 Joao Pessoa, PB, BrazilUVV, Pharmaceut Sci Grad Program, Vila Velha, ES, BrazilFed Inst Educ Sci & Technol IFES, Vila Velha, ES, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, Div Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilCNPq: 302582/2011-8CNPq: 476525/2012-8CNPq: 305188/2012-7CNPq: 473177/2013-7State Agency for the Development of Science and Technology (FAPES/Universal): 012/2011State Agency for the Development of Science and Technology (FAPES/Universal): 54498465CNPq: 012/2009Web of Scienc

Renoprotective effects of atorvastatin in diabetic mice: downregulation of RhoA and upregulation of Akt/GSK3

Potential benefits of statins in the treatment of chronic kidney disease beyond lipid-lowering effects have been described. However, molecular mechanisms involved in renoprotective actions of statins have not been fully elucidated. We questioned whether statins influence development of diabetic nephropathy through reactive oxygen species, RhoA and Akt/GSK3 pathway, known to be important in renal pathology. Diabetic mice (db/db) and their control counterparts (db/+) were treated with atorvastatin (10 mg/Kg/day, p.o., for 2 weeks). Diabetes-associated renal injury was characterized by albuminuria (albumin:creatinine ratio, db/+: 3.2 ± 0.6 vs. db/db: 12.5 ± 3.1*; *P<0.05), increased glomerular/mesangial surface area, and kidney hypertrophy. Renal injury was attenuated in atorvastatin-treated db/db mice. Increased ROS generation in the renal cortex of db/db mice was also inhibited by atorvastatin. ERK1/2 phosphorylation was increased in the renal cortex of db/db mice. Increased renal expression of Nox4 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, observed in db/db mice, were abrogated by statin treatment. Atorvastatin also upregulated Akt/GSK3β phosphorylation in the renal cortex of db/db mice. Our findings suggest that atorvastatin attenuates diabetes-associated renal injury by reducing ROS generation, RhoA activity and normalizing Akt/GSK3β signaling pathways. The present study provides some new insights into molecular mechanisms whereby statins may protect against renal injury in diabetes

Receptor-Induced Dilatation in the Systemic and Intrarenal Adaptation to Pregnancy in Rats

Normal pregnancy is associated with systemic and intrarenal vasodilatation resulting in an increased glomerular filtration rate. This adaptive response occurs in spite of elevated circulating levels of angiotensin II (Ang II). In the present study, we evaluated the potential mechanisms responsible for this adaptation. The reactivity of the mesangial cells (MCs) cultured from 14-day-pregnant rats to Ang II was measured through changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Cai]). The expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the Ang II-induced vasodilatation receptor AT2, and the relaxin (LGR7) receptor were evaluated in cultured MCs and in the aorta, renal artery and kidney cortex by real time-PCR. The intrarenal distribution of LGR7 was further analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The MCs displayed a relative insensitivity to Ang II, which was paralleled by an impressive increase in the expression level of iNOS, AT2 and LGR7. These results suggest that the MCs also adapt to the pregnancy, thereby contributing to the maintenance of the glomerular surface area even in the presence of high levels of Ang II. The mRNA expression levels of AT2 and LGR7 also increased in the aorta, renal artery and kidney of the pregnant animals, whereas the expression of the AT1 did not significantly change. This further suggests a role of these vasodilatation-induced receptors in the systemic and intrarenal adaptation during pregnancy. LGR7 was localized in the glomeruli and on the apical membrane of the tubular cells, with stronger labeling in the kidneys of pregnant rats. These results suggest a role of iNOS, AT2, and LGR7 in the systemic vasodilatation and intrarenal adaptation to pregnancy and also suggest a pivotal role for relaxin in the tubular function during gestation

Mammography-based screening program: preliminary results from a first 2-year round in a Brazilian region using mobile and fixed units

RLH, TBS and ALF made substantial contributions to the conception and design of the article, the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of the data, and drafting of the article. ECM, JSCM and NB made substantial contributions to the conception and design of the study.Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. The use of mobile mammography units to offer screening to women living in remote areas is a rational strategy to increase the number of women examined. This study aimed to evaluate results from the first 2 years of a government-organized mammography screening program implemented with a mobile unit (MU) and a fixed unit (FU) in a rural county in Brazil. The program offered breast cancer screening to women living in Barretos and the surrounding area. Methods: Based on epidemiologic data, 54 238 women, aged 40 to 69 years, were eligible for breast cancer screening. The study included women examined from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2005. The chi-square test and Bonferroni correction analyses were used to evaluate the frequencies of tumors and the importance of clinical parameters and tumor characteristics. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Overall, 17 964 women underwent mammography. This represented 33.1% of eligible women in the area. A mean of 18.6 and 26.3 women per day were examined in the FU and MU, respectively. Seventy six patients were diagnosed with breast cancer (41 (54%) in the MU). This represented 4.2 cases of breast cancer per 1000 examinations. The number of cancers detected was significantly higher in women aged 60 to 69 years than in those aged 50 to 59 years (p < 0.001) or 40 to 49 years (p < 0.001). No difference was observed between women aged 40 to 49 years and those aged 50 to 59 years (p = 0.164). The proportion of tumors in the early (EC 0 and EC I) and advanced (CS III and CS IV) stages of development were 43.4% and 15.8%, respectively. Conclusions: Preliminary results indicate that this mammography screening program is feasible for implementation in a rural Brazilian territory and favor program continuation