Research and the (free and) informed consent A pesquisa e o termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido

The aim of this article was to reflect about the Free and Informed Consent (IC) in qualitative researches in the health field. Coming from the experience of being part of a CER (Committee for Ethic in Research) in the health area the authoresses place in debate some important questions, exploring them and conducting suggestions. One of these questions and topic of analysis is the meaning of IC, as for the participant as for the researcher.<br>Este artigo teve como objetivo refletir sobre o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido (TCLE) em pesquisas qualitativas no campo da saúde. Partindo da sua experiência de pertencimento a um CEP (Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa), na área da saúde, as autoras colocam em discussão algumas questões importantes, problematizando-as e encaminhando sugestões. Uma dessas questões e objeto da reflexão é o significado do TCLE, tanto para o participante como para o pesquisador

An overview of mercury contamination research in the Amazon basin with an emphasis on Brazil Uma revisão das pesquisas sobre contaminação por mercúrio na Amazônia com ênfase no território brasileiro

This article provides an overview of research on mercury contamination in the Amazon Basin and its evolution from 1990 to 2005. The assessment was based on an extensive and systematic review using bibliographic databases available online and a review of projects by research groups. Brazilian research groups were identified using the database of the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq). A geographic information system was used to determine the location of the studies. Different aspects of mercury contamination were evaluated (environmental studies, impacts on human health, technological improvements). For 1990-2005, a total of 455 publications were identified. The main advances and remaining gaps in relation to environmental issues and human health were identified and discussed. Although the scientific output varied considerably over the period, there was a general increase in the total number of publications per year from the early 1990s (fewer than 20) until 2005 (more than 30), considering the articles published in indexed journals.<br>Esta pesquisa apresenta uma visão geral dos estudos desenvolvidos sobre a contaminação por mercúrio na bacia Amazônica e a evolução destes estudos no período 1990-2005. O estudo baseou-se em extensiva e sistemática revisão utilizando bases de dados bibliográficas disponíveis na Internet e em uma revisão dos projetos de pesquisa realizados por grupos de pesquisa. Além disso, os grupos de pesquisa brasileiros foram identificados pela base de dados do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Um sistema de informação geográfica foi usado para localizar os estudos conduzidos. Diferentes aspectos da contaminação por mercúrio na Amazônia foram analisados (estudos ambientais, impactos na saúde humana, melhorias tecnológicas). No período de 1990-2005, foram identificadas 455 publicações. As principais realizações e as lacunas existentes em relação aos estudos ambientais e de saúde humana foram identificadas e discutidas. Apesar de variações, há um aumento geral do número total de publicações por ano desde o começo da década de 1990 (menos de 20) para o final do período estudado (mais de 30), expresso por meio dos artigos publicados em revistas indexadas

Detecção de metalo-beta-lactamase em Pseudomonas aeruginosa isoladas de pacientes hospitalizados em Goiânia, Estado de Goiás Detection of metallo-beta-lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from hospitalized patients in Goiânia, State of Goiás

Pseudomonas aeruginosa é uma bactéria frequentemente isolada no ambiente hospitalar. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o perfil de suscetibilidade de Pseudomonas aeruginosa previamente isoladas de pacientes internados em um hospital de Goiânia (Goiás&#45;Brasil); realizar a triagem fenotípica para a produção de metalo&#45;beta&#45;lactamase e detectar os genes das mesmas pela técnica de "Polimerase Chain Reaction". Foram avaliadas 75 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isoladas no período de janeiro de 2005 a janeiro de 2007. A identificação bioquímica foi realizada pelo sistema API 20E® e o antibiograma pelo método de Kirby&#45;Bauer. Entre os 62 isolados que foram resistentes ao imipenem e à ceftazidima, 35 (56,4%) apresentaram produção de metalo&#45;beta&#45;lactamase e em 26 (74,3%) destes, foi detectado o gene blaSPM&#45;1. A frequência de Pseudomonas aeruginosa produtoras de metalo&#45;beta&#45;lactamase sugere um maior controle da disseminação de resistência no ambiente hospitalar.<br>Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium frequently isolated from hospital environments. This study had the aims of evaluating the susceptibility profile of Pseudomonas aeruginosa previously isolated from patients in a hospital in Goiânia (Goiás, Brazil), performing phenotypic screening for metallo-beta-lactamase production and detecting its genes using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Seventy-five 75 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were evaluated between January 2005 and January 2007. Biochemical identification was performed using the API 20E® system and an antibiogram was produced using the Kirby-Bauer method. Among the 62 isolates that were resistant to imipenem and ceftazidime, 35 (56.4%) produced metallo-beta-lactamase, while 26 (74.3%) showed the blaSPM-1 gene. The frequency of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that produces metallo-beta-lactamase suggests that greater control over the dissemination of resistance in hospital environments is needed

Speciation and quantification of Hg in sediments contaminated by artisanal gold mining in the Gualaxo do Norte River, Minas Gerais, SE, Brazil

The Iron Quadrangle in SE Brazil was, in the eighteenth century, one of the most important Au producing regions of Brazil. In this region, gold is produced, even today, by artisanal methods that use Hg to increase the extraction efficiency with no control of Hg release to water systems and the atmosphere. In this context, the Gualaxo do Norte River is of particularinterest; its springs are located in the Doce River basin, an important Brazilian basin that supplies water for 3.5 million people. The main goal of this work was to quantify and speciate the Hg in the sediments of the Gualaxo do Norte River using a direct mercury analyzer and gas chromatography-pyrolysis-atomic fluorescence detection system. Statistical analyses consisted of principal component analysis, aiming to assess interactions among elements and species and to group the variables in factors affecting the properties of sediment. The results show that total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (CH3Hg+) concentrations in samples ranged from 209 to 1207 ?g kg?1 and from 0.07 to 1.00 ?g kg?1, respectively (methylation percentages from 0.01 to 0.27%). Thermal desorption analysis showed that mercury is mainly present in the oxidized form, and correlation analyses pointed to a relationship between THg and MnO, indicating that manganese can oxidize and/or adsorb Hg. Together, MO and CH3Hg+ are important parameters in the third principal component, indicating the influence of OM on the methylation process. This first investigation on Hg methylation in this small-scale gold mining area points to the possibility of Hg bioaccumulation and to the need of better understanding the biogeochemical cycle of Hg in this area. Samples were collected in 2012, prior to the 2015 Fund?o Dam disaster. The results are also a record of the characteristics of the sediment prior to that event