Políticas de formação de professores no Brasil e em Portugal: aproximações

O presente texto é resultado de uma pesquisa teórica, em que foram analisadas as políticas de formação de professores no Brasil e em Portugal, em que se procurou caracterizar as políticas educacionais de formação de professores no Brasil e em Portugal, com o objetivo de compreender como tem se comportado essas políticas de formação de professores nesses países. Foi realizada pesquisa teórica acerca das políticas de formação de professores, em Portugal e no Brasil, pesquisa teórica sobre as políticas de formação de professores nas investigações e produções portuguesas e brasileiras, além de pesquisa e análise da legislação portuguesa e brasileira com relação à formação de professores, culminando com o estudo teórico de autores com produção sobre a formação de professores nos dois países. Percebem-se algumas semelhanças e diferenças nessas políticas, respeitando e levando em consideração as características históricas e sociais de cada um dos dois países. A formação de professores também é considerada elemento essencial no desenvolvimento da qualidade da educação, e sua estrutura precisa ser levada em conta. Os resultados finais mostram que a formação de professores tem se configurado de forma frágil e complexa nos dois países, em virtude das políticas educacionais e de regulação efetivada, atendendo por vezes interesses que não se articulam com a realidade que está presente no cotidiano escolar.CIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, IE, UMinho (UI 317 da FCT

Bromodeoxyuridine Labeling Index as an Indicator of Early Tumor Response to Preoperative Radiotherapy in Patients with Rectal Cancer

PURPOSE: Assessment of tumor proliferation rate using Bromodeoxyuridine labeling index (BrdUrdLI) as a possible predictor of rectal cancer response to preoperative radiotherapy (RT). METHODS AND MATERIAL: Ninety-two patients were qualified either to short RT (5 Gy/fraction/5 days) and surgery about 1 week after RT (schedule I), or to short RT and 4–5 weeks interval before surgery (schedule II). Tumor samples were taken twice from each patient: before RT and at the time of surgery. The samples were incubated with BrdUrd for 1 h at 37°C, and the BrdUrdLI was calculated as a percentage of BrdUrd-labeled cells. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were treated according to schedule I and 54 patients according to schedule II. Mean BrdUrdLI before RT was 8.5% and its value did not differ between the patients in the two compared groups. After RT tumors showed statistically significant growth inhibition (reduction of BrdUrdLI). As the pretreatment BrdUrd LI was not predictive for early clinical and pathologic tumor response, prognostic role of the ratio of BrdUrdLI after to BrdUrdLI before RT was considered. The ratios were calculated separately for fast (BrdUrd LI > 8.5%) and slowly (BrdUrd LI ≤ 8.5%) proliferating tumors and correlated with overall treatment time (OTT, i.e., time from the first day of RT to surgery). One month after RT, accelerated proliferation was observed only in slowly proliferating tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment BrdUrdLI was not predictive for early clinical and pathologic tumor response. The ratio after/before RT BrdUrdLI was correlated to inhibition of proliferation in responsive tumors

Localization of type 1 diabetes susceptibility to the MHC class I genes HLA-B and HLA-A

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6 is associated with susceptibility to more common diseases than any other region of the human genome, including almost all disorders classified as autoimmune. In type 1 diabetes the major genetic susceptibility determinants have been mapped to the MHC class II genes HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DRB1 (refs 1-3), but these genes cannot completely explain the association between type 1 diabetes and the MHC region. Owing to the region's extreme gene density, the multiplicity of disease-associated alleles, strong associations between alleles, limited genotyping capability, and inadequate statistical approaches and sample sizes, which, and how many, loci within the MHC determine susceptibility remains unclear. Here, in several large type 1 diabetes data sets, we analyse a combined total of 1,729 polymorphisms, and apply statistical methods - recursive partitioning and regression - to pinpoint disease susceptibility to the MHC class I genes HLA-B and HLA-A (risk ratios >1.5; Pcombined = 2.01 × 10-19 and 2.35 × 10-13, respectively) in addition to the established associations of the MHC class II genes. Other loci with smaller and/or rarer effects might also be involved, but to find these, future searches must take into account both the HLA class II and class I genes and use even larger samples. Taken together with previous studies, we conclude that MHC-class-I-mediated events, principally involving HLA-B*39, contribute to the aetiology of type 1 diabetes. ©2007 Nature Publishing Group

31st Annual Meeting and Associated Programs of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC 2016) : part two

Background The immunological escape of tumors represents one of the main ob- stacles to the treatment of malignancies. The blockade of PD-1 or CTLA-4 receptors represented a milestone in the history of immunotherapy. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors seem to be effective in specific cohorts of patients. It has been proposed that their efficacy relies on the presence of an immunological response. Thus, we hypothesized that disruption of the PD-L1/PD-1 axis would synergize with our oncolytic vaccine platform PeptiCRAd. Methods We used murine B16OVA in vivo tumor models and flow cytometry analysis to investigate the immunological background. Results First, we found that high-burden B16OVA tumors were refractory to combination immunotherapy. However, with a more aggressive schedule, tumors with a lower burden were more susceptible to the combination of PeptiCRAd and PD-L1 blockade. The therapy signifi- cantly increased the median survival of mice (Fig. 7). Interestingly, the reduced growth of contralaterally injected B16F10 cells sug- gested the presence of a long lasting immunological memory also against non-targeted antigens. Concerning the functional state of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), we found that all the immune therapies would enhance the percentage of activated (PD-1pos TIM- 3neg) T lymphocytes and reduce the amount of exhausted (PD-1pos TIM-3pos) cells compared to placebo. As expected, we found that PeptiCRAd monotherapy could increase the number of antigen spe- cific CD8+ T cells compared to other treatments. However, only the combination with PD-L1 blockade could significantly increase the ra- tio between activated and exhausted pentamer positive cells (p= 0.0058), suggesting that by disrupting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis we could decrease the amount of dysfunctional antigen specific T cells. We ob- served that the anatomical location deeply influenced the state of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. In fact, TIM-3 expression was in- creased by 2 fold on TILs compared to splenic and lymphoid T cells. In the CD8+ compartment, the expression of PD-1 on the surface seemed to be restricted to the tumor micro-environment, while CD4 + T cells had a high expression of PD-1 also in lymphoid organs. Interestingly, we found that the levels of PD-1 were significantly higher on CD8+ T cells than on CD4+ T cells into the tumor micro- environment (p < 0.0001). Conclusions In conclusion, we demonstrated that the efficacy of immune check- point inhibitors might be strongly enhanced by their combination with cancer vaccines. PeptiCRAd was able to increase the number of antigen-specific T cells and PD-L1 blockade prevented their exhaus- tion, resulting in long-lasting immunological memory and increased median survival

Population and Australia&#039;s future labour force

In the next 20 years, the only potential sources of increases in labour supply are increased labour force participation rates and immigration. While the Australian government is attempting to increase participation, the impacts of this policy, highly desirable as they are where they are the result of improved work choices, are likely to be small compared to labour requirements. Also, those currently projected to be out of the labour force in the future, but who might be induced into the labour force, will not necessarily provide a good match to the required skills. The logical conclusion from the above discussion is that Australia’s future requirements for labour will drive increases in demand for sustained and growing immigration. Australia has already embarked on this pathway. Preliminary net overseas migration for the year ended 30 June 2007 was 177,600 persons, the highest annual level ever recorded. In recent years, employers have reacted to labour shortages in their industries by calling for increased levels of immigration and the government has responded by increasing the official settler program intake and increasing opportunities for temporary entry for employment purposes. To maintain labour force growth at one per cent per annum, net migration would have to rise to 227,000 by 2021. Three particular questions arise from the likelihood of an increased demand for immigrant workers: • What measures need to be taken to ensure that Australian social and economic institutions can adapt to larger numbers of immigrants? • What skill levels and skill types will be required to meet future labour requirements? • Are current immigration policies adequate for the recruitment of larger numbers of immigrants

An Australian Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Implications on the Practice of Neurosurgery

Objective: This study was designed to assess the impact of public health policy in Australia in response to the coronavirus disease identified in 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the delivery of neurosurgical services. Being essential services, we postulated that there would not be a decrease in elective and emergency neurosurgical presentations and surgeries. Methods: This is a prospective, observational, epidemiologic study in strict adherence to the “STROBE” (Strengthening The Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology) guidelines. It is a cross-sectional, multicentric study involving 5 tertiary neurosurgical centers to capture all public neurosurgical admissions in Queensland during the past 3 months (February−April, 2020) of significant public health policy changes to combat COVID-19. Results: An analysis of the 1298 admissions for the Queensland population of 5.07 million Australians demonstrated a decrease in the number of elective and emergency admissions. The decline in elective admissions, particularly degenerative spine, benign neoplasms, and vascular pathologies, was a direct response of government strategy to curb activity to urgent surgical interventions only. Moreover, a trend toward fewer emergency admissions was also noted, partly explained by less trauma and also a decline in vascular pathologies including subarachnoid hemorrhage. Conclusions: In comparison with Europe and North America, this study demonstrates the impact of proactive public health measures in Australia that successfully flattened the COVID-19 curve while facilitating ongoing care of acutely unwell neurosurgical patients

Using normalisation process theory to evaluate the implementation of a complex intervention to embed the surgical safety checklist

Abstract Background The surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) was introduced in 2008 to improve teamwork and reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with surgery. Although mandated in many health care institutions around the world, challenges in implementation of the SSC continue. To use Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) to help understand how/why implementation of a complex intervention coined Pass The Baton (PTB) could help explain what facets of the Surgical Safety Checklist use led to its’ integration in practice, while others were not. Methods A longitudinal multi-method study using survey and interviews was undertaken. Implementation of PTB involved; change champions, audit and feedback, education and prompts. Following implementation, surgical teams were surveyed using the NOrmalization MeAsure Development (NoMAD) and subsequently interviewed to explore the impact of PTB on their use of the checklist at 6 and 12 months respectively. Respondents’ self-reported perceptions of implementation of PTB was explained using the four NPT constructs; coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, and reflexive monitoring. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Interview data were coded inductively and content analysed using a framework derived from NPT. Results The NoMAD survey response rate was 59/150 (39.3%). Many (45/59, 77.6%) survey respondents saw the value in PTB, while 50/59 (86.2%) would continue to use it; 45/59 (77.6%) believed that PTB could easily be integrated into existing workflows, and 48/59 (82.8%) thought that feedback could improve PTB in the future. A total of 8 interviews were completed with 26 surgical team members. Nurses and physicians held mixed views towards coherence while buy-in and participation relied on individuals’ investment in the implementation process and the ability to modify PTB. Participants generally recognised the benefit and value of using PTB in the ongoing implementation the checklist. Conclusions Workarounds and flexible co-construction in implementation designed to improve team communications in surgery may facilitate their normalisation in practice

Additional file 1: of Using normalisation process theory to evaluate the implementation of a complex intervention to embed the surgical safety checklist

NoMAD Survey tool, adapted from: May, C., Rapley, T., Mair, F.S., Treweek, S., Murray, E., Ballini, L., Macfarlane, A. Girling, M. and Finch, T.L. (2015) Normalization Process Theory On-line Users’ Manual, Toolkit and NoMAD instrument. Available from: http://www.normalizationprocess.org/nomad-study/ . (DOC 215 kb

A community/faith-based breast health educational program focused on increasing knowledge about triple negative breast cancer among Black women in Prince William County and surrounding areas

Background: Black women have higher rates of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) as compared to women from other racial/ethnic groups. TNBC is a rare form of cancer that is aggressive and more challenging to treat. Little is known about breast health programs designed to educate black women about TNBC. The purpose of this project was to implement a community/faith-based breast health educational program for black women focused on increasing knowledge about TNBC. Methods:This study was an educational program to increase knowledge of TNBC to 450 black women. Knowledge was measured before and after the program. Results: Participants had increased correct knowledge on all three TNBC topics. These items were knowledgeable about potential health concerns of TNBC, TNBC is more common in blacks than whites, and TNBC is potentially one of the more aggressive and deadly forms of breast cancer. Conclusions: Educating black women about TNBC and early detection and mammography screening is vital for survival. This study demonstrates that black women can benefit from culturally appropriate educational programs about TNBC. Increasing knowledge about TNBC can save lives and prevent the harmful consequences associated with this disease among black women