Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigerian Libraries for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The main purpose of this paper is to explore the crucial roles of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in provision of library services, for sustainable development goals in Nigeria. The rationale behind the SDGs, understanding the content and contexts of the SDGs, analysis of the library-related SDGs, the place of the libraries in actualization of the SDGs were well articulated. Despite the availability of wide opportunities offered by the advent of ICT, it has been observed that application of ICT to library services in Nigeria seems inadequate probably due to variety of challenges. With the methodology of simple literature review, the paper made effort to review related literature on ICT resources and ICT based services in libraries, benefits of ICT and the role of library in sustainable development of Nigeria. The paper further identified the challenges of ICT application in libraries. It was recommended among others that, there should be improvement in the capacity and level of ICT adoption by libraries

EL PACIENTE ONCOLÓGICO, LA FAMILIA Y EL USO DE LA PRÁCTICA DE TERAPIAS ALTERNATIVAS

This work aimed to identify the alternative therapeutics practices commonly used by oncologic patient, and the meanings of these acquired during the developing of the disease and the treatment. The research was developed in the oncology unit of a hospital in the south of Brazil. The present qualitative study is exploratory and descriptive. For the data collection were used two semi-structured interviews. As a result was observed that most of people were the greats number of the pacients 24 months accomplishing chemotherapy, and 57% of these have had some concomitant alternative treatment. Most of the women, among 40 to 50 years, referred to appeal to alternative initiatives, without freedom in discussing it with the physician. The study showed that to get involved on alternative therapies does not mean to deny the medical treatment, but to seek for something that allow participation and express autonomy in search after the cure.Este trabajo buscó identificar las prácticas de terapias alternativas usadas por el paciente oncológico y el significado que estas adquieren durante el desarrollo de la enfermedad y tratamiento. La investigación fue realizada en la unidad oncóloga de un hospital de la región sur de Brasil. El estudio es de carácter cualitativo del tipo explorador – descriptivo. Para la colecta de datos se usaron dos entrevistas semiestructuradas. Por los resultados se observó que la mayoría de las personas hicieron por más de 24 meses quimioterapia; de estos, 57% hicieron concomitante algún tipo de tratamiento alternativo. Las mujeres entre 40 e 50 años eran las más propensas a iniciar las terapias de alternativa, sin tener la libertad para discutir estas prácticas con el profesional médico. El estudio mostró el uso de terapias de alternativa, tanto por ellas como por ellos y no niegan el tratamiento médico, pero buscan apenas algo más que les permita participar y expresar su autonomía respecto a la búsqueda de la cura.Este trabalho objetivou identificar as práticas terapêuticas alternativas comumente utilizadas por pacientes oncológicos, e os significados que estas adquirem durante o desenvolver da doença e do tratamento. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida na unidade de oncologia de um hospital da região sul do Brasil. O estudo é de caráter qualitativo, tipo exploratório-descritivo. Para a coleta de dados foram utilizadas duas entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Como resultados, observamos que a maioria das pessoas estava há mais de 24 meses realizando quimioterapia; destes 57% faziam concomitantemente algum tipo de tratamento alternativo. As mulheres entre 40 e 50 anos eram as que mais verbalizaram recorrer aos tratamentos alternativos, sem ter liberdade para discutir sobre estas práticas com o profissional médico gerando um dilema familiar. O estudo mostrou que fazer uso de terapias alternativas não significa negar o tratamento convencional, mas permitir-se como pessoa, e não apenas como paciente, assim como a seus familiares participar mais ativamente e expressar autonomia em relação à superação da doença, mesmo quando não se tem liberdade de comentar o tratamento auxiliar com os profissionais de saúde que o estão supervisionando

Medicinal plants: knowledge transmission in families of ecological farmers in souther Rio Grande do Sul

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o processo de transmissão do conhecimento relacionado às plantas medicinais entre as gerações familiares, no contexto de agricultores de base ecológica da região sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo realizado com oito famílias de agricultores, totalizando 19 entrevistados, residentes nos municípios de Pelotas, Morro Redondo, Canguçu e Arroio do Padre, entre janeiro e maio de 2009. A análise dos dados foi realizada através do método hermenêutico-dialético. A família foi referida como a principal fonte na transmissão do conhecimento em relação às plantas medicinais. A maioria dos sujeitos informou primeiro realizar o tratamento com as plantas medicinais para em seguida buscar o serviço formal de saúde. A construção do conhecimento relacionado às plantas medicinais pelas famílias é predominantemente oral, realizada através do convívio diário entre seus membros e compartilhada com os demais membros da comunidade na qual estão inseridos.El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el proceso de transmisión del conocimiento relacionado a las plantas medicinales, entre las generaciones familiares en el contexto de agricultores de base ecológica de la región sur de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Se trató de un estudio cualitativo, el cual fue realizado con ocho familias de agricultores, totalizándose 19 entrevistados, residentes en los municipios de Pelotas, Morro Redondo, Canguçu y Arroio do Padre, en el período entre enero y mayo de 2009. El análisis de los datos fue realizado a través del método hermenéutico-dialéctico. La familia fue referida como principal fuente en la transmisión del conocimiento en relación a las plantas medicinales. La mayoría de los sujetos informó realizar primero tratamiento con las plantas medicinales, para luego acudir al servicio formal de salud. La construcción del conocimiento relacionado con las plantas medicinales por parte de las familias es predominantemente oral, realizada a través de la convivencia diaria entre sus miembros y compartidas con los demás miembros de la comunidad en la cual están insertos.The aim of this study was to investigate the process of knowledge transmission related to medicinal plants among family generations in the context of ecological farmers in Southern Rio Grande do Sul. This qualitative study was conducted with eight farming families, comprising 19 respondents living in the municipalities of Pelotas, Morro Redondo, Canguçu and Arroio do Padre. The interviews took place from January to May 2009. Data analysis was performed using the hermeneutic-dialectic method. The family was referred to as the main source in the transmission of knowledge about medicinal plants. Most subjects reported first completing treatment with medicinal plants, to then seek formal health service. The construction of knowledge related to medicinal plants by the families is predominantly oral, and takes place by the daily contact between its members and is shared with other members of the community to which they belong

PERFIL DOS FAMILIARES CUIDADORES DE USUÁRIOS DE CENTROS DE ATENÇÃO PSICOSSOCIAL DO SUL DO BRASIL

Objetivou-se descrever o perfil dos familiares de usuários dos centros de atenção psicossocial (CAPS) da região sul do Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, de corte transversal, com abordagem descritiva, vinculado à Pesquisa “Avaliação dos CAPS da Região Sul do Brasil (CAPSUL)”, a coleta de dados foi realizada no período de maio a junho de 2006. Foram 936 familiares de usuários dos CAPS, que responderam a um questionário estruturado. Foi construído um banco de dados no programa Epi-info 6.04, e a análise estatística foi realizada no Software Stata 7. Evidenciou-se que os familiares cuidadores são predominantemente mulheres com média de idade de 49,2 anos, com baixa escolaridade, casadas, sem atividade remunerada e que cuidam sozinhas do familiar com transtornos mentais. Estes resultados remetem a necessidade do desenvolvimento de ações pelos serviços de saúde com o intuito de incluir estes familiares no foco de cuidado da equipe multiprofissional

Evidence of Alternative Splicing as a Regulatory Mechanism for Kissr2 in Pejerrey Fish

Kisspeptin receptors are G-Protein-Coupled Receptors that regulate GnRH synthesis and release in vertebrates. Here, we report the gene structure of two kisspeptin receptors (kissr2 and kissr3) in pejerrey fish. Genomic analysis exposed a gene structure with 5 exons and 4 introns for kissr2 and 6 exons and 5 introns for kissr3. Two alternative variants for both genes, named kissr2_v1 and _v2, and kissr3_v1 and v2, were revealed by gene expression analyses of several tissues. For both receptors, these variants were originated by alternative splicing retaining intron 3 and intron 4 for kissr2_v2 and kissr3_v2, respectively. In the case of kissr2, the intron retention introduced two stop codons leading to a putatively truncated protein whereas for kissr3, the intron retention produced a reading shift leading to a stop codon in exon 5. Modeling and structural analysis of Kissr2 and Kissr3 spliced variants revealed that truncation of the proteins may lead to non-functional proteins, as the structural elements missing are critical for receptor function. To understand the functional significance of splicing variants, the expression pattern for kissr2 was characterized on fish subjected to different diets. Fasting induced an up-regulation of kissr2_v1 in the hypothalamus, a brain region implicated in control of reproduction and food intake, with no expression of kissr2_v2. On the other hand, fasting did not elicit differential expression in testes and habenula. These results suggest that alternative splicing may play a role in regulating Kissr2 function in pejerrey

The NLRP3 inflammasome functions as a negative regulator of tumorigenesis during colitis-associated cancer

Colitis-associated cancer (CAC) is a major complication of inflammatory bowel diseases. We show that components of the inflammasome are protective during acute and recurring colitis and CAC in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and azoxymethane + DSS models. Mice lacking the inflammasome adaptor protein PYCARD (ASC) and caspase-1 demonstrate increased disease outcome, morbidity, histopathology, and polyp formation. The increased tumor burden is correlated with attenuated levels of IL-1β and IL-18 at the tumor site. To decipher the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-repeat-containing (NLR) component that is involved in colitis and CAC, we assessed Nlrp3 and Nlrc4 deficient mice. Nlrp3−/− mice showed an increase in acute and recurring colitis and CAC, although the disease outcome was less severe in Nlrp3−/− mice than in Pycard−/− or Casp1−/− animals. No significant differences were observed in disease progression or outcome in Nlrc4−/− mice compared with similarly treated wild-type animals. Bone marrow reconstitution experiments show that Nlrp3 gene expression and function in hematopoietic cells, rather than intestinal epithelial cells or stromal cells, is responsible for protection against increased tumorigenesis. These data suggest that the inflammasome functions as an attenuator of colitis and CAC

Redes sociais de apoio à paternidade na adolescência: um estudo multicêntrico

It describes a multicentric study conducted in three cities of different Brazilian states that seek to know the networks support to paternity in adolescence. It consists of two sub-studies: a quantitative and a qualitative, that respectivelysought to identify the profile of adolescent mothers and to investigate the support networks for adolescent fathers. The quantitative sample consists of 559 adolescent mothers and the population of the qualitative study was on 74 teenage parents. Data collection was supported in the quantitative study by structured interviews with all mothers that were giving birth in hospitals participating in the period from 2008 to 2009, and in the qualitative one were performed semistructured interviews, development of the genogram and eco-map to teenage parents. The data are still under review process. However, the results presented to date in the form of articles, dissertations, final works for graduations, oral communications and posters highlights the need for public policies directed at adolescents to help that they can do a more conscious and autonomous choice in relation to motherhood and fatherhood.Descriptors: paternity; adolescent; family; social support; health care

CDX2 regulation by the RNA-binding protein MEX3A: impact on intestinal differentiation and stemness

The homeobox transcription factor CDX2 plays a crucial role in intestinal cell fate specification, both during normal development and in tumorigenic processes involving intestinal reprogramming. The CDX2 regulatory network is intricate, but it has not yet been fully uncovered. Through genome-wide screening of a 3D culture system, the RNA-binding protein MEX3A was identified as putatively involved in CDX2 regulation; therefore, its biological relevance was addressed by setting up cell-based assays together with expression studies in murine intestine. We demonstrate here that MEX3A has a repressive function by controlling CDX2 levels in gastric and colorectal cellular models. This is dependent on the interaction with a specific binding determinant present in CDX2 mRNA 3'untranslated region. We have further determined that MEX3A impairs intestinal differentiation and cellular polarization, affects cell cycle progression and promotes increased expression of intestinal stem cell markers, namely LGR5, BMI1 and MSI1. Finally, we show that MEX3A is expressed in mouse intestine, supporting an in vivo context for interaction with CDX2 and modulation of stem cell properties. Therefore, we describe a novel CDX2 post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism, through the RNA-binding protein MEX3A, with a major impact in intestinal differentiation, polarity and stemness, likely contributing to intestinal homeostasis and carcinogenesis

Expression of the Inherently Autoreactive Idiotope 9G4 on Autoantibodies to Citrullinated Peptides and on Rheumatoid Factors in Patients with Early and Established Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The pre-symptomatic stage of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and autoantibodies. High levels and epitope spread by Rheumatoid factors (RhF) and autoantibodies to citrullinated proteins signify progression towards disease expression. In established RA, the persistence of high autoantibody levels reflects production by both long-lived plasma cells and short-lived plasmablasts. Neither the relative contributions to pathogenesis by autoantibodies from either source, nor the factors responsible for deciding the fate of autoantigen specific 'parent' B-cells, is understood. Phenotypic markers identifying subsets of autoreactive B-cells are therefore of interest in understanding the origin and perpetuation of the autoimmune response in RA. One such phenotypic marker is the rat monoclonal antibody, 9G4, which recognises an idiotope on immunoglobuins derived from the inherently autoreactive VH-gene, VH4-34. We therefore investigated whether the 9G4 idiotope was expressed on autoantibodies in patients with RA