No ano de 2008, professores e alunos da Faculdade de Física da Universidade Federal do Pará realizaram uma iniciativa pioneira para divulgação de História da Ciência na Amazônia brasileira. Esta iniciativa, denominada Museu Interativo da Física, passou a atuar em parceria com a comunidade amazônida, suas organizações governamentais, outras universidades, escolas municipais e estaduais do Estado do Pará com o intuito de colaborar com o aumento da qualidade da educação científica na região. Neste artigo, abordamos as atividades do Museu Interativo da Física e o impacto da sua participação na divulgação de História da Ciência na Amazônia brasileira.

In 2008, professors and students of the Physics Department of the Federal University of Pará realized a pioneering initiative for the dissemination of the History of Science in the Brazilian Amazonia. This initiative, named Physics Interactive Museum, started to act in partnership with the Amazonian community, its governmental organizations, other universities, state and municipal schools of the Pará State aiming to collaborate with the enhancement of the quality of science education in the region. We present the activities of the Physics Interactive Museum and the impact of its participation in the dissemination of History of Science in the Brazilian Amazonia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of intrarectal lidocaine hydrochloride gel in reducing pain in patients undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the period from June to Noviber 2002, 72 patients undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy at an outpatient service were prospectively randomized. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In group 1, 20 mL of 2% lidocaine gel were administered by intrarectal route 15 minutes before biopsy. In group 2 (placebo), 20 mL of ultrasound gel were administered under the same conditions. At the end of the procedure, patients were asked to classify the discomfort degree observed during the procedure through a verbal pain scale. Statistical analysis was performed through qui-square test. RESULTS: The majority of patients in both groups presented slight pain on the examination, and 26 patients (76.4%) from group 1, and 26 (68.3%) patients from group 2 reported slight pain or no pain at all (p > 0.05). Moderate or intense pain was felt by 23.4% of patients in group 1 and 31.5% of patients in group 2 (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that lidocaine probably exerts a minimal effect on patients’ tolerance to pain on transrectal prostate biopsy.