By means of an almost model-independent parametrization for the elastic hadron-hadron amplitude, as a function of the energy and the momentum transfer, we obtain good descriptions of the physical quantities that characterize elastic proton-proton and antiproton-proton scattering (total cross section, r parameter and differential cross section). The parametrization is inferred on empirical grounds and selected according to high energy theorems and limits from axiomatic quantum field theory. Based on the predictive character of the approach we present predictions for the above physical quantities at the Brookhaven RHIC, Fermilab Tevatron and CERN LHC energies.

Making use of a model-independent analytical fit for the elastic hadron-hadron amplitude, recently developed, we investigate the slope of the proton-proton and antiproton-proton differential cross sections, as a function of the energy and the momentum transfer. We show that the predictions for these quantities are in agreement with the experimental data available and discuss the effect of the slope position as function of the momentum transfer.

Making use of the extrema bounds for the soft pomeron intercept, recently determined by fits to pp and <img id="_x0000_i1026" src="../../img/revistas/bjp/v34n1a/a25img08.gif" align=absbottom>data (from both accelerator and cosmic-ray experiments), we investigate the total cross sections for pion-proton, kaon-proton, gamma-proton and gamma-gamma scattering. We show that by means of global fits, the extrema bounds are in agreement with the bulk of experimental data presently available, and that extrapolations to higher energies indicate different behaviors for the rise of the total cross sections. We also discuss factorization and quark counting, showing that both bounds are in agreement with these properties.

We investigate correlations between the total cross section and the slope of the elastic differential cross section for proton-proton and antiproton-proton scattering at the highest energies. Based on the empirical behavior of these quantities as function of the energy, we select two different analytical parametrizations connecting them, and obtain the correlations through fits to the experimental data available. We present and discuss practical uses of extrapolations and interpolations of the results. In the former case we refer to the estimation of the proton-proton total cross sections from the proton-air cross sections (obtained from cosmic-ray experiments), and in the later case, we critically discuss the recent measurement of the slope parameter at the BNL RHIC at 200 GeV by the pp2pp Collaboration.

Com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade das bulas de medicamentos fitoterápicos em relação à presença das frases obrigatórias por lei, bem como de informações específicas exigidas pela legislação de medicamentos fitoterápicos, foram selecionados 65 produtos em farmácias de Porto Alegre contendo pelo menos uma das seguintes plantas medicinais: maracujá, boldo, alcachofra, guaraná e sene. Através de um formulário, analisou-se a presença das frases exigidas pela Portaria 110/97 da ANVS, que regulamenta as bulas de medicamentos, e das informações exigidas pela Resolução RDC 17/00 da ANVS, sobre registro de medicamentos fitoterápicos. A maioria dos produtos analisados não possui bula, e em nenhum deles verificou-se a presença de todas a frases e demais informações exigidas pela legislação vigente. Especialmente significante foi a inexistência de dados sobre reações adversas, contra-indicações e advertências. Foi possível concluir que as bulas de medicamentos fitoterápicos analisados não seguem as normas legais, são incompletas e deficientes de informações, podendo induzir a sérios problemas de saúde.

Sixty-five products with one of the following medicinal plants: passion flower, boldus, artichoke, guarana and senne were acquired in drugstores of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. These products were analyzed in order to evaluate the quality of phytomedicines package inserts in relation to the obligatory informations required by the Brazilian drug legislation. Most of the products did not have package inserts, and none of them presented all informations required by the legislation. Furthermore, most of them omitted the potential occurrence of adverse effects, contra-indications and precautions. In conclusion, the analyzed package inserts did not followed the Brazilian drug regulation, were incomplete and showed deficiencies which can induce health consumer problems.