In the present study, we investigated the genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax metacaspase 1 (PvMCA1) catalytic domain in two municipalities of the main malaria hotspot in Brazil, i.e., the Juruá Valley, and observed complete sequence identity among all P. vivax field isolates and the Sal-1 reference strain. Analysis of PvMCA1 catalytic domain in different P. vivax genomic sequences publicly available also revealed a high degree of conservation worldwide, with very few amino acid substitutions that were not related to putative histidine and cysteine catalytic residues, whose involvement with the active site of protease was herein predicted by molecular modeling. The genetic conservation presented by PvMCA1 may contribute to its eligibility as a druggable target candidate in vivax malaria.

Abstract The southern boundary of the Patos Shear Zone (PSZ) is characterized by mylonites resulting from the deformation of Paleoproterozoic basement gneisses, Neoproterozoic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks, granitic and granodioritic intrusions. Among the latter, the Santa Terezinha and Catingueira plutons show stretched shapes in agreement with the the shear zone’s regional trend. Recrystallized quartz grains in these plutons accommodate deformation by dislocation creep. The host banded gneisses show similar deformation structures to the plutons. Quartz crystallographic fabrics mainly record the activity of basal and prism slip planes with local contribution of rhomb planes, whilst feldspar clasts show evidence of intracrystalline deformation in the larger porphyroclasts. These characteristics suggest that shearing occurred at lower-amphibolite facies conditions. U-Pb zircon data for the Santa Terezinha pluton yields an age of 625 ± 7 Ma, which, coupled with the pluton elongated shape and microstructure, suggests that its emplacement was pre-kinematic in relation to the Patos shear zone. Post-emplacement elongation of the granite body occurred along the strike-slip trend. Such structural and geochronological constraints highlight the close association between magma emplacement and shear zone deformation during distinct stages of the Brasiliano-Pan-African orogeny in the Borborema Province.

Este artigo objetiva analisar a magnitude e algumas características do fenômeno do assédio moral no trabalho no setor saúde do Rio de Janeiro. Foram analisados dados de pesquisa desenvolvida em 2001 como parte do programa "Violência no Trabalho no Setor Saúde", resultantes de um inquérito anônimo. Para constituir o banco para análise, foram selecionados todos os casos (1.569) e as variáveis relacionadas ao assédio moral. O grupo profissional que teve maior proporção de vítimas de assédio moral foi o de auxiliar de enfermagem (22,7%). Colegas, supervisores ou administradores compuseram o mais importante grupo de agressores (48,7%). A reação psicológica mais prevalente foi "permanecer supervigilante". Embora 38,5% das vítimas tenham relatado a violência a superiores, 20% relataram ter sido tomada alguma providência. Os autores concluem que mais pesquisas e medidas de vigilância devem ser realizadas no Brasil para assegurar a visibilidade desse tipo de violência. Além disso, ressaltam a necessidade de implementar medidas institucionais de controle da violência no trabalho e de estimular estudos que enfatizem o manejo institucional desse tipo de violência.

This article aims at analyzing the magnitude and some characteristics of the workplace moral harassment phenomenon in Rio de Janeiro health sector. Data from a randomized anonymous survey research developed in 2001 as part of the Program "Workplace Violence in the Health Sector" was analyzed. All cases (1569) and their variables related to moral harassment were selected for the bank analysis. The professional group of nurses' aides presented the highest proportion of moral harassment victims (22.7%) and the most frequent perpetrators were co-workers, supervisors and managers (48.7%). The victims' most frequent psychological reaction was "becoming super-alert". Although part of them (38.5%) reported to their bosses they had been morally harrassed, only 20% of them had an action taken. In order to evidence this kind of violence in Brazil, the authors suggest increasing research and surveillance. They also emphasize the need to implement institutional measures to control violence at work and studies that will stimulate the institutional management of this kind of violence.

INTRODUÇÃO: Quando comparada à técnica da citopatologia convencional (CC), a citologia em meio líquido (LBC) tem sido referida como método de desempenho superior em esfregaços cervicouterinos. OBJETIVO: Comparar (quantitativa e qualitativamente) esfregaços orais preparados por meio da citopatologia convencional e da LBC. Material e métodos: Foram realizados raspados em borda lateral da língua de seis indivíduos com mucosa oral de aspecto clínico normal, e testados três instrumentos de coleta: escova endocervical (cytobrush), espátula plástica e escova contida no kit da citologia em meio líquido utilizado no estudo, sendo os esfregaços submetidos à citopatologia convencional e à LBC. RESULTADOS: A escova endocervical mostrou-se mais adequada para coleta e quanto ao método, a LBC forneceu lâminas com distribuição celular mais regular e homogênea do que a citopatologia convencional. Notou-se ainda redução da quantidade de células inflamatórias e de colônias de bactérias. DISCUSSÃO: Mesmo em menor quantidade, a sobreposição celular não foi totalmente eliminada na LBC como a literatura relata, pois estava presente em algumas lâminas. Embora em amostras cervicouterinas a redução de células inflamatórias, de hemácias e de muco seja considerada uma vantagem da LBC, nos raspados orais muitas vezes esses elementos compõem aspectos significativos de determinada doença. CONCLUSÕES: A citologia em meio líquido pode ser uma nova técnica a ser somada aos exames auxiliares de diagnóstico oral, mas, apesar de apresentar alguns resultados favoráveis, ainda são necessárias adaptações ao utilizá-la no diagnóstico oral.

INTRODUCTION: When compared to conventional cytopathology (CC), liquid-based cytology (LBC) has been referred to as a method of superior performance in cervical smears. OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively and qualitatively compare oral smears obtained through conventional cytopathology and liquid medium cytology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Six individuals with normal oral mucosa had the lateral border of their tongues scraped. Three collecting instruments were tested in this process: endocervical brush (cytobrush), a plastic spatula, and the LBC kit brush. Both methods, CC and LBC, were applied. Results: The endocervical brush was the most appropriate collecting instrument; as far as method is concerned, liquid medium cytology provided slides with more regular and homogeneous cellular distribution in comparison to conventional cytopathology. There was also a reduction in the number of inflammatory cells and bacteria colonies. DISCUSSION: Cellular overlapping was not totally eliminated in the liquid medium cytology as reported in medical literature, inasmuch as it was present in some slides, though in a smaller amount. Although in cervical samples the reduction of inflammatory cells, erythrocytes and mucus is considered an advantage of LBC, in oral smears these elements may represent significant aspects of some oral diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Liquid-based cytology may be an additional technique to be used with complementary exams in oral diagnosis, but despite the fact it presents some favorable results some adaptations are still necessary for its use in oral diagnosis.

Pesquisadas repercussões neonatais do tratamento crônico com inibidores seletivos de recaptura da serotonina (ISRS) sobre crescimento somático, do encéfalo e crânio. Ratos machos foram divididos em grupos: controle (NaCl) e Cit (10 µL/Kg citalopram 10 mg). Durante 21 dias pós-natais, foram aferidos peso corporal, eixo látero-lateral, ântero-posterior e circunferência do crânio. Aos 8, 15 e 22 dias pós-natais, os animais foram sacrificados para retirada do encéfalo para avaliar as medidas citadas acima. A utilização de ISRS provocou déficit de crescimento corporal, diminuição das medidas craniais e do encéfalo. O retardo é possivelmente decorrência de alteração na magnitude da ação trófica da serotonina sobre morfogênese crânio-facial, reforçando a participação do sistema serotoninérgico sobre o crescimento somático e ontogenético. O possível efeito hipofágico dos ISRS não é descartado.

Neonatal repercussion researched of the serotonin selective recapture inibitor (SSRI) chronic treatment about the somatic growth, of the encephalon and skull. Male rats were divided into groups: control (NaCl) and Cit (10 µL/Kg citalopram 10 mg). In 21 post birth days were measured body weight, side axle , front and rear and skull circle. At 8, 15, 22 days after birth, animals were sacrified for the encephalon withdrawal to evaluate the measurements mentioned above. SSRI use caused body growth deficit, skull and encephalon reduction. The retard is possibly caused by the magnitude change of the trophic serotonin action over the skull-facial morphogenesis, reinforcing the serotoninergic system participation over the somatic and ontogenic growth. The SSRI possible hypophagic effects are not discarded.