Abstract The Atlantic Forest of South America is one of the most degraded tropical forests and the cultivation of sugarcane is considered one of the main causes. In humid forests termites stand out with regard to their abundance and functional importance. The present study aimed to compare termite assemblages of fragments of the Atlantic Forest with that of the sugarcane matrices that surround them. Collections were performed in two sugarcane plantations in Northeast Brazil. In each plantation a fragment of Atlantic Forest and an adjacent sugarcane field were sampled using a standardized termite sampling protocol. A total of 39 species and 302 encounters were recorded. Species richness, relative abundance and composition differed significantly between forests and the matrices, with the presence of exclusive species in each environment—25 in the forests and seven in the matrices. Soil feeding species of the subfamily Apicotermitinae and species of open areas were found in the matrices. There was a marked difference between the assemblages of the matrices, possibly due to soil characteristics. The majority of the species found in the matrices do not cause damage to the crop, but instead act in the processes of soil decomposition and formation, thereby contributing to increased productivity.

Abstract: Objective: To analyze the strategies developed by the health centers to implement the law of legal abortion (LA) in public services of the primary care in Montevideo, Uruguay. Materials and methods: A qualitative research was conducted combining techniques of document analysis, self-administered questionnaires to key informants, and in-depth interviews with directors of health centers. A simple summative index of accessibility to abortion services was built. Results: The law approved in Uruguay in 2012 demanded the development of a strategy to promote women’s accessibility to LA in the public primary care system. The services failed to fully implement the strategy, due to institutional barriers. Conclusion: Despite the wide availability of LA services in primary care and that they are an integral part of sexual and reproductive health benefits, there is an important barrier to their use in the number of gynecologists that appeal to conscientious objection.

Resumen: Objetivo: Analizar las estrategias desarrolladas por los centros de salud para implementar la ley de interrupción voluntaria del embarazo (IVE) en los servicios públicos del primer nivel de atención en Montevideo, Uruguay. Material y métodos: Investigación cualitativa, que combinó técnicas de análisis documental y cuestionarios autoadministrados a informantes clave y entrevistas semidirigidas a directores de centros de salud. Se construyó un índice sumatorio simple de accesibilidad a las prestaciones de IVE en el centro de salud. Resultados: La ley aprobada en Uruguay en 2012 exigió el desarrollo de una estrategia para favorecer la accesibilidad de las mujeres a la IVE en el primer nivel de atención público. Los servicios no lograron implementar cabalmente la estrategia por dificultades institucionales. Conclusión: Pese a la amplia disponibilidad de servicios públicos de IVE en el primer nivel de atención y a que forman parte de las prestaciones en salud sexual y reproductiva, lo que favorece integralidad en la atención, persiste una barrera importante en el alto porcentaje de ginecólogos objetores de conciencia.

Abstract: Objective: To analyze the strategies developed by the health centers to implement the law of legal abortion (LA) in public services of the primary care in Montevideo, Uruguay. Materials and methods: A qualitative research was conducted combining techniques of document analysis, self-administered questionnaires to key informants, and in-depth interviews with directors of health centers. A simple summative index of accessibility to abortion services was built. Results: The law approved in Uruguay in 2012 demanded the development of a strategy to promote women’s accessibility to LA in the public primary care system. The services failed to fully implement the strategy, due to institutional barriers. Conclusion: Despite the wide availability of LA services in primary care and that they are an integral part of sexual and reproductive health benefits, there is an important barrier to their use in the number of gynecologists that appeal to conscientious objection.

Resumen: Objetivo: Analizar las estrategias desarrolladas por los centros de salud para implementar la ley de interrupción voluntaria del embarazo (IVE) en los servicios públicos del primer nivel de atención en Montevideo, Uruguay. Material y métodos: Investigación cualitativa, que combinó técnicas de análisis documental y cuestionarios autoadministrados a informantes clave y entrevistas semidirigidas a directores de centros de salud. Se construyó un índice sumatorio simple de accesibilidad a las prestaciones de IVE en el centro de salud. Resultados: La ley aprobada en Uruguay en 2012 exigió el desarrollo de una estrategia para favorecer la accesibilidad de las mujeres a la IVE en el primer nivel de atención público. Los servicios no lograron implementar cabalmente la estrategia por dificultades institucionales. Conclusión: Pese a la amplia disponibilidad de servicios públicos de IVE en el primer nivel de atención y a que forman parte de las prestaciones en salud sexual y reproductiva, lo que favorece integralidad en la atención, persiste una barrera importante en el alto porcentaje de ginecólogos objetores de conciencia.

RESUMO: Carcinomas de glândula mamária em bovinos raramente são vistos na rotina de diagnóstico no campo. Portanto, o objetivo do trabalho é relatar a ocorrência de um carcinoma de mama metastático em uma fêmea bovina de 14 anos, holandesa, no estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. O animal foi diagnosticado pelo veterinário com mastite irresponsiva a tratamento clínico, e foi eutanasiada devido ao prognóstico desfavorável. Na necropsia foram observados múltiplos nódulos amarelados, firmes, e por vezes friáveis, variando entre 0.1 e 20cm, disseminados em todas as glândulas mamárias, linfonodos, rins, baço, fígado, pâncreas, coração e pulmão. O diagnóstico de carcinoma de glândula mamária foi baseado em achados clínicos, macroscópicos, histopatológicos e de imuno-histoquímica. Os diagnósticos diferenciais incluíram doenças como tuberculose bovina, mastites crônicas de origem bacteriana ou fúngica.

ABSTRACT: Mammary gland neoplasms in cattle are rarely observed in the field veterinary diagnostics routine. Therefore, the objective of this study is to report a metastatic mammary carcinoma in a fourteen-year-old Holstein cow in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The animal was diagnosed by the field veterinarian with clinical mastitis that was unresponsive to treatment, and was euthanized due to the poor prognosis. At the necropsy, multiple yellow, firm, and sometimes friable nodules, ranging from 0.1 to 20cm were observed in all mammary glands, lymph nodes, kidneys, spleen, liver, pancreas, mediastinal lymph nodes, heart, and lungs. The final diagnosis of mammary carcinoma was established through the association of clinical, necropsy, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings. Differential diagnoses included diseases such as bovine tuberculosis and chronic fungal or bacterial mastitis.

Contexto Estudos sobre epidemiologia do carcinoma hepatocelular e terapias utilizadas em seu tratamento são escassos no Brasil. O objetivo foi caracterizar o carcinoma hepatocelular quanto à etiologia da hepatopatia crônica subjacente e modalidades terapêuticas empregadas, em um centro de referência no Brasil. Método Todos os casos de carcinoma hepatocelular registrados no Departamento de Patologia em período de 12 anos (1998-2010) foram incluídos. Dados demográficos, etiologia da hepatopatia crônica e tipo de tratamento realizado foram coletados dos prontuários. Resultado Esta série de casos incluiu 215 pacientes, com média de idade 57,3 (± 14,1) anos, 164 (76,2%) do sexo masculino. Infecções virais C e B foram detectadas em 88 (43%) e 47 (23%), respectivamente. Abuso de etanol isoladamente ou associado a outras causas foi identificado em 64 (32%) indivíduos. Esquistossomose foi encontrada em 18 (9%) indivíduos. Transplante hepático foi o tratamento de escolha em 112 (51%) pacientes. Esse procedimento foi mais frequentemente realizado em carcinoma hepatocelular relacionado com hepatite C (70%) do que hepatite B (17%). Ressecção cirúrgica foi realizada em 40 (18%) indivíduos, alcoolização ou termo-ablação em 18 (14%) e quimioembolização em 14 (7%). Em 40 (19,4%) pacientes nenhum tratamento foi empregado e esta porcentagem permaneceu constante ao longo dos anos do estudo. Conclusões Hepatite viral C seguida de abuso de etanol e hepatite viral B foram as causas de hepatopatia crônica mais frequentemente associadas ao carcinoma hepatocelular. Os resultados mostram tendência a aumento da incidência do carcinoma hepatocelular; no entanto, a proporção de pacientes não-tratados permaneceu constante ao longo dos anos analisados.

Context Studies on epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma and modalities of therapy used to treat this condition are scarce in Brazil. Our aim was to characterize hepatocellular carcinoma according to etiology of the underlying chronic liver disease, and treatment modalities, in a referral center in Brazil. Methods All cases of hepatocellular carcinoma registered in the Department of Pathology during a 12-year period (1998-2010) were included. Demographic data, etiology of the underlying liver disease and treatment performed were collected. Results This case series included 215 patients, mean age 57.3 (± 14.1) years, 164 (76.2 %) male. Virus C and virus B infection were detected in 88 (43%) and 47 (23%) patients, respectively. Ethanol abuse alone or combined with other etiologies was identified in 64 (32%) individuals. Schistosomiasis was found in 18 (9%) patients. Liver transplantation was the treatment of choice in 112 (51%) patients. This procedure was more frequently performed in hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (70%) than B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (17%). Tumor resection was performed in 40 (18%) individuals, ethanol injection or thermo ablation in 18 (14%), and chemoembolization in 14 (7%). In 40 (19.4%) patients no treatment was performed and this percentage remained constant over the years. Conclusions Chronic hepatitis C, followed by ethanol abuse and chronic hepatitis B were the leading causes of underlying chronic liver disease associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. The results show a trend of increasing incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma; however, the proportion of untreated patients remained constant over the analyzed period.

A tuberculose continua sendo um grave problema social e de saúde, afetando milhões de pessoas anualmente. A vacina Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), usada no controle profilático, é incapaz de conter a progressão da doença, que usualmente se manifesta através da queda da imunidade celular do indivíduo. O diagnóstico da tuberculose em seus estágios iniciais, aliado à poliquimioterapia, pode contribuir para o controle da disseminação da infecção. Os atuais métodos de diagnóstico apresentam problemas, como: baixa sensibilidade da baciloscopia; longo tempo de realização das culturas microbiológicas; e baixa especificidade do teste cutâneo com o derivado protéico purificado do M. tuberculosis. Novos métodos de diagnóstico que utilizam antígenos específicos (por exemplo, os conhecidos em inglês como o early secreted antigenic target 6-kDa e o culture filtrate protein 10-kDa), estão sendo testados. Os genes que codificam esses antígenos estão localizados na região de diferença 1 do M. tuberculosis, M. africanum e M. bovis, mas estão ausentes no M. bovis (BCG) e na maioria das micobactérias do meio ambiente. Métodos de diagnóstico baseados na produção de interferon-gama por linfócitos T, em resposta a esses antígenos, como o QuantiFERON-TB® e o T SPOT.TB®, estão sendo testados, e superam o teste cutâneo com o derivado protéico purificado nas seguintes características: maior sensibilidade; menor reatividade cruzada devido à vacinação com o BCG ou infecção por micobactérias do meio ambiente; e tempo de execução. A introdução de métodos de diagnóstico mais específicos e sensíveis, assim como um maior entendimento dos mecanismos moleculares e celulares que regulam a interação parasito-hospedeiro, pode contribuir para um eficiente combate à tuberculose.

Tuberculosis remains a serious social and public health problem, affecting millions of people annually. The bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, used prophylactically, does not impede the progression of the disease, which usually manifests as decreased cellular immunity. Early diagnosis, together with polychemotherapy, can control the dissemination of the tuberculosis infection. The current diagnostic methods present certain problems. Such problems include the low sensitivity of sputum smear microscopy, the fact that performing microbiological cultures is quite time-consuming, and the low specificity of the skin test with the purified protein derivative of M. tuberculosis. New diagnostic methods, which use specific antigens such as the early secreted antigenic target 6-kDa and culture filtrate protein 10kDa, are being evaluated. The genes that encode these antigens are located in the DNA region of difference 1 of M. tuberculosis, M. africanum and M. bovis. However, they are absent from the M. bovis (BCG) and from most environmental mycobacteria. Diagnostic methods such as QuantiFERON-TB® and T SPOT.TB®, which are based on the production of interferon-gamma by T lymphocytes, in response to those antigens, are being tested and have been found to outstrip the purified protein derivative skin test in the following characteristics: greater sensitivity; lower cross-reactivity due to BCG vaccination or infection with environmental mycobacteria; and execution time. The introduction of diagnostic methods that are more specific and sensitive, together with gaining a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate the parasite-host interaction, can increase the efficiency of strategies devised to combat tuberculosis.