"Ainda bem que não foi na barriga!": revisitando uma cena etnográfica de violência contra a mulher / "Thank God it was not the belly!": revisiting an ethnographic scene of violence against women

Resumo Neste artigo, retomo uma cena de violência contra a mulher que vivenciei no ano de 2003 no curso de uma pesquisa etnográfica sobre relações de gênero no Programa Saúde da Família em Recife (PE), para refletir sobre os dilemas éticos da pesquisa antropológica e, especificamente, sobre as dimensões afetivas e emocionais do fazer etnográfico em campos sensíveis. Para isso, reproduzo os trechos do diário de campo que compõem a cena de violência e faço uma análise pormenorizada dos eventos que se sucederam à agressão, pela chave de duas emoções: "medo dos homens" e "impotência", que ajudam a compreender as reações da equipe de saúde e da própria antropóloga. O reencontro da cena em questão, 20 anos depois, no contexto da apresentação de uma pesquisa contemporânea sobre violência contra a mulher, me permite problematizar mudanças e permanências dos modos de fazer etnografias em saúde em campos sensíveis.

Abstract In this article, I look back at an ethnographic scene of violence against women that I observed in 2003, during ethnographic research on gender relations in the Family Health Program, in Recife (Brazil), to discuss the ethical dilemmas of anthropological research and, specifically, the affective dimensions and emotional aspects of ethnographic work in sensitive fields. To that end, I reproduce the excerpts from my fieldnotes comprising the scene of violence and analyze in detail the series of events that took place after the aggression, based on two emotions: "fear of men" and "impotence," which help to understand the reactions of health team and the anthropologist herself. Reencountering the scene, 20 years later, in the context of the presentation of a contemporary research on violence against women allows me to discuss changes and continuities in the ways we do ethnographic research on health issues in sensitive fields.

Superoxide Dismutase-3 Downregulates Laminin α5 Expression in Tumor Endothelial Cells via the Inhibition of Nuclear Factor Kappa B Signaling.

The balance between laminin isoforms containing the α5 or the α4 chain in the endothelial basement membrane determines the site of leukocyte diapedesis under inflammatory conditions. Extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3) induces laminin α4 expression in tumor blood vessels, which is associated with enhanced intratumor T cell infiltration in primary human cancers. We show now that SOD3 overexpression in neoplastic and endothelial cells (ECs) reduces laminin α5 in tumor blood vessels. SOD3 represses the laminin α5 gene (LAMA5), but LAMA5 expression is not changed in SOD1-overexpressing cells. Transcriptomic analyses revealed SOD3 overexpression to change the transcription of 1682 genes in ECs, with the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways as the major SOD3 targets. Indeed, SOD3 reduced the transcription of well-known NF-κB target genes as well as NF-κB-driven promoter activity in ECs stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, an NF-κB signaling inducer. SOD3 inhibited the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα (nuclear factor of the kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor alpha), an NF-κB inhibitor. Finally, TNF-α was found to be a transcriptional activator of LAMA5 but not of LAMA4; LAMA5 induction was prevented by SOD3. In conclusion, SOD3 is a major regulator of laminin balance in the basement membrane of tumor ECs, with potential implications for immune cell infiltration into tumors.

Cryo-Electron Tomography and Proteomics studies of centrosomes from differentiated quiescent thymocytes.

We have used cryo Electron Tomography, proteomics and immunolabeling to study centrosomes isolated from the young lamb thymus, an efficient source of quiescent differentiated cells. We compared the proteome of thymocyte centrosomes to data published for KE37 cells, focusing on proteins associated with centriole disengagement and centrosome separation. The data obtained enhances our understanding of the protein system joining the centrioles, a system comprised of a branched network of fibers linked to an apparently amorphous density that was partially characterized here. A number of proteins were localized to the amorphous density by immunolabeling (C-NAP1, cohesin SMC1, condensin SMC4 and NCAPD2), yet not DNA. In conjuction, these data not only extend our understanding of centrosomes but they will help refine the model that focus on the protein system associated with the centriolar junction.

Transcriptome-Based Analysis in Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 Reveals New Insights into Resveratrol Effects at System Level.

SCOPE: This study was undertaken to expand our insights into the mechanisms involved in the tolerance to resveratrol (RSV) that operate at system-level in gut microorganisms and advance knowledge on new RSV-responsive gene circuits. METHODS AND RESULTS: Whole genome transcriptional profiling was used to characterize the molecular response of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 to RSV. DNA repair mechanisms were induced by RSV and responses were triggered to decrease the load of copper, a metal required for RSV-mediated DNA cleavage, and H2 S, a genotoxic gas. To counter the effects of RSV, L. plantarum strongly up- or downregulated efflux systems and ABC transporters pointing to transport control of RSV across the membrane as a key mechanism for RSV tolerance. L. plantarum also downregulated tRNAs, induced chaperones, and reprogrammed its transcriptome to tightly control ammonia levels. RSV induced a probiotic effector gene and a likely deoxycholate transporter, two functions that improve the host health status. CONCLUSION: Our data identify novel protective mechanisms involved in RSV tolerance operating at system level in a gut microbe. These insights could influence the way RSV is used for a better management of gut microbial ecosystems to obtain associated health benefits.

Distinct Molecular Signature of Murine Fetal Liver and Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cells Identify Novel Regulators of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function.

During ontogeny, fetal liver (FL) acts as a major site for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maturation and expansion, whereas HSCs in the adult bone marrow (ABM) are largely quiescent. HSCs in the FL possess faster repopulation capacity as compared with ABM HSCs. However, the molecular mechanism regulating the greater self-renewal potential of FL HSCs has not yet extensively been assessed. Recently, we published RNA sequencing-based gene expression analysis on FL HSCs from 14.5-day mouse embryo (E14.5) in comparison to the ABM HSCs. We reanalyzed these data to identify key transcriptional regulators that play important roles in the expansion of HSCs during development. The comparison of FL E14.5 with ABM HSCs identified more than 1,400 differentially expressed genes. More than 200 genes were shortlisted based on the gene ontology (GO) annotation term "transcription." By morpholino-based knockdown studies in zebrafish, we assessed the function of 18 of these regulators, previously not associated with HSC proliferation. Our studies identified a previously unknown role for tdg, uhrf1, uchl5, and ncoa1 in the emergence of definitive hematopoiesis in zebrafish. In conclusion, we demonstrate that identification of genes involved in transcriptional regulation differentially expressed between expanding FL HSCs and quiescent ABM HSCs, uncovers novel regulators of HSC function.

Breaking-Cas-interactive design of guide RNAs for CRISPR-Cas experiments for ENSEMBL genomes.

The CRISPR/Cas technology is enabling targeted genome editing in multiple organisms with unprecedented accuracy and specificity by using RNA-guided nucleases. A critical point when planning a CRISPR/Cas experiment is the design of the guide RNA (gRNA), which directs the nuclease and associated machinery to the desired genomic location. This gRNA has to fulfil the requirements of the nuclease and lack homology with other genome sites that could lead to off-target effects. Here we introduce the Breaking-Cas system for the design of gRNAs for CRISPR/Cas experiments, including those based in the Cas9 nuclease as well as others recently introduced. The server has unique features not available in other tools, including the possibility of using all eukaryotic genomes available in ENSEMBL (currently around 700), placing variable PAM sequences at 5' or 3' and setting the guide RNA length and the scores per nucleotides. It can be freely accessed at: http://bioinfogp.cnb.csic.es/tools/breakingcas, and the code is available upon request.

NFFinder: an online bioinformatics tool for searching similar transcriptomics experiments in the context of drug repositioning.

Drug repositioning, using known drugs for treating conditions different from those the drug was originally designed to treat, is an important drug discovery tool that allows for a faster and cheaper development process by using drugs that are already approved or in an advanced trial stage for another purpose. This is especially relevant for orphan diseases because they affect too few people to make drug research de novo economically viable. In this paper we present NFFinder, a bioinformatics tool for identifying potential useful drugs in the context of orphan diseases. NFFinder uses transcriptomic data to find relationships between drugs, diseases and a phenotype of interest, as well as identifying experts having published on that domain. The application shows in a dashboard a series of graphics and tables designed to help researchers formulate repositioning hypotheses and identify potential biological relationships between drugs and diseases. NFFinder is freely available at http://nffinder.cnb.csic.es.

Immediate/Early loading of zygomatic implants: clinical experiences after 2 to 5 years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Conventional prosthetic treatment of the edentulous and resorbed maxilla with zygomatic implants is a lengthy procedure. Today, immediate/early loading is a clinical reality and it is possible that such protocols could be used also for zygomatic implants. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study is to report on the clinical outcomes of immediate/early loading of zygomatic implants for prosthetic rehabilitation of edentulous and severely resorbed maxillary cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 47 zygomatic and 129 regular implants were placed in 25 consecutive patients with total (N = 23) or partial (N = 2) edentulism in the maxilla. The patients had less than 4 mm of available bone height and width distal to the canine pillars. Straight and angulated abutments and impression copings were attached to the implants during surgery. Impressions and bite registrations were made and 19 patients received a bridge within 24 hours and six patients were rehabilitated within 5 days. Screw-retained full arch restorations were used in 23 patients and cemented in 2 patients. The patients were instructed for a soft diet during 4 months. Follow-up controls were performed at 1, 4, and 12 months and thereafter annually. All patients were followed for at least 2 years and up to 5 years in function. RESULTS: All zygomatic implants were stable during the follow-up (cumulative survival rate 100%). One regular implant placed in the pterygoid plate failed after 52 months of loading (cumulative survival rate 99.2%). Apart from fracture of one abutment screw and of anterior teeth in five patients, no other complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of the present study, it is concluded that immediate/early loading is a viable treatment modality for prosthetic rehabilitation of the severely resorbed maxilla using zygomatic and conventional implants.

Extrasinus zygomatic implants: three year experience from a new surgical approach for patients with pronounced buccal concavities in the edentulous maxilla.

BACKGROUND: The surgical protocol for zygomatic fixtures prescribes an intrasinus approach ideally maintaining the sinus membrane intact and the implant body inside the sinus while gaining access to the zygomatic bone. In the presence of a pronounced buccal concavity, the implant head has to be placed far from the alveolar crest in a palatal direction, which results in a bulky bridge construction. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to report on the preliminary experiences with zygomatic implants placed with an extrasinus approach in order to have the implant head emerging at or near the top of the alveolar crest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients with pronounced buccal concavities in the edentulous posterior maxilla were treated with 104 regular and 36 zygomatic implants as support of fixed dental bridges. Sixteen patients were treated bilaterally and four patients were treated unilaterally. The zygomatic implants were inserted by using an extrasinus surgical approach with the implant body passing from the alveolar crest through the buccal concavity into the zygomatic bone. This enabled placement of the implant head at or close to the alveolar crest. The patients were followed from 36 to 48 months after occlusal loading with a mean follow-up of 41 months. The relation of the zygomatic implants to the crest was measured and compared with a control group of 20 patients treated with conventional placement of zygomatic implants. RESULTS: No implants were lost during the study period. No pain, discomfort, or complications related to the extrasinus path of the zygomatic implants were recorded after the initial healing period and up to the 36th-month checkup. The zygomatic implants emerged, on average, 3.8 mm (SD 2.6) palatal to the top of the crest compared with 11.2 mm (SD 5.3) to the conventional technique. CONCLUSION: The present 3-year clinical study shows that an extrasinus approach can be utilized when placing zygomatic implants in patients with pronounced buccal concavities in the posterior maxilla. Moreover, the technique results in an emergence of the zygomatic fixture close to the top of the crest, which is beneficial from a cleaning and patient-comfort point of view.

Relatório da I Conferência Internacional sobre Consumo de Álcool e Redução de Danos: em busca de uma política abrangente para os países em transição e desenvolvimento / Report of the I International Conference on Alcohol Consumption and Reduction of Damages: in search of one including politics for the countries in transistion and development

Discute questões sobre o consumo de álcool no mundo. Apresenta propostas relativas ao consumo de álcool/redução de danos no âmbito da saúde, sua relação com a violência doméstica e urbana, o ambiente de trabalho da população trabalhadora urbana e rural, o trânsito, as populações especiais e de alto risco, as políticas públicas, a saúde indígena

Relatório da I Conferência Internacional sobre Consumo de Álcool e Redução de Danos: em busca de uma política abrangente para os países em transição e desenvolvimento / Report of the I International Conference on Alcohol Consumption and Reduction of Damages: in search of one including politics for the countries in transistion and development

Discute questões sobre o consumo de álcool no mundo. Apresenta propostas relativas ao consumo de álcool/redução de danos no âmbito da saúde, sua relação com a violência doméstica e urbana, o ambiente de trabalho da população trabalhadora urbana e rural, o trânsito, as populações especiais e de alto risco, as políticas públicas, a saúde indígena.

Ajuste estrutural, pobreza e desigualdades de gênero: um caderno feminista de informação e reflexão para organizações de mulheres / Structural adjustment, poverty and gender inequalities: a feminist information and reflection notebook for women's organizations

A iniciativa de gênero é a forma abreviada de nomear a iniciativa de monitoramento da ação das instituições financeiras multilaterais no Brasil em uma perspectiva de gênero. A proposta persegue que as diversas entidades, redes, movimentos, etc. Incorporem como um dos seus objetivos a promoção do controle social sobre a ação da instituições financeiras multilaterais (IFMs) no Brasil, segundo a perspectiva da igualdade de gênero e do ponto de vista das populações atingidas pelos programas, projetos e políticas que tais instituições promovem, em especial as mulheres