O controle do câncer no Brasil na primeira metade do século XX / Cancer control in Brazil in the first half of the twentieth century

Discute as ações públicas para o controle do câncer no país, entre a década de 1920 e o final dos anos 1940. Trata da criação da Inspetoria de Profilaxia da Lepra e das Doenças Venéreas, no âmbito do Departamento Nacional de Saúde Pública, primeira ação pública relacionada à doença. Embora de pouco alcance, seu surgimento permite a compreensão do campo profissional, relacionado à doença, existente à época. Observa o papel da difusão da eletrocirurgia na ampliação do interesse médico pelo câncer e na criação do Centro de Cancerologia do Distrito Federal. Discute a criação e a primeira década de atuação do Serviço Nacional de Câncer, aproximando seu perfil inicial das questões que nortearam sua trajetória.

The article discusses public efforts to control cancer in Brazil from the 1920s to the close of the 1940s. It examines the process which brought about creation of the Inspectorship to Combat Leprosy, Venereal Diseases, and Cancer within the National Department of Public Health. Creation of the Inspectorship was the first public action to target cancer and, while it was not far-reaching, its emergence enables us to understand the professional field of cancer at that time. The text also points to the role played by the diffusion of electrosurgery in expanding medical interest about cancer and in the founding of the Cancerology Center in the Federal District. It discusses the establishment and first decade of activities of the National Cancer Service, endeavoring to link the Service's initial profile with the issues that guided its history.

O controle do câncer no Brasil na primeira metade do século XX / Cancer control in Brasil in the first half of the twentieth century

Discute as ações públicas para o controle do câncer no país, entre a década de 1920 e o final dos anos 1940. Trata da criação da Inspetoria de Profilaxia da Lepra e das Doenças Venéreas, no âmbito do Departamento Nacional de Saúde Pública, primeira ação pública relacionada à doença. Embora de pouco alcance, seu surgimento permite a compreensão do campo profissional, relacionado à doença, existente à época. Observa o papel da difusão da eletrocirurgia na ampliação do interesse médico pelo câncer e na criação do Centro de Cancerologia do Distrito Federal. Discute a criação e a primeira década de atuação do Serviço Nacional de Câncer, aproximando seu perfil inicial das questões que nortearam sua trajetória.(AU)

Introduction to the review series Autophagy in Higher Eukaryotes--a matter of survival or death.

Single celled eukaryotes utilize autophagy (or self-consumption) to adapt to fluctuating energy sources in the environment. The identification in multicellular organisms of orthologs of autophagy-related yeast genes has led to some of the major advances in the molecular dissection of the pathway in the last decade. In higher eukaryotes, autophagy is much more than a 'stress response' pathway. The complexity of multicellular systems calls for greater sophistication and coordination not only in regulating the stress response but also in sustaining normal physiological functions and a homeostatic environment in the whole organism. The review series on 'Autophagy in Higher Eukaryotes--a matter of survival or death' in the current issue comprises a variety of perspectives on the role of autophagy in cell growth, survival and death, in neurodegeneration, tumor suppression and tumor progression. For example, Høyer-Hansen and Jäättellä cogitate on the emergence of autophagy as a target in cancer therapy. In addition, Sanjuan and Green examine its role in the defense against microbial pathogens and Sachdeva and Thompson offer an intriguing look at autophagy in the context of circadian clocks and diurnal rhythms. Presented below are some of the salient points from these perspectives.

Preventive health care and screening of Latin American immigrants in the United States.

BACKGROUND: The Central and South American immigrant population in the United States is large and growing. A review of the preventive health care needs of this population has not previously been done but would be helpful to clinicians caring for immigrants in this country. METHODS: Using MEDLINE, the literature related to immigrants and their health status was searched, using the key words "immigrant," "refugee," "South/Central/Latin America," "health status," "screening," "nutrition," "parasites," "stomach/gastric cancer," "children," and "psychological." The American Statistics Index and Index to International Statistics were also resources. The available literature was reviewed and led to the recommendations in this article. RESULTS: Screening strategies for Latin American immigrants are discussed for intestinal parasites, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, schistosomiasis, leprosy, American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), malaria, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, cervical and gastric cancer, sickle cell trait, malnutrition, iron-deficiency anemia, incomplete immunizations, dental problems, psychological problems, impairment in the elderly, alcohol use, smoking, physical inactivity, and hypertension. There are not enough data to evaluate fully the screening strategies for most of these conditions, but recommendations are offered based on current knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Screening is recommended for intestinal parasites and schistosomiasis, tuberculosis, hepatitis B in prenatal patients, leprosy in immigrants from high-risk areas, yearly Papanicolaou smears, malnutrition, iron-deficiency anemia, incomplete immunizations, dental problems, history of violence, and depression. Screening for sickle cell trait in prenatal patients from South America and universal hepatitis B screening are less clearly indicated but could be appropriate. Screening for American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), malaria, and gastric cancer is not recommended. Screening for HIV infection, functional impairment in the elderly, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, and hypertension should be the same as for the general population.