Morphostructural influence and neotectonic activity in the geomorphological configuration of southeast Paraíba and northeast Pernambuco, Brazil.

The current study provides critical insights into the field of geomorphology by examining the impact of lithological structures and tectonic activities on the geomorphological configuration of terrain and drainage networks in the southeast of Paraíba and northeast of Pernambuco, Brazil. This geographical region is characterized by phenomena of uplift and fluvial incision at various sites, yet remains inadequately explored with respect to its active deformation and the broader context of its recent geology. Therefore, the primary aim of this research is to elucidate the morphostructural and neotectonic influences on the geomorphological formations in these sectors of Brazil. The methodology encompasses morphostructural analysis, leveraging data derived from altimetry, slope, and geomorphology maps, categorized into taxonomic terrain units. Additionally, this research incorporates the use of morphometric indices, including the Stream Length-Gradient Index (SL), Valley Floor Width (VF), and Asymmetry Factor (AF) to quantify geomorphological anomalies. The analysis of the SL index indicates that a significant portion (87.5 %) of the drainage network exhibits anomalies. Furthermore, the VF index results reveal that 66 % of the profiles analyzed manifest anomalies of various magnitudes. Within the study region, the AF index elucidates the distribution of sub-basins into categories of low (0-30), medium (31-50), and high (>51) asymmetry, comprising 25 %, 31 %, and 44 % of the sub-basins, respectively. The sub-basins demonstrate channel disequilibrium, as evidenced by the SL index, attributed to numerous transient knickpoints along the drainage profiles. This observation is consistent with previous findings in the Koyna-Warna Shallow Seismic Region. The study's outcomes reveal both qualitatively and quantitatively anomalous patterns in the drainage network and terrain forms, which are likely indicative of recent tectonic events affecting the entire eastern edge of Northeast Brazil. Consequently, the findings highlight the significant role of post-Miocene tectonic events in shaping the relief of the study area.

Testing the Effects of Prey Type on the Life History and Population-Level Parameters of Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).

Green lacewings are valuable predators, utilized in augmentative biological control against various agricultural pests. However, further studies are required to comprehend the performance of these predators when consuming natural prey. We investigated the capacity of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) to utilize the following three distinct prey types: the pupae of the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville & Perrottet), the eggs of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (F.), and the eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller). The first two of these species are naturally occurring prey found in field crops, while the last serves as a factitious prey species for the mass rearing of natural enemies. We hypothesized that the type of prey would differentially affect the life history and population-level parameters of C. externa. Laboratory experiments were conducted to compare the pre-imaginal survival and developmental times, adult longevity and reproduction, and population growth of C. externa when larvae were provided with each of the three prey items. Results indicated that C. externa utilized the two natural prey items, L. coffeella pupae and D. saccharalis eggs, for its development, reproduction, and population growth. However, larvae developed significantly faster and females exhibited higher reproductive parameters, including fecundity and daily oviposition, when consuming the factitious prey, E. kuehniella eggs. This resulted in a higher intrinsic rate of population increase, as well as shorter times for the population to double in size. Understanding the population dynamics of C. externa when consuming different prey items is crucial for optimizing their utilization in augmentative biological control programs.

A quorum-sensing regulatory cascade for siderophore-mediated iron homeostasis in Chromobacterium violaceum.

Iron is a transition metal used as a cofactor in many biochemical reactions. In bacteria, iron homeostasis involves Fur-mediated de-repression of iron uptake systems, such as the iron-chelating compounds siderophores. In this work, we identified and characterized novel regulatory systems that control siderophores in the environmental opportunistic pathogen Chromobacterium violaceum. Screening of a 10,000-transposon mutant library for siderophore halos identified seven possible regulatory systems involved in siderophore-mediated iron homeostasis in C. violaceum. Further characterization revealed a regulatory cascade that controls siderophores involving the transcription factor VitR acting upstream of the quorum-sensing (QS) system CviIR. Mutation of the regulator VitR led to an increase in siderophore halos, and a decrease in biofilm, violacein, and protease production. We determined that these effects occurred due to VitR-dependent de-repression of vioS. Increased VioS leads to direct inhibition of the CviR regulator by protein-protein interaction. Indeed, insertion mutations in cviR and null mutations of cviI and cviR led to an increase of siderophore halos. RNA-seq of the cviI and cviR mutants revealed that CviR regulates CviI-dependent and CviI-independent regulons. Classical QS-dependent processes (violacein, proteases, and antibiotics) were activated at high cell density by both CviI and CviR. However, genes related to iron homeostasis and many other processes were regulated by CviR but not CviI, suggesting that CviR acts without its canonical CviI autoinducer. Our data revealed a complex regulatory cascade involving QS that controls siderophore-mediated iron homeostasis in C. violaceum.IMPORTANCEThe iron-chelating compounds siderophores play a major role in bacterial iron acquisition. Here, we employed a genetic screen to identify novel siderophore regulatory systems in Chromobacterium violaceum, an opportunistic human pathogen. Many mutants with increased siderophore halos had transposon insertions in genes encoding transcription factors, including a novel regulator called VitR, and CviR, the regulator of the quorum-sensing (QS) system CviIR. We found that VitR is upstream in the pathway and acts as a dedicated repressor of vioS, which encodes a direct CviR-inhibitory protein. Indeed, all QS-related phenotypes of a vitR mutant were rescued in a vitRvioS mutant. At high cell density, CviIR activated classical QS-dependent processes (violacein, proteases, and antibiotics production). However, genes related to iron homeostasis and type-III and type-VI secretion systems were regulated by CviR in a CviI- or cell density-independent manner. Our data unveil a complex regulatory cascade integrating QS and siderophores in C. violaceum.

Characterization of purinergic signaling in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from lower- and high-grade gliomas.

Malignant gliomas are highly heterogeneous glia-derived tumors that present an aggressive and invasive nature, with a dismal prognosis. The multi-dimensional interactions between glioma cells and other tumor microenvironment (TME) non-tumoral components constitute a challenge to finding successful treatment strategies. Several molecules, such as extracellular purines, participate in signaling events and support the immunosuppressive TME of glioma patients. The purinergic signaling and the ectoenzymes network involved in the metabolism of these extracellular nucleotides are still unexplored in the glioma TME, especially in lower-grade gliomas (LGG). Also, differences between IDH-mutant (IDH-Mut) versus wild-type (IDH-WT) gliomas are still unknown in this context. For the first time, to our knowledge, this study characterizes the TME of LGG, high-grade gliomas (HGG) IDH-Mut, and HGG IDH-WT patients regarding purinergic ectoenzymes and P1 receptors, focusing on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Here, we show that ectoenzymes from both canonical and non-canonical pathways are increased in the TME when compared to the peripheral blood. We hypothesize this enhancement supports extracellular adenosine generation, hence increasing TME immunosuppression.

Genetic variability of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum causing human visceral leishmaniasis in the Southeastern Brazil.

Leishmania infantum is a protozoan that causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Americas and some regions of Europe. The disease is mainly characterized by hepatosplenomegaly and fever, and can be fatal. Factors related to the host and parasite can contribute to the transmission of Leishmania and the clinical outcome. The intraspecific genetic variability of L. infantum strains may be one of these factors. In this study, we evaluated the genetic variability of L. infantum obtained from bone marrow smear slides from patients in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil. For this, the minicircle of the kDNA hypervariable region was used as target by Sanger sequencing. By analyzing the similarity of the nucleotides and the maximum likelihood tree (Fasttree), we observed a high similarity (98%) among samples. Moreover, we identified four different profiles of L. infantum. In conclusion, L. infantum strains from Sao Paulo State, Brazil, showed low diversity measured by minicircle of the kDNA hypervariable region.

Data Quality in Health Research: Integrative Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Decision-making and strategies to improve service delivery must be supported by reliable health data to generate consistent evidence on health status. The data quality management process must ensure the reliability of collected data. Consequently, various methodologies to improve the quality of services are applied in the health field. At the same time, scientific research is constantly evolving to improve data quality through better reproducibility and empowerment of researchers and offers patient groups tools for secured data sharing and privacy compliance. OBJECTIVE: Through an integrative literature review, the aim of this work was to identify and evaluate digital health technology interventions designed to support the conducting of health research based on data quality. METHODS: A search was conducted in 6 electronic scientific databases in January 2022: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Digital Library, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist and flowchart were used to visualize the search strategy results in the databases. RESULTS: After analyzing and extracting the outcomes of interest, 33 papers were included in the review. The studies covered the period of 2017-2021 and were conducted in 22 countries. Key findings revealed variability and a lack of consensus in assessing data quality domains and metrics. Data quality factors included the research environment, application time, and development steps. Strategies for improving data quality involved using business intelligence models, statistical analyses, data mining techniques, and qualitative approaches. CONCLUSIONS: The main barriers to health data quality are technical, motivational, economical, political, legal, ethical, organizational, human resources, and methodological. The data quality process and techniques, from precollection to gathering, postcollection, and analysis, are critical for the final result of a study or the quality of processes and decision-making in a health care organization. The findings highlight the need for standardized practices and collaborative efforts to enhance data quality in health research. Finally, context guides decisions regarding data quality strategies and techniques. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.1101/2022.05.31.22275804.

Reports by explorers and travelers and the first scientific studies on ayahuasca (dating from 1850 to 1950) within the current debate on the "psychedelic renaissance". / Relatos de exploradores e viajantes e primeiras pesquisas científicas com a ayahuasca, 1850-1950, no debate atual sobre o "renascimento psicodélico".

This article describes the associations and controversies between indigenous and western uses of ayahuasca between 1850 and 1950 in relation to the "psychedelic renaissance." This movement has gained scientific attention since 2000, but hearkens back to the 1960s and 1970s, when anti-drug policy halted research on the "therapeutic potential" of psychoactive substances. Pioneering studies on ayahuasca date back to the early twentieth century and mention reports of expeditions to Amazonia from 1850 onward. Here, these articles and reports are analyzed according to the historical aspect of actor-network theory and recent studies. We infer that history casts light on the current political debate about indigenous uses, classifications, and meanings, pharmaceutical interest in ayahuasca, and the debate on "drugs."

O artigo descreve associações e controvérsias entre usos indígenas e ocidentais da ayahuasca, de 1850 a 1950, na relação com o "renascimento psicodélico". Destaque na ciência desde 2000, esse movimento faz referência a 1960-1970, quando políticas antidrogas suspenderam pesquisas sobre "potenciais terapêuticos" de substâncias psicoativas. Argumenta-se que estudos pioneiros com a ayahuasca datam do início do século XX e mencionam relatos de expedições à Amazônia desde 1850. Esses artigos e relatos são analisados pelo aspecto histórico da teoria do ator-rede e de estudos recentes. Infere-se que a história ilumina o debate político atual sobre os usos, classificações e significados indígenas; o interesse farmacêutico na ayahuasca; e a discussão sobre "drogas".

From Raw Data to FAIR Data: The FAIRification Workflow for Brazilian Tuberculosis Research.

Among the main factors that negatively influence the decision-making process, it is possible to highlight the low quality, availability, and integration of population health data. This study aims to highlight the difficulty of research based on tuberculosis data available in Brazil. The FAIR methodology is a solution for standardizing data and sharing information about the disease. All the main actors involved, including those who generate data and administrators of information systems, should be encouraged to know their strengths and weaknesses. Continuously fostering strategies to promote data quality is, therefore, a strong stimulus for strengthening national health information systems and can potentially benefit from recommendations on how to overcome the inherent limitations of these information systems. Data quality management in Brazilian tuberculosis information systems is still not carried out organized and systematically. According to the FAIR principles, the evaluation demonstrates only 37.75% of compliance.

Development of a Mobile Application with Health Guidelines for TB Patients Care.

Health guidelines inform recommendations for different clinical practices or public health policies. They are a simple way to organize and retrieve relevant information that can impact patient care. Although these documents are easy to use, most are not user-friendly because they are difficult to access. Our work aims to present the developing approach for a decision-making tool based on health guidelines to assist health professionals in caring for patients with tuberculosis. This tool is being developed for use on mobile devices and as a web-based system, which will transform a passive and declarative health guideline document into an interactive tool that will provide data, information, and knowledge. User tests with functional prototypes developed for the Android platform show that this application has the potential to be applied in TB healthcare facilities in the future.

REDbox: a comprehensive semantic framework for data collection and management in tuberculosis research.

Clinical research outcomes depend on the correct definition of the research protocol, the data collection strategy, and the data management plan. Furthermore, researchers often need to work within challenging contexts, as is the case in tuberculosis services, where human and technological resources for research may be scarce. Electronic Data Capture Systems mitigate such risks and enable a reliable environment to conduct health research and promote result dissemination and data reusability. The proposed solution is based on needs pinpointed by researchers, considering the need for an accommodating solution to conduct research in low-resource environments. The REDbox framework was developed to facilitate data collection, management, sharing, and availability in tuberculosis research and improve the user experience through user-friendly, web-based tools. REDbox combines elements of the REDCap and KoBoToolbox electronic data capture systems and semantics to deliver new valuable tools that meet the needs of tuberculosis researchers in Brazil. The framework was implemented in five cross-institutional, nationwide projects to evaluate the users' perceptions of the system's usefulness and the information and user experience. Seventeen responses (representing 40% of active users) to an anonymous survey distributed to active users indicated that REDbox was perceived to be helpful for the particular audience of researchers and health professionals. The relevance of this article lies in the innovative approach to supporting tuberculosis research by combining existing technologies and tailoring supporting features.

Characterization and completeness of notification sheet of violence against the older adults in Niterói-RJ, 2011-2020.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the profile of violence against the elderly and the degree of completeness of event notification forms in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: this was a descriptive study having as its data source violence notification forms held on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System for the period 2011-2020; analysis of form completeness was performed according to criteria proposed by the Ministry of Health. RESULTS: of the 486 registered cases, physical violence was the most reported type of violence (48.1%), followed by psychological violence (22.2%) and self-harm (21.4%); the fields with the highest degree of incompleteness were victim's level of schooling (32.8%) and repeat violence (41.5%). CONCLUSION: despite the increase in notifications in the period, predominantly of physical violence, completeness of some of the form fields continues to be poor, which reinforces the importance of training professionals to improve the reporting process and data quality.

The Local Release of Teriparatide Incorporated in 45S5 Bioglass Promotes a Beneficial Effect on Osteogenic Cells and Bone Repair in Calvarial Defects in Ovariectomized Rats.

With the increase in the population's life expectancy, there has also been an increase in the rate of osteoporosis, which has expanded the search for strategies to regenerate bone tissue. The ultrasonic sonochemical technique was chosen for the functionalization of the 45S5 bioglass. The samples after the sonochemical process were divided into (a) functionalized bioglass (BG) and (b) functionalized bioglass with 10% teriparatide (BGT). Isolated mesenchymal cells (hMSC) from femurs of ovariectomized rats were differentiated into osteoblasts and submitted to in vitro tests. Bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) and sham ovariectomy (Sham) surgeries were performed in fifty-five female Wistar rats. After a period of 60 days, critical bone defects of 5.0 mm were created in the calvaria of these animals. For biomechanical evaluation, critical bone defects of 3.0 mm were performed in the tibias of some of these rats. The groups were divided into the clot (control) group, the BG group, and the BGT group. After the sonochemical process, the samples showed modified chemical topographic and morphological characteristics, indicating that the surface was chemically altered by the functionalization of the particles. The cell environment was conducive to cell adhesion and differentiation, and the BG and BGT groups did not show cytotoxicity. In addition, the experimental groups exhibited characteristics of new bone formation with the presence of bone tissue in both periods, with the BGT group and the OVX group statistically differing from the other groups (p < 0.05) in both periods. Local treatment with the drug teriparatide in ovariectomized animals promoted positive effects on bone tissue, and longitudinal studies should be carried out to provide additional information on the biological performance of the mutual action between the bioglass and the release of the drug teriparatide.

Caracterização e completitude das fichas de notificação de violência contra a pessoa idosa em Niterói-RJ, 2011-2020 / Caracterización y completitud de las fichas de notificación de violencia contra las personas mayores en Niterói-RJ, 2011-2020 / Characterization and completeness of notification sheet of violence against the older adults in Niterói-RJ, 2011-2020

Objetivo: analisar o perfil da violência contra a pessoa idosa e o grau de completitude das fichas de notificação do evento em Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Métodos: estudo descritivo, utilizando como fonte de dados as fichas de notificação de violência obtidas do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, 2011-2020; a análise da completitude realizou-se segundo critérios propostos pelo Ministério da Saúde. Resultados: dos 486 casos registrados, o tipo de violência mais notificada foi a violência física (48,1%), seguida das violências psicológica (22,2%) e autoprovocada (21,4%); os campos com maior grau de incompletitude corresponderam à escolaridade da vítima (32,8%) e à violência de repetição (41,5%). Conclusão: apesar do aumento das notificações no período, predominantemente de violência física, alguns campos importantes das fichas persistem com baixa completitude, o que reforça a importância do treinamento dos profissionais visando melhorar o processo de notificação e a qualidade dos dados.

Objetivo: Analizar el perfil de la violencia contra los ancianos y el grado de integridad de los formularios de notificación de eventos en Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Métodos: estudio descriptivo con fuente de datos las fichas de notificación de violencia obtenidas en Sistema de Información de Agravios de Notificación, 2011-2020; análisis de la exhaustividad se realizó según criterios propuestos por el Ministerio de Sanidad. Resultados: De 486 casos registrados, el tipo de violencia más notificado fue física (48,1%), seguida psicológica (22,2%) y autolesión (21,4%); campos con mayor grado de incompletitud fueron: educación de la víctima (32,8%) y reincidencia en la violencia (41,5%). Conclusiones: A pesar del aumento de notificaciones en el periodo, predominantemente violencia física, persisten algunos campos importantes con baja completitud, lo que refuerza la importancia de la capacitación de los profesionales para mejorar el proceso de notificación y la calidad de los datos.

Objective: to analyze the profile of violence against the elderly and the degree of completeness of event notification forms in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methods: this was a descriptive study having as its data source violence notification forms held on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System for the period 2011-2020; analysis of form completeness was performed according to criteria proposed by the Ministry of Health. Results: of the 486 registered cases, physical violence was the most reported type of violence (48.1%), followed by psychological violence (22.2%) and self-harm (21.4%); the fields with the highest degree of incompleteness were victim's level of schooling (32.8%) and repeat violence (41.5%). Conclusion: despite the increase in notifications in the period, predominantly of physical violence, completeness of some of the form fields continues to be poor, which reinforces the importance of training professionals to improve the reporting process and data quality.

Genetic variability of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum causing human visceral leishmaniasis in the Southeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT Leishmania infantum is a protozoan that causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Americas and some regions of Europe. The disease is mainly characterized by hepatosplenomegaly and fever, and can be fatal. Factors related to the host and parasite can contribute to the transmission of Leishmania and the clinical outcome. The intraspecific genetic variability of L. infantum strains may be one of these factors. In this study, we evaluated the genetic variability of L. infantum obtained from bone marrow smear slides from patients in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil. For this, the minicircle of the kDNA hypervariable region was used as target by Sanger sequencing. By analyzing the similarity of the nucleotides and the maximum likelihood tree (Fasttree), we observed a high similarity (98%) among samples. Moreover, we identified four different profiles of L. infantum. In conclusion, L. infantum strains from Sao Paulo State, Brazil, showed low diversity measured by minicircle of the kDNA hypervariable region.

Relatos de exploradores e viajantes e primeiras pesquisas científicas com a ayahuasca, 1850-1950, no debate atual sobre o "renascimento psicodélico" / Reports by explorers and travelers and the first scientific studies on ayahuasca (dating from 1850 to 1950) within the current debate on the "psychedelic renaissance"

Resumo O artigo descreve associações e controvérsias entre usos indígenas e ocidentais da ayahuasca, de 1850 a 1950, na relação com o "renascimento psicodélico". Destaque na ciência desde 2000, esse movimento faz referência a 1960-1970, quando políticas antidrogas suspenderam pesquisas sobre "potenciais terapêuticos" de substâncias psicoativas. Argumenta-se que estudos pioneiros com a ayahuasca datam do início do século XX e mencionam relatos de expedições à Amazônia desde 1850. Esses artigos e relatos são analisados pelo aspecto histórico da teoria do ator-rede e de estudos recentes. Infere-se que a história ilumina o debate político atual sobre os usos, classificações e significados indígenas; o interesse farmacêutico na ayahuasca; e a discussão sobre "drogas".

Abstract This article describes the associations and controversies between indigenous and western uses of ayahuasca between 1850 and 1950 in relation to the "psychedelic renaissance." This movement has gained scientific attention since 2000, but hearkens back to the 1960s and 1970s, when anti-drug policy halted research on the "therapeutic potential" of psychoactive substances. Pioneering studies on ayahuasca date back to the early twentieth century and mention reports of expeditions to Amazonia from 1850 onward. Here, these articles and reports are analyzed according to the historical aspect of actor-network theory and recent studies. We infer that history casts light on the current political debate about indigenous uses, classifications, and meanings, pharmaceutical interest in ayahuasca, and the debate on "drugs."

Butler e a psicanálise: do fracasso das normas à estranheza do gozo / Butler and psychoanalysis: from the failure of norms to the uncanniness of jouissance / Butler y el psicoanálisis: del fracaso de las normas a la rareza del goce

O objetivo deste artigo é fazer avançar o debate entre a psicanálise e os estudos queer, em especial a partir da interlocução traçada por Judith Butler com os trabalhos de Freud e Lacan. Retomando o modo como Butler articula Foucault, Derrida e a psicanálise para pensar os problemas de gênero, evidenciamos que a teoria psicanalítica permite à filósofa situar, a partir de sua concepção da melancolia de gênero, os pontos de fracasso da norma em função da vida psíquica do poder. Ainda que a cisheterossexualidade normativa imponha um roteiro de identificações e escolhas de objeto a seus sujeitos, há uma imprevisibilidade na maneira pela qual cada um responderá às injunções normativas da cultura, o que aponta para uma falha das normas em determinar completamente a subjetividade. A melancolia de gênero se torna, assim, uma marca da importância da psicanálise no percurso de Butler. Em seguida, discutimos as interpelações da filósofa ao simbólico lacaniano, bem como as nuances progressivamente introduzidas em sua leitura da diferença sexual. Ao longo do percurso de Butler, a diferença sexual deixa de ser considerada uma teoria da heterossexualidade e passa a ser apresentada como um conceito-borda, uma fronteira vacilante, que tomamos aqui como um convite para produzirmos uma releitura não normativa da diferença sexual na psicanálise a partir da teoria lacaniana da sexuação. Finalmente, localizamos a estranheza do gozo e o caráter irredutível da sexualidade às normas sociais como um importante eixo partilhado entre Butler e a psicanálise.(AU)

The aim of this article is to branch out the debate between psychoanalysis and queer studies, focusing on the interlocution drawn by Judith Butler with the works of Freud and Lacan. Returning to the way Butler articulates Foucault, Derrida and psychoanalysis to think about gender trouble, we show that psychoanalytic theory allows the philosopher to situate, from her conception of gender melancholy, the points of failure of the norm in function of the psychic life of power. After all, even though normative cis-heterosexuality imposes a script of identifications and object-choices on its subjects, there is an unpredictability to the way in which each one will respond to the normative injunctions of culture, so that norms fail to fully determine subjectivity. Gender melancholy thus becomes a mark of the importance of psychoanalysis in Butler's path. Then, we discuss the philosopher's interpellations to the Lacanian symbolic order, as well as the nuances progressively introduced in her reading of sexual difference. Along Butler's path, sexual difference is no longer considered a theory of heterosexuality and is presented as a border-concept, a vacillating frontier, which we take here as an invitation to produce a non-normative rereading of sexual difference in psychoanalysis, resorting to the Lacanian theory of sexuation. Finally, we locate the uncanniness of jouissance and the irreducible character of sexuality to social norms as an important shared axis between Butler and psychoanalysis.(AU)

El objetivo de este artículo es hacer avanzar el debate entre el psicoanálisis y los estudios queer, enfatizando la interlocución trazada por Judith Butler con los trabajos de Freud y Lacan. Volviendo a la forma en que Butler articula a Foucault, Derrida y el psicoanálisis para pensar los problemas de género, mostramos que la teoría psicoanalítica permite a la filósofa ubicar, desde su concepción de la melancolía de género, los puntos de falla de la norma en función de la vida psíquica del poder. Aunque la cis-heterosexualidad normativa imponga identificaciones y elecciones de objeto a sus sujetos, hay una imprevisibilidad en la forma en que cada uno responderá a los mandatos normativos de la cultura, lo que apunta a un fracaso de las normas para determinar completamente la subjetividad. La melancolía de género se convierte, entonces, en una marca de la importancia del psicoanálisis en la trayectoria de Butler. En seguida, discutimos las interpelaciones de la filósofa a lo simbólico lacaniano, así como los matices progresivamente introducidos en su lectura de la diferencia sexual. A lo largo de la trayectoria de Butler, la diferencia sexual deja de ser considerada una teoría de la heterosexualidad y pasa a ser presentada como un concepto-borde, um límite vacilante, que tomamos aquí como una invitación para producirmos una relectura no normativa de la diferencia sexual en psicoanálisis a partir de la teoría lacaniana de la sexuación. Finalmente, ubicamos la rareza del goce y el carácter irreductible de la sexualidad a las normas sociales como un importante eje compartido entre Butler y el psicoanálisis.(AU)

O Gênero (de)Preciado: a Psicanálise e a Necrobiopolítica das Transidentidades / Gender Depreciated: Psychoanalysis and the Necrobiopolitics of Transidentities / El Género (de)Preciado: el Psicoanálisis y la Necrobiopolítica de las Transidentidades

As interrogações contemporâneas colocadas à psicanálise pelas transidentidades têm sido recebidas pelo campo de maneiras muito diversas, ora a partir de posições defensivas, ora a partir de leituras mais abertas a dialogar com essas interrogações. Do lado das perspectivas defensivas, encontramos, frequentemente, a tentativa de reduzir os problemas de gênero a questões do imaginário, como se o gênero se tratasse apenas de um capricho narcísico do eu, dirigido à identificação alienante a uma dada identidade. No cenário francês, que ainda repercute no contexto brasileiro, Jacques-Alain Miller e Élisabeth Roudinesco, cada um a seu modo, podem ser considerados representativos desse tipo de posicionamento. Na contramão dessa tendência, o objetivo deste artigo, que se serve de uma revisão crítica de literatura, é recolocar os termos do debate a partir da intervenção do filósofo Paul B. Preciado, evidenciando que o que está em jogo nas temáticas de gênero não é apenas uma questão quanto ao registro das identificações, mas também uma problemática mais ampla concernente à violência social e ao modo como a psicanálise irá se posicionar diante do regime da necrobiopolítica que atravessa o mundo contemporâneo.

The contemporary issues posed to psychoanalysis by transidentities have been discussed in the field in very different ways, either in defensive positions or in an interpretation more prone to the dialogue with such questions. Among defensive perspectives, we often find the attempt to reduce gender problems to imaginary issues, as if gender was just a narcissistic whim of the ego, connected to an alienating identification with a given identity. In the French scenario, which has strong repercussions in the Brazilian context, Jacques-Alain Miller and Elisabeth Roudinesco, each one in its own way, can be considered representative of this kind of thought. Against this tendency, the objective of this article, which is based upon a critical review of literature, is to refocus the terms of the debate resorting to the intervention of the philosopher Paul B. Preciado, showing that what is at stake in matters of gender is not only a question regarding the register of identifications, but also a broader issue concerning social violence and the way in which psychoanalysis takes sides itself in relation to the regime of necrobiopolitics that pervades the contemporary world.

Las preguntas contemporáneas que las transidentidades plantean al psicoanálisis han sido recibidas por el campo de formas muy diversas, a veces desde posiciones defensivas, a veces desde lecturas más abiertas al diálogo con tales preguntas. Del lado de las perspectivas defensivas, a menudo encontramos el intento de reducir los problemas de género a cuestiones imaginarias, como si el género fuera solo un capricho narcisista del yo, dirigido a la identificación alienante de una determinada identidad. En el escenario francés, que aún repercute en el contexto brasileño, Jacques-Alain Miller y Élisabeth Roudinesco, cada uno a su manera, pueden considerarse representativos de este tipo de posicionamiento. Frente a esta tendencia, el objetivo de este artículo, que utiliza una revisión crítica de la literatura, es remplazar los términos del debate a partir de la intervención del filósofo Paul B. Preciado, mostrando que lo que está en juego en los problemas de género no es sólo una cuestión en cuanto al registro de las identificaciones, pero también un tema más amplio en torno a la violencia social y a la forma en que el psicoanálisis se posicionará frente al régimen de la necrobiopolítica que atraviesa el mundo contemporáneo.

Case Report: Composite pheochromocytoma with ganglioneuroma component: A report of three cases.

Composite pheochromocytoma (CP) is a very rare tumor originating from neural crest cells, predominantly composed of pheochromocytoma (PCC), a chromaffin cell tumor arising in adrenal medulla, and ganglioneuroma, a tumor derived from autonomic ganglion cells of the nervous system. Moreover, CP may be present in the hereditary syndromes of which pheochromocytoma is part. Literature offers scarce data on this subject, and particularly about its biological behavior, clinical evolution, and molecular profile. We report the phenotype and outcome of three cases of CP (PCC and ganglioneuroma components), followed up at the Endocrine Service of the Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Two nonsyndromic patients (cases 1 and 2) were negative to germline mutations in genes VHL, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, SDHAF2, TMEM127, and MAX, while the third case (case 3) had clinical diagnosis of neurofibromatosis syndrome. Cases 1, 2, and 3 were diagnosed at 29, 39, and 47 years old, respectively, and were followed up for 3, 17, and 9 years without no CP recurrence. All cases had apparent symptoms of catecholaminergic excess secreted by PCC. Ganglioneuroma, the neurogenic component present in all three cases, had a percentage representation ranging from 5% to 15%. Tumors were unilateral and large, measuring 7.0 cm × 6.0 cm × 6.0 cm, 6.0 cm × 4.0 cm × 3.2 cm, and 7.5 cm × 6.0 cm × 4.5 cm, respectively. All cases underwent adrenalectomy with no recurrence, metastasis, or development of contralateral tumor during follow-up. Genetic testing has been scarcely offered to CP cases. However, a similar frequency of genetic background is found when compared with classic PCC, mainly by the overrepresentation of NF1 cases in the CP subset. By literature review, we identified a notorious increase in cases reported with CP in the last decade, especially in the last 3 years, indicating a recent improvement in the diagnosis of this rare disorder in clinical practice.

Body size has primacy over stoichiometric variables in nutrient excretion by a tropical stream fish community.

Ecological Stoichiometry (ES) and the Metabolic Theory of Ecology (MTE) are the main theories used to explain consumers' nutrient recycling. ES posits that imbalances between an animal's body and its diet stoichiometry determine its nutrient excretion rates, whereas the MTE predicts that excretion reflects metabolic activity arising from body size and temperature. We measured nitrogen, phosphorus and N:P excretion, body N:P stoichiometry, body size, and temperature for 12 fish species from a Brazilian stream. We fitted competing models reflecting different combinations of ES (body N:P, armor classification, diet group) and MTE (body size, temperature) variables. Only body size predicted P excretion rates, while N excretion was predicted by body size and time of day. N:P excretion was not explained by any variable. There was no interspecific difference in size-scaling coefficients neither for N nor for P. Fitted size scaling coefficients were lower than the MTE prediction of 0.75 for N (0.58), and for P (0.56). We conclude that differences in nutrient excretion among species within a shared environment primarily reflect contrasts in metabolic rates arising from body size, rather than disparities between consumer and resource stoichiometry. Our findings support the MTE as the primary framework for predicting nutrient excretion rates.

The use of vitamin D for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

As Vitamin D (VD) plays an essential role in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, this systematic review aimed to update the participation of this vitamin in the prevention or remission of these diseases. This review has included studies in MEDLINE-PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. The authors have followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis) guidelines. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, twenty-two randomized clinical trials were selected. In all, 1,209 patients were included in this systematic review: 1034 received only VD and 175 received VD in combination with calcium. The average doses of VD supplementation were from oral 400 IU daily to 10,000 IU per kilogram of body weight. Single injection of 300,000 IU of VD was also used. Several studies have shown the crucial role that VD plays in the therapeutic approach of IBD due to its effects on the immune system. It effectively decreased inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IFN-γ (p<0.05) and provided a reduction in disease activity assessed through different scores such as Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) (p<0.05) and Ulcerative Colitis Disease Activity Index (UCDAI) (p<0.05). Unfortunately, the available clinical trials do not have standardization of doses and routes of administration. Existing meta-analyses are biased because they compare studies using different doses or treatments in combination with different drugs or supplements such as calcium. Even though VD has crucial effects on inflammatory processes, there is still a need for standardized studies to establish how the supplementation should be performed and the doses to be administered.