Angiotomografia com múltiplos detectores no diagnóstico de drenagem venosa pulmonar anômala: experiência inicial

OBJETIVO: Demonstrar que a angiotomografia computadorizada com múltiplos detectores é um método efetivo e não invasivo para o diagnóstico de drenagem venosa pulmonar anômala. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de 2.905 angiotomografias computadorizadas com múltiplos detectores cardíacas realizadas em nosso serviço no período de julho de 2003 a novembro de 2007. Destas, 393 foram destinadas para avaliar cardiopatias congênitas e as 2.512 restantes, para analisar as artérias coronárias. RESULTADOS: Foram encontrados 21 casos de drenagem venosa pulmonar anômala, sendo 7 (33,3%) do tipo total e 14 (66,7%) do tipo parcial. Das drenagens venosas pulmonares anômalas totais, três foram do tipo supracardíaco, três do tipo infracardíaco e uma do tipo cardíaco. CONCLUSÃO: A angiotomografia computadorizada com múltiplos detectores tem demonstrado fundamental importância no diagnóstico destas anomalias, principalmente por se tratar de método não invasivo capaz de analisar estruturas intra e extracardíacas e por permitir um estudo completo da anatomia torácica, contribuindo sobremaneira na conduta cirúrgica e, consequentemente, no prognóstico destes pacientes, especialmente por diagnosticar malformações não suspeitadas clinicamente

Biópsias de lesões pulmonares com agulha grossa guiadas por tomografia computadorizada: a experiência de um centro oncológico

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar a experiência de um centro oncológico com o procedimento de biópsia por agulha grossa de lesões pulmonares guiadas por tomografia computadorizada. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo de 97 biópsias por agulha grossa de lesões pulmonares guiadas por tomografia computadorizada em um centro oncológico, referência no Brasil (Hospital do Câncer - A.C. Camargo), entre os anos de 1996 e 2004. As informações a respeito de material adequado e diagnóstico específico foram coletadas e analisadas. RESULTADOS: Das 97 biópsias pulmonares, 94 (96,9%) forneceram material suficiente para análise histológica, e destas, 71 (73,2%) corresponderam a lesões malignas e 23 (23,7%) corresponderam a lesões benignas. Em três biópsias o material obtido não foi suficiente para análise. A frequência de diagnóstico específico foi de 83 (85,6%) casos, demonstrando elevadas taxas, tanto nas lesões malignas, com 63 (88,7%) casos, como nas lesões benignas, com 20 (86,7%) casos. Considerando as complicações, ocorreram 12 (12,4%) casos no total, divididos em 7 (7,2%) casos de hematoma, 3 (3,1%) casos de pneumotórax e 2 (2,1%) casos de hemoptise. CONCLUSÃO: A biópsia percutânea com agulha grossa de lesões pulmonares guiada por tomografia computadorizada demonstrou elevadas taxas de material adequado e diagnóstico específico e reduzidas taxas de complicações no presente estudo.

Prevalência de pielonefrite aguda e incidência de cicatriz renal em crianças menores de dois anos de idade com infecção do trato urinário avaliadas por cintilografia renal com 99mTc-DMSA: a experiência de um hospital universitário

OBJETIVO: Calcular as frequências de pielonefrite aguda e cicatriz renal em pacientes menores de dois anos com cintilografia renal com 99mTc-DMSA com primeiro quadro de infecção do trato urinário em hospital universitário brasileiro, comparando com dados da literatura internacional. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram revisados laudos cintilográficos de crianças menores de dois anos de idade que realizaram cintilografia renal com 99mTc-DMSA em um hospital universitário no Rio Grande do Sul, entre 2006 e 2009, para pesquisa de pielonefrite aguda/cicatriz renal. Revisaram-se a presença de refluxo vesicoureteral, o uso precoce de antibiótico, e a presença de comorbidades que constassem nos prontuários eletrônicos. Calculou-se a amostra com base num estudo de revisão sistemática e obteve-se um mínimo de 147 pacientes. Excluíram-se pacientes sem registro eletrônico. RESULTADOS: Cento e cinquenta e sete crianças preencheram critérios de inclusão do estudo, 48 tiveram pielonefrite aguda e 8 destas apresentaram cicatriz renal. Nem a idade nem o gênero dos pacientes apresentaram associação significativa com pielonefrite aguda (p = 0,405 e p = 0,124, respectivamente). Não houve diferença estatística nas associações de refluxo vesicoureteral e pielonefrite aguda (p = 1,0) e outras comorbidades (p = 0,470) e em relação ao uso precoce de antibiótico com pielonefrite aguda (p = 0,130) e cicatriz renal (p = 0,720). CONCLUSÃO: As frequências de pielonefrite aguda e cicatriz renal obtidas concordam com os resultados da maioria dos estudos publicados.

Curso noturno de licenciatura em química: uma década de experiência na UFMS

This is a study concerned with determining the efficiency in training high school chemistry teachers in the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul. The analysis was based on the following information, i.e., the opinion of the students who were enrolled in the course, university entrance examinations and academic performance. We reach the conclusion that the goal was partially achieved in training high schools' teachers. Further suggestions and strategies are proposed in order to overcome the problems.

Conhecimento escolar em química: processo de mediação didática da ciência

xThe aim of this article is to present a contribution of the school knowledge research to Chemistry Teaching. The object of research is school knowledge on physical sciences, considering the existence of a rupture between scientific knowledge and everyday knowledge. The differences between analogies and metaphors and the process of didactic mediation were thoroughly examined. The conclusion is that the process of didactic mediation is built on their own cognitive configurations, which not always make public the private scientific knowledge to certain social groups.

Alguns aspectos da política nacional de ciência e tecnologia

The Brazilian industrialisation process, which occurred from World War II up to the early eighties, was almost totally based on imported technology and has thus not demanded local S&T capability. National S&T expenditures were limited to 0.7 % of the GNP, covering mainly expenses with basic research and training of scientists and engineers. Federal Government was then responsible for 90% of the national S&T expenditures. The globalisation of the economy, associated with the reduction of tariff barriers, has, since the early nineties, exposed Brazilian industries to international competition and, thus, forced them to invest in research and development. S&T policy fosters research activities, provides research infrastructure and human resources training. The goal is to raise national expenditures to 1.5% of GDP by 1999, with a share of the private sector of about 40%. In 1996, national S&T expenditures have already attained 1.1% of the GDP and private sector investments in this area reached a share of 30%.

Havia alguma ciência no Brasil setecentista?

In the past decade several articles have been published in this journal and elsewhere by different authors, dealing with the institutionalization of science in Brazil, its origins and subsequent history. The emphasis has often been directed to the work of Brazilian scientists working abroad, to foreigners in Brazil, or to a few private individuals within the country, as well as to cultural, social, economic and political considerations. Much of the attention has also been focused on "academic" science, rather than on empirical or technical developments. The present article presents some of these situations, particularly in the mining district, where the application of technology, sometimes quite up-to-date for the time, tended to blur somewhat the distinction between science and its applications. It is hoped that this may start a debate which will enrich our historiography in this field and be of interest to those who want to assess Brazil's position in the history of science.

Ciência de espumas - aplicação na extinção de incêndios

The structural characteristics of foams are responsible for a broad range of applications of this system. Foams produced by aqueous solutions of surfactant concentrates are used in fire-fighting due to their special properties as extinguishing agents. In the present paper we discuss the main aspects involved in fire-fighting, based on some properties of foams. Thermal and chemical stability, good wetting of surfaces, cooling effect by water drained from the bubbles, isolation of the air from the burning surface and suppression of flammable vapors are some of the factors involved in the extinguishment of fire by foams.

Implementação da comunicação visual e procedimentos de conservação da obra Chemical Abstracts - Uma experiência da divisão de Biblioteca e documentação do conjunto das Químicas/USP

This paper proposes a model for visual communication, conservation, and maintenance of the collection "Chemical Abstracts". It describes the various steps for its implementation and makes considerations about the whole reference work.

Mulheres em ciência e tecnologia: ascensão limitada

In contemporary times, women can choose freely to enter any professional field. Along the way they come across stumbling blocks that make their progress difficult. Most of these difficulties are not gender-specific, yet women encounter them more consistently than do men. It is remarkably true for the areas of Science and Technology. However, it is not straightforward to evaluate and to obtain an accurate measure of the effects of gender bias. The factors and consequences associated with the phenomena are multiple, with many shades of regionalism as we look at different countries. Despite of the absence of detailed studies regarding the situation in Brazil, it seems unlikely we would be an exception to a world pattern. In this article, some causes as well as current actions around the world to fight gender bias are presented.

Relato de uma experiência: recuperação e cadastramento de resíduos dos laboratórios de graduação do Instituto de Química da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

An experience aiming to promote a residue interchange and recovery between the teaching laboratories of the Chemistry Institute of this University is described. At the present, several residues interchange have already appeared as advantageous. To make the work easier, a software has been developed in order to keep a record of all the residues generated by the teaching laboratories. Standard labels have been developed for the residues in order to organize them. The software and the label design are described.

Irving langmuir: o milagre da ciência

Irving Langmuir received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1932 "...for his outstanding discoveries and investigations within the field of surface chemistry", according to the Swedish Academy. However, few people know that his work comprises other very important contributions, and not only for chemistry, such as the discovery of plasma, the atomic hydrogen, the pure thermoionic phenomenon, the development of the cloud seeding technique for weather modification, among many others. This paper summarizes Langmuir's most important discoveries and theories, with an especial mention for his practical inventions and his work on the atomic theory.

A história da ciência e o objeto de seu estudo: confrontos entre a ciência periférica, a ciência central e a ciência marginal

The historiography of science has undergone a profound change from the traditional perspective of a few decades ago, according to which only mainstream science was worth pursuing as a research field. Such a restricted outlook was not conducive to a thorough understanding of the whole process of the construction of science. New approaches have breathed new life into the discipline, taking into account not only scientific endeavours from so-called peripheral societies, but also from different quarters within or close to the central groups. From this a new and far more interesting view has emerged, showing a complex and richer texture.