��tomos na integra����o: a aproxima����o Brasil-Argentina no campo nuclear e a constru����o do Mercosul

Este trabalho tenciona ser uma reflex��o sobre a import��ncia da aproxima����o entre o Brasil e a Argentina no campo nuclear, na segunda metade da d��cada de 80 e no in��cio dos anos 90, como fundamento para a constru����o de um relacionamento novo que suplantou uma rivalidade hist��rica entre ambos. O processo de aproxima����o encetado com um prop��sito aparentemente econ��mico, tinha uma dimens��o estrat��gica. As repercuss��es desse esfor��o iam al��m dos interesses bilaterais imediatos e se refletiram na busca de uma nova inser����o internacional dos dois pa��ses, num momento de transforma����es profundas nos planos interno e internacional. Atrav��s do programa de integra����o Brasil-Argentina (que mais tarde tamb��m envolveu o Uruguai) e do MERCOSUL buscou-se estabelecer uma arquitetura pol��tico-jur��dica, que criou uma realidade que extrapola o campo econ��mico e projeta-se no terreno pol��tico.

A integra����o bilateral Brasil-Argentina: tecnologia nuclear e Mercosul

O presente trabalho focaliza o complexo processo de integra����o bilateral Brasil-Argentina, iniciado formalmente na d��cada de 80, desdobrado em sua dupla abrang��ncia: a) coopera����o pac��fica da tecnologia nuclear; b) constitui����o de um mercado comum. A evolu����o desse processo conduziu-se atrav��s de ciclos fundamentais: primeira etapa, antecedentes de aproxima����o; segunda etapa, os decisivos instrumentos da ampla integra����o; terceira etapa, solidifica����o de duas bases, uma de n��vel tecnol��gico nuclear, pactuando um sistema sui generis de salvaguardas e a vig��ncia do Tratado de Tlatelolco (emendado), e, outra, de n��vel econ��mico pelo Tratado de Assun����o, instituindo o Mercosul.

Brazil and the nuclear issues in the years of the Luiz In��cio Lula da Silva government (2003-2010)

The present article is an analysis of Brazilian nuclear diplomacy and of the international relevance of the national nuclear program adopted during the two Presidential terms of Luiz In��cio Lula da Silva. Particular attention will be given to the Brazilian position in the agreement on nuclear non-proliferation, to the role of mediation between Iran and the nuclear powers, and finally to the national ambitions concerning the industrial and military uses of the nuclear technologies.

PERFORMANCE OF CONVENTIONAL PCRs BASED ON PRIMERS DIRECTED TO NUCLEAR AND MITOCHONDRIAL GENES FOR THE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF Leishmania spp.

In visceral leishmaniasis, the detection of the agent is of paramount importance to identify reservoirs of infection. Here, we evaluated the diagnostic attributes of PCRs based on primers directed to cytochrome-B (cytB), cytochrome-oxidase-subunit II (coxII), cytochrome-C (cytC), and the minicircle-kDNA. Although PCRs directed to cytB, coxII, cytC were able to detect different species of Leishmania, and the nucleotide sequence of their amplicons allowed the unequivocal differentiation of species, the analytical and diagnostic sensitivity of these PCRs were much lower than the analytical and diagnostic sensitivity of the kDNA-PCR. Among the 73 seropositive animals, the asymptomatic dogs had spleen and bone marrow samples collected and tested; only two animals were positive by PCRs based on cytB, coxII, and cytC, whereas 18 were positive by the kDNA-PCR. Considering the kDNA-PCR results, six dogs had positive spleen and bone marrow samples, eight dogs had positive bone marrow results but negative results in spleen samples and, in four dogs, the reverse situation occurred. We concluded that PCRs based on cytB, coxII, and cytC can be useful tools to identify Leishmania species when used in combination with automated sequencing. The discordance between the results of the kDNA-PCR in bone marrow and spleen samples may indicate that conventional PCR lacks sensitivity for the detection of infected dogs. Thus, primers based on the kDNA should be preferred for the screening of infected dogs.

How effective is dog culling in controlling zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis? a critical evaluation of the science, politics and ethics behind this public health policy

INTRODUCTION: Zoonotic kala-azar, a lethal disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania is considered out of control in parts of the world, particularly in Brazil, where transmission has spread to cities throughout most of the territory and mortality presents an increasing trend. Although a highly debatable measure, the Brazilian government regularly culls seropositive dogs to control the disease. Since control is failing, critical analysis concerning the actions focused on the canine reservoir was conducted. METHODS: In a review of the literature, a historical perspective focusing mainly on comparisons between the successful Chinese and Soviet strategies and the Brazilian approach is presented. In addition, analyses of the principal studies regarding the role of dogs as risk factors to humans and of the main intervention studies regarding the efficacy of the dog killing strategy were undertaken. Brazilian political reaction to a recently published systematic review that concluded that the dog culling program lacked efficiency and its effect on public policy were also reviewed. RESULTS: No firm evidence of the risk conferred by the presence of dogs to humans was verified; on the contrary, a lack of scientific support for the policy of killing dogs was confirmed. A bias for distorting scientific data towards maintaining the policy of culling animals was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Since there is no evidence that dog culling diminishes visceral leishmaniasis transmission, it should be abandoned as a control measure. Ethical considerations have been raised regarding distorting scientific results and the killing of animals despite minimal or absent scientific evidence

Resson��ncia nuclear magn��tica no diagn��stico de pseudoaneurisma de ventr��culo esquerdo. Antigo problema, nova op����o

Paciente feminina, 67 anos, internada por infarto agudo do mioc��rdio de parede lateral, com edema agudo de pulm��o e evolu����o para choque cardiog��nico nas primeiras horas. Ecocardiograma transesof��gico e resson��ncia nuclear magn��tica confirmaram o diagn��stico de pseudoaneurisma de ventr��culo esquerdo. A paciente foi submetida a tratamento cir��rgico com sucesso.