Sobre alguns casos de carcinoma primitivo do pulmão, do bronchio e da trachéa

1-Out of 1531 autopsies at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, recorded in the Section of Pathology of «Instituto OSWALDO CRUZ», we found three cases of primary carcinoma of the lung, which gives the incidence of 0,195 per cent. They were not associated with tuberculos's and anthracos's was not marked. 2-The gross and microscopical features indicate that they are in reality primary cancers of the larger bronchi arising probably, from the bronchial lining epithelium. There is a striking similarity both macro and microscopical in Cases I and II, where the structure is that of cylindrical cell alveolar carcinoma. Mucus formation was never a prominent feature in these tumors. As in HENRICI's case they apparently invade the lung along the alveolar wall in more or less considerable extension retaining the alveolar septa as stroma. In case III the structure is that of squamous cell carcinoma, and the tumor mass, usually ulcerating, lies in the immediate vicinity of the bronchi, the extension to the lung tissue being not widespread. 3-Cases IV and V are tumors of the lower and median portion of the trachéa, squamous cell carcinoma in structure, which form marked contrast with the tumors originating in the larger bronchi: the tumor process never invades the lung parenchyma by continuous extension. In Case V extension to the mediastinal lymph-nodes is observed, and a tumor of the size of an orange is found in the anterior mediastinum: that tumor mass and the upper lobe of the right lung were only adherent by fibrous tissue of inflammatory origin and the tumor did not extend into the lung tissue.

Evidence on the determinants of foreign direct investment: the case of three european regions

This study aims at analyzing the determinants of FDI (foreign direct investment) inflows for a group of European regions. The originality of this approach lies in the use of disaggregated regional data. First, we develop a qualitative description of our database and discuss the importance of the macroeconomic determinants in attracting FDI. Then, we provide an econometric exercise to identify the potential determinants of FDI. In spite of choosing regions presenting economic similarities, we show that regional FDI inflows rely on a combination of factors that differs from one region to another.

Stable coalition structures with fixed decision scheme

This paper studies the stability of a finite local public goods economy in horizontal differentiation, where a jurisdiction's choice of the public good is given by an exogenous decision scheme. In this paper, we characterize the class of decision schemes that ensure the existence of an equilibrium with free mobility (that we call Tiebout equilibrium) for monotone distribution of players. This class contains all the decision schemes whose choice lies between the Rawlsian decision scheme and the median voter with mid-distance of the two median voters when there are ties. We show that for non-monotone distribution, there is no decision scheme that can ensure the stability of coalitions. In the last part of the paper, we prove the non-emptiness of the core of this coalition formation game

Weak systems of Gandy, Jensen and Devlin

In Part I, we formulate and examine some systems that have arisen in the study of the constructible hierarchy; we find numerous transitive models for them, among which are supertransitive models containing all ordinals that show that Devlin's system BS lies strictly between Gandy's systems PZ and BST'; and we use our models to show that BS fails to handle even the simplest rudimentary functions, and is thus inadequate for the use intended for it in Devlin's treatise. In Part II we propose and study an enhancement of the underlying logic of these systems, build further models to show where the previous hierarchy of systems is preserved by our enhancement; and consider three systems that might serve for Devlin's purposes: one the enhancement of a version of BS, one a formulation of Gandy-Jensen set theory, and the third a subsystem common to those two. In Part III we give new proofs of results of Boffa by constructing three models in which, respectively, TCo, AxPair and AxSing fail; we give some sufficient conditions for a set not to belong to the rudimentary closure of another set, and thus answer a question of McAloon; and we comment on Gandy's numerals and correct and sharpen other of his observations.

Sôbre alguns Phlebotomus e Brumptomyia da Colômbia (Diptera, Psychodidae)

The first case of Kala-azar in Colombia was discovered in Soledad, S. Vicente do Chucuri, Dept. Santander, by Gast-Galvis who viscerotomized a three year old girl deceased in December, 1943. In 1944, fifty-three Phlebotominae were collected in the chicken pen of the girl's house, two new species included. Mangabeira helped by A. Gast Galvis, Juan Antonio Montoya and E. Osorno Mesa, collected some Phlebotomus in that country. The geographical distribution of the species of Phlebotomus collected in Colombia (P. abonnenci, P. camposi, P. columbianus, P. dubitans, P. gasti, P. montoyai, P. saulensis, P. serranus, P. triramulus) and two species of Brumptomyia (B. beaupertuyi and b mesari), are included. our description of the male P. columbianus is based on some specimens found in association with females. However, doubts exist about such association of sexes. There is no correspondence between the length of the spicules and the ducts of spermathecae. Besides, the specimens were not obtained by raising. The following new species are described and compared with previously known ones: a) Phlebotomus gasti sp. n. differs from the other species by a protruding tubercle in the gubernaculum. It has also fewer setae in the tuft of the basistyle, a different length of the inferior gonapophyses, and a differently shaped clasper. b) Phlebotomus dubitans sp. n. differs from P. walkeri and P. deanei (according to personal information from O. Theodor, who examined the types, they are identical to P. williamsi and P. sericeus respectively), mainly because these species have the inferior gonapophyses larger than the basistyle and fewer setae in the basistyle. P. evandroi is separated by the shape of the claspers and by the tuft of setae of the basistyle. P. marajoensis is the closest relative to P. dubitans. There is a possibility of their being synonymous. On the other hand, they can be differentiated by the existence of three extra distal spines in P. marajoensis. There is also a difference in their palpal indexes: for marajoensis I - II - IV - III - V, and for dubitans I - IV (III - II) - V. We notice, too, that the inferior gonapophyses in P. marajoensis is a little shorter. P. marajoensis has a long seta in the basistyle (clearly shown in the original drawing), not found in the new species. c) Phlebotomus montoyai sp. n.: The closest relatives are P. noguchii, P. peruensis, P. pescei, P. quinquifer and P. rickardi. They differ from the new species by the number and length of the setae of the basistyle tuft which are more numerous and longer in the new species. The shapes of their claspers are also different. Other differences are: the basal portion of the basistyle in P. noguchii is very wide (in montoyai it is narrower); the intermediate spine of the dististyle is located on a protruding tubercle ( in the new species there is hardly a tubercle); the spicules are long, and the inferior gonapophyses is longer than the basistyle. P. quinquifer and P. rickardi have a shorter dististyle and narrower wings, with different venation. The main difference, however lies, in the M4, which ends almost at the level of the junction of M1 with M2 (in P. montoyai the M4 ends far behind). In P. peruensis and P. pescei the intermediary spine of the dististyle is closer to the distal spine than to the basal one, whereas in the new species it is situated between the two pairs. Their inferior gonapophyses is longer than the basistyle. d) Brumptomyia mesai sp. n. - Closest relatives are: B. hamatus, B. pentacanthus, B. beaupertuyi which are easily separated from the new species because the tufts of their basistyle have thin and differently shaped hairs. Also their claspers are shaped differently. B. avellari is also easily recognized on account of the twisted aspect of its clasper and because the basal tuft of the basistyle has few setae, B. brumpti tuft of setae arise directly from the basistyle; these setae are stronger than those of the new species. It has 8 blade-like setae located on the inner surface of the distal half, whereas the new species has only six setae. In B. brumpti, there are three median and two terminal spines in the dististyle; in the new species, there are two median and two terminal spines and one between them, which is closer to the two median spines. The comparison with B. galindoi is based in a specimen determined by Fairchild and deposited in the entomological collection of the "Faculdade de Higiene e Saúde Pública da Universidade de S. Paulo". The genitalia of the new species is much shorter, in galindoi the inferior gonapophyses is 0,8 mm long whereas in B. mesai it hardly reaches 0,6 mm. The shape of the clasper and the distribution of its setae are different. The sub-median lamellae, besides being longer in B. galindoi are also longer in comparison with the other parts of the genitalia. The gubernaculum of the new species is longer, thinner, and more pointed; in B. galindoi it is shorter and triangular. In the drawing published by Fairchild and Hertig 91947), the basistyle shows 8 blade-like setae on the distal half, whereas in the new species only six are found.

The Sanctified ‘Adultress’ and Her Circumstantial Clause: Bathsheba’s Bath and Self-Consecration in 2 Samuel 11

Bathsheba's actions in 2 Sam. 11.2-4 identify crucial aspects of her character. Past commentators interpret these words in connection with menstrual purification, stressing the certain paternity of David's adulterine child. This article demonstrates that the participles rōheset and mitqaddesšet and the noun mittum'ātāh do not denote menstrual cleansing. Bathsheba's washing is an innocent bath. She is the only individual human to self-sanctify, placing her in the company of the Israelite deity. The syntax of the verse necessitates that her action of self-sanctifying occurs simultaneously as David lies with her. The three focal terms highlight the important legitimacy of Bathsheba before the Israelite deity, her identity as a non-Israelite, her role as queen mother of the Solomonic line, and her full participation in the narrative.

Portal web per a l'IES Pla d'en Boet de Mataró

Aquesta memòria tracta sobre el procediment de creació software que s’ha dut a terme per a implementar el portal web de l’IES Pla d’En Boet de Mataró, un institut públic subvencionat per la Generalitat de Catalunya. Aquest portal s’ha desenvolupat des de zero i s’ha hagut d’enllaçar amb altres aplicacions que han sigut requerides. El document conté l’anàlisi, disseny i l’implementació del portal web, i de tota la funcionalitat que l’envolta, que s’ha realitzat per satisfer els requeriments inicials. Conté, a més, les diferents anàlisis que s’han necessitat per tal d’integrar-lo amb una aplicació pròpia del centre i amb un sistema d’intercanvi de missatges, i com s’ha decidit fer-ho. S’intenta explicar alguna de les problemàtiques més importants que han aparegut al llarg del procés i que han afectat al seu desenvolupament. Les decisions preses per a resoldre-les també apareixen per avalar l’estudi realitzat. Finalment hi ha una valoració personal i una altra dels objectius aconseguits per veure que s’ha arribat a la solució final amb èxit.

Pièges dans l'interprétation de la pathologie infiltrative et de l'exposition à l'amiante.

Messages à retenir: L'identification des anomalies pleurales et parenchymateuses liées à une exposition à l'amiante est essentielle pour la reconnaissance de maladie professionnelle, avec de lourdes conséquences économiques. Le scanner thoracique est l'outil le plus fiable de ce dépistage. La détection d'anomalies dans les régions basales et sous-pleurales doit conduire à la réalisation de coupes complémentaires en procubitus sur ces régions. Le diagnostic TDM des anomalies pleurales et parenchymateuses liées à l'amiante repose sur des critères diagnostiques et un vocabulaire précis. De nombreuses images pièges peuvent mimer des plaques ou une asbestose. Une bonne connaissance de l'anatomie de l'interface pleuro-parenchymateuse et des principaux diagnostics différentiels permet souvent de redresser le diagnostic. Résumé: Le scanner multicoupe est l'outil de référence pour le dépistage des pathologies pleurales et parenchymateuses liées à l'exposition à l'amiante. Le diagnostic de plaques pleurales repose sur une surélévation quadrangulaire et nette de l'interface pleuro-parenchymateuse, dans une ou des localisation(s) évocatrice(s). Les pièges responsables de fausses images de plaques sont nombreux : structures anatomiques et variantes de la normale, opacités postéro-basales liées à des troubles ventilatoires, sarcoïdose... Les plaques doivent être différenciées des autres anomalies pleurales bénignes pouvant être rencontrées dans ce contexte, mais non spécifiques d'une exposition à l'amiante : épaississements pleuraux diffus, fibrose de la plèvre viscérale, images en pieds de corneille. La reconnaissance d'une asbestose nécessite de s'affranchir de troubles ventilatoires liés à la déclivité ou à des contraintes mécaniques focales, chroniques, telles que des ostéophytes para-vertébraux. Les coupes en procubitus permettent d'affirmer l'existence d'une pathologie interstitielle débutante dans les régions sous-pleurales et basales. Des anomalies interstitielles isolées ne peuvent être attribuées à une asbestose, de même que des anomalies interstitielles non spécifiques, associées ou non à une pathologie diffuse fibrosante.

Genome-wide association study of metabolic traits reveals novel gene-metabolite-disease links.

Metabolic traits are molecular phenotypes that can drive clinical phenotypes and may predict disease progression. Here, we report results from a metabolome- and genome-wide association study on (1)H-NMR urine metabolic profiles. The study was conducted within an untargeted approach, employing a novel method for compound identification. From our discovery cohort of 835 Caucasian individuals who participated in the CoLaus study, we identified 139 suggestively significant (P<5×10(-8)) and independent associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and metabolome features. Fifty-six of these associations replicated in the TasteSensomics cohort, comprising 601 individuals from São Paulo of vastly diverse ethnic background. They correspond to eleven gene-metabolite associations, six of which had been previously identified in the urine metabolome and three in the serum metabolome. Our key novel findings are the associations of two SNPs with NMR spectral signatures pointing to fucose (rs492602, P = 6.9×10(-44)) and lysine (rs8101881, P = 1.2×10(-33)), respectively. Fine-mapping of the first locus pinpointed the FUT2 gene, which encodes a fucosyltransferase enzyme and has previously been associated with Crohn's disease. This implicates fucose as a potential prognostic disease marker, for which there is already published evidence from a mouse model. The second SNP lies within the SLC7A9 gene, rare mutations of which have been linked to severe kidney damage. The replication of previous associations and our new discoveries demonstrate the potential of untargeted metabolomics GWAS to robustly identify molecular disease markers.

Observations on the morphology of Pomacea lineata (Spix, 1827) (Mollusca, Ampullariidae)

This paper deals with the morpholgy of Pomacea lineata (Spix, 1827) collected at its type locality. The shell is globose, moderately heavy, horn-colored with brown spiral bands; apex subelevated; 4 - 5 rounded whorls increasing in diameter rather rapidly, separated by deep suture. Aperture large and ovoid; outer lip sharp; umbilicus narrow and deep; operculum concentric, corneous. Ratios: shell width/shell length = 0.74 - 0.83 (mean 0.78); spire length/shell length = 0.10 - 0.18 (mean 0.13); aperture length/shell length = 0.70 - 0.77 (mean 0.73). The animal is longisiphonate. Renal organ brownish with marked invagination at its right edge. Ureter elongated with its long axis transverse to the main axis of the kidney. The radula is taenioglossate (2.1.1.1.2) and has on average 35 transverse rows of teeth. The form and arrangement of the radula teeth are nearly the same as in other Ampullariidae. The testis is cream-colored and lies in the first three whorls of the spire. Spermiduct uniformly narrow, running to the base of the spire. Seminal vesicle whitish, slightly pressed dorsoventrally. Prostate cylindric and thick, similar in color to the testis. Penis whiplike, with a closed circular spermiduct. Penis pouch ovoid completely envelping the penis. Penis sheath elongated, broad prosimally, tapering distally. Its inner surface shows a longitudinal channel along its proximal half and two glands, one on the middle and the other apical. Ovary composed of branched whitish tubules situated on the surface of the digestive gland. Oviduct slender running along the columellar axis toward the base of the spire. Seminal receptalble tubiform, thick-walled and rounded proximally. Albumen gland large, pink, enclosing the receptacle and the spiral capsule gland. Vestigial male copulatory apparatus (penis and its sheath) present in all females examined.

Le Système partisan français: multipolarité et bipolarisation contrainte

La France inventa le dualisme gauche-droite et le système de partis se lit volontiers à travers cette dichotomie. Pourtant à l’instar d’autres «vieilles démocraties» du continent européen le système partisan français, fruit d’une longue histoire, se révèle à l’analyse bien plus riche que la «bipolarisation» donne à croire. A partir du contraste saisissant entre les scrutins tenus en 2007: le premier tour des présidentielles marqué par une remontée du centrisme d’une part et les législatives consacrant la suprématie de l’UMP et le statut d’opposition du PS, d’autre part. La thèse défendue ici est que la France est bel et bien multipolaire, ne va pas vers le bipartisme et que la bipolarisation est artificielle et résulte de contraintes liées à un mode de scrutin inéquitable. Chaque fois que l’électeur se voit offrir la possibilité d’échapper à cette cage de fer-européennes, premier tour de présidentielle- il exprime sa diversité.

New methods for detecting antibiotic resistant bacteria and preventing their spread

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria have emerged in the early 1980's in numerous health care institutions around the world. The main transmission mechanism within hospitals and healthcare facilities is through the hands of health care workers. Resistant to several antibiotics, the MRSA is one of the most feared pathogens in the hospital setting since it is very difficult to eradicate with the standard treatments. There are still a limited number of anti-MRSA antibiotics but the first cases of resistance to these compounds have already been reported and their frequency is likely to increase in the coming years. Every year, the MRSA infections result in major human and financial costs, due to the high associated mortality and expenses related to the required care. Measures towards a faster detection of resistant bacteria and establishment of appropriate antibiotic treatment parameters are fundamental. Also as part as infection prevention, diminution of bacteria present on the commonly touched surfaces could also limit the spread and selection of antibiotic resistant bacteria. During my thesis, projects were developed around MRSA and antibiotic resistance investigation using innovative technologies. The thesis was subdivided in three main parts with the use of atomic force microscopy AFM for antibiotic resistance detection in part 1, the importance of the bacterial inoculum size in the selection of antibiotic resistance in part 2 and the testing of antimicrobial surfaces creating by sputtering copper onto polyester in part 3. In part 1 the AFM was used two different ways, first for the measurement of stiffness (elasticity) of bacteria and second as a nanosensor for antibiotic susceptibility testing. The stiffness of MRSA with different susceptibility profiles to vancomycin was investigated using the stiffness tomography mode of the AFM and results have demonstrated and increased stiffness in the vancomycin resistant strains that also paralleled with increased thickness of the bacterial cell wall. Parts of the AFM were also used to build a new antibiotic susceptibility-testing device. This nano sensor was able to measure vibrations emitted from living bacteria that ceased definitively upon antibiotic exposure to which they were susceptible but restarted after antibiotic removal to which they were resistant, allowing in a matter of minute the assessment of antibiotic susceptibility determination. In part 2 the inoculum effect (IE) of vancomycin, daptomycin and linezolid and its importance in antibiotic resistance selection was investigated with MRSA during a 15 days of cycling experiment. Results indicated that a high bacterial inoculum and a prolonged antibiotic exposure were two key factors in the in vitro antibiotic resistance selection in MRSA and should be taken into consideration when choosing the drug treatment. Finally in part 3 bactericidal textile surfaces were investigated against MRSA. Polyesters coated after 160 seconds of copper sputtering have demonstrated a high bactericidal activity reducing the bacterial load of at least 3 logio after one hour of contact. -- Au cours des dernières décennies, des bactéries multirésistantes aux antibiotiques (BMR) ont émergé dans les hôpitaux du monde entier. Depuis lors, le nombre de BMR et la prévalence des infections liées aux soins (IAS) continuent de croître et sont associés à une augmentation des taux de morbidité et de mortalité ainsi qu'à des coûts élevés. De plus, le nombre de résistance à différentes classes d'antibiotiques a également augmenté parmi les BMR, limitant ainsi les options thérapeutiques disponibles lorsqu'elles ont liées a des infections. Des mesures visant une détection plus rapide des bactéries résistantes ainsi que l'établissement des paramètres de traitement antibiotiques adéquats sont primordiales lors d'infections déjà présentes. Dans une optique de prévention, la diminution des bactéries présentes sur les surfaces communément touchées pourrait aussi freiner la dissémination et l'évolution des bactéries résistantes. Durant ma thèse, différents projets incluant des nouvelles technologies et évoluant autour de la résistance antibiotique ont été traités. Des nouvelles technologies telles que le microscope à force atomique (AFM) et la pulvérisation cathodique de cuivre (PCC) ont été utilisées, et le Staphylococcus aureus résistant à la méticilline (SARM) a été la principale BMR étudiée. Deux grandes lignes de recherche ont été développées; la première visant à détecter la résistance antibiotique plus rapidement avec l'AFM et la seconde visant à prévenir la dissémination des BMR avec des surfaces crées grâce à la PCC. L'AFM a tout d'abord été utilisé en tant que microscope à sonde locale afin d'investiguer la résistance à la vancomycine chez les SARMs. Les résultats ont démontré que la rigidité de la paroi augmentait avec la résistance à la vancomycine et que celle-ci corrélait aussi avec une augmentation de l'épaisseur des parois, vérifiée grâce à la microscopie électronique. Des parties d'un AFM ont été ensuite utilisées afin de créer un nouveau dispositif de test de sensibilité aux antibiotiques, un nanocapteur. Ce nanocapteur mesure des vibrations produites par les bactéries vivantes. Après l'ajout d'antibiotique, les vibrations cessent définitivement chez les bactéries sensibles à l'antibiotique. En revanche pour les bactéries résistantes, les vibrations reprennent après le retrait de l'antibiotique dans le milieu permettant ainsi, en l'espace de minutes de détecter la sensibilité de la bactérie à un antibiotique. La PCC a été utilisée afin de créer des surfaces bactéricides pour la prévention de la viabilité des BMR sur des surfaces inertes. Des polyesters finement recouverts de cuivre (Cu), connu pour ses propriétés bactéricides, ont été produits et testés contre des SARMs. Une méthode de détection de viabilité des bactéries sur ces surfaces a été mise au point, et les polyesters obtenus après 160 secondes de pulvérisation au Cu ont démontré une excellente activité bactéricide, diminuant la charge bactérienne d'au moins 3 logio après une heure de contact. En conclusion, l'utilisation de nouvelles technologies nous a permis d'évoluer vers de méthodes de détection de la résistance antibiotique plus rapides ainsi que vers le développement d'un nouveau type de surface bactéricide, dans le but d'améliorer le diagnostic et la gestion des BMR.

Mechanisms of inflammation in gout.

An acute attack of gout is a paradigm of acute sterile inflammation, as opposed to pyogenic inflammation. Recent studies suggest that the triggering of IL-1beta release from leucocytes lies at the heart of a cascade of processes that involves multiple cytokines and mediators. The NLRP3 inflammasome appears to have a specific role in this regard, but the biochemical events leading to its activation are still not well understood. We review the known mechanisms that underlie the inflammatory process triggered by urate crystals and suggest areas that require further research.

Female adolescents' views on a youth-friendly clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To assess satisfaction among female patients of a youth friendly clinic and to determine with which factors this was associated. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in an adolescent clinic in Lausanne, Switzerland, between March and May 2008. All female patients who had made at least one previous visit were eligible. Three hundred and eleven patients aged 12-22 years were included. We performed bivariate analysis to compare satisfied and non-satisfied patients and constructed a log-linear model. RESULTS: Ninety-four percent of patients were satisfied. Satisfied female adolescents were significantly more likely to feel that their complaints were heard, that the caregiver understood their problems, to have no change of physician, to have received the correct treatment/help and to follow the caregiver's advice. The log-linear model highlighted four factors directly linked with patient satisfaction: outcome of care, continuity of care, adherence to treatment and the feeling of being understood. CONCLUSIONS: The main point for female adolescent patient satisfaction lies in a long term, trustworthy relationship with their caregiver. Confidentiality and accessibility were secondary for our patients.

Strategic investment and international outsourcing in unionised oligopoly

We critically consider the conventional belief that the attractiveness of international outsourcing lies in cheaper labour costs overseas and that it offers a means to ‘escape’ the power of unions. We develop an oligopoly model in which firms facing unionised domestic labour market choose between producing an intermediate in-house or outsourcing it to a non-unionised foreign supplier that makes a relationship specific investment in developing the intermediate. We show that outsourcing typically results in higher wages and does not always reduce marginal costs. Trade liberalisation favours outsourcing particularly for the relatively less efficient firms.