Do we need a “new” international convention that helps to avoid trafficking in organs? Some “criminal (and civil) law aspects” - Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine – updated or outdated?

Abstract: § 1 «Do we need a “new” international convention that helps to avoid trafficking in organs? Some criminal (and civil) law aspects”» - «Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine – updated or outdated?». § 2 Some important connections: on the one hand, between the 1997 Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine; the 2002 Additional Protocol to the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine concerning Transplantation of Organs and Tissues of Human Origin; and, on the other hand, the problem of trafficking in organs, tissues and cells and trafficking in human beings for the purpose of the removal organs. Some connections. § 3 The «international undisputed principle». § 4 Trafficking in organs, tissues and cells; and trafficking in human beings for the purpose of the removal organs. Criminal Law and Civil Law. § 5 Promote organ donation. § 6 The necessity to collect reliable data on both trafficking cases. § 7 The necessity for an internationally agreed definition of trafficking in OTC: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine – updated or outdated? § 8 The (inter)national and (il)legal organ («tissue and cell») trade: some cases and some conclusions. § 9 Do we need a new international convention to prevent trafficking in organs, tissues and cells (OTC)? § 10 Of course we need a «new» international convention to prevent trafficking in organs, tissues and cells (OTC). § 11 At the present moment, we do not need a «new» international convention to prevent trafficking in human beings for the purpose of the removal organs. § 12 The Portuguese case. § 13 «Final conclusions.» § Resumo: § 1 «Precisamos de uma "nova" convenção internacional que ajude a evitar o tráfico de órgãos? Alguns aspectos de lei criminal (e civil)» - «Convenção sobre Direitos Humanos e Biomedicina - Actualizada ou desactualizada?». § 2 Algumas conexões importantes: por um lado, entre a Convenção do Conselho da Europa de 1997 sobre Direitos Humanos e Biomedicina; o Protocolo Adicional de 2002 à Convenção sobre os Direitos do Homem e da Biomedicina relativo ao transplante de órgãos e tecidos de origem humana, e, por outro lado, o problema do tráfico de órgãos, tecidos e células e tráfico de seres humanos para fins de remoção dos órgãos. § 3 O «indiscutível princípio internacional». § 4 O Tráfico de órgãos, tecidos e células; e o tráfico de seres humanos para fins de remoção dos órgãos. Direito Penal e Direito Civil. § 5 Promover a doação de órgãos. § 6 A necessidade de colectar dados fidedignos sobre os dois casos de tráfico. § 7 A necessidade de uma definição internacionalmente acordada de tráfico de OTC: Convenção sobre Direitos Humanos e Biomedicina - actualizada ou desactualizada? § 8 A (inter)nacional e (il)legal comercialização de órgãos («de tecidos e de células»): alguns casos e algumas conclusões. § 9 Será que precisamos de uma nova convenção internacional para prevenir o tráfico de órgãos, tecidos e células (OTC)? § 10 É claro que precisamos de uma «nova» convenção internacional para prevenir o tráfico de órgãos, tecidos e células (OTC). § 11 No presente momento, não precisamos de uma «nova» convenção internacional para impedir o tráfico de seres humanos para fins de remoção dos órgãos. § 12 O caso Português. § 13 «As conclusões finais.»

NOVA ANOTAÇÃO SINTÉTICA, NUMA PERSPECTIVA DE DIREITO PÚBLICO, AINDA AO ACÓRDÃO 212/95, DO TRIBUNAL CONSTITUCIONAL (PORTUGUÊS), DE 20.04.1995 - O DEVER FUNDAMENTAL DE EXISTIR NA LEI EM VIGOR UMA RESPONSABILIDADE CRIMINAL DAS "PESSOAS COLECTIVAS" (OU "PESSOAS JURÍDICAS") E A CONSTITUIÇÃO DA REPÚBLICA PORTUGUESA, V.G. O CASO DO ART. 7º DO REGIME GERAL DAS INFRACÇÕES TRIBUTÁRIAS E DO ART. 3.º DO REGIME DAS INFRACÇÕES ANTIECONÓMICAS E CONTRA A SAÚDE PÚBLICA

Resumo: 1 – Sumário do Acórdão do Tribunal Constitucional n.º 212/1995, de 20 de Abril; 2 – Parte principal do Acórdão do Tribunal Constitucional n.º 212/1995, de 20 de Abril: cfr. http://www.tribunalconstitucional.pt/tc/acordaos/19950212.html , 18 de Maio de 2012; 3 – Anotação sintética; 3.1 – Introdução à anotação sintética e suas características neste caso concreto; 4 – O RIAECSP (Regime das Infracções Anti-Económicas e Contra a Saúde Pública) e a responsabilidade criminal das pessoas colectivas e equiparadas, prevista no seu art. 3.º; 5 – Societas delinquere non potest?; 6 – Breves traços históricos do brocardo societas delinquere non potest; 7 - Alguns dos marcos relevantes na Doutrina penal portuguesa recente acerca da responsabilidade penal das organizações, entes colectivos, pessoas colectivas, pessoas jurídicas; 8 - Os art.os 12.º/2 e 2.º da CRP e a Responsabilidade Criminal dos Entes Colectivos, pessoas jurídicas; 9 - O art. 29.º/5 da CRP - ou o princípio non bis in idem - e a responsabilidade criminal das organizações, dos entes colectivos, das pessoas colectivas; 10 – Conclusões. § Summary: 1 - Summary Judgment of the Constitutional Court No. 212/1995 of 20 April; 2 - The main part of the Constitutional Court Ruling No. 212/1995 of 20 April: cfr. http://www.tribunalconstitucional.pt/tc/acordaos/19950212.html, May 18, 2012; 3 - short annotation; 3.1 - Introduction to synthetic note and its features in this particular case; 4 - The RIAECSP (Status of Anti-Economic Offences and Against Public Health) and the criminal liability of companies and similar persons, provided for in his art. 3; 5 - delinquere Societas non potest ?; 6 - Brief historical traces of societas aphorism delinquere non potest; 7 - Some of the important milestones in recent Portuguese criminal Doctrine about the criminal liability of organizations, public entities, legal persons, legal entities; 8 - art.os 12/2 and 2 of CRP and Criminal Responsibility of loved Collective, legal entities; 9 - Art. 29/5 CRP - or the principle of non bis in idem - and the criminal liability of organizations, collective entities, of legal persons; 10 - Conclusions.

Crescer com saúde. Perspectiva dos professores do 1.º ciclo acerca da postura dos alunos e análise postural de crianças com 6 a 7 anos inseridas na comunidade escolar

O presente estudo teve como objectivos conhecer a percepção dos professores do ensino básico acerca da postura corporal dos alunos na sala de aula e analisar a postura de alunos do 1º ano do ensino básico. Este estudo foi realizado numa escola do 1º Ciclo, com 6 professores voluntários e 40 alunos do 1º ano. Na I parte referente ao estudo qualitativo, realizou-se uma discussão por grupo focal, com um roteiro de perguntas que os professores foram discutindo livremente expondo as suas opiniões. Concluiu-se que há por parte dos professores noção de como é a postura corporal dos alunos na sala de aula, como essa postura corporal, pode influenciar de forma, positiva ou negativa o estado de saúde do aluno na sala de aula e comprometer a qualidade de vida dos alunos. Na II parte quantitativa os alunos foram avaliados através do registo fotográfico, num programa de avaliação postural, demonstrando os resultados que na amostra em estudo não foi encontrado desvio vertical significativo entre a cintura escapular e a cintura pélvica. No entanto, foi encontrado desvio horizontal significativo do alinhamento das omoplatas entre si e das espinhas ilíacas postero-superiores entre si, já indicando um início de desvio postural com carácter escoliótico. Conclui-se pois que os alunos avaliados apresentavam problemas posturais com necessidade de serem acompanhados por Fisioterapeutas.

Voluntary HIV counseling and testing during prenatal care in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: Voluntary HIV counseling and testing are provided to all Brazilian pregnant women with the purpose of reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission. The purpose of the study was to assess characteristics of HIV testing and identify factors associated with HIV counseling and testing. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out comprising 1,658 mothers living in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Biological, reproductive and social variables were obtained from mothers by means of a standardized questionnaire. Being counseling about HIV testing was the dependent variable. Confidence intervals, chi-square test and hierarchical logistic model were used to determine the association between counseling and maternal variables. RESULTS: Of 1,658 mothers interviewed, 1,603 or 96.7% (95% CI: 95.7-97.5) underwent HIV testing, and 51 or 3.1% (95% CI: 2.3-4.0) were not tested. Four (0.2%) refused to undergo testing after counseling. Of 51 women not tested in this study, 30 had undergone the testing previously. Of 1,603 women tested, 630 or 39.3% (95% CI: 36.9-41.7) received counseling, 947 or 59.2% (95% CI: 56.6-61.5) did not, and 26 (1.6%) did not inform. Low income, lack of prenatal care, late beginning of prenatal care, use of rapid testing, and receiving prenatal in the public sector were variables independently associated with a lower probability of getting counseling about HIV testing. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings confirmed the high rate of prenatal HIV testing in Porto Alegre. However, women coming from less privileged social groups were less likely to receive information and benefit from counseling.

Synthesis, Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Activity of Novel Silver(I) Tris(pyrazolyl)methanesulfonateand 1,3,5-Triaza-7-phosphadamantane Complexes

Five new silver(I) complexes of formulas [Ag(Tpms)] (1), [Ag(Tpms)-(PPh3)] (2), [Ag(Tpms)(PCy3)] (3), [Ag(PTA)][BF4] (4), and [Ag(Tpms)(PTA)] (5) {Tpms = tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methanesulfonate, PPh3 = triphenylphosphane, PCy3 = tricyclohexylphosphane, PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) have been synthesized and fully characterized by elemental analyses, H-1, C-13, and P-31 NMR, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and IR spectroscopic techniques. The single crystal X-ray diffraction study of 3 shows the Tpms ligand acting in the N-3-facially coordinating mode, while in 2 and 5 a N2O-coordination is found, with the SO3 group bonded to silver and a pendant free pyrazolyl ring. Features of the tilting in the coordinated pyrazolyl rings in these cases suggest that this inequivalence is related with the cone angles of the phosphanes. A detailed study of antimycobacterial and antiproliferative properties of all compounds has been carried out. They were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against the standard strains Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 49619), Streptococcus pyogenes (SF37), Streptococcus sanguinis (SK36), Streptococcus mutans (UA1S9), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and the fungus Candida albicans (ATCC 24443). Complexes 1-5 have been found to display effective antimicrobial activity against the series of bacteria and fungi, and some of them are potential candidates for antiseptic or disinfectant drugs. Interaction of Ag complexes with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has been studied by fluorescence spectroscopic techniques, using ethidium bromide (EB) as a fluorescence probe of DNA. The decrease in the fluorescence of DNA EB system on addition of Ag complexes shows that the fluorescence quenching of DNA EB complex occurs and compound 3 is particularly active. Complexes 1-5 exhibit pronounced antiproliferative activity against human malignant melanoma (A375) with an activity often higher than that of AgNO3, which has been used as a control, following the same order of activity inhibition on DNA, i.e., 3 > 2 > 1 > 5 > AgNO3 >> 4.

Barriers for HIV testing during pregnancy in Southern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To assess HIV testing rate and determine risk factors for not have been tested during pregnancy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, from December 2000 to February 2001. Socioeconomic, maternal and healthcare variables were obtained by means of a standardized questionnaire. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were obtained in logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 1,642 mothers were interviewed. Of them, 94.3% reported being offered HIV testing before or during pregnancy or during labor; 89 mothers (5.4%) were not tested or did not know if they were tested. Attending fewer than six prenatal visits, being single and younger than 18 years old were relevant barriers preventing HIV testing. There was found a relationship between maternal schooling and the category of prenatal care provider. Having low 22.20 (12.43-39.67) or high 3.38 (1.86-7.68). schooling and being cared in the private sector strongly reduced the likelihood of being HIV tested. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian Health Ministry's recommendation for universal counseling and HIV testing has been successfully implemented in the public sector. In order to improve HIV testing coverage, new strategies need to target women cared in the private sector especially those of low schooling.

Influence of selenization pressure on the growth of Cu2ZnSnSe4 films from stacked metallic layers

Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) is a p-type semiconductor with a high absorption coefficient, 104 to 105 cm-1, and is being seen as a possible replacement for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 in thin film solar cells. Yet, there are some fundamental properties of CZTSe that are not well known, one of them is its band gap. In order to resolve its correct value it is necessary to improve the growth conditions to ensure that single phase crystalline thin films are obtained. One of the problems encountered when growing CZTSe is the loss of Sn through evaporation of SnSe. Stoichiometric films are then difficult to obtain and usually there are other phases present. One possible way to overcome this problem is to increase the pressure of growth of CZTSe. This can be done by introducing an atmosphere of an inert gas like Ar or N2. In this work we report the results of morphological, structural and optical studies of the properties of CZTSe thin films grown by selenization of DC magnetron sputtered metallic layers under different Ar pressures. The films are analysed by SEM/EDS, Raman scattering and XRD.

Increase in cases of malaria in Mozambique, 2014: epidemic or new endemic pattern?

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the increase in cases of malaria in Mozambique. METHODS Cross-sectional study conducted in 2014, in Mozambique with national weekly epidemiological bulletin data. I analyzed the number of recorded cases in the 2009-2013 period, which led to the creation of an endemic channel using the quartile and C-Sum methods. Monthly incidence rates were calculated for the first half of 2014, making it possible to determine the pattern of endemicity. Months in which the incidence rates exceeded the third quartile or line C-sum were declared as epidemic months. RESULTS The provinces of Nampula, Zambezia, Sofala, and Inhambane accounted for 52.7% of all cases in the first half of 2014. Also during this period, the provinces of Nampula, Sofala and Tete were responsible for 54.9% of the deaths from malaria. The incidence rates of malaria in children, and in all ages, have showed patterns in the epidemic zone. For all ages, the incidence rate has peaked in April (2,573 cases/100,000 inhabitants). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest the occurrence of an epidemic pattern of malaria in the first half of 2014 in Mozambique. It is strategic to have a more accurate surveillance at all levels (central, provincial and district) to target prevention and control interventions in a timely manner.

Protection of athymic (Nu/Nu) BALB/c mice against Plasmodium berghei by splenocytes from normal (Nu/ +) BALB/c mice

Athymic BALB/c (Nu/Nu) mice died at 7-13 days after inoculation (DAI) of Plasmodium berghei NK65, whereas their heterozygous (Nu/+) littermates died at 7-8 DAI. Nude (Nu/Nu) mice, reconstituted with 2 x 10(7) splenocytes from uninfected heterozygous (Nu/+) littermates at 20 days before parasite inoculation (DBI), died about 2 days earlier than control nude mice; nude mice reconstituted at 10 or 2 DBI lived 2 to 4 days longer than control nudes; and nude mice reconstituted 2 DAI lived even longer and some survived. These findings indicate that P. berghei NK65 induces at least two T-cell dependent immune phenomena, one suppressive and the other stimulatory. Reconstitution of nude mice with T-cells from BALB/c (Nu/+) mice appeared to reduce or bypass suppressive T-cell activities which allowed the formation of a protective immune response by some of the nude mice.

Learning to manage in knowledge-based organizations: the role of learning logs or portfolios

Paper presented at the 8th European Conference on Knowledge Management, Barcelona, 6-7 Sep. 2008 URL: http://www.academic-conferences.org/eckm/eckm2007/eckm07-home.htm

Antibodies against Entamoeba histolytica in individuals with intestinal amoebiasis presenting cysts and/or trophozoites in the feces

Serum samples were obtained from 154 individuals infected with Entamoeba histolytica (78 symptomatic and 76 asymptomatic). Twelve had trophozoites in the feces whereas 142 had only cysts. The sera were used to test the existence of antibodies anti-Entamoeba histolytica employing the Indirect Hemagglutination (IHA), Indirect Immunofluoresccnce (IFAT), Complement Fixation Reaction (CFR) and Counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP). For those individuals with trophozoites in their feces, 75.0 were positive by IHA and IFAT, 83.0 by CFR and 41.7 by CIEP. In individuals who had only cysts, positive results by the same tests were respectively, 5.6%, 12.0%, 19.0% and 5.6%. The difference in relation to the tilers of antibodies detected through IHA, IFAT, CFR and CIEP and in relation to the presence of trophozoites or cysts in the feces was significative for four immunological reactions when X², was employed (P < 0.05).

Human papillomavirus detection in cervical dysplasias or neoplasias and in condylomata acuminaata by in situ hybridization with biotinylated DNA probes

Specimens from cervical dysplasias or carcinomas and genital condylomata acuminata were retrospectively analysed by in situ hybridization (ISH) with bioti-nylated DNA probes for human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18. In the control group no case was positive for HPV DNA. In mild/moderate dysplasias, 4 cases (14%) were positive for HPV 6 or 11 and 2 cases (7%), for HPV 16. In the severe dysplasia/in situ carcinoma group, 9 cases (31%) showed presence of DNA of HPV types 16 or 18. Six invasive carcinomas (20%) were positive for HPV type 16 or 18. Among condylomata acuminata, 22 cases (73%) were positive for HPV types 6 or 11. In all ISH-positive cases only one viral type was detected. No correlation between HPV DNA positivity and histological findings of HPV infection was observed. Although less sensitive than some other molecular biology techniques, in situ hybridization with biotinylated DNA probes proved to be simple and useful for detecting and typing HPV in samples routinely received for histopathological analysis.

Evolutive behavior towards cardiomyopathy of treated (nifurtimox or benznidazole) and untreated chronic chagasic patients

The aim of this work was to compare the evolution of chronic chagasic untreated patients (UTPs) with that of benznidazole or nifurtimox-treated patients (TPs). A longitudinal study from a low endemic area (Santa Fe city, Argentina) was performed during an average period of 14 years. Serological and parasitological analyses with clinical exams, ECG and X-chest ray were carried out. At the onset, 19/198 infected patients showed chagasic cardiomyopathy (CrChM) while 179 were asymptomatic. In this latter group the frequency of CrChM during the follow-up was lower in TPs compared with UTPs (3.2% vs 7%). Within the CrChM group, 2/5 TPs showed aggravated myopathy whereas this happened in 9/14 UTPs. Comparing the clinical evolution of all patients, 5.9% of TPs and 13% of UTPs had unfavourable evolution, but the difference is not statistically relevant. Serological titers were assessed by IIF. Titers equal to or lower than 1/64 were obtained in 86% of the TPs, but only in 38% of UTPs. The differences were statistically significant (geometric mean: 49.36 vs. 98.2). Antiparasitic assessment of the drugs (xenodiagnosis) proved to be effective. The low sensitivity in chronic chagasic patients must be born in mind. Despite treated patients showed a better clinical evolution and lower antibody levels than untreated ones, it is necessary to carry on doing research in order to improve therapeutic guidelines, according to the risk/benefit equation and based on scientific and ethical principles.

Human herpesvirus-7 as a cause of exanthematous ilnesses in Belém, Pará, Brazil

We screened sera from 370 patients suffering from exanthematous illnesses in Belém, North Brazil, for the presence of human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7) IgM and IgG antibodies. Samples were obtained from January 1996 to December 2002 and were processed by a HHV-7-specific indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). HHV-7-specific IgM and/or IgG antibodies were found in 190 (51.4%) of these patients, with similar prevalence rates (IgM+ and IgG+ subgroups taken together) for female and male subjects: 52.5% and 50.3%, respectively. Serological status as defined by IgG was identified in 135 (36.5%) patients. In 55 (14.9%) of the patients HHV-7 IgM antibodies were detected. HHV-7 IgM- and- IgG antibody rates were similar (p > 0.05) when male and female subjects are compared: 14.4% versus 15.3% and 38.1% versus 35.0%, respectively. Statistically significant difference (p = 0.003) was noted when HHV-7-IgM-positive female and male patients aged 5-8 months are compared. Prevalence rates ranging from 4.6% (female, 5-8 months of age) to 93.3% (female, > 10 years of age) and 12.2% (male, 5-8 months) to 80.0% (male, 8-10 years of age) were noted in the IgG- positive subgroups. A subgroup (n = 131) of patients with IgM or IgG HHV-7 antibodies were examined for the presence of DNA using a polymerase chain reaction/nested PCR. Recent/active HHV-7 infection occurred at a rate of 11.0% (6/55) among patients whose samples presented IgM+ specific antibodies. In a subgroup (n = 76) of patients with high HHV-7-IgG antibody levels (titre > 1:160) DNA could not be detected in sera examined by PCR/nested PCR. Of the six recent/active infections, four subjects with less than 1 year and two with 3 and 6 years of age, presented typical exanthem subitum (E.S), as defined by higher fever (> 38.0 &ordm;C) with duration of 24 to 72 hours, followed by a maculopapular skin rash. Our results underscore the need for searching HHV-7 infection in patients with exanthematous diseases, particularly those presenting with typical E.S. HHV-7 appears therefore to emerge as a newly recognized pathogen of exanthem in our region.

Polymerase Chain Reaction Screening for Fungemia and/or Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

INTRODUCTION: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a life-threatening complication in patients with hematologic malignancies, mainly in acute leukemia patients, following chemotherapy. IFI incidence is increasing, and associated mortality remains high due to unreliable diagnosis. Antifungal drugs are often limited by inadequate antimicrobial spectrum and side effects. Thus, the detection of circulating fungal DNA has been advocated as a rapid, more sensitive diagnostic tool. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 01 and January 03, weekly blood samples (1,311) were screened from 193 patients undergoing intensive myelosuppressive or immunosuppressive therapy. IFI cases were classified according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group criteria. Fungal DNA was extracted from whole blood and amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) published primers that bind to the conserved regions of the fungal 18S rRNA gene sequence. In our study, two or more consecutive positive samples were always associated with fungal disease. RESULTS: PCR screening predicted the development of IFI to be 17 days (median). This test had a specificity of 91.1% and a sensitivity of 75%. IFI incidence was 7.8%. DISCUSSION: Therefore, our results confirm the potential usefulness of PCR serial screening and the clinical applicability in everyday routine. PCR screening offers a noninvasive repeatable aid to the diagnosis of IFI.