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Este artículo presenta los resultados de una investigación en curso llevada adelante por investigadores de universidades brasileñas, argentinas y uruguayas. Los procedimientos metodológicos adoptados fueron: estudios bibliográficos y documentales; uso de datos secundarios; acceso a sitios web del programa e información de la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe. Para abordar el tema se consideran: las crisis históricas del capitalismo y la intervención del Estado para la institucionalización de los Programas de Transferencias Monetarias como parte de la protección social en América Latina y el Caribe. Los resultados apuntan a un aumento de los programas de transferencias monetarias focalizadas y la creación de programas de emergencia para hacer frente a las consecuencias derivadas de la pandemia de Covid-19. A pesar de la ampliación del debate, no se identificó la implementación de la Renta Básica Universal, con principios de universalidad e incondicionalidad.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the liver characterized by a complex interaction among genetic factors, immune response to antigens present in hepatocytes, and immune regulation alterations. Its distribution is global and there is a female predominance. AIH is divided into 2 groups, depending on the type of serum autoantibodies detected. The most common presentation is acute hepatitis (40%), with non-specific symptoms, high aminotransferase levels, and hypergammaglobulinemia. Standard treatment consists of the administration of immunosuppressive drugs. It is a complex condition, often difficult to diagnose. If not managed adequately, the 5-year mortality rate may reach 75%.La hepatitis autoinmunitaria es una enfermedad inflamatoria crónica del hígado caracterizada por una interacción compleja entre factores genéticos, respuesta inmunitaria a antígenos presentes en los hepatocitos y alteraciones de la regulación inmunitaria. Presenta una distribución global, con predominio en individuos de sexo femenino. Se clasifica en dos grupos, según el tipo de autoanticuerpos séricos detectados. La forma de presentación más frecuente es la hepatitis aguda (40 %), con síntomas inespecíficos, elevación de aminotransferasas e hipergammaglobulinemia. El tratamiento estándar consiste en la administración de fármacos inmunosupresores. Es una patología compleja, a veces difícil de diagnosticar. Si no se trata de manera adecuada, la mortalidad puede alcanzar el 75 % a los 5 años de evolución.

Introduction: Myelomeningocele is one of the most complex birth defects that cause physical disability, with consequent fecal incontinence and therefore difficulty in social integration of these patients. Objective: To improve the quality of life and manometric values after biofeedback therapy. Method: Longitudinal, prospective, analytical and experimental study. Patients with myelomeningocele and fecal incontinence who were between 5 to 15 years old and their parents were included in the study. Child and parent reports of PedsQMtm generic questionnaire were collected after obtaining informed consent and assent. Anorectal manometry and first biofeedback sessions were held with each child. Following treatment completion, the PedsQMtm was applied again. Results: 17 children and their parents were included in the study. All the patients presented fecal incontinence and an inability to voluntarily evacuate rectal contents. After biofeedback, the totality of patients improved their fecal incontinence. Nine of them stop using diaper. All reported successful use of the toilet. Statistically significant differences were observed when comparing the quality of life of children and parents at the beginning and at the end of treatment. There was an improvement in quality of life after the treatment with biofeedback for both children and parents, which was more perceived by these. Conclusions: It is highly significant for the improvement both in clinic and manometric values. The improvement in quality of life is more evident in the parents.

O artigo apresenta, de forma geral, o debate sobre indicadores sociais alternativos, situando‑o em torno de duas grandes questões: a emergência de vozes que questionam o modelo de desenvolvimento, no contexto da crise financeira e ecológica global, e as demandas que surgem na sociedade civil organizada, por novas formas de quantificação. The article presents, in general, the debate on alternative social indicators, placing it, around two main issues: the emergence of voices that question the development model, in the context of financial and ecological global crisis, and several demands that arise in civil society, for new forms of quantification.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of transgenic soybean (Glycine max, L.) varieties resistant to glyphosate (GR soybeans) has rapidly expanded in Argentina, increasing pesticide use where only grasslands were previously cultivated. The authors compared an estimate of environmental risk for different crops and active ingredients using the IPEST index, which is based on a fuzzy-logic expert system. For IPEST calculations, four modules are defined, one reflecting the rate of application, the other three reflecting the risk for groundwater, surface water and air. The input variables are pesticide properties, site-specific conditions and characteristics of the pesticide application. The expert system calculates the value of modules according to the degree of membership of the input variables to the fuzzy subsets F (favourable) and U (unfavourable), and they can be aggregated following sets of decision rules. IPEST integrated values of ≥ 7 reflect low environmental risk, and values of < 7 reflect high risk. RESULTS: Alfalfa, soybean and wheat showed IPEST values over 7 (low risk), while maize had the lowest IPEST values (high risk). Comparing active ingredients applied in annual and perennial crops, atrazine and acetochlor gave the highest risks of environmental contamination, and they are mainly used in maize. Groundwater was the most affected compartment. CONCLUSIONS: Fuzzy logic provided an easy tool combining different environmental components with pesticide properties to give a simple and accessible risk assessment. These findings provide information about active ingredients that should be replaced in order to protect water and air from pesticide contamination. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry

Failure to control certain broadleaved weeds with glyphosate creates the need for other herbicides in glyphosate-tolerant soybean. Field studies were conducted in 2001, 2002 and 2003 to evaluate soybean yield response and control of Solanum sisymbrifolium Lam., Parietaria debilis Nutt., Commelina erecta L. and Sida rhombifolia L. with soil and foliar-applied broadleaved herbicides. Pre-emergence metribuzin, imazaquin and post-emergence imazethapyr and glyphosate controlled S. sisymbrifolium, C. erecta and S. rhombifolia. In 2002 and 2003, in glyphosate-treated plots surviving plants and those emerged along with the crop compete with soybean during 3 or 4 weeks after crop emergence thus reducing crop yield. Soil-applied herbicides may be beneficial for glyphosate-tolerant crops reducing early season competition of weeds, particularly those inherentely more tolerant to glyphosate.

The availability of Roundup Ready (RR) varieties of soybean has increased the use of glyphosate for weed control in Argentina. Glyphosate [(N-phosphonomethyl)glycine] is employed for the eradication of previous crop vegetation and for weed control during the soybean growing cycle. Its action is effective, and low environmental impact has been reported so far. No residues have been observed in soil or water, either of glyphosate or its metabolite, AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid). The objective of this work was to monitor glyphosate and AMPA residues in soybean plants and grains in field crops in Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Five sites were monitored in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Individual soybean plants were sampled from emergence to harvest, dried and ground. Analysis consisted in residue extraction with organic solvents and buffers, agitation, centrifugation, clean-up and HPLC with UV detection. In soybean leaves and stems, glyphosate residues ranged from 1.9 to 4.4 mg kg(-1) and from 0.1 to 1.8 mg kg(-1) in grains. Higher concentrations were detected when glyphosate was sprayed several times during the crop cycle, and when treatments approached the flowering stage. AMPA residues were also detected in leaves and in grains, indicating metabolism of the herbicide.

Field experiments were conducted during 1998, 1999, and 2000 in Santa Fe, Argentina, to evaluate chlorimuron, clethodim, flumetsulam, 2,4-DB, glyphosate, and haloxyfop for control of broadleaf and grass weeds in established alfalfa. Herbicides were applied to alfalfa, 6 to 10 cm in height, after first or second cuttings. Clethodim and haloxyfop were highly effective against bermudagrass, barnyardgrass, and knotroot foxtail, and alfalfa yields were increased. 2,4-DB was effective against Scotch thistle, swinecress, turnipweed, and birdsrape mustard, but no effects were observed on alfalfa yields. Chlorimuron, flumetsulam, and glyphosate were effective against burning nettle, common chickweed, common lambsquarters, spiny cocklebur, and Persian speedwell, but they injured alfalfa and decreased yields. Nomenclature: Chlorimuron; clethodim; 2,4-DB; flumetsulam; glyphosate; haloxyfop; alfalfa, Medicago sativa (L.); barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. #3 ECHGA; bermudagrass, Cynodon dacty...

Los plaguicidas permiten alcanzar la productividad y la sustentabilidad si se manejan adecuadamente. La elaboración de indicadores permite cuantificar el impacto ambiental de un fitosanitario. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el impacto ambiental de plaguicidas sobre el suelo y el agua en lotes de agricultura del centro de Santa Fe con tres indicadores: GUS, Ipest e Índice relativo de Plaguicidas. El trabajo se realizó en 25 establecimientos cuyos registros de aplicaciones en cultivos de soja, maíz y trigo se relevaron entre 2007 y 2011. Se calcularon los tres indicadores y se compararon los resultados obtenidos. El maíz fue el cultivo con mayor riesgo de impacto ambiental por el uso intensivo de atrazina. En trigo y soja, los ingredientes activos empleados tuvieron bajo impacto ambiental. El empleo de indicadores contribuye a seleccionar plaguicidas con mejor comportamiento ambiental y realizar una planificación más sustentable de los cultivos. Pesticides are essential tools to achieve productivity and sustainability in agricultural crops when they are applied minimizing undesirable effects. Pesticide environmental impact is related to toxicity and time of exposure. Several indicators allow the calculation of this impact: GUS, IPEST and Relative Pesticide Index. Our aim was the evaluation of pesticide environmental impact on soil and water in agricultural fields of Central Santa Fe with those three indicators. All pesticide treatments applied in soybean, wheat and corn in 25 farms were recorded from 2007 and 2011, also with soil properties and pesticide characteristics. Indicators were calculated and the results were compared. Corn has the highest risk of pesticide contamination in soil and water, related to the frequent use of atrazine. Wheat and soybean had less environmental impact. The application of indicators may be helpful for considering the use of new active ingredients and their relationship with sustainable systems. Fil: Arregui, Maria Cristina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina Fil: Grenon, Daniel Arnaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina Fil: Sánchez, D.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina Fil: Ghione, J.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina

The introduction of transgenic soybean (Glycine max, L.) varieties resistant to glyphosate (GR soybeans) has rapidly expanded in Argentina, increasing pesticide use where only grasslands were previously cultivated. The authors compared an estimate of environmental risk for different crops and active ingredients using the IPEST index, which is based on a fuzzy-logic expert system. For IPEST calculations, four modules are defined, one reflecting the rate of application, the other three reflecting the risk for groundwater, surface water and air. The input variables are pesticide properties, site-specific conditions and characteristics of the pesticide application. The expert system calculates the value of modules according to the degree of membership of the input variables to the fuzzy subsets F (favourable) and U (unfavourable), and they can be aggregated following sets of decision rules. IPEST integrated values ofor= 7 reflect low environmental risk, and values of7 reflect high risk.Alfalfa, soybean and wheat showed IPEST values over 7 (low risk), while maize had the lowest IPEST values (high risk). Comparing active ingredients applied in annual and perennial crops, atrazine and acetochlor gave the highest risks of environmental contamination, and they are mainly used in maize. Groundwater was the most affected compartment.Fuzzy logic provided an easy tool combining different environmental components with pesticide properties to give a simple and accessible risk assessment. These findings provide information about active ingredients that should be replaced in order to protect water and air from pesticide contamination.

The availability of Roundup Ready (RR) varieties of soybean has increased the use of glyphosate for weed control in Argentina. Glyphosate [(N-phosphonomethyl)glycine] is employed for the eradication of previous crop vegetation and for weed control during the soybean growing cycle. Its action is effective, and low environmental impact has been reported so far. No residues have been observed in soil or water, either of glyphosate or its metabolite, AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid). The objective of this work was to monitor glyphosate and AMPA residues in soybean plants and grains in field crops in Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Five sites were monitored in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Individual soybean plants were sampled from emergence to harvest, dried and ground. Analysis consisted in residue extraction with organic solvents and buffers, agitation, centrifugation, clean-up and HPLC with UV detection. In soybean leaves and stems, glyphosate residues ranged from 1.9 to 4.4 mg kg(-1) and from 0.1 to 1.8 mg kg(-1) in grains. Higher concentrations were detected when glyphosate was sprayed several times during the crop cycle, and when treatments approached the flowering stage. AMPA residues were also detected in leaves and in grains, indicating metabolism of the herbicide.

Cochineal carmine, or simply carmine (E120), is a red colouring that is obtained from the dried bodies of the female insect Dactylopius coccus Costa (the cochineal insect). We have evaluated the prevalence of sensitization and asthma caused by carmine in a factory using natural colouring, following the diagnosis of two workers with occupational asthma. The accumulated incidence of sensitization and occupational asthma due to carmine in this factory are 48.1% and 18.5% respectively, figures that make the introduction of preventive measures obligatory. Occupational asthma caused by inhaling carmine should be considered as a further example of the capacity of certain protein particles of arthropods (in this case cochineal insects) to act as aeroallergens. Carmine should be added to the list of agents capable of producing occupational asthma, whose mechanism, according to our studies, would be immunological mediated by IgE antibodies in the face of diverse allergens of high molecular weight, which can vary from patient to patient. Nonetheless, given the existence of different components in carmine, it cannot be ruled out that substances of low molecular weight, such as carminic acid, might act as haptenes. Besides, since we are dealing with a colouring that is widely used as a food additive, as a pharmaceutical excipient and in the composition of numerous cosmetics, it is not surprising that allergic reactions can appear both through ingestion and through direct cutaneous contact. We find ourselves facing a new example of an allergen that can act through both inhalation and digestion, giving rise to an allergolical syndrome that can show itself clinically with expressions of both respiratory allergy and alimentary allergy.

Cochineal carmine, or simply carmine (E120), is a red colouring that is obtained from the dried bodies of the female insect Dactylopius Coccus Costa (the cochineal insect). We have evaluated the prevalence of sensitization and asthma caused by carmine in a factory using natural colouring, following the diagnosis of two workers with occupational asthma. The accumulated incidence of sensitization and occupational asthma due to carmine in this factory are 48.1% and 18.5% respectively, figures that make the introduction of preventive measures obligatory. Occupational asthma caused by inhaling carmine should be considered as a further example of the capacity of certain protein particles of arthropods (in this case cochineal insects) to act as aeroallergens. Carmine should be added to the list of agents capable of producing occupational asthma, whose mechanism, according to our studies, would be immunological mediated by IgE antibodies in the face of diverse allergens of high molecular weight, which can vary from patient to patient. Nonetheless, given the existence of different components in carmine, it cannot be ruled out that substances of low molecular weight, such as carminic acid, might act as haptenes. Besides, since we are dealing with a colouring that is widely used as a food additive, as a pharmaceutical excipient and in the composition of numerous cosmetics, it is not surprising that allergic reactions can appear both through ingestion and through direct cutaneous contact. We find ourselves facing a new example of an allergen that can act through both inhalation and digestion, giving rise to an allergolical syndrome that can show itself clinically with expressions of both respiratory allergy and alimentary allergy.

Este trabalho resulta de um Estudo Exploratório acerca dos Programas de Transferência de Renda Condicionada (PTRCs) em desenvolvimento na região da América Latina e Caribe. Objetiva contextualizar a emergênciae o desenvolvimento dos PTRCs na região em foco, abordando, para tanto, os fatores de ordem econômica, social e político-ideológica que determinaram a inclusão de tais programas nos Sistemas de Proteção Social da grande maioria dos países latino-americanos a partir dos anos 1990.Palavras-chave: Contextualização, Programas de Transferência de Renda Condicionada, América Latina e Caribe.SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONTEXTUALIZATION OF THE EMERGENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF PTRCs IN LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEANAbstract: This work is a result of an Exploratory Study about the Programs of Conditioned Income Transfer in course in Latin America and Caribbean. The main target is contextualize the emergence and development of the PTRCs on the focus region, addressing economic, social and ideological-political issues which were fundamental to include those programs onthe Social Protection Systems on the vast majority of countries of Latin America since the 1990s.Keywords: Contextualization, Program of Conditioned Income Transfer, Latin America and Caribbean.

Resumen: Este artículo busca situar y problematizar la evaluación introducida en el marco de la Nueva Gerencia Pública(New Public Management). Pretende recuperar los elementos centrales e inherentes a las políticas sociales, abandonados en la perspectiva gerencial y que precisan ser reposicionados para la construcción de un debate sobre los propósitos de la evaluación.Palabras-clave: Evaluación, políticas sociales, derechos sociales.IS IT POSSIBLE TO BUILD A NEW AGENDA OF DEBATE FOR THE RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT OF SOCIALPOLICIES?Abstract: This paper intends to situate and discuss the assessment introduced on the New Public Management board. The purpose of this work is to recover the core elements inherent to social policies, abandoned in the managerial perspective and that need to be restored for the construction of a debate on the assessment´s purposes.Key words: Evaluation, social policies, social rights

Axons are guided along their trajectories during development by many different systems of adhesion, attraction, and repulsion. Thus, many distinct, and potentially competing, receptor systems respond to environmental cues, and the information must be coordinated inside the growth cone to ensure that extension follows the appropriate path. In this brief review we bring together two studies, each of which has defined different aspects of a pathway through which N-cadherin regulates beta1-integrin function allowing for coordinated responses to environmental cues during neurite extension. First we review progress in defining the binding to cells and the subsequent effects on adhesion and neurite outgrowth of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, neurocan. Neurocan binds to a cell surface glycosyltransferase associated with N-cadherin (but not integrin), initiating a signal which results in loss of cadherin and integrin-function-suggesting that these two adhesion receptor systems engage in cross-talk, allowing coordinate regulation. Second, we review the use of "Trojan" peptides, peptides which mimic specific sequences in the cytoplasmic domain of N-cadherin attached to a cell permeation sequence, to reveal protein-protein interactions critical to cadherin-integrin cross-talk. One peptide mimicking a 20 amino acid sequence in the juxtamembrane region of N-cadherin has the same effect as neurocan, blocking both cadherin- and integrin-mediated adhesion and neurite outgrowth. Both neurocan and the peptide cause the release of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Fer from the cadherin complex and its binding to the integrin complex. These data define an epigenetic pathway through which environmental cues are capable of coordinately regulating the activity of two developmentally important adhesion systems.

Paclitaxel is a potent anti-tumor drug used in the treatment of breast cancer. It induces de-centralization of the microtubular system in tumor cells, blocking cell division. In the search for dissemination to a secondary site, cancer cells are capable of degrading most components of the extracellular matrix via an extracellular proteolytic cascade, including urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In the present study, the effects of paclitaxel and nocodazole, 2 drugs known to affect microtubules with opposite mechanisms of action, have been tested for their effect on the secretion of uPA and MMPs in cultures of F3II mouse mammary-tumor cells. Tumor-derived uPA activity significantly increased after pre-treatment of tumor cells for 24 hr with micromolar concentrations of paclitaxel (4 microM), while decreasing after pre-treatment with nocodazole (1 microM). A similar modulation was found for MMP-9 by zymographic analysis. Immunofluorescence and Western-blot analysis confirmed the formation of parallel microtubule fragments in paclitaxel-treated cells and almost complete de-polymerization of microtubules in nocodazole-treated ones. Our data suggest that, through opposite actions on microtubule organization and dynamics, paclitaxel and nocodazole exert inverse modulation of tumor-derived proteolytic activity in mammary tumor cells.

Spreading is a critical process involved in motility and growth of tumor cells during the metastatic cascade. Focal adhesion kinase, src-proteins and PKC have been reported to participate in the regulation of cytoskeleton organization in both normal and transformed cells during spreading. The role of other signaling enzymes such as PLD and PAP has not been studied during spreading in tumor cells. We now show that the spreading of murine mammary adenocarcinoma LM3 cells was significantly reduced by n-butanol, a PLD and PKC inhibitor, with a maximal inhibition of 54% (p0.001) in both the presence and absence of serum, as measured by phase-contrast microscopy. PMA only stimulated cell spreading over the control in the absence of serum and n-butanol inhibition was completely reversed by PMA treatment in both conditions. PA, the product of PLD activity, stimulated LM3 cell spreading and the same effect was observed with staurosporine. Spreading was enhanced when cells were seeded on collagen-IV- or fibronectin-coated surfaces and n-butanol could inhibit both integrin-derived signals. Cell spreading inhibition correlated with the absence of f-actin bundles and fewer beta1-integrin point contacts as determined by double immunofluorescence microscopy. In addition, n-butanol inhibited the proliferation of LM3 cells in the presence of serum (p0.01). These results suggest that beta1-integrin and f-actin/point contact assembly, involved in spreading and proliferation, require the participation of PLD-PKC regulatory pathways in LM3 cells.

We wanted to assess prospectively the safety, efficacy, and applicability of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with the Strecker stent, focusing mainly on clinical and hemodynamic medium- and long-term follow-up.Fifty-two patients reached an indication to perform a TIPS, in an emergency or after refractory variceal bleeding. It was completed in 50 of them. All presented with cirrhosis (Child C = 15, B = 23, A = 12). The prosthesis was a Strecker stent. During the follow-up, clinical, biochemical, endoscopic, ultrasound, and pressure measurement studies were performed at 1, 3, 6, 12 months. Mean follow-up was 13.5 + or - 7.8 months.Portal pressure decreased from 32.3 + or - 8.1 (mean + or - standard deviation) to 22.3 + or - 6.7 mm Hg and portocaval gradient from 21 +/- 5.2 to 8.7 +/- 3.9 mm Hg (average, 56 + or - 16%). Shunt dysfunction was diagnosed when the portocaval gradient was12 mm Hg (20 patients). Eleven patients (22%) presented with variceal rebleeding because of shunt dysfunction. The probability of remaining free of bleeding was 78%, 74%, and 68% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Actuarial survival rate was 91% and 86% after 12 and 18 months, respectively.TIPS with the Strecker stent is a safe alternative for variceal bleeding. Shunt dysfunction is frequent and increases the rebleeding rate, requiring a close follow-up with pressure measurements. Randomized trials comparing stents and other alternatives are needed to fully address the role of this procedure.

A case of a nine year and eight months old child with Kartagener's syndrome (triad) is described: chronic maxillary sinusitis, bronchiectasis and "situs inversus totalis". Literature is reviewed. It is important to understand genetical and etiology aspects of bronchiectasis. Diagnosis was considered on the basis of physical and radiographic examination.