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Air pollution has become one of the factors that most affect the quality of life, human health, and the environment. Gaseous pollutants from motor vehicles have a significantly harmful effect on air quality in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP)—Brazil. Motor vehicles emit large amounts of particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the last three acting as the main tropospheric ozone (O3) precursors. In this study, we evaluated the effects of these pollutants on air quality in the MASP during the partial lockdown that was imposed to ensure the social distancing necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We compared the monthly data for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and CO, SO2, and BC from MERRA-2 for the period between April and May 2020 (during the pandemic) with the average for the same period for the (pre-pandemic) years 2017 to 2019 in the southeast region of Brazil. The meteorological and pollutant concentration data from the CETESB air quality monitoring stations for the MASP were compared with the diurnal cycle of three previous years, with regard to the monthly averages of April and May (2017, 2018, and 2019) and the same period in 2020, when the partial lockdown was first imposed in southeast Brazil. Our findings showed that there was a decrease in NO2 concentrations ranging from 10% to more than 60% in the MASP and the Metropolitan Area of Rio de Janeiro (MARJ), whereas in the Metropolitan Area of Belo Horizonte and Vitoria (MABH and MAV, respectively), there was a reduction of around 10%. In the case of the concentrations of CO and BC from MERRA-2, there was a considerable decrease (approx. 10%) during the period of partial lockdown caused by COVID-19 throughout almost the entire state of São Paulo, particularly in the region bordering the state of Rio de Janeiro. The concentration of SO2 from MERRA-2 was 5 to 10% lower in the MASP and MARJ and the west of the MABH, and there was a decrease of 30 to 50% on the border between the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, while in the MAV region, there was an increase in pollutant levels, as this region was not significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharp reductions in the average hourly concentrations of CO (38.8%), NO (44.9%), NO2 (38.7%), and PM2.5 (6%) were noted at the CETESB air quality monitoring stations in the MASP during the partial lockdown in 2020 compared with the hourly average rate in the pre-pandemic period. In contrast, there was an increase of approximately 16.0% in O3 concentrations in urban areas that are seriously affected by vehicular emissions, which is probably related to a decrease in NOx.

Pharyngocutaneous fistula after laryngectomy is common and significantly increases the morbidity of the procedure. Intraoperative, objective variables that can reliably predict fistula formation would be useful to surgeons deciding how to reconstruct the laryngectomy defect. Retrospective chart review of 50 radiated patients and 10 non-radiated patients who underwent total laryngectomy at a single tertiary care institution. Patients with pharyngocutaneous fistula were selected to ensure a representative sample were available for comparison. All patients had pathology slides available for re-review by a single, blinded pathologist. Margins of both radiated (n = 50) and non-radiated (n = 10) larynges were examined for 7 histologic features, and odds ratios were calculated to assess whether these features were associated with fistula. When evaluating all 60 patients, both telangiectatic capillaries and hyalinized arterioles were associated with fistula (OR 3.72 and 9.21, respectively). Collinearity between the variables was evaluated; findings indicated a high likelihood of having hyalinized arterioles if telangiectatic capillaries were also present (OR 31.67 [3.13, 320.06]). Microvascular changes in radiated tissue have previously been described in other anatomic subsites, but the larynx and pharynx have not been specifically evaluated. Laryngectomy mucosal margins appear to display similar changes, and evidence of this damage may be associated with fistula formation. These features could potentially guide the surgeon to alter the reconstructive technique.

Em meio ao contexto pandêmico, esperamos que todas e todos se encontrem bem e com saúde. Este editorial é dedicado aos que lutam contra o negacionismo científico e as opressões sociais. Assim, é com alegria que escrevemos esse texto a você leitora e leitor da RBPEC, para iniciarmos um diálogo sobre a nossa revista. A Revista Brasileira de Pesquisa em Educação em Ciências foi criada em 2001 e lançada oficialmente no III Encontro Nacional de Pesquisa em Educação em Ciências (III ENPEC, Atibaia, SP, 7 a 10 de novembro de 2001). A partir de então, foi publicada regularmente, com periodicidade quadrimestral, passando à modalidade de fluxo contínuo em 2019. Como vocês sabem, foi classificada como A2 no QUALIS CAPES (2013-2016) das áreas de Educação e Ensino, além de estar indexada em bases como DOAJ, Latindex, IRESIE, Redalyc, entre outros; o que só demonstra seu papel de divulgação na nossa área, fruto de um trabalho coletivo dos/as editores/as, avaliadores/as e autores/as. A vocês que fazem a RBPEC, o nosso reconhecimento pelo trabalho colaborativo, solidário e voluntário.

Amid these pandemic times, we hope that everyone is well and healthy. This editorial is dedicated to those fighting scientific denialism and social oppression. Thus, it is with joy that we write this text to the readers of RBPEC, to begin a dialogue about our journal. The Brazilian Journal of Research in Science Education was established in 2001 and officially launched at the III National Meeting of Research in Science Education (III ENPEC), which was held in Atibaia, SP, between November 7th-10th, 2001. The journal has been published three times annually since then and adopted a continuous publication mode in 2019. As you may know, the journal has been not only classified as A2 according to QUALIS CAPES (the Brazilian official system for classifying scientific production) between 2013-2016 in the fields of Education and Teaching, but also indexed in databases such as DOAJ, Latindex, IRESIE, Redalyc, among others. This demonstrates its role in terms of dissemination within our field of knowledge, which is the result of a collective work between editors, peers, and authors. We are thankful to all of you who make part of RBPEC, for your collaborative, solidary and voluntary work.

Cell-based therapy using human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) is a new approach for enhancing wound healing. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect and wound healing process based on xenografted human ADSCs in a fibrin glue matrix carrier during the wound healing process in a full-thickness excisional model in rats. Two excisional wounds were made in the dorsum of 60 rats using a dermatological punch (1.5 cm diameter), and the rats were randomly assigned to three groups: control (untreated group), FG (topical treatment of both wounds with fibrin glue), and ADSC+FG (topical treatment of both wounds with 2.0 × 105 ADSCs in fibrin glue carrier). On the 2nd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days after the wounding surgical process, re-epithelialization was assessed by imaging the skin/wound/scar, and samples were harvested for histomorphometric analyses (quantification of inflammatory cells, blood vessels, fibroblasts, and collagen); biochemical quantification of myeloperoxidase (neutrophil), N-acetylglucosaminidase (macrophage), hydroxyproline (total collagen), and glycosaminoglycans; immunohistochemistry to detect IL-10 and IL-17; and western blot analysis of TNF-α, TGF-β1, and VEGF. ADSC+FG therapy stimulated the anti-inflammatory response up to the 7th day, where the IL-10 levels were higher compared with the control group. This treatment induced angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen formation faster than the other treatments to enhance re-epithelialization. ADSC and FG therapy could be suitable for modulating the inflammatory response and enhancing re-epithelialization, as well as the formation of new blood vessels during wound healing.