Although analytical techniques to assess the degradation of transformer insulation systems are well established, it is essential to develop fast and effective methodologies for monitoring the quality of power transformer insulating fluid. The objective of this work was to develop a fast, simple, and environmentally friendly method to evaluate and monitor the quality of insulating vegetable oil (IVO) from transformers, using multivariate control chart and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). For the development of the method, IVO samples were subjected to electrical and thermal stress, as well as to contact with insulating paper and copper, to simulate the internal environment of a transformer before and after energizing. Control chart based on principal component analysis was developed to monitor insulating vegetable oil quality. It was possible to identify oil samples with oxidation levels that were outside the acceptable quality standards for insulating fluid in transformers. The results demonstrated the potential of FTIR spectroscopy and control charts as fast and simple tools for monitoring the quality of insulating fluids, enabling the identification of oil samples that fail to comply with regulation standards for insulating fluids, assisting in the implementation of maintenance programs for power transformers.

Objetivo: Avaliar por questionário qual o nível de facilidade ou dificuldade para aplicação tópica de medicações oculares: vaporização em olho fechado ou instilação de gotas em olho aberto e constatar por meio da observação de pacientes pelos autores qual o método que foi utilizado com maior adequação técnica para aplicação de drogas tópicas oculares. Métodos: A pesquisa foi um ensaio clínico pareado e randomizado, realizada nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2012 no ambulatório de Oftalmologia da Policlínica Ronaldo Gazolla (Campus Arcos da Lapa, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Estácio de Sá, RJ) em 50 pacientes conveniados de planos de saúde ou do SUS. Foi utilizado um frasco de colírio e um de vaporizador com solução Optive®. Cada participante aplicou em um dos olhos a solução por vaporização ou instilação de gotas através de um processo randomizado. Foi perguntado aos pacientes questões pré-formuladas sobre a praticidade de ambos os métodos e observada à técnica de aplicação. Resultados: 32% acharam difícil ou muito difícil a vaporização em olho fechado e 34% a instilação de colírio (p=0,9562). A dificuldade mais comum para ambos os métodos foi "acertar o olho" e ocorreu em 53% dos pacientes que tiveram dificuldades para vaporização e por 65%dos que apresentaram dificuldade para aplicação de colírio. 38% dos pacientes necessitaram de mais de uma instilação para aplicação do colírio, enquanto 30% dos pacientes precisaram de mais de uma aplicação para que a droga vaporizada tivesse contato com o olho (p=0,5224). Em 74% dos pacientes houve toque da ponta do colírio com os cílios, já com o vaporizador não houve um toque do orifício do vaporizador com o dedo do paciente (p=0,5433). Conclusão: A maior facilidade ou dificuldade percebida pelos pacientes foi equivalente para instilar o colírio em relação à vaporização em olho fechado. O método da vaporização foi realizado mais adequadamente devido à frequência elevada de toques da ponta do colírio nos tecidos oculares.

Objective: Evaluate how difficult it is to apply ocular topical medications based on patient observation and answers to a questionnaire. Eye drops in open eyes were compared to vaporization in closed eyes. Methods: The study was a randomized clinical trial paired and held in the months of august and september of 2012 in the ophthalmological department of Polyclinic Ronaldo Gazolla (Arcos da Lapa Campus, Faculty of Medicine, University Estáciode Sá, RJ) in 50 patients. The Optive® ophthalmic solution was applied topically via an eyedrop bottle or a vaporizer through a randomized process. Patients were asked pre-formulated questions about the practicality of both methods and the technique of topical ocular drug delivery was observed. Results: 32% informed that it was difficult or very difficult to vaporize and 34% to use eye drops (p=0,9562). The major problem described by patients was to direct the eye drop to the eye surface. This difficulty was considered by 53% for vaporization and by 65% for topical eye drop use. 38% of the patients needed more than one eye drop application to have eye drop contact, while 30% of the patients needed more than one application of vaporization in order to get drug eye contact (p=0,5224). In 74% of patients there were an eyedropper tip contact with cilia, however there was one eye finger contact when the medicine was vaporized (p=0,5433). Conclusion: The ease perceived by patients to instil eye drops in open eyes was equivalent compared to the vaporization in closed eyes; the method of spraying was performed more appropriately due to the high frequency of eyedrop tip touches on the ocular surface.

Dengue is an endemic/epidemic arboviral disease with a variable symptomatic benign course, but potentially fatal. Once in an inhabited area, the disease will exist forever, with the best achievement being to keep vectors suppressed and the disease under control. Tiger mosquitoes (aedes aegypti, aedes albopictus) are active breeders and urban hunters, becoming resistant to pesticides. Global warming and population growth are propelling the disease worldwide at tropical and subtropical regions, victimizing new populations. Dengue virus is very infective, and has been transmitted by needlestick, intrapartum, through blood transfusion and mucosal contact with blood. One patient got dengue while undergoing bone marrow transplantation. We address the growing dengue epidemics in Brazil, with more than half a million official cases in 2007, to estimate the risks of transfusion transmitted dengue. Calculations however were surpassed by reality: the major Blood Center in Brazil (FHSP-USP) has found dengue virus in one out of each thousand blood units. In 2007, industry sold 2,6 million disposable blood bags in Brazil. Plotting data from FHSP-USP to the whole country, 2600 blood units would have been infective. Through blood components, around 5000 patients must have received dengue virus intravenously. Beatty et al. estimated to be 1:1300 the risk for dengue transmission through blood transfusion in Puerto Rico, close to what has been demonstrated in Sao Paulo. Throughout Brazil, the average risk may be lower, but the epidemics grows towards a worst scenario. Whatever the risk is, it imposes that all blood units in Brazil (and wherever dengue is endemic) must be EIA tested for dengue NS1 antigen. This marker appears early after infection, and the EIA testing platform is available at all blood banks. Also, donors must report febrile states up to two weeks after donation. Morbidity from dengue virus injected in hospitalized patients is unknown, but it may lead to catastrophic outcomes and to occupational and institutional risks. Physicians and healthcare workers and managers might be aware of this threat - and must start enforcing testing. This EIA test must be included in donor serology for all kinds of transplantation.

O transplante de medula óssea, que é um consagrado tratamento de várias doenças oncológicas, hematológicas e imunológicas, tem a recaída como um das principais causas de falha. As variáveis de seleção, condicionamento e de seguimento devem ser analisadas, pois influenciam de maneira fundamental tal falha. O diagnóstico precoce da recaída tem como pilar de sustentação a capacidade de detecção a doença residual mínima. A metodologia empregada, com a citometria de fluxo, citogénetica convencional, fluorescent in situ hybridization e com o polimerase chain reaction, permite uma detecção cada vez mais precoce deste clone residual que é responsável pela volta da doença de base. L.M.S.O, de 54 anos, teve o diagnóstico de leucemia promielocítica em 1997. Foi submetida a um transplante de medula óssea autogênico em 01/09/98 como terapêutica de consolidação. Dois anos após o transplante de medula óssea apresentou recaída molecular diagnosticada por RT PCR realizado sequencialmente. O uso de ácido all-trans-retinóico foi capaz de induzir a nova remissão molecular. O all-trans-retinóico, que tem um mecanismo de ação não bem estabelecido na indução da remissão completa na LMA M3, pode ser utilizado em recaídas. No caso apresentado o diagnóstico precoce a partir de um esquema de avaliação pós-transplante bem programado permitiu um bom resultado. Conclui-se que as variáveis de seleção, condicionamento e seguimento devem ser muito bem estudadas para planejar um acompanhamento adequado e prolongado após o transplante de medula óssea, permitindo cada vez mais melhores resultados com o procedimento.

Bone marrow transplantation is a well established modality of treatment for oncologic, hematolologic and immunologic diseases, however the recurrence is the main cause of treatment failure . The variables regarding to selection, conditioning and follow up should be analyzed since them can influence it in a fundamental manner. The early diagnosis of relapse is sustented by the ability to detect the minimal residual disease. The methodology using flowcitometry, conventional cytogenetic, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allow the diagnosis of these residual clone that are responsible for relapse. L.M.S.O., 54 year old lady, was diagnosed with promyelocitic leukemia (AML M3) in 1997. She was submitted to an autologous bone marrow transplantation in 09/01/98 as consolidation therapy. Two years after the transplant she was diagnosed with a molecular relapse by RT-PCR sequentially performed. The use of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) was able to induce a new molecular remission. The mechanism of action of ATRA to induce remission in AML M3 is not well established. This drug can be use in relapse. In the case that was presented, the early diagnosis that leaded to this good result happened because of a well planned post transplant evaluation. These variables of selection, conditioning and follow up should be well studied to plan an adequate and prolonged post transplant follow up, allowing better results with the procedure.