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This study delves into the global evolution of 43 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators, spanning 7 major health themes across 185 countries to evaluate the potential progress loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the cross-country and temporal variability of the dataset are employed to estimate an empirical model based on an extended version of the Preston curve, which links well-being to income levels and other key socioeconomic health determinants. The approach reveals significant global evolution trends operating in each SDG indicator assessed. We extrapolate the model yearly between 2020 and 2030 using the IMF's pre-COVID-19 economic growth projections to show how each country in the dataset are expected to evolve in these health topics throughout the decade, assuming no other external shocks. The results of this baseline scenario are contrasted with a post-COVID-19 scenario, where most of the pandemic costs were already known. The study reveals that economic growth losses are, on average, estimated as 42% and 28% for low- and lower middle-income countries, and of 15% and 7% in high- and upper middle-income countries, respectively, according to the IMF's projections. These disproportional figures are shown to exacerbate global health inequalities revealed by the curves. The expected progress loss in infectious diseases in low-income countries, for instance, is an average of 34%, against a mean of 6% in high-income countries. The theme of Infectious diseases is followed by injuries and violence; maternal and reproductive health; health systems coverage; and neonatal and infant health as those with worse performance. Low-income countries can expect an average progress loss of 16% across all health indicators assessed, whereas in high-income countries the estimated loss is as low as 3%. The disparity across countries is even more pronounced, with cases where the estimated progress loss is as high as nine times worse than the average loss of 8%. Conversely, countries with greater fiscal capacity are likely to fare much better under the circumstances, despite their worse death count, in many cases. Overall, these findings support the critical importance of integrating the fight against inequalities into the global development agendas.

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This study aimed to develop a prioritization index to speed up the achievement of national health targets proposed in the 2030 Agenda. This is an ecological study that addressed the Health Regions in Brazil. The index incorporated 25 indicators with analytical proximity to the official indicators of the 2030 Agenda whose data are available from public municipal sources for the period of 2015-2019. According to our study, the index was a powerful method to support health management decisions. The results showed the most vulnerable territories are located in the North Region of the country, and therefore, these are priority areas for resource allocation. The analysis of subindices highlighted local health bottlenecks, reinforcing the need for municipalities in each region to set their own priorities while making decisions for health resource allocation. By indicating Health Regions and priority themes for more investments, this investigation shows paths to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, from the local to the national level, in addition to providing elements that can be used by policy makers to minimize the effects of social inequalities on health, prioritizing territories with worse indices.

O objetivo deste artigo é desenvolver um índice de priorização para aceleração do cumprimento das metas nacionais de saúde propostas pela Agenda 2030. Trata-se de estudo ecológico que abordou as Regiões de Saúde do Brasil. O índice incorporou 25 indicadores com proximidade analítica aos indicadores oficiais da Agenda 2030, para os quais existem dados de fontes públicas no nível municipal para o período de 2015 a 2019. O índice apresentou-se como potente método para apoiar a decisão da gestão em saúde. Os resultados permitiram identificar que a Região Norte do país apresenta os territórios mais vulneráveis e, portanto, prioritários para a alocação de recursos. Além disso, a análise dos subíndices permitiu destacar os gargalos locais de saúde, reforçando a necessidade de os municípios de cada região estabelecerem suas próprias prioridades na decisão de alocação dos recursos da saúde. Ao indicar as Regiões de Saúde e os temas prioritários para maiores investimentos, esta investigação aponta caminhos que podem apoiar a implementação da Agenda 2030 do nível local ao nacional, além de fornecer elementos por meio dos quais os formuladores de políticas podem minimizar os efeitos das iniquidades sociais sobre a saúde, priorizando os territórios com piores índices.

El objetivo fue desarrollar un índice de priorización para acelerar el cumplimiento de las metas nacionales de salud propuestas por la Agenda 2030. Se trata de un estudio ecológico que abordó las Regiones de Salud de Brasil. El índice incorporó 25 indicadores con proximidad analítica a los indicadores oficiales de la Agenda 2030 para los cuales existen datos de fuentes públicas a nivel municipal para el período 2015-2019. El índice se presentó como potente método para apoyar la decisión de la gestión en salud. Los resultados permitieron identificar que la Región Norte del país cuenta con los territorios más vulnerables y, por tanto, áreas prioritarias para la asignación de recursos. Además, el análisis de los subíndices permitió resaltar cuellos de botella locales en salud, reforzando la necesidad de que los municipios de cada región establezcan sus propias prioridades en la decisión de asignación de recursos en salud. Al indicar las Regiones de Salud y los temas prioritarios para mayores inversiones, esta investigación apunta caminos que pueden apoyar la implementación de la Agenda 2030 desde el nivel local al nacional, además de proporcionar elementos a través de los cuales los formuladores de políticas pueden minimizar los efectos de las inequidades sociales sobre la salud, priorizando los territorios con peores índices.

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O objetivo deste artigo é desenvolver um índice de priorização para aceleração do cumprimento das metas nacionais de saúde propostas pela Agenda 2030. Trata-se de estudo ecológico que abordou as Regiões de Saúde do Brasil. O índice incorporou 25 indicadores com proximidade analítica aos indicadores oficiais da Agenda 2030, para os quais existem dados de fontes públicas no nível municipal para o período de 2015 a 2019. O índice apresentou-se como potente método para apoiar a decisão da gestão em saúde. Os resultados permitiram identificar que a Região Norte do país apresenta os territórios mais vulneráveis e, portanto, prioritários para a alocação de recursos. Além disso, a análise dos subíndices permitiu destacar os gargalos locais de saúde, reforçando a necessidade de os municípios de cada região estabelecerem suas próprias prioridades na decisão de alocação dos recursos da saúde. Ao indicar as Regiões de Saúde e os temas prioritários para maiores investimentos, esta investigação aponta caminhos que podem apoiar a implementação da Agenda 2030 do nível local ao nacional, além de fornecer elementos por meio dos quais os formuladores de políticas podem minimizar os efeitos das iniquidades sociais sobre a saúde, priorizando os territórios com piores índices.

El objetivo fue desarrollar un índice de priorización para acelerar el cumplimiento de las metas nacionales de salud propuestas por la Agenda 2030. Se trata de un estudio ecológico que abordó las Regiones de Salud de Brasil. El índice incorporó 25 indicadores con proximidad analítica a los indicadores oficiales de la Agenda 2030 para los cuales existen datos de fuentes públicas a nivel municipal para el período 2015-2019. El índice se presentó como potente método para apoyar la decisión de la gestión en salud. Los resultados permitieron identificar que la Región Norte del país cuenta con los territorios más vulnerables y, por tanto, áreas prioritarias para la asignación de recursos. Además, el análisis de los subíndices permitió resaltar cuellos de botella locales en salud, reforzando la necesidad de que los municipios de cada región establezcan sus propias prioridades en la decisión de asignación de recursos en salud. Al indicar las Regiones de Salud y los temas prioritarios para mayores inversiones, esta investigación apunta caminos que pueden apoyar la implementación de la Agenda 2030 desde el nivel local al nacional, además de proporcionar elementos a través de los cuales los formuladores de políticas pueden minimizar los efectos de las inequidades sociales sobre la salud, priorizando los territorios con peores índices.

This study aimed to develop a prioritization index to speed up the achievement of national health targets proposed in the 2030 Agenda. This is an ecological study that addressed the Health Regions in Brazil. The index incorporated 25 indicators with analytical proximity to the official indicators of the 2030 Agenda whose data are available from public municipal sources for the period of 2015-2019. According to our study, the index was a powerful method to support health management decisions. The results showed the most vulnerable territories are located in the North Region of the country, and therefore, these are priority areas for resource allocation. The analysis of subindices highlighted local health bottlenecks, reinforcing the need for municipalities in each region to set their own priorities while making decisions for health resource allocation. By indicating Health Regions and priority themes for more investments, this investigation shows paths to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, from the local to the national level, in addition to providing elements that can be used by policy makers to minimize the effects of social inequalities on health, prioritizing territories with worse indices.

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This article has two integrated objectives: (i) to identify the representation of health in the 2030 Agenda from health-related indicators implemented by international and national institutions; and (ii) to compare the potential of platforms for monitoring Brazilian health commitments in the SDGs. It is argued that there are still important controversies brought about by the greater complexity of the 2030 Agenda, particularly in the operationalization of health-related indicators, whose determinants permeate many other objectives and goals. Finally, even though the picture of the country currently available on national and international platforms is already broad, improvements are required for more effective monitoring and evaluation of Brazilian commitments in the SDGs, with greater disaggregation and stratification of indicators in the population.

O presente artigo tem dois objetivos integrados: (i) identificar a representação da saúde na Agenda 2030, a partir dos indicadores relacionados à saúde operacionalizados por instituições internacionais e nacionais; e (ii) comparar as potencialidades das plataformas para o monitoramento dos compromissos de saúde brasileiros nos ODS. Argumenta-se que ainda existem controvérsias importantes trazidas pela maior complexidade da Agenda 2030, em particular na operacionalização dos indicadores relacionados à saúde, cujos determinantes perpassam muitos outros objetivos e metas. O monitoramento e avaliação mais efetivos dos compromissos brasileiros nos ODS requer melhoria, com maior desagregação e estratificação dos indicadores na população, ainda que o retrato do país hoje disponibilizado nas diversas plataformas nacionais e internacionais já seja amplo.

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The preliminary assessments of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have recently rekindled worries about the feasibility of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Notwithstanding the concern voiced by key academic and political actors, the actual evidence on the current gaps and distance from the goals is still very much unknown. This study estimates the global evolution curves for each health-related SDGs indicator in the World Health Organization's SDGs platform. These curves synthesize the transnational trends at play in the evolution of each health-related topic, offering an average global counterfactual to compare with the actual information for each country. The empirical investigation focuses on the American continent, highlighting the health gaps before the COVID-19 outbreak in 33 countries of the region. The study also extrapolates these trends to predict the evolution of the health-related SDGs in each of these countries over the next decade using as the baseline scenario the International Monetary Fund's economic forecasts. The results show a widening gap in the region, associated with the differential economic capacity of these countries. Some bottlenecks are shared by most countries in the continent, especially in the themes of violence and infectious diseases. The latter is likely to improve faster than other health themes in the next decade, whereas improvements in the theme non-communicable diseases can be more challenging. The findings provide much needed comparative evidence to guide the countries in the region to set priorities and concentrate efforts to accelerate progress in the health-related SDGs.

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ABSTRACT The article aims to discuss the challenges and consequences of health inequalities and vulnerabilities, focusing on current phenomena that have reshaped such context, namely financial crisis, fiscal austerity, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Differences between levels of access to wealth and opportunities among and within countries belonging to different income groups create and perpetuate social inequalities that frequently become health inequities. It is challenging to understand both the recent changes and the persistence of inequalities and social stratification, and the issue has thus taken on new dimensions that extrapolate studies focused exclusively on income distribution. The financial crisis, fiscal austerity, and the COVID-19 pandemic have aggravated preexisting health inequalities. Thus, the issue of inequalities in health should be an intrinsic part of public policy, with clear and stable standards and objectives based on explicit political agreements and a legal framework with sustainability ensured by an adequate financing policy. Only then will it be possible to achieve greater levels of equity, even in the face of dramatic situations such the one now faced by the world.

RESUMO O texto teve por objetivo discutir os desafios e as consequências das desigualdades e das vulnerabilidades em saúde, trazendo para discussão fenômenos atuais que vêm reconfigurando esse contexto - crise financeira, austeridade fiscal e pandemia da Covid-19. As diferenças nos níveis de accesso à riqueza e a oportunidades, presentes entre e dentro dos países de distintos grupos de renda, criam e perpetuam as desigualdades sociais, que, muitas vezes, tornam-se iniquidades em saúde. Compreender as recentes mudanças e, também, as permanências, no que se refere às desigualdades e à estratificação social, é desafiador, o que fez com que o tema adquirisse novas dimensões que ultrapassaram os estudos centrados exclusivamente na distribuição de renda. A crise financeira, a austeridade fiscal e a pandemia da Covid-19 agravaram as desigualdades em saúde já existentes. Assim, a questão das desigualdades na saúde deve ser intrinsecamente parte da política pública, com normas e objetivos claros e estáveis, baseados em acordos políticos explícitos e em uma estrutura legal, com sua sustentabilidade assegurada por uma política de financiamento adequada. Somente dessa forma, será possível alcançar maiores níveis de equidade, mesmo diante de situações dramáticas como a que se vive.

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Resumo O presente artigo tem dois objetivos integrados: (i) identificar a representação da saúde na Agenda 2030, a partir dos indicadores relacionados à saúde operacionalizados por instituições internacionais e nacionais; e (ii) comparar as potencialidades das plataformas para o monitoramento dos compromissos de saúde brasileiros nos ODS. Argumenta-se que ainda existem controvérsias importantes trazidas pela maior complexidade da Agenda 2030, em particular na operacionalização dos indicadores relacionados à saúde, cujos determinantes perpassam muitos outros objetivos e metas. O monitoramento e avaliação mais efetivos dos compromissos brasileiros nos ODS requer melhoria, com maior desagregação e estratificação dos indicadores na população, ainda que o retrato do país hoje disponibilizado nas diversas plataformas nacionais e internacionais já seja amplo.

Abstract This article has two integrated objectives: (i) to identify the representation of health in the 2030 Agenda from health-related indicators implemented by international and national institutions; and (ii) to compare the potential of platforms for monitoring Brazilian health commitments in the SDGs. It is argued that there are still important controversies brought about by the greater complexity of the 2030 Agenda, particularly in the operationalization of health-related indicators, whose determinants permeate many other objectives and goals. Finally, even though the picture of the country currently available on national and international platforms is already broad, improvements are required for more effective monitoring and evaluation of Brazilian commitments in the SDGs, with greater disaggregation and stratification of indicators in the population.

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The extended scope and complexity of the United Nations 2030 agenda entail important challenges for the operationalization of the health-related sustainable development goal (SDG) indicators. Divergences in concepts, agendas and implementation strategies among institutions have fostered the parallel development of alternative and concurrent indicators. We aim to determine the convergences and divergences between five key institutions: the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD), the Pan American Health Organization, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO). Of the 104 health-related indicators listed by these five institutions, 60 are consistent with official Inter-agency and Expert Group SDG indicators. Our analysis considers the indicators included, and the themes these indicators cover, in each institution list and each institution online platform. We quantified convergence in indicators between the institutions themselves, but also between the institutions and the official Inter-agency and Expert Group. Our results indicate important divergences; only 22 of the 60 indicators are included in the lists of all five institutions. The level of adoption of the official metrics varies from 40.5% (15/(47-10)) for the GBD to 86.2% (25/(29-0)) for the World Bank. WHO, the official curator of the Inter-agency and Expert Group SDG indicators, is only convergent with the official metrics by 72.1% (31/(45-2)). Our analysis, and the resulting awareness of the differences, potentialities and limitations of indicators and platforms, provides important contributions to enable the achievement of the health-related SDGs and deliver the promise of the 2030 agenda.

La complexité et l'envergure de l'Agenda 2030 des Nations Unies représentent d'importants défis pour la concrétisation des indicateurs régissant l'objectif de développement durable (ODD) visant à assurer la santé et le bien-être de tous. Les divergences de concepts, de programmes et de stratégies de mise en œuvre au sein des institutions ont engendré l'apparition simultanée d'indicateurs alternatifs et concurrents. Nous cherchons à identifier les convergences et divergences entre cinq institutions clés: l'étude sur la charge mondiale de morbidité (GBD), l'Organisation panaméricaine de la Santé, le Réseau des solutions pour le développement durable, la Banque mondiale et l'Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS). Sur les 104 indicateurs de santé repris par ces cinq institutions, 60 sont compatibles avec ceux du Groupe d'experts interinstitutionnel sur les indicateurs des ODD. Notre analyse tient compte des indicateurs inclus, ainsi que des domaines dont ils traitent, dans chaque liste institutionnelle et sur chaque plateforme institutionnelle en ligne. Nous avons quantifié la convergence d'indicateurs entre les institutions elles-mêmes, mais aussi entre ces institutions et le Groupe d'experts interinstitutionnel officiel. Nos résultats révèlent d'importantes divergences; seulement 22 des 60 indicateurs figurent dans les listes des cinq institutions. Le niveau d'adoption des paramètres officiels varie de 40,5% (15/(47­10)) pour le GBD à 86,2% (25/(29­0)) pour la Banque mondiale. L'OMS, administratrice officielle du Groupe d'experts interinstitutionnel sur les indicateurs des ODD, ne s'aligne sur les paramètres officiels qu'à 72,1% (31/(45­2)). Notre analyse et sa mise en évidence des différences, des possibilités et des limites des indicateurs et plateformes, contribue grandement à progresser vers la réalisation des ODD en matière de santé, et vers la concrétisation des promesses de l'Agenda 2030.

El amplio alcance y la complejidad del programa de las Naciones Unidas para 2030 implica importantes desafíos para la puesta en práctica de los indicadores del objetivo de desarrollo sostenible (ODS) relacionado con la salud. Las divergencias en los conceptos, los programas y las estrategias de aplicación entre las instituciones han fomentado la elaboración paralela de indicadores alternativos y simultáneos. Nos proponemos determinar las convergencias y divergencias entre cinco instituciones clave: el Estudio sobre la Carga Mundial de la Enfermedad (GBD, por sus siglas en inglés), la Organización Panamericana de la Salud, la Red de Soluciones para el Desarrollo Sostenible, el Banco Mundial y la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). De los 104 indicadores relacionados con la salud enumerados por estas cinco instituciones, 60 son coherentes con los indicadores oficiales del ODS del Grupo Interinstitucional y de Expertos. Nuestro análisis tiene en cuenta los indicadores incluidos, y los temas que cubren estos indicadores, en cada lista de instituciones y en la plataforma en línea de cada institución. Cuantificamos la convergencia en los indicadores entre las propias instituciones, pero también entre las instituciones y el Grupo Interinstitucional y de Expertos oficial. Nuestros resultados indican importantes divergencias; solo 22 de los 60 indicadores están incluidos en las listas de las cinco instituciones. En cuanto al nivel de adopción de los indicadores oficiales varía entre el 40,5% (15/(47-10)) en el caso del GBD y el 86,2% (25/(29-0)) en el caso del Banco Mundial. La OMS, la comisaria oficial de los indicadores del ODS del Grupo Interinstitucional de Expertos, solo converge con los parámetros oficiales en un 72,1% (31/(45-2)). Nuestro análisis, y la consiguiente conciencia de las diferencias, potencialidades y limitaciones de los indicadores y plataformas, aporta importantes contribuciones para permitir el logro de los ODS relacionados con la salud y cumplir con el compromiso del programa de 2030.

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RESUMO Introdução: A obesidade pode ter início em qualquer idade, no entanto, tem ocorrido de modo crescente na população juvenil, o que, segundo casos registrados, é causa de inúmeros problemas de saúde. Objetivo: Analisar as percepções de professores de Educação Física atuantes em escolas de educação básica na cidade de Ouro Preto, MG, Brasil, com relação à obesidade juvenil e o papel da escola e da Educação Física como formas de controle. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo descritivo exploratório, no qual se utilizou a versão traduzida para o português do instrumento Perceptions of Youth Obesity and Physical Education Questionnaire em um grupo amostral de 15 professores licenciados em Educação Física de ambos os sexos (8 homens e 7 mulheres), atuantes em escolas de educação básica na cidade de Ouro Preto, MG, Brasil. Resultados: Os professores têm conhecimento das implicações da obesidade na saúde e qualidade de vida dos jovens, assim como da necessidade de intervenção. A partir da percepção desses professores, observa-se que a escola se configura como um espaço apropriado para abordar esse tema entre os jovens. Na perspectiva da educação para e pelo movimento, o professor de Educação Física pode auxiliar os jovens a promoverem mudanças significativas na forma física, a partir da adoção de um estilo de vida saudável e de orientações básicas de bons hábitos alimentares. Conclusão: A insuficiência da carga horária semanal de aulas de Educação Física para lidar com o tema da obesidade de forma sistemática, bem como suas implicações, é consenso entre esses professores.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Obesity can start at any age, however, has been increasing among the young population, which, according to reported cases, is the cause of numerous health problems. Objective: To analyze the perceptions of Physical Education teachers working in basic education schools in the city of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with respect to youth obesity and the role of schools and Physical Education as forms of control. Methods: This is a descriptive exploratory study, which used the instrument Perceptions of Youth Obesity and Physical Education Questionnaire in the version translated into Portuguese in a sample group of 15 licensed teachers in Physical Education of both sexes (8 men and 7 women) who work in basic education schools in the city of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Results: The teachers are aware of the implications of obesity on health and quality of life of young people, and the need for intervention. From the perception of these teachers, it is observed that the school is an appropriate place to address this issue among young people. From the perspective of education towards and by the movement, the Physical Education teacher can help young people to promote meaningful changes in physical form from the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and basic guidelines of good eating habits. Conclusion: The low weekly hour load of Physical Education classes to deal with the issue of obesity systematically and its implications is a consensus among these teachers.

RESUMEN Introducción: La obesidad puede tener inicio a cualquier edad, sin embargo, ha ocurrido de modo creciente en la población juvenil, lo que, según los casos registrados, es causa de numerosos problemas de salud. Objetivo: Analizar las percepciones de los profesores de Educación Física que trabajan en escuelas de educación básica en la ciudad de Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil, con respecto a la obesidad juvenil y el papel de las escuelas y la Educación Física como formas de control. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio exploratorio descriptivo, que utiliza la versión traducida al portugués del instrumento Perceptions of Youth Obesity and Physical Education Questionnaire en una muestra de 15 profesores licenciados en Educación Física de ambos sexos (8 hombres y 7 mujeres), que trabajan en las escuelas de educación básica en la ciudad de Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Resultados: Los profesores son conscientes de las consecuencias de la obesidad sobre la salud y la calidad de vida de los jóvenes y la necesidad de intervención. A partir de la percepción de estos profesores, se observa que la escuela es un espacio apropiado para abordar esta cuestión entre los jóvenes. Desde la perspectiva de la educación hacia y por el movimiento, el profesor de Educación Física puede ayudar a los jóvenes para promover cambios significativos en la forma física, a partir de la adopción de un estilo de vida saludable y directrices básicas de los buenos hábitos alimenticios. Conclusión: La carga horaria semanal baja de las clases de Educación Física para lidiar con el problema de la obesidad y sus consecuencias de manera sistemática es un consenso entre estos profesores.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Raman spectroscopy was used to discriminate human non-melanoma skin lesions from non-tumor tissues in vivo. This work proposed the discrimination between non-melanoma (basal cell carcinoma, BCC; squamous cell carcinoma, SCC) and pre-cancerous lesions (actinic keratosis, AK) from benign lesions and normal (non-tumor group, NT) tissues, using near-infrared Raman spectroscopy with a Raman probe. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prior to surgery, the spectra of suspicious lesions were obtained in situ. The spectra of adjacent, clinically normal skin were also obtained. Lesions were resectioned and submitted for histopathology. The Raman spectra were measured using a Raman spectrometer (830 nm). Two types of discrimination models were developed to distinguish the different histopathological groups. The principal components analysis discriminant analysis (PCA/DA) and the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS/DA) were based on Euclidean, quadratic and Mahalanobis distances. RESULTS: PCA and PLS spectral vectors showed spectral features of skin constituents, such as lipids (between 1,250 cm(-1) and 1,300 cm(-1) and at 1,450 cm(-1)) and proteins (between 870 cm(-1) and 940 cm(-1), 1,240 cm(-1) and 1,271 cm(-1), and at 1,000 cm(-1) and 1,450 cm(-1)). Despite the small spectral differences between malignant lesions and benign tissues, the algorithms discriminated the spectra of non-melanoma skin and pre-cancerous lesions from benign and normal tissues, with an overall accuracy of 82.8% and 91.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: PCA and PLS could discriminate Raman spectra of skin tissues, opening the way for an in vivo optical diagnosis.

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Raman spectroscopy has been proposed for detecting biochemical alterations in prostate cancer (PrCa) compared to benign prostate tissue in in vitro fragments from surgery for diagnostic purposes. Freezer-stored fragments of human prostate tissues were unfrozen and submitted to Raman spectroscopy with a dispersive spectrometer (830-nm and 200-mW laser parameters, 30-s exposure time). Fragments were fixed and submitted to histopathology to grade PrCa according to Gleason score. A total of 160 spectra were taken from 32 samples (16 benign tissues and 16 PrCa tissues). The relative concentrations of selected biochemicals were estimated using a least-squares fitting model applied to the spectra of pure compounds and the tissue spectrum. A discrimination model was developed employing the most statistically relevant compounds with capability of separating PrCa from benign tissues. The fitting model revealed that actin, hemoglobin, elastin, phosphatidylcholine, and water are the most important biochemicals to discriminate prostate depending on the Gleason score. A discrimination based on Euclidean distance using the relative concentrations of phosphatidylcholine and water showed the higher accuracy of 74 % to discriminate PrCa from benign tissue. Raman spectroscopy is an analytical technique with possibility for identifying biochemical constitution of prostate and could be used for diagnostic purposes.

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Raman spectroscopy has been employed to identify differences in the biochemical constitution of malignant [basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and melanoma (MEL)] cells compared to normal skin tissues, with the goal of skin cancer diagnosis. We collected Raman spectra from compounds such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, which are expected to be represented in human skin spectra, and developed a linear least-squares fitting model to estimate the contributions of these compounds to the tissue spectra. We used a set of 145 spectra from biopsy fragments of normal (30 spectra), BCC (96 spectra), and MEL (19 spectra) skin tissues, collected using a near-infrared Raman spectrometer (830 nm, 50 to 200 mW, and 20 s exposure time) coupled to a Raman probe. We applied the best-fitting model to the spectra of biochemicals and tissues, hypothesizing that the relative spectral contribution of each compound to the tissue Raman spectrum changes according to the disease. We verified that actin, collagen, elastin, and triolein were the most important biochemicals representing the spectral features of skin tissues. A classification model applied to the relative contribution of collagen III, elastin, and melanin using Euclidean distance as a discriminator could differentiate normal from BCC and MEL.

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OBJECTIVE: Raman spectroscopy has been employed to discriminate between malignant (basal cell carcinoma [BCC] and melanoma [MEL]) and normal (N) skin tissues in vitro, aimed at developing a method for cancer diagnosis. BACKGROUND DATA: Raman spectroscopy is an analytical tool that could be used to diagnose skin cancer rapidly and noninvasively. METHODS: Skin biopsy fragments of ≈ 2 mm(2) from excisional surgeries were scanned through a Raman spectrometer (830 nm excitation wavelength, 50 to 200 mW of power, and 20 sec exposure time) coupled to a fiber optic Raman probe. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Euclidean distance were employed to develop a discrimination model to classify samples according to histopathology. In this model, we used a set of 145 spectra from N (30 spectra), BCC (96 spectra), and MEL (19 spectra) skin tissues. RESULTS: We demonstrated that principal components (PCs) 1 to 4 accounted for 95.4% of all spectral variation. These PCs have been spectrally correlated to the biochemicals present in tissues, such as proteins, lipids, and melanin. The scores of PC2 and PC3 revealed statistically significant differences among N, BCC, and MEL (ANOVA, p<0.05) and were used in the discrimination model. A total of 28 out of 30 spectra were correctly diagnosed as N, 93 out of 96 as BCC, and 13 out of 19 as MEL, with an overall accuracy of 92.4%. CONCLUSIONS: This discrimination model based on PCA and Euclidean distance could differentiate N from malignant (BCC and MEL) with high sensitivity and specificity.

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This work aims the detection of the histopathologic alterations of in vitro human gastric mucosa using spectral informations from laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIFS) technique with excitation at 488 nm (argon laser). A total of 108 biopsies with endoscopic diagnosis of gastritis and gastric cancer were obtained at the antral gastric region, from 35 patients with dyspeptic digestive complaints. The biopsies were collected during the endoscopic examination. On each biopsy fragment the autofluorescence spectrum was collected in two random points, through a fiber-optic catheter coupled to the excitation laser. The fluorescence emission spectra collected by the fibers were directed to the spectrograph and detected by the CCD camera. The spectra were then separated in groups (N, normal; LI, light inflammation; MI, moderated inflammation; CA, adenocarcinoma), based on the histopathology. The ratio between the emission wavelengths 550 and 600 nm was used as a diagnostic parameter. Analysis of fluorescence spectra was able to identify the normal tissue from adenocarcinoma lesions with 100% of sensibility and specificity. The ratio intensities between inflammation (light and moderated), although presented significantly statistical differences when compared to the normal mucosa, do not furnish enough sensibility and specificity for use as an identification method due to high variations. LIFS, with excitation of 488 nm, could be used in the differentiation of normal tissue and neoplasic lesions, assisting a less invasive diagnosis.

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Os autores abordam o comportamento da hepatite viral durante o ciclo grávido-puerperal, por ser a maior causa de icterícia neste período. Confirmam a importância da transmissão vertical para a hepatite do tipo B, além de sinalizarem para a gravidade da hepatite dos tipos C e E. O tipo C tem altas taxas de cronificação e o tipo E, quando adquirido no terceiro trimestre da gestação, apresenta a possibilidade de hepatite fulminante, com morte materna. Relembram o diagnóstico clássico da fase aguda e a assintomática fase crônica, além de lembrarem os possíveis diagnósticos diferenciais. A literatura é unânime em recomendar o rastreamento universal para a hepatite B, deixando as demais formas para situações de forte evidência epidemiológica. Finalmente informam as possibilidades terapêuticas com imunoglobulinas aplicadas na mãe e no recém-nato

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