RESUMO
UNLABELLED: The recent engagement of Brazil in the construction and utilization of the International Space Station has motivated several Brazilian research institutions and universities to establish study centers related to Space Sciences. The Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) is no exception. METHOD: The University initiated in 1993 the first degree course training students to operate commercial aircraft in South America (the School of Aeronautical Sciences. A further step was the decision to build the first Brazilian laboratory dedicated to the conduct of experiments in ground-based microgravity simulation. Established in 1998, the Microgravity Laboratory, which was located in the Instituto de Pesquisas Cientificas e Tecnologicas (IPCT), was supported by the Schools of Medicine, Aeronautical Sciences and Electrical Engineering/Biomedical Engineering. At the end of 2006, the Microgravity Laboratory became a Center and was transferred to the School of Engineering. RESULTS: The principal activities of the Microgravity Centre are the development of research projects related to human physiology before, during and after ground-based microgravity simulation and parabolic flights, to aviation medicine in the 21st century and to aerospace biomedical engineering. CONCLUSION: The history of Brazilian, and why not say worldwide, space science should unquestionably go through PUCRS. As time passes, the pioneering spirit of our University in the aerospace area has become undeniable. This is due to the group of professionals, students, technicians and staff in general that have once worked or are still working in the Center of Microgravity, a group of faculty and students that excel in their undeniable technical-scientific qualifications.
RESUMO
A lack of cardiologists in remote areas can delay the diagnosis and the adequate management of cardiovascular emergencies. The digital tele-ECG system (DES) allows electronic data transmission to, and interpretation by, a remote cardiologist. An urban and a rural hospital in Sao Lourenco do Sul city and an outpatient unit in Turucu city employed the DES in Jan 2000, Jan 2001 and June 2003, respectively. DES includes a digital ECG machine, standard computers, a modem connection, telecommunication software and fixed or mobile phones. It allows data to be recorded, transmitted for immediate analysis and stored. A cardiologist performs the ECG analysis remotely, via either fixed or mobile phone, using the same telecommunication software. A total of 1950 digital tele-ECGs have been made in the three locations. The time between data transmission and analysis with online DES is around 9 min in online transmissions. The low cost of this system makes it useful and appropriate for small cities of developing countries where cardiologists are not available for on-site consultation. DES has promoted a significant improvement in the acute management of patients with a consequent decrease in the morbidity and mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases.