Genotoxicity of diuron and glyphosate in oyster spermatozoa and embryos.

We investigated the effects of genotoxicant exposure in gametes and embryos to find a possible link between genotoxicity and reproduction/developmental impairment, and explore the impact of chemical genotoxicity on population dynamics. Our study focused on the genotoxic effects of two herbicides on oyster gametes and embryos: glyphosate (both as an active substance and in the Roundup formulation) and diuron. France is Europe's leading consumer of agrochemical substances and as such, contamination of France's coastal waters by pesticides is a major concern. Glyphosate and diuron are among the most frequently detected herbicides in oyster production areas; as oyster is a specie with external reproduction, its gametes and embryos are in direct contact with the surrounding waters and are hence particularly exposed to these potentially dangerous substances. In the course of this study, differences in genotoxic and embryotoxic responses were observed in the various experiments, possibly due to differences in pollutant sensitivity between the tested genitor lots. Glyphosate and Roundup had no effect on oyster development at the concentrations tested, whereas diuron significantly affected embryo-larval development from the lowest tested concentration of 0.05 µg L⁻¹, i.e. an environmentally realistic concentration. Diuron may therefore have a significant impact on oyster recruitment rates in the natural environment. Our spermiotoxicity study revealed none of the tested herbicides to be cytotoxic for oyster spermatozoa. However, the alkaline comet assay showed diuron to have a significant genotoxic effect on oyster spermatozoa at concentrations of 0.05 µg L⁻¹ upwards. Conversely, no effects due to diuron exposure were observed on sperm mitochondrial function or acrosomal membrane integrity. Although our initial results showed no negative effect on sperm function, the possible impact on fertilization rate and the consequences of the transmission of damaged DNA for oyster development and physiological performances, requires further investigation. A likely hypothesis to explain the embryotoxic and genotoxic effects of diuron is that it may act via causing oxidative stress.

[Functional method in nursing practice approached through group dynamics: our experience]. / O método funcional na prática da enfermagem abordado através da dinâmica de grupo: relato de uma experiência.

This study discusses the functional method applied to Nursing, approached through a group dynamics developed with three groups of Master students from the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing. After the dynamics, the subjects answered a questionnaire with four questions. The responses of the first group showed the limitations of the functional model that interfere in the work such as: impersonal relationships, fragmentation of tasks, centralization of decisions causing the workers' dissatisfaction. The groups II and III pointed out some advantages when the work is based on a team, such as the exchange of experiences, participant planning and shared decisions, resulting in satisfaction at work.

[Rise in knowledge and contact with drugs in 1st grade students of public and private schools in Ribeirao Preto]. / Levantamiento del conocimiento y del contacto con drogas en la comunidad de alumnos de primer grado de enseñanza publica y privada en Ribeirão Preto.

This study was made to determine contact with drugs among first-grade students from public and private schools in the Riberao Preto community. The various social classes were considered. We decided to use the concept of social status for out empiric research, which defines it as a group of persons who have a certain number of characteristics in common which can be measured, that is, common status, and which may be defined by different criteria. Schools were classified according to their pupils, and after this initial classification, they were divided into 4 groups. A school was selected by lots from each group. A questionnaire with open and closed questions was used as instrument for data collection. According to the collected data, it was concluded that all pupils, independently from their social and economic level, had a superficial knowledge on drugs: 48.2% of those surveyed said they knew people in their neighbourhood who used drugs; 8.8% referred that they had been offered drugs. Drugs offered to them included; cocaine, marijuana, hashish, cigarettes and toxic pencils. The other 63% referred that nobody had given them any advice regarding drugs.

[A survey of the knowledge and contact with drugs in the community of firstgraders in public and private schools in Ribeirão Preto]. / Levantamiento del conocimiento y del contacto con drogas en la comunidad de alumnos de 1er, grado de enseñanza pública y privada en Ribeirão Preto.

This study refers to an essay concerning knowledge and contact with drugs among students, first grade, in private and public schools in the city of Ribeirão Preto, in different social layers. Looking for a better understanding of our data, we decided to work in this empirical survey with the concept of social stratum: a group of person with determined measurable features in common, that is, common status and that can be defined by distinct criteria. Schools were sorted according to the kind of student they had: after, schools were divided in four groups and we drew lots of each school. We used a questionnaire to collect data with opened and closed questions. According to data obtained we concluded that all students, no matter what socio-economic level, have a superficial knowledge about the subject: 48.2% said they knew people addicted to drugs in their neighbourhood; 8.8% of the children said they had offerings of drugs and the drugs were: cocaine, marijuana, haxixe, cigarettes and toxic pencil; and 63% of the remaining group said they never had an orientation related to drugs.