"Mas a amizade supõe uma série de direitos e deveres e, se você abdica deles consistentemente, está também abdicando dessa relação de amizade."
Alex Castro
Perfeito.
Mais de Alex Castro aqui.
segunda-feira, agosto 10, 2009
domingo, agosto 09, 2009
A Sopa 09/02
Dia dos pais.
Todos dizem que – ao contrário da mãe, que desde que sabe que está grávida sente-se mãe – o pai só será pai após o nascimento, após ver e sentir o filho que recém nasce. Eu pensava isso, mas me descobri pai bem antes da Marina nascer. E lembro bem o momento em que me senti pai pela primeira vez.
Foi logo antes de eu viajar para Toronto, em maio do ano passado. Não lembro bem a razão, provavelmente indo para o Centro de Porto Alegre, mas andava de ônibus, e estava ouvindo o meu iPod, quando começou a tocar a versão do havaiano Israel Kamakawiwo'ole para Somewhere Over the Rainbow (apenas ele cantando e tocando ukelele). Nessa versão da música, ele faz um mix com What a Wonderful World, do Louis Armstrong. Ali naquele momento, quando ele cantava “I hear babies cry/I watch them grow/They’ll learn much more/than I’ll never know” percebi que eu já era pai.
Eu tinha medo.
O medo, nesse caso específico, era de que alguma coisa acontecesse comigo na viagem e a Marina nunca conhecesse o pai dela. Mas percebi aí que – como se tivéssemos roubado o fogo dos deuses tal como Prometeu e acorrentados ao Monte Cáucaso para que diariamente Éton, o abutre, comesse nosso fígado – estamos condenados a vivermos sob o manto eterno do medo.
Medo de não estar presente, de não conseguir protegê-los, de protegê-los demais, de não sermos dignos de sua admiração, de desapontá-los, de não darmos limites, de reprimi-los em excesso, de não estimularmos seu desenvolvimento, de que sofram, de que fiquem doentes, de que andem em más companhias, e mil outros medos que nem nos passam pela cabeça, mas que – de repente – aparecem.
Não queremos que passem pelas mesmas dificuldades que passamos, que não cometam os mesmos erros que cometemos, que nos ouçam sempre. Mas se não fizerem por eles, como descobrirão? Temos que ensiná-los a andar por si, e mesmo que queiramos que não saiam de perto de nossos olhos, eles têm que descobrir o mundo por conta própria. Como aceitar isso assim, sem angústia?
Ser pai é ter medo, descobri.
Mas não há experiência melhor no mundo.
Feliz Dia dos Pais.
Até.
Todos dizem que – ao contrário da mãe, que desde que sabe que está grávida sente-se mãe – o pai só será pai após o nascimento, após ver e sentir o filho que recém nasce. Eu pensava isso, mas me descobri pai bem antes da Marina nascer. E lembro bem o momento em que me senti pai pela primeira vez.
Foi logo antes de eu viajar para Toronto, em maio do ano passado. Não lembro bem a razão, provavelmente indo para o Centro de Porto Alegre, mas andava de ônibus, e estava ouvindo o meu iPod, quando começou a tocar a versão do havaiano Israel Kamakawiwo'ole para Somewhere Over the Rainbow (apenas ele cantando e tocando ukelele). Nessa versão da música, ele faz um mix com What a Wonderful World, do Louis Armstrong. Ali naquele momento, quando ele cantava “I hear babies cry/I watch them grow/They’ll learn much more/than I’ll never know” percebi que eu já era pai.
Eu tinha medo.
O medo, nesse caso específico, era de que alguma coisa acontecesse comigo na viagem e a Marina nunca conhecesse o pai dela. Mas percebi aí que – como se tivéssemos roubado o fogo dos deuses tal como Prometeu e acorrentados ao Monte Cáucaso para que diariamente Éton, o abutre, comesse nosso fígado – estamos condenados a vivermos sob o manto eterno do medo.
Medo de não estar presente, de não conseguir protegê-los, de protegê-los demais, de não sermos dignos de sua admiração, de desapontá-los, de não darmos limites, de reprimi-los em excesso, de não estimularmos seu desenvolvimento, de que sofram, de que fiquem doentes, de que andem em más companhias, e mil outros medos que nem nos passam pela cabeça, mas que – de repente – aparecem.
Não queremos que passem pelas mesmas dificuldades que passamos, que não cometam os mesmos erros que cometemos, que nos ouçam sempre. Mas se não fizerem por eles, como descobrirão? Temos que ensiná-los a andar por si, e mesmo que queiramos que não saiam de perto de nossos olhos, eles têm que descobrir o mundo por conta própria. Como aceitar isso assim, sem angústia?
Ser pai é ter medo, descobri.
Mas não há experiência melhor no mundo.
Feliz Dia dos Pais.
Até.
sábado, agosto 08, 2009
quinta-feira, agosto 06, 2009
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 6
6 AUGUST 2009 | GENEVA -- WHO is aware of some media reports that have expressed concern about the safety of vaccines for pandemic influenza. The public needs to be reassured that regulatory procedures in place for the licensing of pandemic vaccines, including procedures for expediting regulatory approval, are rigorous and do not compromise safety or quality controls.
Vaccines are among the most important medical interventions for reducing illness and deaths during a pandemic. However, to have the greatest impact, pandemic vaccines need to be available quickly and in large quantities.
During the 1957 and 1968 pandemics, vaccines arrived too late to be used as an effective mitigation tool during the more severe phases of the pandemics. Influenza vaccines had not yet been developed when the 1918 pandemic swept around the world, eventually killing an estimated 50 million people.
In 2007, as part of preparedness for an influenza pandemic, WHO worked together with health officials, regulatory authorities, and vaccine manufacturers to explore a broad range of issues surrounding the regulatory approval of pandemic vaccines. [1]
Ways were sought to shorten the time between the emergence of a pandemic virus and the availability of safe and effective vaccines. Different regulatory pathways were assessed, and precautions needed to ensure quality, safety, and effectiveness were set out in detail.
Fast-track procedures for approval
Regulatory authorities have shown great flexibility in developing procedures for fast-tracking the approval and licensing of pandemic vaccines.
In some cases, pandemic vaccines are not regarded by regulatory authorities as entirely “new” vaccines, as they build on the technology used to produce vaccines for seasonal influenza, established procedures for testing and regulatory control, and an extensive body of safety data.
In such cases, approval procedures are similar to those applied to “strain changes” made each year when seasonal vaccines are modified to match circulating viruses in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Specific regulatory procedures have been devised to expedite the approval of pandemic vaccines. In the USA, for example, fewer data are required when the manufacturer already has a licensed influenza vaccine and intends to use the same manufacturing process for its pandemic vaccine.
In the European Union, the European Medicines Agency uses a rolling review procedure whereby manufacturers can submit sets of data for regulatory review as they become available, without having to wait until all data can be submitted together in a single formal application.
Also in Europe, some manufacturers have conducted advance studies using a so-called “mock-up” vaccine. Mock-up vaccines contain an active ingredient for an influenza virus that has not circulated recently in human populations and thus mimics the novelty of a pandemic virus. Such advance studies can greatly expedite regulatory approval.
Special safety concerns
Influenza vaccines have been used for more than 60 years and have an established record of safety in all age groups. While some serious adverse events have been reported, these have been rare.
Nonetheless, special safety issues will inevitably arise during a pandemic when vaccine is administered on a massive scale. For example, adverse events too rare to show up even in a large clinical trial may become apparent when very large numbers of people receive a pandemic vaccine.
Some adverse events will be coincidental – that is, associated in time with vaccine administration, yet not directly caused by the vaccine. Genuine adverse events directly caused by the vaccine may also occur, but cannot be predicted in advance. Given the safety record of seasonal vaccines, such events are expected to be rare.
Time constraints mean that clinical data at the time when pandemic vaccines are first administered will inevitably be limited. Further testing of safety and effectiveness will need to take place after administration of the vaccine has begun.
For these reasons, WHO advises all countries administering pandemic vaccines to conduct intensive monitoring for safety and efficacy, and many countries have plans in place for doing so. On the positive side, mass vaccination campaigns can generate significant safety data within a few weeks.
International sharing of data from such post-marketing surveillance will be vital in guiding risk-benefit assessments and determining whether changes in vaccination policies are needed. WHO has developed standardized protocols for data collection and reporting in real-time, and will communicate findings to the international community via its web site.
Fonte: WHO
Vaccines are among the most important medical interventions for reducing illness and deaths during a pandemic. However, to have the greatest impact, pandemic vaccines need to be available quickly and in large quantities.
During the 1957 and 1968 pandemics, vaccines arrived too late to be used as an effective mitigation tool during the more severe phases of the pandemics. Influenza vaccines had not yet been developed when the 1918 pandemic swept around the world, eventually killing an estimated 50 million people.
In 2007, as part of preparedness for an influenza pandemic, WHO worked together with health officials, regulatory authorities, and vaccine manufacturers to explore a broad range of issues surrounding the regulatory approval of pandemic vaccines. [1]
Ways were sought to shorten the time between the emergence of a pandemic virus and the availability of safe and effective vaccines. Different regulatory pathways were assessed, and precautions needed to ensure quality, safety, and effectiveness were set out in detail.
Fast-track procedures for approval
Regulatory authorities have shown great flexibility in developing procedures for fast-tracking the approval and licensing of pandemic vaccines.
In some cases, pandemic vaccines are not regarded by regulatory authorities as entirely “new” vaccines, as they build on the technology used to produce vaccines for seasonal influenza, established procedures for testing and regulatory control, and an extensive body of safety data.
In such cases, approval procedures are similar to those applied to “strain changes” made each year when seasonal vaccines are modified to match circulating viruses in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Specific regulatory procedures have been devised to expedite the approval of pandemic vaccines. In the USA, for example, fewer data are required when the manufacturer already has a licensed influenza vaccine and intends to use the same manufacturing process for its pandemic vaccine.
In the European Union, the European Medicines Agency uses a rolling review procedure whereby manufacturers can submit sets of data for regulatory review as they become available, without having to wait until all data can be submitted together in a single formal application.
Also in Europe, some manufacturers have conducted advance studies using a so-called “mock-up” vaccine. Mock-up vaccines contain an active ingredient for an influenza virus that has not circulated recently in human populations and thus mimics the novelty of a pandemic virus. Such advance studies can greatly expedite regulatory approval.
Special safety concerns
Influenza vaccines have been used for more than 60 years and have an established record of safety in all age groups. While some serious adverse events have been reported, these have been rare.
Nonetheless, special safety issues will inevitably arise during a pandemic when vaccine is administered on a massive scale. For example, adverse events too rare to show up even in a large clinical trial may become apparent when very large numbers of people receive a pandemic vaccine.
Some adverse events will be coincidental – that is, associated in time with vaccine administration, yet not directly caused by the vaccine. Genuine adverse events directly caused by the vaccine may also occur, but cannot be predicted in advance. Given the safety record of seasonal vaccines, such events are expected to be rare.
Time constraints mean that clinical data at the time when pandemic vaccines are first administered will inevitably be limited. Further testing of safety and effectiveness will need to take place after administration of the vaccine has begun.
For these reasons, WHO advises all countries administering pandemic vaccines to conduct intensive monitoring for safety and efficacy, and many countries have plans in place for doing so. On the positive side, mass vaccination campaigns can generate significant safety data within a few weeks.
International sharing of data from such post-marketing surveillance will be vital in guiding risk-benefit assessments and determining whether changes in vaccination policies are needed. WHO has developed standardized protocols for data collection and reporting in real-time, and will communicate findings to the international community via its web site.
Fonte: WHO
segunda-feira, agosto 03, 2009
Two Billion People
World Health Officials Say Two Billion People May Contract Swine Flu
By Melinda Smith
Washington
28 July 2009
The World Health Organization predicts the H1N1 Swine Flu virus will infect two billion people, or one out of every three persons, over the next two years. While this flu has already killed 800, the WHO says thousands more could die unless an effective vaccine is developed soon.
his year's pandemic spread around the globe with record-breaking speed. It has taken less than two months for the H1N1 swine flu to spread, while previous pandemics took six months or longer.
Yet Dr. Keiji Fukuda of the World Health Organization warns this global outbreak is still in the early stages. "We have a very large global population, and it is quite clear that we'll continue to see spread of this virus through countries, and then among countries," he said.
Most of the patients have been teenagers, between 12 and 17 years old. But the virus is spreading more deeply into many communities and the WHO says the average age of patients now appears to be getting slightly older.
While young people and pregnant women are still at higher risk for contracting the H1N1 virus, health officials also caution that patients with cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, diabetes, cancer, and obesity are just as vulnerable.
Some clinical trials of potential vaccines are underway, others will start soon.
The European Medicines Agency says large scale clinical trials will be bypassed in order to get vaccines into the general population as soon as possible.
Health officials in Britain, Greece, France and Sweden have announced they will begin inoculations among the public possibly within weeks.
The WHO's Dr. Fukuda has not criticized that decision, but expressed concern about rushing vaccine production too soon. "There are certain things which cannot be compromised," he explains. "And one of the things which cannot be compromised is the safety of vaccines. There can't be any questions whether the vaccine is safe or not."
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization says countries with widespread infections have switched from reporting individual testing of all patients, to monitoring and reporting trends in the population.
According to the WHO, testing of patients has strained the laboratory capacity of many countries.
Dr. Fukuda believes health officials can still accurately predict the pandemic's size. "We know that the total number of laboratory confirmed cases is really only a subset of the total number of cases," he asserts.
Recently, the international health organization said it would no longer publish global tables reporting the number of new cases for all countries.
FONTE: Voice of America
By Melinda Smith
Washington
28 July 2009
The World Health Organization predicts the H1N1 Swine Flu virus will infect two billion people, or one out of every three persons, over the next two years. While this flu has already killed 800, the WHO says thousands more could die unless an effective vaccine is developed soon.
his year's pandemic spread around the globe with record-breaking speed. It has taken less than two months for the H1N1 swine flu to spread, while previous pandemics took six months or longer.
Yet Dr. Keiji Fukuda of the World Health Organization warns this global outbreak is still in the early stages. "We have a very large global population, and it is quite clear that we'll continue to see spread of this virus through countries, and then among countries," he said.
Most of the patients have been teenagers, between 12 and 17 years old. But the virus is spreading more deeply into many communities and the WHO says the average age of patients now appears to be getting slightly older.
While young people and pregnant women are still at higher risk for contracting the H1N1 virus, health officials also caution that patients with cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, diabetes, cancer, and obesity are just as vulnerable.
Some clinical trials of potential vaccines are underway, others will start soon.
The European Medicines Agency says large scale clinical trials will be bypassed in order to get vaccines into the general population as soon as possible.
Health officials in Britain, Greece, France and Sweden have announced they will begin inoculations among the public possibly within weeks.
The WHO's Dr. Fukuda has not criticized that decision, but expressed concern about rushing vaccine production too soon. "There are certain things which cannot be compromised," he explains. "And one of the things which cannot be compromised is the safety of vaccines. There can't be any questions whether the vaccine is safe or not."
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization says countries with widespread infections have switched from reporting individual testing of all patients, to monitoring and reporting trends in the population.
According to the WHO, testing of patients has strained the laboratory capacity of many countries.
Dr. Fukuda believes health officials can still accurately predict the pandemic's size. "We know that the total number of laboratory confirmed cases is really only a subset of the total number of cases," he asserts.
Recently, the international health organization said it would no longer publish global tables reporting the number of new cases for all countries.
FONTE: Voice of America
domingo, agosto 02, 2009
A Sopa 09/01
Agosto.
Por razões conhecidas, houve um momento da minha vida em que acreditei que o mês de agosto realmente era um mês “com maus fluidos”: foi numa noite de onze para doze de agosto de mil novecentos e noventa que estive envolvido (fui vítima) de um acidente de trânsito que me fez ficar doze dias em coma numa UTI e vinte e cinco dias ao todo no hospital. Tremenda má sorte, pode-se pensar, mas discordo, o que não vem ao caso no momento. O fato é que por um tempo acreditei que o mês em questão tinha sua parcela de culpa no processo.
Bobagem, da mesma forma que é bobagem acreditar que os anos terminados em número par são melhores que os outros, mas confesso que também já acreditei nisso. Mas isso também não é importante no momento. Quero falar da crença de que agosto – o chamado mês do cachorro louco – é de alguma forma pior do que os outros meses. Pura crendice, óbvio, mas assim são as pessoas, procuram explicações no além para o que não entendem. Somos assim, paciência.
Até que um dia, por circunstâncias alheias à nossa vontade, a Jacque e eu optamos por nos casar em agosto. Acontece que por questão de calendário de férias nossas e de colegas de trabalho, só poderíamos nos casar na primeira semana de setembro ou antes disso. O primeira sábado de setembro era dia sete, feriado nacional, e não era possível casar nessa data (ou a igreja já estava lotada, não lembro).
O fato é que decidimos nos casar no final de semana anterior, no dia 31/08, e quando fui conversar com o padre sobre a data escolhida, ele comentou que ninguém casava em agosto – tinham medo, parece – ao que respondi que trinta e um à noite já era praticamente setembro, não tinha problema. Casamos, num sábado cinzento e de muita chuva na hora da festa. Começava aí a ruir a minha implicância com agosto.
Que acabou completamente no dia vinte desse mês do ano passado, quando às 6h30 da manhã, quarta-feira, nasceu a Marina, minha filha com a Jacque.
O mundo estava completo, e agosto se tornou um dos mais belos meses do ano.
Até.
Por razões conhecidas, houve um momento da minha vida em que acreditei que o mês de agosto realmente era um mês “com maus fluidos”: foi numa noite de onze para doze de agosto de mil novecentos e noventa que estive envolvido (fui vítima) de um acidente de trânsito que me fez ficar doze dias em coma numa UTI e vinte e cinco dias ao todo no hospital. Tremenda má sorte, pode-se pensar, mas discordo, o que não vem ao caso no momento. O fato é que por um tempo acreditei que o mês em questão tinha sua parcela de culpa no processo.
Bobagem, da mesma forma que é bobagem acreditar que os anos terminados em número par são melhores que os outros, mas confesso que também já acreditei nisso. Mas isso também não é importante no momento. Quero falar da crença de que agosto – o chamado mês do cachorro louco – é de alguma forma pior do que os outros meses. Pura crendice, óbvio, mas assim são as pessoas, procuram explicações no além para o que não entendem. Somos assim, paciência.
Até que um dia, por circunstâncias alheias à nossa vontade, a Jacque e eu optamos por nos casar em agosto. Acontece que por questão de calendário de férias nossas e de colegas de trabalho, só poderíamos nos casar na primeira semana de setembro ou antes disso. O primeira sábado de setembro era dia sete, feriado nacional, e não era possível casar nessa data (ou a igreja já estava lotada, não lembro).
O fato é que decidimos nos casar no final de semana anterior, no dia 31/08, e quando fui conversar com o padre sobre a data escolhida, ele comentou que ninguém casava em agosto – tinham medo, parece – ao que respondi que trinta e um à noite já era praticamente setembro, não tinha problema. Casamos, num sábado cinzento e de muita chuva na hora da festa. Começava aí a ruir a minha implicância com agosto.
Que acabou completamente no dia vinte desse mês do ano passado, quando às 6h30 da manhã, quarta-feira, nasceu a Marina, minha filha com a Jacque.
O mundo estava completo, e agosto se tornou um dos mais belos meses do ano.
Até.
sábado, agosto 01, 2009
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