The Public Ministry of Labor (MPT) and the Regional Labor Court of the 15th Region (TRT-15) formalized the transfer of resources arising from a court decision for the acquisition of a state-of-the-art fluorescence microscope aimed at evaluating samples of tumor tissues in the Pathological Anatomy Laboratory of the Hospital de Clínicas (HC) at Unicamp. This will be the first microscope of this category in the region and the amount allocated to the HC totaled R$800 thousand.
The project was chosen by the MPT, among other entities, with the participation of the Paulínia labor court. The symbolic delivery was promoted by the president of TRT-15, judge Samuel Hugo Lima, and MPT attorney Eduardo Luís Amgarten, representing the body's chief attorney, Dimas Moreira da Silva. The ceremony was attended by judge Fábio Bueno de Aguiar and retired judge Maria Inês Corrêa de Cerqueira César Targa, the judge director of the FT of Paulínia, Claudia Cunha Marchetti, judge Oseias Pereira Lopes Junior, head of the First Labor Court of Paulínia, and the judges based at the local FT Sofia Lima Dutra and Gustavo Zabeu Vasen. The ceremony took place on August 29th, at the Labor Forum (FT) in Paulínia.
Professors Albina MA Altemani and Fernanda Viviane Mariano Brum Corrêa, both from the Department of Pathological Anatomy of the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) at Unicamp, and the former hospital superintendent Antonio Gonçalves de Oliveira Filho represented the University at the event held in Paulínia. The resources to be transferred originate from a court decision that condemned Petróleo Brasileiro S/A – Petrobras and Techint S/A to pay compensation for collective moral damage.
Lopes Junior, responsible for approving the values to be delivered, opened the ceremony and stated that these were “safe indications” from the MPT, mainly due to the history of work in favor of society carried out by Unicamp, Grupo Primavera and Seareiros (these last two assistance entities in Campinas also received the transfer of funds). “There will never be enough praise for the work of these institutions,” he concluded.
Afterwards, Amgarten stated that the moment requires a reflection on the role of the Labor Court, which with decisions like this can greatly help civil society. The prosecutor praised the TRT-15 for the habitual “courage” of judging seeking the “more excellent way, which is that of love”, as the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13.
President TRT-15 stated that the delivery of values to the three institutions has a significant purpose that “reflects the strength of justice and the commitment to the well-being of our society” and symbolizes “not only the rectification of a mistake, but also building a more promising future for our community.”
The judge thanked the authorities who led the process, especially the MPT and the Labor Court, “for their tireless commitment to promoting justice and the well-being of our community” and highlighted that these “gestures of generosity and justice reflect the strength of collaboration between the Judiciary, society and institutions dedicated to the common good”.
The president also paid a special tribute to Targa, whom he called an “icon of the labor judiciary” for his “courage” in the Shell/Basf case trial. The case, judged at the Second Paulínia Labor Court by the then judge, became emblematic in the history of Brazilian labor processes.
The microscope to be purchased will allow, for example, the analysis of the Fish reaction (acronym in English for hybridization in situ by fluorescence), which allows the detection of genetic mutations in tumors, enabling the doctor to choose the most appropriate therapy for the type of tumor identified. The amount allocated to Unicamp's HC also includes a five-year maintenance contract and a specific computer with image analysis software for biological samples.
The director of the HC Pathological Anatomy Service assures that the incorporation of the new equipment represents a technological leap in the area. “This achievement is the result of seven years of various attempts, and the inclusion of Fish's investigation into routine diagnosis and research will enable more accurate diagnoses, determining more appropriate treatment for patients with tumors, in addition to advancing the line of research in pathology molecular structure in our laboratory”, explained Mariano.
Mariano, who is an oral pathologist, clarifies that specific and already known genes related to mutations are investigated in the reaction. DNA sequences (probes) are conjugated with fluorescent substances and incubated with the tissue under investigation. The marking result will define the presence or absence of the genetic mutation in the target tumor, guiding its classification and nomenclature. “Today the nomenclature and classification of tumors are based on morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular aspects, which in turn can direct more specific and individualized therapy with different prognostic possibilities”, says the professor.
According to Mariano, in fluorescence microscopy the sample incubated with probes labeled with fluorophores emits light after being excited by a source (fluorescence filters), creating a high-resolution image. “Fish's technique will be complementary to the processes already existing in the laboratory, such as the analysis of morphology [appearance of the tumor] carried out by hematoxylin and eosin [H&E] staining and through special stains and the immunohistochemistry technique [antigen reaction -antibody], which are visualized using optical light microscopy on a conventional microscope.”
Fully motorized, flexible and easy to use, the microscope includes a objective holder to focus the sample, allowing the stage to be fixed and providing additional stability. Switches on the controller allow you to switch between different observation methods, objectives and mirror units while making intensity adjustments or image capture.
