Oi!

or hello! from Barretos, Brazil!

Jessica, my fellow intern and I have been here for two days now, and in just two days, there is already so much to update you on. So here we go!

 

And…we made it!

After a 10 hour flight, a 6 hour layover in Sao Paulo, and one more 1 hour flight, Jessica and I finally made it on Wednesday, June 13th.  At the Ribeirao Preto airport , the nearest airport to Barretos, we mere picked up by Wagner, the hospital assistant administrator that helped organize our trip. Then after a 1.5 hour scenic car ride to Barretos , we arrived at our apartment–  or our home for the next 2 months! Dr. Thiago, our mentor, greeted us at the apartment gate and showed us the way inside. Upon entering, we were in awe. The apartment, nicely furnished and stocked with food by the kind people at the hospital, was cozy and beautiful. Jessica and I were excited to settle in and  take pictures (of course)!

 

Hospital de Cancer de Barretos: the big first day

Thursday was our big first day at the Hospital de Cancer de Barretos. We left our apartment at 8:30 a.m., and since then, a day of walking and touring commenced. We toured the entire main hospital, visited the beautifully designed IRCAD building, talked to many friendly professionals, had our first Brazilian meal, and lastly but definitely not least, met with all our mentors  to demonstrate the BTB technologies we had with us.

(see that blue door on the right? That’s the entrance we walk through everyday!)

 

The Mobile Units

In our meeting with all our mentors,  Dr. Edmundo (prevention department director), Dr. Humberto (gynecologist), Dr. Adhemar, Dr. Carvelho and Dr. Thiago, we first  learned about the background and goals of the prevention department we will be working with. One big component of the prevention department, we learned, is the mobile units. These units are buses or trucks equipped with cancer screening tools that are able to bring cervical  cancer screening, skin cancer screening, prostate cancer screening and breast cancer screening to  rural areas around Brazil where cancer screening is not easily accessible. Some of the units take day trips to towns around Barretos, while others go on long trips for multiple weeks and months to farther areas, such as the Amazonas. It was really interesting to find out that the mobile screening initiative started with a nurse who traveled with a gynecological table  and went door to door around Barretos. Oh and, she did all that on a bike. Can you imagine that? The dedication of the people here are definitely impressive and respectable!

(one of the mobile unit buses)

 

The BTB Technologies

After learning more about the prevention department, Jessica and I got our technologies together and proceeded to present the BTB technologies to our mentors in order to see how we can best contribute to the work done in the prevention department.

Global Focus Microscope —

The first technology we presented was the Global Focus Microscope(GFM), a portable and low cost microscope that is able to complete both bright field and fluorescent microscopy. Like a regular microscope but inverted, the GFM has 4X,  10X,  40X and 100X objective lenses, a stage, an eyepiece and a longpass filter to filter UV rays during fluorescent microscopy. It also works with the camera of cell phones such that the user can easily capture, store and send images of the slides!

As we had the GFM with us, we also demonstrated the usage of the microscope with a  couple of slides we had prepared and with the camera on my smartphone. Since it was our first technology, I was really anxious in the beginning. But as soon as we started, excitement lit up in the room! Throughout the demonstration, our mentors excitedly discussed potential projects we could work on collaboratively to test out and use the GFM. Some of the main project ideas were to use the GFM for FISH, or fluorescent in-situ hybridization microscopy and for pap smears on the mobile units. We also discussed meetings with the pathology department to compare the GFM to the gold standard microscopy tools used for diagnosis here. It was really exhilarating to see the GFM received so well and to get project ideas started on our first day!

Gynecological Stirrups —

The second technology that we presented was the wooden u-shaped stirrups that are able to support the patients’ feet during gynecological exams.

Since the stirrups are easily constructed on-site, we included in the presentation an overview of the construction instructions for the stirrups. Dr. Edmundo and Dr. Humberto thought that the stirrups may add to cervical cancer screening project and wanted to see a prototype of the technology, so now we have in our agenda to meet with the carpenter to get a stirrup constructed and ready.

Diagnostic Lab-In-A-Backpack —

Lastly, we presented on the Diagnostic in a Lab Backpacks (Dx LIAB), which are portable backpacks that include many different diagnostic tools. Although we didn’t have the Dx LIAB with us, we briefly talked about the technology to discuss how the diagnostic tools may add to the mobile units as a future direction.  Since many of the diagnostic tools in the backpack are not specific for cancer, our mentors told us that they may know other institutions in Brazil who may benefit more from the Dx LIAB.

 

Some Cultural Notes

Since this is my first time in Brazil, there has been a few interesting things I’ve learned about Barretos and the culture here.

• “They are friends with everyone!”— Everyone here kindly greets others with ‘bom dia’ (good morning) or ‘boa tarde’ (boa tarde), even strangers walking down the hall. On our first morning with Thiago and Wagner, I thought they just knew everyone at the hospital! Brazilians are also more open to touch and embracement. The formal greeting is to kiss each other next to the cheek. So far, most people have greeted us with the very American handshake, but it’s also interesting to experience greetings the Brazilian way sometimes.

• “Did you say…clones?!”— Barretos hosts the largest rodeo in South America called theFesta do Peao de Boiadeiro de Barretos  every year in August. During the 10 day rodeo, Barretos, a small town of about 100,000 people expands and is joined by millions of visitors! They also take their rodeo very seriously. The most  ferocious bull that used to be one of the main celebrities until it recently passed away is now being cloned!

• “Boom boom!” “Are those fireworks?!”— On our first night here, fireworks were going off almost every 10 minutes. Very confused, I asked Wagner  why June 13th was such a special day for fireworks. It turns out, the tradition here is to set off fireworks every time the soccer team scores a goal! Talk about true fans!

• “Oh it’s creamer!” “No…it’s a sweetener…” — Coffee is big here. For example, a small cup of coffee is traditionally drank after every meal. Coffee is also much stronger here, and there is no cream to soften it. With just coffee and sugar, it turns out very bittersweet, literally; but I think I’m starting to like it.

• “I love the colors!”— Green, pink, yellow, turquois, and all kinds of colors from pastels to bolds liven up the houses of Barretos. They make our walks around town so interesting and lovely.