Impact of a simple informative leaflet on Brazilian doctors' attitudes towards active surveillance of thyroid microcarcinomas.

Introduction: Active surveillance (AS) is increasingly recognized as an appropriate strategy for selected patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMC). However, some factors, including physician-related ones, hinder its widespread adoption.

Methods: To explore the prevailing barriers and the impact of information on attitudes towards AS implementation, we developed a questionnaire that was completed before and after reading a simple information leaflet by 317 doctors working in different work environments.

A comprehensive exploration of gallbladder health: from common to rare imaging findings.

This comprehensive review explores a wide range of imaging findings associated with the gallbladder (GB), from anatomic variants to rare diseases. Through an in-depth review of diagnostic modalities including ultrasound, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, CT, and MRI, we aim to highlight the crucial role of imaging techniques in diagnosing GB disorders, as congenital anomalies, inflammatory diseases, neoplasms, and surgical complications. Employing a detailed analysis and comparison of imaging findings across various modalities, this review seeks to improve diagnostic accuracy for GB-related pathologies, facilitating optimal patient management.

Comparison of the effect of noninvasive radiofrequency with vaginal estrogen and vaginal moisturizer in the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To compare the effect of noninvasive radiofrequency (RF) with vaginal estrogen (E), and vaginal moisturizer (M) on improving vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) in women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause.

Methods: A total of 32 postmenopausal women who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into three intervention arms to receive one of the following treatments: three sessions of noninvasive RF therapy (RF arm); intravaginal estriol cream 1 mg applied daily for 2 weeks, followed by 1 mg applied two times weekly or 1 mg of estradiol vaginal fast-dissolving film applied daily for 2 weeks, followed by 1 mg applied two times weekly (E arm); and intravaginal moisturizer two times a week (M arm). Assessments at baseline and after 4 months were conducted using Vaginal Health Index score, Vaginal Maturation, visual analog scale for VVA symptoms (dyspareunia, dryness, and burning), and Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) for urogenital symptoms.

Association of physical activity and sitting with metabolic syndrome and hyperglycemic clamp parameters in adolescents - BRAMS pediatric study.

Introduction: Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) have immediate and long-term consequences on adolescent health and well-being. Among the available treatments for MetS in adolescents, behavioral interventions such as increasing physical activity (PA) are preferred. This study aimed to investigate the association of PA and sitting time with MetS and a complete set of metabolic health parameters.

Perceptions of the oral health of their patients reported by Brazilian medical residents in psychiatry.

Persons with severe mental disorders have higher chances of presenting oral health problems than persons in the general population. Mental disorders are considered public-health problems worldwide. Interpreting statements on oral health made by medical students receiving instruction in psychiatry is essential to provide elements for reflection on their difficulties, barriers or limited knowledge in managing their patients' oral health.

Analysis of morbidity and mortality in patients with primary bone tumors who underwent sacrectomy: A systematic review.

Background: Sacrectomy is indicated for the resection of life-threatening tumors in the sacrum area. Several studies have been conducted to investigate important aspects of sacrectomy to help reduce the morbidity and mortality of patients who underwent the procedure. This aim of this systematic review was to highlight the prognoses of patients who underwent sacrectomy for the resection of primary bone tumors by analyzing information related to the intraoperative and perioperative periods of the procedure.

Clinical pharmacy in onco-hematology and bone marrow transplant: A valuable contribution to improving patient safety.

Introduction: It is known that clinical pharmacists intercept prescribing errors and contribute to patient safety in several medical specialties. The aim of this study was to identify, quantify and classify prescribing errors and pharmacist interventions carried out in onco-hematology and bone marrow transplant inpatient units.

Methods: This was a prospective and quantitative study, conducted from February 2018 to July 2018 in onco-hematology and bone marrow transplant inpatient units of a tertiary teaching hospital in Brazil.

Patients with Schizophrenia Undergoing Gastric Bypass Surgery: a Case Series Study.

Purpose: Obesity affects approximately 45-55% of persons with schizophrenia and is more difficult to manage in these individuals than in the general population, apart from being an additional factor for morbidity and premature mortality. Although bariatric surgery is considered the most effective long-term treatment for severe obesity, there are few reports on the outcomes of this procedure in persons with schizophrenia. This study aimed to evaluate weight loss and psychiatric symptoms in persons with obesity and schizophrenia after bariatric surgery.

Epstein-Barr virus induces morphological and molecular changes in thyroid neoplastic cells.

Although the evolution of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is usually indolent, some tumors grow fast, metastasize, and may be fatal. Viruses have been associated with many human tumors, especially the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which shows a high viral load in DTC. In order to evaluate the ability of the virus to cause morphological and molecular changes in neoplastic thyroid cell lines TPC-1, BCPAP, and 8505C, a viral adaptation was performed for the analysis of EBV cytopathic effect (CPE), viral kinetics and gene expression analysis of oncogenes KRAS, NRAS, HRAS, and TP53.

Iodine‑131 metabolic radiotherapy leads to cell death and genomic alterations through NIS overexpression on cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is an aggressive liver tumor with limited therapeutic options. Natrium‑iodide symporter (NIS) mediates the uptake of iodine by the thyroid, representing a key component in metabolic radiotherapy using iodine‑131 (131I) for the treatment of thyroid cancer. NIS expression is increased in CC, providing the opportunity for a novel therapeutic approach for this type of tumor.

Pro-inflammatory Cytokines and Resistant Hypertension: Potential for Novel Treatments?

Purpose Of Review: To gather data from studies evaluating the pro-inflammatory profile of individuals with resistant hypertension (RH), and bring a clinical update of new and potential complementary therapies to treat inflammation in RH.

Recent Findings: Increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines are related to elevated blood pressure and target organ damage in RH patients. Clinical and experimental studies have shown that some biological therapies, especially TNF-α inhibitors, regulated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines associated with improvements in clinical outcomes, although they are not yet reported in RH.

Thyroid autoimmune diseases and thyroid tumors: Would EBV infection be the link?

The role of EBV in thyroid cancer development and the patient's outcome is still unclear. Using nested-PCR, Moghoofei et al. reported a high incidence of a virus in thyroid tumor samples, different from our results, obtained by quantitative real-time PCR and confirmed by in situ hybridization.

Otitis Media: Long-Term Effect on Central Auditory Nervous System.

Objectives: To analyze the central auditory nervous system function through behavioral and electrophysiological tests in children with a history of otitis media and subsequent bilateral tubes placement surgery.

Methods: The participants were divided into two groups between eight and 14 years old: control group (CG) consisted of 40 children with no history of otitis media; experimental group (EG) consisted of 50 children with documented history of otitis media and undertook a surgery for bilateral tubes placement. All children completed audiological evaluation (audiometry, speech audiometry, and immittance audiometry), behavioral evaluation (tests: dichotic digits, synthetic sentence identification with ipsilateral competing message, gaps-in-noise, frequency pattern), and electrophysiological evaluation (Auditory Brainstem Response, ABR, Frequency Following Response, FFR (verbal), and Long Latency Auditory Evoked Potential, LLAEP).

Epstein-Barr Virus and Thyroid Cancer.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seroprevalence is extremely high worldwide. This member of the herpesvirus family is considered to be a human carcinogen, implicated in lymphoid and epithelial malignancies. Because of its characteristics, EBV has been investigated in thyroid specimens, especially in autoimmune and neoplastic lesions.

High-intensity-exercise-induced intestinal damage is protected by fermented milk supplemented with whey protein, probiotic and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.).

Here we evaluated the effect of fermented milk supplemented with whey protein (approximately 80 % protein), probiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB12) and pomegranate juice (Punica granatum L.) on the physical performance, intestinal motility and villi structure, inflammatory markers and intestinal microbiota of rats under high-intensity acute exercise.

TISSUE EXPRESION OF THE GENES MUTYH AND OGG1 IN PATIENTS WITH SPORADIC COLORECTAL CANCER.

Background: MTUYH and OGG1 genes have importance in the base excision repair systems of oxidized DNA bases. Modification of the tissue expression of these genes is related to the increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Aim: To evaluate the tissue expression of MUTYH and OGG1 comparing normal and neoplastic tissues of patients with sporadic colorectal cancer and to correlate it with clinical and histopathological variables.

Immunotherapy against endocrine malignancies: immune checkpoint inhibitors lead the way.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are agents that act by inhibiting the mechanisms of immune escape displayed by various cancers. The success of immune checkpoint inhibitors against several tumors has promoted a new treatment strategy in clinical oncology, and this has encouraged physicians to increase the number of patients who receive the immune checkpoint therapy. In the present article, we review the main concepts regarding immune checkpoint mechanisms and how cancer disrupts them to undergo immune escape.

Detection of Putative Stem-cell Markers in Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast by Immunohistochemistry: Does It Improve Prognostic/Predictive Assessments?

Introduction: Experimental evidences from the last 2 decades supports the existence of a special type of neoplastic cell with stem-like features [cancer stem cell (CSC)] and their role in the pathophysiology and therapeutic resistance of breast cancer. However, their clinical value in human breast cancer has not been fully determined.

Materials And Methods: An immunohistochemistry panel of 10 putative CSC markers (CD34, C-KIT, CD10, SOX-2, OCT 3/4, p63, CD24, CD44, CD133, and ESA/EPCAM) was applied to 74 cases of breast cancer, followed in a Regional Cancer Center of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from 2004 to 2006.

Investigation on the association between thyroid tumorigeneses and herpesviruses.

Herpesviruses have been associated with various human malignancies and with thyroid autoimmunity. Aiming to investigate the presence of these viruses in thyroid nodules, we analyzed serum and thyroid tissue from 183 patients (83 benign and 100 malignant thyroid nodules). We also obtained 104 normal thyroid tissues extracted from the contralateral lobe of these patients.

Clinical relevancy and risks of potential drug-drug interactions in intensive therapy.

Purpose: Evaluate the potential Drug-Drug Interactions (pDDI) found in prescription orders of adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a Brazilian public health system hospital; quantify and qualify the pDDI regarding their severity and risks to the critical patient, using the database from Micromedex®.

Methods: Prospective study (January-December of 2011) collecting and evaluating 369 prescription orders (convenient sampling), one per patient.

Results: During the study 1844 pDDIs were identified and distributed in 405 pairs (medication A × medication B combination).

Comparison of auditory event-related potentials between children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes and children with temporal lobe epilepsy.

The abnormal brain discharges observed in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) are located close to areas responsible for auditory and language processing. This study aimed to analyze the results of auditory event-related potentials (P300) in children with BECTS and TLE in order to assess whether the epileptic activity in centrotemporal and temporal regions may compromise the integrity and physiology of auditory system structures. This was a prospective, comparative, and cross-sectional study.

Polymorphism in LEP and LEPR May Modify Leptin Levels and Represent Risk Factors for Thyroid Cancer.

Purpose. To understand the role of polymorphisms in the LEP (rs7799039 and rs2167270) and LEPR (rs1137101 and rs1137100) genes in DTC susceptibility and their effect on leptin levels. Methods.

Temporal auditory processing and phonological awareness in children with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.

The aim of this research was to analyze temporal auditory processing and phonological awareness in school-age children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS). Patient group (GI) consisted of 13 children diagnosed with BECTS. Control group (GII) consisted of 17 healthy children.