Eletroconvulsoterapia para o tratamento de depressão psicótica refratária em paciente com desnutrição grave: estamos esquecendo a ECT?

Transtornos depressivos são um importante problema de saúde pública. Este artigo relata o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino, 35 anos, internada por quadro depressivo grave com sintomas psicóticos refratários a tratamento medicamentoso. Ao longo de 3 anos de acompanhamento psiquiátrico, a eletroconvulsoterapia (ECT) nunca havia sido oferecida como opção de tratamento. A paciente foi tratada com ECT e apresentou melhora significativa dos sintomas psiquiátricos e físicos, e atualmente leva uma vida normal. São discutidas as indicações e limitações do uso de ECT

Evaluation of Helicobacter pylory colonization by serologic test (IgG) and dyspepsia in volunteers from the countryside of Monte Negro, in the Brazilian western Amazon region

The present study intended to analyze the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori, IgG, and its relation to dyspepsia in a population from the western Amazon region. During the "Projeto Bandeira Científica", a University of São Paulo Medical School program, in Monte Negro's rural areas, state of Rondônia, 266 blood samples were collected from volunteers. The material was tested for IgG antibodies anti-Helicobacter pylori by ELISA method and the participants were also interviewed on dyspepsia, hygiene and social aspects. Participants aged between five and 81 years old (34 years on average), 149 (56%) were female and 117 (44%) male. We found 210 (78.9%) positive, 50 (18.8%) negative and six (2.3%) undetermined samples. Dyspeptic complaints were found in 226 cases (85.2%). There was no statistical association between dyspepsia and positive serology for H. pylori. We concluded that the seroprevalence in all age categories is similar to results found in other studies conducted in developing countries, including those from Brazil. On the other hand, the seroprevalence found in Monte Negro was higher than that reported in developed countries. As expected, there was a progressive increase in the positivity for H. pylori in older age groups.Este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar a soroprevalência do Helicobacter pylori, IgG, em população rural da Amazônia, e sua correlação com queixa dispéptica. No Projeto Bandeira Científica da FMUSP, em Monte Negro - RO, foram coletadas 266 amostras sangüíneas nos assentamentos rurais do município. Foram pesquisados anticorpos da classe IgG dirigidos contra Helicobacter pylori pelo método ELISA e aplicados questionários sobre dispepsia, aspectos sociais e epidemiológicos. Os pacientes tinham idades entre cinco e 81 anos (média de 34 anos); 149 (56%) do sexo feminino e 117 (44%) do sexo masculino. Foram encontradas 210 (78.9%) amostras positivas, 50 negativas (18.8%) e seis indeterminadas (2.3%). A queixa de dispepsia foi encontrada em 226 casos (85.2%). Não houve associação significativa entre os sintomas dispépticos e a soro positividade para H. pylori. Concluímos que a soro prevalência para todas as faixas etárias é comparável com os resultados de outros estudos realizados em países em desenvolvimento, e maior que aquela encontrada nos países desenvolvidos. Houve aumento progressivo da positividade com a idade, como citado na literatura

Electroconvulsive Therapy in Brazil After the "Psychiatric Reform" A Public Health Problem-Example From a University Service

Objectives: The Brazilian public health system does not provide electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which is limited to a few academic services. National mental health policies are against ECT. Our objectives were to analyze critically the public policies toward ECT and present the current situation using statistics from the Institute of Psychiatry of the University of Sao Paulo (IPq-HCFMUSP) and summary data from the other 13 ECT services identified in the country. Methods: Data regarding ECT treatment at the IPq-HCFMUSP were collected from January 2009 to June 2010 (demographical, number of sessions, and diagnoses). All the data were analyzed using SPSS 19, Epic Info 2000, and Excel. Results: During this period, 331 patients were treated at IPq-HCFMUSP: 221 (67%) were from Sao Paulo city, 50 (15.2%) from Sao Paulo's metropolitan area, 39 (11.8%) from Sao Paulo's countryside, and 20 (6.1%) from other states; 7352 ECT treatments were delivered-63.0% (4629) devoted entirely via the public health system (although not funded by the federal government); the main diagnoses were a mood disorder in 86.4% and schizophrenia in 7.3% of the cases. Conclusions: There is an important lack of public assistance for ECT, affecting mainly the poor and severely ill patients. The university services are overcrowded and cannot handle all the referrals. The authors press for changes in the mental health policies.Associacao Beneficente Alzira Denize Hertzog Silva (ABADHS)Associacao Beneficente Alzira Denize Hertzog Silva (ABADHS)Fundacao Faculdade de MedicinaFundacao Faculdade de MedicinaKings College Santander ScholarshipKing's College Santander Scholarshi

Ética médica

The medical activity can be understood in two different contexts, i.e., in clinical practice and scientific research. Clinical practice is defined as any act performed in a patient in order to diagnose or treat diseases. In contrast, clinical research aims to investigate various aspects related to the health of human beings, and can be conducted in both healthy subjects and also in patients. Thus, this paper will address various aspects of medical Ethics both in the context of clinical practice of physicians, as well as in their scientific practice.A atividade médica pode ser compreendida em dois diferentes contextos, ou seja, na prática clínica e na pesquisa científica. A prática clínica é definida como qualquer ato realizado em um paciente com o objetivo de diagnosticar ou tratar doenças. Em contrapartida, a pesquisa clínica tem como objetivo investigar os mais diversos aspectos relacionados à saúde do ser humano, podendo ser conduzida tanto em indivíduos saudáveis como também em pacientes. Desse modo, o presente trabalho abordará os vários aspectos da ética médica, tanto no contexto da prática clínica do médico, como em sua prática científica