Humanidades médicas no Reino Unido: uma tendência mundial em educação médica hoje

This editorial aims to present a critical analysis of the state-of-the-art literature on the initiative of introduction of the Medical Humanities into Medical Education in the United Kingdom,as well as the perceptions and attitudes of medical students, scholars and researchers in this field. For such purpose, a critical literature review was performed at the online bases Ovid-SP and Scopus for the keywords in the English language ‘medical humanities’, ‘medical education’, ‘humanities’, ‘humanisation’, ‘physicians’, ‘patients’, ‘medical students’, ‘British’, ‘England’, during the period from 2000 to 2011, also collecting publications by cross-referencing. This search produced a result of 34 papers, from which 29 were directly referenced in this work that shows the way through which the Medical Humanities became a flourishing discipline to be introduced in Medical Schools from the 1950’s on, simultaneously in the US and the UK. At this panorama, we historicised the origins of the dissolution process of the ‘good doctor’ and delineated the pathway by which the UK has become the focus of a worldwide trend in humanisation of the health care. As such, raising the world debate with the British both wide and effective experience of introduction of the Medical Humanities, firstly as an instrument for the ethical education in health, then, more recently, as a research strength to investigate the observed effects of the integrity in the education od doctors produced by its several formats implementation across the Medical Schools in the UK, after the publication of Tomorrow’s Doctors by the General Medical Council in 1995, whose main aim was to “rescue” the ‘good doctor’ back into the healthcare.Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar uma análise crítica do estado-da-arte da literatura sobre o movimento de introdução das Humanidades Médicas em Educação Médica no Reino Unido, assim como as percepções e atitudes de estudantesde Medicina, acadêmicos e pesquisadores na área. Para tal foi realizada uma revisão crítica de literatura nas bases Ovid-SP e Scopus para os descritores na língua inglesa ‘medical humanities’, ‘medical education’, ‘humanities’, ‘humanisation’, ‘physicians’, ‘patients’, ‘medical students’, ‘British’, ‘England’, no período de 2000 a 2011, com publicações em língua inglesa e por referência cruzada. Tal pesquisa gerou um resultado de 34 artigos, dos quais 29 encontram-se diretamente referenciados neste texto que mostra a maneira como as Humanidades Médicaspassaram a ser uma florescente disciplina a ser introduzida em Escolas Médicas a partir da década de 1950, paralelamente entre E.U.A. e Reino Unido. Neste panorama, historicizamos as origens do processo de dissolução do ‘bom médico’ e delineamoso caminho por meio do qual o Reino Unido configurou-se como o berço da atual tendência mundial de humanização dos cuidados em saúde. Desta maneira, o Reino Unido tem liderado o debate mundial com sua ampla experiência nas Humanidades em Saúde, primeiramente como instrumento de formação ética em saúde e, mais recentemente, como linha de pesquisa para investigar os efeitos observados na integralidade da formação de médicos produzidos pelos variados modelos de sua implementaçãoem suas Escolas Médicas após a publicação dos Médicos de Amanhã pelo General Medical Council em 1995, cujo objetivo é o de resgatar o ‘good doctor’, o ‘bom médico’, para a prática clínica

Insights into the posttranslational structural heterogeneity of thyroglobulin and its role in the development, diagnosis, and management of benign and malignant thyroid diseases

Thyroglobulin (Tg) is the major glycoprotein produced by the thyroid gland, where it serves as a template for thyroid hormone synthesis and as an intraglandular store of iodine. Measurement of Tg levels in serum is of great practical importance in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), a setting in which elevated levels after total thyroidectomy are indicative of residual or recurrent disease. The most recent methods for serum Tg measurement are monoclonal antibody-based and are highly sensitive. However, major challenges remain regarding the interpretation of the results obtained with these immunometric methods, particularly in patients with endogenous antithyroglobulin antibodies or in the presence of heterophile antibodies, which may produce falsely low or high Tg values, respectively. The increased prevalence of antithyroglobulin antibodies in patients with DTC, as compared with the general population, raises the very pertinent possibility that tumor Tg may be more immunogenic. This inference makes sense, as the tumor microenvironment (tumor cells plus normal host cells) is characterized by several changes that could induce posttranslational modification of many proteins, including Tg. Attempts to understand the structure of Tg have been made for several decades, but findings have generally been incomplete due to technical hindrances to analysis of such a large protein (660 kDa). This review article will explore the complex structure of Tg and the potential role of its marked heterogeneity in our understanding of normal thyroid biology and neoplastic processes.FapespCNPqCapesUniv Fed Sao Paulo EPM Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Lab Endocrinol Mol & Translac, Div Endocrinol & Metab,Dept Med, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Mato Grosso do Sul UFMS, Fac Med Famed, Dept Med, Clin Integrada 5,Endocrinol & Metab, Campo Grande, MS, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, EPM, Dept Bioquim, Div Mol Biol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo EPM Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Lab Endocrinol Mol & Translac, Div Endocrinol & Metab,Dept Med, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, EPM, Dept Bioquim, Div Mol Biol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Development of a semi-automated method for measuring urinary iodine and its application in epidemiological studies in Brazilian schoolchildren

In this study we developed a semi-automated method for the measurement of urinary iodine using firstly ammonium persulfate for digestion of urine followed by estimation of iodine content in the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction, in which iodine acts as a catalyst for the reduction of cerium. This method was validated in the 3rd Brazilian National Survey of iodine deficiency in 1994. We studied 16,803 casual urine samples from schoolchildren of 401 cities and found 4 moderately-deficient towns (Almas, Arraias, and Parana, in the State of Tocantins, and Cocos, in the State of Bahia), and 116 mildly-deficient. This work suggests that despite the salt iodization program, there was some iodine-deficient areas in Brazil in 1994. Recent surveys, involving less cities, are indicating an excess of iodine ingestion. Therefore, in a country of continental dimensions and very heterogeneous in terms of public health, periodical evaluations are necessary to monitor the real situation of iodine nutrition in Brazil. the method developed in this paper is suitable for these surveys.Univ Estadual Maringa, Dept Med, Ctr Ciencias Saude, Maringa, Parana, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Mol Endocrinol Lab, Disciplina Endocrinol, Dept Med,Escola Paulista Med, BR-04032029 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Mol Endocrinol Lab, Disciplina Endocrinol, Dept Med,Escola Paulista Med, BR-04032029 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Nódulo tireoidiano e câncer diferenciado de tireoide: atualização do consenso brasileiro

Thyroid nodules are frequent findings, especially when sensitive imaging methods are used. Although thyroid cancer is relatively rare, its incidence is increasing, particularly in terms of small tumors, which have an uncertain clinical relevance. Most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer exhibit satisfactory clinical outcomes when treatment is appropriate, and their mortality rate is similar to that of the overall population. However, relapse occurs in a considerable fraction of these patients, and some patients stop responding to conventional treatment and eventually die from their disease. Therefore, the challenge is how to identify the individuals who require more aggressive disease management while sparing the majority of patients from unnecessary treatments and procedures. We have updated the Brazilian Consensus that was published in 2007, emphasizing the diagnostic and therapeutic advances that the participants, representing several Brazilian university centers, consider most relevant in clinical practice. The formulation of the present guidelines was based on the participants' experience and a review of the relevant literature.Nódulos tireoidianos são muito frequentes, sobretudo quando se empregam métodos sensíveis de imagem. Embora o câncer seja proporcionalmente raro, sua incidência vem aumentando, especialmente de tumores pequenos, cuja evolução clínica é incerta. A maioria dos pacientes com carcinoma diferenciado de tireoide evolui bem quando adequadamente tratada, com índices de mortalidade similares à população geral. Por outro lado, um percentual não desprezível apresenta recidivas e alguns eventualmente não respondem às terapias convencionais, evoluindo para óbito. Assim, o desafio é distinguir os pacientes merecedores de condutas mais agressivas e, ao mesmo tempo e não menos importante, poupar a maioria de tratamentos e procedimentos desnecessários. Atualizamos o Consenso Brasileiro publicado em 2007, ressaltando os avanços diagnósticos e terapêuticos que os participantes, de diferentes Centros Universitários do Brasil, consideram mais relevantes para prática clínica. A elaboração dessas diretrizes foi baseada na experiência dos participantes e revisão da literatura pertinente.24026

Clinical utility of F-18-FDG PET/CT in the follow-up of a large cohort of patients with high-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Objective: To evaluate the clinical utility of F-18-FDG PET/CT in patients with high-risk DTC. Subjects and methods: Single-center retrospective study with 74 patients with high-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), classified in 4 groups. Group 1: patients with positive sTg or TgAb, subdivided in Group 1A: negative RxWBS and no foci of metastases identified at conventional image (n = 9)Group 1B: RxWBS not compatible with suspicious foci at conventional image or not proportional to sTg level (n = 13)Group 2: patients with histological findings of aggressive DTC variants (n = 21) and Group 3: patients with positive RxWBS (n = 31). Results: F-18-FDG PET/CT identified undifferentiated lesions and helped restage the disease in groups 1B and 2. The scan helped guide clinical judgment in 9/13 (69%) patients of group 1B, 10/21 (48%) patients of group 2 and 2/31 (6%) patients of group 3. There was no clinical benefit associated with group 1A. F-18-FDG PET/CT was associated with progressive disease. Conclusion: F-18-FDG PET/CT is a useful tool in the follow-up of patients with high-risk DTC, mainly in the group of RxWBS not compatible with suspicious foci at conventional image or not proportional to sTg level and in those with aggressive DTC variants. Additionally, this study showed that F-18-FDG PET/CT was associated with progression and helped display undifferentiated lesions guiding clinical assessments regarding surgeries or expectant treatments.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Ministério da Saúde (MS)Univ Fed São Paulo EPM Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Ctr Doencas Tireoide, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo EPM Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Lab Endocrinol Mol & Translac, Dept Med,Div Endocrinol, São Paulo, SP, BrazilHIAE, Dept Imagem, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo EPM Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Ctr Doencas Tireoide, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo EPM Unifesp, Escola Paulista Med, Lab Endocrinol Mol & Translac, Dept Med,Div Endocrinol, São Paulo, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2006/60402-1MS: 25000.168513/2008-11Web of Scienc

Macrocalcitonin Is a Novel Pitfall in the Routine of Serum Calcitonin Immunoassay

Context: Calcitonin (CT) is a sensitive marker of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and is used for primary diagnosis and follow-up after thyroidectomy. However, persistently elevated CT is observed even after complete surgical removal without evidence of a recurrent or persistent tumor. Objective: To investigate the presence of assay interference in the serum CT of MTC patients who are apparently without a structural disease. Patients and Methods: We studied three index MTC cases for CT assay interference and 14 patients with metastatic MTC. The CT level was measured using an immunofluorometric assay. Screening for assay interference was performed by determination of CT levels before and after serum treatment with polyethylene glycol. Additionally, samples were analyzed by chromatography on ultra-performance liquid chromatography and protein A-Sepharose. Results: Patients with biochemical and structural disease showed CT mean recovery of 84.1% after polyethylene glycol treatment, whereas patients suspected of interference showed recovery from 2-7%. The elution profile on UPLC showed that the immunometric CT from these three patients behaved like a high molecular mass aggregate (>300 kDa). Additionally, when these samples were applied to the protein A-Sepharose, CT immunoreactivity was retained on the column and was only released after lowering the pH. Conclusions: For the first time, our results show the presence of a novel pitfall in the CT immunoassay: "macrocalcitonin." Its etiology, frequency, and meaning remain to be defined, but its recognition is of interest and can help clinicians avoid unnecessary diagnostic investigations and treatment during the follow-up of MTC.Sao Paulo State Research Foundation-FAPESPFAPESPFederal Agency of Support and Evaluation of Postgraduate Education (Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior)National Council for Scientific and Technological DevelopmentUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Endocrinol, Dept Med,Thyroid Dis Ctr, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Endocrinol, Dept Med,Lab Mol & Translat Endocrinol, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Biochem, Div Mol Biol, BR-04044020 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Endocrinol, Dept Med,Thyroid Dis Ctr, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Div Endocrinol, Dept Med,Lab Mol & Translat Endocrinol, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Biochem, Div Mol Biol, BR-04044020 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2006/60402-1FAPESP: 2010/51547-1FAPESP: 2010/19478Web of Scienc

Unveiling the Angiotensin-(1–7) Actions on the Urinary Bladder in Female Rats

Angiotensin-(1–7) is a peptide produced by different pathways, and regardless of the route, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) is involved in one of the steps of its synthesis. Angiotensin-(1–7) binds to Mas receptors localized in different cells throughout the body. Whether angiotensin-(1–7) exerts any action in the urinary bladder (UB) is still unknown. We investigated the effects of intravenous and topical (in situ) administration of angiotensin-(1–7) on intravesical pressure (IP) and cardiovascular variables. In addition, the Mas receptors and ACE-2 gene and protein expression were analyzed in the UB. Adult female Wistar rats were anesthetized with 2% isoflurane in 100% O2 and submitted to the catheterization of the femoral artery and vein for mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) recordings, and infusion of drugs, respectively. The renal blood flow was acquired using a Doppler flow probe placed around the left renal artery and the renal conductance (RC) was calculated as a ratio of Doppler shift (kHz) and MAP. The cannulation of the UB was performed for IP recording. We observed that angiotensin-(1–7) either administered intravenously [115.8 ± 28.6% angiotensin-(1–7) vs. −2.9 ± 1.3% saline] or topically [147.4 ± 18.9% angiotensin-(1–7) vs. 3.2 ± 2.8% saline] onto the UB evoked a significant (p < 0.05) increase in IP compared to saline and yielded no changes in MAP, HR, and RC. The marked response of angiotensin-(1–7) on the UB was also investigated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting assay, which demonstrated the mRNA and protein expression of Mas receptors in the bladder, respectively. ACE-2 mRNA and protein expression was also observed in the bladder. Therefore, the findings demonstrate that angiotensin-(1–7) acts in the UB to increase the IP and suggest that this peptide can be also locally synthesized in the UB

Low iodine diet does not improve the efficacy of radioiodine for the treatment of Graves' disease

ABSTRACT Objective: Consuming a low-iodine diet (LID) is a widely accepted practice before administering radioiodine ( 131 I) to evaluate and to treat thyroid disease. Although this procedure is well established for the management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, its use in patients with benign disease is unclear. So, we aimed to evaluate the influence of a LID on the outcome in patients with Graves' disease (GD) treated with 131 I. Subjects and methods: We evaluated 67 patients with GD who were divided into 2 groups: one group (n = 31) consumed a LID for 1-2 weeks, and the second group (n = 36) was instructed to maintain a regular diet (RD). Results: The LID group experienced a 23% decrease in urinary iodine after 1 week on the diet and a significant 42% decrease after 2 weeks on the diet. The majority (53%) of the patients in the LID group had urinary iodine levels that were consistent with deficient iodine intake. However, there was no difference in the rate of hyperthyroidism's cure between the LID and the RD groups 6 months after 131 I therapy. Furthermore, the therapeutic efficacy did not differ in patients with varying degrees of sufficient iodine intake (corresponding urinary iodine levels: < 10 μg/dL is deficient; 10-29.9 μg/dL is sufficient; and > 30 μg/dL is excessive). Conclusion: In the present study, we demonstrated that although a LID decreased urinary iodine levels, those levels corresponding with sufficient or a mild excess in iodine intake did not compromise the therapeutic efficacy of 131 I for the treatment of GD. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2015;59(6):501-

Genotype and phenotype landscape of MEN2 in 554 medullary thyroid cancer patients: the BrasMEN study

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) is an autosomal dominant genetic disease caused by RET gene germline mutations that is characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) associated with other endocrine tumors. Several reports have demonstrated that the RET mutation profile may vary according to the geographical area. In this study, we collected clinical and molecular data from 554 patients with surgically confirmed MTC from 176 families with MEN2 in 18 different Brazili an centers to compare the type and prevalence of RET mutations with those from other countries. The most frequent mutations, classified by the number of families affected, occur in codon 634, exon 11 (76 families), followed by codon 918, exon 16 (34 families: 26 with M918T and 8 with M918V) and codon 804, exon 14 (22 families: 15 with V804M and 7 with V804L). When compared with other major published series from Europe, there are several similarities and some differences. While the mutations in codons C618, C620, C630, E768 and S891 present a similar prevalence, some mutations have a lower prevalence in Brazil, and others are found mainly in Brazil (G533C and M918V). These results reflect the singular proportion of European, Amerindian and African ancestries in the Brazilian mosaic genome83289298CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL - FAPERGSSem informaçãoSem informação2006/60402-1; 2010/51547-1; 2013/01476-9; 2014/06570-6; 2009/50575-4; 2010/51546-5; 2012/21942-116/2551-0000482-