Uso "off label" de plantas medicinais para tratamento do diabete melito / "Off label" use of medicinal plants for the treatment of diabetes mellitus

As plantas medicinais são de fácil aquisição sem receita médica. Algumas delas possuem comprovação científica para o efeito hipoglicemiante, outras não. O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer a prevalência e o perfil do paciente que usa plantas medicinais como coadjuvantes no tratamento do diabete. Foram entrevistados 140 diabéticos e pré-diabéticos agrupados em quem fazia o uso dessa alternativa e os que não. Em conclusão, a prevalência foi de 15,7%, maior em mulheres. A medicação prescrita foi metformina. A planta mais utilizada foi a pata-de-vaca. O grupo em uso referiu melhora glicêmica com a terapia complementar quando questionados sobre a glicemia uma semana antes e na semana de uso

Medicinal plants are easily available without a prescription. Some of them have scientific proof for the hypoglycemic effect, others do not. The objective of this study was to know the prevalence and profile of patients who use medicinal plants as adjuncts in the treatment of diabetes. A total of 140 diabetics and pre-diabetics were interviewed, grouped into those who used this alternative and those who did not. In conclusion, the prevalence was 15.7%, higher in women. The medication prescribed was metformin. The most used plant was the pata-de-vaca. The group in use reported glycemic improvement with the complementary therapy when asked about the glycemia one week before and in the week of use

Wnt3a but not CDX-2 expression is associated with differentiated thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Thyroid neoplasm incidence has increased worldwide, mostly due to the advancements in medical imaging and screening rates. The aberrant Wnt/ß-catenin pathway has been identified as a key mechanism, and it has also been related to the metastatic activity of differentiated thyroid cancer. We aimed to verify the difference in the expression of Wnt3a, a canonical activator of the ß-catenin signaling, and CDX-2, a transcription factor upregulated by Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, in multinodular goiter and differentiated thyroid cancer and to determine their prognostic value. METHODS: We included 194 thyroid tissue surgical specimen and their clinicopathological data: study group (differentiated thyroid cancer, n=154) and control group (multinodular goiter, n=40). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue by the primary antibodies Wnt3a and CDX-2. RESULTS: High Wnt3a expression was significantly associated with differentiated thyroid cancer (p=0.031). CDX-2 was negative in all differentiated thyroid cancer cases (100%) and also in multinodular goiter. Wnt3a expression was significantly associated with tumors ≤20 mm (p=0.044) and with the absence of capsule invasion (p=0.031). The multivariate analyses suggested that older age (≥55), independent of capsular invasion and tumor size, was an independent prognostic factor for Wnt3a expression (p=0.058). CONCLUSIONS: Wnt3a expression but not CDX-2 is correlated with differentiated thyroid cancer samples in comparison to multinodular goiter. Although its prognostic value was limited to tumor size and capsule invasion, a combined model in a panel of immune markers can add accuracy in the classification of challenging thyroid follicular-derived lesions.

Wnt3a but not CDX-2 expression is associated with differentiated thyroid cancer

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Thyroid neoplasm incidence has increased worldwide, mostly due to the advancements in medical imaging and screening rates. The aberrant Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been identified as a key mechanism, and it has also been related to the metastatic activity of differentiated thyroid cancer. We aimed to verify the difference in the expression of Wnt3a, a canonical activator of the β-catenin signaling, and CDX-2, a transcription factor upregulated by Wnt/β-catenin pathway, in multinodular goiter and differentiated thyroid cancer and to determine their prognostic value. METHODS: We included 194 thyroid tissue surgical specimen and their clinicopathological data: study group (differentiated thyroid cancer, n=154) and control group (multinodular goiter, n=40). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue by the primary antibodies Wnt3a and CDX-2. RESULTS: High Wnt3a expression was significantly associated with differentiated thyroid cancer (p=0.031). CDX-2 was negative in all differentiated thyroid cancer cases (100%) and also in multinodular goiter. Wnt3a expression was significantly associated with tumors ≤20 mm (p=0.044) and with the absence of capsule invasion (p=0.031). The multivariate analyses suggested that older age (≥55), independent of capsular invasion and tumor size, was an independent prognostic factor for Wnt3a expression (p=0.058). CONCLUSIONS: Wnt3a expression but not CDX-2 is correlated with differentiated thyroid cancer samples in comparison to multinodular goiter. Although its prognostic value was limited to tumor size and capsule invasion, a combined model in a panel of immune markers can add accuracy in the classification of challenging thyroid follicular-derived lesions.

Intolerância à lactose: diagnóstico clínico laboratorial e genético / Lactose intolerance: clinical and genetic diagnosis

Introdução: A intolerância à lactose é síndrome decorrente da má digestão do dissacarídeo lactose por deficiência da enzima lactase, gerando sintomas principalmente gastrintestinais. Ela envolve 4 causas principais: deficiência congênita de lactase; deficiência de lactase de desenvolvimento; intolerância primária à lactose; e deficiência secundária à lactase. Objetivo: Revisão da apresentação clínica da intolerância à lactose e os principais métodos disponíveis para seu diagnóstico clínico. Método: Revisão narrativa da base de dados PubMed, por meio das palavras-chave "lactose intolerance" e "genetic test" utilizando o descritor boleano and. Foram incluídos somente artigos em língua inglesa e publicados entre os anos de 2017 e 2022, totalizando 8 artigos. Resultado: O diagnóstico de intolerância à lactose relaciona-se com o seu tipo e utiliza-se dos principais métodos: teste oral de tolerância à lactose, teste genético, teste do hidrogênio expirado. Conclusão: Quanto aos métodos de diagnóstico, o teste do hidrogênio expirado é o de escolha, por não ser invasivo, possuir execução fácil e baixo custo. Entretanto, ele não dispensa associação com outras técnicas diagnósticas. O teste genético também é muito útil e sua vantagem é que não há necessidade da realização do teste oral de tolerância.

Introduction: Lactose intolerance is a syndrome resulting from maldigestion of the disaccharide lactose due to lactase enzyme deficiency causing symptoms mainly gastrointestinal. It involves 4 main causes: congenital lactase deficiency; developmental lactase deficiency; primary lactose intolerance; and secondary lactase deficiency. Objective: Review of the clinical presentation of lactose intolerance and the main methods available for its clinical diagnosis. Methods: Literature review in the PubMed database, using the keywords "lactose intolerance" and "genetic test" and using the Boolean data type and. Only articles in English and published between the years 2017 and 2022 were included, totalizing 8 articles. Results: The diagnosis of lactose intolerance is related to its type and uses the main diagnostic tests: oral lactose tolerance, genetic, expired hydrogen. Conclusion: Regarding diagnostic methods, the expired hydrogen test is the one of choice, as it is not invasive, is easy to perform and has low cost. However, it does not dispense association with other diagnostic techniques. Genetic testing is also very usefull and its advantage is that there is no need to use the oral lactose tolerance test.

Reposição de testosterona em mulheres cisgênero na menopausa / Testosterone replacement in menopausal cisgender women

Ainda não existe consenso a respeito da prescrição de testosterona terapêutica para mulheres cisgênero na menopausa, seus benefícios e efeitos colaterais. Objetivo: Sumarizar os estudos recentes sobre o uso terapêutico da testosterona em mulheres na menopausa. Método: Revisão sistemática de literatura baseada nos dados da plataforma PubMed. Foram identificados 10.912 estudos potenciais. As palavras-chave usadas foram "testosterone", "women", "therapy", "treatment". Selecionou-se revisões sistemáticas e metanálises dos últimos 5 anos, todas na língua inglesa. Excluiram-se artigos duplicados, os que abordam uso de testosterona como anabolizantes e/ou em atletas e em transexuais e estudos que envolviam homens. O levantamento de dados foi realizado com 9 artigos. Resultados: O uso dessa terapia hormonal no período da pós-menopausa mostrou melhora dos sintomas sexuais. Há diferença entre as vias de aplicação, sendo que a via oral pode acarretar maiores prejuízos, principalmente em relação aos níveis lipídicos séricos. A testosterona intravaginal melhora a função sexual. A prescrição na prática se mostra um problema, pois as apresentações comercializadas não atendem à necessidade fisiológica feminina. Conclusão: A terapia mostra-se eficaz em curto prazo, apesar de ainda haver necessidade de estudos para uso em longo prazo

There is still no consensus regarding the prescription of testosterone therapy for cisgender menopausal woman, its benefits and side effects. Objective: Summarize recent studies on the therapeutic use of testosterone in menopausal woman. Methods: Systematic literature review based on data from the PubMed platform. A total of 10.912 potential studies were identified. The used keywords were "testosterone", "woman", "therapy", "treatment". Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from the last 5 years were selected, all in English. Were excluded: duplicated articles, the ones that address the use of testosterone as anabolic steroid and/or in athletes and transsexuals and studies that involved man. Tthe data collection was made with 9 articles. Results: The use of this hormone therapy in postmenopausal period showed sexual symptoms improvement. There are differences between the routes of administration, for the oral administration could lead to more damage, mainly related to the lipids serum levels. Intravaginal testosterone improves sexual function. The prescription in practice is shown to be a problem, since the commercialized presentations do not meet the feminine physiological necessities. Conclusion: This therapy proves to be effective in short term use, although there is still a need for studies for long-term use