Complaints against Physicians in Minas Gerais, Brazil / Quejas contra médicos en Minas Gerais, Brasil / Reclamações contra médicos em Minas Gerais, Brasil

The Regional Councils of Medicine are responsible for the first instance evaluation of ethical-professional complaints against physicians in each federation state. The relevance of the study is based on the importance of evaluating the professional profile of the reported physician, the characteristics of the complaints, and the judging body performance. This study assessed 966 complaints against physicians made to the Regional Council of Medicine of Minas Gerais (CRM/MG) from 2012 to 2017. There was no difference in the average age of the professionals or the period of professional practice. Gynecology, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and Plastic Surgery comprised most of the complaints regarding medical specialties. The non-specialty reports reached 323 (34%) cases and predominated over the years studied. The number of acquittals was relatively high, in a total of 535 cases, in which the Regional Council of Medicine of Minas Gerais (CRM/MG) considered the complaints unfounded. The hypothesis of a certain corporativism of the CRM did not seem viable since thirty cases received harsher punishments, and among them, eight were removed from professional practice. Some professionals were reported more than once. It is worth noting that the number of recidivists and cases progressively decreased from 2012 to 2017.

Los Consejos Regionales de Medicina son responsables de la evaluación en primera instancia de las denuncias ético-profesionales contra médicos en cada estado de la federación. La relevancia del estudio se basa en la importancia de evaluar el perfil profesional del médico denunciado, las características de las denuncias y la actuación del órgano juzgador. Este estudio evaluó 966 denuncias contra médicos presentadas al Consejo Regional de Medicina de Minas Gerais (CRM/MG) de 2012 a 2017. No hubo diferencias en la edad media de los profesionales ni en el período de ejercicio profesional. Ginecología, Medicina Interna, Cirugía General y Cirugía Plástica englobaron la mayoría de las denuncias relativas a especialidades médicas. Las denuncias de no especialidad alcanzaron 323 (34%) casos y predominaron a lo largo de los años estudiados. El número de absoluciones fue relativamente elevado, en un total de 535 casos, en los que el Consejo Regional de Medicina de Minas Gerais (CRM/MG) consideró infundadas las denuncias. La hipótesis de un cierto corporativismo del CRM no pareció viable, ya que treinta casos recibieron castigos más severos y, entre ellos, ocho fueron apartados del ejercicio profesional. Algunos profesionales fueron denunciados más de una vez. Cabe destacar que el número de reincidentes y de casos disminuyó progresivamente de 2012 a 2017.

Os Conselhos Regionais de Medicina são responsáveis pelas avaliações, em primeira instância, de denúncias ético-profissionais contra médicos, em cada estado da federação. A relevância do presente estudo se fundamenta na importância de se avaliar o perfil profissional do denunciado, as características das denúncias e o desempenho do órgão julgador. O presente estudo avaliou 966 denúncias contra médicos, feitas ao Conselho Regional de Medicina de Minas Gerais (CRM/MG), de 2012 a 2017. Não houve diferença com relação à média de idade do profissional, nem com relação ao tempo de exercício profissional. No que diz respeito às especialidades médicas (tabela 5), as áreas de Ginecologia, Clínica Médica, Cirurgia Geral e Cirurgia Plástica compreenderam grande parte das denúncias. Os denunciados sem especialidade alcançaram o no número de 323 (34%) e predominaram. O número de absolvições foi relativamente alto, num total de 535 denunciados, nos quais o Conselho Regional de Medicina de Minas Gerais (CRM/MG) considerou as acusações infundadas. A hipótese de certo corporativismo do CRM, não pareceu viável, visto que trinta casos receberam punição mais severa, dentre os quais, oito cassações do exercício profissional. Alguns profissionais foram denunciados mais de uma vez. Vale observar que o número de profissionais reincidentes, bem como o número de processos decaiu progressivamente, de 2012 a 2017.

Overexpression of mTOR in Leukocytes from ALS8 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The mutated VAPBP56S (vesicle B associated membrane protein - P56S) protein has been described in a Brazilian family and classified as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis type 8 (ALS8). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to study altered biochemical and immunological parameters in cells from ALS8 patients to identify possible biomarkers or therapeutic targets. METHODS: Wild-type VAPB, VAPBP56S, mTOR, proinflammatory cytokines, and oxidant/reducing levels in serum, leucocytes, and cellular lysate from ALS8 patients and health Controls were performed by ELISA, fluorimetry, and spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Our results showed similar levels of mutant and wild-type VAPB in serum and intracellular lysate (p > 0.05) when ALS8 patients and Controls were compared. IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-18 levels in patients and Controls showed no difference, suggesting an absence of peripheral inflammation (p > 0.05). Oxidative metabolic response, assessed by mitochondrial ROS production, and reductive response by MTT reduction, were higher in the ALS8 group compared to Controls (p < 0.05), although not characterizing typical oxidative stress in ALS8 patients. Total mTOR levels (phosphorylated or non-phosphorylated) of ALS8 patients were significantly lower in serum and higher in intracellular lysate than the mean equivalents in Controls (p < 0.05). A similar result was observed when we quantified the phosphorylated protein (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We demonstrate the possibility of using these biochemical and immunological parameters as potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers. Furthermore, by hypothesis, we suggest a hormetic response in which both VAPB forms could coexist in different proportions throughout life. The mutated VAPBP56S production would increase with aging and predominate over the wild-type VAPB levels, determining the onset of symptoms and aggravating the disease.

[Central nervous system paracoccidioidomycosis: analysis of 13 cases]. / Paracoccidioidomicose do sistema nervoso central: análise de 13 casos.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic granulomatous disease caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, prevalent in Latin America, particularly in Brazil. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement occur in about 10% of cases. Thirteen patients with PCM involving CNS were studied considering clinical manifestation, neuroradiology and treatment modalities. Age ranged from 30 to 71 years-old (M=47.1+/-11.6 Me=46). There were eleven men and two women. The most frequent symptoms were motor deficits (53.8%), cognitive disturbance (53.8%), weight loss (46.1%), headaches (46.1%) and seizures (46.1%). The diagnosis was confirmed by the demonstration of P. brasiliensis. Granulomatous forms were present in all patients. Four (30.8%) of them had also meningeal involvement (mixed form). Computerized tomography (CT) scans were obtained in all cases and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used in one case. Serology for HIV was done in ten patients (76.9%), and all the tests were negatives. Amphotericin B was used in twelve patients (92.3%), one of them by intraventricular infusion. In eight patients (61.5%), trimethopim and sulfamethoxazole were used, and, in two (15.4%), sulfadiazine and pirimetamine. Fluconazole, ketoconazole and itraconazole were each one used in a different patient as well. Six patients died (46.1%) and seven (53.9%) had satisfatory outcome. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 74 (M=30.9) months. In conclusion, the CNS involvement in paracoccidioidomycosis is more frequent and more serious than thought before. The clinical manifestations, CT scans and MRI findings are not specific of paracoccidioidomycosis.