Qualidade de vida em cem alunos do curso de Medicina de Sorocaba - PUC/SP / Quality of life among 100 medical students at the Catholic University in Sorocaba, São Paulo

Poucos estudos analisaram a qualidade de vida (QV) em populações específicas, como os profissionais da área de saúde. Avaliamos a QV por meio do Whoqol-bref em estudantes do primeiro (n = 50) e sexto (n = 50) anos do curso de Medicina. A pontuação média dos alunos do primeiro e sexto anos (escala de 0-100) em cada domínio foi, respectivamente, de 77,9 e 76,8 (físico), 71,1 e 72,6 (psicológico), 70,2 e 77,8 (relações sociais) e 67,7 e 70,1 (ambiental). Houve diferença estatística entre os dois grupos apenas no domínio das relações sociais (p <0,05). Nossos resultados demonstraram pontuações altas em todos os domínios do Whoqol-bref, indicando uma boa QV nos grupos estudados. Os alunos do primeiro ano estão se adaptando à nova vida acadêmica, o que provavelmente contribuiu para sua menor pontuação no domínio das relações sociais. Aproximadamente um terço dos alunos dos dois grupos pontuou dentro do primeiro quartil em três ou em todos os domínios, indicando aqueles com pior QV. Isto sugere que estes indivíduos devem receber maior atenção, para prevenir o risco de burnout descrito na literatura entre estudantes de Medicina.

Few studies have evaluated quality of life (QOL) in specific populations such as health professionals. We evaluated QOL using the Whoqol-bref in first-year (n = 50) and sixth-year (n = 50) medical students. The mean scores for first and sixth-year students (on a scale from 0 to 100) in each domain were, respectively, 77.9 and 76.8 (physical), 71.1 and 72.6 (psychological), 70.2 and 77.8 (social relations), and 67.7 and 70.1 (environmental). There was only a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the social relations domain (p < 0.05). Our results showed high scores in all the domains of Whoqol-bref, indicating good QOLin the target groups. First-year students are adapting to their new academic life, which probably contributes to their lower scores in the social relations domain. Approximately one-third of the students in the two groups scored within the first quartile in three or all of the domains, indicating those with worse QOL. This suggests that these individuals should receive more attention in order to prevent the risk of burnout described in the literature for medical students.

Waxing and waning of a pituitary mass in a young woman with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) due to a PROP-1 mutation.

We describe a 23-yr old woman with congenital combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) diagnosed at 10 years of age and a large sellar mass discovered at the age of 19 years, when her first pituitary MRI was performed. The mass (height: 13 mm) extended to the suprasellar region, close to the optic chiasm, showed signal hyperintensity in T1- and hypointensity in T2-weighted images, with no enhancement after gadolinium injection. Although these MRI features were suggestive of Rathke's cleft cyst, cystic craniopharyngioma or previous hemorrhage, no visual symptoms, diabetes insipidus and/or hyperprolactinemia were present. In addition, similar MRI findings had been previously described in a few cases of CPHD due to PROP-1 mutations, which prompted us to carry out a molecular study before any therapeutic decision was made. A 301302delAG PROP-1 mutation was found in her DNA and the patient was closely followed through ophthalmologic evaluation and pituitary MRI scans. During a 3.6-year follow-up, we were able to document a marked initial growth followed by shrinkage and recurrent growth of the PROP-1 sellar mass. The patient remains free of compressive neuro-ophthalmological signs, suggesting that surgical intervention is unnecessary in these cases. However, they must be followed closely with sellar MRIs and campimetry until the mass completely regresses.