Category: Health Sciences

Brazilian Societies issue new guidance to prevent misdiagnosis of macroprolactinemia

Schematic representation of macroprolactin testing using polyethylene glycol (PEG) in samples with and without macroprolactinemia.

A new Brazilian position statement reports that nearly 20% of hyperprolactinemia cases are due to benign macroprolactinemia. The guideline recommends routine laboratory screening to prevent misdiagnosis, unnecessary imaging, dopamine agonist therapy, and avoidable healthcare costs. Read More →

Clomiphene and enclomiphene show comparable efficacy to testosterone in functional hypogonadism

Photo of a healthcare professional shaking hands with a person.

Oral therapies with clomiphene and enclomiphene significantly increased testosterone levels while preserving male fertility, offering an effective and safe alternative to conventional hormone replacement therapy in men with functional hypogonadism. Read More →

National Survey Reveals Gaps in Brazilian Endocrinologists’ Education Practices on Adrenal Insufficiency

A map of the regional distribution of study participants.

A national survey of 280 Brazilian endocrinologists revealed only moderate adherence to guidelines on adrenal insufficiency management. Physicians answered correctly in 63.3% of stress-dose adjustment scenarios, with 41.1% failing to endorse self-injection during crises. Findings highlight systemic, educational, and cultural gaps compromising patient safety and preventive care. Read More →

Brazilian Validation of the Eating Behavior Phenotypes Scale Confirms Psychometric Reliability, but Highlights Cultural Nuances

Chart showing Result dispersion for each subscale of the Eating Behavior Phenotypes Scale

The Brazilian validation of the Eating Behavior Phenotypes Scale (EFCA) confirmed strong psychometric reliability and a stable five-factor structure. Conducted with 206 adults, the study revealed cultural influences, notably around meal-finishing norms, and found no correlation with BMI. The tool shows promise for precision medicine but requires refined external markers. Read More →

Adoption of open peer review

Promotional image for the editorial of Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

The journal Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz announces its adoption of open peer review, that is, it will now publish all interactions between the editorial board and authors alongside the articles, aligning itself with the principles of open science. Read More →

Age-related differences in pediatric thyroid cancer

Photograph of a woman in scrubs holding a stethoscope

A 20-year single-center study of 63 pediatric thyroid cancer patients reveals that children under 12 present more aggressive disease and higher recurrence rates. Despite similar family histories across ages, younger patients had more surgical complications and cervical metastases, emphasizing the need for age-specific care and long-term follow-up. Read More →

Practical Approaches for Applying the Brazilian Dietary Guidelines in Clinical Practice

Image of the case study apresentation

Seeking to integrate the Brazilian Dietary Guidelines into clinical practice, some strategies highlighting tools like protocols for dietary advice and meal plans are presented, aiming to improve healthcare professionals’ ability to promote healthy eating, reduce ultra-processed food consumption, and prevent chronic diseases, contributing to better public health outcomes in Brazil. Read More →

After 115 years, a revisit to tropical diseases

Image from the special edition of Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

More than 100 years on, diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and vector control continue to be major challenges for developing countries, reflecting the continuing relevance of these tropical medicine topics to world science Read More →

Extreme obesity is a challenging disease to manage and requires a multifactorial approach

Photograph of a person's mid section. They are holding a measuring tape around their waist

Extreme obesity is a challenging disease that can present with multiple comorbidities and high rates of mortality and complications. Although lifestyle changes and anti-obesity drugs are recommended, they are less effective than bariatric surgery. Read More →

Budget impact of adding cabergoline is lower than other treatments for Cushing’s disease In Brazil

Tornado diagram from the article illustrating the univariate sensitivity analyses of selected variables affecting the total costs in Scenario 2

The estimated budget impact of adding cabergoline to the formulary for Cushing’s disease (CD) treatment within the Brazilian Public Health System would be about BRL $6 million. While cost savings cannot be expected, the budget impact of adding cabergoline would be lower than that of adding other treatment options. Read More →