Highlights ■ Colorectal carcinoma originates from within cancer stem cells of the large intestine. ■ Tissue levels of ALDH1-2 and LGR5 proteins were  associated with greater tumor aggressiveness. ■ Discovery of signaling pathways can improve cancer treatments that control cancer stem cells. ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the association of CD44, CD133, ALDH1-2, and LGR5 expression with clinicopathological tumor variables. Methods: Twenty-eight adult patients with colorectal carcinoma who underwent curative surgery were included in the study. Paraffin-embedded samples were subjected to […]

Highlights ■ Brazilian Portuguese translation of SOSGOQ 2.0 scale. ■ First semantic clinical validation of Brazilian SOSGOQ 2.0. ■ Cognitive interviews confirmed clarity and cultural appropriateness. ■ 100% completion with no need for clarification. ■ Ready for large-scale psychometric validation. ABSTRACT Objective: To translate, culturally adapt, and semantically validate the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire 2.0 (SOSGOQ 2.0) through cognitive interviews with patients with spinal metastases. Methods: Following the guidelines of Beaton et al., […]

Highlights ■ De-escalation of axillary surgery has become a priority in  breast cancer treatment. ■ Factors associated with the decision to omit sentinel lymph node biopsy were collected via questionnaire. ■ Sentinel lymph node biopsy was omitted more often by  private doctors and those holding a doctoral degree. ■ Continuing medical education initiatives are needed to update other groups. ABSTRACT Objective: Considering the increasing number of new breast cancer cases and the morbidity associated with axillary lymph node dissection in […]

Highlights ■ Sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to a poorer inflammatory profile in adolescents. ■ Ultra-processed food intake is associated with a higher leptin/adiponectin ratio. ■ The leptin/adiponectin ratio reflects metabolic risk in adolescent obesity. ■ Dietary quality influences inflammatory hormonal markers. ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and inflammatory markers in Brazilian adolescents with obesity. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 70 post-pubertal adolescents aged 15–19 years of both sexes who were classified as obese according […]

Highlights ■ Instrument developed to assess medical students’ perceptions of OSCEs. ■ Evidence of strong validity and excellent internal consistency. ■ Formative and summative OSCE modalities were also assessed. ■ Tool supports educational assessment and feedback in medical education. ABSTRACT Objective: To develop, validate, and apply an instrument aimed at assessing medical students’ perceptions of the impact of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), both in its peer-based formative and traditional summative modalities, on clinical learning. Methods: This study used […]

Highlights ■ Pre-sarcopenic women showed increased cortical excitation during motor tasks. ■ Sarcopenia was associated with slower motor reaction time. ■ EEG revealed central nervous system changes across sarcopenia stages. ■ Pre-sarcopenia may represent a window for early  neuromotor intervention. ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to analyze cortical activity during simple motor reaction time tasks in older women with different degrees of sarcopenia. Methods: This cross-sectional, observational, analytical study included 59 women classified into control, pre-sarcopenia, and sarcopenia groups according […]

Highlights ■ Law 12.732/12 had limited impact on breast cancertreatment access. ■ Persistent delays in breast cancer diagnosis & treatment in São Paulo, 2013-2024. ■ External oversight prioritizes compliance, not direct results evaluation. ■ Reorient oversight to induce greater managerial  accountability. ABSTRACT Objective: This article analyzed the impact of Law No. 12,732/2012 on breast cancer care in São Paulo State (Brazil) between 2013 and 2024, as well as the role of external oversight. Methods: This qualitative-quantitative study used 58,892 records […]

Dear Editor, Diaphragm weakness is a common complication in critically ill patients and can develop within days after the initiation of invasive mechanical ventilation.(,) It is characterized by a rapid loss of diaphragm contractile capacity, which compromises the patient’s ability to breathe independently.(,) Diaphragm weakness is strongly associated with worse clinical outcomes, including prolonged weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV), longer intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, and higher mortality.(-) Because of its high prevalence and major clinical […]

This is where danger lies for the unwary Naturally gluten-free foods are rarely the problem. Processed foods labeled as gluten-free often are. Regulatory definitions allow foods labeled gluten-free to contain up to 20 parts per million of gluten.() Some countries adopt stricter limits, below 10 parts per million.() For patients with celiac disease, these differences matter. Since my son’s diagnosis, I have learned to read every label, scrutinize every ingredient list, and carefully check for gluten-free claims. In the United […]

Highlights ■ ACE2 rs2285666 GG genotype increased the risk ofintensive care unit risk in women. ■ TNF rs1800629 A allele was associated with severe COVID-19 and invasive mechanical ventilation. ■ IL1A rs1800587 influenced disease severity and respiratory symptoms. ■ TNF polymorphism was associated with post-COVID, cough and fatigue. ABSTRACT Objective: We evaluated the influence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in cytokine, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and uromodulin genes on COVID-19 severity and the persistence of symptoms in the post-COVID phase. Methods: Two cross-sectional cohort […]