Health literacy, a more complex concept than knowledge, is a required capacity to obtain, understand, integrate and act on health information [1], in order to enhance individual and community health, which is defined by different levels, according to the autonomy and personal capacitation in decision making [2]. Medium levels of Health literacy in an adolescent population were found in a study conducted in 2013/2014, being higher in sexual and reproductive health and lower in substance use. It was also noticed that the higher levels of health literacy were in the area adolescents refer to have receipt more health information. The health literacy competence with higher scores was communication skills, and the lower scores were in the capacity to analyze factors that influence health. Higher levels were also found in younger teenagers, but in a higher school level, confirming the importance of health education in these age and development stage. Adolescents seek more information in health professionals and parents, being friends more valued as a source information in older adolescents, which enhance the importance of peer education mainly in older adolescents [3]. As a set of competences based on knowledge, health literacy should be developed through education interventions, encompassing the cultural and social context of individuals, since the society, culture and education system where the individual is inserted can define the way the development and enforcement of the health literacy competences [4]. The valued sources of information should be taken into account, as well as needs of information in some topics referred by adolescents in an efficient health education. Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental illness which has a profound effect on the health and well-being related with the well-known nature of psychotic symptoms. The exercise has the potential to improve the life of people with schizophrenia improving physical health and alleviating psychiatric symptoms. However, most people with schizophrenia remains sedentary and lack of access to exercise programs are barriers to achieve health benefits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of exercise on I) the type of intervention in mental health, II) in salivary levels of alpha-amylase and cortisol and serum levels of S100B and BDNF, and on III) the quality of life and selfperception of the physical domain of people with schizophrenia. The sample consisted of 31 females in long-term institutions in the Casa de Saúde Rainha Santa Isabel, with age between 25 and 63, and with diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Physical fitness was assessed by the six-minute walk distance test (6MWD). Biological variables were determined by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Psychological variables were assessed using SF-36, PSPP-SCV, RSES and SWLS tests. Walking exercise has a positive impact on physical fitness (6MWD -p = 0.001) and physical components of the psychological test...

Transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is the treatment of choice for Cushing's disease (CD). Despite the widespread acceptance of this procedure, there is no agreement regarding the definition of successful treatment. We prospectively studied postoperative serum cortisol dynamics in 41 patients with CD (including a total of 45 surgeries). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 4.8 yr. Remission was defined as clinical and laboratory signs of adrenal insufficiency, glucocorticoid dependence, and serum cortisol suppression on overnight oral 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test. Serum cortisol was measured preoperatively and postoperatively at 6, 12, and 24 h (28 surgeries) and at 10-12 d (45 surgeries). No statistical difference was detected in mean preoperative and 6-h postoperative cortisol levels between surgically induced remission patients [22.1 +/- 7.73 microg/dl (610 +/- 213.3 nmol/liter) and 25.2 +/- 19 microg/dl (695.2 +/- 524.4 nmol/liter)] and surgical failure patients [23.6 +/- 6.95 micro g/dl (651.4 +/- 161.8 nmol/liter) and 37.5 +/- 18.1 microg/dl (1035 +/- 499.6 nmol/liter); P = 0.50 and P = 0.17]. At 12 and 24 h after surgery, the difference was significant (P = 0.009 and P < 0.0001). Mean cortisol levels were 12.44 +/- 13.3 microg/dl (343.3 +/- 367.1 nmol/liter) and 4.72 +/- 6.72 microg/dl (130.3 +/- 185.5 nmol/liter) in the remission group and 26.3 +/- 7.06 microg/dl (725.9 +/- 194.8 nmol/liter) and 23.5 +/- 6.86 microg/dl (648.6 +/- 189.3 nmol/liter) in the failure group (P = 0.009; P < 0.0001). At 10-12 d after the procedure, the difference was also significant (P < 0.0001): cortisol levels were 2.52 +/- 3.32 microg/dl (69.5 +/- 91.6 nmol/liter) in the remission group and 24.9 +/- 13.3 microg/dl (687.2 +/- 367.1 nmol/liter) in the failure group. In conclusion, in the immediate postoperative period of transsphenoidal surgery, remission of CD is not necessarily defined by undetectable serum cortisol. During the first 10-12 d after surgery, cortisol nadir correctly classified the remission [cortisol, 7.0 microg/dl (193.2 nmol/liter) or less] and the failure groups [cortisol, 8.0 microg/dl (220.8 nmol/liter) or more]. Glucocorticoid should be administered only after laboratory and/or clinical evidence of adrenal insufficiency.

Pituitary adenomas sometimes show rapid growth and recurrence, and about one third invade the structures surrounding the sella turcica. In an attempt to determine aggressive behavior at an early stage, we used the MIB-1 antibody to identify the Ki-67 antigen. The present study was designed to evaluate pituitary adenomatous tissue in terms of secretion and proliferation and to correlate the Ki-67 index with hormone phenotype and invasive behavior. Material from 159 patients submitted to one or more resections of pituitary adenomas was evaluated. Forty-two non-secretory adenomas and 43 adenomas immunoreactive for growth hormone, 19 for prolactin, 18 for growth hormone and prolactin, 16 for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and 21 cases of plurihormonal/gonadotropin adenomas were detected by immunohistochemistry. The MIB-1 antibody was positive in 139 samples and the Ki-67 index ranged from 0.16 to 15.48% (mean = 1.22 ± 2.09%), with no significant difference between genders, age groups, or secretory and non-secretory status. The Ki-67 index was higher in ACTH-secreting adenomas. Invasive pituitary adenomas had a significantly higher Ki-67 index (2.01 ± 3.15%) than macroadenomas with or without supra-sellar extension (1.12 ± 1.87%; P = 0.02). The index was not significantly different in the subgroup of adenomas with invasion of the cavernous sinus compared to groups with other types of invasion. We conclude that tumoral proliferative activity evaluated by the detection of the Ki-67 antigen is significantly higher in invasive than noninvasive adenomas, information which can be useful in therapeutic postoperative management since index cut-off values associated with aggressive behavior can be established.

Transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TSS) remains the treatment of choice for Cushing's disease (CD). Despite the widespread acceptance of this procedure as the first line treatment in CD, the indication of a second TSS in not cured or relapsed DC patients is not consensus. We report the results of TSS in 108 patients with CD (a total of 117 surgeries). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 6 years. Remission was defined as clinical and laboratorial signs of adrenal insufficiency, period of glucocorticoid dependence, serum cortisol suppression on oral 1-mg dexamethasone overnight suppression test and clinical remission of hypercortisolism. We evaluated 103 patients with CD by the time of the first TSS. Fourteen patients underwent second TSS (5 had already been operated in others centers; in 5 patients the first surgery was not curative; in 4 patients CD relapsed). Remission rates were 85.4% and 28.6% (p < 0.001) after first and second TSS, respectively. In microadenomas, remission rates were higher than macroadenomas (94.9% vs. 73.9%; p = 0.006). In patients with negative pituitary imaging remission rates were 71.4% (p = 0.003; vs. microadenomas). Postoperative complications were: transient diabetes insipidus, definitive diabetes insipidus, hypopituitarism, stroke and one death. Only hypopituitarism was more frequent after second TSS (p = 0.015). In conclusion, TSS for CD is an effective and safe treatment. The best remission rates were observed at the first surgery and in microadenomas. The low remission rates after a second TSS suggest that this approach could not be a good therapeutic choice when the first one was not curative. O tratamento de escolha para a doença de Cushing (DC) ainda é a cirurgia transesfenoidal (CTE) para ressecção do adenoma hipofisário produtor de ACTH. Porém, a indicação de uma segunda CTE representa uma questão controversa, tanto nos pacientes não curados após a primeira cirurgia quanto nos casos de recidiva. Neste trabalho, relatamos os resultados da CTE em 108 pacientes com DC (totalizando 117 cirurgias). O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 6 anos. Critérios de cura: ocorrên-cia de insuficiência adrenal (clínica ou laboratorial), período de dependência ao glicocorticóide, supressão do cortisol sérico pós-1 mg de dexametasona overnight e remissão clínica do hipercortisolismo. Foram avaliados 103 pacientes com DC submetidos à primeira CTE. Quatorze pacientes foram submetidos a uma segunda CTE (5 já tinham sido operados em outros centros; a primeira cirurgia não fora curativa em 5; 4 pacientes com recidiva da DC). Índices de cura: 85,4% e 28,6% (p < 0,001) após a primeira e segunda CTE, respectivamente. Nos microadenomas, remissão maior que nos macroadenomas (94,9% vs. 73,9%; p = 0,006). Nos pacientes com imagem hipofisária negativa, cura foi de 71,4% (p = 0,003; vs. micro). Complicações pós-operatórias: diabetes insipidus transitório e definitivo, hipopituitarismo, acidente vascular cerebral e um óbito. Apenas a ocorrência de hipopituitarismo foi mais freqüente após a segun...

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