Medicine

The discovery of insulin

The purification and pharmaceutical formulation of the hormone insulin, beginning 100 years ago, and its production in Brazil half a century ago, brought diabetes under control

Gabriel Liguori: A bioartificial heart on the horizon

The creator of bioengineering startup TissueLabs discusses how he has sought to overcome the challenges involved in the construction of human tissues and organs with 3D printers

Life support

Brazilian firm develops native out-of-body oxygenation system for patients in critical condition

Antibodies reduce deaths

A clinical trial led by researchers at the University of Oxford, UK, identified a second drug capable of reducing mortality among patients with severe COVID-19

Physician, anthropologist, and broadcaster

Inquisitive and inventive, Edgard Roquette-Pinto participated in the country’s antiracial movements and the introduction of radio

A system under construction

Despite insufficient investment, Brazil’s universal health care system has improved social indices and has been crucial to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic

Renewed momentum

The São Paulo institute strengthened itself, mobilized competencies, and integrated teams to face the pandemic

The beginnings of pediatrics

In the late nineteenth century, Rio de Janeiro doctors worked together to reduce child mortality rates

Better chances with time

The risk of rectal cancer recurrence is less than 5% for patients who have been tumor-free for three years after nonsurgical treatment with radiation therapy and chemotherapy

Butantan develops serum for the novel coronavirus

The Butantan Institute has completed development of a serum to combat SARS-CoV-2

Unequal access

Even before efficacy data for the vaccine candidates was released, it was clear that there will not be enough supply to immunize the entire global population before the end of next year

Microneedles to treat cancer

A dressing made up of hundreds of microscopic needles that dissolve in the body promises to improve skin cancer treatment with photodynamic therapy

Beyond Manguinhos

FIOCRUZ graduates made significant achievements in public and private institutions in Brazil and abroad

No rest on the anniversary

FIOCRUZ celebrates 120 years of public health literature, research, assistance, and teaching

“When I woke up, it was wonderful to realize that I was still alive.”

The pandemic detectives

Health professionals use a variety of methods and instruments to follow the trail of the novel coronavirus and to try to contain the epidemic

Higher risk of premature birth

Pregnant women infected with the novel coronavirus are at greater risk of giving birth prematurely

Global pandemic tactics

With a wide range of strategies adopted to slow the spread of the disease, some countries have fared better than others

Coronavirus and the brain

A study confirms that the novel coronavirus can infect different types of brain cells, and may be capable of directly damaging the brain

A jawbone made from fat cells

The researchers were able to regenerate the TMJ bone and cartilage of pigs, whose jaws are similar to those of humans, using stem cells obtained from the animals’ own fat

Radovan Borojevic: The tamer of cells

The Croatian-born biologist and UFRJ professor emeritus speaks of the obstacles and encouraging perspectives for regenerative medicine

The fatality conundrum

Difficulties identifying the exact number of people infected and killed make it hard to calculate how deadly the disease is

Effect on births

Fearful of contracting the novel coronavirus, many pregnant women are putting off going to the hospital until they are at a more advanced stage of labor

Obesity can exacerbate COVID-19

A large-scale study found that obese people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are twice as likely to need medical care

Potential treatment

With no effective antiviral therapy, COVID-19 management for the time being consists of reducing inflammation and preventing blood clots

The effects of COVID-19

The novel coronavirus can affect the lungs, heart, kidneys, pancreas, and brain, causing long-term damage after the acute phase of the disease has passed

Intranasal coronavirus vaccine

Two international studies have suggested that COVID-19 aerosol vaccine candidates, administered intranasally, offer protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals

Breath work

Respiratory physiotherapy training goes beyond undergraduate level, with increasing opportunities for work in hospitals

War on the plague

Doctors and public authorities acted quickly against a bubonic plague outbreak in Santos in 1899

Artificial intelligence to help the heart

New computer software could improve the speed and efficiency of heart-disease diagnosis and treatment