Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a disabling and particularly persistent mental disorder that is considered to be a priority public health problem. The active human dopamine transporter (DAT), which is encoded by the SLC6A3 gene, regulates the dopamine concentration in the synaptic cleft. In this sense, this neurotransmitter is primordial in modulating human emotions. This systematic review aims to verify the SLC6A3 (DAT1) 3′UTR VNTR (rs28363170) gene variant’s SS (9R/9R) genotype and S (9R) allele frequency fluctuation and its influence on the modulation of pharmacotherapy in MDD. For this purpose, we searched different databases, and after applying the eligibility criteria, six articles were selected. Studies have shown an association between the SS (9R/9R) genotypic and S (9R) allelic presence with the risk of developing MDD, in addition to influencing the decrease in response to antidepressant therapy. However, despite the findings, disagreements were observed between other studies. For this reason, further studies with the SLC6A3 3′UTR VNTR (rs28363170) variant in different populations are necessary to understand this polymorphism’s role in the onset of this disease.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) frequently coexist and share heterogeneous cognitive manifestations, yet their specific performance patterns on Wechsler scales remain poorly systematized. This meta-analysis synthesized data from 31 studies using the WISC-IV, WISC-V, WAIS-III, and WAIS-IV to compare cognitive index profiles in individuals with ASD, ID and ASD+ID. Standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g) were calculated using random-effects models, adopting a normative reference of mean 100 and SD 15. Results showed a distinct profile for ASD, with greater impairments in the Processing Speed Index (PSI) and Working Memory Index (WMI), while the Vocabulary Comprehension Index (VCI), Perceptual/Fluid Reasoning Index (PRI/FRI), and Visual Processing Index (VPI) remained close to normative scores. In contrast, ID and ASD+ID exhibited generalized deficits across all indices, with the lowest scores in Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) and broad effects above g = −2.5. No significant differences emerged between Wechsler versions or age-based test types. Heterogeneity was high in ASD and ID across outcomes, but negligible in ASD+ID due to reduced k. These findings reinforce that ASD presents a specific cognitive pattern, whereas ID and ASD+ID display diffuse impairment, and that Wechsler scales are consistent across versions for identifying these profiles.

Introduction: Lipid metabolism disturbances have been linked to depression pathophysiology, with apolipoprotein B (APOB)—a key component of LDL particles—emerging as a relevant biomarker

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is strongly associated with suicidal behavior

Introduction: Recent medical undergraduate curricula have integrated technology, such as virtual reality simulators (VRS), enabling ongoing clinical skills training, including the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), semiology, and professional tools

Thyroid gland carcinoma (TGC), though only 1% of all carcinomas, is the most common endocrine neoplasm with an increasing incidence since the 1990s. Of the TGC types, papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common and has the best overall prognosis. Although primarily studied in various neural spectrum disorders, monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) may also contribute to cancer occurrence. This case control study assessed the prevalence of MAOA uVNTR polymorphism in PTC patients, compared its frequency with a healthy control, and assessed the variant’s impact on clinical features. The research participants consisted of 30 PTC patients (20 female, 10 male) over 18 years old who underwent thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy at a Federal District private clinic and 30 paired and unrelated healthy volunteers (18 female, 12 male). The most frequent MAOA uVNTR alleles were 3R and 4R. Although no significant difference was detected in the genotypic distribution nor the PTC patients’ thyroglobulin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and antithyroglobulin levels; body mass indexes; administered radiopharmaceutical (131I) doses; or biological sex, the presence of at least one 3R allele was associated with a larger tumor size (T3 + T4 staging). Thus, the 3R allele seems to be associated with PTC pathogenesis severity.