EDITORIAL
The Brazilian Annals of Dermatology and the continuing medical education
The permanent need for updating scientific theories within the spectrum of human knowledge is an uncontestable reality. In the context of Dermatology, this goal is achieved through several policies that seek to maximize learning within the shortest possible time.
The strategy adopted begins with a careful daily exam of the patients in the ambulatory clinics and hospital wards. The meetings and discussion of cases among the staff from diverse services also allow a consolidation of the latest knowledge and refinement of the entire medical team. The search for precise diagnosis and the valorization of new symptomatological and technical resources, such as dermatoscopy, may in turn demonstrate the real value of the latest techniques.
In the meetings and congresses of the specialty it is possible to obtain information on the different fields of clinical and laboratorial activity together with research currently in process and the most modern methods of diagnosis and treatment.
Computer science has brought great progress to facilitate the accompanying of the latest scientific conquests. The Internet, through its extensive variety of sites, has made possible rapid access to the most recent information even while at home. This ease of access via personal computers has lead to a democratization of knowledge, such that patients can also navigate in search of information regarding their particular disease. Thus medical practice is actually accompanied and supervised by the patients themselves.
The scientific publications, nevertheless, have maintained the place they have conquered through many years of existence, and still contribute in an unequivocal manner to continuous medical education.
The editors of magazines on the various specialties exercise an important function in the selection of articles, scientific content and relevance of the themes, as well as in the quality of the presentation and illustrations. The indispensable collaboration of qualified peers is recognized and contributes to the quality and the merit achieved.
The appreciation of the scientific magazines should meet the readers' wants and is also accomplished by national and foreign institutions that periodically voice their recommendation for indexing in recognition of the parameters of quality.
The care and responsibility of the editors is indispensable, requiring periodic self-evaluation.
As an example, we analyzed the scientific content of this issue. In synthesis we found the following: the Annals is positioned within this context and contributes to the advancement of Dermatology.
The present issue offers four investigative works: Anti-neutrophil Citoplasmic Antibody (Anca) in gangrenous pyoderma; Foreskin of patients submitted to postectomy (clinical-histopathological); Counseling for the prevention of the cancer in the diverse specialties; and Prevalence of risk factors for hereditary melanoma in patients of the south of Brazil.
Three clinical cases are presented: Paracoccidioidomycosis of the ocular region; Unna-Thost palmoplantar keratoderma; and Sarcoidosis in scars.
A meticulous revision is also made of three diseases, in the articles: Vascular malformations; Cherry hemangiomas located in the scalp; and Rejuvenation of the skin by phenol peeling.
One correspondence is about, one on Erythema nodosum and hepatitis virus.
A historical communication regarding the first book published on Dermatology, by Joseph Planck, in 1776, and presents an Iconography on comparative Dermatology.
A brief analysis of the titles that comprise the present issue of the Annals reveals that there is a harmonious distribution of subject matters and that the scientific quality is comparable to publications found in foreign journals. The illustrations are of optimum quality, and the references complement the texts.
"We must learn throughout our lifetime, without imagining that wisdom comes with life." (Platão)
REFERENCES
1. Tilles G. Histoire de l'enseigment de la Dermatologie, les faits marquants: Nouv Dermatol. 2000 (19) Suppl. 217.
2. Barbosa Lima R. Mídia eletrônica e a SBD. Anais bras Dermatol. 2003, 78 (3): 261-261.
Leninha Valério do Nascimento
Director of Brazilian Annals of Dermatology
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
30 May 2008 -
Date of issue
Feb 2004
