Epidermal necrolysis: SCORTEN performance in AIDS and non-AIDS patients

Abstract: Background: Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are life-threatening blistering drug reactions with high incidence of ocular sequela. The term 'Epidermal Necrolysis' has been recently used to better describe the full spectrum of the disease that includes Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis at opposite ends, which differ by the extent of body surface area with epidermal detachment. SCORTEN is a mortality prognosis score for 'Epidermal Necrolysis' cases that still needed validation in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Objective: To evaluate the SCORTEN performance in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and the differences in outcomes between acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and non- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cohorts. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of AIDS and non-AIDS 'Epidermal Necrolysis' cases admitted to a Brazilian reference center from 1990-2014. Results: Five deaths (16.7%) occurred as a consequence of EN in 30 AIDS patients, and seven (17.9%) in 39 non-AIDS patients, relative risk (RR) .92 (p=1.0). SCORTEN showed great performance, with an Area Under the Receiver Operating Curve (AUC) (ROC) of 0.90 with a 95% confidence interval ranging from .81 to .99. The performance of SCORTEN was better among non- AIDS patients than AIDS patients: AUC non- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome =0.99 (CI 05% 0.96-1.00), AUC acquired immunodeficiency syndrome = 0.74 (CI 95% 0.53-0.95), p=.02. Study Limitations: Heterogeneity of cases, wide variation of systemic corticosteroid doses when used. Conclusion: SCORTEN is valid for the Brazilian population, including among those patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and, as such, its use is recommended for aiding treatment choice in this subgroup of patients.

Pesquisa de opinião sobre eficácia, custos e cicatrização de procedimentos de resurfacing para rugas estáticas faciais / Expert survey on the efficacy, costs and healing of resurfacing procedures for facial static wrinkles

Foi realizada uma pesquisa de opinião entre especialistas em "resurfacing" cutâneo com a finalidade de compararem-se custos e benefícios entre as técnicas de laser de CO2 totalmente ablativo, lasers fracionados ablativos, lasers fracionados não ablativos, radiofrequência fracionada ablativa, microagulhamento, dermabrasão, peelings médios e peelings de fenol- -óleo de cróton. A opção mais eficaz para tratamento de rugas estáticas faciais foi peeling de fenol-óleo de cróton, ranqueado em primeiro lugar por 71,4% dos experts, seguido de laser de CO2 totalmente ablativo, por 28,6%. Sobre "downtime", os procedimentos elencados com recuperação mais rápida foram microagulhamento e laser fracionado não ablativo, com 42,9% cada um, seguidos por radiofrequência fracionada ablativa, com 14,3%. O período para recuperação completa dos efeitos colaterais e adversos foi percebido como mais curto no microagulhamento por 50% dos experts. Sobre os custos operacionais, o procedimento menos custoso foram peelings médios, de acordo com a opinião de 71,4% dos especialistas. Tais resultados apontam para melhor custo/benefício de procedimentos como peelings químicos e microagulhamento, de acordo com a opinião dos 14 especialistas brasileiros que responderam ao questionário.

A survey on the opinion of specialists regarding skin resurfacing was performed, with the objective of comparing costs and benefits between the techniques: totally ablative CO2 laser, fractional ablative lasers, fractional non-ablative lasers, ablative fractional radiofrequency, microneedling, dermabrasion, medium peels, phenol-croton oil peels. The most effective option for the treatment of static wrinkles was the phenol-croton oil peel, in first place by 71.4% of the experts, followed by totally ablative CO2 laser, by 28.6%. Regarding downtime, procedures ranked as fastest recovery were microneedling and fractional non-ablative lasers, with 42.9% each, followed by ablative fractional radiofrequency, with 14.3%. Complete recovery period for side and adverse effects was perceived as shorter with microneedling by 50% of the experts. Regarding operating costs. The less costly procedure was medium peels, according to the opinion of 71.4% of the experts. Such results point towards a better cost/benefit of procedures such as chemical peels and micro-needling, according to the opinion of 14 Brazilian specialists who answered the questionnaire.

Alopecia em barba causada por desoxicolato para tratamento de gordura submentoniana / Beard alopecia caused by deoxycholic acid for the treatment of submental fat

Segundo relato de caso da literatura de alopecia em região de barba observada após terceira sessão de injeções de desoxicolato a 1% para redução de gordura submentoniana.

Second case report in the literature regarding beard alopecia observed after the third session of injections of 1% deoxycholic acid for reduction of submental fat.

Bob marley's disease: cerebral metastasis of acral melanoma / A doença de Bob Marley: metástases cerebrais de melanoma acral

Bob Marley's had a great importance to Jamaica, Caribbean popular music, and Pan-Africanism. Under the name of the Wailers, several Marley's success reggae albums were recorded between 1969 and 1975. After this, at the solo career, he was placed as the most important reggae singer. The disease that ruined Bob Marley was an acral melanoma (right hallux) that had a late diagnosis and treatment, followed by metastases to the abdomen, the lungs and the brain. Seizures have been the warning sign that the melanoma had spread, three years after the initial injury. We presented here the history of the disease of this famous singer and reported another patient with a case quite similar to him, calling his illness as "Bob Marley's disease".

Bob Marley representou um marco para a Jamaica, para a música popular do Caribe, e para o Pan-Africanismo. Com o nome de Wailers, vários álbuns de reggae foram gravados com sucesso entre 1969 e 1975. Em sua carreira solo, ele foi considerado o mais importante cantor de reggae. A doença que dizimou Bob Marley foi um melanoma acral (hálux direito) que teve um diagnóstico e tratamento tardios, seguido de metástases para o abdome, pulmões e encéfalo. Crises convulsivas foram o sinal de alerta, três anos após a lesão inicial, de que o melanoma estava disseminado. Nós apresentamos aqui a história da doença deste famoso cantor e relatamos um outro paciente com um caso similar ao qual denominamos "doença de Bob Marley".

Factors associated with seropositivity for APGL-Iamong household contacts of leprosy patients

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is mainly transmitted among family members who share genetic and ambient factors. The clinical form of leprosy in the index case and kinship could be risk factors for leprosy transmission. High antibody levels in household contacts (HC) in the absence of neural or skin lesions may characterize latent infection. This study aimed to evaluate the association between seropositivity for anti-phenolic glycolipid-I immunoglobulin M antibodies (APGL-I) in HC and the clinical classification of the index case and to analyze the association between APGL-I positivity with other factors such as age, kinship, and gender. METHODS: We performed a survey among 320 HC of 120 leprosy patients who were evaluated and followed-up in a leprosy outpatient clinic of a university hospital. All HC underwent complete skin examination, peripheral nerve palpation, skin sensory tests, and serologic tests for the detection and quantification of APGL-I. RESULTS: The overall seropositivity rate was 20%, and was greatly affected by kinship. APGL-I seropositivity was higher in siblings (41%), followed by parents (28%), spouses (26%), other (19%), and offspring (14%). Independent risk factors for seropositivity were being siblings (OR 3.3) and being a HC of an index case with indeterminate leprosy (OR 5.3). APGL-I seropositivity was associated with index cases with a bacillary index of 4 (88%; p<.001). Seropositivity among HC was not significantly associated with their gender and age. There was no statistical difference in the seropositivity rates of HC of index patients with paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy. CONCLUSIONS: Strict evaluation and follow-up of HC with positive results for APGL-I is recommended. Special attention should be paid during the screening of siblings of the index cases, HC of patients with a high bacillary index, and HC of patients with indeterminate leprosy.

Gamasoidosis illustrated: from the nest to dermoscopy / Gamasoidose ilustrada: do ninho à dermatoscopia

Gamasoidosis (acariasis, avian-mite dermatitis or bird-mite dermatitis) is a challenging diagnosis that is becoming more common because of the frequent use of window air conditioners in tropical countries. These devices may serve as shelters for nests of urban birds such as pigeons. Dermatologists should become familiar with this infestation to establish the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Gamasoidose (acaríase, infestação por "piolhinho-de-pombo" ou dermatite por ácaros aviários) é um diagnóstico desafiador que está se tornando mais comum devido ao uso frequente de aparelhos de ar-condicionado de janela em países tropicais, que servem de abrigo para ninhos de pássaros urbanos tais como pombos. Dermatologistas devem se familiarizar com esta infestação para fazerem diagnóstico e tratamento adequados.

Brazilian blood donation eligibility criteria for dermatologic patients / Critérios brasileiros de elegibilidade à doação de sangue para pacientes dermatológicos

A focused and commented review on the impact of dermatologic diseases and interventions in the solidary act of donating blood is presented to dermatologists to better advise their patients. This is a review of current Brazilian technical regulations on hemotherapeutic procedures as determined by Ministerial Directive #1353/2011 by the Ministry of Health and current internal regulations of the Hemotherapy Center of Ribeirão Preto, a regional reference center in hemotherapeutic procedures. Criteria for permanent inaptitude: autoimmune diseases (>1 organ involved), personal history of cancer other than basal cell carcinoma, severe atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, pemphigus foliaceus, porphyrias, filariasis, leprosy, extra pulmonary tuberculosis or paracoccidioidomycosis, and previous use of etretinate. Drugs that impose temporary ineligibility: other systemic retinoids, systemic corticosteroids, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, vaccines, methotrexate, beta-blockers, minoxidil, anti-epileptic, and anti-psychotic drugs. Other conditions that impose temporary ineligibility: occupational accident with biologic material, piercing, tattoo, sexually transmitted diseases, herpes, and bacterial infections, among others. Discussion: Thalidomide is currently missing in the teratogenic drugs list. Although finasteride was previously considered a drug that imposed permanent inaptitude, according to its short halflife current restriction of 1 month is still too long. Dermatologists should be able to advise their patients about proper timing to donate blood, and discuss the impact of drug withdrawal on treatment outcomes and to respect the designated washout periods.

Uma revisão centrada no impacto de doenças e intervenções dermatológicas no ato solidário de doar sangue é apresentada aos dermatologistas para melhor aconselhamento dos seus pacientes. Esta é uma revisão das atuais normas técnicas brasileiras sobre procedimentos hemoterápicos conforme determinado pela Portaria Ministerial no 1353/2011 do Ministério da Saúde e atuais normas internas do Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto, um centro de referência regional em procedimentos hemoterápicos. Critérios para inaptidão definitiva: doenças autoimunes (>1 órgão comprometido), antecedente pessoal de câncer diferente de carcinoma basocelular, dermatite atópica ou psoríase graves, pênfigo foliáceo, porfirias, filariose, hanseníase, tuberculose ou paracoccidioidomicose extrapulmonares e uso prévio de etretinato. São condições de inelegibilidade temporária: uso de outros retinóides sistêmicos, corticoides sistêmicos, inibidores da 5-alfa-redutase, vacinas, metotrexato, betabloqueadores, minoxidil, anticonvulsivantes e antipsicóticos. Outras condições responsáveis por inaptidão temporária: acidente ocupacional com material biológico, "piercing", tatuagem, doenças sexualmente transmissíveis, herpes, infecções bacterianas, entre outras. Discussão: Talidomida atualmente não consta na lista de medicações teratogênicas. Apesar do uso da finasterida já ter sido considerada como critério para inaptidão definitiva, de acordo com sua meia-vida curta a restrição atual de 1 mês ainda é demasiadamente longa. Dermatologistas devem ser capazes de aconselhar seus pacientes sobre o momento adequado para doar sangue e discutir o impacto da suspensão de medicações nos resultados do tratamento de forma a respeitar os períodos de restrição designados.