Cutaneous congenital candidiasis in a full-term newborn from an asymptomatic mother.

A male infant of 2,900 g was born at term to a 19-year-old primigravida woman who had adequate prenatal care and no major complications detected during the pregnancy. The only reported medical event was an episode of urinary tract infection by E. coli one month before delivering, which resolved without complications using nitrofurantoin. There was no history of maternal herpes simplex infection and her serologic screening was negative for syphilis.

[Motor vehicles and ultraviolet exposure in Mexico]. / Automóviles y exposición ultravioleta en México.

INTRODUCTION: Sun exposure can cause both acute and chronic lesions of the skin due to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. While driving or traveling inside a vehicle, a person is exposed to this radiation, which can induce or exacerbate certain dermatoses. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the window glasses of commercial vehicles in Mexico can block UV transmission or if the addition of tinted films is necessary. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty models of vehicles manufactured between 1998 and 2011 were randomly selected. UVA and UVB were measured through the windshield and lateral window glasses, and their transmission was calculated compared to ambient UV radiation. Four commercial tinted films were also evaluated for UV transmission. RESULTS: The average UVB transmission from the windshield was 0.01% and 0.9% for UVA. For the driver's and front seat's glasses, UVB transmission was 2% and 16% for UVA. Tinted films transmitted less than 4.5% of UVA, and almost 0% of UVB. CONCLUSIONS: Driving with the vehicle's windows closed eliminates 98% of UVB and 84% of UVA. Therefore, the addition of tinted films provides a marginal benefit in most clinical conditions that manifest photosensibility.

[Solar exposure time for sunburn in Mexican population]. / Estimación del tiempo de exposición solar para quemadura en población mexicana.

INTRODUCTION: THe minimal erythemal dose (MED) quantifies an individual's sensitivity to UV radiation (UVR). To estimate it in our population and establish the time of exposure inducing it during daily activities would allow us to calculate risk intervals. METHODS: From 2005-2012, the UV solar radiation was measured with terrestrial radiometry and compared to public UV index (UVI). We determined the MED in 90 individuals with the prevalent phototypes in Mexico (III, IV, V), and estimated the time needed for the development of sunburn. RESULTS: The average MED for phototype III was 39 (IC 95%: 35-42) mJ/cm2, for IV 48 (IC 95%:42-53) mJ/cm2, and for V was 84 (IC 95%:75-92) mJ/cm2 (ANOVA, p ≤ 0.001). Approximately, 80% of the daily UVR was accumulated between 10:00-16:00 h, and 77% of the annual UV dose is received between March-October. The public UVI had a high correlation with the one quantified at terrestrial level (r = 0.89; p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mexico receives continuously high levels of UVR. Phototype III will present sunburn after 22-33 min in a summer day, while phototype V will require over one hour of exposure. This last group is at risk of chronic exposure without considering consequences.

Relationship between transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 expression and the intensity of sensitive skin symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Sensitive skin (SS) is a hyper-reactive condition of the skin secondary to external factors, without objective signs of lesion. Its pathogenesis is still under investigation. Transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) is a cation channel that responds to low pH and is related to nociception, neurogenic inflammation, and pruritus. AIMS: To determine the expression of TRPV1 in subjects with SS and correlate it with the degree of symptoms and skin pigmentation. PATIENTS/METHODS: We included 31 subjects self-diagnosed as having SS. Colorimetric values were obtained for assessment of skin phototype, and the lactic acid stinging test (LAST) was performed. Two skin biopsies from the nasolabial fold of each volunteer were obtained. Qualitative analysis of TRPV1 was carried out with immunohistochemistry. Quantitative analysis of TRPV1 was carried out with qRT-PCR. RESULTS: LAST was positive in 74% of the subjects, 56% of those having tan and brown skin. Immunohistochemistry staining for TRPV1 was greater in positive subjects (P = 0.03), but showed no correlation with the intensity of symptoms. Positive subjects also had higher TRPV1 mRNA expression compared to negative subjects (P < 0.001). This expression showed a positive correlation with the intensity of referred symptoms (R = 0.75, P < 0.001) and skin pigmentation (R = 0.63, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TRPV1 expression is upregulated in subjects with sensitive skin, and it correlates with the intensity of the symptoms. Our findings suggest a role for this receptor in the pathogenesis of sensitive skin syndrome.

[Environmental UV radiation levels for dosing PUVA-sol in Mexico]. / Niveles de radiación UV ambiental para dosificar el PUVA-sol en México.

BACKGROUND: PUVA-sol therapy has the advantage of its extensive availability and low cost. However, its use is empirical. The aim was to quantify the environmental UVA radiation and suggest a method for PUVA-sol administration. METHODS: we measured the UV radiation in the center of México (22 °N, 101 °W, 1877 m) by means of terrestrial radiometry from 2007 to 2011. We registered the variations according to hour, month, cloudiness and transmission through domestic silicate plates. RESULTS: more than 75 % of the UVA radiation is registered between the hours of 9:00 and 17:00. The annual lowest average intensity was 20 mW/cm(2) and the highest 25.4 mW/cm(2) (ANOVA, p < 0.001). The monthly UVA irradiation during the zenith for clear skies can be estimated by the following formula: 23.8 + 0.13 (month) - 0.13 (month - 6.5)(2), (r(2) = 0.95, p < 0.001). The commonly used silicate plate (3 mm) has a UVB absorbance of 0.93, and UVA transmittance of 0.58. CONCLUSIONS: the rational use of PUVA-sol is possible on the basis of the obtained data. It is necessary to isolate UVB radiation, and to adjust exposure during cloudy days, as well as following the safety protocol to obtain benefit and to reduce the risk of adverse effects.

Introducción: la terapia PUVA-sol tiene como ventaja su disponibilidad y bajo costo. Sin embargo, su utilización es empírica. La finalidad del estudio es cuantificar la radiación solar UVA ambiental y sugerir una forma de administración en México. Métodos: se midió la radiación UV en el centro del país (22 °N, 101 °O, 1877 m) mediante radiometría terrestre de 2007 a 2011. Se registró la variación por hora, mes, nubosidad y transmisión a través de placas de silicato doméstico. Resultados: más del 75 % de la radiación UVA se registra entre las 9:00 y las 17:00 horas. La intensidad anual promedio mínima fue de 20 mW/cm2 y la máxima de 25.4 mW/cm2 (ANOVA, p < 0.001). El cálculo de irradiación UVA mensual durante el cenit bajo cielo despejado puede estimarse mediante la fórmula: 23.8 + 0.13 (mes) - 0.13 (mes - 6.5)2, (r2 = 0.95, p < 0.001). La placa común (3 mm) de silicato doméstico tiene una absorbancia UVB de 0.93 y una transmitancia UVA de 0.58. Conclusiones: es posible el empleo racional de PUVA-sol según los datos obtenidos. Es necesario aislar la radiación UVB y ajustar la dosis según la nubosidad, así como apegarse al protocolo de seguridad a fin de obtener beneficios y minimizar los efectos adversos.

Topical niacinamide 4% and desonide 0.05% for treatment of axillary hyperpigmentation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Axillary hyperpigmentation is a frequent cause of cosmetic consultations in dark-skinned women from tropical areas, including Latin America. Currently, there is no widely accepted treatment for the disorder, but it is usually treated with bleaching agents because it is considered a variant of inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of niacinamide 4% and desonide 0.05% emulsions compared with placebo in the treatment of axillary hyperpigmentation. METHODS: Twenty-four women aged 19-27 years with hyperpigmented axillae (phototype III-V) were randomly assigned to receive the study treatments in the axillary region. Improvement was assessed at baseline, then clinically and by colorimetry 9 weeks later. Quantitative evaluation including melanin, inflammatory infiltrates, NKI/Beteb, CD1a, CD68, and collagen type IV content was performed by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry, assisted by computerized morphometric analysis. RESULTS: Both niacinamide and desonide induced significant colorimetric improvement compared with placebo; however, desonide showed a better depigmenting effect than niacinamide. A good to excellent response was achieved in 24% of cases for niacinamide, 30% for desonide, and 6% for placebo. We observed a marked disruption of the basal membrane in axillary hyperpigmentation and an inflammatory infiltrate that improved after treatment. Decreased pigmentation in the desonide-treated axillae was associated with recovery of disruption at the basal membrane. CONCLUSION: Niacinamide and desonide showed depigmenting properties in women with axillary hyperpigmentation. These findings may be explained by their antimelanogenic and anti-inflammatory properties, respectively.