Melanoma patterns of distant relapse: a study of 108 cases from a South Brazilian center.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous melanoma has increased over the last decades. Recurrences occur most frequently within the first 2-3 years after diagnosis but patients carry a lifelong risk of relapse. Nevertheless, there is no consensus in the literature on what screening tests patients should undergo. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the most common melanoma metastasis sites among a South Brazilian population from a city with one of the highest melanoma rates, and establish the best screening method for these patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective study of 108 consecutive melanoma patients followed up at a center from 2009 to 2013. Data were collected on demographic and tumoral characteristics, as well as the site of the first diagnosed metastasis. RESULTS: Patients were divided into 3 groups for analytical purposes: Non-visceral metastases (48% of patients), visceral metastasis (39%) and brain metastasis (13%). We tried to correlate age, gender, mean Breslow thickness, mitosis and death rates with the aforementioned groups but none showed any statistically significant association. CONCLUSION: Melanoma patients must be monitored to detect early relapse and subsequent effective treatment but the best follow-up strategy remains to be established.

Epidemiology of melanoma in the South of Brazil: study of a city in the Vale do Itajaí from 1999 to 2013.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous melanoma is a highly aggressive malignancy with increasing incidence worldwide. The southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina has one of the highest incidence rates of melanoma in the country. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiological profile of melanoma patients in a southern city of Brazil. METHODS: a cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted, aiming to detect the clinical and histopathological characteristics of cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in the city of Brusque - SC, between 1999 and 2013. RESULTS: A total of 213 cases in 212 individuals were studied. More than 50% of the patients were females (p< 0.05). The trunk was the most commonly affected site (p< 0.05), followed by the upper limbs. Nodular and superficial spreading melanomas were the most commonly detected in histological analyses. They did not differ statistically in frequency, but were more prevalent than other histopathological subtypes (p< 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between invasive and noninvasive melanomas (p= 0.2441). Among the invasive melanomas, those with Breslow thicknesses < 1 mm and between 1-2mm were more prevalent (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study we found a higher frequency of melanomas in female patients and patients aged over 51. The trunk was the most commonly affected site. Nodular and superficial spreading melanomas prevailed. Among invasive melanomas, those with Breslow thicknesses < 2 mm were the most frequent. This paper highlights the epidemiological profile of melanoma patients in the city and may help to identify and aid in the follow-up of those who are most likely to present the disease.

Evaluation of Child Anxiety Prior to Dental Care by Means of Modified Venham Picture Test, RMS Pictorial Scale and Facial Image Scale Tests

Abstract Objective: To evaluate child anxiety prior to dental care; to compare the results obtained by applying different anxiety tests and to assess whether anxiety is related to age or gender, and to identify which test children find to be more attractive and easier to understand. Material and Methods: The research was performed with 30 children of both genders and age group of 4-9 years distributed into Group 1 = children aged 4, 5 and 6 years and Group 2 = children aged 7, 8 and 9 years. Modified Venham Picture Test (VPT), RMS Pictorial Scale (RMS-PS) and Facial Image Scale (FIS) were the anxiety evaluation tests used. For statistical analysis, the Shapiro Wilk Normality test, Spearman correlation and the Independent Proportions test were used. Results: Modified VPT identified 70% anxiety-free children, RMS-PS 90%, and FIS 87%. RMS-PS and FIS scores had moderate correlation (51%). Regarding age groups, no significant difference was found between proportions of group 1 and group 2. According to gender, in 11 girls, the modified VPT test identified 3 (27%) with some anxiety degree; RMS-PS test identified 1 (9%) and FIS test 2 (18%). In 19 boys, modified VPT test identified 6 (32%) with some anxiety degree; RMS-PS test identified 2 (11%) and the FIS test 2 (11%). The test that was the easiest to understand was the modified VPT (54%) and regarding attractiveness, modified VPT and RMS-PS presented similar results, 40% each. Conclusion: All three tests were able to identify anxiety prior to dental care. The evaluation of results showed that the more the children could identify themselves with the test, the more they found it to be easy and attractive.

Bone mass and body composition in college students.

OBJECTIVE: To compare bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition (BC) of college students with different lifestyles. METHODS: Transversal study with 85 students of Medicine (MED) and Physical Education (PE) at the Universidade Regional de Blumenau, SC, Brazil. The anthropometric, socio-demographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables were obtained through densitometric anamnesis and densitometric variables by dual-energy X-ray (DXA). The statistical tests used were: Student's t-test, Chi-square test, and logistic regression. RESULTS: PE male students showed a higher amount of lean body mass (79.5 ± 5.9 vs. 75.1 ± 5.3; p = 0.03) and a lower amount of body fat (16.7 ± 6.1 vs. 21.6 ± 5.6; p = 0.02) and PE female students showed a higher amount of lean body mass (68.2 ± 5.5 vs. 65.3 ± 5.5; p = 0.05). The BMD of the neck of femur (NOF), total femur (TF), and total body (TB) was higher in PE students of both genders. PE students practiced more physical activities than MED students. Low bone mass (LBM) was more frequent in MED students (34.9% vs. 4.7%; p = 0.001), provided that the risk of a MED student to show LBM was nine times higher for lumbar spine (LS), five times for NOF, eight times for TF, and seven times for TB. CONCLUSION: BC and BMD were different among the students; MED students have shown a higher risk of having LBM, and PE students practiced more physical activities.

Melanoma patterns of distant relapse: a study of 108 cases from a South Brazilian center

Abstract Background: The incidence of cutaneous melanoma has increased over the last decades. Recurrences occur most frequently within the first 2-3 years after diagnosis but patients carry a lifelong risk of relapse. Nevertheless, there is no consensus in the literature on what screening tests patients should undergo. Objectives: To evaluate the most common melanoma metastasis sites among a South Brazilian population from a city with one of the highest melanoma rates, and establish the best screening method for these patients. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study of 108 consecutive melanoma patients followed up at a center from 2009 to 2013. Data were collected on demographic and tumoral characteristics, as well as the site of the first diagnosed metastasis. Results: Patients were divided into 3 groups for analytical purposes: Non-visceral metastases (48% of patients), visceral metastasis (39%) and brain metastasis (13%). We tried to correlate age, gender, mean Breslow thickness, mitosis and death rates with the aforementioned groups but none showed any statistically significant association. Conclusion: Melanoma patients must be monitored to detect early relapse and subsequent effective treatment but the best follow-up strategy remains to be established.

Epidemiology of Melanoma in the South of Brazil: study of a city in the Vale do Itajaí from 1999 to 2013

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous melanoma is a highly aggressive malignancy with increasing incidence worldwide. The southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina has one of the highest incidence rates of melanoma in the country. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiological profile of melanoma patients in a southern city of Brazil. METHODS: a cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted, aiming to detect the clinical and histopathological characteristics of cutaneous melanoma diagnosed in the city of Brusque - SC, between 1999 and 2013. RESULTS: A total of 213 cases in 212 individuals were studied. More than 50% of the patients were females (p< 0.05). The trunk was the most commonly affected site (p< 0.05), followed by the upper limbs. Nodular and superficial spreading melanomas were the most commonly detected in histological analyses. They did not differ statistically in frequency, but were more prevalent than other histopathological subtypes (p< 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between invasive and noninvasive melanomas (p= 0.2441). Among the invasive melanomas, those with Breslow thicknesses < 1 mm and between 1-2mm were more prevalent (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study we found a higher frequency of melanomas in female patients and patients aged over 51. The trunk was the most commonly affected site. Nodular and superficial spreading melanomas prevailed. Among invasive melanomas, those with Breslow thicknesses < 2 mm were the most frequent. This paper highlights the epidemiological profile of melanoma patients in the city and may help to identify and aid in the follow-up of those who are most likely to present the disease. .

Massa óssea e composição corporal em estudantes universitários / Bone mass and body composition in college students

OBJETIVO: Comparar a densidade mineral óssea (DMO) e a composição corporal (CC) de universitários com diferentes estilos de vida. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado em 85 estudantes dos cursos de Medicina (MED) e Educação Física (EF) da Universidade Regional de Blumenau. As variáveis antropométricas, sociodemográficas, clínicas e de estilo de vida foram obtidas por meio de anamnese densitométrica e as variáveis densitométricas por raio-x de dupla energia (DXA). Os testes estatísticos foram: t de Student, qui-quadrado e regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Os acadêmicos de EF apresentaram massa magra maior (79,5 ± 5,9 versus 75,1 ± 5,3; p = 0,03) e gordura corporal menor (16,7 ± 6,1 versus 21,6 ± 5,6; p = 0,02), e as acadêmicas de EF apresentaram massa magra maior (68,2 ± 5,5 versus 65,3 ± 5,5; p = 0,05). A DMO do colo do fêmur (CF), fêmur total (FT) e corpo total (CT) foi maior nos acadêmicos de EF em ambos os sexos. Os estudantes de EF praticavam mais exercícios físicos do que os de MED. A baixa massa óssea (BMO) foi mais frequente nos estudantes de MED (34,9% versus 4,7%; p = 0,001), sendo que o risco de um estudante de MED ter BMO foi 9 vezes maior para a CL, 5 vezes para o CF, 8 vezes para o FT e 7 vezes para o CT. CONCLUSÃO: A CC e a DMO foram diferentes entre os estudantes; os acadêmicos de MED apresentaram um risco maior de ter BMO e os acadêmicos de EF praticavam mais exercícios físicos.

OBJECTIVE: To compare bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition (BC) of college students with different lifestyles. METHODS: Transversal study with 85 students of Medicine (MED) and Physical Education (PE) at the Universidade Regional de Blumenau, SC, Brazil. The anthropometric, socio-demographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables were obtained through densitometric anamnesis and densitometric variables by dual-energy X-ray (DXA). The statistical tests used were: Student's t-test, Chi-square test, and logistic regression. RESULTS: PE male students showed a higher amount of lean body mass (79.5 ± 5.9 vs. 75.1 ± 5.3; p = 0.03) and a lower amount of body fat (16.7 ± 6.1 vs. 21.6 ± 5.6; p = 0.02) and PE female students showed a higher amount of lean body mass (68.2 ± 5.5 vs. 65.3 ± 5.5; p = 0.05). The BMD of the neck of femur (NOF), total femur (TF), and total body (TB) was higher in PE students of both genders. PE students practiced more physical activities than MED students. Low bone mass (LBM) was more frequent in MED students (34.9% vs. 4.7%; p = 0.001), provided that the risk of a MED student to show LBM was nine times higher for lumbar spine (LS), five times for NOF, eight times for TF, and seven times for TB. CONCLUSION: BC and BMD were different among the students; MED students have shown a higher risk of having LBM, and PE students practiced more physical activities.