Epidemiology and natural history of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patients: 20 years' experience of a reference centre in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the leading cause of death in patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB). We provide the management and prognosis of cSCC in RDEB patients at a Spanish reference center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively included patients with RDEB attended in La Paz University Hospital from November 1988 to October 2018. RESULTS: Fourteen patients developed at least one cSCC. Tumors were predominantly well differentiated. Nearly half of the tumors have recurred. Median time to first recurrence was 23.4 months (95% CI: 17.2-29.5). Five patients have developed distant metastases. Median overall survival (mOS) was 136.5 months since the diagnosis of the first cSCC (95% CI: 30.6-242.3). When distant metastases occurred, mOS was 6.78 months (95% CI: 1.94-11.61). CONCLUSIONS: cSCC is a life-threatening complication of RDEB patients. Although tumors are usually well differentiated, they tend to relapse. This is the first Spanish report of cSCC arising in RDEB patients.

Skeletal Maturation and Aerobic Performance in Young Soccer Players from Professional Academies.

The contribution of chronological age, skeletal age (Fels method) and body size to variance in peak velocity derived from the Carminatti Test was examined in 3 competitive age groups of Brazilian male soccer players: 10-11 years (U-12, n=15), 12-13 years (U-14, n=54) and 14-15 years (U-16, n=23). Body size and soccer-specific aerobic fitness were measured. Body composition was predicted from skinfolds. Analysis of variance and covariance (controlling for chronological age) were used to compare soccer players by age group and by skeletal maturity status within of each age group, respectively. Relative skeletal age (skeletal age minus chronological age), body size, estimated fat-free mass and performance on the Carminatti Test increased significantly with age. Carminatti Test performance did not differ among players of contrasting skeletal maturity status in the 3 age groups. Results of multiple linear regressions indicated fat mass (negative) and chronological age (positive) were significant predictors of peak velocity derived from the Carminatti Test, whereas skeletal age was not a significant predictor. In conclusion, the Carminatti Test appears to be a potentially interesting field protocol to assess intermittent endurance running capacity in youth soccer programs since it is independent of biological maturity status.

Radiation therapy for the treatment of benign vascular, skeletal and soft tissue diseases.

The concept of radiation therapy for the treatment of benign diseases refers to the use of moderate to high-energy ionising radiation as part of the treatment of non-malignant, but not necessarily harmless, diseases. The usefulness of radiation therapy, based on the anti-inflammatory properties of ionising radiation, has long been known. Apart from the treatment of intracranial benign tumours, such as meningiomas and neurinomas, the prevention of cardiovascular restenosis or treatment of skeletal degenerative diseases are, without doubt, the main fields of action for radiation therapy in benign conditions. Nonetheless, many other non-cancer entities may benefit from ionising radiation therapy treatment. The purpose of this review is to highlight and update indications for treatment with radiation therapy in benign conditions, focusing on skeletal degenerative processes, vascular conditions and soft tissue diseases.

The effects of wet suits on physiological and biomechanical indices during swimming.

The objectives of this study were to verify the effects of wet suits (WS) on the performance during 1500m swimming (V1500), on the velocity corresponding to the anaerobic threshold (VAT) and on the drag force (AD) as well as its coefficient (Cx). 19 swimmers randomly completed the following protocols on different days (with and without WS): 1) maximal performance of 1500m swimming; 2) VAT in field test, with fixed concentration of blood lactate (4 mM) and 3) determination of hydrodynamic indices (AD and Cx). The results demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.05) in the VAT (1.27 +/- 0.09; 1.21 +/- 0.06 m.s-1), and in the V1500 (1.21 +/- 0.08; 1.17 +/- 0.08 m.s-1), with and without WS, respectively. However the AD, and its Cx did not present significant differences (p>0.05) for the respective maximal speeds of swimming. In summary, we can conclude that WS allows swimmers to reach greater speeds in both, long- and short-course swims. This improvement can be related to the decrease of the AD, since with higher speeds (with WS) the subjects presented the same resistance, as they did when compared to speeds without a WS. Moreover, these data suggest that the methodology used in this study to determine the Cx is unable to detect the improvement caused by WS.