Actinic prurigo: a case-control study of risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Actinic prurigo (AP) is an idiopathic photodermatosis that usually onsets during childhood and predominates in women. It is characterized by the symmetrical involvement of sun-exposed areas of the skin, lips, and conjunctiva. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the risk factors associated with AP using a case-control design. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with AP during 1990-2006 at Dr. Manuel Gea González General Hospital in Mexico City were included. Respective controls were recruited. Race, demographic, geographic, socioeconomic, environmental, clinical, and nutritional risk factors were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 132 persons were enrolled. These included 44 cases and two control groups comprising, respectively, dermatology and non-dermatology outpatients without AP or any autoimmune disease. Distribution by gender, age, place of birth, place of residence, and economic status did not differ significantly among the three groups. A total of 256 variables were analyzed. Only 19 variables were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). These were: use of a boiler; use of firewood; car ownership; use of earthenware; mixed material housing; socioeconomic level 1; sun exposure; use of soap; lemon consumption; use of moisturizing hair cream; living with pets in the house; living with farm animals; age; having a family member with AP; having had surgery; having had trauma; having been hospitalized; use of oral medication; and use of herbal medication. Of 40 macro- and micronutrients analyzed, 11 were found to have statistically significant effects (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple epidemiologic, geographic, clinical, and immunologic factors are involved in the etiology of AP. This study proposes a clear line for research directed at specific risk factors that refer to an individual's clinical, allergic, health, and socioeconomic status. Further study should also investigate the etiologic role of diet in AP and the molecular mechanisms behind the development of AP to establish whether AP is caused by exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Frecuencia de tumores benignos durante el periodo de 2000-2006 en el Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González / Frequency of benign tumors at the Hospital General Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez: record review between 2000-2006

Antecedentes: Los tumores benignos de la piel se definen como el crecimiento autónomo de tejido sin relación con el patrón normal de crecimiento tisular, que persiste después del estímulo que le dio origen. Prácticamente todos los humanos presentan algún tumor benigno, pero la mayoría de las veces no se busca atención ya que no producen molestias. Son escasos los registros sobre la frecuencia de los tumores benignos. El objetivo de este estudio fue informar el número de tumores benignos en el Departamento de Dermatología de nuestro hospital. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo en el que se revisaron los registros de histopatología del periodo 2000 a 2006. Se registró año, número de biopsia, sexo, edad, topografía, diagnóstico clínico y diagnóstico histológico. Resultados: Se analizaron 9436 registros de biopsias, de las cuales 3765 fueron tumores benignos, de éstos se eliminaron 595 biopsias por falta de datos, para un total de 3170. Los tumores más frecuentes por grupo histopatológico en forma descendente fueron los tumores melanocíticos, quistes, tumores fibrosos, vasculares, de la epidermis, de tejido adiposo, del pelo, neurales, glandulares, sebáceos, de cartílago y hueso, y de músculo liso. Los tumores más frecuentes en general fueron nevos melanocíticos, quistes epidermoides, queratosis seborreicas, granulomas piógenos, lipomas y dermatofibromas. Conclusiones: Los tumores benignos más frecuentes fueron los melanocíticos constituidos por nevos de unión, intradérmicos y compuestos, y los quistes epidermoides. Esta serie proporciona información de los tumores benignos más comunes en un servicio dermatológico.

BACKGROUND: Benign skin neoplasms are defined as autonomous growing tissue unrelated to normal growing of the skin, that persist even after the originating stimulus dissapears. Almost all human beings have a certain number of benign cutaneous neoplasms and many never seek medical attention. There is a dearth of information regarding the frequency of these tumors. The aim of this study was to record the number of benign tumors studied at the Dermatology Department of a medical facility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study analyzed medical records between 2000 and 2006. We included year of admission, number of biopsies, sex, age, tumor location, histological and clinical diagnoses. RESULTS: We analyzed 9,436 biopsies of which 3,765 constituted benign neoplasms; 595 were not included and our total sample was 3,170 tumors. The most frequent tumors according to histopathological diagnoses in descending order were: melanocytic, cutaneous cysts, fibrous tumors, vascular tumors, epidermal tumors, fat tumors, tumors with hair differentiation, neural tumors, glandular tumors, tumors with sebaceous differentiation, cartilage and bone tumors, and smooth muscle tumors. The most common benign tumors were: Melanocytic nevi, epidermal cysts, seborrheic keratoses, pyogenic granulomas, lipomas and dermatofibromas. CONCLUSIONS: Melanocytes represented by melanocytic nevi (junctional, intradermic and compound) were the most frequent benign neoplasms, followed by epidermoid cysts. Our results illustrate the most common benign tumors observed in a dermatology department.

[Frequency of benign tumors at the Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez". Record review between 2000-2006]. / Frecuencia de tumores benignos durante el periodo de 2000-2006 en el Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González".

BACKGROUND: Benign skin neoplasms are defined as autonomous growing tissue unrelated to normal growing of the skin, that persist even after the originating stimulus dissapears. Almost all human beings have a certain number of benign cutaneous neoplasms and many never seek medical attention. There is a dearth of information regarding the frequency of these tumors. The aim of this study was to record the number of benign tumors studied at the Dermatology Department of a medical facility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study analyzed medical records between 2000 and 2006. We included year of admission, number of biopsies, sex, age, tumor location, histological and clinical diagnoses. RESULTS: We analyzed 9,436 biopsies of which 3,765 constituted benign neoplasms; 595 were not included and our total sample was 3,170 tumors. The most frequent tumors according to histopathological diagnoses in descending order were: melanocytic, cutaneous cysts, fibrous tumors, vascular tumors, epidermal tumors, fat tumors, tumors with hair differentiation, neural tumors, glandular tumors, tumors with sebaceous differentiation, cartilage and bone tumors, and smooth muscle tumors. The most common benign tumors were: Melanocytic nevi, epidermal cysts, seborrheic keratoses, pyogenic granulomas, lipomas and dermatofibromas. CONCLUSIONS: Melanocytes represented by melanocytic nevi (junctional, intradermic and compound) were the most frequent benign neoplasms, followed by epidermoid cysts. Our results illustrate the most common benign tumors observed in a dermatology department.

An approach to the management of necrotising fasciitis in neonates.

Necrotising fasciitis is a severe, life-threatening soft tissue infection. It produces an extensive cellulitis with severe involvement of subcutaneous tissue, fascia, muscle or both, resulting in necrosis of the tissue. All age groups, including neonates, can be affected. Patients with necrotising fasciitis present with more severe constitutional symptoms and have a poor outcome, unless aggressive antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement are instituted promptly. The debridement of necrotic tissue is imperative to control the infection, but results in deep wounds that require further treatment. In this study, the neonate was treated with alginate dressings and negative pressure therapy after resolution of cellulitis, with excellent results and no untoward events.