Criocirurgia com nitrogênio líquido versus ácido tricloroacético no tratamento de verruga peniana por papilomavírus humano (HPV): um ensaio clínico randomizado / Cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen versus trichloroacetic acid in the treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV) penile wart: a randomized controlled trial

Introdução: verrugas anogenitais são a infecção sexualmente transmissível prevalente (0,5%) entre atendimentos dermatológicos. Dentre as estratégias de tratamento, destacam-se a crioterapia com nitrogênio líquido (NL) e causoterapia com ácido tricloroacético (ATA). Objetivo: avaliar a eficácia do NL versus ATA no tratamento de verrugas penianas em pacientes de instituição pública brasileira. Métodos: ensaio clínico aberto, paralelo e randomizado. Em cada visita, as verrugas foram contadas e submetidas à crioterapia (10s) ou à causoterapia (ATA 80%), após randomização. A principal variável dependente foi a contagem de lesões antes e após quatro semanas de tratamento. Foram analisados: eliminação completa, idade, imunossupressão, tabagismo, topografia e escolaridade. Resultados: foram avaliados 142 tratamentos em 52 participantes. Houve predominância de adultos jovens, menor escolaridade, e a principal topografia afetada foi a haste. A redução percentual média por sessão foi 48% para o NL e 26% para o ATA (p=0,11). Clearance completo foi atingido por 42 (81%) participantes, sendo que 39 (75%; IC95%: 64-85%) atingiram o clearance em até três sessões. A idade associou-se à pior taxa de resposta terapêutica (ß=-0,09; p<0,01). Conclusões: NL e ATA mostraram-se eficazes na terapêutica das verrugas penianas, sem diferença entre os tratamentos. A idade foi associada à pior resposta terapêutica.

Background: Anogenital warts are the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection (0.5%) among dermatological consultations. Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen (LN) and therapy with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) are remarkable among the treatment strategies. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of LN versus TCA in to treat penile warts in patients from a Brazilian public institution. Methods: Open, parallel, randomized clinical trial. Following randomization, the warts were counted and submitted to cryotherapy (10s) or case therapy (TCA 80%) in each visit. The primary dependent variable was the lesion count before and after four weeks of treatment. We assessed the following variables: complete clearance, age, immunosuppression, smoking, topography, and education. Results: 142 treatments were evaluated in 52 participants. There was a predominance of young adults, and the main topography affected was the penis shaft. The mean reduction rate per session was 48% for LN and 26% for TCA (p=0.11). 42 (81%) participants achieved complete clearance, with 39 (75%; 95% CI: 64-85%) reaching clearance in up to three sessions. Age was associated with a worse therapeutic response rate (ß =-0.09; p<0.01). Conclusions: LN and TCA proved to be effective to treat penile warts, without difference between treatments. Age was associated with a worse therapeutic response

New pandemic, old bugs: A case of cimicosis (Bed Bug) in a neglected elderly patient during the coronavirus disease quarantine

Abstract Bed bugs are hematophagous arthropods that can parasitize humans. During the coronavirus disease pandemic, there has been an increase in elderly neglect. A man in his 90s came to the hospital complaining of generalized pruritus. Despite being a dependent patient, he was left alone in a home by his relatives during the pandemic. Examination revealed inflammatory nodules in addition to a live bed bug crawling over his trunk. Identifying a bed bug during consultation is an uncommon feature that can help determine a particular diagnosis. As this case shows, the need for social isolation during pandemics can contribute to elder abuse and neglect.

Report of 15 injuries caused by lionfish (pterois volitans) in aquarists in Brazil: a critical assessment of the severity of envenomations

Lionfish are venomous fish that belong to the Scorpaenidae family. Individuals of this family and those of the Synanceiidae family comprise most of the existing venomous fish in the world. Lionfish are originally found in the Indo-Pacific, but they have received special attention in the last years for their dissemination in the Atlantic Ocean, with the emergence of large populations in the USA, Caribbean and South America. Because of its beauty, this fish has always been present in private and commercial aquariums around the world. Herein, we describe 15 envenomations in aquarists registered in a period of eighteen years (19972014). The stings caused excruciating pain and marked inflammation, with local erythema, edema, heat, paleness and cyanosis. In one case, it was possible to observe vesicles and blisters. There were no skin necroses or marked systemic manifestations. We discuss the possible coming of the fish to South America and the circumstances and clinical impact of the envenomations.

Infiltrated plaques resulting from an injury caused by the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris): a case report

Several species of octopus are considered venomous due to toxins present in the glands connected to their beak, which may be associated with hunt and kill of prey. Herein, we report an accident involving a common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) that injured an instructor during a practical biology lesson and provoked an inflamed infiltrated plaque on the hand of the victim. The lesion was present for about three weeks and was treated with cold compresses and anti-inflammatory drugs. It was healed ten days after leaving a hyperchromic macule at the bite site. The probable cause of the severe inflammation was the digestive enzymes of the glands and not the neurotoxins of the venom.

Morphological characterization of the venom secretory epidermal cells in the stinger of marine and freshwater stingrays

Marine and freshwater stingrays are characterized by the presence of one to three mineralized serrated stingers on the tail, which are covered by epidermal cells secreting venom. When these animals are dorsally touched, the stinger can be introduced into the aggressor by a whip reflex mechanism of the tail, causing severe mechanical injuries and inoculating the venom. Accidents in humans are frequent causing intense local pain, oedema and erythema. Bacterial secondary infection is also common. In addition, injuries involving freshwater stingrays frequently cause a persistent cutaneous necrosis. The exact localization of the venom secretory epidermal cells in the stinger is controversial, but it is known that it is preferentially located in the ventrolateral grooves. A comparative morphological analysis of the stinger epidermal tissue of different marine and freshwater Brazilian stingray species was carried out. The results indicate that in freshwater species there is a larger number of protein secretory cells, of two different types, spread over the whole stinger epidermis, while in marine species the protein secretory cells are located only around or inside the stinger ventrolateral grooves. These differences between the stingers of the two groups can justify the more severe envenomation accidents with the freshwater species when compared with the marine species.