Camouflage makeup improves quality of life in cancer patients with treatment-related skin changes.

BACKGROUND: Cancer treatment causes various skin appearance changes, which affect quality of life (QoL) in patients with cancer. We examined whether camouflage makeup improves QoL in these patients. METHODS: Skindex-16 and visual analogue scale scores of 39 female patients with cancer treatment-related skin changes were compared before and 2-3 months after self-administration of camouflage makeup. RESULTS: Camouflage makeup was able to conceal almost all skin changes, improving QoL scores regardless of age, diagnosis, and site of skin changes. Use frequency was significantly higher in patients with skin changes on exposed sites compared with patients with unexposed sites. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the patients applied the makeup only when required, they were satisfied with its effect, which improved their QoL. Moreover, the makeup had a positive effect even in patients with changes in unexposed sites, suggesting that clinicians can recommend camouflage makeup to all patients to improve QoL.

Excess Dermal Tissue Remodeling In Vivo: Does It Settle?

BACKGROUND: Surgical manipulation of skin may result in undesired puckering of excess tissue, which is generally assumed to settle over time. In this article, the authors address the novel question of how this excess tissue remodels. METHODS: Purse-string sutures (6-0 nylon) were placed at the midline dorsum of 22 wild-type BALB/c mice in a circular pattern marked with tattoo ink. Sutures were cinched and tied under tension in the treatment group, creating an excess tissue deformity, whereas control group sutures were tied without tension. After 2 or 4 weeks, sutures were removed. The area of tattooed skin was measured up to 56 days after suture removal. Histologic analysis was performed on samples harvested 14 days after suture removal. RESULTS: The majority of excess tissue deformities flattened within 2 days after suture removal. However, the sutured skin in the treatment group decreased in area by an average of 18 percent from baseline (n = 9), compared to a 1 percent increase in the control group (n = 10) at 14 days after suture removal (p < 0.05). This was similarly observed at 28 days (treatment, -11.7 percent; control, 4.5 percent; n = 5; p = 0.0243). Despite flattening, deformation with purse-string suture correlated with increased collagen content of skin, in addition to increased numbers of myofibroblasts. Change in area did not correlate with duration of suture placement. CONCLUSIONS: Excess dermal tissue deformities demonstrate the ability to remodel with gross flattening of the skin, increased collagen deposition, and incomplete reexpansion to baseline area. Further studies will reveal whether our findings in this mouse model translate to humans.

Prevalence study of SNP c.421G>T in the ADAMTS2 gene responsible for dermatosparaxis in white dorper sheep in Brazil / Prevalência do SNP c.421G>T no gene ADAMTS2 responsável pela dermatosparaxia em ovinos white dorper no Brasil

Dermatosparaxis is an autosomal recessive disorder of connective tissue; the disorder is clinically characterized by skin fragility and hyperextensibility. Dermatosparaxis in White Dorper sheep is caused by a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (c.421G>T) in the ADAM metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 2 (ADAMTS2) gene. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of this SNP in a White Dorper herd in São Paulo state, Brazil. In this study, we collected blood DNA samples from 303 White Dorper sheep and performed polymerase chain reaction to amplify the SNP region. The samples were sequenced to determine the presence of the SNP in the ADAMTS2 gene. The SNP prevalence in the studied population was 15.5%; this finding indicates that more effective control measures should be used to prevent the inheritance of SNP c.421G>T in the ADAMTS2 gene in Brazilian White Dorper herds.

A dermatosparaxia é uma doença autossômica recessiva do tecido conjuntivo, clinicamente caracaterizada pela fragilidade e hiperextensibilidade da pele. A dermatosparaxia em ovinos White Dorper é causada pelo polimorfismo de base única (SNP) c.421G>T no gene ADAM metalopeptidase com trombospondina tipo 1 motif, 2 (ADAMTS2). O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a prevalência deste SNP em ovinos White Dorper no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue de 303 ovinos White Dorper. O DNA foi purificado destas amostras sanguíneas e utilizado em uma reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) para amplificação da região do gene contendo SNP c.421G>T. Os produtos das PCR foram sequenciados para determinar o genótipo dos animais. A prevalência do SNP na população estudada foi de 15,5%, estes achados indicam que medidas de controle efetivas devem ser utilizadas para prevenir a disseminação deste SNP no rebanho brasileiro de White Dorper.

Síndrome de Arlequín, una rareza neurológica / Harlequin syndrome, a rare neurological disease

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Reação farmacodérmica decorrente do uso do levamisol: relato de caso / Pharmacodermic adverse reaction due to levamisole: a case report

Relata-se a ocorrência de um caso de farmacodérmica pelo levamisol e discute-se sobre a manifestação clínica e o estabelecimento do diagnóstico dessa reação cutânea adversa. O animal desenvolveu lesões exsudativas na face, com resolução espontânea após a suspensão do fármaco.