Seroepidemiologic survey of the household contacts of leprosy patients.

OBJECTIVE: Leprosy is a disabling infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of leprosy among household contacts of leprosy patients. METHODS: This study is a serological survey in household contacts of leprosy patients who had been treated or were undergoing treatment in the city of Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil, from 2006-2016, using clinical examination and screening for anti- Phenolic glycolipid-I antibodies with Mycobacterium leprae-flow serology. RESULTS: A total of 263 index cases of leprosy were identified during the study period. Of these, 53 were approached, and among their household contacts, 108 were examined. The ML-flow test was positive in 2 (1.85%) individuals, but clinical examination revealed no signs or symptoms of leprosy in them. Therefore, they were considered to have a subclinical infection. Leprosy was not confirmed in any household contacts. In this study, a lower percentage of household contacts, when compared to that in the literature, had a positive Mycobacterium leprae-flow test result. CONCLUSION: The use of Mycobacterium leprae-flow should be encouraged during the follow-up of at-risk populations, such as the household contacts of leprosy patients.

Case for diagnosis. Eyelid edema and erythematous papules disseminated on the face.

Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei or acne agminata is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the skin, considered an intriguing entity due to its pathogenesis, which is still largely speculative. It has been linked to tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, rosacea, and other granulomatous diseases, but it is considered an independent entity.

[Levamisole does not prevent lesions of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial]. / Levamisol não previne lesões de estomatite aftosa recorrente: um ensaio clínico randomizado, duplo-cego e controlado por placebo.

OBJECTIVE: to utilize a double-blind protocol to provide clarification about the safety and effectiveness of levamisole in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. METHODS: Fourteen patients took a decreasing dose of oral levamisole for six months (initial dose 150mg three times a week) and ten others were placebo control patients. All were evaluated monthly. RESULTS: The number of crises had a tendency to decrease in both groups, but without a difference between groups. The number of lesions diminished significantly in the two groups, but upon comparison the difference was not significant. Duration of the lesions diminished significantly in the placebo, however when compared to the levamisole group, difference was not significant during treatment. The intensity of pain was significantly lower in the two groups, but upon comparison, pain was significantly lower in the placebo group. The final global evaluation showed improvement in 50% of patients of the levamisole group and in 70% of the placebo, without a significant difference between treatments. No difference in the frequency of collateral effects was observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Levamisole, as used in this protocol, is a safe drug. When compared with the placebo, levamisole is not effective in the prophylactic treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. The placebo effect is important in diseases where emotional factors affect recurrence or expression of symptoms.

Dermatology in black skin

Abstract The vast majority of publications in dermatology refer to lightly pigmented skin, with few addressing the peculiarities of black skin. In addition there is no consensus on what it means to be black in different regions of the world. The lack of knowledge on the subject makes it difficult to recognize and manage dermatoses in this type of skin. This article aims to review the literature on intrinsic characteristics, as well as epidemiological and clinical aspects of the cutaneous manifestations of different dermatoses in black skin. It was found that there are sometimes striking differences, in the structural, biological, and functional aspects when comparing lightly pigmented and black skin. There are also physiological changes that need to be recognized to avoid unnecessary interventions. Some dermatoses have a higher incidence in black skin, such as acne, eczema, dyschromia and dermatophytosis. On the other hand, several dermatoses are more specific to black skin, such as pseudofolliculitis barbae, keloid, dermatosis papulosa nigra, ulcers caused by sickle-cell anemia, dactylolysis spontanea, confluent and reticulated papillomatosis of Gougerot and Carteaud, and some diseases of the hair and scalp (including fragile and brittle hair, traction alopecia, folliculitis keloidalis nuchae, folliculitis dissecans and central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia). A spectrum of peculiar aspects of specific dermatoses, including sarcoidosis, lichen planus (with emphasis on the pigmentosus variant), psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, vitiligo, syphilis, pityriasis versicolor, and neoplasms are highlighted. In the latter, characteristics of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are compared, in addition to highlighting unusual aspects of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, endemic Kaposi sarcoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

Congenital plaque-like glomangioma: report of two cases.

Glomus tumors are rare hamartomas that originate from the glomus body. These tumors can be divided into solitary and multiple, the latter also known as glomangioma. We report the case of two patients with a rare variety of glomangioma called congenital plaque-like glomangioma. It presents as numerous red to bluish compressible papules, that increase in size in proportion with the weight and height growth of the child. Diagnostic confirmation is with histopathology and the treatment is surgical.

Seroepidemiologic survey of the household contacts of leprosy patients

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Leprosy is a disabling infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of leprosy among household contacts of leprosy patients. METHODS: This study is a serological survey in household contacts of leprosy patients who had been treated or were undergoing treatment in the city of Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil, from 2006-2016, using clinical examination and screening for anti- Phenolic glycolipid-I antibodies with Mycobacterium leprae-flow serology. RESULTS: A total of 263 index cases of leprosy were identified during the study period. Of these, 53 were approached, and among their household contacts, 108 were examined. The ML-flow test was positive in 2 (1.85%) individuals, but clinical examination revealed no signs or symptoms of leprosy in them. Therefore, they were considered to have a subclinical infection. Leprosy was not confirmed in any household contacts. In this study, a lower percentage of household contacts, when compared to that in the literature, had a positive Mycobacterium leprae-flow test result. CONCLUSION: The use of Mycobacterium leprae-flow should be encouraged during the follow-up of at-risk populations, such as the household contacts of leprosy patients.

Proteus syndrome.

Proteus syndrome is a rare syndrome characterized by disproportionate overgrowth of limbs, multiple hamartomas, and vascular malformations. The cerebriform connective tissue nevi, also called cerebriform plantar hyperplasia, are present in most patients, and is the main characteristic of the syndrome. If present, even alone, they can be considered as a pathognomonic sign. This article reports a classic case of Proteus syndrome in a 2-year-old male patient who began to show a discrete asymmetry of the right hemibody in relation to the left one after birth, which increased over the months. He also showed cerebriform plantar hyperplasia and Port-wine stains, among other alterations.

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis with neurological injuries diagnosed from a single cutaneous lesion.

Histiocytoses are rare diseases caused by the proliferation of histiocytes. The pathogenesis remains unknown and the highest incidence occurs in pediatric patients. The clinical presentations can be varied, in multiple organs and systems, and the skin lesions are not always present. Evolution is unpredictable and treatment depends on the extent and severity of the disease. It is described the case of a patient with various neurological symptoms, extensively investigated, who had its was diagnosed with histiocytosis from a single skin lesion. This report highlights the importance of Dermatology in assisting the investigation of difficult cases in medical practice.

Paracoccidioidomycosis with sarcoid-like lesions:a diagnostic challenge.

Clinical presentation of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) can be diverse. Morphology and quantity of skin lesions depends on interactions between host immunity and fungus virulence. Diagnosis can be a challenge considering that this fungus has low virulence and some individuals have immunity to microorganism, which results in well-marked granulomas without visible microorganisms. We report herein a clinical presentation of sarcoid-like PCM, initially diagnosed as tuberculoid leprosy. This rare type of PCM is often mistaken for other types of chronic granulomatous diseases. Diagnosis was confirmed after 4 years when a special stain analysis helped in the identification of the specific etiologic agent.

Actinic cheilitis adjacent to squamous carcinoma of the lips as an indicator of prognosis.

UNLABELLED: Many studies have shown an association between actinic cheilitis and squamous carcinoma of the lips. AIM: The aim of the study was to observe the relation between actinic cheilitis and the prognosis of squamous carcinoma of the lips. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective cross-sectional cohort study of squamous carcinoma of the lips. Histological sections of squamous carcinoma tumors done at the the Department of Pathology of the Sao Paulo Federal University between 1993 and 2000 were reviewed for evidence of actinic cheilitis in the lip vermillion adjacent to the tumor. Patient reports were reviewed to find information about exposure to sun, metastases and relapses. The occurrence or absence of relapses and metastases was correlated with the presence or absence of actinic cheilitis in the lip vermillion. Data was analyzed by Fisher's Exact test. RESULTS: Of the 31 selected patients, most were caucasian, males and with lower lip involvement. Statistical analysis demonstrated independence between the occurrence of metastases and relapse and gender, skin color and site (lower or upper lips). There was dependence between actinic cheilitis and solar elastosis, and between the absence of actinic cheilitis and the occurrence of metastases. There was no dependence between the absence of actinic cheilitis and the occurrence of relapses. CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that tumors originating from actinic cheilitis have a better prognosis.

Brazilian Society of Dermatology against leprosy.

The Brazilian Society of Dermatology promoted a national campaign against leprosy in 2012, involving their State Regional, Accredited Services of Dermatology and Referral Services in Leprosy. Consisted of clarification to the population about the disease and a day of medical voluntary service. Ninety services (57 Accredited Services and 33 Reference Services) participated, distributed in 23 states. The campaign examined 3,223 people and 421 new cases were diagnosed, 54,4% female, 74,3% between 19 and 64 years and 8,3% in children under 15 years. Of the 217 classified cases, 58,5% was paucibacillary and 41,5% was multibacillary. The results were posted on the Brazilian Society of Dermatology website.

Importance of multidisciplinary approach in diagnosis of histoplasmosis.

A patient with systemic involvement, initially treated as tuberculosis, is presented in this report. There were only two painful subcutaneous nodules, from which we arrived at the correct diagnosis of histoplasmosis. The patient was attended by several experts in the fields of infectious diseases, nephrology and internal medicine, but the diagnosis was only possible after dermatological examination and skin biopsy. This case values multidisciplinary interaction between dermatologists and other medical areas for diagnosis of cases with atypical manifestations.

Disseminated cryptococcosis manifested as a single tumor in an immunocompetent patient, similar to the cutaneous primary forms.

Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans that tends to affect immunocompromised individuals. The fungi are mostly acquired by inhalation, which leads to an initial pulmonary infection. Later, other organs - such as the central nervous system and the skin - can be affected by hematogenous spread. In addition, cutaneous contamination can occur by primary inoculation after injuries (primary cutaneous cryptococcosis), whose diagnosis is defined based on the absence of systemic involvement. The clinical presentation of cutaneous forms typically vary according to the infection mode. We report an unusual case of disseminated cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent patient with cutaneous lesions similar to those caused by primary inoculation. This clinical picture leads us to question the definition of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis established in the literature.

Dermatologic manifestations of infective endocarditis.

Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, infective endocarditis still shows considerable morbidity and mortality rates. The dermatological examination in patients with suspected infective endocarditis may prove very useful, as it might reveal suggestive abnormalities of this disease, such as Osler's nodes and Janeway lesions. Osler's nodes are painful, purple nodular lesions, usually found on the tips of fingers and toes. Janeway lesions, in turn, are painless erythematous macules that usually affect palms and soles. We report a case of infective endocarditis and highlight the importance of skin examination as a very important element in the presumptive diagnosis of infective endocarditis.

Lack of association between alopecia areata and HLA class I and II in a southeastern Brazilian population.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common disorder of unknown etiology that affects approximately 0.7% to 3.8% of patients among the general population. Currently, genetic and autoimmune factors are emphasized as etiopathogenic. Studies linking Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) to AA have suggested that immunogenetic factors may play a role in the disease's onset/development. OBJECTIVES: To investigate an association between AA and HLA class I/II in white Brazilians. METHODS: Patients and control groups comprised 33 and 112 individuals, respectively. DNA extraction was performed by column method with BioPur kit. Allele's classification was undertaken using the PCR-SSO technique. HLA frequencies were obtained through direct counting and subjected to comparison by means of the chi-square test. RESULTS: Most patients were aged over 16, with no familial history, and developed partial AA, with no recurrent episodes. Patients showed a higher frequency of HLA-B*40, HLA-B*45, HLA-B*53 and HLA-C*04 compared with controls, although P was not significant after Bonferroni correction. Regarding HLA class II, only HLA-DRB1*07 revealed statistical significance; nevertheless, it featured more prominently in controls than patients (P=0.04; Pc=0.52; OR=0.29; 95%; CI=0.07 to 1.25). P was not significant after Bonferroni correction. CONCLUSIONS: The development of AA does not seem to be associated with HLA in white Brazilians, nor with susceptibility or resistance. The studies were carried out in populations with little or no miscegenation, unlike the Brazilian population in general, which could explain the inconsistency found.