Choosing Wisely Italy: online survey on opinions and behaviors of 1006 people and 355 volunteers of healthcare advocacy associations.

BACKGROUND: In the framework of 'Doing more does not mean doing better - Choosing Wisely Italy' health professionals, general population and healthcare advocacy associations are widely involved. PartecipaSalute-Mario Negri IRCCS and Altronconsumo organized a survey in order to assess the opinions and behaviors of people toward unnecessary tests and drugs. METHODS: An online survey was distributed by Altroconsumo to a voluntary panel of 6304 Italian citizens covering the whole of the country and by PartecipaSalute-Mario Negri IRCCS through the PartecipaSalute website, e-mail lists, website articles, lay journals and Facebook. RESULTS: In all 1006 people reached by Altroconsumo, and 355 volunteers of healthcare advocacy associations reached by PartecipaSalute responded. Respondents usually decides on their treatment together with the physician, respectively 50% for general population and 64% for volunteers of healthcare advocacy associations. The respondents are aware of the question of over-use of drugs and tests (80%), more often among the volunteers of healthcare advocacy associations (86%). Over-use is considered a problem mostly for economic reasons among the general population, while in the advocacy associations the risks for patients' health is considered more important. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that patients do not always ask for more, especially if they receive an answer to their questions and clarifications about unnecessary treatments. There is a need for further understanding of the factors influencing decision-making aimed at achieving good care. Engaging the public and patients at all levels of healthcare is essential for a valuable use of health resources.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis: clinicopathologic study of 34 cases.

BACKGROUND: In Brazil, the incidence of penile cancer is 8.3 cases per 100,000 population, in contrast to 0.7 in Europe and the United States. 95% of these cases correspond to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It is usually diagnosed late. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinicopathologic features of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis registered at the Hospital between 1978 and 2004. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study. We included cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis that were histologically confirmed. Those patients who responded to the study call were evaluated in person, while others had their data researched in medical records. RESULTS: 34 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis were registered: 8 in situ and 26 invasive, with a mean age of 54.7 ± 22.4 and 64,7 ± 12.5 years, respectively. Glans cancer was involved in 91.1% of the cases and the foreskin in 41.1%. SCC in situ exhibited papules or erythema and erosion, usually smaller than 2 cm. Invasive SCC was characterized by ulcers and/or vegetation, usually single and bigger than 2 cm. Of the invasive cases, 80.8% were well differentiated; half was in the TNM stage I and the remaining in stages II to IV. 16 patients had their penis amputated, and 3 died. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer of the penis is rare and affects adults of all ages and treatment can be aggressive. The nonspecific clinical appearance of early lesions, insufficient medical training in skin lesions and lack of routine diagnostic investigation, treatment and follow up of these cases contribute to the poor prognosis of this neoplasm.

Avaliação da eficácia do licopeno, beta- caroteno e Lactobacillus johnsonii no tratamento de manutenção do melasma durante o verão: um estudo comparativo / Efficacy evaluation of lycopene, beta-carotene and lactobacillus johnsonii in the maintenance treatment of melasma during the summer: a compartive study

Introdução: O melasma, hipermelanose adquirida bastante freqüente, pode ser tratado com medicamentos tópicos, porem, alguns estudos têm demonstrado que os antioxidantes orais poderiam diminuir os efeitos deletérios da radiação ultravioleta sobre a pele. Objetivo: Avaliar o resultado da evolução do melasma com o emprego de antioxidantes orais e fotoprotetor anti-UVA/ UVB durante os meses do verão no Rio de Janeiro, época em que a doença recidiva com mais freqüência. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo com 68 pacientes com melasma que concordaram em substituir o tratamento anterior pelo proposto. Foram divididas em 2 grupos aleatoriamente: o grupo A fez uso de 1 cápsula/ dia do nutriconcentrado, além do fotoprotetor 3/ 3 horas; o grupo B fez uso apenas do fotoprotetor. Foram fotografadas e avaliadas com base da Escala de Hiperpigmentação de Taylor e no MASI, e os dados submetidos à análise estatística. Resultados: O estudo teve início em dezembro/ 2010 e término em março/ 2011. O grupo A apresentou redução de 8,5% do melasma pela escala de Taylor e de 19,5% pelo MASI (p<0,001). No grupo B, houve piora do melasma em relação à Escala de Taylor e melhora de 4,6% pelo MASI. Conclusões: O uso de um nutriconcentrado contendo beta-caroteno, licopeno e Lactobacillus johsonii associado à FPS 60 foi eficaz como tratamento do melasma durante o verão, com significância estatística em relação à redução do Índice de Gravidade e Área do Melasma.

Introduction: Melasma, a very frequent acquired hypermelanosis can be treated topically, however some studies have shown that oral antioxidants could reduce the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin. Objective: To evaluate the effects of oral antioxidants and UVA/UVB sunscreen on the development of melasma during the summer months in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil ? a period when the condition recurs more frequently. Methods: Patients (n = 68) with melasma were randomized to receive one capsule/day of the nutri-concentrate (containing lycopene, beta-carotene and Lactobacillus johnsonii) and apply sunscreen every 3 hours (Group A) or sunscreen only (Group B). The patients were photographed and evaluated according to the Taylor Hyperpigmentation Scale and the Melasma Area Severity Index. Results: The study was conducted from December 2010 to March 2011. Group A presented reductions in melasma of 8.5% on the Taylor scale and 19.5% on the Melasma Area Severity Index (p < 0.001). In Group B, the melasma worsened on the Taylor scale and improved 4.6% on the Index. Conclusions: The use of a nutri-concentrate containing beta-carotene, lycopene and Lactobacillus johsonii combined with an SPF 60 sunscreen was an effective treatment for melasma during the summer. The treatment had a statistically significant reduction according to the Melasma Area Severity Index.

Carcinoma epidermoide do pênis: estudo clínico-patológico de 34 casos / Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis: clinicopathologic study of 34 cases

FUNDAMENTOS: No Brasil, a incidência do câncer do pênis é de 8,3 casos/100.000 habitantes, contrastando com 0,7 na Europa e nos Estados Unidos. Em 95 por cento dos casos, trata-se do carcinoma epidermoide. Em geral, é diagnosticado tardiamente. OBJETIVOS: Descrever as características clínico-patológicas do carcinoma epidermoide do pênis, registradas no Hospital entre 1978 e 2004. MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional transversal. Incluíram-se os casos de carcinoma epidermoide do pênis, confirmados histologicamente. Avaliaram-se, pessoalmente, os pacientes que atenderam à convocação para o estudo, enquanto os demais tiveram seus dados pesquisados nos prontuários médicos. RESULTADOS: Registraram-se 34 pacientes com carcinoma epidermoide do pênis: 8 in situ e 26 invasivos, com idade média de 54,7 12,5 anos, respectivamente. A± 22,4 e 64,7 ±, (este trecho ficou truncado e não consegui entendê-lo. Será que o autor poderia revisá-lo?!) A glande foi acometida em 91,1 por cento dos casos e o prepúcio, em 41,1 por cento. Os carcinomas epidermoides in situ exibiam pápulas ou eritema e erosão, geralmente menores do que 2 cm. Os invasivos mostravam úlceras e/ou vegetações, geralmente únicas, e maiores do que 2 cm. Dos CE invasivos, 80,8 por cento eram bem diferenciados; metade encontrava-se no estágio I TNM e o restante, do II ao IV; 16 pacientes tiveram o pênis amputado e 3 faleceram. CONCLUSÕES: O câncer do pênis é raro, acomete adultos de todas as faixas etárias e o tratamento pode ser agressivo. O aspecto clínico inespecífico das lesões iniciais, o insuficiente treinamento médico em lesões dermatológicas e a carência de rotinas de investigação diagnóstica, tratamento e acompanhamento destes casos contribuem para o mau prognóstico desta neoplasia.

BACKGROUND: In Brazil, the incidence of penile cancer is 8.3 cases per 100,000 population, in contrast to 0.7 in Europe and the United States. 95 percent of these cases correspond to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It is usually diagnosed late. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinicopathologic features of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis registered at the Hospital between 1978 and 2004. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study. We included cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the penis that were histologically confirmed. Those patients who responded to the study call were evaluated in person, while others had their data researched in medical records. RESULTS: 34 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis were registered: 8 in situ and 26 invasive, with a mean age of 54.7 ± 22.4 and 64,7 ± 12.5 years, respectively. Glans cancer was involved in 91.1 percent of the cases and the foreskin in 41.1 percent. SCC in situ exhibited papules or erythema and erosion, usually smaller than 2 cm. Invasive SCC was characterized by ulcers and/or vegetation, usually single and bigger than 2 cm. Of the invasive cases, 80.8 percent were well differentiated; half was in the TNM stage I and the remaining in stages II to IV. 16 patients had their penis amputated, and 3 died. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer of the penis is rare and affects adults of all ages and treatment can be aggressive. The nonspecific clinical appearance of early lesions, insufficient medical training in skin lesions and lack of routine diagnostic investigation, treatment and follow up of these cases contribute to the poor prognosis of this neoplasm.