Cardiovascular events associated with thalidomide and prednisone in leprosy type 2 reaction.

Background: Thalidomide is the drug of choice for the treatment of type 2 leprosy reactions and is often associated with corticosteroids. The use of these drugs in multiple myeloma is associated with the risk of cardiovascular events, but there have been few studies assessing this risk in leprosy patients.

Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of cardiovascular events in patients with multibacillary leprosy and their correlation with the use of thalidomide and prednisone.

Dimensionality and psychometric analysis of DLQI in a Brazilian population.

Background: The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is the most commonly used instrument for clinical evaluation of the impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in dermatological research protocols. The DLQI's classical psychometric properties have been considered adequate in validation studies from several countries. However, the structure of the DLQI is a matter of discussion, especially concerning the dimensionality and informative properties of its questions according to the item response theory (IRT).

Extensive pyoderma gangrenosum-like lesions revealing a case of hyperzincemia and hypercalprotectinemia: when to suspect it?

Hyperzincemia and hypercalprotectinemia is a rare inflammatory disease caused by a mutation in the PSTPIP1 gene, with a dysregulation of calprotectin metabolism. Calprotectin is a zinc-binding protein with antimicrobial properties and pro-inflammatory action. The authors report the case of a 20 year-old girl with cutaneous ulcers comparable with pyoderma gangrenosum, growth failure and chronic anemia, who was given the diagnosis of hyperzincemia and hypercalprotectinemia.

Contribution to characterization of skin field cancerization activity: morphometric, chromatin texture, proliferation, and apoptosis aspects.

Background: A skin field cancerization is a cutaneous area with subclinical changes resultant from chronic sun exposure, with a higher predisposition to development of pre-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions. So far, there are no well-defined objective parameters that can indicate their degree of activity.

Objectives: To describe and compare morphometric aspects and expression of factors related to apoptosis and cell proliferation in actinic keratosis (AK), in both photoexposed and photoprotected epidermis.

Cellulose biomembrane versus collagenase dressing for the treatment of chronic venous ulcers: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Cellulose biomembranes may be used for difficult-to-treat ulcers. To assess the efficacy and safety of cellulose biomembranes compared to a collagenase dressing for the treatment of chronic venous ulcers. A randomized, controlled clinical trial was performed using two groups: one treated with collagenase dressing and the other with cellulose biomembrane over a 90-day (T90) period.

Clinical manifestations and quality of life in hidradenitis suppurativa patients: survey of participants from an internet support group.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a complex and infrequent autoinflammatory disease that impacts on quality of life. Its pathogenesis is not fully understood, which limits the development of curative treatments.

Objectives: To evaluate clinical and quality of life aspects of hidradenitis suppurativa patients from a social group on the Internet.

Aversion caused by skin diseases - a crowdsourcing study.

Background: Disgust is a universal emotion that plays a role in reducing people's exposure to situations with risks of contamination. By the same token, skin diseases could generate aversion in observers. The present study aimed to assess the aversion triggered when viewing skin disease lesions on the face and hands.