Prevalencia de síntomas cutáneos asociados a dermatitis de contacto y su relación con factores sociodemográficos y ocupacionales en el personal asistencial de un laboratorio clínico de la ciudad de Bogotá en el año 2012

El objetivo fue determinar la prevalencia de síntomas cutáneos asociados a Dermatitis de Contacto y su relación con factores socios demográficos y ocupacionales, en el personal asistencial de un laboratorio clínico de la ciudad de Bogotá en el año 2012. Es un estudio descriptivo observacional de corte transversal (n= 100) se estimo la prevalencia de síntomas cutáneos de Dermatitis de Contacto y sus factores asociados socio demográficos y ocupacionales en el personal asistencial de un laboratorio clínico de la ciudad de Bogotá en Se usó como instrumento el cuestionario Nórdico para Enfermedades profesionales de la piel (NOQS) en su versión larga validada al español. La sensibilidad y especificidad del cuestionario aplicado en lo referente a las preguntas sobre eczema fue del 96 y 75% respectivamente. Los resultados encontrados fueron que la prevalencia de la sintomatología cutánea de Dermatitis de contacto en la población estudiada fue de 30% para manos y de 16 % para muñecas o antebrazos.

Resultados del tratamiento de nevos melanocíticos con láser

Introducción A pesar de que los nevos melanocíticos son un motivo de consulta frecuente en nuestra población no existen estudios a nivel de Colombia acerca de su tratamiento, a nivel mundial existe muy poca literatura al respecto por lo que hay un vacío conceptual en este campo. Objetivos Evaluar los cambios en cuanto a la presencia de pigmento y cicatrización, en los nevos melanocíticos adquiridos tratados con láser, basados en la experiencia de un solo centro en Bogotá. Materiales y métodos Es un estudio observacional de antes y después, en una cohorte histórica, de 90 casos de nevos melanocíticos adquiridos, tratados con láser en Uniláser Medica, en los que se evaluó la presencia de pigmento, cicatrización, y otras variables, con un control realizado a no menos de 3 meses de la intervención. Resultados Se encontró un rango de edad entre los 18 -51 años, promedio 27,59 años; fototipo de III-V; en el 32% de los casos, solo fue requerida una sesión de láser de Co2 y Erbio, para el aclaramiento completo de la misma. La duración del eritema en el 54,4% los casos fue de 1 a 3 meses. En un 64,4% quedó pigmento residual al control, pero de éstos casos el 48,2% fue entre un 5 a un 10% del inicial. El 58,9% hizo cicatriz, de éstos el 63% fue estética. La satisfacción por parte de los pacientes es alta a pesar de la persistencia pigmentaria y/o la presencia de cicatriz. Discusión El tratamiento de nevos melanocíticos adquiridos con láser es una opción terapéutica que genera cambios estadísticamente significativos en cuanto a pigmento, cicatriz estética y alta satisfacción por parte de los pacientes. Se requieren estudios, analíticos, para determinar eficacia del tratamiento.

Nanotecnologia aplicada ao tratamento da acne

A nanotecnologia é uma ciência multidisciplinar que consiste na optimização das propriedades da matéria permitindo o desenvolvimento de sistemas com um tamanho na escala dos nanómetros. A aplicação da nanotecnologia na medicina e cosmética surge como um campo de pesquisa que está a gerar um crescente interesse. A nanotecnologia aplicada ao tratamento de doenças comuns da pele tem sofrido alguns avanços, principalmente na área do tratamento tópico da acne, que tem beneficiado com o progresso desta tecnologia. A acne surge face a múltiplos factores patogénicos, afectando entre 75% a 95% dos adolescentes provocando-lhes transtornos físicos e psíquicos. No entanto, apesar de ser uma patologia característica da adolescência, a acne é prevalente também numa pequena população de mulheres com idade superior a 40 anos. Nesta dissertação foi feita uma abordagem da patogénese da acne, que foi útil na compressão dos objectivos do tratamento tópico, sistémico e físico instituído ao doente. Foram ainda explorados os conceitos básicos de nanotecnologia, que se enquadraram numa compreensão de como esta pode contribuir para a medicina e cosmética aplicada ao tratamento da acne. Foram também investigadas as diferentes publicações na área e avaliada a sua aplicação ao tratamento tópico da acne.

Nanopartículas de PCL com acetato de hidrocortisona como uma terapia dermatológica inovadora para a dermatite atópica

A dermatite atópica é uma patologia cutânea crónica que requer cuidados intensivos da pele e tratamento farmacológico; contudo, os tratamentos disponíveis necessitam urgentemente de ser melhorados, especialmente quando utilizados por períodos longos ou em grupos específicos (ex: crianças). A nanotecnologia tem contribuído com sistemas de veiculação inovadores e pode oferecer terapias efectivas e direcionadas. Os objectivos deste estudo centraram-se na preparação caracterização das nanopartículas de policaprolactona carregadas com acetato de hidrocortisona em termos das propriedades físico-químicas, eficiência de encapsulação, ensaios de libertação in vitro e ensaios de segurança dos excipientes utilizados em voluntários humanos. As nanopartículas produzidas apresentaram um tamanho médio de 258,4 24,5 nm e um índice de polidispersão de 0,084. O potencial zeta foi -4,39 0,62 mV e a eficiência de encapsulação foi 36,32 0,03 %. A libertação in vitro do fármaco foi controlada ao longo do tempo. Além disso, os testes de segurança indicaram que os excipientes foram bem tolerados. Este estudo demonstra que as nanopartículas de policaprolactona são sistemas estáveis para veiculação de acetato de hidrocortisona que poderão conduzir a uma libertação prolongada do fármaco, com resultados promissores ao nível da sua segurança quando aplicados na pele humana.

Estabilidade e eficácia de fotoprotetores contendo filtros inorgânicos e quercetina

A exposição ao sol traz benefícios à saúde, no entanto, o excesso pode ocasionar danos cutâneos dentre os quais se destacam as neoplasias. A fotoproteção é um método para a prevenção dos efeitos danosos da radiação ultravioleta (UV) e a biodiversidade Brasileira é campo fértil para pesquisas nesta área. Dessa forma, os objetivos deste estudo envolveram o desenvolvimento de formulações fotoprotetoras contendo quercetina (composto bioativo) e filtros solares físicos (dióxido de titânio e óxido de zinco), com posterior caracterização das formulações e avaliação da sua estabilidade. As formulações contendo o composto bioativo, isolado ou em associação com os filtros físicos, possuíram valores de pH biocompatíveis com a pele,intervalo de viscosidade aparente entre 10550 e 23600 cP; fator de proteção solar (FPS) estimado entre 2.1 e 22.5; e amplo espectro de proteção, com comprimentos de onda crítico acima de 379 nm. Constatou-se que não foi adequado utilizar a quercetina associada aos filtros solares físicos devido às interações negativas que ocorreram entre o composto e os metais, somente identificadas ao longo do estudo de estabilidade. No entanto, em função da eficácia estimada in vitro apresentada pelo flavonoide, seu uso ainda pode ser explorado como substituto alternativo aos filtros solares clássicos.

Modelo tipo de dermatite atópica em rato

A dermatite atópica (DA) é um tema importante na dermatologia clínica. Na verdade, a patogénese dessa doença inflamatória crónica da pele, caracterizada principalmente por pele seca e prurido, ainda está longe de ser totalmente compreendida. A fim de saber mais acerca desta complexa doença, ratos Wistar machos e adultos (n = 10) foram utilizados como modelo animal, nos quais o tratamento com acetona (AA) foi comparado com o tratamento com água por 3 dias (AW). No dia 3, uma hora após o último tratamento, a AA mostrou maior perda transepidérmica de água (TEWL), fluxo sanguíneo capilar e reduzida hidratação quando comparada com AW. A análise comportamental mostrou que a acção de coçar foi marcadamente mais frequente no grupo AA (n = 5) quando comparado ao grupo AW (n = 5). Estes resultados justificam a implementação deste modelo animal como uma ferramenta experimental para investigação da AD.

Human microbiota in health and disease

Each human body plays host to a microbial population which is both numerically vast (at around 1014 microbial cells) and phenomenally diverse (over 1,000 species). The majority of the microbial species in the gut have not been cultured but the application of culture-independent approaches for high throughput diversity and functionality analysis has allowed characterisation of the diverse microbial phylotypes present in health and disease. Studies in monozygotic twins, showing that these retain highly similar microbiota decades after birth and initial colonisation, are strongly indicative that diversity of the microbiome is host-specific and affected by the genotype. Microbial diversity in the human body is reflected in both richness and evenness. Diversity increases steeply from birth reaching its highest point in early adulthood, before declining in older age. However, in healthy subjects there appears to be a core of microbial phylotypes which remains relatively stable over time. Studies of individuals from diverse geopraphies suggest that clusters of intestinal bacterial groups tend to occur together, constituting ‘enterotypes’. So variation in intestinal microbiota is stratified rather than continuous and there may be a limited number of host/microbial states which respond differently to environmental influences. Exploration of enterotypes and functional groups may provide biomarkers for disease and insights into the potential for new treatments based on manipulation of the microbiome. In health, the microbiota interact with host defences and exist in harmonious homeostasis which can then be disturbed by invading organisms or when ‘carpet bombing’ by antibiotics occurs. In a portion of individuals with infections, the disease will resolve itself without the need for antibiotics and microbial homeostasis with the host’s defences is restored. The administration of probiotics (live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host) represents an artificial way to enhance or stimulate these natural processes. The study of innate mechanisms of antimicrobial defence on the skin, including the production of numerous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), has shown an important role for skin commensal organisms. These organisms may produce AMPs, and also amplify the innate immune responses to pathogens by activating signalling pathways and processing host produced AMPs. Research continues into how to enhance and manipulate the role of commensal organisms on the skin. The challenges of skin infection (including diseases caused by multiply resistant organisms) and infestations remain considerable. The potential to re-colonise the skin to replace or reduce pathogens, and exploring the relationship between microbiota elsewhere and skin diseases are among a growing list of research targets. Lactobacillus species are among the best known ‘beneficial’ bacterial members of the human microbiota. Of the approximately 120 species known, about 15 are known to occur in the human vagina. These organisms have multiple properties, including the production of lactic acid, hydrogen peroxide and bacteriocins, which render the vagina inhospitable to potential pathogens. Depletion of the of the normal Lactobacillus population and overgrowth of vaginal anaerobes, accompanied by the loss of normal vaginal acidity can lead to bacterial vaginosis – the commonest cause of abnormal vaginal discharge in women. Some vaginal anaerobes are associated with the formation of vaginal biofilms which serve to act as a reservoir of organisms which persists after standard antibiotic therapy of bacterial vaginosis and may help to account for the characteristically high relapse rate in the condition. Administration of Lactobacillus species both vaginally and orally have shown beneficial effects in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis and such treatments have an excellent overall safety record. Candida albicans is a frequent coloniser of human skin and mucosal membranes, and is a normal part of the microbiota in the mouth, gut and vagina. Nevertheless Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen worldwide and is a leading cause of serious and often fatal nosocomial infections. What turns this organism from a commensal to a pathogen is a combination of increasing virulence in the organism and predisposing host factors that compromise immunity. There has been considerable research into the use of probiotic Lactobacillus spp. in vaginal candidiasis. Studies in reconstituted human epithelium and monolayer cell cultures have shown that L. rhamnosus GG can protect mucosa from damage caused by Candida albicans, and enhance the immune responses of mucosal surfaces. Such findings offer the promise that the use of such probiotic bacteria could provide new options for antifungal therapy. Studies of changes of the human intestinal microbiota in health and disease are complicated by its size and diversity. The Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre in Cork (Republic of Ireland) has the mission to ‘mine microbes for mankind’ and its work illustrates the potential benefits of understanding the gut microbiota. Work undertaken at the centre includes: mapping changes in the microbiota with age; studies of the interaction between the microbiota and the gut; potential interactions between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system; the potential for probiotics to act as anti-infectives including through the production of bacteriocins; and the characterisation of interactions between gut microbiota and bile acids which have important roles as signalling molecules and in immunity. The important disease entity where the role of the gut microbiota appears to be central is the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS patients show evidence of immune activation, impaired gut barrier function and abnormal gut microbiota. Studies with probiotics have shown that these organisms can exert anti-inflammatory effects in inflammatory bowel disease and may strengthen the gut barrier in IBS of the diarrhoea-predominant type. Formal randomised trials of probiotics in IBS show mixed results with limited benefit for some but not all. Studies confirm that administered probiotics can survive and temporarily colonise the gut. They can also stimulate the numbers of other lactic acid bacilli in the gut, and reduce the numbers of pathogens. However consuming live organisms is not the only way to influence gut microbiota. Dietary prebiotics are selectively fermented ingredients that can change the composition and/or activity of the gastrointestinal microbiota in beneficial ways. Dietary components that reach the colon, and are available to influence the microbiota include poorly digestible carbohydrates, such as non-starch polysaccharides, resistant starch, non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs) and polyphenols. Mixtures of probiotic and prebiotic ingredients that can selectively stimulate growth or activity of health promoting bacteria have been termed ‘synbiotics’. All of these approaches can influence gut microbial ecology, mainly to increase bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, but metagenomic approaches may reveal wider effects. Characterising how these changes produce physiological benefits may enable broader use of these tactics in health and disease in the future. The current status of probiotic products commercially available worldwide is less than ideal. Prevalent problems include misidentification of ingredient organisms and poor viability of probiotic microorganisms leading to inadequate shelf life. On occasions these problems mean that some commercially available products cannot be considered to meet the definition of a probiotic product. Given the potential benefits of manipulating the human microbiota for beneficial effects, there is a clear need for improved regulation of probiotics. The potential importance of the human microbiota cannot be overstated. ‘We feed our microbes, they talk to us and we benefit. We just have to understand and then exploit this.’ (Willem de Vos).

Avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana de sistemas emulsionados contendo óleos naturais para o tratamento de infecções cutâneas

Natural oils have shown a scientific importance due to its pharmacological activity and renewable character. The copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii) and Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana Shaw) oils are used in folk medicine particularly because the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Emulsion could be eligible systems to improve the palatability and fragrance, enhance the pharmacological activities and reduce the toxicological effects of these oils. The aim of this work was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of emulsions based on copaiba (resin-oil and essential-oil) and bullfrog oils against fungi and bacteria which cause skin diseases. Firstly, the essential oil was extracted from copaiba oil-resin and the oils were characterized by gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Secondly, emulsion systems were produced. A microbiological screening test with all products was performed followed (the minimum inhibitory concentration, the bioautography method and the antibiofilm determination). Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. tropicalis American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and clinical samples were used. The emulsions based on copaiba oil-resin and essential oil improved the antimicrobial activity of the pure oils, especially against Staphylococcus e Candida resistant to azoles. The bullfrog oil emulsion and the pure bullfrog oil showed a lower effect on the microorganisms when compared to the copaiba samples. All the emulsions showed a significant antibiofilm activity by inhibiting the cell adhesion. Thus, it may be concluded that emulsions based on copaiba and bullfrog oils are promising candidates to treatment of fungal and bacterial skin infections

Antimicrobial activity of Byrsonima species (Malpighiaceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Bacterial sterilization by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in air

Cold atmospheric plasma treatment of microorganisms and living tissues has become a popular topic in modern plasma physics and in medical science. The plasma is capable of bacterial inactivation and noninflammatory tissue modification, which makes it an attractive tool for treatment of skin diseases, open injuries and dental caries. Because of their enhanced plasma chemistry, Dielectric Barrier Discharges (DBDs) have been widely investigated for some emerging applications such as biological and chemical decontamination of media at ambient conditions. Despite the high breakdown voltage in air at atmospheric pressure, the average current of DBD discharges is low. Therefore, a DBD can be applied in direct contact with biological objects without causing any damage. In this work a 60 Hz DBD reactor, which generates cold atmospheric plasma inside Petri dishes with bacterial culture, is investigated. Samples of Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium and Escherichia coil a Gram-negative bacterium were selected for this study. The bacterial suspensions were evenly spread on agar media planted in Petri dishes. The reactor electrodes were placed outside the Petri dish, thus eliminating the risk of samples microbial contamination. The covered Petri dish with agar medium in it serves as dielectric barrier during the treatment. The plasma processing was conducted at same discharge power (similar to 1.0 W) with different exposure time. Sterilization of E. coil and S. aureus was achieved for less than 20 min. Plasma induced structural damages of bacteria were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Armadillo meat intake was not associated with leprosy in a case control study, Curitiba (Brazil)

Leprosy's progression and its maintained endemic status, despite the availability of effective treatments, are not fully understood and recent studies have highlighted the possibility of involved Mycobacterium leprae ambient reservoirs. Wild armadillos can carry leprosy and, because their meat is eaten by humans, development of the disease among armadillo meat consumers has been investigated. This study evaluated the frequency of armadillo meat intake among leprosy patients as well as age and gender matched controls with other skin diseases from a dermatological unit. Armadillo meat consumption among both groups was adjusted by demographic and socioeconomic covariates based on a conditional multiple logistic regression model. One hundred twenty-one cases and 242 controls were evaluated; they differed in socioeconomic variables such as family income, hometown population and access to treated water. The multivariate analysis did not show an association between the intake of armadillo meat and leprosy (odds ratio = 1.07; CI 95% 0.56-2.04), even when only cases with no known contacts were analyzed. We conclude that leprosy is not associated with the intake of armadillo meat in these patients.

Prevalence of gastric lesions (ulcers and/or erosions) and their relationship to possible stressfull factors in asymptomatic Quarter Horse foals: endoscopic survey

A úlcera gástrica constitui-se numa das mais importantes causas de desconforto abdominal em eqüinos jovens. Com o objetivo de se verificar a prevalência de lesões gástricas (úlceras e/ou erosões) e sua relação com fatores como estresse, idade, e sexo, sessenta potros da raça Quarto de Milha não portadores de sinais clínicos compatíveis com lesões gástricas foram submetidos à gastroscopia. Os potros foram divididos em quatro faixas etárias de 15 animais cada uma, sendo: 1 a 30 dias, 31 a 60 dias, 61 a 90 dias e 91 a 120 dias de idade. A prevalência de lesões gástricas foi de 43,3%. Animais com idade entre 61 a noventa dias foram os mais acometidos. Não houve diferença significativa entre as faixas etárias. Descamações do epitélio aglandular ocorreram em nove potros (60%) entre um e trinta dias, em seis (40%) entre 31 e sessenta dias e em apenas dois (6,6%) com idade superior a sessenta dias. Fatores considerados estressantes, como infestação intensa por carrapatos (29), problemas respiratórios (3), dermatopatias (3), babesiose (2), onfaloflebite (1), diarréia (1), problemas ortopédicos (1) e ferida lacerante com presença de miíase (1) não influenciaram a ocorrência das lesões. Machos e fêmeas foram igualmente acometidos.

Incidência das dermatopatias auto-imunes em cães e gatos e estudo retrospectivo de 40 casos de lupus eritematoso discóide atendidos no serviço de dermatologia da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da UNESP – Botucatu

The objectives of this study were to do a survey of the autoimmune skin diseases and update the records regarding the occurrence of discoid lupus erythematosus in canine and feline populations attended at the Dermatology Service of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of UNESP - Botucatu, including species, gender, breed, age, location and characteristic of the lesions. Results have shown that the order of occurrence, regarding the number of cases of autoimmune skin diseases in the animals attended by the Dermatology Service in the period from 1988 to 2007 was: discoid lupus erythematosus, pemphigus folliaceus, uveo-dermatologic syndrome, pemphigus vulgaris, systemic lupus erythematosus, necrolytic migratory erythema, multiforme erythema and plasmacytic pododermatitis. All the animals with discoid lupus erythematosus were dogs and most of them were mongrel females. More frequently breeds affected by discoid lupus erythematosus were german shepherd and akita and the mean age was 56 months. Most lesions were located in nasal planum, narines and periocular area and were characterized by crusting, depigmentation and erythema.

Computer-aided design of a novel ligand for retinoic acid receptor in cancer chemotherapy

The isotypes of RAR and RXR are retinoic acid and retinoid X acid receptors, respectively, whose ligand-binding domain contains the ligand-dependent activation function, with distinct pharmacological targets for retinoids, involved in the treatment of various cancers and skin diseases. Due to the major challenge which cancer treatment and cure still imposes after many decades to the international scientific community, there is actually considerable interest in new ligands with increased bioactivity. We have focused on the retinoid acid receptor, which is considered an interesting target for drug design. In this work, we carried out density functional geometry optimizations, and different docking procedures. We performed screening in a large database (hundreds of thousands of molecules which we optimized at the AM1 level) yielding a set of potential bioactive ligands. A new ligand was selected and optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. A flexible docking program was used to investigate the interactions between the receptor and the new ligand. The result of this work is compared with several crystallographic ligands of RAR. Our theoretically more bioactive new-ligand indicates stronger and more hydrogen bonds as well as hydrophobic interactions with the receptor. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Quantitative determination of furocoumarins in samples of Carapia by capillary gas chromatography

The occurrence of furocoumarins in the Moraceae has already been demonstrated. We present here the results concerning the chemical composition and quantification of furocoumarins from carapia (Dorstenia species, Moraceae) employed in Brazil because of its medicinal properties against skin diseases. A capillary gas chromatographic procedure is described for the simultaneous determination of the furocoumarins (psoralen, bergapten, pimpinellin, and isopimpinellin) in rhizomes and aerial parts of Dorstenia tubicina, Dorstenia asaroides and Dorstenia vitifolia and in commercial samples. The method is shown to be sensitive and reproducible, and may have application in the analysis of carapia crude drugs.