Abstract BACKGROUND: Psoriasis and obesity are somewhat related to a low-grade systemic inflammatory response. OBJECTIVES: To determine leptin and adiponectin levels in psoriasis patients compared to control patients matched for weight. METHODS: A case-control study was performed, evaluating 113 psoriasis patients and 41 controls with other dermatologic diseases. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was 33% in cases and 21.9% in controls. All evaluated comorbidities were more prevalent among cases. When stratified by weight, the comorbidities were more frequent in overweight patients. We found no correlation between being overweight (p=0.25), leptin (p=0.18) or adiponectin (p=0.762) levels and psoriasis severity. When overweight cases and controls were compared, we found differences in the adiponectin values (p= 0.04). The overweight cases had lower adiponectin levels than the overweight controls. We found no differences in the leptin dosage between cases and controls. The overweight cases had higher leptin values than the normal weight cases (p<0.001). STUDY LIMITATIONS: Several patients used systemic anti-inflammatory medication. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of obesity among psoriasis cases (33%) was higher than in the general population (17.4%). We did not find any correlation between severity of psoriasis and inflammatory cytokines and the condition of being overweight. The overweight cases had lower values of adiponectin than the overweight controls. It seems, therefore, that there is a relationship between adiponectin and psoriasis, but this relationship depends on the presence of obesity.

Abstract: Systemic light chain amiloydosis is a rare disease. Due to its typical cutaneous lesions, dermatologists play an essential role in its diagnosis. Clinical manifestations vary according to the affected organ and are often unspecific. Definitive diagnosis is achieved through biopsy. We report a patient with palpebral amyloidosis, typical bilateral ecchymoses and cardiac involvement, without plasma cell dyscrasia or lymphomas. The patient died shortly after the diagnosis.

O tumor de células granulares (tumor de Abrikossoff) é uma doença rara, benigna, que acomete preferencialmente o segmento cérvico facial. Geralmente é uma lesão única, nodular, que pode ulcerar e apresentar bordas infiltradas e peroláceas, com fundo limpo e halo hipercrômico. Esse trabalho descreve um caso de tumor de células granulares ulcerado e de localização pouco usual reforçando a necessidade de se incluir esse tumor no diagnóstico diferencial das lesões nódulo-ulceradas da pele.

Granular cell tumor (Abrikossoff's tumor) is a rare benign disease that preferentially affects the cervicofacial segment. It is usually a solitary nodule that may ulcerate and present pearly infiltration on the borders, while keeping a clean background and a hyperchromic halo. This paper describes the case of an ulcerated granular cell tumor on an unusual location, which reinforces the necessity of including this tumor in the differential diagnosis of nodular-ulcerative skin lesions.

Esta Clínica Dermatológica realiza testes de contato em pacientes encaminhados com suspeita de dermatite alérgica de contato. Os resultados de testes de contato (1406 pacientes), realizados no período de 1/07/2003 a 30/06/2010, serão descritos e comparados aos dados do Grupo Brasileiro de Estudo em Dermatite de Contato. Uma bateria de teste de contato padronizada (30 alérgenos) foi usada em todos esses pacientes. Dependendo da queixa e do alérgeno suspeito, outra bateria(cosméticos) foi testada. Os alérgenos mais frequentes das Baterias Padrão e Cosméticos foram níquel e resina-tonsilamida formaldeído, respectivamente. Dermatite alérgica de contato foi o diagnóstico final em 58.2%. Estudos sobre frequência de alérgenos podem viabilizar programas preventivos.

This Dermatology Clinic tests referred patients who have suspected allergic contact dermatitis. The patch-test results (1406 patients) from July 1st, 2003 to June 30th, 2010 will be reported and compared to the data from the Brazilian Contact Dermatitis Study Group (GBEDC). A standardized patch test (30 allergens) was used in all of these patients. Depending on the complaint and suspected allergen another battery was also used (cosmetic battery).The most frequent allergens of Brazilian Standard Patch Test Series and Cosmetic Brazilian Standard Patch Test Series were nickel and tosylamide formaldehyde resin, respectively. Allergic contact dermatitis was the final diagnosis in 58.2%. Studies about allergen frequency may enable the performance of prevention programmes.

O pinçamento do leito ungueal gerado pela hipercurvatura transversa da unha é chamado de unha em pinça e pode provocar dor e constituir problema estético. A unha em pinça pode apresentar três tipos clínicos, mais comuns, sendo a unha em telha um deles. As causas podem ser hereditárias ou adquiridas. Os dedos dos pés são acometidos com maior freqüência. Os tratamentos conservadores são os preferidos pelos pacientes, porém, os tratamentos cirúrgicos produzem os melhores resultados. Das técnicas cirúrgicas, a técnica de Zook é opção diferente, pois, preserva a matriz e o tamanho da unha. Os autores apresentam cinco pacientes com unha em telha, tratados com a técnica de Zook.

The pinching of the distal nail bed, caused by transverse overcurvature of the nail is called pincer nail. It frequently causes pain and aesthetic problems. Pincer nail may present in three frequent clinical types, one being the tile-shaped nail. The causes may be hereditary or acquired. The toes are most frequently affected. Conservative treatments are preferred by patients, although surgical treatments produce better, longer-lasting results. Among the surgical techniques, Zook's technique differs from others, because it preserves the matrix and consequently the size of nail. The authors evaluated five patients who presented pincer nails and were treated using Zook's technique.