Abstract The skin is regularly exposed to several environmental aggressions, including solar radiation, whose biological effects can induce sunburn, dyschromia, skin aging and cancer. Among the photoprotection measures, sunscreens comprise a relevant part of the strategy aimed to prevent solar radiation damage and, for effective action, the patient must adhere to the product use and the latter, in turn, must follow technical parameters to promote adequate protection. This review article brings together the most current and relevant concepts about photoprotection for dermatological use, including the challenges for their formulation, the risks of certain photoprotective active substances for individual and environmental safety and the importance of stringency in determining the product efficacy, considering the regulatory aspects, highlighting relevant differences between Brazil and other countries. Thus, when assessing a sunscreen, not only the visual aspects and sensory perception will be immediately evaluated, but also the quality and suitability of the vehicle, the chemical composition of the formulation, the environmental risks, the photostability of the screening system, and the measurement of its protection spectrum. Technical knowledge of sunscreens can help dermatologists in this important role of educating patients about the best photoprotective strategies in each situation.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar a presença de anticorpos IgE específicos para superantígenos estafilocócicos e o grau de sensibilização mediada por esses, assim como se esses estão associados à gravidade da asma em pacientes adultos. Métodos: Estudo transversal incluindo asmáticos adultos em acompanhamento ambulatorial em um hospital universitário terciário no Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Os pacientes foram alocados consecutivamente em dois grupos de gravidade da asma segundo critérios da Global Initiative for Asthma: asma leve (AL), com asmáticos leves intermitentes ou persistentes, e asma moderada ou grave (AMG). Foram determinados os níveis séricos de anticorpos IgE antitoxinas estafilocócicas, e os resultados foram comparados por análise estatística. Resultados: Foram incluídos 142 pacientes no estudo: 72 no grupo AL (mediana de idade = 46 anos; 59 do sexo feminino) e 70 do grupo AMG (mediana de idade = 56 anos; 60 do sexo feminino). Na amostra geral, 62 pacientes (43,7%) apresentaram resultados positivos para dosagens de anticorpos IgE antitoxinas estafilocócicas: enterotoxina (TX) A, em 29 (20,4%); TXB, em 35 (24,6%); TXC, em 33 (23,2%); e toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST), em 45 (31,7%). As médias das dosagens séricas de anticorpos IgE específicos anti-TXA, TXB, TXC e TSST foram, respectivamente, de 0,96 U/l, 1,09 U/l, 1,21 U/l, e 1,18 U/l. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa dos resultados qualitativos ou quantitativos entre os grupos. Conclusões: A presença de anticorpos IgE séricos anti-TXA, TXB, TXC e TSST, foi detectada em 43,7% nessa amostra de pacientes, mas não houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre seus resultados qualitativos ou quantitativos e gravidade clínica da asma.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the presence of staphylococcal superantigen-specific IgE antibodies and degree of IgE-mediated sensitization, as well as whether or not those are associated with the severity of asthma in adult patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving outpatients with asthma under treatment at a tertiary care university hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Consecutive patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of asthma based on the Global Initiative for Asthma criteria: mild asthma (MA), comprising patients with mild intermittent or persistent asthma; and moderate or severe asthma (MSA). We determined the serum levels of staphylococcal toxin-specific IgE antibodies, comparing the results and performing a statistical analysis. Results: The study included 142 patients: 72 in the MA group (median age = 46 years; 59 females) and 70 in the MSA group (median age = 56 years; 60 females). In the sample as a whole, 62 patients (43.7%) presented positive results for staphylococcal toxin-specific IgE antibodies: staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), in 29 (20.4%); SEB, in 35 (24.6%); SEC, in 33 (23.2%); and toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST), in 45 (31.7%). The mean serum levels of IgE antibodies to SEA, SEB, SEC, and TSST were 0.96 U/L, 1.09 U/L, 1.21 U/L, and 1.18 U/L, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of the qualitative or quantitative results. Conclusions: Serum IgE antibodies to SEA, SEB, SEC, and TSST were detected in 43.7% of the patients in our sample. However, neither the qualitative nor quantitative results showed a statistically significant association with the clinical severity of asthma.

Abstract In Brazil, without considering the non-melanoma skin tumors, bladder cancer in men is the eighth most common, and the urothelial carcinoma or transitional cell carcinoma is the most common among these. Cutaneous metastases from urothelial neoplasms appear as single or multiple erythematous, infiltrated nodules or plaques, and like other cases of distant disease, it is indicative of poor prognosis. The invasive urothelial carcinoma is recognized for its ability to present divergent differentiation and morphological variants. The sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma is a rare cancer that consists of two different components: one composed of epithelial tissue and the other with sarcomatoid features of mesenchymal origin. The authors describe a case of cutaneous metastasis of sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma in a 63-year-old male patient.

Aims: To determine the frequency of viral pathogens causing upper respiratory tract infections in non-hospitalized, symptomatic adults in the city of Rio de Janeiro.Methods:Respiratory samples (nasal/throat swabs) were collected between August 2010 and November 2012 and real time PCR was used to detect different viral pathogens.Results:Viruses were detected in 32.1% (43/134) of samples from 101 patients. Specifically, 9% (12/134) were positive for HBoV, 8.2% (11/134) were positive for HAdV, 5.2% (7/134) were positive for HRV, and 1.5% (2/134) were positive for FLUBV or HMPV, as single infections. HRSV-A, HPIV-3, and HCoV-HKU1 were detected in one (0.75%) sample each. Co-infections were detected in 4.8% (6/134) of the samples. Peaks of viral infections were observed in March, April, May, August, and October. However, positive samples were detected all year round. Only 23.3% (10/43) of the positive samples were collected from patients with febrile illness.Conclusion:Results presented in this report suggest that respiratory viral infections are largely under diagnosed in immunocompetent adults. Although the majority of young adult infections are not life-threatening they may impose a significant burden, especially in developing countries since these individuals represent a large fraction of the working force.

BACKGROUND: atopic dermatitis is directly related to psychological stress, reduced quality of life and psychosomatic symptoms. The Psychosomatic Scale for Atopic Dermatitis is the only questionnaire developed specifically for assessment of psychosomatization in atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVES: the objective of this study was to cross-culturally adapt and validate a Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Psychosomatic Scale for Atopic Dermatitis. METHODS: adaptation consisted of independent translation and backtranslation by three bilingual translators, followed by a pre-test. The Psychosomatic Scale for Atopic Dermatitis and the Dermatology Life Quality Index were self-administered to 47 patients with atopic dermatitis. Disease severity was evaluated using the Eczema Area and Severity Index. Factor analysis was used to identify the dimensions of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Psychosomatic Scale for Atopic Dermatitis. Internal consistency and convergence validity were also analyzed. Reproducibility was assessed using the Kappa coefficient. RESULTS: factor analysis revealed a two-dimensional structure: stress/laziness/insecurity (I) and maladjustment/social relationships (II), explaining 54.4% of total variance. All dimensions revealed excellent internal consistency. External construct validity was confirmed by positive correlations between the Psychosomatic Scale for Atopic Dermatitis and the Dermatology Life Quality Index. Test-retest reliability was excellent, with k>0.7 for all questions. CONCLUSIONS: the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Psychosomatic Scale for Atopic Dermatitis demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties and can be used for the evaluation of psychosomatic symptoms in patients with atopic dermatitis and as a tool in clinical and epidemiological research.

A prototecose cutânea é uma infecção rara causada por algas aclorofílicas do gênero Prototheca. Geralmente as lesões ocorrem em áreas expostas, relacionadas à trauma, em indivíduos imunocomprometidos. A apresentação clínica mais comum é uma lesão vesico-bolhosa e ulcerativa com pústulas e crostas, simulando piodermites, infecções fúngicas, infecções herpéticas ou eczemas. O diagnóstico é realizado pela identificação do agente através do exame histopatológico, da cultura e do teste de assimilação dos carboidratos. O achado de esférulas com aspecto de mórula são características da Prototheca sp. A raridade da doença e o aspecto clínico inespecífico dificultam o diagnóstico da doença. Relatamos um caso em paciente diabética, em uso crônico de corticoide sistêmico, que desenvolveu lesão cutânea após trauma na perna direita.

Cutaneous protothecosis is a rare infection caused by achlorophyllic algae of the genus Prototheca. The lesions usually occur on exposed areas, related with trauma, in immunocompromised patients. The most common clinical presentation is a vesicobullous and ulcerative lesion with pustules and scabs, simulating bacterial, fungal or herpetic infections or eczema. The diagnosis is determined by agent identification through histopathology, culture and the carbohydrates assimilation test. The finding of morula-like spherules is characteristic of Prototheca sp. Its rarity and non-specific clinical aspect may difficult the disease diagnosis. We report a case of a diabetic patient, in chronic use of systemic corticosteroids, that developed a skin lesion after trauma to the right leg.

O histiocitoma eruptivo generalizado é considerado um subtipo extremamente raro de histiocitose de células não-Langerhans. Na literatura, existem poucos relatos sobre a doença que afeta principalmente adultos. Neste relato apresentamos um caso de histiocitoma eruptivo generalizado em um paciente idoso com sintomas há dois meses. Clinicamente observavam-se pápulas eritematosas múltiplas, assintomáticas, simetricamente distribuídas no tronco e membros. O exame histopatológico mostrou uma infiltração de células mononucleares densa na derme. Na análise imunohistoquímica, as células foram positivas para CD68, mas negativas para CD1a, CD34 e S100. O objetivo do nosso trabalho é relatar um caso de uma doença muito rara, cujos subtipo e faixa etária afetados são ainda mais incomuns.

Generalized eruptive histiocytoma is considered an extremely rare subtype of non-Langerhans cells histiocytosis. In the literature, there are few reports of this disease that mainly affects adults. In this report, we present a case of generalized eruptive histiocytoma in an elderly patient who had presented symptoms for over two months. Multiple erythematous papules, asymptomatic and symmetrically distributed were observed on the trunk and limbs. Histological examination showed a dense mononuclear cell dermal infiltrate. In the immunohistochemical analysis, the cells were CD68 positive, but CD1a, S100 and CD34 negative. A diagnosis of generalized eruptive histiocytoma was established. The aim of our paper is to report a case of a very rare disease, whose subtype and affected age group are even more unusual.

Abscesso tuberculoso metastático ou goma tuberculosa cutânea, ocorre principalmente pela reativação de surtos cutâneos precoces desencadeados principalmente por imunodepressão farmacológica, diabetes mellitus, alcoolismo ou síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida. O presente caso relatado refere-se a um paciente do sexo masculino de 33 anos portador de polimiosite e com diagnóstico prévio de tuberculose pulmonar tratada. Apresentou, meses depois do tratamento para tuberculose, abscessos cutâneos e febre. Após a investigação clínica foi diagnosticado como portador de tuberculose gomosa cutânea associada à imunodepressão consequente ao tratamento de polimiosite.

Metastatic tuberculous abscesses or cutaneous tuberculous gummas occur mostly by reactivation of ancient cutaneous foci and is triggered mainly by pharmacological immunosuppression, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The present case report refers to a 33-year-old male patient with polymyositis and a previous diagnosis of treated pulmonary tuberculosis. He presented cutaneous abscesses and fever months after the tuberculosis regimen. The patient was diagnosed as metastatic tuberculous abscesses associated with immunosuppression as result of polymyositis treatment.

FUNDAMENTOS: O HLA-B27 está associado às espondiloartrites, grupo de doenças que engloba, entre outras, a artrite psoriásica. OBJETIVOS: Descrever a freqüência de HLA-B27 em uma amostra de pacientes brasileiros com artrite psoriásica e correlacionar sua presença ou ausência com as manifestações clínicas dos mesmos. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal avaliando 44 pacientes com artrite psoriásica de um ambulatório de Reumatologia. A avaliação consistia em registro de informações demográficas e sociais, exame clínico da pele e das articulações e pesquisa de HLA-B27. Os dados gerados foram tratados por meio de estatística descritiva e comparativa em Software apropriado. Foram utilizados testes paramétricos e não-paramétricos com significância estatística de 5%. RESULTADOS: O HLA-B27 resultou negativo em 32 dos 44 pacientes estudados (72,7%). A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo masculino, da raça branca, procedente do Rio de Janeiro, portador de psoríase em placas e com idade média de 52,9 anos. Houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre o HLA-B27 positivo e o sexo masculino (p=0,004). O HLA-B27 negativo teve tendência à correlação com artrite de mãos e punhos (p=0,07). Houve correlação inversa significativa entre os valores do HLA e do teste de Schöber (p=0,02). CONCLUSÃO: Apesar do HLA-B27 ser negativo na maioria dos pacientes estudados, esteve significativamente associado ao sexo masculino e inversamente correlacionado ao teste de Schöber.

BACKGROUND: HLA-B27 is associated with spondyloarthritis, a group of diseases that includes psoriatic arthritis. OBJECTIVES: To describe the HLA-B27 frequency in a group of Brazilian patients with psoriatic arthritis and correlate its presence or absence with their clinical manifestations. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 44 psoriatic arthritis patients of a Rheumatology clinic. Demographic and social data were recorded, as were skin and joints clinical examination. HLA-B27 was tested. All data were processed descriptively and comparatively by appropriate software. Parametric and non parametric tests were used with 5% statistical significance. RESULTS: HLA-B27 was negative in 32 of the 44 patients (72,7%). Most of them were male, Caucasian, living in Rio de Janeiro, with plaque type psoriasis and average age of 52,9 years. There was statistical significant correlation between positive HLA-B27 and male gender (p=0,004). Negative HLA-B27 had a tendency to correlate with hands and wrists arthritis (p=0,07). There was an inverse significant correlation between HLA values and Schöber's test (p=0,02). CONCLUSION: Although HLA-B27 is negative in most of patients, it is significantly associated to male gender and inversely correlated with Schöber's test.

A prevalência da doença renal crônica aumentou nos últimos anos. Os efeitos dessa doença são complexos e podem levar à disfunção de múltiplos órgãos, entre eles, a pele. A maioria dos pacientes apresenta pelo menos uma alteração dermatológica. Algumas vezes, esses sintomas podem ser o primeiro sinal evidente de doença renal. Este artigo aborda as manifestações cutâneas relacionadas a disfunção renal grave ou doença renal terminal, divididas em não específicas e específicas, revisando quadro clínico, etiopatogenia e opções terapêuticas dessas dermatoses. Seu reconhecimento e trata mento precoces diminuem a morbidade, melhorando a qualidade de vida desses doentes.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease has increased over the last years. The effects of this disease are complex and may lead to dysfunction of multiple organs, including the skin, with most patients presenting with at least one dermatologic alteration. Sometimes these symptoms can be the first clear sign of kidney disease. This article discusses the skin manifestations related to severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which are divided into nonspecific and specific, and reviews the clinical features, etiopathogenesis and therapeutic options for these dermatoses. Early recognition and treatment reduce morbidity and improve these patients' quality of life.

A úlcera de Buruli, uma doença infecciosa causada pela Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans),é a terceira micobacteriose em ocorrência, após a hanseníase e a tuberculose. Essa micobacteriose atípica tem sido relatada em mais de 30 países, principalmente, nos que têm climas tropicais e subtropicais, mas a sua epidemiologia permanece obscura. Recentemente, os primeiros casos autóctones do Brasil foram relatados, fazendo com que dermatologistas brasileiros estejam atentos a esse diagnóstico. O quadro clínico varia: nódulos, áreas de edema, placas, mas a manifestação mais típica é uma grande úlcera, que ocorre, em geral, nas pernas ou nos braços. Apesar do amplo conhecimento quanto ao seu quadro clínico em países endêmicos, nas outras áreas, esse diagnóstico pode passar despercebido. Assim, médicos devem ser orientados quanto à úlcera de Buruli, pois o diagnóstico precoce, o tratamento específico e a introdução de cuidados na prevenção de incapacidades são essenciais para uma boa evolução.

Buruli ulcer, an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is the third most prevalent mycobacteriosis, after tuberculosis and leprosy. This atypical mycobacteriosis has been reported in over 30 countries, mainly those with tropical and subtropical climates, but its epidemiology remains unclear. The first autochthonous cases of infection in Brazil have recently been described, making this diagnosis important for Brazilian dermatologists. Clinical manifestations vary from nodules, areas of edema, and plaques, but the most typical presentation is a large ulcer, usually in the limbs. Despite considerable knowledge about its clinical manifestations in some endemic countries, in other areas the diagnosis may be overlooked. Therefore, physicians should be educated about Buruli ulcer, since early diagnosis and treatment, including measures to prevent disability, are essential for a good outcome.

As vacinas anti-herpéticas podem atuar de forma profilática ou terapêutica contra a infecção pelo herpes simples. Diversos tipos de vacinas foram avaliados no passado com resultados pouco efetivos, tais como aquelas que utilizaram vírus vivos, porém atenuados, e as que utilizaram subunidades glicoprotéicas. As novas vacinas do tipo DISC, com partículas infectivas incapacitadas para mais de um ciclo replicativo, são desenhadas para combinar a segurança e as vantagens das vacinas que utilizam vírus atenuados com a imunogenicidade das que usam vírus vivos. Nas vacinas DISC utiliza-se um vírus cujo gene para a glicoproteína H foi removido. Torna-se, assim, capaz de infectar células humanas, exatamente como o vírus natural, mas sua progênie não pode mais completar o ciclo replicativo. São partículas virais não patogênicas, capazes de induzir ampla resposta de linfócitos T citotóxicos e da imunidade humoral contra antígenos herpéticos.

Antiherpetic vaccines are administered to either act as a prophylactic or therapeutic against herpes simplex infection. Several kinds of vaccines have been evaluated but with little result, such as live-attenuated viral vaccines and subunit glycoprotein vaccines. The new disabled infectious single cycle (DISC) vaccines are designed to combine the safety and advantages of inactivated vaccines with the immunogenic activity of live viral vaccines. The gene for glycoprotein H was removed to disable the virus that can infect human cells much the same as native virus and viral progeny are produced but are defective and can no longer replicate. These viral particles are nonpathogenic and are capable of inducing broad cytotoxic T-cell and humoral response against herpetic antigens.