Detection of Bartonella henselae DNA in the blood of patients with livedoid vasculopathy

Abstract Background: Livedoid vasculopathy (LV) manifests as ulcers and atrophic white scars on the lower extremities. The main known etiopathogenesis is hypercoagulability with thrombus formation, followed by inflammation. Thrombophilia, collagen and myeloproliferative diseases may induce LV, but the idiopathic (primary) form predominates. Bartonella spp. may cause intra-endothelial infection and skin manifestations caused by these bacteria may be diverse, including leukocytoclastic vasculitis and ulcers. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of bacteremia by Bartonella spp. in patients with difficult-to-control chronic ulcers diagnosed as primary LV. Methods: Questionnaires and molecular tests (conventional PCR, nested PCR and real-time PCR) were applied and liquid and solid cultures were performed in the blood samples and blood clot of 16 LV patients and 32 healthy volunteers. Results: Bartonella henselae DNA was detected in 25% of LV patients and in 12.5% of control subjects but failed to reach statistically significant differences (p = 0.413). Study limitations: Due to the rarity of primary LV, the number of patients studied was small and there was greater exposure of the control group to risk factors for Bartonella spp. infection. Conclusion: Although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups, the DNA of B. henselae was detected in one of every four patients, which reinforces the need to investigate Bartonella spp. in patients with primary LV.

Estudo comparativo entre dois anestésicos tópicos em procedimentos dermatológicos / Comparative study between two topical anesthetics in dermatological procedures

Introdução: A dor durante a execução dos procedimentos dermatológicos é um desafio na prática médica. Vários anestésicos tópicos estão disponíveis para ser utilizados previamente aos tratamentos minimamente invasivos. Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia do uso do anestésico tópico na redução da dor durante a execução de procedimentos dermatológicos e comparar a eficácia de dois deles, utilizando a escala visual numérica de dor. Métodos: 25 pacientes foram submetidos a procedimentos dermatológicos faciais após a aplicação da preparação comercial de lidocaína 7% e tetracaína 7% em uma hemiface e preparação comercial de lidocaína 4% em outra hemiface. A intensidade da dor foi avaliada por escala visual numérica de dor (EVN) no final do procedimento. Resultados: 84% dos pacientes referiram escore de dor menor na hemiface que recebeu preparação comercial de lidocaína e tetracaína a 7%. A média dos escores de dor nas hemifaces que receberam preparação comercial de lidocaína 4% foi de 7,3, enquanto naquelas que receberam preparação comercial de lidocaína 7% e tetracaína 7% foi de 5,3. Conclusões: Anestésicos tópicos são eficazes e seguros para diminuição da dor em procedimentos dermatológicos, sendo que a preparação comercial de lidocaína e tetracaína a 7% foi mais eficaz na redução da dor do que a preparação comercial de lidocaína 4%.

Introduction: Managing pain during the performance of dermatological procedures is a challenge. Several topical anesthetics are available for use prior to carrying out minimally invasive treatments. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of topical anesthetics for reducing the pain during dermatological procedures and to compare the effectiveness of two different anesthetics using a visual numeric pain scale. Methods: Twenty-five patients underwent facial dermatological procedures after the application of two commercial preparations: one containing 7% lidocaine and 7% tetracaine (applied in one hemiface) and the other containing 4% lidocaine. Each of the preparations was applied in one hemiface. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Numeric Pain Scale (VNS) at the end of the procedure. Results: Eighty-four percent of the patients reported a lower pain score in the hemiface that received the commercial preparation containing 7% lidocaine and 7% tetracaine. The mean pain score in the hemifaces that received the 4% lidocaine preparation was 7.3, while that computed for the hemifaces that received the 7% lidocaine and 7% tetracaine preparation was 5.3. Conclusions: Topical anesthetics are effective and safe for pain reduction in dermatological procedures, with the commercial preparation containing 7% lidocaine and 7% tetracaine was more effective than the one containing 4% lidocaine.

Utilização da técnica da prega para diminuir a dor no microagulhamento do couro cabeludo: estudo comparativo / Use of the pinch technique to reduce the pain in scalp microneedling: a comparative study

Introdução: O microgulhamento vem sendo realizado em diversas áreas da Dermatologia, incluíndo o tratamento da alopecia androgenética. Porém, um dos seus maiores limitantes é a dor, que ocorre tanto com o uso de cilindros agulhados, como com aparelhos motorizados dotados de microagulhas. Objetivo: descrever uma nova técnica para minimizar a dor durante o microagulhamento do couro cabeludo. Métodos: estudo observacional, prospectivo e comparativo, do microagulhamento realizado com aparelho motorizado, utilizando ou não o pregueamento da pele da área a ser tratada, entre os dedos polegar e indicador da mão não dominante do cirurgião. Este procedimento teve a denominação pelos autores, de Técnica da Prega. A dor foi avaliada pelo paciente com base em escala visual analógica, e os dados submetidos ao teste t-Student, a fim de verificar a existência de diferença estatística entre os dados analisados. Resultados: foram tratados 14 pacientes portadores de alopecia androgenética, 13 homens e 1 mulher. Após análise dos dados sobre a dor referida pelos pacientes, observou-se que a média aritmética dos dados das áreas não submetidas à Técnica da Prega era mais alta do que a média dos dados das áreas submetidas à referida técnica. Conclusões: A técnica descrita mostrou-se eficaz na diminuição da dor durante o procedimento de microagulhamento do couro cabeludo, em consequência da alteração da percepção dolorosa pelo estímulo tátil, e pelo distanciamento das agulhas em relação à gálea que é ricamente inervada.

Introduction: Microneedling has been performed in several areas of Dermatology, including the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. However, one of its major limitations is pain, which occurs both with the use of rollers with multiple fine needles and with motorized devices equipped with microneedles. Objective: To describe a new technique aimed at minimizing pain during the microneedling in the scalp. Methods: An observational, prospective and comparative study of the microneedling effects was performed with a motorized device, with and without folding the skin by using the thumb and index finger of the surgeon's non-dominant hand. This procedure was termed "pinch technique" by the authors. The pain was assessed by the patient based on a visual analogue scale, and the data analyzed with the Student's t-test, in order to verify the existence of statistical difference between the data sets. Results: Fourteen patients bearers of androgenetic alopecia (13 men and 1 woman) were treated. The analysis of the data on the pain reported by the patients suggested that the arithmetic mean of the data obtained from the areas where the technique was not applied was greater than that obtained in areas where the technique was employed. Conclusions: The described technique was proven effective in reducing pain during the microneedling procedure. That outcome resulted from the alteration of the perception of pain due to the tactile stimulus and the increase in the distance of the needles regarding the galea, which is richly innervated.

Depression, alcohol use disorders and nicotine dependence among patients at a general hospital / Depressão, transtornos decorrentes do uso de álcool e dependência de nicotina no hospital geral

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence rates and identify patient characteristics associated with depression, alcohol use disorders and nicotine dependence among individuals admitted to a general teaching hospital. METHOD: Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, we assessed 4,352 consecutive medical and surgical patients admitted over a 13-month period. The patients were also asked to report their daily cigarette smoking habits during the last month. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed, and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 49.3 years, and 56.6 percent were male. Prevalence rates of depression, alcohol use disorders and nicotine dependence were, respectively, 14 percent, 9.8 percent and 16.9 percent. In the multivariate analysis, depression was associated with previous suicide attempts (OR = 8.7), lower level of education (OR = 3.6), prior use of psychotropic medications (OR = 3.1), cancer (OR = 1.7) and pain (OR = 1.7). Alcohol use disorders were associated with male sex (OR = 6.3), smoking (OR = 3.5), admission for an external cause of injury, such as a traffic accident (OR = 2.4), and previous suicide attempts (OR = 2.3). Nicotine dependence was associated with alcohol use disorders (OR = 3.4), young adulthood (OR = 2.3), widowhood (OR = 2.2) and previous suicide attempts (OR = 1.8). CONCLUSION: This is the largest sample of medical and surgical patients ever surveyed with standardized screening instruments in a general hospital in Brazil. The high prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders and the profiles of the patients evaluated in this study underscore the need to develop methods that are more effective for detecting and managing such disorders. Hospital admission should be considered a major opportunity for the detection of psychiatric disorders and the subsequent implementation of the appropriate specific treatment strategies.

OBJETIVO: Identificar taxas de prevalência e perfis de pacientes associados a depressão, transtornos por uso de álcool e dependência de nicotina em indivíduos internados em um hospital geral universitário. MÉTODO: 4.352 pacientes internados consecutivamente foram avaliados pelas escalas Hospital Anxiety and Depression e Alcohol use Disorder Identification Test. Eles também foram questionados sobre uso diário de cigarros ao longo do último mês. Análises de regressão logística múltipla foram realizadas. RESULTADOS: 56,6 por cento eram de sexo masculino, e a média de idade foi de 49,3 anos. As taxas de prevalência de depressão, transtornos por uso de álcool e dependência de nicotina foram, respectivamente, 14 por cento, 9,8 por cento e 16,9 por cento. Na análise multivariada, depressão associou-se a tentativa prévia de suicídio (OR = 8,7), menor escolaridade (3,6), uso prévio de psicofármacos (3,1), câncer (1,7) e dor (1,7). Transtornos por uso de álcool associaram-se a sexo masculino (OR = 6,3), tabagismo (3,5), internação por uma causa externa (2,4), notadamente acidentes automobilísticos, e tentativa prévia de suicídio (2,3). A dependência de nicotina associou-se a transtornos por uso de álcool (OR = 3,4), idade adulta jovem (2,3), viuvez (2,2) e tentativa prévia de suicídio (1,8). CONCLUSÃO: Esta é a maior amostra de pacientes clínicos e cirúrgicos, internados num hospital geral brasileiro, avaliados com instrumentos padronizados. Houve considerável prevalência de transtornos mentais, e os respectivos perfis dos pacientes enfatizam a necessidade de se desenvolver métodos mais eficientes de detecção e de manejo desses transtornos. A internação hospitalar deveria ser tomada como um marco na vida de uma pessoa, a partir do qual se detecta um transtorno psiquiátrico e estratégias específicas de tratamento são implementadas.