Evaluation of Depressive and Anxious Behavior with the Use of Propranolol in Melanoma-Bearing Mice

HIGHLIGHTS: Tumor progression and anxiety and depression behaviors under evaluation during propranolol use in murine melanoma. Evaluation of anxiety and depression through forced swimming behavior tests, elevated plus maze, open field and marble-burying test.

Abstract Melanoma, a severe form of skin cancer, has rapid growth and has been prone to behavioral disorders that worsen the patient's prognosis and survival. Among these psychic disorders can occur anxiety and depression, in addition to cognitive deficit. In order to try to elucidate the neuropsychological disorders that occur in melanoma, the objective of this study was to evaluate propranolol in tumor progression and in anxious and depressive behaviors in an animal model with melanoma. B16F10 cells were injected into C57BL6/J mice subsequently treated with propranolol at doses of 1.43 mg/kg and 5.71 mg/kg and evaluated for tumor growth and in open field, forced swimming, elevated plus maze and marble-burying test at initial time and consolidated tumor. As a result, the group treated with propranolol at a dose of 5.71 mg/kg showed less tumor growth. In the initial behavioral tests, melanoma altered the animals' motility, but anxious behavior was not detected. Depressive behavior was detected in the forced swimming test in the two doses of the treatment used. When taking time with consolidated tumor, there was a reduction in the locomotor activity of the animals in the open field test, impairing the analysis of anxious and depressive behavior. The data suggest that there was a reduction in the progression of melanoma, there was no anxious behavior in the animals, only the depressive behavior and the use of propranolol did not improve the evaluated behavior.

Quality of life and clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma submitted to tumor resection by double-bladed scalpel

Abstract: Background: Non-melanoma skin cancer accounts for a third of all malignancies registered in Brazil, with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) being one of its subtypes. It develops in photo-exposed areas, affecting social habits and causing negative influence on quality of life (QoL). Objectives: To evaluate QoL in patients with primary cutaneous SCC. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in patients with clinical diagnosis of SCC, corroborated by dermoscopy and confirmed by histopathology; prior to resection of the tumor using the double-blade scalpel technique, a questionnaire on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was applied. Results: Among the 46 evaluated patients, mean age was 67.1 ± 16.0 years, with a predominance of males, low educational level and socioeconomic status, Fitzpatrick II phototype, history of outdoor work, and tumor location in exposed photo areas. Mean DLQI was 4.02 ± 0.63, and in the categorization, 11 (23.9%) had a moderate to severe negative effect on QoL. The skin tumor had a negative impact on daily activities (33% of cases), treatment effects (30%), and symptoms and feelings (29%). Study limitations: There is no gold standard instrument for assessing QoL in dermatological patients. Conclusion: In the study sample, one-fourth of patients with SCC had a moderate to severe negative effect on quality of life.

Quality of life and self-esteem in patients submitted to surgical treatment of skin carcinomas: long-term results

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a multifactorial disease and skin carcinomas are the most common type of cancer. Assessing quality of life and self-esteem outcomes in skin cancer patients is important because these are indicators of the results of the treatment, translating how patients face their lives and their personal relationships. OBJECTIVE: To assess the late impact of the surgical treatment of head and/or neck skin carcinomas on quality of life and self-esteem of the patients. METHODS: Fifty patients with head or neck skin carcinomas were enrolled. Their age ranged between 30 and 75 years, 27 were men and 23 were women. Patients were assessed with regard to quality of life and self-esteem, preoperatively and five years postoperatively. Validated instruments were used: the MOS 36-item Short-form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Rosenberg Self-esteem/EPM-UNIFESP Scale. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients completed the five-year follow-up, 54.5% women and 45.5% men. Compared to the preoperative assessment, patients had an improvement in mental health (p=0.011) and in self-esteem (p=0.002). There was no statistical difference with regard to the other domains of the SF-36. CONCLUSION: Patients submitted to surgical treatment of skin carcinoma improved mental health and self-esteem in the late postsurgical testing. .

Preditores de qualidade de vida em pacientes com melanoma cutâneo no serviço de dermatologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre / Predictors of quality of life in patients with skin melanoma at the dermatology department of the Porto Alegre Teaching Hospital

FUNDAMENTOS: Alguns sintomas presentes nos pacientes com melanoma estão diretamente relacionados à tensão psicológ ica, o que reforça a necessidade de avaliar a qualidade de vida em todas as fases da doença. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes diagnosticados com melanoma por meio do questionário Fact-G. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo transversal que incluiu todos os pacientes em seguimento no serviço de dermatologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre entre julho e dezembro de 2006. RESULTADOS: Sessenta pacientes foram incluídos. A idade média foi de 55,6 anos. O nível de escolaridade até primeiro grau foi correlacionado a escores mais baixos no Fact-G. Os pacientes com história familiar apresentaram maiores escores de QoL em três das quatro categorias avaliadas: bem-estar físico, emocional e funcional (P < 0,01). Pacientes casados mostraram melhor qualidade de vida (82,42) que os solteiros (70,28; P < 0,01). Os pacientes com metástase obtiveram uma menor pontuação no questionário no domínio bem-estar funcional. CONCLUSÕES: Os fatores relacionados ao tumor, assim como o sexo, a idade e a situação de emprego, não foram preditores de qualidade de vida. Pacientes com metástases apresentaram pior qualidade de vida no domínio bem-estar funcional. Pacientes casados têm mais conforto e apoio emocional para lidar com o diagnóstico do tumor. Os pacientes com história familiar de melanoma tiveram melhor qualidade de vida e os com baixa escolaridade, uma pior qualidade de vida.

BACKGROUNDS: Some symptoms present in melanoma patients are directly related to psychological stress, which emphasizes the need to evaluate quality of life (QoL) in these patients at all the stages of their disease. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate quality of life in a sample of patients diagnosed with melanoma, using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) questionnaire. METHODS: A descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted between July and December, 2006 with all patients with skin melanoma receiving follow-up care at the Department of Dermatology of the Porto Alegre Teaching Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included in the study. Mean age was 55.6 years. Poor education level (primary school or less) was associated with a poorer FACT-G score. Patients with a family history of the disease had higher QoL scores in 3 of the 4 categories evaluated: physical, emotional and functional wellbeing (p<0.01). QoL scores were higher in married patients (82.42) compared to single patients (70.28) (p<0.01). Patients with metastases had lower scores in the functional wellbeing category and this difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Factors related to the tumor, as well as gender, age and employment status, were not found to be predictive of quality of life in this sample. Quality of life scores were lower in the functional wellbeing domain in patients with metastases. Married patients are able to count on greater comfort and emotional support to help them deal with the diagnosis of melanoma. Patients with a family history of melanoma had significantly higher quality of life scores, while those with poor education levels had lower scores.

Neurofibromatosis elefantiásica: presentación de dos casos / Neurofibromatosis elephantiasica: report of 2 cases

La neurofibromatosis elefantiásica (NFE) es una entidad escasamente descrita. Se caracteriza por la presencia de neurofibromas plexiformes gigantes cuyas localizaciones más frecuentes son las extremidades, cuero cabelludo, cuello y hombros. Presentamos dos casos de NFE con importante compromiso de cadera y abdomen que les ocasionaba principalmente trastornos psicosociales, incluyendo dificultades en el uso de vestimenta. Se realiza una actualización del tema