Randomized trial with soaps - what happens to a newborn baby's skin?

Abstract Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of a children's soap with physiological pH in maintaining cutaneous pH and moisture of the newborn (NB)'s skin after the first bath. Methods: Randomized, controlled and double-blind clinical trial in a rooming-in of a tertiary maternity hospital in southern Brazil with 204 newborns > 34 gestational weeks. Gestational and obstetric history was evaluated, and newborns were randomized into two groups according to the product applied in the bath: the control group (CG), which used common liquid soap with pH 7.0 and experimental group (EG), which used children's liquid soap with pH 5.8. Evaluation was made immediately before and after bath with skin pH measurement, corneometry and clinical parameters (erythema, scaling and moisture), on the forehead, abdomen and thigh. Results: There was no difference between groups regarding gestational, obstetric and family history (p > 0.05). In CG, skin pH increased in the abdomen and thigh (p < 0.05). In EG there was an improvement in clinical parameters after bathing with: increased moisture, less erythema and less scaling (p < 0.05). On the forehead, there was a significant increase in pH after bathing (p < 0.001) similar in both groups, although no use of soap. There was no difference in corneometry between groups after bathing. Conclusions: Children's liquid soap with physiological pH maintained the acidic skin pH and moisture of the newborn's skin after the first bath, which reinforces the importance of using products with physiological pH in the hygiene of newborns. Registration number RBR-9ky84vd.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty: does energy dosage predict response?

Selective laser trabeculoplasty [SLT] is a widely used treatment for open angle glaucoma, producing sustained reductions of intraocular pressure [IOP]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term relationship between SLT energy dosage and IOP reduction. A retrospective review was performed for patients receiving primary SLT therapy, with inclusion of subjects treated with 360degree of SLT. Energy settings were collected upon treatment and IOP was collected at baseline up to 36 months. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine whether there was a significant correlation between SLT energy and IOP reduction at all time points. Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test was performed to determine the differences in IOP reduction >/= 20% from baseline among those treated with low [<85 mJ], medium [85-105 mJ], and high [>105 mJ] energy SLT. A total of 104 eyes [75 patients] were included. The mean total SLT energy was 93.73 mJ [standard deviation [SD] = 21.83 mJ, range: 34.4-122 mJ]. A significant positive correlation [P /= 20% from baseline between the three energy groups, with low energy patients experiencing failure at an earlier time [P = 0.05]. Within the range of total energy examined, there is a positive correlation between total energy used and amount of pressure reduction achieved at up to 3 years of follow-up. This may be useful in determining the optimal energy dosage for maximum effect for patients receiving SLT.

Tensão pré-menstrual em mulheres periclimatéricas / Premenstrual syndrome in peri-climacteric women

Ao envelhecer, a mulher passa por uma série de alterações endócrinas e físicas devido à diminuição da secreção de esteroides ovarianos. Consequentemente, ocorre atrofia dos caracteres sexuais secundários, diminuição da massa óssea e aumento do risco de doenças cardiovasculares. Desde que a diminuição dos níveis plasmáticos de estrógeno foi relacionada ao sistema neuroendócrino, que interfere diretamente no humor, comportamento e cognição, passou a ser aceitável que mulheres com história de depressão, ainda na menacme, podem ter um comprometimento de longa data no eixo hipotálamo-hipófise-ovariano. Somam-se ao climatério os sintomas da tensão pré-menstrual, que acometem a maioria das mulheres em idade reprodutiva, cerca de 75 a 80%. Entre 2 e 8% das mulheres em idade reprodutiva sofrem sintomas graves o suficiente para desestruturar as vidas social e familiar e/ou profissional durante uma ou duas semanas de cada mês. Desde o momento em que se inicia o declínio da função ovariana, alguns anos antes da ocorrência da menopausa, até o fim da vida, ocorrem modificações biopsicossociais de maneira insidiosa e de forma variável em cada mulher.

A woman goes through a series of physical and endocrine changes due to decreased secretion of ovarian steroids with aging. Consequently, atrophy of secondary sex characteristics, decrease in bone mass and increase in the risk of cardiovascular diseases are present. Since the decrease in plasma levels of estrogen was related to the neuroendocrine system, which interferes directly with mood, behavior and cognition, it is acceptable for women with history of depression, even in premenopausal age, to have a lasting hypothalamus-pituitary- ovarian involvement, in addition to climacteric symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, which affects the majority of women (75-80%) in reproductive age. From 2 to 8% of women in their reproductive age suffer from symptoms severe enough to interfere with their social, familial and business lives during one or two weeks each month. When decline of ovarian function occurs – a few years before the onset of menopause until the end of life – recurrent and variable biopsychosocial changes occur in women.