Clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with early stage mycosis fungoides

Abstract: Background: Mycosis fungoides is the most common form of primary cutaneous lymphoma, with an indolent, slowly progressive course and 88% five-year survival rate. The diagnosis is challenging, especially in the early stages, and usually relies on a good clinical-histopathological correlation. Objective: The aim was to establish the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with early-stage mycosis fungoides. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional observational study with an exploratory analysis. Outcome variables were disease progression and mycosis fungoides-related death. Results: One hundred and two patients were included. The majority were white males, with a mean age of 55.6 years. Mean time from onset of lesions to diagnosis was 51.08 months. The majority of patients were classified as IB stage according to TNMB. Mean follow-up time was 7.85 years. Disease progression was seen in 29.4% of the patients. Death related to the disease occurred in 7.9% of patients. Plaque lesions, involvement of more than 10% of the body surface, altered lactate dehydrogenase and beta-2-microglobulin, and stage IB were significantly associated with disease progression, and altered lactate dehydrogenase and beta-2-microglobulin also correlated with higher frequency of deaths. Study limitations: Small sample and retrospective design. Conclusions: The clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with early-stage mycosis fungoides in our sample corroborates reports in the literature. Diagnostic delay in our series is also consistent with previous findings, but the rate of disease progression, despite treatment, was higher than reported in the literature.

Perfil dos filtros solares utilizados nos fotoprotetores no Brasil / Photoprotectors profile in Brazilian sunscreens

Introdução: Filtros solares são os ingredientes ativos dos protetores solares capazes de promover proteção contra as radiações ultravioleta. O mercado tem oferecido um número crescente desses ingredientes, tornando a fórmula dos fotoprotetores cada vez mais variada. Objetivo: Listar os principais filtros solares que fazem parte das formulações à venda no Brasil, assim como registrar a presença de outros ingredientes dos protetores solares. Métodos: Os autores visitaram quatro farmácias da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, (RJ), Brasil, e analisaram as fórmulas dos protetores solares com fator de proteção solar 30 encontrados. Os filtros solares encontrados nas formulações foram listados, e o percentual de cada um deles foi avaliado em relação ao total de todos os filtros presentes. A presença de extratos vegetais e antioxidantes também foi anotada. Resultados: Foram encontrados 30 fotoprotetores à venda com FPS 30 nos diferentes estabelecimentos, e todos foram analisados em sua composição. Neles havia 17 filtros solares, sendo o mais frequente nas formulações o dióxido de titânio, seguido pelo bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenol triazine. Conclusão: Este estudo apresenta o perfil dos filtros solares utilizados nos principais fotoprotetores à venda no Brasil e fornece dados para posterior avaliação de mudanças desse perfil ao longo dos anos, à medida que novos filtros solares sejam introduzidos no mercado.

Introduction: Photoprotectors are the active ingredients of sunscreens with the capability of protecting the skin against UV radiation. An increasing number of such photoprotection ingredients have been launched in the marketplace, causing sunscreens' formulas to become increasingly varied. Objective: To list the main active photoprotection ingredients contained in formulations commercially available in Brazil, as well as to document the presence of other ingredients contained in sunscreens. Methods: The authors inspected four drugstores in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and analyzed the formulas of the SPF 30 sunscreens available. The active photoprotector substances found in all formulations were listed and the percentage of each of them was compared to those contained in all sunscreens evaluated. The presence of plant extracts and antioxidants was also documented. Results: Thirty commercially available SPF 30 sunscreens were found in different drugstores, having their formulas analyzed. Within this sample, there were 17 different active photoprotection principles, of which titanium dioxide was the most frequently found, followed by bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine. Conclusion: The present study lists the profiles of photoprotection active principles found in the main sunscreens on sale in Brazil and provides data for further evaluation of changes in these profiles over time, as new sunscreens are launched in the marketplace.