A study of skin disease spectrum occurring in Angola phototype V-VI population in Luanda.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of skin diseases in Luanda (Angola) is unknown, and publications are barely found in the literature. We aim to describe, for the first time, the frequency of skin disease spectrum in phototype V-VI Angolan population in Luanda City. METHODS: We included Fitzpatrick phototype V-VI Angolan patients who consulted the Dermatology Unit in Luanda Medical Center during a 1-year period. Medical information was recovered from the electronic database, and diagnoses were based on ICD-10. Only the main complaint was registered, and the results were classified according to age and sex. Criteria exclusion consisted of incomplete clinical records, Fitzpatrick phototype I-IV Angolan, or foreign patients from the study. RESULTS: From a total of 3938 patients, 3554 met the inclusion criteria, of which 2742 were adults 13 years or older. In this group, acne (23.6%), dermatophytosis (11.0%), and pityriasis versicolor (8.6%) were the main complaints. On the other hand, in the pediatric population (n = 812), atopic dermatitis (29.4%), tinea capitis (13.7%), and molluscum contagiosum (12.5%) were the most frequent disorders. In adult females, acne (31.3%) was the main condition, while in adult males, dermatophytosis (13.5%). In children, the frequency of atopic dermatitis was comparable: 29.1% and 28.6% in girls and boys, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We published for the first time the frequency of the skin disease spectrum in Fitzpatrick phototype V-VI Angolan population in Luanda City, highlighting the prevalence of acne, dermatophytosis, and atopic dermatitis.

Active video gaming in patients with renal transplant: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with renal transplant are at higher risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with the general population. Physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of CVD mortality in these patients. Unfortunately, barriers such as the harsh Canadian climate prevent patients from engaging in and harvesting the health benefits of physical activity. This pilot study explored active video gaming (AVG) as a way for patients with renal transplant to obtain physical activity and examined its effect on their functional status and quality of life (QOL). MAIN TEXT: We recruited nine patients for an 8-week prospective pilot study. All patients received a Microsoft Xbox 360™ video gaming console, a Microsoft Kinect™ sensor, and the video game Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012. Assessment of each participant before and after the intervention included blood pressure measures, a 6-minute walk test, and the Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire (GLTQ). We analyzed all nine patients at the end of the 8-week study period, and found no changes in blood pressure or GLTQ scores. However, there was a significant increase in the 6-minute walk distance (P = 0.022), which represented a consistent increase for most patients (correlation = 0.977). In addition, participants over the age of 45 years (n = 4) were more likely to use the AVG system (P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: AVG has the potential to improve the functional status in patients with renal transplant. Further research is required to corroborate the full health benefits of AVG in this patient population.