Lucius phenomenon: the importance of a primary dermatological care

Abstract Leprosy presents a varied clinical spectrum. Lucius phenomenon is a rare leprosy reaction characterized by erythematous, painful, slightly infiltrated macules and hemorrhagic bullae that progress to ulceration. This case report describes a patient whose diagnosis of leprosy occurred in the presence of Lucius phenomenon. Late diagnosis and delay in the implementation of specific therapy contributed to an unfavorable outcome, highlighting the importance of early identification and treatment of this disease, as well as its complications.

Lucius phenomenon: the importance of a primary dermatological care.

Leprosy presents a varied clinical spectrum. Lucius phenomenon is a rare leprosy reaction characterized by erythematous, painful, slightly infiltrated macules and hemorrhagic bullae that progress to ulceration. This case report describes a patient whose diagnosis of leprosy occurred in the presence of Lucius phenomenon. Late diagnosis and delay in the implementation of specific therapy contributed to an unfavorable outcome, highlighting the importance of early identification and treatment of this disease, as well as its complications.

Evaluation of HPV and EBV in OSCC and the expression of p53, p16, E-cadherin, COX-2, MYC, and MLH1.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the expression of p53, p16, E-cadherin, COX-2, MLH1, and MYC in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred OSCC specimens were submitted to in situ hybridization for HPV and EBV, and immunohistochemistry for detection of the human proteins. RESULTS: Thirty-one cases showed HPV in tumor tissue. EBV was not detected in any case investigated. The HPV(+) group demonstrated an increase of staining scores for nuclear p16 (p = .047), cytoplasmic MYC (p = .002), while a decrease for nuclear MLH1 (p = .048), suggesting that HPV may upregulate the expression of the first two proteins and down-regulate the latter. CONCLUSION: Our findings reinforce the hypothesis of the HPV-related oral carcinogenesis involving the expression of p16 and MYC, and MLH1 suppression. Exclusively cytoplasmic stainings for p16, MLH1, and MYC were also associated with more advanced tumors. Finally, in view of the lack of studies correlating the HPV or EBV infection to the expression of oncoproteins, more researches assessing a broader panel of markers and employing different approaches are still necessary in order to understand the role of these viruses as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in the development and progression of oral carcinomas.

Ferramenta para avaliação e gestão da visita domiciliar na atenção primária à saúde: um relato de experiência / Tool for home visit evaluation and management in primary health care: an experience report / Herramienta para la evaluación y gestión de la visita domiciliaria en atención primaria a la salud: un relato de experiencia

Introdução: A visita domiciliar permite ao profissional de saúde romper com o modelo centrado na doença, voltando-se para uma abordagem centrada no indivíduo. No entanto, observa-se uma grande deficiência na organização e gestão destas, o que muitas vezes dificulta a priorização mais adequada destes pacientes. Objetivo: Apresentar a experiência de uma equipe ao utilizar uma nova ferramenta para avaliação e classificação de risco que visa otimizar a gestão da agenda das visitas domiciliares. Métodos: Trata-se de um relato de experiência de uma equipe de saúde da família, na periferia de uma capital no Nordeste do Brasil, que aplicou esta ferramenta aos pacientes de visita domiciliar entre os meses de junho e novembro de 2017. Resultados: Os dados coletados foram analisados, sendo possível classificar os pacientes quanto ao risco e vulnerabilidade. Esta ferramenta favoreceu o fortalecimento e estruturação do registro, planejamento, avaliação e monitoramento das visitas realizadas nos território. Além disso, deve ser ressaltada sua fácil aplicação e a reprodutibilidade em diferentes cenários da atenção primária. Conclusão: O uso de instrumentos adequados permite identificar pacientes em situação de risco e vulnerabilidade, além de possibilitar a organização da agenda, a identificação das necessidades das pessoas, o acompanhamento das doenças crônicas, propor estratégias, e planejar intervenções futuras.

Introduction: The home visit allows the health professional to break the disease-centered model, turning to an individual-centered approach. However, there is a great deficiency in the organization and management of these, which often makes it more difficult to prioritize these patients. Objective: To present the experience of a team when using a new risk evaluation and classification tool that aims to optimize the management of the home visits schedule. Methods: This is an report of the experience of a family health team, in a peripheric neighborhood of a capital city in the northeast of Brazil, that applied this tool with patients who applied this tool to home visiting patients in the period between June and November 2017. Results: The data collected were analyzed and it was possible to classify the patients regarding risk and vulnerability. This tool favored the strengthening and structuring of the registration, planning, evaluation and monitoring of the visits made in the territory. In addition, its easy application and reproducibility in different primary care settings should be emphasized. Conclusion: The use of appropriate instruments allows the identification of patients at risk and vulnerability, besides organizing the agenda, identifying people's needs, monitoring chronic diseases, proposing strategies, and planning for future interventions

Introducción: La visita domiciliaria permite al profesional de la salud romper con el modelo centrado en la enfermedad, volviéndose hacia un enfoque centrado en el individuo. Sin embargo, se observa una gran deficiencia en la organización y gestión de éstas, lo que a menudo dificulta la priorización más adecuada de estos pacientes. Objetivo: Presentar la experiencia de un equipo en la utilización de una nueva herramienta de evaluación y clasificación de riesgo que visa optimizar la gestión de la agenda de visitas domiciliarias. Métodos: Tratase de un relato de experiencia de un equipo de salud de la familia en la periferia de una capital en el Nordeste de Brasil, donde se aplicó esta herramienta con pacientes asistidos en domicilio entre los meses de junio y noviembre de 2017. Resultados: Los dados obtenidos fueron analizados, siendo posible clasificar según el riesgo y la vulnerabilidad. Esta herramienta favoreció el fortalecimiento y estructuración de registro, planificación, evaluación y monitoreo de las visitas realizadas en el territorio. Además, llamamos la atención a su fácil aplicabilidad y reproductibilidad en diferentes escenarios de la atención primaria a la salud. Conclusión: El uso de instrumentos adecuados permite identificar pacientes en situación de riesgo y vulnerabilidad, además de posibilitar la organización de la agenda, la identificación de las necesidades de las personas, el seguimiento de las enfermedades crónicas, proponer estrategias, y planificar intervenciones futuras

Leprosy treatment dropout: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease endemic in some undeveloped areas, and still represents a public health problem in Brazil. Therefore, the control of this endemic disease depends necessarily on the institution of correct treatment and containment of treatment dropout. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of published studies on treatment dropout of leprosy. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of articles on treatment dropout of leprosy, published between january 2005 and april 2013, on MEDLINE and SciELO databases. The search was performed using the MeSH terms: "leprosy"; "patients dropouts" and the keywords: "leprosy, treatment" and "noncompliance, leprosy" in association, beside the equivalents in Portuguese. RESULTS: There were originally 196 references. After analyzing the titles and abstracts of articles, 20 articles were obtained and included in the final sample. DISCUSSION: Leprosy is a notifiable disease known as its disfiguring capability and the high rate of non-compliance to treatment. The low adhesion is responsible for the remaining potential sources of infection, irreversible complications, incomplete cure and, additionally, may lead to resistance to multiple drugs. Many factors are responsible for the interruption or dropout treatment: socioeconomic factors, education level, knowledge about the disease, lack of efficiency of health services, demographics, side effects of drugs, alcoholism, among others. CONCLUSION: The recent scientific literature about the subject diverge regarding the factors that most affect the dropout problem in treating leprosy patients. However, better integration between professionals and users, and greater commitment of the patient, are common points among the authors of the studies.