Our findings are similar to other countries, mainly regarding the higher prevalence of segmental vitiligo and vitiligo with stable development among children and adolescents.

BackgroundCurrently, molecularly targeted drugs are part of the therapeutic arsenal for the treatment of many neoplasms and are responsible for improvements in the quality of life and survival of patients. Although they act on proteins and components within biochemical pathways that are expressed to a greater extent in neoplastic cells, these drugs can also interfere with the activity of normal cells.ScopeThis article reviews the cutaneous side effects of main molecularly targeted cancer therapies for solid tumors.FindingsThe use of these drugs causes side effects, and the skin is one of the most commonly affected organs. In this literature review, we discuss the adverse cutaneous effects caused by molecularly targeted drugs.ConclusionThe identification of these reactions is important to both dermatologists and oncologists so that they properly diagnose the reaction and administer adequate treatment, which would allow greater adherence to the oncological treatment and improve patients’ quality of life.

This study analyzed the quality of life of individuals with leprosy and compared quality of life indexes of patients in two different socioeconomic scenarios. The study was conducted at the leprosy clinic of the ABC School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil and during visits to the populations living along the Purus River in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) was used to evaluate the patients. Quality of life was found to be impaired in 76.9% of the patients evaluated in the Amazon compared to 19% of the patients in Santo André. In the group of patients in the Amazon who had sequelae of the disease, quality of life was impaired.

BackgroundHeparanase is an enzyme that cleaves heparan sulfate chains. Oligosaccharides generated by heparanase induce tumor progression. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma comprise types of nonmelanoma skin cancer.ObjectivesEvaluate the glycosaminoglycans profile and expression of heparanase in two human cell lines established in culture, immortalized skin keratinocyte (HaCaT) and squamous cell carcinoma (A431) and also investigate the expression of heparanase in basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and eyelid skin of individuals not affected by the disease (control).MethodsGlycosaminoglycans were quantified by electrophoresis and indirect ELISA method. The heparanase expression was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR (qRTPCR).ResultsThe A431 strain showed significant increase in the sulfated glycosaminoglycans, increased heparanase expression and decreased hyaluronic acid, comparing to the HaCaT lineage. The mRNA expression of heparanase was significantly higher in Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma compared with control skin samples. It was also observed increased heparanase expression in squamous cell carcinoma compared to the Basal cell carcinoma.ConclusionThe glycosaminoglycans profile, as well as heparanase expression are different between HaCaT and A431 cell lines. The increased expression of heparanase in Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma suggests that this enzyme could be a marker for the diagnosis of such types of non-melanoma cancers, and may be useful as a target molecule for future alternative treatment.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a prevalent skin pigmentation disorder worldwide. The treatments available still offer limited results to some patients. For patients with clinically stable vitiligo, melanocyte transplantation is an appropriate treatment option, and the technique of autologous punch grafting shows good repigmentation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of topical mometasone on the halos of repigmentation after autologous punch grafting in patients with clinically stable vitiligo. METHODS: Between 2009 and 2010, 11 patients with clinically stable vitiligo (7 generalized, 2 focal and 2 segmental) underwent autologous punch grafting in the achromic patches. According to the clinical type of vitiligo, patients were instructed to use the corticosteroid ointment during 6 months, only on a few grafted lesions. In the first month, the mometasone ointment was used twice a day and after that just once. They were reassessed 1, 3 and 6 months after the procedure. Grafted halos were photographed and recorded using the software fotofinder. After 6 months, all the treated and untreated areas of the repigmentation halos were measured and analyzed comparatively. RESULTS: The median area of the repigmentation halos after 6 months of treatment with mometasone was larger (25,96 mm² ) than the one of the untreated halos (13,86 mm² ), showing a statistically significant difference (p = 0,026). CONCLUSION: In this study, the use of mometasone ointment increased the area of the repigmentation halos after punch grafting. However, this should be further investigated in larger samples in order to validate this positive action in the treatment of stable vitiligo.