The study showed a high risk of PU development, indicating the importance of having knowledge about the main characteristics of the hospitalized patients who may develop pressure ulcers, and, thus, preventing them.

Both depigmentation agents were useful in the treatment of melasma. The hydroquinone group presented more collateral effects than the skin whitening complex group. Considering that the patients showed Fitzpatrick skin types IV to VI and the study was conducted in the summer, skin whitening complex seems to be an excellent choice for the treatment of melasma.

Low-level laser irradiation (GaAlAs) accelerates bone regeneration in MPAS after SARME. However, the optical density measurements after 7 months of follow-up were lower in comparison with the preoperative measurements.

Oncoplastic surgery had a positive impact on quality of life and self-esteem of patients undergoing breast-conserving treatment.

The quilting suture seems to be an efficient technique with which to prevent seroma formation.

Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed with structured questionnaires and interviews conducted with 60 primary caregivers of persons with paraplegia (T1 to S2) owing to traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Objectives: The purpose of this study was the assessment of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of primary caregivers of persons with paraplegia owing to traumatic SCI. Setting: Sa˜o Paulo, SP, Brazil. Methods: The HRQoL was assessed by the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire and caregiver burden was evaluated by the Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS). Results: Among 60 caregivers evaluated, 49 (81.7%) were female, with mean age of 35.8 (SD ¼ 12.91) years, 16 (26.6%) being wives and 14 (23.4%) sisters of persons with paraplegia. It was found that the caregivers spend an average of 11.3 h/day caring for individuals with paraplegia. Twenty-three caregivers (38.3%) had a chronic disease and 32 (53.3%) were sole caregivers taking upon themselves the full responsibility of caring for the persons with paraplegia. The subjects reported lower scores on bodily pain and vitality than the other dimensions of the SF-36. The mean global CBS score was 1.71 (SD ¼ 0.50) and mean scores for each dimension ranged from 1.39 (SD ¼ 0.64) for emotional involvement to 2.44 (SD ¼ 0.79) for environment dimension. Conclusion: The primary caregivers of spinal cord-injured persons reported low scores on all of the SF-36 and CBS dimensions, bodily pain and vitality being the SF-36 dimensions that received the lowest scores. Sponsorship: Funding was provided by the Brazilian research agency CAPES.

Objective:To develop and validate an algorithm for laser wound therapy. Method:Methodological study and literature review. For the development of the algorithm, a review was performed in the Health Sciences databases of the past ten years. The algorithm evaluation was performed by 24 participants, nurses, physiotherapists, and physicians. For data analysis, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and the chi-square test for independence was used. The level of significance of the statistical test was established at 5% (p<0.05). Results:The professionals’ responses regarding the facility to read the algorithm indicated: 41.70%, great; 41.70%, good; 16.70%, regular. With regard the algorithm being sufficient for supporting decisions related to wound evaluation and wound cleaning, 87.5% said yes to both questions. Regarding the participants’ opinion that the algorithm contained enough information to support their decision regarding the choice of laser parameters, 91.7% said yes. The questionnaire presented reliability using the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient test (α = 0.962). Conclusion:The developed and validated algorithm showed reliability for evaluation, wound cleaning, and use of laser therapy in wounds.

Sentinel node (SN) status is the most important prognostic factor for localized melanoma. Usually, patients with Breslow thickness of less than 1.0 mm are not included in SN protocols. However, the literature presents a rate ranging from 3 to 7% of nodal recurrence in thin melanoma. Ulceration, regression and high mitotic rate have been considered to be indications for an SN biopsy. The metastatic potential of the vertical growth phase is uncertain. To correlate pathological features in thin melanoma with SN metastasis, we reviewed 358 patients submitted to SN biopsy. Seventy-seven patients with lesions of 1 mm or smaller were included in the study group. Histological evaluation of the primary tumor included thickness, Clark level, mitotic rate, ulceration, regression, and growth phase. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed on all patients. Lymphatic mapping and gamma probe detection were both used for SN biopsy. Histological examination of SN consisted of hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical staining. Median follow-up was 37 months. Six patients had micrometastases. Statistical analysis by the Fisher test showed that ulceration (P = 0.019), high mitotic rate (P = 0.008) and vertical growth phase (P = 0.002) were positively correlated with micrometastases. If other studies confirm these results, more melanoma patients must be submitted to SN biopsy.