Brazil is a country of continental dimensions with a large heterogeneity of climates
and massive mixing of the population. Almost the entire national territory is located
between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn, and the Earth axial tilt to the
south certainly makes Brazil one of the countries of the world with greater extent of
land in proximity to the sun. The Brazilian coastline, where most of its population
lives, is more than 8,500 km long. Due to geographic characteristics and cultural
trends, Brazilians are among the peoples with the highest annual exposure to the sun.
Epidemiological data show a continuing increase in the incidence of non-melanoma and
melanoma skin cancers. Photoprotection can be understood as a set of measures aimed
at reducing sun exposure and at preventing the development of acute and chronic
actinic damage. Due to the peculiarities of Brazilian territory and culture, it would
not be advisable to replicate the concepts of photoprotection from other developed
countries, places with completely different climates and populations. Thus the
Brazilian Society of Dermatology has developed the Brazilian Consensus on
Photoprotection, the first official document on photoprotection developed in Brazil
for Brazilians, with recommendations on matters involving photoprotection.
The protection provided by sunscreen is related to the amount of product applied. It is essential to educate consumers to apply larger amounts of sunscreen for adequate photoprotection.
Abstract:The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is the most important data to quantify the effectiveness of a sunscreen, being universally accepted. The method is based on determining the minimum erythematous dose (MED), defined as the smallest amount of energy required for triggering the erythema, in areas of protected and unprotected skin. The SPF value is then calculated as the ratio between the MED of protected and unprotected skin. The first publication of a method for determining the SPF was presented in 1978 by the U.S. FDA agency, followed by other publications of FDA and other international regulatory agencies. Although considered the reference method for quantification of sunscreen efficacy of topical products, there are controversies in literature about the method for determining the SPF and the implications of the real conditions of use in the protection achieved in practice by users. Keywords: Dermatology; Solar radiation; Sunscreening agents Resumo: O Fator de Proteção Solar (FPS) é o principal dado para quantificação da eficácia fotoprotetora de um filtro solar, sendo universalmente aceito. Seu método é baseado na determinação da Dose Eritematosa Mínima (DEM), definida como sendo a menor quantidade de energia necessária para o desencadeamento de eritema, em áreas de pele protegidas e não protegidas pelo produto em estudo. O valor do FPS é, então, calculado como a razão numérica entre a DEM da pele protegida e a da pele não protegida. A primeira publicação demonstrando um método para determinação do valor do FPS foi apresentada em 1978 pela agência norte-americana FDA, seguida por outras publicações do próprio FDA e de outras agências regulatórias internacionais. Apesar de ser considerado o método referência para quantificação da eficácia fotoprotetora de produtos tópicos, existem controvérsias na literatura acerca do método para determinação do FPS e sobre as implicações das reais condições de uso na proteção atingida na prática pelos usuários.
The phenomenon of oxidative stress, characterized as an imbalance in the production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant responses, is a well-known inflammatory mechanism and constitutes an important cellular process. The relationship of viral infections, reactive species production, oxidative stress, and the antiviral response is relevant. Therefore, the aim of this review is to report studies showing how reactive oxygen species may positively or negatively affect the pathophysiology of viral infection. We focus on known respiratory viral infections, especially severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs), in an attempt to provide important information on the challenges posed by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Because antiviral therapies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2) are rare, knowledge about relevant antioxidant compounds and oxidative pathways may be important for understanding viral pathogenesis and identifying possible therapeutic targets.
Discoid lupus erythematosus is much less frequent and studied in children. We undertook a retrospective study of 34 children less than 16 years of age with this disease, seen over a period of 9 years. A female predominance of 2:1 was found. An association between discoid lupus erythematosus and systemic lupus erythematosus was observed in 23.5% of patients, a higher proportion compared to adult discoid lupus erythematosus. Disseminated lesions were much more frequent in patients with criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (87.5% vs 34%), suggesting that it could be associated with a worse prognosis. Histologic findings were similar to those observed in adult discoid lupus erythematosus.
Chronic urticaria has been explored in several investigative aspects in the new
millennium, either as to its pathogenesis, its stand as an autoimmune or
auto-reactive disease, the correlation with HLA-linked genetic factors, especially
with class II or its interrelation with the coagulation and fibrinolysis systems. New
second-generation antihistamines, which act as good symptomatic drugs, emerged and
were commercialized over the last decade. Old and new drugs that may interfere with
the pathophysiology of the disease, such as cyclosporine and omalizumab have been
developed and used as treatments. The purpose of this article is to describe the
current state of knowledge on aspects of chronic urticaria such as, pathophysiology,
diagnosis and the current therapeutic approach proposed in the literature.
Skin's innate immunity is the initial activator of immune response mechanisms,
influencing the development of adaptive immunity. Some contact allergens are
detected by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and inflammasome NLR3. Keratinocytes
participate in innate immunity and, in addition to functioning as an anatomical
barrier, secrete cytokines, such as TNF, IL-1β, and IL-18, contributing
to the development of Allergic Contact Dermatitis. Dendritic cells recognize and
process antigenic peptides into T cells. Neutrophils cause pro-inflammatory
reactions, mast cells induce migration/maturation of skin DCs, the natural
killer cells have natural cytotoxic capacity, the γδ T cells favor
contact with hapten during the sensitization phase, and the innate lymphoid
cells act in the early stages by secreting cytokines, as well as act in
inflammation and tissue homeostasis. The antigen-specific inflammation is
mediated by T cells, and each subtype of T cells (Th1/Tc1, Th2/Tc2, and
Th17/Tc17) activates resident skin cells, thus contributing to inflammation.
Skin's regulatory T cells have a strong ability to inhibit the proliferation of
hapten-specific T cells, acting at the end of the Allergic Contact Dermatitis
response and in the control of systemic immune responses. In this review, we
report how cutaneous innate immunity is the first line of defense and focus its
role in the activation of the adaptive immune response, with effector response
induction and its regulation.
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