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Menopause is the cessation of menstrual periods due to the loss of ovarian function. Among the various phases of a woman's life, menopause has the greatest impact on health and has been one of the most neglected areas of research. Hormonal changes caused by menopause can lead to problems in the skin and its annexes, and despite the high frequency of dermatologic signs and symptoms, studies on this topic are limited. In this article, we review the skin disorders that result from the hormonal changes of menopause and other common dermatoses observed during this period and assess possible therapeutic approaches.

Fifteen families with clustering of infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 (IDH) and/or HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) were observed among 28 families of IDH index cases, 93% of them occurring in two generations. With the exception of two mothers of children with IDH, all the mothers with HAM/TSP had at least one child with HAM/TSP. This is the first report of such clustering involving many families., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Hepatitis C is the major cause of liver transplantation and hepatocellular carcinoma and shows a global prevalence of 3%. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with extrahepatic manifestations (e.g., cutaneous affections) and psoriasis has been reported as a comorbidity. However, there are few studies analyzing this association., Objectives: 1) To evaluate anti-HCV prevalence (confirmed by the detection of HCV-RNA) in patients with psoriasis and its potential clinical implications; 2) to analyze the prevalence of other infections in this population: hepatitis B virus (HBV), human T lymphotropic virus, subtypes I and II (HTLVI/II), and human immunodeficiency virus, subtypes I and II (HIV I/II)., Methods: This is cross sectional study that included patients older than 18 years-old with psoriasis from a Teaching Hospital in Salvador, Bahia. An epidemiological questionnaire was administered and serological tests were performed: surface HBV antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs), anti-HTL VI/II, anti-HIV I/II, and anti-HCV. Anti-HCV positive results were confirmed by HCV-RNA detection and viral genotype was determined. Skin lesions were evaluated using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Liver biopsies were analyzed according to the METAVIR score., Results: From the 140 patients included in the study, 7.1% were anti-HCV positive confirmed by the detection of HCV RNA. This prevalence was higher than that in the city of Salvador (1.5%). Other serological results were: HBsAg 0%, anti-HBs 25.8%, HTLV I/II (0,9%), and HIV I/II 0%. PASI score was higher in positive anti-HCV patients than in their negative counterparts (19.5 versus 13.4). Histopathological analysis showed 66.7% of patients with METAVIR F3/F4., Conclusion: Anti-HCV prevalence was higher in psoriasis patients than in the general population of the city. More severe skin lesions were found in HCV patients.

Background: Infective dermatitis associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1; IDH) is a chronic recurrent eczema affecting HTLV-1-infected children. The epidemiological and dermatological characteristics of IDH are described, and their principal diagnostic criteria are reevaluated., Methods: Forty-two patients were included: 40 patients serologically positive for HTLV-1 and 2 seronegative patients who tested positive in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays., Results: The mean age at onset of the disease was 2.6 ± 2.4 years (range, 2 months-11 years). The mean duration of breast-feeding was 24.2 months. The lesions were erythematous, scaly, and crusted, always affecting the scalp and retroauricular regions. Crusting of the nostrils was observed in 64.3% of the patients. Of the 36 patients followed up, 23 had the active disease. The age at which IDH disappeared in the others was 10-20 years., Conclusions: The onset of IDH may occur earlier than reported in the literature. The scalp and retroauricular regions are always affected, and lesions are invariably present in ≥3 areas. Crusting of the nostrils cannot be considered an obligatory factor for the diagnosis of IDH. The recurring nature of IDH was a characteristic found in all cases. Patients with classic IDH lesions who are serologically negative should be investigated by PCR. Therefore, the indispensable criteria for diagnosis are (1) presence of erythematous-scaly, exudative, and crusted lesions involving ≥3 areas, including the scalp and retroauricular regions; (2) recurring nature of the lesions; and (3) a finding of HTLV-1 infection by serology or molecular biology.

Given the dimensions involving human care, this study aimed at providing a reflection on nursing care as an ontological possibility. In Heidegger we consider the concepts that underlie the foundation of his thought. These reflections offer theoretical resource that allows the recognition that live in the everyday actions of nursing is a challenge that leads us to a new look at the magnitude of care. However, the actions of care should not target only the perspective of a philosopher, but live with that thought in search of reflection, and find, scrutinizing everything you contribute to a nursing care committed to the right, with ethics, and with respect for others.

Skin lesions are frequent in human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection and may constitute an alert for the diagnosis of this condition. The most severe skin diseases related to this virus are adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), an aggressive form of leukemia/lymphoma that fails to respond to chemotherapy, and infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 (IDH), a severe and recurrent form of eczema occurring in childhood. ATLL affects the skin in 43-72% of cases. In this review, the clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects of ATLL and IDH will be discussed, as well as the differential diagnoses, giving particular focus to the primary cutaneous ATLL. IDH may progress to HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and to ATLL. Adult onset IDH and reactional and inflammatory dermatoses found in carriers and also in patients with HAM/TSP will be considered. Other dermatological diseases that occur more frequently in HTLV-1-infected individuals such as xerosis, acquired ichthyosis, seborrheic dermatitis and infectious and parasitic dermatoses will also be discussed., (© 2010 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Background: Infective dermatitis associated with HTLV-1 (IDH) is a severe childhood form of eczema that may progress to adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL)., Objective: In this study, the presence of clinical and laboratory parameters suggestive of ATL was evaluated in a cohort of 30 patients with IDH., Study Design: Over a period of 33 months, the patients were submitted to three-monthly clinical evaluations, routine laboratory exams, full blood count and blood smears, and to six-monthly blood sampling for HTLV-1 proviral load determination. HTLV-1 proviral load was quantified using real-time TaqMan PCR assay., Results: Abnormal cells (Ably) were found in the peripheral blood smears of nine patients (30%), flower cells being detected in five of these cases (16.6%). The presence of Ably and flower cells was not associated with a higher proviral load in those patients., Conclusions: This is the first report on the presence of flower cells in HTLV-1-infected children and adolescents. Furthermore, these cells have not previously been reported in IDH patients. The cases with flower cells probably represent precursory ATL cases, these patients being at a greater risk of developing ATL., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We describe a patient with human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated infective dermatitis who developed HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis and adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma at 16 years of age. Long inverse polymerase chain reaction was used to demonstrate monoclonal integration of proviral DNA in the lymphomatous skin lesion.

Casa Siloé (Siloam House) is a Catholic support house that shelters children with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The article presents a history of the institution and discusses its work. A qualitative approach was used, relying on oral history techniques and documental analysis. Eight key informants were interviewed: the president of the institution, two coordinators who worked at the home, a member of the supporting foundation, a volunteer social worker, a member of the state NGO/AIDS forum, a physician, and a psychologist from the state public service. Topics addressed include the Catholic Church and AIDS, community mobilization, the Casa Siloé, the State and civil society, and project evaluation and outlook.

HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic myelopathy characterized by a slowly progressive spastic paraparesis and sphincter disturbances beginning in adulthood. Only eight well-documented cases occurring in childhood and adolescence have been described. Infective dermatitis associated to the HTLV-I (IDH) is a chronic eczema of childhood occurring in vertically infected carriers. Here we describe a 7-year-old boy with HAM/TSP and IDH. The neurological manifestations were spastic gait, hyperreflexia of lower limbs, clonus and bilateral Babinski's sign. High levels of HTLV-I antibodies in the serum and in the cerebrospinal fluid were observed. The association of these two diseases and the early onset of HAM/TSP are probably related to a strong humoral anti-HTLV-I response.