Human T lymphotropic virus type -1 (HTLV-1) infections are important causes of mortality and morbidity in endemic areas worldwide. There is neither a vaccine specific for the virus nor satisfactory treatment for the associated malignancy or inflammatory syndromes. HTLV-1 associated infective dermatitis (IDH) is a chronic dermatitis that has been observed in a variable proportion of HTLV-1 infected children. IDH may serve as an early clinical marker for HTLV-1 and an indicator of increased risk for developing other HTLV-1 associated conditions such as adult T cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy or transient spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). However the mechanisms underlying IDH and the relationships with HAM/TSP and ATLL are poorly understood. We undertook skin biopsies from 14 cases with IDH, and controls which included five asymptomatic carriers (ACs) and 18 healthy uninfected individuals from South Africa. We conducted clinical assessments, proviral load, allergen-specific IgE, peripheral blood and cutaneous T cell and virological analyses. We obtained relevant clinical history and examined all cases and controls based on a pre-formed questionnaire. Despite the partial clinical similarities with atopic dermatitis, the individuals with IDH did not have an increased incidence of atopic disease including asthma or rhinitis. Furthermore house dust mite-specific IgE levels were not elevated in the cases compared to the controls, suggesting that atopy is not a predisposing factor for the development of IDH in HTLV-1 infected individuals. Circulating proviral load was significantly higher in those with IDH compared to asymptomatic carriers and skin biopsy revealed acanthosis, and lymphocytic epidermotropism associated with a superficial perivascular and periadnexal lymphocytic infiltration of CD8+, and CD4+ T cells. Furthermore IDH associated with an infiltrate of epidermal and dermal FoxP3+ T cells and lesional down-regulation of filaggrin expression compared to non-lesional skin. We did not observe an elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the sera of individuals with IDH compared to the controls. We investigated integration patterns in the skin and blood of 10 cases with IDH, and two asymptomatic carrier (AC) individuals from South Africa. We first showed that the virus is present in the skin at high levels (total mean levels of 47.09 proviral copies per 1000 cells) as comparable to that which has been observed in blood (total mean levels 137 proviral copies per 1000 cells). Using a high throughput Illumina sequencing system in collaboration with Professor Bangham, we mapped and quantified the relationship between oligoclonal proliferation of HTLV-1 infected T cells in the skin and blood of IDH patients. It was found that in IDH, a selective outgrowth of certain clones is favoured, supporting the possibility of skin-specific factors exerting positive selection on proliferation. In IDH, there was not a preferential integration of the provirus in transcriptionally active regions of the gene sites, as had been observed in other HTLV-1 associated conditions. These observations imply that the selection forces that favour oligoclonal proliferation of HTLV-1+ T cells differ fundamentally between simple HTLV-1 infection and other events associated with the dermatitis. In conclusion, these data show that HTLV-1 is not associated with an atopic diathesis. Given the lack of elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines and presence of a cutaneous infiltrate of FoxP3+ T cells, the findings suggest that high levels of HTLV-1 replication promotes a regulatory environment leading to filaggrin down-regulation, cutaneous susceptibility to infection, and secondary inflammatory skin disease. Viral integration patterns would support the presence of skin-specific positive selection, perhaps eventually leading to expansion of particular clones with the potential to develop towards ATLL. It remains to be explained whether the high viral load in IDH changes over time, more specifically in the steps leading to ATLL.

Lam Man Ching. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-114). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; appendices also in Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction and Literature Review / Chapter 1.1 --- General introduction of atopic dermatitis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Definition and its nature --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Epidemiology and prevalence of atopic dermatitis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Factors and triggers related to high risk of atopic dermatitis --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- Pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Nature of complexity of pathogenesis --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Role of T-helper cell in atopic dermatitis and its paradigm model --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Nature of immunoglobulin-E and its role in atopic dermatitis --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Chemokines in pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis: CTACK and TARC --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Role of antimicrobial peptides and innate immunity --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3 --- Measurements of atopic dermatitis severity and related quality of life impairment --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Scoring of atopic dermatitis severity and the SCO Ring Atopic Dermatitis Index --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Quality of life measurement --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- The Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4 --- Pruritus in atopic dermatitis and its underlying mechanisms --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Introduction to pruritus --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Difference between pruritus and pain --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Pathogenesis and neuronal pathways of pruritus --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Neurogenic itch --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- Role of histamines in pruritus of AD --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.6 --- Substance-P --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.7 --- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and other recent mediators in pruritus --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5 --- "Scratching, nocturnal scratching and sleeping behavior in atopic dermatitis subjects and related research progress" --- p.16 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Overview --- p.16 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- "Interrelationship between pruritus, scratching and sleep disturbance" --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Current methodologies in nocturnal scratching and sleep quality measurement --- p.18 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Objectives --- p.25 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Methodologies and Materials / Chapter 3.1 --- Validation of a new methodology /device --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.1. --- Device selection --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Study design --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Validation of the Digitrac with laboratory markers --- p.29 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Factor and statistical analysis --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2 --- Application of Digitrac in traditional Chinese herbal medication (TCHM / TCM) clinical trial --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Current AD treatment using corticosteroids and their drawbacks --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Recent trend on TCM treatment --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Study plan --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- "Validation with laboratory markers, Staphylococcus aureus infection and statistical analysis" --- p.35 / Chapter 3.3 --- Application of Digitrac in a trial of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment in treatment of atopic dermatitis --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Topical immunomodulators as a treatment approach of AD --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Mechanism of tacrolimus in suppressing AD and pruritus --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Study plan --- p.39 / Chapter 3.4 --- Further application of Digitrac in pruritus of other medical fields --- p.41 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results and Discussions / Chapter 4.1 --- Digitrac validation --- p.52 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- General demographic background data --- p.52 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Wrist activities --- p.53 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Laboratory markers and factor analysis --- p.54 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Interpretation of results --- p.55 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- Drawbacks of the validation --- p.58 / Chapter 4.1.6 --- Summary --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2 --- Digitrac in traditional Chinese herbal medication clinical trial --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- General information --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- "SCORAD, wrist activities and CDLQI" --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Laboratory findings --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Interpretation of results --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Safety of TCM use --- p.73 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Summary --- p.74 / Chapter 4.3 --- Tacrolimus clinical trial --- p.81 / Chapter 4.4 --- Application of Digitrac in other areas of study --- p.90 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Pemphigoid gestationis case study --- p.90 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- T-cell lymphoma case study --- p.92 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Further Discussions and Conclusion --- p.98 / References --- p.101 / Appendices --- p.116

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

INTRODUÇÃO: A dermatite atópica (DA) é considerada a principal e mais freqüente manifestação cutânea da atopia, podendo acometer até 20% da população pediátrica mundial. Trata-se de uma doença multifatorial onde agentes infecciosos como S.aureus são relevantes no desencadeamento das crises. OBJETIVOS: (1) Avaliar a taxa de colonização do S.aureus na pele e vestíbulo nasal de pacientes com DA e o seu perfil de sensibilidade a antibióticos (2) Comparar os resultados com a taxa de colonização do vestíbulo nasal dos cuidadores primários (3) Avaliar a associação entre colonização por S.aureus gravidade da doença e hábitos de higiene. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo prospectivo entre dezembro de 2016 a fevereiro de 2017. Foram avaliados aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos e laboratoriais de crianças com DA em seguimento na unidade de alergia e imunologia do Instituto da Criança da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (ICr HCFMUSP). Foram incluídos pacientes que apresentaram DA moderada ou grave, classificados de acordo com o escore de gravidade SCORAD (scoring atopic dermatitis). Foram excluídos pacientes que haviam utilizado antibioticoterapia há menos de 30 dias da inclusão, que apresentavam infecções cutâneas ou utilizavam imunossupressores por via sistêmica. A pesquisa de S.aureus em pacientes foi realizada por meio de coleta de swab em vestíbulo nasal, lesão aguda e crônica dos pacientes com DA e nos cuidadores primários foi realizado swab de vestibulo nasal. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 27 pacientes (14M), 18 com DA moderada e 9, grave. O início da doença ocorreu entre 2 e 60 meses de idade (mediana de 12m) e a coleta de swab ocorreu ao 9 anos (mediana, com variação entre 2 e 15 anos). Todos os pacientes apresentaram colonização por S.aureus em pelo menos um local de coleta, sendo a lesão aguda o mais frequente (24/27), seguido do nariz (23/27) e lesão crónica (20/27). Dezenove cuidadores apresentaram S.aureus em vestíbulo nasal. A presença de S.aureus meticilino resistente (MRSA) foi detectada em 9/23 pacientes no vestíbulo nasal, 8/24 na lesão aguda e 6/20 na lesão crônica. Entre os cuidadores 6/19 apresentaram S.aureus MRSA em vestíbulo nasal. Pacientes e cuidadores primários apresentaram semelhança no perfil de sensibilidade a antibióticos (kappa 0,75). A gravidade da doença (SCORAD), não se correlacionou de maneira significante com a taxa de colonização, mas pacientes com escores de prurido mais elevados apresentaram estafilococos MRSA com maior freqüência de maneira estatisticamente significante (p= 0,29). Houve uma elevada taxa de compartilhamento de produtos com destaque: produtos pessoais (17/27) cama (11/27) e toalha (3/27) CONCLUSÃO: S.aureus permanece como uma bactéria bastante presente na pele de quem apresenta dermatite atópica, independentemente do tipo de lesão. A presença de elevadas taxas de S.aureus MRSA é um sinal de alerta para o cuidadoso manejo de pacientes com DA e estratégias que envolvam a orientação com relação as medidas de higiene e cuidado pessoal devem fazer parte do tratamento da dermatite atópica / Atopic dermatitis (AD) is considered the main and most common cutaneous manifestation of atopy, affecting up to 20% of the world pediatric population. It is a multifactorial disease where infectious agents such as S. aureus are relevant in the onset of crises. OBJECTIVES: (1) To evaluate the rate of colonization of S.aureus in the skin and nasal vestibule of patients with AD and its antibiotic susceptibility profile. (2) To compare the results with the nasal vestibular colonization rate of primary caregivers (3 ) Evaluate the association between S.aureus colonization, disease severity and hygiene habits. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out between December 2016 and February 2017. Clinical, epidemiological and laboratory aspects of children with AD were evaluated at the unit of allergy and immunology of the Children\'s Institute of the School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (ICr HCFMUSP). Patients with moderate or severe AD, classified according to SCORAD (scoring atopic dermatitis) severity score were included. Patients who used antibiotic therapy less than 30 days before inclusion, who had cutaneous infections or who used systemic immunosuppressants were excluded. The study of S.aureus in patients was performed through nasal vestibule swab collection, acute and chronic lesion of patients with AD, and nasal vestibule swabs were performed in primary caregivers. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (14M), 18 patients with moderate AD and 9 patients, were diagnosed. The onset of the disease occurred between 2 and 60 months of age (median of 12 m) and swab collection occurred at 9 years (median, Between 2 and 15 years). All patients presented colonization by S.aureus in at least one collection site, with acute lesion being the most frequent (24/27), followed by the nose (23/27) and chronic lesion (20/27). Nineteen caregivers presented S .aureus in the nasal vestibule. The presence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA) was detected in 9/23 patients in the nasal vestibule, 8/24 in the acute lesion and 6/20 in the chronic lesion. Carriers 6/19 presented S.aureus MRSA in the nasal vestibule. Patients and primary caregivers presented similarity in the sensitivity profile to antibiotics (kappa 0.75). The severity of the disease (SCORAD) did not correlate significantly with the rate of colonization, but patients with higher pruritus scores had statistically more significant MRSA staphylococci (p = 0.29). There was a high rate of product sharing with emphasis on: personal products (17/27) bed (11/27) and towel (3/27) CONCLUSION: S.aureus remains a very present bacterium in the skin of those with atopic dermatitis , Regardless of the type of injury. The presence of high rates of S.aureus MRSA are a warning sign for the careful management of patients with AD and strategies that involve guidance regarding hygiene measures and personal care should be part of the treatment of atopic dermatitis

Introdução: A asma é uma doença inflamatória crônica com alta morbi-mortalidade na adolescência. Objetivos: O objetivo geral foi estudar a prevalência da asma em adolescentes na cidade de Taubaté (SP). Os específicos foram determinar a prevalência da asma, rinite e eczema, utilizando os questionários ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) Fase I em escolares de 13 a 14 anos residentes na cidade de Taubaté e estabelecer uma correlação entre os sintomas de asma ativa (\"sibilos nos últimos 12 meses\") e os fatores de risco: tabagismo (ativo e passivo) e a presença de animais e/ou insetos no domicílio. Métodos: No estudo transversal de uma amostra casual probabilística por conglomerados, foram aplicados questionários a 920 adolescentes de 13 a 14 anos sorteados ao acaso, matriculados entre as 7a e 8a séries de escolas públicas e privadas na cidade de Taubaté no período de agosto de 2004 à janeiro de 2005. Os questionários foram auto-aplicáveis sendo a primeira parte composta por 8 questões referentes à asma, 6 referentes à rinite e uma ao eczema(ISAAC), e a segunda parte composta por 8 questões referentes ao tabagismo e 4 referentes à presença de animais de estimação e/ou insetos no domicílio (questionário complementar). Resultados: Nos 809 adolescentes que completaram os questionários, a prevalência de \"sibilos alguma vez\" foi de 44,6%; \"sibilos nos últimos 12 meses\" 15,3%; \"uma ou mais crises de sibilos nos últimos 12 meses\" 15,4%; \"sono perturbado por crises de sibilos\" 10,6%; \"fala prejudicada por crises de sibilos\" 1,7%; \"asma alguma vez\" 6,8%, \"sibilos aos exercícios físicos\" 13,5%; \"tosse seca noturna sem estar resfriado ou gripado\" 33,1%;\"rinite alguma vez\" 37,6%, \"eczema alguma vez\" 16,2%, sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas em relação aos sexos. Houve diferença estatística entre os sexos para os adolescentes que relataram o \"problema nasal nos últimos 12 meses acompanhado de lacrimejamento ou coceira nos olhos\" com predomínio no sexo feminino (p=0,03). Houve associação significativa em ambos os sexos para \"asma e rinite alguma vez\" (p=0,02). Entretanto, os adolescentes de ambos os sexos que negaram ter \"asma alguma vez\" tiveram associação significativa entre \"rinite e eczema alguma vez\"( p=0,04), e também entre \"chiado após exercício físico e tosse seca noturna sem estar resfriado ou gripado\" (p=0,001) sugerindo o sub-diagnóstico de asma.Os fatores de risco foram relacionados apenas aos sintomas de asma ativa por fornecerem informação mais segura como recordatório. A prevalência de adolescentes fumantes no estudo foi de 0,7%. Com relação ao tabagismo passivo a prevalência foi de 41% e destes 35% correspondia às mães fumantes. A presença de animais de estimação foi verificada em 55,6% e em 34% intradomiciliar. A presença de insetos foi relatada por 55,1% da população estudada. Quando os fatores de risco foram correlacionados aos sintomas de asma ativa, não houve associação estatisticamente significativa. Conclusões: A prevalência da asma no estudo foi de 6,8%. As prevalências de rinite e eczema foram respectivamente 37,6% e 16,2%. Os fatores de risco não tiveram associação com asma ativa. / Introduction: Asthma is a chronic inflamatory disease with high morbi-mortality in adolescence. Objectives: The general goal was to study the prevalence of asthma in adolescents in the city of Taubaté (SP). The specific goals were to determine the prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema using the ISAAC questionnaire (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood), Phase I, for schoolchildren aged 13 to 14, residents in the city of Taubaté and to establish a relation between the symptoms of active asthma (\"wheezing in the last 12 months\") and the risk factors of smoking (active and passive) and the presence of pets and/or insects at home. Methods: In Cross sectional study of probabilistic sample, questionnaires were applied to 920 adolescents aged 13 to 14 enrolled in 7th and 8th grades, chosen at random, from the public and private schools in Taubaté, from August 2004 to January 2005. The questionnaires were self-applied with the first part consisting of 8 questions related to asthma; 6 related to rhinitis and one related to eczema (ISAAC), and the second part consisting of 8 questions related to smoking and 4 related to the presence of pets and/or insects at home (additional questionnaire). Results: In 809 adolescents who completed the questionnaires, the prevalence of \"wheezing ever\" was 44.6%; \"wheezing in the last 12 months\" 15.3%; \"one or more crisis of wheezing in the last 12 months\" 15.4%; \"sleeping disturbed by wheezing\" 10.6%; \"speech disturbed by wheezing\" 1.7%; \"asthma ever\" 6.8%; \"wheezing following exercise\" 13.5%; \"nocturnal dry coughing without respiratory infection\" 33.1%; \"rhinitis ever\" 37.6% and \"eczema ever\" 16.2% with no statistically significant difference between girls and boys. There was a significant difference between adolescent girls and boys who related \" nose symptoms in the last 12 months with watery and itchy eyes\", predominant in girls (p=0.03). There was a significant association in all adolescents between \"asthma and rhinitis ever\"(p=0.02). However, the adolescents( boys and girls) who denied having \"asthma ever\", had significant association between \"rhinitis and eczema ever\" and also between \"wheezing following exercise and/or nocturnal dry coughing without respiratory infection\"(p=0.001), which suggests the subdiagnosis of asthma. The risk factors studied were related only to the symptoms of active asthma in order to favor recall. The prevalence of adolescent smokers in the study was 0.7%. In relation to passive smoking, the prevalence was 41% of which 35% corresponded to the mothers who smoked. The presence of pets was noted in 55.6% of the answers and of these, 34.9% were house pets. The presence of insects at home was related to 55.1% of the sample studied. When the risk factors were related to the symptoms of active asthma, there wasn\'t a statistically significant association. Conclusions: The prevalence of asthma in the study was 6.8%. The prevalence of rhinitis and eczema was respectively 37.6% and 16.2%. The risk factors didn\'t have association with active asthma.

Introdução: A asma é uma doença inflamatória crônica com alta morbi-mortalidade na adolescência. Objetivos: O objetivo geral foi estudar a prevalência da asma em adolescentes na cidade de Taubaté (SP). Os específicos foram determinar a prevalência da asma, rinite e eczema, utilizando os questionários ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) Fase I em escolares de 13 a 14 anos residentes na cidade de Taubaté e estabelecer uma correlação entre os sintomas de asma ativa (\"sibilos nos últimos 12 meses\") e os fatores de risco: tabagismo (ativo e passivo) e a presença de animais e/ou insetos no domicílio. Métodos: No estudo transversal de uma amostra casual probabilística por conglomerados, foram aplicados questionários a 920 adolescentes de 13 a 14 anos sorteados ao acaso, matriculados entre as 7a e 8a séries de escolas públicas e privadas na cidade de Taubaté no período de agosto de 2004 à janeiro de 2005. Os questionários foram auto-aplicáveis sendo a primeira parte composta por 8 questões referentes à asma, 6 referentes à rinite e uma ao eczema(ISAAC), e a segunda parte composta por 8 questões referentes ao tabagismo e 4 referentes à presença de animais de estimação e/ou insetos no domicílio (questionário complementar). Resultados: Nos 809 adolescentes que completaram os questionários, a prevalência de \"sibilos alguma vez\" foi de 44,6%; \"sibilos nos últimos 12 meses\" 15,3%; \"uma ou mais crises de sibilos nos últimos 12 meses\" 15,4%; \"sono perturbado por crises de sibilos\" 10,6%; \"fala prejudicada por crises de sibilos\" 1,7%; \"asma alguma vez\" 6,8%, \"sibilos aos exercícios físicos\" 13,5%; \"tosse seca noturna sem estar resfriado ou gripado\" 33,1%;\"rinite alguma vez\" 37,6%, \"eczema alguma vez\" 16,2%, sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas em relação aos sexos. Houve diferença estatística entre os sexos para os adolescentes que relataram o \"problema nasal nos últimos 12 meses acompanhado de lacrimejamento ou coceira nos olhos\" com predomínio no sexo feminino (p=0,03). Houve associação significativa em ambos os sexos para \"asma e rinite alguma vez\" (p=0,02). Entretanto, os adolescentes de ambos os sexos que negaram ter \"asma alguma vez\" tiveram associação significativa entre \"rinite e eczema alguma vez\"( p=0,04), e também entre \"chiado após exercício físico e tosse seca noturna sem estar resfriado ou gripado\" (p=0,001) sugerindo o sub-diagnóstico de asma.Os fatores de risco foram relacionados apenas aos sintomas de asma ativa por fornecerem informação mais segura como recordatório. A prevalência de adolescentes fumantes no estudo foi de 0,7%. Com relação ao tabagismo passivo a prevalência foi de 41% e destes 35% correspondia às mães fumantes. A presença de animais de estimação foi verificada em 55,6% e em 34% intradomiciliar. A presença de insetos foi relatada por 55,1% da população estudada. Quando os fatores de risco foram correlacionados aos sintomas de asma ativa, não houve associação estatisticamente significativa. Conclusões: A prevalência da asma no estudo foi de 6,8%. As prevalências de rinite e eczema foram respectivamente 37,6% e 16,2%. Os fatores de risco não tiveram associação com asma ativa. / Introduction: Asthma is a chronic inflamatory disease with high morbi-mortality in adolescence. Objectives: The general goal was to study the prevalence of asthma in adolescents in the city of Taubaté (SP). The specific goals were to determine the prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema using the ISAAC questionnaire (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood), Phase I, for schoolchildren aged 13 to 14, residents in the city of Taubaté and to establish a relation between the symptoms of active asthma (\"wheezing in the last 12 months\") and the risk factors of smoking (active and passive) and the presence of pets and/or insects at home. Methods: In Cross sectional study of probabilistic sample, questionnaires were applied to 920 adolescents aged 13 to 14 enrolled in 7th and 8th grades, chosen at random, from the public and private schools in Taubaté, from August 2004 to January 2005. The questionnaires were self-applied with the first part consisting of 8 questions related to asthma; 6 related to rhinitis and one related to eczema (ISAAC), and the second part consisting of 8 questions related to smoking and 4 related to the presence of pets and/or insects at home (additional questionnaire). Results: In 809 adolescents who completed the questionnaires, the prevalence of \"wheezing ever\" was 44.6%; \"wheezing in the last 12 months\" 15.3%; \"one or more crisis of wheezing in the last 12 months\" 15.4%; \"sleeping disturbed by wheezing\" 10.6%; \"speech disturbed by wheezing\" 1.7%; \"asthma ever\" 6.8%; \"wheezing following exercise\" 13.5%; \"nocturnal dry coughing without respiratory infection\" 33.1%; \"rhinitis ever\" 37.6% and \"eczema ever\" 16.2% with no statistically significant difference between girls and boys. There was a significant difference between adolescent girls and boys who related \" nose symptoms in the last 12 months with watery and itchy eyes\", predominant in girls (p=0.03). There was a significant association in all adolescents between \"asthma and rhinitis ever\"(p=0.02). However, the adolescents( boys and girls) who denied having \"asthma ever\", had significant association between \"rhinitis and eczema ever\" and also between \"wheezing following exercise and/or nocturnal dry coughing without respiratory infection\"(p=0.001), which suggests the subdiagnosis of asthma. The risk factors studied were related only to the symptoms of active asthma in order to favor recall. The prevalence of adolescent smokers in the study was 0.7%. In relation to passive smoking, the prevalence was 41% of which 35% corresponded to the mothers who smoked. The presence of pets was noted in 55.6% of the answers and of these, 34.9% were house pets. The presence of insects at home was related to 55.1% of the sample studied. When the risk factors were related to the symptoms of active asthma, there wasn\'t a statistically significant association. Conclusions: The prevalence of asthma in the study was 6.8%. The prevalence of rhinitis and eczema was respectively 37.6% and 16.2%. The risk factors didn\'t have association with active asthma.

INTRODUÇÃO: A dermatite atópica (DA) é considerada a principal e mais freqüente manifestação cutânea da atopia, podendo acometer até 20% da população pediátrica mundial. Trata-se de uma doença multifatorial onde agentes infecciosos como S.aureus são relevantes no desencadeamento das crises. OBJETIVOS: (1) Avaliar a taxa de colonização do S.aureus na pele e vestíbulo nasal de pacientes com DA e o seu perfil de sensibilidade a antibióticos (2) Comparar os resultados com a taxa de colonização do vestíbulo nasal dos cuidadores primários (3) Avaliar a associação entre colonização por S.aureus gravidade da doença e hábitos de higiene. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo prospectivo entre dezembro de 2016 a fevereiro de 2017. Foram avaliados aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos e laboratoriais de crianças com DA em seguimento na unidade de alergia e imunologia do Instituto da Criança da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (ICr HCFMUSP). Foram incluídos pacientes que apresentaram DA moderada ou grave, classificados de acordo com o escore de gravidade SCORAD (scoring atopic dermatitis). Foram excluídos pacientes que haviam utilizado antibioticoterapia há menos de 30 dias da inclusão, que apresentavam infecções cutâneas ou utilizavam imunossupressores por via sistêmica. A pesquisa de S.aureus em pacientes foi realizada por meio de coleta de swab em vestíbulo nasal, lesão aguda e crônica dos pacientes com DA e nos cuidadores primários foi realizado swab de vestibulo nasal. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 27 pacientes (14M), 18 com DA moderada e 9, grave. O início da doença ocorreu entre 2 e 60 meses de idade (mediana de 12m) e a coleta de swab ocorreu ao 9 anos (mediana, com variação entre 2 e 15 anos). Todos os pacientes apresentaram colonização por S.aureus em pelo menos um local de coleta, sendo a lesão aguda o mais frequente (24/27), seguido do nariz (23/27) e lesão crónica (20/27). Dezenove cuidadores apresentaram S.aureus em vestíbulo nasal. A presença de S.aureus meticilino resistente (MRSA) foi detectada em 9/23 pacientes no vestíbulo nasal, 8/24 na lesão aguda e 6/20 na lesão crônica. Entre os cuidadores 6/19 apresentaram S.aureus MRSA em vestíbulo nasal. Pacientes e cuidadores primários apresentaram semelhança no perfil de sensibilidade a antibióticos (kappa 0,75). A gravidade da doença (SCORAD), não se correlacionou de maneira significante com a taxa de colonização, mas pacientes com escores de prurido mais elevados apresentaram estafilococos MRSA com maior freqüência de maneira estatisticamente significante (p= 0,29). Houve uma elevada taxa de compartilhamento de produtos com destaque: produtos pessoais (17/27) cama (11/27) e toalha (3/27) CONCLUSÃO: S.aureus permanece como uma bactéria bastante presente na pele de quem apresenta dermatite atópica, independentemente do tipo de lesão. A presença de elevadas taxas de S.aureus MRSA é um sinal de alerta para o cuidadoso manejo de pacientes com DA e estratégias que envolvam a orientação com relação as medidas de higiene e cuidado pessoal devem fazer parte do tratamento da dermatite atópica / Atopic dermatitis (AD) is considered the main and most common cutaneous manifestation of atopy, affecting up to 20% of the world pediatric population. It is a multifactorial disease where infectious agents such as S. aureus are relevant in the onset of crises. OBJECTIVES: (1) To evaluate the rate of colonization of S.aureus in the skin and nasal vestibule of patients with AD and its antibiotic susceptibility profile. (2) To compare the results with the nasal vestibular colonization rate of primary caregivers (3 ) Evaluate the association between S.aureus colonization, disease severity and hygiene habits. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out between December 2016 and February 2017. Clinical, epidemiological and laboratory aspects of children with AD were evaluated at the unit of allergy and immunology of the Children\'s Institute of the School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (ICr HCFMUSP). Patients with moderate or severe AD, classified according to SCORAD (scoring atopic dermatitis) severity score were included. Patients who used antibiotic therapy less than 30 days before inclusion, who had cutaneous infections or who used systemic immunosuppressants were excluded. The study of S.aureus in patients was performed through nasal vestibule swab collection, acute and chronic lesion of patients with AD, and nasal vestibule swabs were performed in primary caregivers. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (14M), 18 patients with moderate AD and 9 patients, were diagnosed. The onset of the disease occurred between 2 and 60 months of age (median of 12 m) and swab collection occurred at 9 years (median, Between 2 and 15 years). All patients presented colonization by S.aureus in at least one collection site, with acute lesion being the most frequent (24/27), followed by the nose (23/27) and chronic lesion (20/27). Nineteen caregivers presented S .aureus in the nasal vestibule. The presence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA) was detected in 9/23 patients in the nasal vestibule, 8/24 in the acute lesion and 6/20 in the chronic lesion. Carriers 6/19 presented S.aureus MRSA in the nasal vestibule. Patients and primary caregivers presented similarity in the sensitivity profile to antibiotics (kappa 0.75). The severity of the disease (SCORAD) did not correlate significantly with the rate of colonization, but patients with higher pruritus scores had statistically more significant MRSA staphylococci (p = 0.29). There was a high rate of product sharing with emphasis on: personal products (17/27) bed (11/27) and towel (3/27) CONCLUSION: S.aureus remains a very present bacterium in the skin of those with atopic dermatitis , Regardless of the type of injury. The presence of high rates of S.aureus MRSA are a warning sign for the careful management of patients with AD and strategies that involve guidance regarding hygiene measures and personal care should be part of the treatment of atopic dermatitis

Introdução: A dermatite atópica (DA) é uma doença cutânea inflamatória crônica que cursa em surtos. Possui manifestação clínica variável, mas o prurido e a xerose são características frequentes, e pode estar associada a outras manifestações extra-cutâneas de atopia. Pacientes com DA apresentam maior risco de infecções por bactérias e vírus, destacando-se a erupção variceliforme de Kaposi, causada por herpes simples. A DA mostra-se como exemplo de dermatose com comprometimento da barreira cutânea, aliado a disfunção imunológica. São descritas alterações das proteínas da barreira cutânea na DA (filagrina e claudinas ), relacionadas ao maior risco de infecção . Objetivo: Avaliar a expressão de proteínas relacionadas à barreira cutânea como a filagrina, e as claudinas -1 e -4 na pele de pacientes adultos com dermatite atópica, acompanhados no Departamento de Dermatologia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. Métodos: 32 indivíduos com diagnóstico de DA (estabelecido pelos critérios de Hanifin & Rajka) e 23 controles (indivíduos sem DA), maiores de 18 anos, foram submetidos a biópsias cutâneas. Os indivíduos com DA foram biopsiados em dois pontos, tanto na pele lesada, quanto na pele não-lesada. O material obtido foi analisado por imuno-histoquímica, através de marcadores específicos para filagrina, claudina-1 e claudina-4. As lâminas foram digitalizadas pelo Panoramic Scan - 3DHistech - Hungria, e as imagens analisadas pelo software Image Pro Plus 4,5, quanto à intensidade da expressão do marcador. A espessura média da epiderme do local estudado foi também avaliada. O grupo com DA foi também analisado quanto à gravidade da doença (EASI), níveis séricos de IgE e grau de eosinofilia. Resultados: Houve redução da expressão da filagrina na pele de doentes de DA em relação aos controles, tanto na pele com lesão quanto na pele sem lesão. Demonstrou-se correlação inversa na expressão da filagrina, tanto com relação à gravidade da doença quanto à espessura da epiderme. A análise das claudinas -1 e -4 demonstrou redução de ambas na pele dos doentes de DA, mas não houve correlação com a gravidade, espessura da epiderme, níveis de IgE sérica ou eosinofilia. Conclusão: No adulto com dermatite atópica, existe redução da expressão das proteínas relacionadas à barreira cutânea, como a filagrina e as claudinas -1 e -4. A redução da expressão da filagrina relacionou-se inversamente com a gravidade da doença, e com a espessura da epiderme, sugerindo cronicidade das lesões. Houve redução da expressão das claudinas -1 e -4, sem relação com a gravidade da doença, espessura da epiderme, eosinofilia ou com os níveis séricos de IgE / Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory dermatosis with ocasional flares. Its clinical features are variable, but pruritus and xerosis are frequent, and the disease may be associated to extracutaneous atopy. Patients with AD have increased risk for bacterial or viral infection, with emphasis on eczema herpeticum due to herpes simplex. AD is an example of a compromised skin barrier, allied to na imune dysfunction. There are reports on efective proteins of the skin barrier (filaggrin and claudins), related to increased risk for infection. Objectives: To evaluate the expression of proteins related to the skin barrier, such filaggrin and claudins-1 and-4 in the skin of adults with AD, followed at the Department of Dermatology, University of Sao Paulo Medical School. Methods: 32 individuals diagnosed as AD, according to Hanifin & Rajka\'s criteria, and 23 non-atopic controls, above the age of 18, were biopsied. Individuals with AD were biopsied in two different sites (lesional and nonlesional skin). The specimens were analyzed by immunohistochemistry through specific markers for filaggrin, claudins 1 and 4. The slides were scanned utilizing Panoramic Scan - 3DHistech - Hungary, and images analyzed by Image Pro Plus 4,5 for the intensity of each marker. The mean epidermal thickness was also evaluated. AD patients were also analyzed for disease severity (EASI), circulating IgE levels and eosinophilia. Results: In lesional and nonlesional skin of AD patients there was a reduced expression of filaggrin, when compared to nonatopic controls. There was an inverse correlation of filaggrin expression with disease severity and epidermal thickness. In the skin of AD individuals, there was reduced expression of claudins 1-and-4, which did not correlate with disease severity, epidermal thickness or eosinophilia. Conclusion: In adults with AD, there is reduced expression of skin barrier proteins, such as filaggrin, claudins 1 and 4. The reduction of filaggrin expression had an inverse correlation with disease severity and epidermal thickness, suggesting disease chronicity. There was reduction of claudins 1 and 4, with no relation with disease severity, epidermal thickness, circulating IgE levels or eosinophilia

Sy, Hing Yee. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves lxxiv-xciv). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese; appendixes I-III in Chinese.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2003. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.