Brazilian Consensus on Photoprotection

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 nonmelanoma 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

Role of Heme Oxygenase and Bilirubin in Oxidative Stress in Preterm Infants

In a previous study, it was found that the decrease in the total plasma bilirubin level (Btot) in preterm infants was associated with the decrease in oxidative stress. We hypothesized that this occurs as a result of a pro-oxidant effect of heme oxygenase (HO), which outcompetes with the antioxidant properties of bilirubin. In this study we studied 12 preterm infants in whom the plasma levels of Btot, total hydroperoxide (TH), protein SH groups, HO activity, non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI), and erythrocyte CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD) activity were concurrently measured when the Btot was >220 microM and after a Btot drop of >34 microM. The Btot decrease was concurrent with the TH decrease, protein SH groups increase, and the HO and CuZn SOD activity increase and was not associated with an NTBI increase. We concluded that 1) Btot does not exert a meaningful antioxidant effect in vivo; 2) HO does not exert a pro-oxidant effect involving an NTBI increase and that, on the contrary, it could exert an antioxidant effect; and 3) the concurrent HO and CuZn SOD activity increase could indicate a synergic antioxidant effect of the two enzymes

Selection of antiepileptic drug polytherapy based on mechanisms of action: the evidence reviewed

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