Spanish Academy Research Articles

Interobserver and Intraobserver Agreement on the Treatment of Infantile Hemangiomas.

Although clinical practice guidelines exist for the treatment of infantile hemangiomas (IHs), recommendations are heterogeneous, and wide practice variations in IH management have been reported. To analyze the degree of agreement in treatment choices for IH among pediatric dermatologists in North America and Europe and assess whether there are differences across IH risk categories. This cross-sectional interrater and intrarater agreement study was conducted through a survey based on the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology IH prospective cohort. The survey used 50 vignettes of IH cases that were randomly selected from the cohort. It was administered twice in 2023, 1 month apart, to allow for interrater and intrarater agreement assessments. Data were analyzed in January 2024. The study involved pediatric dermatologists from North America (via the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance) and Europe (via the European Society of Pediatric Dermatologists). Participants were asked to choose 1 of 3 treatment options (propranolol, topical timolol, or observation) for each vignette. The primary outcome was the interrater agreement in treatment choices for IH cases, measured using κ statistics (Gwet AC1 coefficient). The global interobserver agreement among 90 pediatric dermatologists was fair (AC1, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.29-0.46). In North America (45 pediatricians), agreement was moderate (AC1, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.33-0.49), while in Europe (45 pediatricians) it was fair (AC1, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.28-0.46). The degree of agreement varied depending on the risk category of IH, with excellent agreement in high-risk IH and only moderate agreement in intermediate-risk and low-risk IHs. Propranolol was predominantly chosen for high-risk IH, while observation was most frequent for low-risk IH (55.9%). The second survey had 61 respondents, with no significant intrarater differences. The results of this survey study suggest that there is an important variability in the treatment of intermediate-risk and low-risk IH. The study findings support the need for more evidence regarding the role of topical timolol in IH treatment, which may help harmonize treatment approaches and improve consistency in IH management globally.

Plagiarism, from Carelessness to Crime. Perception of Undergraduate Students

Objective: To explore the perception of undergraduate students from a group of the Chemistry faculty regarding plagiarism, cyberplagiarism and their relationship with information sources. Theoretical Framework: Although the criminal code in Mexico indicates that plagiarism is a crime, there is evidence of it being a frequent event, we do not know the perception that undergraduate students have in relation to plagiarism, which is why it is necessary to investigate it. Method: Students from the Bachelor of Pharmacobiology and Chemistry participated voluntarily, and signed the informed consent. Participants were asked to write in free format what plagiarism/cyberplagiarism is and its relationship with information sources. Each document was then analyzed, identifying the terms used to consult their meaning in the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy and their representation was developed. Results and Discussion: Students have different perceptions of what plagiarism is, from “carelessness” to “crime”, and only 40% of participants completed the work by identifying the relationship between Plagiarism and the Information Sources session. Implications of the research: The findings allow us to detect a need: to incorporate the topic of plagiarism into the program of each subject. This will allow students to be aware that plagiarism has consequences that can affect their future. Enabling students not to resort to plagiarism is a strengthening strategy that also contributes to the cognitive process of students. Originality/Value: This study provides, in the first instance, the perception of plagiarism among undergraduate students and detects a heterogeneity in its meaning and consequences. We propose active, teacher-led empowerment to learn how to manage time, prioritize activities, and collaborate with peers to counteract this crime.

[Translated article] Measurement Assessment of Minimal Disease Activity in Psoriasis in Spain: A National Cross-Sectional Study

IntroductionIn 2017, the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Psoriasis Working Group (PWG) designed the Minimal Disease Activity (MDA) criteria to determine the level of disease activity. We hereby present the results of an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study of the nationwide application of these criteria. Material and methodsWe conducted a non-randomized sampling, stratified to achieve autonomic and provincial representation of consecutive patients with psoriasis (Ps) vulgaris without active arthritis. A total of 830 patients were included: 493 men (59.5%), with a mean age of 51.4 years (SD, 14.2), from all autonomous regions of Spain (except for Ceuta and Melilla) and 44 (88%) out of the 50 provinces. A questionnaire was obtained with demographic data, DLQI, subjective assessment—on a scale from 0 to 10—of itching, erythema, desquamation, visibility, and the patients’ PASI and BSA. ResultsMore than 50% failed to meet the MDA criteria (491; 59.2%), with significant differences being reported by region, sex, and age. Additionally, significant differences were reported based on the therapy used (P<.001). The use of biological therapies was associated with higher MDA compliance compared to other therapies (59.4% vs 23.3%). No differences were reported among various biological therapies. ConclusionsThe overall rate of MDA compliance is low, with differences being based on geographic location, sex, age, and drug used, yet none of these factors separately justify them.

El sufijo &lt;i&gt;-nte&lt;/i&gt; del verbo ser en español

In the conjugation tables of verbs in Spanish, the non-personal forms that are shown, taking amar as an example, are the infinitive (to sing, basic form of the verb), the gerund (singing, adverbial form) and the participle (sung, adjective). Related to this, we have in Spanish a derived element ending in -nte that can function either as a noun or as an adjective--cantante. In this paper, the existence and survival of the form in -nte of the Spanish verb ser (‘to be’) as a cultured word will be demonstrated, and it will be pointed out what the deverbal adjective with suffix -nte that corresponds to said verb is. Bibliographic research has been carried out and databases of the Royal Spanish Academy were consulted; and due to the nature of the object of study, a grammatical analysis of the element studied was conducted. In terms of results, a total of 39 occurrences of the word with the suffix -nte were found, of which 24 are shown in the article. In the conclusions, it is established that the derivative of being ending in -nte —which is present in the cultured speech— occurs from the 13th century to the present day.

Valoración de la medida de Actividad Mínima de Enfermedad en Psoriasis en España: estudio transversal nacional

IntroductionIn 2017, the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Psoriasis Working Group (PWG) designed the Minimal Disease Activity (MDA) criteria to determine the level of disease activity. We hereby present the results of an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study of the nationwide application of these criteria. Material and methodsWe conducted a non-randomized sampling, stratified to achieve autonomic and provincial representation of consecutive patients with psoriasis (Ps) vulgaris without active arthritis. A total of 830 patients were included: 493 men (59.5%), with a mean age of 51.4 years (SD, 14.2), from all autonomous regions of Spain (except for Ceuta and Melilla) and 44 (88%) out of the 50 provinces. A questionnaire was obtained with demographic data, DLQI, subjective assessment—on a scale from 0 to 10—of itching, erythema, desquamation, visibility, and the patients’ PASI and BSA. ResultsMore than 50% failed to meet the MDA criteria (491; 59.2%), with significant differences being reported by region, sex, and age. Additionally, significant differences were reported based on the therapy used (P<.001). The use of biological therapies was associated with higher MDA compliance compared to other therapies (59.4% vs 23.3%). No differences were reported among various biological therapies. ConclusionsThe overall rate of MDA compliance is low, with differences being based on geographic location, sex, age, and drug used, yet none of these factors separately justify them.

[Translated article] Melanoma Registry of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (REGESMEL): Description and Data in its First Year of Operation

IntroductionThe incidence of melanoma is rising in Spain. The prognostic stages of patients with melanoma are determined by various biological factors, such as tumor thickness, ulceration, or the presence of regional or distant metastases. The Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) has encouraged the creation of a Spanish Melanoma Registry (REGESMEL) to evaluate other individual and health system-related factors that may impact the prognosis of patients with melanoma. The aim of this article is to introduce REGESMEL and provide basic descriptive data for its first year of operation. MethodsREGESMEL is a prospective, multicentre cohort of consecutive patients with invasive cutaneous melanoma that collects demographic and staging data as well as individual and healthcare-related baseline data. It also records the medical and surgical treatment received by patients. ResultsA total of 450 cases of invasive cutaneous melanoma from 19 participant centres were included, with a predominance of thin melanomas≤1mm thick (54.7%), mainly located on the posterior trunk (35.2%). Selective sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 40.7% of cases. Most cases of melanoma were suspected by the patient (30.4%), or his/her dermatologist (29.6%). Patients received care mainly in public health centers (85.2%), with tele-dermatology resources being used in 21.6% of the cases. ConclusionsThe distribution of the pathological and demographic variables of melanoma cases is consistent with data from former studies. REGESMEL has already recruited patients from 15 Spanish provinces and given its potential representativeness, it renders the Registry as an important tool to address a wide range of research questions.

Translated article] Approach to the Epidemiology, Disease Management, and Current Challenges in the Management of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Through a Survey Conducted Among Spanish Dermatologists

BackgroundGeneralized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare and severe inflammatory skin disease characterised by recurrent or intermittent flares. Epidemiological and disease management data in Spain are limited. Our goal was to estimate the epidemiology of GPP, explore its management, and reach consensus on the current challenges faced in Spain. MethodsAn electronic survey was submitted to dermatologists from the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Psoriasis Working Group. This group is experienced in the management of GPP. It included a Delphi consensus to establish the current challenges. ResultsA total of 33 dermatologists responded to the survey. A 5-year prevalence and incidence of 13.05 and 7.01 cases per million inhabitants, respectively, were estimated. According to respondents, the most common GPP symptoms are pustules, erythema, and desquamation, while 45% of patients present > 1 annual flares. A total of 45% of respondents indicated that flares often require a length of stay between 1 and 2 weeks. In the presence of a flare, 67% of respondents often or always prescribe a non-biological systemic treatment as the first-line therapy [cyclosporine (55%); oral retinoid (30%)], and 45% a biological treatment [anti-TNFα (52%); anti-IL-17 (39%)]. The dermatologists agreed that the main challenges are to define and establish specific therapeutic goals to treat the disease including the patients’ perspective on the management of the disease. ConclusionOur study describes the current situation on the management of GPP in Spain, increasing the present knowledge on the disease, and highlighting the current challenges faced at the moment.

Registro de Melanoma de la Academia Española de Dermatología y Venereología (REGESMEL): descripción y datos en el primer año de funcionamiento

IntroductionThe incidence of melanoma is rising in Spain. The prognostic stages of patients with melanoma are determined by various biological factors, such as tumor thickness, ulceration, or the presence of regional or distant metastases. The Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) has encouraged the creation of a Spanish Melanoma Registry (REGESMEL) to evaluate other individual and health system-related factors that may impact the prognosis of patients with melanoma. The aim of this article is to introduce REGESMEL and provide basic descriptive data for its first year of operation. MethodsREGESMEL is a prospective, multicentre cohort of consecutive patients with invasive cutaneous melanoma that collects demographic and staging data as well as individual and healthcare-related baseline data. It also records the medical and surgical treatment received by patients. ResultsA total of 450 cases of invasive cutaneous melanoma from 19 participant centres were included, with a predominance of thin melanomas≤1mm thick (54.7%), mainly located on the posterior trunk (35.2%). Selective sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 40.7% of cases. Most cases of melanoma were suspected by the patient (30.4%), or his/her dermatologist (29.6%). Patients received care mainly in public health centers (85.2%), with tele-dermatology resources being used in 21.6% of the cases. ConclusionsThe distribution of the pathological and demographic variables of melanoma cases is consistent with data from former studies. REGESMEL has already recruited patients from 15 Spanish provinces and given its potential representativeness, it renders the Registry as an important tool to address a wide range of research questions.

Tracheotomy versus tracheostomy, the need for lexicographical clarification

In the healthcare field, the terms “traqueotomía” and “traqueostomía” are frequently used, often leading to confusion among professionals regarding the appropriate definition for each term or which one should be considered more correct in specific cases. A search was conducted for the terms “traqueotomía” and “traqueostomía” in general Spanish-language dictionaries such as the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (DRAE) and the Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Language of the Royal Spanish Academy (DHLE), as well as for the English terms “tracheotomy” and “tracheostomy” in English general dictionaries like the Oxford Dictionary, the Cambridge Dictionary, and the Collins English Dictionary. Additionally, searches were performed in medical dictionaries in both Spanish, specifically the Dictionary of Medical Terms of the National Academy of Medicine (DTM), and English, including the Farlex Dictionary. The terms were also explored using the Google search engine. Definitions were analyzed from both lexicographical and etymological perspectives. Definitions found in general dictionaries, in both Spanish and English, were found to be imprecise, limited, and ambiguous, as they mixed outdated indications with criteria that deviated from etymology. In contrast, definitions in medical dictionaries in both languages were more aligned with etymology. “Traqueotomía” strictly identifies the surgical procedure of creating an opening in the anterior face of the trachea. “Traqueostomía” identifies the creation of an opening that connects the trachea to the exterior, involving a modification of the upper airway by providing an additional entry for the respiratory pathway. “Traqueostomía” becomes the sole means of entry to the airway in total laryngectomies. Both terms can be used synonymously when a traqueotomía culminates in a traqueostomía. However, it is not appropriate to use the term “traqueostomía” when the procedure concludes with the closure of the planes and does not result in the creation of a stoma. Traqueostomas can be qualified with adjectives indicating permanence (temporary/permanent), size (large/small), shape (round/elliptical), or depth, without being linked to any specific disease or surgical indication. Not all permanent traqueostomas are the result of total laryngectomies, and they do not necessarily have an irreversible character systematically.

Punctuation as a tool of the communicative and semantic organization of the text: norm and usus (on the material of the Spanish language)

The article is devoted to the study of Spanish punctuation from the point of view of its role in the communicative and semantic organization of the text. The setting of certain punctuation marks or their absence always raises questions among students of the Spanish language, and therefore requires in-depth scientific research and clarification. The article studies the punctuation rules established by the Royal Spanish Academy, and deviations from them, which may be associated with the prosodic tradition of the language, the presence of secondary members, genre originality, the influence of the English language, the individual characteristics of the author’s style, the communicative task of the utterance, etc. The source material was contemporary Spanish-language fiction, periodical texts, scientific articles, blog fragments, and comments on social networks. Thus, the work reflects the compositional and semantic features of all genres. In Spanish sentences, the role of the prosodic tradition is strong, so often the punctuation marks are dictated by the presence of the pause in oral speech or the intonation of the utterance. At the same time, punctuation marks show semantic-syntactic links between text units that contribute to the understanding of the text. In the article, the authors consider in detail the features of the use of periods, commas, semicolons, colons, round and square brackets, dashes, quotation marks, question and exclamation marks, and ellipsis. The most difficult is the setting of a comma, which, in addition to its main functions of enumeration, treatment, application, isolation of introductory information, is used in elliptical constructions, in the presence of syntactic inversion, to separate definitive clauses, in order to avoid ambiguity. The clarifying function in Spanish is performed by commas, brackets and dashes. The choice of this or that sign is dictated by the degree of proximity of the explanatory information to the main sentence and the nature of the perception of this utterance by the reader. A distinctive feature of Spanish punctuation is the designation of interrogative and exclamatory intonation in writing using the double use of question and exclamation marks: at the beginning of a sentence, inverted, and at the end of a sentence, in the usual form. Despite the prescriptive nature of punctuation rules, modern Spanish texts contain many examples of unregulated use of punctuation marks, and in some cases ignoring them leads to misunderstanding of the text. The article may be of interest to philologists, teachers of Spanish as a foreign language and all those who study Spanish.

LINGUISTIC GLOBALIZATION PROCESSES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MODERN SPANISH LANGUAGE POLICY

The article examines the phenomenon of globalization and its impact on the language policy of Spain. The processes of neologization underlying the Spanish language policy are analyzed. It is shown how, in the conditions of the dominant role of the English language, the national languages of Spain resist external pressure in the form of Anglicisms.&#x0D; Purpose. The purpose of the study is a theoretical and practical study of the influence of factors of linguistic globalization on the official languages of Spain.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The texts of modern periodicals of Spain (El País, El Mundo, El ABC, LA Vanguardia) and the data of the explanatory dictionary of the Spanish Academy (Diccionario Real Academia Española) served as practical material for the study. To achieve the purpose of the study, the following methods were applied: analysis of scientific literature, continuous sampling method, method dictionary definitions, descriptive method.&#x0D; Results. As a result of the study, it was revealed that Spanish national languages, influenced by the factors of linguistic globalization and the English language dominating in the international arena, are changing the familiar picture of the world in all spheres of life of modern Spanish society. The analysis of the data obtained showed that the Spanish language policy is not effective enough in the context of the current processes of linguistic globalization. Despite the active resistance to foreign-language borrowings and neologisms of foreign origin, Spanish language policy institutes do not have time to develop appropriate traditional equivalents.&#x0D; Practical implications. The results of the study can be used in lecture courses on lexicology, lexicography, and linguistics, as well as in practical classes on the lexicology of the Spanish language.

Traqueotomía versus traqueostomía, la necesidad de una aclaración lexicográfica

In the healthcare field, the terms “traqueotomía” and “traqueostomía” are frequently used, often leading to confusion among professionals regarding the appropriate definition for each term or which one should be considered more correct in specific cases. A search was conducted for the terms “traqueotomía” and “traqueostomía” in general Spanish-language dictionaries such as the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (DRAE) and the Historical Dictionary of the Spanish Language of the Royal Spanish Academy (DHLE), as well as for the English terms “tracheotomy” and “tracheostomy” in English general dictionaries like the Oxford Dictionary, the Cambridge Dictionary, and the Collins English Dictionary. Additionally, searches were performed in medical dictionaries in both Spanish, specifically the Dictionary of Medical Terms of the National Academy of Medicine (DTM), and English, including the Farlex Dictionary. The terms were also explored using the Google search engine. Definitions were analyzed from both lexicographical and etymological perspectives. Definitions found in general dictionaries, in both Spanish and English, were found to be imprecise, limited, and ambiguous, as they mixed outdated indications with criteria that deviated from etymology. In contrast, definitions in medical dictionaries in both languages were more aligned with etymology. “Traqueotomía” strictly identifies the surgical procedure of creating an opening in the anterior face of the trachea. “Traqueostomía” identifies the creation of an opening that connects the trachea to the exterior, involving a modification of the upper airway by providing an additional entry for the respiratory pathway. “Traqueostomía” becomes the sole means of entry to the airway in total laryngectomies. Both terms can be used synonymously when a traqueotomía culminates in a traqueostomía. However, it is not appropriate to use the term “traqueostomía” when the procedure concludes with the closure of the planes and does not result in the creation of a stoma. Traqueostomas can be qualified with adjectives indicating permanence (temporary/permanent), size (large/small), shape (round/elliptical), or depth, without being linked to any specific disease or surgical indication. Not all permanent traqueostomas are the result of total laryngectomies, and they do not necessarily have an irreversible character systematically.

Translated article] Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients Being Treated for Scabies in Spain: Opportunities for Improvement — A Multicenter Cross-Sectional CLINI-AEDV Study

BackgroundSeveral studies support the hypothesis that scabies is on the rise in Spain. There are also concerns about the possible development of resistance to treatment and an increase in atypical presentations. The aims of this study were to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with scabies seen by dermatologists in Spain, to identify the possible emergence of atypical forms of scabies, and to explore the frequency of treatment failures and associated risk factors. MethodsWe conducted an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study of data collected prospectively in April and May 2023 using the CLINI-AEDVp platform created by the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV). ResultsParticipating dermatologists from 31 hospitals in 15 of Spain's autonomous communities recorded 186 cases of active scabies (51% in women) during the study period. A diagnostic certainty level of A, B or C as per the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies Consensus Criteria was required for diagnosis. Overall, 92% of patients had clinical features of classic scabies and 66% had already been treated with a scabicide for the current episode. Of the treated patients, only 36% had received and completed adequate treatment (including the simultaneous treatment of all household members) and 50% had not received clear written recommendations. ConclusionsIn a high proportion of scabies cases, the patient has already received treatment. In those cases, we observe several remediable shortcomings that could explain why some of these treatments fail. Remedying these deficiencies should lead to better control of scabies and an improved assessment of the actual effectiveness of currently available scabicides.

Aproximación a la epidemiología, manejo de la enfermedad y retos actuales en la gestión de la psoriasis pustulosa generalizada en España a través de un cuestionario dirigido a dermatólogos

BackgroundGeneralized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare and severe inflammatory skin disease characterised by recurrent or intermittent flares. Epidemiological and disease management data in Spain are limited. Our goal was to estimate the epidemiology of GPP, explore its management, and reach consensus on the current challenges faced in Spain. MethodsAn electronic survey was submitted to dermatologists from the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Psoriasis Working Group. This group is experienced in the management of GPP. It included a Delphi consensus to establish the current challenges. ResultsA total of 33 dermatologists responded to the survey. A 5-year prevalence and incidence of 13.05 and 7.01 cases per million inhabitants, respectively, were estimated. According to respondents, the most common GPP symptoms are pustules, erythema, and desquamation, while 45% of patients present > 1 annual flares. A total of 45% of respondents indicated that flares often require a length of stay between 1 and 2 weeks. In the presence of a flare, 67% of respondents often or always prescribe a non-biological systemic treatment as the first-line therapy [cyclosporine (55%); oral retinoid (30%)], and 45% a biological treatment [anti-TNFα (52%); anti-IL-17 (39%)]. The dermatologists agreed that the main challenges are to define and establish specific therapeutic goals to treat the disease including the patients’ perspective on the management of the disease. ConclusionOur study describes the current situation on the management of GPP in Spain, increasing the present knowledge on the disease, and highlighting the current challenges faced at the moment.

Translated article] Survey on the Management of Dysplastic Nevus by Dermatologists in the Center-Spain Section of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV)

Background and objectivesThere are no clinical guidelines on the management of dysplastic nevus (DN). The aims of this study were to determine the percentage of dermatologists in the center-Spain section of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) who would manage a histologically confirmed DN with a watch-and-wait approach or with wider surgical margins and to investigate whether their attitudes would vary depending on whether or not the patient had a personal and/or family history of melanoma. Material and methodsWe collected data from an anonymous survey sent to 738 dermatologists between June 15 and July 31, 2022. The independent variables were degree of dysplasia (low vs. high), margin status (positive vs. negative), and a personal or family history of melanoma (yes vs. no in both cases). The dependent variables were attitude towards management (watch-and-wait vs. re-excision with a surgical margin of 1 to 4mm or re-excision with a surgical margin of 5 to 10mm). ResultsWe obtained 86 responses to the questionnaire. When pathology indicated a low-grade DN, 60.5% of dermatologists stated they would obtain a surgical margin of 1 to 4mm if the first margins were positive, and 97.7% would watch and wait if the report described negative margins. For high-grade DNs, 1.2% of dermatologists would watch and wait to manage DN with positive margins; 68.8% would use this approach for negative margins. A family or personal history of melanoma had no influence on most of the dermatologists’ attitudes. ConclusionsManagement strategies for DN among dermatologists from the center-Spain section of the AEDV varied, particularly when faced with low-grade DN with positive margins and high-grade DN with negative margins. A family or personal history of melanoma did not influence clinical attitudes in most cases.

Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de pacientes diagnosticados de escabiosis en España: oportunidades de mejora. Estudio transversal multicéntrico CLINI-AEDV

BackgroundSeveral studies support the hypothesis that scabies is on the rise in Spain. There are also concerns about the possible development of resistance to treatment and an increase in atypical presentations. The aims of this study were to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with scabies seen by dermatologists in Spain, to identify the possible emergence of atypical forms of scabies, and to explore the frequency of treatment failures and associated risk factors. MethodsWe conducted an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study of data collected prospectively in April and May 2023 using the CLINI-AEDVp platform created by the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV). ResultsParticipating dermatologists from 31 hospitals in 15 of Spain's autonomous communities recorded 186 cases of active scabies (51% in women) during the study period. A diagnostic certainty level of A, B or C as per the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies Consensus Criteria was required for diagnosis. Overall, 92% of patients had typical scabies and 66% had already been treated with a scabicide for the current episode. Of the treated patients, only 36% had received and completed adequate treatment (including the simultaneous treatment of all household members) and 50% had not received clear written recommendations. ConclusionsIn a high proportion of the cases of scabies studied, the patient had already received treatment. In those cases, we observed several remediable shortcomings that could explain why some of these treatments had failed. Remedying these deficiencies should lead to better control of scabies and an improved assessment of the actual effectiveness of currently available scabicides.

An Enigma Called Homeopathy

When I speak of an enigma, I adhere to its definition; the one given by the RAE (Royal Spanish Academy), which means: a statement whose meaning is artificially concealed to make it difficult to understand or interpret. Homeopathy (pathos=disease, homoios=similar); was created by the German Doctor Samuel Hahnemann in 1796. He was a man with a restless spirit and deeply dissatisfied with late 18th century medicine. After multiple verifications, Hahnemann creates the law that supports the homeopathic doctrine, the Law of Similars. It states that: ‘‘in order to cure a given illness, a remedy must be taken which, when administered to a healthy subject, will cause illnesses ‘and if it is capable of making one sick, it is also capable of curing. This principle of dilution accompanies the Law of Similars [1].

Encuesta sobre el manejo del nevus displásico por los dermatólogos de la sección Centro de la Academia Española de Dermatología y Venereología (AEDV)

Background and objectivesThere are no clinical guidelines on the management of dysplastic nevus (DN). The aims of this study were to determine the percentage of dermatologists in the center-Spain section of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) who would manage a histologically confirmed DN with a watch-and-wait approach or with wider surgical margins and to investigate whether their attitudes would vary depending on whether or not the patient had a personal and/or family history of melanoma. Material and methodsWe collected data from an anonymous survey sent to 738 dermatologists between June 15 and July 31, 2022. The independent variables were degree of dysplasia (low vs. high), margin status (positive vs. negative), and a personal or family history of melanoma (yes vs. no in both cases). The dependent variables were attitude towards management (watch-and-wait vs. re-excision with a surgical margin of 1 to 4mm or re-excision with a surgical margin of 5 to 10mm). ResultsWe obtained 86 responses to the questionnaire. When pathology indicated a low-grade DN, 60.5% of dermatologists stated they would obtain a surgical margin of 1 to 4mm if the first margins were positive, and 97.7% would watch and wait if the report described negative margins. For high-grade DNs, 1.2% of dermatologists would watch and wait to manage DN with positive margins; 68.8% would use this approach for negative margins. A family or personal history of melanoma had no influence on most of the dermatologists’ attitudes. ConclusionsManagement strategies for DN among dermatologists from the center-Spain section of the AEDV varied, particularly when faced with low-grade DN with positive margins and high-grade DN with negative margins. A family or personal history of melanoma did not influence clinical attitudes in most cases.

Pinturas cegadas

This collection of essays brings together a selection of works that were presented at the inaugural 1° Congreso Internacional sobre Cultura Visual Iberoamericana [siglos XVI a XVIII] (International Congress on Ibero-American Visual Culture), whose core theme and subtitle was “Malas imágenes: lugares visuales de la disputa” (Bad images: visual places of dispute). Held on December 9 and 10, 2021, the meeting was organized by the Quillca program, which is devoted to the study of South American colonial art and housed in the Centro de Estudios sobre Arte, Materia y Cultura of Argentina’s Tres de Febrero University. The Congress, whose opening and closing lectures were given by Ilona Katzew (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and Felipe Pereda (Harvard University), was an opportunity to study the provocative (that is, “bad”) side of Ibero-American images. The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy defines malo (bad) as that which has “valor negativo, falto de las cualidades que cabe atribuirle por su naturaleza, función o destino” (negative value, lacking the qualities that ought to be attributed to it, given its nature, function or purpose). Starting with this definition, this dossier opens a range of possibilities for discussion about the badness of images.

Santíssimo Cristo da Paciência

This collection of essays brings together a selection of works that were presented at the inaugural 1° Congreso Internacional sobre Cultura Visual Iberoamericana [siglos XVI a XVIII] (International Congress on Ibero-American Visual Culture), whose core theme and subtitle was “Malas imágenes: lugares visuales de la disputa” (Bad images: visual places of dispute). Held on December 9 and 10, 2021, the meeting was organized by the Quillca program, which is devoted to the study of South American colonial art and housed in the Centro de Estudios sobre Arte, Materia y Cultura of Argentina’s Tres de Febrero University. The Congress, whose opening and closing lectures were given by Ilona Katzew (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and Felipe Pereda (Harvard University), was an opportunity to study the provocative (that is, “bad”) side of Ibero-American images. The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy defines malo (bad) as that which has “valor negativo, falto de las cualidades que cabe atribuirle por su naturaleza, función o destino” (negative value, lacking the qualities that ought to be attributed to it, given its nature, function or purpose). Starting with this definition, this dossier opens a range of possibilities for discussion about the badness of images.