Introduction Cutaneous malignant melanoma prevalence, incidence and mortality rates are increasing in white populations worldwide more rapidly than any other cancer site (American Cancer Society, 2006). Despite the potential importance of regular skin selfexamination and promotion of selfprotection practices, little is known about the prevalence of these practices in medical students in Albanian population. Methods This is a descriptive, quantitative crosssectional study. In this study were included a sample of 150 individuals chosen among the students of Faculty of Medicine based on their family history for skin cancer. This study was started on October the 3rd and finished on November the 12th. Subjects had to fill in a structured, selfadministered questionnaire. All participants lived within Republic of Albania but at the time of the study were students in University of Tirana, Faculty of Medicine. Results In this study that we conducted we included 150 individuals supposed to have a risk for skin cancer based on their family history. 200 individuals were approached for participation. Of these, 150 individuals returned questionnaire data, yielding a response rate of 75% among eligible, successfully contacted participants. The mean age of the sample was 20.05 years (Std. Dev. = 0.925), with males (22%) and females (78%) represented unequally, because the gender configuration of the faculty itself has gender disparities with more than 80% females and only 20% male students. The majority of the sample was born in city or town (85.3%), 14.7% was born in a village. In terms of income level, 79.3% of participants had a medium income family background, 15.3% high income and 5.3% had a low income level family background. Conclusion It is important for those individuals with family history for skin cancer (which inherently indicates risk for skin cancer) to develop selfexamination and SSE behaviours and practices in order to have a protection and at least an early detection (if onset) of the different forms of Melanoma. The results of this study provide some guide as to the key areas or 'hot spots' on which to focus attention when designing supportive care interventions for melanoma survivors and those at high risk of skin cancer., Yllka Bilushi, Rozeta Luci, Loreta Kuneshka, Numila Maliqari, and Literatura
Užívanie tabaku patrí medzi najvýznamnejšie príčiny zbytočných a predčasných úmrtí v histórií ľudstva. Štúdie dokazujú, že fajčenie je vážnym medicínskym a spoločensko-ekonomickým problémom, ktorý v súčasnosti nadobudol charakter pandémie. Fajčenie je rizikový faktor participujúci na predčasných úmrtiach v dôsledku vzniku desiatky ochorení, predovšetkým onkologických, srdcovocievnych, chorôb tráviaceho traktu, ústnej dutiny. Fajčenie, ako návyk, sa významnou mierou podieľa sa vzniku chronickej obštrukčnej choroby pľúc, na ktorú zomiera viac fajčiarov ako na rakovinu pľúc, a ktorej výskyt je priamo závislý od prevalencie fajčenia cigariet. Vzhľadom na rôznorodosť a početnosť ochorení, ktoré fajčenie spôsobuje, sa účinky fajčenia na kožný systém často prehliadajú. Práca ako súborný referát poukazuje na negatívne zmeny na koži, ktoré fajčenie so sebou prináša, ale predovšetkým zdôrazňuje potrebu prevencie, ktorá je omnoho účinnejšia ako následná liečba. Súhrn výsledkov a záverov viacerých zahraničných a domácich literárnych štúdií zaoberajúcich sa problematikou fajčenia a kože potvrdzuje negatívne pôsobenie cigaretového dymu a jeho súčastí na kožu a jej zložky. Práca sa zameriava na etiologickú a patofyziologickú súvislosť fajčenia so vznikom karcinómu kože, starnutia kože a rozvojom chronického ochorenia kože – psoriázy. Práca predkladá užitočné preventívne rady, prečo s fajčením nezačať, ako s touto závislosťou čo najefektívnejšie skoncovať, prípadne na koho sa môže pri odvykaní obrátiť. V rámci prevencie príspevok zdôrazňuje potrebu dennej starostlivosti o kožu, samovyšetrovanie, ale aj dôležitosť mať dostatočné poznatky o škodlivých účinkoch fajčenia na kožu., Tobacco use is the most important cause of preventable and premature deaths in human history. Literature reviews confirm that smoking is a serious medical and socio-economic problem, which currently has the character of a pandemic habit. Smoking is a risk factor of premature deaths resulting from many diseases, e. g. cancer, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, oral cavity diseases. Smoking is an important risk factor also for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, where more smokers will die from this chronic condition as compared to mortality from lung cancer. Frequency of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is directly related to the intensity of cigarette smoking. The effect of smoking has a very high diversity of diseases caused by smoking, but the effects of smoking on the skin are often overlooked. Article is a summary review focused on negative changes on the skin caused by smoking. The paper particularly emphasizes the need for prevention, which is far more effective than curative treatment. Summary of results and conclusions of several foreign and domestic research studies focusing on the issue of smoking and skin, confirms the negative effect of cigarette smoke and its components on the skin and skin cutaneous complex. The work focuses on the etiological and pathophysiological association of smoking on skin cancer, skin aging and the development of chronic skin diseases – psoriasis. The article also provides useful preventive advice for smoking cessation and for early stages of smoking prevention. The paper also confirms the necessity and need for daily skin care, self-testing, but also the importance of a sufficient knowledge of the adverse effects of smoking on the skin., Jana Diabelková, Kvetoslava Rimárová, and Literatura