Distribution of Malassezia species in patients with atopic dermatitis : quality assessment

The fungi Malassezia are a constituent of the skin microbiota in humans and some animals. The fungi may cause skin diseases or even organ and/or generalized infections in the presence of appropriate predisposing factors. To evaluate the occurrence of Malassezia fungi on the skin in patients with psoriasis and search for a relationship between the occurrence of Malassezia and the severity of skin lesions, age and sex of the patients. The materials comprised smears sampled from four sites: scalp, face, chest and back. Malassezia spp. were isolated in cultures on modified Dixon medium and identified on the basis of morphological and biochemical features. Malassezia spp. were isolated in 55.1% of the patients. The fungi were most prevalent on the back (33.3%) and least on the scalp (17.5%) and face (19%). The prevalence on the chest was 30.2%. In the group of patients with AD localized to the head and neck Malassezia spp. were cultured in 71.4% of patients. No statistically significant differences were found between Malassezia prevalence in males vs. females. No relationship with the patients' age was found. Higher values of the atopic dermatitis severity index (SCORAD) were found in the patients in whom Malassezia spp. were isolated. Malassezia spp. were particularly common in the group of patients with AD localized to the head and neck

Trichosporon sp. : pathogenicity, diagnostics and treatment

Trichosporon spp. are anamorphic yeast-like fungi widely distributed in the natural environment. They may be isolated from soil and water and can occasionally belong to the human and animal microbiota. In humans, Trichosporon is mainly found on the skin, mucous membranes and nails. The fungus is the causative agent of benign superficial infections but it may also cause serious deep mycoses. Systemic trichosporonosis concerns mainly immunocompromised patients and has a high mortality rate, ranging from 80 to 100%. Difficulties in identification of different species as well as the lack of standardized sensitivity tests in vitro contribute to the limited knowledge available on epidemiology, diagnosis and therapy of Trichosporon infections

Retrospective evaluation of Malassezia fungi occurrence

Fungi belonging to the Malassezia genus may contribute to the indigenous skin flora. However, they may cause numerous skin diseases. The objective of the study was to evaluate the occurrence of the yeast-like Malassezia fungi in materials originating from patients suspected of superficial mycosis and referred to the Department of Mycology at the Jagiellonian University Medical College Chair of Microbiology during a 16-year period from January 1, 1992 to December 31, 2007. A total of 12321 clinical specimens were examined; fungi were detected in 5654 of them. The fungi were more often isolated from males than from females (49.8 vs. 42.9%). Malassezia fungi were isolated in 771 cases, more often from males (59.4%) than females (40.6%). The fungi were most frequently isolated from the scalp, trunk and face. Malassezia co-existed with other fungi only sporadically. The retrospective 16-year analysis provided evidence that increases and decreases in the prevalence of Malassezia occurred in particular years

Distribution of Malassezia species in patients with psoriasis : quality assessment

The fungi Malassezia are a constituent of the skin microbiota in humans and some animals. The fungi may cause skin diseases or even organ and/or generalized infections in the presence of appropriate predisposing factors. To evaluate the occurrence of Malassezia fungi on the skin in patients with psoriasis and to search for a relationship between the occurrence of Malassezia and the severity of skin lesions as well as the age and sex of the patients. The materials comprised smears sampled from four sites: scalp, face, chest and back. Malassezia spp. were isolated in cultures on modified Dixon medium and identified on the basis of morphological and biochemical features. Malassezia spp. were isolated in 57.7% of the patients. The fungi were most prevalent on the chest (37.3%) and least on the scalp (9.8%). The prevalence on the back and face was comparable, 27.5% and 25.5% respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between Malassezia prevalence in males vs. females. No relationship with the patients' age was found. Higher values of the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), and of the body surface area (BSA) were found in the patients in whom Malassezia spp. were isolated

Retrospective data analysis of the history of patients treated for malignant melanoma at the Department of Dermatology, Jagiellonian University between 1991 and 2008

Melanoma is the most worrisome melanocytic skin lesion. It is also one of the most malignant tumours, and rapidly forms metastases. Melanoma incidence and mortality rates are increasing in most countries throughout the world. To analyse retrospectively the history of patients who were diagnosed with malignant melanoma at the Department of Dermatology Jagiellonian University, Krakow. Using retrospective data we analysed history cases of 194 patients, 83 men (42.8%) and 111 women (57.2%) with melanoma. The patients' age, sex, location and number of the lesions and melanoma type were analysed. Statistical analysis was performed using STATISTICA. According to the observations there was a significant increase of morbidity rate between 1991 (1 case) and 2001 (23 cases). In all investigated populations melanoma was more commonly observed on the trunk (37.5%) than on the head and neck (2.1%). Melanomas were predominant on the trunk in males (51.2%), and equally on the lower limb and trunk for females (27.3%, p = 0.003). In most cases melanoma developed from a pre-existing naevus (64.4%). Lentigo maligna was found on sun-exposed areas in 72.2% of cases, mostly among patients over 60 years old. Nodular melanoma was the predominant type (30.7%), while acral lentiginous melanoma was the rarest one (1%). Most of the melanoma cases were at Clark level IV when diagnosed (32.8%), whereas cases at Clark level V were found in 5.2%. The majority of melanoma lesions were at Breslow stage III and IV when excised (p = 0.006). Our results confirmed that patients with melanoma had decided to visit the dermatologist too late, when the tumour was at an advanced stage. There is still insufficient knowledge of the self-examination of the naevi as well as of the need for regular dermatological examination of suspicious lesions and early surgical excision if necessary

Polska, Ukraina, świat

Od Wydawcy: "Krakowska Szkoła Wyższa im. Andrzeja Frycza Modrzewskiego, największa niepubliczna szkoła wyższa w Małopolsce od początku swego powstania przywiązuje wagę do kontaktów z uczelniami zagranicznymi. Współpraca nawiązana z wieloma partnerami zagranicznymi nie tylko pozwoliła kadrze dydaktycznej i studentom Frycza nawiązać interesujące kontakty naukowe i biznesowe, wzbogacić księgozbiór o specjalistyczne publikacje, ale zaowocowała także wieloma cennymi programami. Współpraca Szkoły z Międzynarodowym Uniwersytetem REG I im. Akademika Stepana Demianczuka w Równem na Ukrainie - pierwszym partnerem zagranicznym, z którym umowę podpisano w grudniu roku 2001 - przebiega na wielu płaszczyznach (wymiana studentów i pracowników, udział w konferencjach, wspólne publikacje). Owocem jej je st też poniższa książka Polska, Ukraina, Świat pod redakcją Klemensa Budzowskiego i Anatolija Stiepanowicza Demianczuka, zawierająca dorobek naukowy pracowników obu uczelni."(...