Cryptococcus gattii infection in an immunocompetent host in Greece

We report a case of a 31-year-old otherwise healthy female with pulmonary cryptococcoma along with cryptococcal meningitis due to Cryptococcus gattii molecular type VGI, in Greece. Combined antifungal treatment and surgical excision of pulmonary cryptococcoma yielded a good response

Effects of isotretinoin therapy on lipoprotein (a) serum levels

Background Increases in plasma concentrations of lipids, triglycerides, and liver enzymes have been reported in patients on isotretinoin therapy. Lipoprotein (a). (Lp (a)), a cholesterol-rich plasma lipoprotein, influences the clotting system and is related to premature coronary heart disease and stroke. Methods Blood (7 mt) was obtained from 30 patients with cystic acne before and 30 days after the initiation of oral isotretinoin (0.5 mg/kg/day). Results An increase in liver enzymes and lipids, except high density lipoprotein, was found in our patients at the end of the study. The mean Lp (a) levels (initial value, 25.91+/-3.17 mg/dl) were statistically reduced (p < 0.0001) at the end of treatment (14.80+/-2.35 mg/dL). Conclusions It is suggested that isotretinoin could be used as an Lp (a) lowering agent in the future

Escherichia coli expressed herpes simplex virus gG1 and gG2 proteins in ELISA and immunoblotting assays

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Herpes zoster in children

Background: The clinical studies of series of children with herpes tester (HZ) are rather limited. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidemiologic conditions, clinical manifestations, therapy, and outcome of HZ in children. Methods: Twenty-one patients with HZ have been studied. Five patients who had herpes simplex virus infection were excluded. The laboratory diagnosis was made by fluorescent techniques. Acyclovir was administered systematically for 2 more days after no new lesions had developed. Results: Thirteen patients (group A) were immunocompromised; eight patients (group B) were otherwise healthy. Two patients from group B had intrauterine varicella; the other six patients had had varicella under the age of 4 years. Three patients were recently exposed to varicella. The duration of HZ was significantly longer in group A than in group B, but the outcome was good in all patients. Conclusion: Herpes simplex virus infection may simulate the pattern of HZ; varicella in early childhood is a risk factor for HZ in otherwise healthy children; exposure of a child to varicella may cause reactivation of latent HZ virus; and acyclovir therapy within 3 days of exanthem onset prevents significant morbidity and death in immunocompromised children with HZ

Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Greece: first prevalence study using nucleic acid amplification tests

The present retrospective study was initiated to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and to assess the risk factors for infection in adult women and men presenting to general practitioners, gynecologists, dermatologists, and family-planning centers in Greece. The study was carried out in four different Greek hospital centers using highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification techniques. Altogether, 16,834 women and 1,035 men were enrolled from October 1998 to April 2004. Two types of specimens were collected from each patient: cervical swabs from women, urethral swabs from men, and first-catch urine from women and men. All specimens were examined with the Cobas Amplicor C. trachomatis polymerase chain reaction assay (Roche Molecular Systems, Branchburg, NJ, USA) or the LC x C. trachomatis ligase chain reaction assay (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA). Demographic and behavioral data were collected by clinicians using a standardized questionnaire. A total of 704 (3.9%) patients were infected with C. trachomatis. The prevalence among female patients was 3.5% and that among male patients 11.2%. Among infected patients, 88% were under 30 years of age, 71% reported more than one sexual partner, and 91% reported a new sexual partner within the last year. In conclusion, the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection in Greece is low. Young age and new and multiple sexual partners within the last year were factors consistently associated with an increased risk of chlamydial infection

Condylomata acuminata in children

We describe a study on 38 children from 1 to 11 years of age, with anogenital warts, 25 were girls. The disease was primarily perianal. Sexual abuse was confirmed in one 9-year-old boy. Most responded to monotherapy with podophyllotoxin, imiquimod 5%, or cryotherapy in a 3-month follow-up period. © 2012 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Atopic patients with genital warts have a more protracted clinical course and a greater probability of recurrences

The factors predicting an unfavourable response of genital warts to treatment have not been determined. The disease characteristics were recorded for 390 patients with genital warts and treated by cryotherapy. The time to achieve clearance was recorded. A personal and family history of asthma, hay fever or eczema, as well as a personal history of common warts and number of recurrences was obtained by telephone four to five years after the clinical visits. In multiple regression analysis, the number of lesions (P < 0.001), extent of the disease (P = 0.003) and personal history of atopy (P = 0.001) were found to influence the time until response to treatment. Similar results were obtained for family history of atopy. The number of sexual partners (P = 0.007), extent of the disease (P = 0.009) and personal history of atopy (P < 0.001) were the main factors influencing the probability of recurrence in multiple logistic regression. The results for family history of atopy were again similar. The study concludes that atopy is a major factor influencing the time frame of the therapeutic response and the probability of recurrence in patients with genital warts