Association of Bartonella spp bacteremia with Chagas cardiomyopathy, endocarditis and arrythmias in patients from South America

Infection with Bartonella spp may cause cardiac arrhythmias, myocarditis and endocarditis in humans. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible association between Bartonella spp bacteremia and endocarditis, arrhythmia and Chagas cardiomyopathy in patients from Brazil and Argentina. We screened for the presence of bacterial 16S rRNA in human blood by PCR using oligonucleotides to amplify a 185-bp bacterial DNA fragment. Blood samples were taken from four groups of subjects in Brazil and Argentina: i) control patients without clinical disease, ii) patients with negative blood-culture endocarditis, iii) patients with arrhythmias, and iv) patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. PCR products were analyzed on 1.5% agarose gel to visualize the 185-bp fragment and then sequenced to confirm the identity of DNA. Sixty of 148 patients (40.5%) with cardiac disease and 1 of 56 subjects (1.8%) from the control group presented positive PCR amplification for Bartonella spp, suggesting a positive association of the bacteria with these diseases. Separate analysis of the four groups showed that the risk of a Brazilian patient with endocarditis being infected with Bartonella was 22 times higher than in the controls. In arrhythmic patients, the prevalence of infection was 45 times higher when compared to the same controls and 40 times higher for patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of the association between Bartonella spp bacteremia and Chagas disease. The present data may be useful for epidemiological and prevention studies in Brazil and Argentina.64465

Angiokeratoma Of The Vulva [angioceratoma Da Vulva]

Angiokeratomas are benign tumors characterized by ectasia of blood vessels in the papillary dermis associated with acanthosis and hyperkeratosis of the epidermis. Dermatological examination of angiokeratomas of Fordyce is characterized by papular keratotic lesions of erythematous-violet color. They are more common in the scrotum, and vulvar involvement is rarely reported. Histopathology is particularly important to distinguish them from other benign and malignant tumors. The article reports the case of a middle-aged black woman with a history of chronic constipation, varicose veins of the lower limbs and cesarean section performed 20 years ago who had had multiple vulvar angiokeratomas for three months. © 2011 by Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia.862333335Calonje, E., Wilson-Jones, E., Vascular tumours (2005) Lever's Histopathology of the Skin, pp. 1015-1055. , In: Elder DE, Elenitsas R, Johnson Jr BL, Murphy G F, editors, 9th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams & WilskinsTorgerson, R.R., Edwards, L., Diseases and disorders of the female genitalia (2007) Fitzpatrick's Dermatology In General Medicine, pp. 675-684. , In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, Gilchrest BA, Paller AS, Leffell DJ, editors, 7th Ed. McGraw-HillMartins, A., Drumond, M., Angioceratoma múltiplo de Fordyce- localização vulvar (2002) An Bras Dermatol, 77, pp. 331-335Sintes, R.N., Hernandez, J.P., Florencio, V.D., Solano, J.L., Angioceratoma. A propósito de 93 observaciones (1988) Med Cut ILA, 16, pp. 255-2261Cohen, P.R., Young Jr., A.W., Tovell, H.M., Angiokeratoma of the vulva: Diagnosis and review of the literature (1989) Obstet Gynecol Surv, 44, pp. 339-346Azevedo, E.M.M., Bagnoli, V.R., Carvalho, F.M., Guarnieri Neto, C., Souen, J.S., Angioceratoma vulvar - Relato de 4 casos (1988) J Bras Ginec, 98, pp. 573-575Erkek, E., Basar, M.M., Bagci, Y., Karaduman, A., Bilen, C.Y., Gokoz, A., Fordyce Angiokeratomas as clues to local venous hypertension (2005) Arch Dermatol, 141, pp. 1325-1326Zaballos, P., Daufí, C., Puig, S., Argenziano, G., Moreno-Ramírez, D., Cabo, H., Dermoscopy of solitary angiokeratomas: A morphological study Arch Dermato

Bartonellosis Diagnosis Requires Careful Evaluation

[No abstract available]143217Velho, P.E., Pimentel, V., Del Negro, G.M., Okay, T.S., Diniz, P.P., Breitschwerdt, E.B., Severe anemia, panserositis, and cryptogenic hepatitis in an HIV patient infected with Bartonella henselae (2007) Ultrastruct Pathol, 31 (6), pp. 373-377Diniz, P.P., Billeter, S.A., Otranto, D., Molecular documentation of Bartonella infection in dogs in Greece and Italy (2009) J Clin Microbiol, 47 (5), pp. 1565-1567Maurin, M., Rolain, J.M., Raoult, D., Comparison of in-house and commercial slides for detection by immunofl uorescence of immunoglobulins G and M against Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana (2002) Clin Diagn Lab Immunol, 9 (5), pp. 1004-1009Velho, P.E., Souza, E.M., Cintra, M.L., de Moraes, A.M., Uthida-Tanaka, A.M., Diagnóstico da infecção por Bartonella spp.: A propósito de um caso de angiomatose bacilar (2006) An Bras Dermatol, 81 (4), pp. 349-353Lamas, C., Curi, A., Bóia, M., Lemos, E., Human bartonellosis: Seroepidemiological and clinical features with an emphasis on data from Brazil - a review (2008) Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 103 (3), pp. 221-23

Cryosurgery Using Liquid Nitrogen And Infectious Skin Diseases [criocirurgia Com Nitrogênio Líquido E As Dermatoses Infecciosas]

Cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen is a surgical resource to treat several types of benign, pre-malignant and malignant skin lesions. It promotes the destruction of tissues and changes the immune response. The authors identify several uses of cryosurgery in treating skin disorders, particularly viral warts, chromoblastomycosis and leishmaniasis. The results of primary and adjuvant treatments are also discussed. The article focuses on precautions when using surgical instruments during treatment of infectious diseases. ©2008 by Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia.834285298Kuflik, E.G., Cryosurgery for cutaneous malignancy. An update (1997) Dermatol Surg, 23, pp. 1081-1087Kuflik, E.G., Gage, A.A., Recurrent basal cell carcinoma treated with cryosurgery (1997) J Am Ac Dermatol, 37, pp. 82-84Blackwood, J., Moore, F.T., Pace, W.G., Cryotherapy for malignant tumors (1967) Cryobiology, 4, pp. 33-38Drake, L.A., Ceilley, R.I., Cornelison, R.L., Dobes, W.L., Dorner, W., Goltz, R.W., Guidelines of care for cryosurgery (1994) J Am Ac Dermatol, 31, pp. 648-653Giuffrida, T.J., Jimenez, G., Nouri, K., Histologic cure of basal cell carcinoma treated with cryosurgery (2003) J Am Ac Dermatol, 49, pp. 483-486Boullie, M.C., Lauret, P.H., La cryochirurgie des carcinomas cutanés. (1987) Ann Dermatol Venereol, 114, pp. 761-765Dawber, R., Cryosurgery: Unapproved uses, dosages, or indications (2002) Clin Dermatol, 20, pp. 563-570Mallon, E., Dawber, R., Cryosurgery in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. Assessment of one and two freeze-thaw cycle schedules (1996) Dermatol Surg, 22, pp. 854-858Dawber R, Colver G, Jackson A. Criocirurgia cutânea. Princípios e prática clínica. São Paulo: Manole, 1999. Capítulo 2, Bases históricas e científicas da criocirurgiap.15-25Dawber R, Colver G, Jackson A. Criocirurgia cutânea. Princípios e prática clínica. São Paulo: Manole, 1999. Capítulo 3, Equipamentos e técnicasp.27-33Kuflik EG. Cryosurgical treatment of cutaneous lesions. In: Roenigk RK, Roenigk Jr HH. In: Dermatologic surgery. Principles and practice. 2 ed. New York: Marcel Dekker Inc1996. p.245-72Dachów-Siuvéc, E., Treatment of cryosurgery in the pre malignant and benign lesions of the skin (1990) Clin Dermatol, 8, pp. 69-79Kuflik, E.G., Cryosurgery updated (1994) J Am Acad Dermatol, 31, pp. 925-944Zacarian, S.A., Cryosurgery in the management of cutaneous disorders and malignant tumors of the skin (1994) Compr Ther, 20, pp. 379-401Abramov, Y., Elchalal, U., Abramov, D., Goldfarb, A., Schenker, J.G., Surgical treatment of vulvar lichen sclerous: A review (1996) Obstet Gynecol Surv, 51, pp. 193-199Conejo-Mir, J.S., Moreno, J.C., Camacho, F., Cryosurgical treatment of professional chronic radiodermatitis (1997) Dermatol Surg, pp. 483-486Johnson, J.T., Management of advanced cancers of the external nose (1993) Oncology (Williston Park), 7, pp. 73-77Sampaio SAP, Rivitti EA. Dermatologia. 3 ed. São Paulo: Artes Médicas2007. Capítulo37, Dermatoses por virusp.551-80Ahmed, I., Agarwal, S., Ilchyshyn, A., Charles-Holmes, S., Berth-Jones, J., Liquid nitrogen cryotherapy of common warts: Cryo-spray vs. cotton wool bud (2001) Br J Dermatol, 144, pp. 1006-1009Sanfilippo, A.M., Barrio, V., Kulp-Shorten, C., Callen, J.P., Common pediatric and adolescent skin conditions (2003) J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol, 16, pp. 269-283Bacelieri, R., Johnson, S.M., Cutaneous warts: An evidence-based approach to therapy (2005) Am Fam Physician, 72, pp. 647-652McClean, H., Shann, S., A cross-sectional survey of treatment choices for anogenital warts (2005) Int J STD AIDS, 16, pp. 212-216Sterling, J.C., Handfield-Jones, S., Hudson, P.M., British Association of Dermatologists. Guidelines for the-management of cutaneous warts (2001) Br J Dermatol, 144, pp. 4-11Mackie RM. Soft tissue tumours. In: Champion RH, Burton JL, Ebling FJG. Textbook of Dermatology. 5 ed. Cambridge: Blackwell Scientific Publications, Inc1994. p.2073-100Tur, E., Bremmer, S., Treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma (1996) Arch Dermatol, 132, pp. 327-331Stieckler, M.C., Freidman-Kien, A.E., Kaposi's sarcoma (1991) Clin Dermatol, 9, pp. 39-47Serfling, U., Hood, A.F., Local therapies for cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (1991) Arch Dermatol, 127, pp. 1479-1481Castillo, C.R., Mañero, M.A.M., Serrano, C.A., Guía de uso de la criocirurgía en atención primaria. (2002) Medicina de Familia, 3, pp. 44-52Ive FA. The umbilical, perianal and genital regions. In: Champion RH, Burton JL, Ebling FJG. Textbook of Dermatology. 1994. 5 ed. Cambridge: Blackwell Scientific Publications, Inc. p.2785-858Sampaio SAP, Rivitti EA. Dermatologia. 3 ed. São Paulo: Artes Médicas2007. Capítulo 44, Micoses profundas. p.723-52Ramirez, M.M., Treatment of chromomycosis with liquid nitrogen (1973) Int J Dermatol, 2, pp. 250-254Pimentel, E.R.A., Castro, L.G.M., Cucé, L.C., Sampaio, S.A.P., Treatment of chromomycosis by cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen: A report of eleven cases (1989) J Dermatol Surg Oncol, 15, pp. 72-77Castro, L.G., Pimentel, E.R., Lacaz, C.S., Treatment of chromomycosis by cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen: 15 years' experience (2003) Int J Dermatol, 42, pp. 408-412Sittart, J.A.S., Valente, N.Y.S., Fragmentos da cromomicose pelo nitrogênio líquido. (1986) Med Cut Ibero Lat Am, 14, pp. 227-232Bonifaz, A., Martinez-Soto, E., Carrasco-Gerard, E., Peniche, J., Treatment of chromoblastomycosis with itraconazole, cryosurgery, and a combination of both (1997) Int J Dermatol, 36, pp. 542-547Sampaio SAP, Rivitti EA. Dermatologia. 3 ed. São Paulo: Artes Médicas2007. Capítulo 46, Leishmanioses e outras dermatoses por protozoáriosp.755-84Panagiotopoulos, A., Stavropoulos, P.G., Hasapi, V., Papakonstantinou, A.M., Petridis, A., Katsambas, A., treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with cryosurgery (2005) Int J Dermatol, 44, pp. 749-752Al-Majali, O., Routh, H.B., Abuloham, O., Bhowmik, K.R., Muhsen, M., Hebeheba, H., A 2-year study of nitrogen therapy in cutaneous leishmaniais (1997) In J Dermatol, 36, pp. 460-462Sampaio SAP, Rivitti EA. Dermatologia. 3 ed. São Paulo: Artes Médicas2007. Capítulo 47, Dermatozoonosesp. 767-84Wolf, P., Ochsendorf, F.R., Milbradt, R., Current therapeutic possibilities in cutaneous larva migrans (1993) Hautarzt, 44, pp. 462-465Sampaio SAP, Rivitti EA. Dermatologia. 3 ed. São Paulo: Artes Médicas2007. Capítulo 78, Tumores e malformações vascularesp. 1197-225Souza Filho, J.J., Criocirurgia de lesões benignas e prémalignas (2002) Gadelha AR, Costa IM. Cirurgia dermatológica no consultório, pp. 361-371. , São Paulo: Atheneu;Sampaio SAP, Rivitti EA. Dermatologia. 3 ed, São Paulo: Artes Médicas2007. Capítulo 41, Hanseníasep. 625-51Esporotricose, C.I., (1995) Dermatologia Tropical, pp. 167-183. , Talhari S, Neves RG, eds, São Paulo: MedsiJones, S.K., Darville, J.M., Burton, J.L., Viruses, skin lesions, and liquid nitrogen (1995) Lancet, 27, p. 1369Graham, G.F., Torre, D., New indications for cryosurgery in infected patients (1993) Surgical dermatology: Advances in current practice, pp. 61-69. , Roenigk RK, Roenigk HH, eds, London: Martin DunitzGraham, G.F., Cryosurgery: A useful tool in the treatment of selected infectious diseases (1994) Int J Dermatol, 33, pp. 107-10

Sickle Cell Disease And Bartonella Spp. Infection

[No abstract available]41Ahmed, S.G., The role of infection in the pathogenesis of vaso-occlusive crisis in patients with sickle cell disease (2011) Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis., 3, pp. e2011028. , http://dx.doi.org/10.4084/mjhid.2011.028, PMid:21869914 PMCid:3152450World Health Organization (2006) Sickle Cell Anaemia, , 59th World Health Assembly Report. A59/9, GenevaCançado, R.D., Jesus, J.A., Sickle cell disease in Brazil (2007) Rev. bras. hematol. hemoter., 29, pp. 203-206Driscoll, M.C., Sickle cell disease (2007) Pediatrics in Review., 28, pp. 259-267. , PMid:17601938Slavov, S.N., Kashima, S., Pinto, A.C., Covas, D.T., Human parvovirus B19: general considerations and impact on patients with sickle-cell disease and thalassemia and on blood transfusions (2011) FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol., 62, pp. 247-262. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-695X.2011.00819.xKaiser, P.O., Riess, T., O'Rourke, F., Linke, D., Kempf, V.A., Bartonella spp.: throwing light on uncommon human infections (2011) Int J Med Microbiol., 1, pp. 7-15. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmm.2010.06.004, PMid:20833105Magalhães, R.F., Cintra, M.L., Barjas-Castro, M.L., Del Negro, G.M., Okay, T.S., Velho, P.E., Blood donor infected with Bartonella henselae (2010) Transfus Med., 20, pp. 280-282. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3148.2010.01001.x, PMid:20345384Maggi, R.G., Mascarelli, P.E., Pultorak, E.L., Hegarty, B.C., Bradley, J.M., Mozayeni, B.R., Breitschwerdt, E.B., Bartonella spp.bacteremia in high-risk immunocompetent patients (2011) Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis., 71, pp. 430-437. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2011.09.001, PMid:2199609

Comparison Of Quality Of Life Questionnaires And Their Correlation With The Clinical Course Of Patients With Psoriasis [comparação Entre Questionários De Qualidade De Vida E Sua Correlação Com A Evolução Clínica De Pacientes Com Psoríase]

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis characterized by erythematous, scaly lesions covering extensive areas of the skin and negatively affecting patients' quality of life by interfering in their personal life, social relationships and routine activities. Treatment offers reasonable control of the condition; however, little importance is generally given to the patient's impression. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the quality of life of patients with psoriasis, to verify whether there is a correlation between quality of life and clinical improvement and to compare two quality of life questionnaires and evaluate their equivalence. METHODS: Patients over 18 years of age attending the psoriasis outpatient clinic at the Teaching Hospital of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), who were either initiating treatment or changing to a new form of treatment, were included in the study. Patients answered two quality of life questionnaires (the Psoriasis Disability Index and the Dermatological Life Quality Index) up to a total of 180 consultations to evaluate whether there is a correlation between the questionnaires. Patients were also rated using a clinical index (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) at baseline and at follow-up visits. RESULTS: The study involved 138 patients (76 men; mean age 50 years). A correlation was found between the questionnaires and the clinical index, showing that clinical changes are reflected in quality of life. The two questionnaires were found to be equivalent. CONCLUSION: It was found that both clinical condition and quality of life improved in the majority of patients receiving care at this outpatient clinic and that the quality of life questionnaires are equivalent. ©2011 by Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia.8614549Perfil nosológico das consultas dermatológicas no Brasil (2006) An Bras Dermatol, 81, pp. 549-558. , Sociedade Brasileira de DermatologiaHong, J., Koo, B., Koo, J., The psychosocial and occupational impact of chronic skin disease (2008) Dermatol Ther, 21, pp. 54-59Fonseca, A., Souza, E.M., Dermatoses eritemático-descamativas (1984) Dermatologia Clínica, pp. 307-316. , Rio de Janeiro. Guanabara KooganBoyman, O., Hefti, P.H., Conrad, C., Nickoloff, B.J., Suter, M., Nestle, F.O., Spontaneous development of psoriasis in new animal model shows an essential role for resident T cells and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (2004) J Exp Med, 199, pp. 731-736Christophers, E., Mrowietz, V., Psoriasis (2003) Fitzpatrick's dermatology in general medicine, pp. 1065-1075. , In:, 5a ed. Nova York. Ed McGraw HillAraujo, M.L.D., Burgos, M.G.P., Moura, I.S.C., Influências nutricionais na psoríase (2009) An Bras Dermatol, 84, pp. 90-92Zell, D., Hu, S., Kirsner, R., Genetic alterations in psoriasis (2008) J Invest Dermatol, 128, p. 1614Magalhaes, R.F., Biral, A.C., Kraemer, M.H., Psoriasis in childhood with total remission X chronic disease: Clinical application of HLA class I markers (2007) J Dermatol Sci, 46, pp. 77-78van de Kerkhof, P.C., Options for the treatment of psoriais: A multifactorial approach (2008) Clin Dermatol, 26, pp. 419-423Takahashi, M.D.F., Arnone, M., Martins, G.A., Chaul, A., Santamaría, J.R., Cestari, T., Consenso brasileiro de psoríase e guias de tratamento (2006) Sociedade Brasileira de Dermatologia, pp. 3-14. , Rio de JaneiroZachariae, C., Mork, N.J., Reunala, T., Lorentzen, H., Falk, E., Karvonen, S.L., The combination of etanercept and methotrexate increases the effectiveness of treatment in active psoriasis despite inadequate effect of methotrexate therapy (2008) Acta Derm Venereol, 88, pp. 495-501Martins, G.A., Arruda, L., Mugnaini, A.S.B., Validação de questionários de avaliação da qualidade de vida em pacientes de psoríase (2004) An Bras Dermatol, 79, pp. 521-535Reich, K., Griffiths, C.E., The relationship between quality of life and skin clearance in moderate-to-sever psoriasis: Lessons learnt from clinical trials with infliximab (2008) Arch Dermatol Res, 300, pp. 537-544Fredriksson, T., Pettersson, U., Severe psoriasis-oral therapy with a new retinoid (1978) Dermatologica, 157, pp. 238-244Mingnorance, R.C., Loureiro SR, Okino L, Foss NT. Pacientes com psoríase: Adaptação psicossocial e características de personalidade (2001) Medicina, 34, pp. 315-324Arruda, L., Ypiranga, S., Martins, G.A., Tratamento sistêmico da psoríase - parte II: Imunomoduladores biológicos (2004) An Bras Dermatol, 79, pp. 393-411Arruda, L.H., Moraes, A.P., The impact of psoriasis on quality of life (2001) Br J Dermatol, 144 (SUPPL 58), pp. 33-36Mazzotti, E., Picardi, A., Sampogna, F., Sera, F., Pasquini, P., Abeni, D., Sensitivity of the Dermatology Life Quality Index to clinical change in patients with psoriasis (2003) Br J Dermatol, 149, pp. 318-32

Treatment of human papillomavirus with peg-interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin

We reported one case of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus co-infected patient who presented a significant improvement of human papillomavirus (HPV) lesions during the treatment of chronic hepatitis using peg-interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin