Synergy Publishers Journal System
Not a member yet
557 research outputs found
Sort by
Pharyngeal Gonorrhea and Chlamydial Infections in Men who have Sex with Men, a Hidden Threat to the HIV Epidemic
No full textAbstract: Background: Pharyngeal infections with gonorrhea (GC) and chlamydia (CT) can be missed if screened only by routine methods of urethral or urine specimens and may increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV acquisition and transmission. The prevalence of pharyngeal GC and CT in men who have sex with men (MSM) has been reported as 5.3-9.2% and 1.4-1.9% respectively. The objective of this study is to determine the rates of pharyngeal GC and CT infections in MSM in the Miami Dade Health Department (MDHD) STD clinic. Methods: Routine screening for pharyngeal GC and CT infections in MSM was implemented in the MDHD STD clinic in October 2011 using APTIMA Combo 2 Assay®. Validation studies were performed in the Florida Department of Health Laboratories prior to implementation of the test. Retrospective review of medical records of individuals tested for pharyngeal GC/CT from October 2011 to March 2012 was performed. Results from urine and rectal GC/CT testing done at the same time from the same individuals were also reviewed. Results: A total of 475 pharyngeal swabs were performed. Fifty-two (10.9%) were positive for GC and 13 (2.7%) were positive for CT. Among the individuals with GC pharyngeal infection, 21 (52.5%) had a positive GC rectal test and 14 (28%) a positive urine test. Among the individuals with CT pharyngeal infection, 3 (30%) had a positive CT rectal test and 1 (7.7%) a positive urine test. Conclusions: The prevalence of pharyngeal GC/CT in MSM in the MDHD STD clinic is higher than what has been previously reported in other centers. The discrepancy between pharyngeal, rectal, and urine tests emphasizes the importance of extragenital testing in the MSM population
Octadeca-8,11-dienoic Acid Methylester, a New Fatty Acid Metabolite from Fistulina hepatica
No full textAbstract: A new fatty acid metabolite, octadeca-8,11-dienoic acid methylester (1) was isolated together with the known ergosterol (2) from Fistulina hepatica. The edible mushroom Fistulina hepatica is a relatively rarely occurring representative of the wood-rotting basidiomycetes for which no characteristic metabolites have been reported so far. The compounds 1 and 2 were purified by solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC consecutively. The structures of the both compounds were unequivocally determined on the basis of NMR spectroscopic methods including 1D (1H , 13C and DEPT) and 2D (COSY, HSQC and HMBC ) and by mass spectrometry data (ESI, EI and HREI-MS). The new fatty acid methylester 1 displays no antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeriginosa and Candida albicans, but very low activity against EscheÂrichia coli and Proteus vulgaris
A Study of SNOT 22 Scores in Adults with no Sinonasal Disease
No full textAbstract: Objective: To identify a normal SNOT-22 score in subjects not known to be suffering from rhino-sinusitis in India.Study design: Analysis of SNOT 22 scores in participants with no sinonasal disease.Setting: Tertiary care hospital in Central India.Participants: 230 participants from medical institution.Results: Results were obtained from 97 men and 133 women with a mean age of 21 (range 18-24). SNOT scores ranged from 0–35 with a mean score of 8.09. The mode was 0 and the median score 7.Conclusion: Due to the skewed nature of the data, the median score (7) is taken as the normal SNOT 22 score. It is recommended that in a clinical situation a SNOT 22 score of 7 be used as a guide for ''normal'', and that caution be exercised when suggesting treatment to patients with a score below 7. It appears feasible that this test be applied pre and post operatively for appropriate selection and judging the outcome respectively
Van der Hoeve Syndrome and Stapes Surgery: Case Reports and a Review
No full textAbstract: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of genetic disorders that mainly affect the bones. People with this condition have bones that break easily, often from mild trauma or with no apparent cause. There are at least eight recognized forms of osteogenesis imperfecta, designated type I through type VIII. The classic triad of conductive hearing loss, spontaneous fracture and blue sclera is known as Van der Hoeve Syndrome. The aim of the study is to evaluate some case reports with Van der Hoeve Syndrome treated with stapes surgery and to make a review of this syndrome.In the period from 2001 to 2009 4 Caucasian patients affected with Van der Hoeve Syndrome underwent stapes surgery. Totally 6 ears were treated.According to our results, even though the number of patients is limited, stapes surgery in patients with Van der Hoeve syndrome has to be considered a valuable technique in improving hearing if performed by an experienced surgeon.Stapes surgery is successful in resolving the conductive hearing loss in OI patients, even in the long term. Moreover it could reduce the progression of sensorineural hearing impairment. The improvement seems to last in time, even though more studies are necessary
Green Pityriasis Versicolor – A Novel Presentation
No full textPityriasis versicolor may present as hypopigmented, hyperpigmented, concomitantly hypo- and hyperpigmented, erythematous, and atrophic subtypes. We report a 15-year-old boy with pruritic greenish plaques on his anterior abdominal wall. Examination under Wood’s light and skin scrapings for KOH smear examination substantiated pityriasis versicolor. We found no extraneous cause for the greenish pigmentation. The eruptions and the discolouration subsided four weeks after systemic fluconazole treatment. We believe that this represents the first case of such presentation of pityriasis versicolor. The mechanism of the strange colouration is unknown
Can Health Communication Help to Tackle Youth Drug Addiction Problems in Hong Kong, China?
No full textOverall, there are impacts of mass media on public health issues. However, whether the impacts are positive or negative, effective or ineffective, rely very much on a wise use of health communication tactics and a close collaboration with various parties including public health specialists, media gatekeepers as well as the target audiences etc. This paper attempts to discuss whether health communication contributes to tackle youth drug addiction problems in Hong Kong, China
Ewing’s Sarcoma Presenting as Hip Monoarthritis in a Spondyloarthritis Patient
No full textSeronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA) and Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) are common disorders affecting young males. A great challenge is to diagnose both diseases in the same patient. Here we describe a case of a young male patient having SpA, who developed ES that presented as monoarthritis of left hip which was misdiagnosed twice; first as peripheral manifestation of SpA and second as septic arthritis; before the correct diagnosis was reached.A 17 year-old boy presented with inflammatory low back pain of gradual onset lasting for 4 months and knee arthralgias. Examination revealed the presence of localized tenderness over both SIJs and limited lumbar flexion. Plain x-ray showed bilateral grade 2 sacroiliitis and he was Rheumatoid factor negative. The diagnosis of seronegative SpA was made based on fulfillment of the Association of Spondyloarthritis International Society classification criteria for axial SpA. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and sulphasalazine were prescribed resulting in rapid improvement of back pain and knee arthralgia. Four months later, the patient had increased severity of his back pain with pain at the left hip region associated with painful limited internal hip rotation. The diagnosis of left hip arthritis associated with SpA was made without requesting imaging study at that time. The dose of NSAIDs was increased and a low dose steroid was added.Few days later, the general condition of the patient deteriorated with the development of night fever, poor night sleep and poor appetite. On presentation, the patient looked very ill with fever. Hip examination revealed marked painful limited hip movement with flexion deformity. New investigations revealed an ESR of 110 mm/hr, and a CRP of 88 mg/L. There was normochromic normocytic anemia (HB: 9g/dl) and leucocytosis (WBC: 13.300/µL). The diagnosis initially considered was acute septic arthritis. Left hip arthrocentesis failed to aspirate any fluid and ultrasound revealed the absence of joint effusion. A multislice computerized tomography (CT) revealed the presence of a destructive osseous lesion targeting the left pubic bone and the left acetabulum with intra-articular extension into the left hip joint causing bony erosion of the medial aspect of the left femoral head. An MRI showed intra-pelvic extension with enlarged iliac lymph nodes. A biopsy was obtained from the mass. Histopathology revealed a malignant round-cell tumor consistent with ES. The patient was referred for chemotherapy and we knew that he was started on a combination of drugs for a short time before he died. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report in literature of ES in SpA patient and the second report of ES presenting as hip monoarthritis
Spectrum of ANCA-Associated Disorders According to Serological Phenotype in Routine Care: Retrospective Case Series of 209 Patients
No full textObjective: To summarize the experience of three years of positive ANCA (anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) testing in a single university based hospital. We describe the clinical features according to ANCA phenotype of patients who did and did not have ANCA- associated vasculitis (AAV).Methods: We did a review of all samples tested for ANCA in a 3 year-period (2005-2007). Each sample was tested by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera were considered as positive for ANCA testing if either IIF or ELISA for MPO or PR3 antigen specificity was positive. Patients were considered as having AAV on established diagnostic criteria and algorithms.Results: The positive ANCA population consisted in 209 patients, 54 were classified in the AAV group and 155 patients constituted the “Others†group. The typically most relevant ANCA phenotypes (C-ANCA/anti-PR3+ and P-ANCA/anti-MPO+) were detected in 90 % (49/54) of patients in the AAV group and only 10% (15/155) of the “Others†group (p < 0.001). Among the latter none developed AAV during follow-up. Positive IIF alone was found in 4% (2/54) of the AAV group and in 68% (105/155) of the “Others†group (p < 0.001). In patients without AAV, positive IIF alone or positive ELISA with negative IIF represented the main ANCA pattern.Conclusion: In routine clinical practice, most patients with positive ANCA testing do not have AAV. The typical ANCA pattern (C-ANCA/anti-PR3+ or P-ANCA/anti-MPO+) remains a strong predictor of AAV in patients with a high level of suspicion for systemic vasculitis. In other cases, ANCA positivity should be interpreted with extreme caution
A Simple Method to Demonstrate Urate Crystals in Formalin Fixed Tissue
No full textIn clinically suspected cases of gout the surgical tissue specimens should be fixed in absolute ethyl alcohol, because urate crystals are soluble in aqueous formaldehyde.In clinically not recognized cases of gout surgical specimens are usually fixed in formalin in which urate crystals may dissolve.The aim of this study was to demonstrate the advantages of examining not staining sections under polarized light in comparison with haematoxylin-eosin stained ones viewed with normal light.One hundred twenty five (125) tissue samples of 30 patients with gout were studied in serial sections stained with haematoxylin-eosin (examined by usual light microscope), or were studied in unstained sections (examined under polarized light) with an Olympus BX51 polarization microscope.Urate crystals were demonstrable in 23.3% of formalin fixed tissue specimens of the patients stained with haematoxylin-eosin but were present in 56.7% of not stained tissue section viewed under polarized light.Urate crystals were demonstrable in 43.7% of formalin fixed tissue specimens which were considered negative with haematoxylin-eosin stain.The authors concluded that in case of gout the tissue specimens are best evaluated in sections stained with haematoxylin-eosin and in unstained sections as well. The probability of urate positive microscopic findings is significantly higher (c²=4.8700, p<0.027) in unstained sections viewed under polarized light than in the haematoxylin-eosin stained ones. This approach may also be useful in other crystal deposition induced diseases
Prostate Cancer in Sub Saharan Africa
No full textProstate cancer is the leading male cancer worldwide. While there are abundant data on the epidemiology, natural history, treatment and outcomes of the disease in the US and many developed countries, prostate cancer is a good example of cancer disparity in that a little is known about the disease in Sub Saharan Africa. Because of the dominant black race in this region and the fact that black men suffer the higher burden of the disease, it is important to understand that cancer in this population. The purpose of this review is to describe the literature of prostate cancer in Sub Saharan Africa. The authors reviewed the published studies on prostate cancer in Sub Saharan Africa available on PubMed. In addition any other accessible study on the topic was included