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Biomedical subjects

A Saúl

Publications and source records attributed to A Saúl.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Treatment of actinomycetoma due to Nocardia spp. with amoxicillin-clavulanate.

BACKGROUND: Actinomycetoma is a chronic occupational condition that occurs frequently in tropical regions. In Mexico 85% of cases are caused by Nocardia brasiliensis. There are two treatments of choice for these cases: a regimen of dapsone plus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole) and, recently, amikacin, either alone or combined. However, not all cases respond properly to these therapies. OBJECTIVES: To report a retrospective, 11-year study of cases of actinomycetomas caused by Nocardia spp., treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate (co-amoxiclav). METHODS: All cases were identified clinically and microbiologically and had previously failed standard therapies. Oral co-amoxiclav 875/125 mg was administered every 12 h. Clinical, microbiological and laboratory follow up was performed every 2 months during the treatment period. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases of actinomycetoma were included, 19 caused by N. brasiliensis and one each by N. asteroides and N. otitidiscaviarum. Clinical and microbiological cure occurred in 15 of 21 cases (71%); two cases improved (10%) and four failed (19%). Mean treatment period was 9.6 months, during which neither side-effects nor laboratory test alterations were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with co-amoxiclav represents an alternative or rescue treatment for cases that have previously failed standard therapies.

Adult↗

Treatment of chromoblastomycosis with terbinafine: experience with four cases.

BACKGROUND: Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic subcutaneous mycosis that occurs more frequently in tropical and subtropical areas and is caused by a group of dematiaceous fungi. It is a difficult-to-treat mycosis with low cure rates and a high rate of relapses. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this trial is to prove the efficacy and tolerance of oral terbinafine in four cases of chromoblastomycosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included four cases of chromoblastomycosis, proved clinically and mycologically, that are presented herein; three of them caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi and one by Phialophora verrucosa. Two had a small extension and the other two were of medium and large extension. Oral terbinafine was administered at a dose of 500 mg/day, which was reduced to half in two of the cases once an 80% improvement had been reached; in the third case the initial dose was maintained, and in the fourth case the dose was increased to 750 mg/day. Three cases reached clinical and mycological cure in a mean treatment period of 7 months, the fourth case reached a significant improvement only after 1.2 years of treatment. The medication was well tolerated; no liver alterations occurred; only one patient suffered mild dyspepsia. CONCLUSION: Terbinafine at 500 mg/day doses represents one of the best treatments for chromoblastomycosis due to its efficacy and excellent tolerability.

Administration, Oral↗

Chromoblastomycosis: clinical and mycologic experience of 51 cases.

This is a study of 51 cases of chromoblastomycosis detected in a 17-year period, all of which were clinically and mycologically proven by direct examinations, cultures and biopsies. The therapeutic results of the various treatments used are reported. Most cases were males (36 of 51; 70%), the mean age was 35 years and farmers predominated (74%); the most frequent lesions were in the lower limbs (54%). Major clinical presentations were nodular (41%) and verrucous (26%). The principal aetiologic agent isolated was Fonsecaea pedrosoi (90%). Overall results of the various treatments were as follows: 31% were cured, 57% improved and 12% failed. The best results were obtained with cryosurgery for small lesions, with itraconazole for large ones, and in some cases the combination of both treatments.

Adolescent↗

Successful treatment of AIDS-related disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis with itraconazole.

Sporotrichosis is a chronic granulomatous mycosis caused by a dimorphic fungus, Sporothrix schenckii. The most common manifestations of infection are lymphocutaneous and fixed-cutaneous types. In the case of immunosuppressed patients, and particularly in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), it occurs as disseminated cutaneous disease. This is a report of a 28-year-old male patient who presented with disseminated cutaneous and hematogenous sporotrichosis involving multiple ulcerative, nodular lesions in various body areas. Treatment consisted of 300 mg/d of itraconazole, which resulted in clinical and mycological cure.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Comparative study between terbinafine 1% emulsion-gel versus ketoconazole 2% cream in tinea cruris and tinea corporis.

An open, prospective, comparative, randomised and parallel-group study of 65 patients was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical 1 % emulsion-gel of terbinafine versus 2% ketoconazole cream in the treatment of tinea corporis and tinea cruris. Treatment for terbinafine emulsion-gel was applied once daily for 1 week, whereas ketoconazole cream was applied once daily for 2 weeks; patients were followed for 2 weeks. Thirty-three patients in the terbinafine group and 32 in the ketoconazole group were evaluated for efficacy and safety. At the end of the study, rates of mycological cure were 94% for terbinafine emulsion-gel and 69% for ketoconazole cream (p = 0.027). A clinical and mycological overall evaluation was obtained for 72% of patients receiving terbinafine emulsion gel and 31% of patients receiving ketoconazole cream (p = 0.002). A total of four patients (1 in the terbinafine group and 3 in the ketoconazole group) had contact dermatitis-like side effects. We conclude that a 1-week course of terbinafine 1% emulsion-gel is significantly more effective than ketoconazole 2% cream in the treatment of tinea corporis and tinea cruris as regards clinical and mycological cure and treatment safety.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Recognition of Streptococcus pyogenes and skin autoantigens in guttate psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Guttate psoriasis is associated with infections by Streptococcus pyogenes and cross-reactions between skin and streptococcal antigens have been reported, suggesting an autoimmune component in the disease. METHODS: In this work, the authors looked for antibodies against S. pyogenes M-5 antigens by immunoblot in 52 sera of psoriasis patients and in 52 sera of normal individuals. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis in skin biopsies from lesions of another group of 16 clinically diagnosed guttate psoriasis patients and four healthy controls were also carried out. RESULTS: All guttate psoriasis patients studied (11) had IgG antibodies that intensively recognized three different proteins of 70, 60 and 14 kDa, as compared to sera from patients with other forms of psoriasis or from healthy controls. The diagnosis of psoriasis was confirmed in 14 of the patients by hematoxylineosin staining. Of the other two patients, one was diagnosed as parapsoriasis and the other as liquen. By indirect immunofluorescence (IFI), all 14 psoriatic patients had autoantibodies against their own lesional skin that did not recognize normal skin from control subjects or from the two non-psoriatic patients. The parapsoriatic and the liquen patients did not have autoantibodies. A rabbit immune serum against S. pyogenes antigens reacted with lesional skin from the 14 guttate psoriatic patients, but not with normal skin from controls or with lesional skin from the 2 non-psoriatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The recognition by immunoblot of streptococcal antigens by serum of guttate psoriasis patients, the presence of autoantibodies against their own skin, and recognition of the same skin antigens by anti-streptococcal rabbit antibodies confirm the participation of the immune system and of streptococcal infections in guttate psoriasis.

Adult↗

Itraconazole in onychomycosis: intermittent dose schedule.

Fifty (13 men and 37 women) consecutive patients, attending the Dermatology. Department of the General Hospital of Mexico, with mycologically proven onychomycosis of the finger and toenails were included in an open clinical trial. These patients received a pulse regimen of itraconazole (200 mg twice daily) given after meals during the first week of each month, for 3 consecutive months. After the last dose, the drug was discontinued, and patients were followed-up for 9 months. Initially, the patients underwent a clinical and fungal evaluation. The study included those with positive potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation and mycologic cultures, who had not been treated either with a systemic antifungal agent for a period of 3 months prior to the study or with a topical agent for a 1-month period prior to the study. Complete blood count and liver test functions that included transaminase, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and lactic dehydrogenase were carried out at the beginning of the study, after the first half of the study (second pulse), and 2 weeks after completion of treatment. Exclusion criteria were pregnant or lactating women, patients receiving antimycotic treatment during the 3 previous months or patients under treatment for gastric hyperacidity. Three mycologic examinations were carried out: before starting treatment in order to identify the fungal species; after the third pulse; and 3, 6, and 9 months after the last drug administration. The effectiveness of the drug was evaluated based on Zaias' method to estimate the reduction of the affected area. A 400 mg/day dose of oral itraconazole was administered in two takes: 200 mg after breakfast and 200 mg after dinner for 1 week (first pulse). The drug was discontinued for a 3-week period and this regimen was applied twice. This meant that only three treatment periods or pulses were carried out. Follow-up visits were scheduled at 6 months after completion of treatment for handnails and 9 months for toenails. At the end of the study, a correlation between clinical-mycologic outcome and liver function tests were carried out to assess the effectiveness and safety of the proposed treatment regimen.

Administration, Oral↗

Mycetoma due to Nocardia caviae.

Mycetoma is the most frequent deep mycosis in Mexico and is caused by Nocardia brasiliensis in 86% of the cases. Two cases of mycetoma due to Nocardia caviae, the first in Mexico, are reported. The strains were identified by their biochemical properties according to the criteria of Gordon and Mihm (1962). Few cases of mycetoma caused by this actinomycete have been reported in the world. One of our cases was unusual: occurring on the trunk as a tumor and diagnosed by finding the "grains" on histologic examination.

Dapsone↗

Amoebiasis cutis.

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Amebiasis↗