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Biomedical subjects

R K Scher

Publications and source records attributed to R K Scher.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Itraconazole therapy is effective for pedal onychomycosis caused by some nondermatophyte molds and in mixed infection with dermatophytes and molds: a multicenter study with 36 patients.

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis of the toenail caused by nondermatophyte molds alone or in combination with dermatophytes is difficult to eradicate with standard antifungal therapy. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the effectiveness of itraconazole in the treatment of toenail onychomycosis caused by molds alone or in combination with dermatophytes. METHODS: We treated 36 patients with this drug given as continuous dosing (100 or 200 mg/ day) for 6 to 20 weeks or as a 1-week pulse dosing (200 mg twice daily for 1 week per month) for two to four pulses. RESULTS: Patients with toenail onychomycosis with the following organisms were treated: Aspergillus spp. (eight patients), Fusarium spp. (four patients), Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (23 patients), and Alternaria spp. (one patient). Nineteen patients had onychomycosis with a mixed origin. At follow-up, 12 months after therapy was initiated, clinical and mycologic cure was achieved in 15 of 17 patients (88%) with onychomycosis caused by a single mold. In patients with mixed infection, a clinical cure was obtained in 16 of 19 patients (84%) and a mycologic cure in 13 of 19 patients (68%). CONCLUSION: Itraconazole appears to be effective and safe for the treatment of toenail onychomycosis caused by some nondermatophyte molds alone or in combination with dermatophytes.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1997

A multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of intermittent therapy with itraconazole for the treatment of onychomycosis of the fingernail.

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is the most frequent cause of nail disease and represents 30% of all mycotic infections of the skin. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of intermittent dosing of itraconazole ("pulse therapy") with placebo in fingernail onychomycosis. METHODS: Seventy-three patients with clinically and mycologically diagnosed fingernail onychomycosis were randomly selected to receive itraconazole, 200 mg twice daily, or placebo for the first week of each month for 2 consecutive months; patients were observed for 19 weeks. Seventy-one patients received the study medication and were included in the safety analysis. Efficacy of treatment was evaluated in 46 patients. RESULTS: A significantly greater proportion of itraconazole-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved clinical success (77% vs 0%), mycologic success (73% vs 13%), and overall success (68% vs 0%). No itraconazole-treated patient had a clinical or mycologic relapse during the follow-up period. Ten itraconazole-treated patients (28%) and nine placebo-treated patients (26%) had adverse events. Three patients discontinued treatment for safety reasons. CONCLUSION: Pulse therapy with itraconazole for 2 consecutive months produces significantly greater clinical, mycologic, and overall success than placebo. Short-term itraconazole pulse therapy for fingernail onychomycosis is effective and well tolerated.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Current management of onychomycosis. An overview.

Until recently pedal onychomycosis, particularly when it affected several nails or involved a large nail plate area, was often regarded as untreatable. The advent of new therapies such as itraconazole, terbinafine, and fluconazole has been a significant and welcome addition to the armamentarium of therapies at the disposal of the physician. These drugs appear in the nail plate within days of starting oral therapy, being taken up by both the nail matrix and the nail bed. The duration required for effective therapy has been reduced, while the efficacy rates and cost-effectiveness have increased compared with the older treatments, such as griseofulvin. Some of the newer agents appear to have a wider spectrum of activity. Thus far, the newer agent have exhibited a low risk to benefit ratio. I may be possible to combine oral therapies with topical and surgical treatments, thereby further increasing efficacy rates and the cost-effectiveness while decreasing adverse effects and duration of oral therapy.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1997

Double-blind, randomized comparison of itraconazole capsules vs. placebo in the treatment of toenail onychomycosis.

Three multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were conducted to determine whether twelve weeks of therapy with itraconazole, 200 mg, was effective in the treatment of dermatophyte infection of the toenail. Significantly more patients treated with itraconazole (110 patients) than with placebo (104 patients) achieved clinical (65 percent vs. 3 percent) and mycologic (54 percent vs. 6 percent) success. The mean percentage of affected reference nail before the initiation of therapy was 76 percent. Adverse events were comparable in the two treatment groups. These findings demonstrate that twelve weeks of continuous itraconazole, 200 mg once daily, is a highly effective, well-tolerated therapy for the management of toenail onychomycosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Onychomycosis: a significant medical disorder.

A number of factors have contributed to the growing incidence of fungal nail infections, including an aging population, an expanding number of immunocompromised patients, and increasing participation in fitness-related activities. Although onychomycosis and other nail diseases can adversely affect the appearance of the nail unit, the impact of such nail disfigurement extends well beyond the aesthetic realm. In fact, many patients with fungal nail infections experience serious physical, psychosocial, and occupational effects as a result of this disease. In addition, onychomycosis is a serious health burden, particularly in older persons, and has a major economic impact on the healthcare system.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1996

Newer systemic antifungal drugs for the treatment of onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis, the infection of the nail unit by any fungus, far from being just a cosmetic problem, has significant psychological, physical, social, and financial implications. Further, it has experienced a dramatic rise in incidence in recent years. The introduction of newer systemic antifungal drugs (itraconazole, fluconazole, and terbinafine) offer an increased cure rate, a broader spectrum of activity, shortening of the treatment period, and increased safety, compared with the traditional systemic antifungal drugs griseofulvin and ketoconazole. Because the fungi involved are difficult to eradicate from the floors of communal bathing facilities, where the infection is often contracted, an effective treatment is likely to have a significant impact on disease prevalence.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Onychomycosis. New therapies for an old disease.

The newer generation of antifungal agents such as itraconazole and terbinafine are more effective than the older therapies, griseofulvin and ketoconazole, in the treatment of dermatophyte pedal onychomycosis. Itraconazole can be administered as continuous dosing, 200 mg per day for 3 months, or in the form of pulse therapy, 200 mg twice a day for 1 week per month for 3 consecutive months. Terbinafine is given as continuous dosing, 250 mg per day for 3 months.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

The nurse's role in diagnosing and treating onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis involves fungal invasion of the nail unit via the nail bed or nail plate. Nurses play an important role in diagnosing the disease, managing it, and educating patients about it. Newer oral antifungal agents have increased success rates with shortened treatment times.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1994

Topical and surgical treatment of onychomycosis.

Dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds can be the causative organisms of fungal nail infections. Alternatives to the systemic management of onychomycosis include topical and surgical treatments. Traditionally, topical agents used as monotherapy for onychomycosis are only able to inhibit the growth of fungal nail infections; clinical and mycologic cures have recently been observed after treatment with some of the newer preparations. In contrast, surgical treatments almost always need to be used in conjunction with either topical or systemic antifungal therapy. An efficacious topical treatment alternative for onychomycosis involves applying antifungal agents concurrently or sequentially with the removal or debridement of the infected nail structures. Alternatively, the application of antifungal lacquer to fingernail and toenail fungal infections may also be an effective topical therapy for the treatment of less severe forms of onychomycosis.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1994

Onychomycosis is more than a cosmetic problem.

The nails serve several important functions and, when they are infected by fungal organisms, these functions are severely impaired. In addition, the quality of life, in terms of self-esteem and social interaction, is adversely affected when fungal nail infections are present. Finally, when finger and/or toenails are abnormal this may interfere with patients' occupations.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A double-blind, vehicle-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of Fungoid Tincture in patients with distal subungual onychomycosis of the toes.

Onychomycosis is one of the most common causes of nail disease and one of the hardest to treat among fungal infections. A double-blind, vehicle-controlled study has been conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Fungoid Tincture (Pedinol Pharmacal, Inc), for the treatment of fungal infection of the toenails. Ten patients with distal subungual onychomycosis were treated for twelve months with topical Fungoid Tincture. Another ten patients with the same ailment were treated with the vehicle alone. Once a month, clinical and global evaluation of the target nail was done, in addition to trimming and debridement of the nails. After twelve months of treatment, 90 percent of patients applying Fungoid Tincture showed negative results on culture. There were minimal adverse effects.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1993

Open-label study of the safety and efficacy of naftifine hydrochloride 1 percent gel in patients with distal subungual onychomycosis of the fingers.

Optimal topical therapy for distal subungual onychomycosis is not available. An open-label study was performed to determine the safety and efficacy of naftifine hydrochloride (Naftin) 1 percent gel in patients with this disorder of the fingers. Ten patients with culture-proven distal subungual onychomycosis were treated twice daily for six months with naftifine hydrochloride 1 percent gel. At monthly intervals, the target nail was trimmed, the nail bed debrided, and global clinical assessment recorded. Following months three, six, and eight (two months after treatment), the target nail underwent evaluation with potassium hydroxide wet mount and fungal culture. After six months of therapy, eight of ten patients showed negative results of fungal culture and eight of ten patients showed clinical improvement. Adverse effects were minimal and included mild peeling in two patients and mild fissuring with transient fingertip numbness in one patient.

Administration, Topical↗