[Prevalence of fungi in patients with allergic rhinitis in Shahrekord, Iran (2009)]

The identification of fungi agents causes allergic rhinitis is crucial for the appropriate diagnosis prophylaxis and treatment of patients suffering from the disease. This study was done to evaluate the prevalence of fungi in patients with allergic rhinitis in Shahrekord, Iran. This case-control study was done on 124 patients whom referred to Kashani hospital in Shahrekord, Iran during 2009. 62 patients with allergic rhinitis were selected as case group and 62 patients without allergic rhinitis were considered as controls. Direct smear and culture of nasal secretion were performed to identify the fungi. Also IgE level's were measured for all participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, Chi-Square and independent t-tests. The fungi from culture medium of nose exeretion were isolated from 15 [24%] cases and 5 persons [8%] in control group. The most common isolated fungi were Aspergillus [8%] and Penicillinum [6.5%]. In direct smear the fungi agent were found in 23% and 8% in case and control groups respectively. The IgE titre in 31% of cases with allergic rhinitis was higher than 100 IU/mL, but this titre of IgE only was seen in 4.8% of control group [P<0.05]. This study showed that the fungi can be considered as induce of allergic rhinitis

Prevalence of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Bacteroides forsythus in chronic periodontitis by multiplex PCR

Periodontitis is a common inflammatory and infectious disease which destroys the supporting structure of the teeth. Recent studies show that periodontal infection significantly increases the risk of some systemic diseases. It is generally accepted that bacterial species notably Porphyromonas gingivalis and Bacteroides fosythus are highly associated with periodontium. Molecular methods such as Multiplex PCR seem to be more sensitive and faster. Multiplex PCR alone can lower the limit of bacterial detection. Several pathogens can be detected simultaneously by this method. The Subgingival plaque samples from 61 patients including 34 women and 27 men in the age range of 24-69 years and an average age of 43 suffering from chronic periodontitis with probing depth of PD>/=6, and from 40 periodontally healthy controls including 22 women and 18 men in the age range of 21-69 years and an average age of 41.35 were collected by sterile curette. In this study, two species-specific forward primers were used in combination with a single reverse primer. The samples' DNA was extracted and Multiplex PCR was administered. Porphyromonas gingivalis was detected in 51 samples [81.61%] and 16 samples [40%] of the chronic periodontitis patients and the healthy subjects repectively. Moreover, Bacteroides forsythus was detected 32 samples [52.50%] of the chronic periodontitis patients but it was not detected in any of the samples from the healthy group. P. gingivalis and B. forsythus can be simultaneously detected using Multiplex PCR. The present data suggest that P. gingivalis is a more important factor in the etiology of chronic periodontitis. Further studies are needed to determine the spectrum of pathogenicity of the disease and effective management of diagnosis and treatment in order to decrease the risk of periodontal complications such as systemic infections

[ response of tinea capitis to treatment with a two-week oral terbinafine]

Dermatophytosis is a superficial infection caused by a group of closely related fungi, Dermatophytes. Trichophyton and Microsporum species are only Dermatophytes with the capacity of invasion to hair [tinea capitis]. Terbinafine, one of the anti-dermatophytosis drugs which is recommended for the treatment of this infection for a period of 2 to 6 weeks depends on the sensitivity and severity of the infection. The best duration of therapy is not clear yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the response of tinea capitis to treatment with a two-week oral terbinafine regimen. We tested 29 clinical isolates of dermatophytes using both direct smear [%10 KOH solutions] and culture [saburow and dextrose agar medium]. Nine cases were Microsporum and twenty cases were Trichophytons. Patients were treated with oral terbinafine for two weeks and then tested clinically by the same method three times during 2.5 months for detection of the fungi. SPSS software and Fisher-test were used for data analysis. At the end of treatment period, direct Smear showed that 7 cases of ectotria and culture was negative for 20 [100%] cases of Trichophytons and positive for 9 [100%] cases of Microsporums. A two-week oral terbinafine regimen is recommended for treatment of Trichophyton infections but not for Microsporum infections