Comparison of the therapeutic effects of Garcin(®) and fluconazole on Candida vaginitis

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study aimed to determine and compare the effects of garlic tablets (Garcin(®)) and fluconazole on Candida vaginitis in women who presented to a health centre in Koohdasht, Iran, from August 2011 to March 2012.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical trial was conducted on 110 married women (aged 18-44 years) who had complaints of itching or a burning sensation in the vaginal area. Candida vaginitis was diagnosed by pH measurement of vaginal secretions, direct microscopic evaluation and Sabouraud dextrose agar cultures of the vaginal discharge. On confirmation of diagnosis, the patients were randomly divided into two groups (n = 55). One group received 1,500 mg of Garcin tablets daily and the other received fluconazole tablets 150 mg daily, over a period of seven days. Four to seven days after the completion of treatment, patients were examined for treatment response and possible side effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complaints related to the disease improved by about 44% in the Garcin group and 63.5% in the fluconazole group (p < 0.05). The overall symptoms of the disease (i.e. redness of vulva and vagina, cheesy discharge, pustulopapular lesions and abnormal cervix) improved by about 60% in the Garcin group and 71.2% in the fluconazole group (p > 0.05). Results of microscopic evaluation and vaginal discharge culture showed significant differences before and after intervention in both groups (p < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The present study shows that Garcin tablets could be a suitable alternative to fluconazole for the treatment of Candida vaginitis.</p>

A case of chondrosarcoma presenting as Garcin syndorme

Garcin's syndrome is defined as showing total unilateral cranial nerve palsies (at least more than 7 ipsilateral cranial nerve palsies), without either sensory or motor long tract disturbance, and without intracranial hypertension. The present report describes an 8-year-old child who had swelling on the right postauricular area and ptosis on the same side which developed before 2 months ago. Neurologic examination disclosed complete unilateral cranial nerve palsies on the right side. Brain MRI revealed a bulky hypervascular well-enhancing solid tumor, involving the right temporal bone, middle cranial fossa, cerebellopontine angle, infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossae, and parapharyngeal space. A biopsy was performed, and its finding showed a chondrosarcoma.