Absence of asymptomatic malaria infection in endemic area of Bashagard district, Hormozgan province, Iran

A successful malaria elimination program calls for enough attention to parasite carriers, especially asymptomatic malaria, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of clinical cases. Asymptomatic malaria is an infection that patients do not show any symptom; thus, these patients play critical role in the concept of an elimination program. The current investigation was conducted to evaluate the presence of these cases in Bashagard District, formerly a high malaria transmission area in Hormozgan Province, Iran. Blood samples [n=500] were collected from symptomless individuals residing in Bashagard to evaluate Plasmodium infection by using microscopic, serological and nested-PCR techniques. Regarding the microscopic and nested-PCR analysis, no asymptomatic infection was detected among studied individuals. Totally, 1% of the studied population [5 of 500] had anti PvMSP-119-specific IgG antibody; however, only 0.2% [1 of 500] of the individuals was seropositive to recombinant PfMSP-119, using ELISA. This study showed no asymptomatic malaria infection in the studied population; hence malaria elimination is feasible and can be successfully carried out in this region

parasitological and serological study in malaria suspected patients in Hormozgan Province, Southeastern Iran

Presence of malaria immune factors induced by erythrocytic stages is widely used as an epidemiological approach to diagnose the infection mainly to distinguish the current, recent and past infections. This study was performed to find out the status of malaria, using microscopical and serological [IFA] methods in Bandar-Abbas and Minab, two malarious districts in Hormozgan Province of Iran. 408 patients with suspected malaria symptoms were enrolled. Conventional microscopic examination and serological IFA test were employed for diagnosis of malaria. The rates of agreement between microscopical and serological diagnosis were analyzed by Kappa test. 17.9% and 1.7% of the samples were microscopically diagnosed as P. vivax and P. falciparum, respectively. On the other hand, the serum samples were sero-positive with P. vivax and P. falciparum antigens in 54.2% and 32.1% of the samples, respectively. Serological IFA method could mainly determine the past history of malaria infection, but it was not helpful in detection of current infections. Moreover, there was no significant agreement between microscopical and serological [IFA] method0s in diagnosis of malaria

[Amelanotic spitzoid melanoma of the digit: a case report]

Melanomas of digit is rare, accounting for 1% of all cutaneous melanomas. We report a new case. Our purpose is to discuss the clinicopathological characteristics and the difficulties encountred in establishing diagnosis of this rare tumor. We report the case of a 25 years old woman, who consulted for nodular and ulcerated lesion of the right index, located in the external face of the metacrapo-phalangial joint. The nodule was biopsied and histopathologic exam concluded to spitzoid melanoma. The surgical margins were involved. The patient refused surgical recovery. She consulted 3 years later with axillary lymph nodes. A wide excision of the tumor with lymph node biopsy were made. Histological study concluded to a tumoral residu incompletely excided with lymph node metastases. Amputation of the second digit with dissection of the axillary lymph nodes was made. The surgical margins were tumor free. Lung metastases appeared with a follow up of two months. The patient died early after starting chemotherapy with Deticen. In our report, clinical presentation was misleading causing a diagnosis and therapeutic delay. Pathologically, all the histological types of melanoma were described in the digit except spitzoid melanoma

[Epidermodysplasia verruciformis associeted with congenital osseous dysplasia: Fortuitous association or common genetic determinism?]

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis [EV] is a rare recessive autosomal genetic disorder of the immune system characterized by increased susceptibility to cutaneous Human papilloma virus infection. We report a case of an EV associated with a congenital osseous dysplasia and complicated by an epidermoid carcinoma. EV could be associated with others genetics diseases as the chondrodysplasia and the neurofibromatosis. No case has been reported in the literature, associating EV and congenital osseous dysplasia

[ cutaneous leishmaniasis: comparative study between herbal essences preparation in the green clay and intralesional injection of glucantime [R] about 8 cases]

The cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] is increasing in our country. The conventional treatment is the Glucantime. However, many alternative treatments modalities of the CL have been proposed and one these modalities has been the use of herbal extract applied topically on the lesions. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacity of a preparation based on herbal extracted essences with green clay excipient, and the intralesional injection of Glucantime. Eight patients have been included in our trial having an ulcerated CL with a number of lesions per person lower than 5. Two lesions were treated by two different protocols: one based on topical herbal extract, the other based on intralesional injection of Glucantime. Three lesions were infected and no lesion has been healed after application of our preparation, against 5 lesions that healed by intralesional injection of Glucantime. This preparation seems inefficient in the treatment of the CL in spite of the healing effect known of the herbal essences

[Cutaneous infection in geriatric patients - about 656 cases]

Skin disorders in elderly people are frequent, numerous and variable. The goal of this study was to describe the distinctive features of cutaneous diseases in aged people in an outpatient clinic of dermatology. Two thousands and twelve patients files were studied. The age varied from 65 to 99 years [mean 72 years]. Most of the patients [47.5%] were in the age section 65-70 years with a predominance of male patients [55.1%]. The most common skin conditions were infectious diseases [32.6%]. Superficial mycoses were diagnosed in 30% of cases. Dermatophytoses were the commonest infections [52%]. Erysipelas was the leading cause of bacterial infections [26% of all cases]. Parasitic diseases [6.6%] were dominated by scabies. Skin disorders are certainly underestimated in our study. The low frequency of elderly seeking health care in dermatologic clinic in our series, could be explained by the predominance of young people in the general population. Cutaneous disorders in elderly are dominated by infectious and malignant tumoral conditions, the latter increasing with age

[Diabetes mellitus cutaneous manifestations]

Diabetes mellitus cutaneous manifestations are numerous. The aim of this case control study [200 diabetic patients and 100 controls]. was to estimate the frequency of these manifestations, their clinical particularities and their relationship to the duration of the disease, the equilibrium and degenerative complications of the diabetes. Cutaneous manifestations were found in 84,5% of the diabetic patients and in 49% of controls. Diabetic dermopathy [DD] was found in 11,5% of patients and necrobiosis lipoidica in 1 case. Diabetic bullosa was reported in 6% of cases. It was more commune in ancient and poorly controlled disease. Diabetic rubeosis was found in 3% of diabetic patients and cheiroarthropathy in 7%. Cutaneous infections, mainly due to fungus [47%], were found in 63% of patients and 44% of controls. Side effects of antidiabetic medications were noted in 11% of cases. The high frequency of cutaneous manifestations in diabetes mellitus, in our study, could be explained by the inclusion of all skin diseases, in particular, cutaneous infections. The manifestations were significantly more frequent in diabetic patients. DD, diabetic bullosa and cheiroarthropathy are the most specific manifestations. Skin infections are common but non specific. They are favorised by poorly controlled diabetes. Complications of the diabetic foot are frequent