An unusual giant serpiginous lesion of secondary syphilis

Abstract: Syphilis is a worldwide sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. Its association with other STIs, including HIV, demands early diagnosis and immediate treatment of patients. We herein report an unusual serpiginous form of secondary syphilis.

Erosive lichen planus: a therapeutic challenge

Abstract Erosive lichen planus is an uncommon variant of lichen planus. Chronic erosions of the soles, accompanied by intense and disabling pain, are some of its most characteristic manifestations. We present the case of a woman who developed oral and plantar erosive lichen planus associated with lichen planus pigmentosus and ungueal lichen planus that were diagnosed after several years. The patient failed to respond to multiple therapies requiring longstanding medication but remained refractory. Knowledge of the treatment options for erosive lichen planus is insufficient. Further research is required to clarify their effectiveness, ideally adopting an evidence-based methodology.

Microsporum spp. onychomycosis: disease presentation, risk factors and treatment responses in an urban population

BACKGROUND: Dermatophytes are the main causative agent of all onychomycosis, but genus Microsporum is infrequent and the risk of acquiring the infection is often associated with exposure to risk factors. OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical characteristics of onychomycosis due to Microsporum onychomycosis in an urban population. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the epidemiological and clinical features of 18Microsporum onychomycosis cases of a total of 4220 of onychomycosis cases diagnosed between May 2008 and September 2011 at the tertiary referral center for mycology in Guatemala. RESULTS: Eighteen cases of Microsporum onychomycosis (M. canis, n=10; M. gypseum, n=7; M. nanum, n=1) were identified (prevalence=0.43%). Infection was limited to nails only and disease duration ranged from 1 month to 20 years (mean=6.55 years). The toenails were affected in all cases except for a single M. gypseum case of fingernail. The most common clinical presentation was distal lateral subungual onychomycosis (12/18) followed by total dystrophic onychomycosis (5/18), and superficial white onychomycosis (1/18). M. gypseumpresented in 6 cases as distal lateral subungual onychomycosis and in 1 case like total dystrophic onychomycosis. Five cases (27.78%) were associated with hypertension, diabetes, and psoriasis. Treatment with terbinafine or itraconazole was effective. Two cases of M. canisdistal lateral subungual onychomycosis responded to photodynamic therapy. CONCLUSION: This is the largest reported series of Microsporum onychomycosis and demonstrates such a disease in an urban population. In 27.78% of the cases risk factors for infection were associated to comorbid states. We also report the first 2 cases of successfully treated M. canis onychomycosis with photodynamic therapy and a rare case of M. canis associated dermatophytoma. .

General aspects of drug interactions with systemic antifungals in a retrospective study sample / Aspectos gerais de interações medicamentosas com antifúngicos sistêmicos em um estudo amostral retrospectivo

A retrospective study evaluating hepatic laboratory alterations and potential drug interactions in patients treated for onychomycosis. We evaluated 202 patients, 82% female. In 273 liver enzyme tests, there were changes in only 6%. Potential drug interactions were identified in 28% of patients for imidazole and 14% for terbinafine. The risk of potential interactions increased with the patient's age and use of multiple drugs.

Estudo retrospectivo avaliando alterações laboratoriais hepáticas e potenciais interações medicamentosas em pacientes tratados para onicomicose. Foram avaliados 202 pacientes, sendo 82% do sexo feminino. Em 273 exames de enzimas hepáticas, houve alterações em apenas 6%. Potenciais interações medicamentosas foram identificadas em 28% dos pacientes para imidazólicos e 14% para terbinafina. O risco de interações potenciais aumentou com a idade do paciente e o uso de múltiplas medicações.

Comparative clinical evaluation of efficacy and safety of a formulation containing ciclopirox 8% in the form of a therapeutic nail lacquer in two different posologies for the treatment of onychomycosis of the toes / Avaliação clínica comparativa da eficácia e da segurança de formulação contendo ciclopirox a 8% na forma de esmalte terapêutico em duas diferentes posologias no tratamento de onicomicoses dos pododáctilos

BACKGROUND: The use of topical antifungal agents in the treatment of onychomycosis is of great value in clinical practice as there are different limitations regarding the use of systemic treatment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a nail lacquer formulation containing ciclopirox 8% in two different posologies: the traditional regimen (3/2/1) and a regimen of weekly use. METHODS: A blind, randomized, comparative trial which included 41 patients divided into 02 groups, with Group I using the nail lacquer once weekly and Group II using the traditional regimen (3/2/1). Both groups applied the medication for 06 months. RESULTS: The species most frequently found in groups I and II were Trichophyton rubrum (55% and 61.9%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (30% and 19%). There was a tendency to a higher level of treatment resistance by T. mentagrophytes infection in both groups, without any predilection for sex, age, proportion of the nail affected at the beginning of the study, duration of the clinical disease and quantity of nails affected per person. Both groups had significant levels of mycological cure, clinical response and therapeutic success and there was no statistically significant difference between groups I and II (p >0.05). CONCLUSION: The nail lacquer containing ciclopirox 8% was equally effective at a weekly dose when compared to the traditional dosing (3/2/1), allowing a more comfortable regimen.

FUNDAMENTOS: A utilização de antifúngicos tópicos na terapêutica da onicomicose é de grande valor na prática clínica, visto que há diferentes limitações ao uso das opções terapêuticas sistêmicas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar comparativamente a eficácia e a segurança de uma formulação de esmalte de ciclopirox a 8% em dois diferentes esquemas posológicos: o esquema tradicional (3/2/1) e um esquema posológico de uso semanal. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo cego, comparativo e randomizado que incluiu 41 pacientes, divididos em dois grupos, sendo o grupo I submetido ao esquema posológico de uma vez por semana e o grupo II submetido ao esquema posológico tradicional (3/2/1). Os grupos utilizaram a medicação por 180 dias. RESULTADOS: As espécies mais frequentemente encontradas nos grupos I e II foram Trichophyton rubrum (55% e 61,9%) e Trichophyton mentagrophytes (30% e 19%). Houve tendência de maior resistência ao tratamento pelo T. mentagrophytes nos dois grupos estudados, sem predileção por sexo, idade, proporção de acometimento ungueal inicial, tempo de evolução do quadro ou número de unhas acometidas por indivíduo. Ambas as modalidades apresentaram índices significativos de cura micológica, resposta clínica e sucesso terapêutico, e não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos I e II (p > 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: O esmalte contendo ciclopirox a 8% mostrou-se igualmente eficaz na posologia de uma vez por semana quando comparada à posologia tradicional (3/2/1), permitindo um esquema posológico mais confortável.

Líquen escleroso e atrófico acral: relato de caso / Acral lichen sclerosus et atrophicus: case report

O líquen escleroso e atrófico é uma doença crônica da pele e mucosas, que, usualmente, afeta a área genital de mulheres. Poucos casos de líquen escleroso e atrófico, confinados nos pés e/ou mãos, têm sido relatados. Relatamos um caso de líquen escleroso e atrófico envolvendo as extremidades e,posteriormente, a área perigenital.

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus is a chronic disorder of the skin and mucosal surfaces, most commonly affecting the female genitalia. Few cases of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus confined to the feet and/or hands have been reported. We report a case of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus involving first the extremities and then the perigenital area.

Acropustulosis infantil / Infantile acropustulosis

La acropustulosis infantil (AI) es una patología benigna, autorresolutiva, que se presenta con mayor frecuencia en los primeros años de la vida, caracterizada por episodios recurrentes de pápulas, vesículas o pústulas, muy pruriginosas y de localización acral. Su etiología es desconocida y en ocasiones terapéuticas, entre las que se destacan los glucocorticoides tópicos de mediana y alta potencia. Se realizó un estudio retrosptectivo de 22 pacientes con diagnóstico de AI atendidos en nuestra institución durante un período de 12 años; se analizaron variables epidemiológicas, clínicas y terapéuticas. El 63,64% de los pacientes eran de sexo femenino; la edad promedio de comienzo de los síntomas fue 11 meses; 8 pacientes referían haber realizado tratamiento previo para escabiosis, pero sólo en 3 se pudo confirmar el diagnóstico. El tratamiento utilizado consistió en glucocorticoides tópicos asociado a antihistamínicos con mejoría de los síntomas en cada brote.

Micetoma por Actinomadura madurae en el pie: reporte de un caso en Chile / Actinomadura madurae mycetoma of the foot: report of one case

Mycetoma is a chronic infection that affects skin, subcutaneous tissue and bone. Its etiology can be mycotic or bacterial. It affects mainly the lower extremities ofmiddie age men livingin tropical climates. We repon a 44 year-old male ¡ivingin a template zone, consulting for swelling and pain in the left foot, lasting for 10 years. Physical examination showed a swollen left foot with hyperpigmented skin and a few crustedpapules. Radiology showed an extensive bone involvement of the midfoot with several oval and radiolucid images. Magnetic resonance showed son and bone tissue involvement, with múltiple oval and low intensity images in TI and T2. The biopsy was compatible with an unspecific chronic osteomyelitis. A bacterial identification by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing in the biopsy determined the presence of an Actinomadura madurae. Treatment with cotrimoxazol was started).

An open randomized comparative study to test the efficacy and safety of oral terbinafine pulse as a monotherapy and in combination with topical ciclopirox olamine 8% or topical amorolfine hydrochloride 5% in the treatment of onychomycosis.

BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of nails caused by dermatophytes, yeasts and molds. AIMS: To study the efficacy and safety of oral terbinafine pulse as a monotherapy and in combination with topical ciclopirox olamine 8% or topical amorolfine hydrochloride 5% in onychomycosis. METHODS: A clinical comparative study was undertaken on 96 Patients of onychomycosis during the period between August 2005 to July 2006. Forty-eight patients were randomly assigned in group A to receive oral terbinafine 250 mg, one tablet twice daily for seven days every month (pulse therapy); 24 patients in group B to receive oral terbinafine pulse therapy plus topical ciclopirox olamine 8% to be applied once daily at night on all affected nails; and 24 patients in group C to receive oral terbinafine pulse therapy plus topical amorolfine hydrochloride 5% to be applied once weekly at night on all the affected nails. The treatment was continued for four months. The patients were evaluated at four weekly intervals till sixteen weeks and then at 24 and 36 weeks. RESULTS: We observed clinical cure in 71.73, 82.60 and 73.91% patients in groups A, B and C, respectively; Mycological cure rates against dematophytes were 88.9, 88.9 and 85.7 in groups A, B and C, respectively. The yeast mycological cure rates were 66.7, 100 and 50 in groups A, B and C, respectively. In the case of nondermatophytes, the overall response was poor: one out of two cases (50%) responded in group A, while one case each in group B and group C did not respond at all. CONCLUSION: Terbinafine pulse therapy is effective and safe alternative in treatment of onychomycosis due to dermatophytes; and combination therapy with topical ciclopirox or amorolfine do not show any significant difference in efficacy in comparison to monotherapy with oral terbinafine.

Mycetoma fungal infection: multiple organisms as colonizers or pathogens?

We describe a patient with mycetoma or Madura foot, in which histopathological stains of the bone and surface cultures suggested three different organisms including Nocardia species as the cause. Criteria for the diagnosis of the organisms, differentiation between colonizer and pathogen, and significance of mixed infections are discussed.

Descrevemos um paciente com micetoma ou maduromicose de pé, no que colorações histopatológicos de osso e de culturas superficiais sugeriram três organismos diferentes, incluindo espécies de Nocardia como causador. Os critérios de diagnóstico dos organismos, a diferenciação entre colonizador e patógeno, e a significância das infecções mistas são discutidos.

Eumycetoma pedis due to Exophiala jeanselmei.

A case of eumycetoma of foot in an 8-year old male child was clinically diagnosed as chronic osteomyelitis and was microbiologically confirmed as eumycetoma. The case is being reported for its uncommon clinical presentation and etiological agent, Exophiala jeanselmei. The patient recovered completely after treatment with ketoconazole.

Tratamiento de verruga plantar recalcitrante con terapia fotodinámica / Treatment of recalcitrant verruca plantaris with photodynamic therapy

Se presenta el caso de un paciente de sexo masculino, de 55 años de edad, portador de una verruga plantar recalcitrante de casi dos años de evolución. El paciente fue tratado con terapia fotodinámica utilizando metil aminolevulinato y una fuente de luz roja de 630 mm, con una dosis de 37 J/cm2. Luego de tres sesiones de terapia fotodinámica, el paciente presentó una remisión completa de la verruga plantar, lo que ha persistido luego de ocho meses de seguimiento y con excelente resultado cosmético.

We present the case of a 55-year-old male patient with recalcitrant verruca plantaris for almost two years. The patient was treated with photodynamic therapy using aminolevulinic acid and a red light source (630 nm), with a 37 J/cm2 dose. After three photodynamic therapy sessions, the patient showed a complete remission and is still free of the lesion after 8 months of follow-up, evidencing an excellent cosmetic outcome.

Estudio clínico y microbiológico de los micetomas observados en el Hospital de Infecciosas Francisco J. Muñiz en el período 1989-2004 / Clinical and microbiological study of mycetomas at the Muñiz Hospital of Buenos Aires between 1989 and 2004

Se presentan las características clínicas, microbiológicas y los resultados del tratamiento de 76 casos de micetomas observados en el período 1989-2004 en el Hospital Muñiz. Cuarenta y nueve fueron varones y 27 mujeres, con una edad promedio de 43,4 años. La mayor parte de los pacientes adquirió la infección en nuestro país, las provincias más afectadas fueron Santiago del Estero con 31 casos y el Chaco con 11; 8 enfermos procedían del exterior, 6 de Bolivia y 2 de Paraguay. El promedio de evolución de la enfermedad fue de 9,2 años. Las localizaciones más comunes fueron las de los miembros inferiores: pies 63, tobillos 3 y rodillas 2. Se comprobó compromiso óseo en 48 casos y adenomegalias en 5. Fueron identificados los siguientes agentes causales: Madurella grisea 29 casos, Actinomadura madurae 26, Scedosporium apiospermum 5, Nocardia brasiliensis 5, Acremoniun spp. 4 (Acremonium falciforme 2, Acremonium kiliense 1 y Acremonium recifei 1), Madurella mycetomatis 3, Fusarium solani 2, Nocardia asteroides y Streptomyces somaliensis 1 caso cada uno. Los tratamientos más frecuentemente utilizados fueron ketoconazol o itraconazol en los micetomas maduromicósicos y la asociación de cotrimoxazol con ciprofloxacina o amicacina en los micetomas actinomicéticos. La amputación del miembro afectado se realizó en 6 casos, 25 pacientes alcanzaron la remisión clínica completa y 34 presentaron mejorías importantes.

This work presents clinical, microbiological and outcome data collected from 76 patients with mycetomas at the Muñiz Hospital from 1989 to 2004. Forty-nine patients were male and 27 female; the mean age was 43.4 years. The majority of the patients acquired the infection in Argentina: the most affected provinces were Santiago del Estero with 31 cases, and Chaco with 11; 8 cases came from other countries (Bolivia 6 and Paraguay 2). The mean evolution of the disease was 9.2 years. The most frequently observed sites were: feet 63 cases, ankles 3, and knees 2. Forty-eight patients had bone lesions and 5, adenomegalies. The following etiological agents were identified: Madurella grisea 29 cases, Actinomadura madurae 26, Scedosporium apiospermum 5, Nocardia brasiliensis 5, Acremonium spp. 4 (Acremonium falciforme 2, Acremonium kiliense 1, Acremonium recifei 1), Madurella mycetomatis 3, Fusarium solani 2, Nocardia asteroides 1 and Streptomyces somaliensis 1. The main drugs used in the treatments were ketoconazole and itraconazole for maduromycotic mycetomas, and cotrimoxazole associated with ciprofloxacin or amikacin for actinomycetic mycetoma. Six patients had to undergo amputation, 25 cases achieved complete clinical remission and 34 showed remarkable improvement.

Onychomycosis by Scytalidium dimidiatum: report of two cases in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Onicomicoses se apresentam como infecções fúngicas localizadas, muito freqüentes na prática dermatológica. Na grande maioria das vezes, são causadas por dois grupos: dermatófitos e leveduras do gênero Candida. Entretanto, em um pequeno percentual dos casos, os agentes etiológicos compreendem fungos filamentosos não-dermatófitos, pertencentes a vários gêneros e espécies. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de apresentar dois casos de onicomicose associados à espécie Scytalidium dimidiatum em pacientes residentes em dois municípios do estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. São discutidos aspectos relacionados a sua patogênese, epidemiologia, diagnóstico laboratorial e tratamento.

Terbinafina en onicomicosis pediátrica: estudio prospectivo / Terbinafine in pediatric onychomycosis: prospective study

La onicomicosis es una afección poco frecuente en niños. Su tratamiento habitualmente requiere del uso de antimicóticos orales. La terbinafina ha demostrado ser efectiva en el tratamiento de la onicomicosis; sin embargo, existen pocos estudios sobre uso en niños. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la efectividad de la terbinafina oral en el tratamiento de onicomicosis en niños. Entre 1992 y 1998 fueron atendidos en el Servicio de Dermatología de la Pontificia Universidad Católica 99 niños con patología ungueal, 32 de ellos con onicomicosis. De este grupo, 11 niños con onicomicosis de pies por T. Rubrum fueron tratados con terbinafina oral por tres meses, obteniéndose en todos los casos remisión clínica de la onicomicosis, sin presentar efectos adversos durante la terapia. La terbinafina demuestra ser una droga efectiva y segura en el tratamiento de la onicomicosis en niños

Onychomycosis caused by Scytalidium dimidiatum. Report of two cases. Review of the taxonomy of the synanamorph and anamorph forms of this coelomycete

The authors report two cases of onychomycosis in the dystrophic form, one of them involving an HIV-positive patient, provoked by Scytalidium dimidiatum, previously called Scytalidium lignicola. The subject is reviewed from the taxonomic viewpoint, considering the anamorph Hendersonula toruloidea as a synonym of Nattrassia mangiferae, and having Scytalidium dimidiatum as the major synanamorph. According to many mycologists, Scytalidium hyalinum may be a separate species or a hyaline mutant of Scytalidium dimidiatum. Scytalidium lignicola Pesante 1957 was considered to be the type-species of the genus by ELLIS (1971)13 and later to be a "conidial state" of Hendersonula toruloidea by the same author, today known as Nattrassia mangiferae. The microorganism lives only on the roots of certain plants (mainly Platanus and Pinus). It produces pycnidia and is not considered to be a pathogen, although it is considered as a possible emerging agent capable of provoking opportunistic fungal lesions. The importance of this topic as one of the most outstanding in fungal taxonomy, so likely to be modified over time, as well as its interest in the field of dermatologic mycology, are emphasized