Efficacy and safety of diphenylcyclopropenone among Chinese patients with steroid resistant and extensive alopecia areata.

BACKGROUND: Topical immunotherapy has recently been found useful in the treatment of chronic and extensive Alopecia Areata (AA). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) use among Chinese patients with steroid resistant and extensive AA in our institute. METHODS: The medical records of 31 Chinese patients treated with DPCP were analysed retrospectively. The efficacy, adverse effects, and relapse rate of DPCP treatment were reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-one (16 male, 15 female) Chinese patients with extensive, steroid resistant Alopecia Areata and a mean age of 28.9 years (SE 10.4) were treated. The mean age of onset was 17.8 years (SE 8.8) with an average disease duration of 11.2 years (SE 7.7). Ten patients had a history of atopy and 4 had a history of thyroid disease. Nail changes were found in 14 patients and a family history of AA was found in 2 patients. Thirteen patients (41.9%) had experienced total hair loss. Two patients abandoned the treatment due to severe side effects. Of the remaining 29 patients, 4 (13.8%), 7 (24.1%), 5 (17.2%), and 13 (44.8%) achieved >90% complete response, >50-90% partial response, >10-50% minimal response, and <10% no response hair regrowth, respectively. Adverse effects included pruritus, erythema, vesiculation, scaling, cervical lymphadenopathy, dyspigmentation and urticarial reactions. Relapse occurred (>25% hair loss) in 69.23% of patients after 18 months of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: DPCP is an effective and tolerable treatment for Chinese patients with extensive, steroid resistant AA.

Public knowledge, attitudes and behavior on antibiotic use: a telephone survey in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine public knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding antibiotic use in the community of Hong Kong. METHODS: A cross-sectional phone survey was conducted in 2006 on people aged 18 or older who were uninstitutionalized Hong Kong residents regarding antibiotic use for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). RESULTS: A total of 1,002 respondents participated in the survey and 77%, 72% and 85% of the respondents had adequate knowledge, appropriate attitude/belief and behavior on antibiotic use, respectively. Some respondents (26%) believed that antibiotic was needed for symptoms of URTIs if they felt sick enough to seek medical care and 8% would share antibiotic with family members. Eighty-nine (9%) respondents had acquired antibiotic without a prescription. During the most recent episode of URTI, 78% had completed the antibiotic treatment course. Stepwise multiple logistic showed that higher education level and family income were associated with adequate patient knowledge. Male gender was a predictor of poor behavior on antibiotic use. Appropriate belief was associated with tertiary level of education or above. CONCLUSIONS: Over 70% of the present cohort showed adequate knowledge, appropriate attitudes/beliefs and behavior on antibiotic use. Despite a small percent (8%-9%) of respondents reportedly shared and/or self-prescribed antibiotics, this would translate into the practice of half a million people in Hong Kong. Public education programmes should therefore be developed, targeting specific areas of misconceptions, misuse of antibiotic and vulnerable groups at risk of improper use of antibiotics.