ABSTRACT
Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized anti-Ig E monoclonal antibody used as the third line treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). We report four patients with severe antihistamine-resistant CSU, who developed angioedema, anaphylaxis and/or flare up of urticaria at different times following omalizumab therapy.
Subject(s)
Anaphylaxis/chemically induced , Angioedema/chemically induced , Drug Hypersensitivity/etiology , Immunologic Factors/adverse effects , Omalizumab/adverse effects , Urticaria/drug therapy , Adult , Aged , Anaphylaxis/diagnosis , Anaphylaxis/drug therapy , Angioedema/diagnosis , Angioedema/drug therapy , Chronic Disease , Drug Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Drug Hypersensitivity/drug therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Urticaria/diagnosisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the differences in self-reported oral health attitudes and behaviour between preclinical and clinical dental students in Turkey using Hiroshima University Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI). METHODS: A Turkish version HU-DBI questionnaire with additional 7 questions, totally 27 items, was distributed among 1022 dental students. RESULTS: The response rate was 75% (486 preclinical and 278 clinical students). Significantly higher (P=0.000) percentage of the preclinical students, compared to clinical students, worry about colour of their teeth, are bothered by the colour of their gums, put off going to the dentist until they have a toothache; think that their teeth are getting worse despite their daily brushing, it is impossible to prevent gum disease with tooth brushing alone, and they cannot help having false teeth when they are old. Moreover, the preclinical students more frequently agree on that their gums tend to bleed when they brush their teeth, they use a toothbrush which has hard bristles, and they don't feel they've brushed well unless with strong strokes (P=0.000). However, a higher proportion of clinical students compared to preclinical students brush each of their teeth carefully, think that they can clean their teeth without using toothpaste, have had their dentist tell them that they brush very well (P=0.000). The HU-DBI score of clinical students (7.47±1.86) was significantly (P=0.000) higher than preclinical students (6.00±1.86). CONCLUSIONS: Dental students should have a comprehensive program, including their self-care regimes, starting from their first year of education.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Persistent vulval pruritus is a frequent problem and patients may not show signs of a primary vulval dermatosis. Allergic contact sensitivity is an important factor in such patients but may also occur as a secondary event in women with vulval dermatoses. OBJECTIVES: We aim to describe women with vulval pruritus who were evaluated for vulval dermatoses. We patch tested to help define or exclude allergens. METHODS: In a 3-year period, 50 women with vulval pruritus were examined for existence of vulval dermatosis. All the patients were patch tested to the European Baseline Series, medicaments, preservatives, vehicles, cosmetics and products they routinely used. RESULTS: Ages of the patients ranged from 22 to 62 years (mean 39.9 +/- 9 years) and duration of the diseases ranged from 0.5-360 months (mean 56.1 +/- 65.6 months). 52% of the women had at least 1 positive patch test. 8 patients (16%) had 1 or more relevant allergic positive reactions. The relevant allergens were usually cosmetics, preservatives and medicaments. CONCLUSIONS: Women with vulval pruritus were patch tested to help define or rule our allergens. Contact allergy incidence in these patients is high. The relevant allergens were usually cosmetics, preservatives and medicaments.
Subject(s)
Allergens/adverse effects , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/etiology , Pruritus Vulvae/etiology , Administration, Topical , Adult , Cosmetics/adverse effects , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/diagnosis , Dermatitis, Irritant/complications , Dermatologic Agents/adverse effects , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Patch Tests , Preservatives, Pharmaceutical/adverse effects , Vulvar Diseases/drug therapyABSTRACT
Vulvovaginal candidiasis is one of the most frequent infections of the female genital tract with a high incidence. Although numerous antimycotical agents are available for treatment of yeast vaginitis, there are few comparative data on the in vivo and in vitro activity of these drugs. The aim of this open, randomized, and comparative study was to determine in vivo and in vitro effectiveness of the 3 systemic antifungal agents: terbinafine and 2 azoles (itraconazole and fluconazole) in the treatment of patients with Vulvovaginal candidiasis. A total of 44 patients who had signs and symptoms of Vulvovaginal candidiasis were recruited for the study. Patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups: terbinafine 500 mg/d orally was used for 7 days, itraconazole 200 mg/d orally was used for 7 days, and fluconazole 150 mg orally was used as a single dose. Both clinical and mycologic examinations were performed for posttreatment assessment at week 4. This study revealed a clinical cure rate 33.3% for terbinafine, 60% for itraconazole, and 66.6% for fluconazole (P>0.05). Mycologic cure rates were 33.3%, 10%, and 66.6% respectively (P<0.05). Overall cure rates were 33.3%, 10%, and 53.3% (P>0.05). Terbinafine could be an alternative treatment option in Vulvovaginal candidiasis because there were no significant differences in the clinical and overall cure rates among 3 antifungal agents. However, terbinafine could not be suggested as a first-line treatment in Vulvovaginal candidiasis. Systemic use of terbinafine in larger numbers of cases may give more information about the effectiveness of this drug in the treatment of patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis.
