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Biomedical subjects

A Mindel

Publications and source records attributed to A Mindel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Anal human papillomavirus infection: a comparative study of cytology, colposcopy and DNA hybridisation as methods of detection.

OBJECTIVE: To compare anal cytology, colposcopy and DNA hybridisation as methods of detecting anal HPV infection. SUBJECTS AND DESIGN: Patients attending: (1) a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic with ano-genital warts; (2) a surgical out-patient department with anal fissure or haemorrhoids were examined for evidence of anal HPV infection. RESULTS: Considering GUM clinic attenders, 17% (38/225) and 40% (90/225) had perianal or anal canal warts respectively. Colposcopic examination revealed anal acetowhite lesions without warts in 28% (63/225). Cytological evidence of HPV infection was found in 98%, 83%, and 90% of patients with anal canal warts, perianal warts and acetowhite lesions respectively. Anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) was documented in 22% of patients with anal canal warts compared with 6% with perianal warts (p less than 0.01). HPV DNA was detected from the anal brushings of 71%, 50%, 32%, and 29% of patients with anal canal warts, perianal warts, acetowhite lesions and a normal anal examination respectively. HPV type 6/11 was detected in the majority of HPV positive samples. Considering surgical out-patient attenders with no history or signs of anal warts, 25% showed cytological evidence of anal HPV infection and HPV DNA was detected from anal brushings in 3% (2/71). CONCLUSION: Anal examination with the colposcope is a useful method for detecting subclinical HPV infection. Anal cytology may prove helpful for detecting AIN, however, since koilocytosis was rarely seen, the specificity of the cytological criteria for anal HPV infection in the absence of AIN is uncertain. DNA analysis of anal brushings proved only moderately sensitive.

Adult

Is it meaningful to treat patients with recurrent herpetic infections?

The introduction of acyclovir a safe and efficacious antiviral agent has revolutionised the treatment of recurrent orolabial and genital herpes. The treatment of each recurrence with topical or oral acyclovir is of limited benefit. However, long term suppression with oral acyclovir is highly effective. Patients should be considered for therapy on the basis of the frequency and severity of recurrence, and any associated psychosexual morbidity. Treatment should be commenced at a dose of 200 mg qds. Subsequent reduction in dose may be possible. Treatment should continue for 1 year then be stopped in order to ascertain if the frequency of recurrence still warrants suppression. The reasons for failure to respond to long term suppression or relapse include malabsorption and the emergence of drug resistant strains.

Acyclovir

Cutaneous herpes simplex infection.

Cutaneous Herpes simplex infections occur either as a result of direct inoculation or in conjunction with primary genital or orolabial herpes. Lesions can occur anywhere on the body. However, when they occur in conjunction with genital herpes the commonest sites are the buttock, thigh and fingers. Cutaneous lesions may recur. In immunosuppressed patients recurrences may lead to 2 serious mucocutaneous complications; chronic progressive mucocutaneous herpes where lesions spread locally to leave large non-healing ulcers; or acute mucocutaneous dissemination where the infection disseminates widely over the skin. In dermatological conditions, especially atopic eczema, widespread cutaneous dissemination (Kaposi's varicelliform eruption) may occur. This usually occurs in association with primary herpes although recurrences do sometimes occur.

Herpes Simplex

Screening pregnant women for genital herpes.

Neonatal herpes leads to serious morbidity and high mortality. The true incidence is unknown due to under reporting and difficulties in diagnosing the condition, but may be increasing. Mothers with primary disease, at term, present a greater infection risk to their offspring than mothers with recurrent disease, but the exact risks remain unknown. Existing prevention policies are inefficient, time-consuming for the doctor and the patient and, where caesarean section is offered to at-risk mothers, potentially hazardous. Anti-viral therapy offers a rational alternative and requires urgent evaluation.

Acyclovir

Cutaneous herpes simplex infections.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical features and natural history of cutaneous herpes simplex infections associated with genital herpes. DESIGN: A retrospective case note study of all patients presenting to James Pringle House with this condition between 1983-1987. SUBJECTS: 123 patients were identified. RESULTS: The commonest sites involved were the buttocks 64/186 (34%), suprapubic area 28/186 (15%) and thigh 14/186 (7.5%). Thirty five of the 123 (28%) patients had more than one anatomical site involved. Genital and extragenital recurrences occurred with similar frequency. DISCUSSION: Extragenital cutaneous herpes simplex is not uncommon. Lesions may occur virtually anywhere on the body. HSV should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of vesiculating skin lesions.

Adult

Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis with zidovudine and ganciclovir in patients with AIDS: outcome and toxicity.

Sixteen patients with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and cytomegalovirus retinitis were treated with ganciclovir alone (9 patients) or ganciclovir and zidovudine (6 patients). The duration of effective treatment, that is the number of weeks during which there was no deterioration in visual symptoms or retinal appearance, was comparable in both groups. However, six of the seven patients receiving concurrent therapy had to cease treatment temporarily because of bone marrow toxicity compared with one of the nine patients treated with ganciclovir alone. It is concluded that continuous concurrent therapy with oral zidovudine and intravenous ganciclovir is not possible unless unlimited supportive therapy including blood transfusion, is available.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Anal and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: possible parallel.

This study evaluated prospectively the use of an endoscope in examination of the anal canal for the detection of premalignant lesions. All patients underwent endoscopy and anal epithelial biopsy; the biopsy samples were examined histologically and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA hybridisation was done. No evidence of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) was found in 20 control patients with anal fissure or fistula. Of 82 patients with anal HPV infection, 23 had evidence of AIN. The prevalence of AIN was significantly higher among homosexual than among heterosexual men (17 of 28 vs 1 of 26) with anal HPV infection. Of 28 women with anal HPV infection, 10 had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN); 5 of the 10 also had AIN, whereas no woman had AIN in the absence of CIN. The study shows that AIN occurs and can be diagnosed endoscopically in a manner similar to CIN. Further detailed prospective studies on the natural history of AIN and of groups at risk are required.

Adolescent

Chancroid.

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Chancroid

Primary and secondary syphilis, 20 years' experience. 2. Clinical features.

The notes of 946 patients with primary and 854 with secondary syphilis were retrospectively reviewed. Of the 184 heterosexual men with primary syphilis, 182 (99%) had chancres affecting the penis, compared with 467 (64%) of the 728 homosexual men (p less than 0.0001). Anorectal chancres occurred in 249 (34%) of homosexual men. The commonest features of secondary syphilis included a rash, lymphadenopathy, and mucous patches of the mouth or genital area. Hepatitis, meningitis, other neurological problems, iridocyclitis, and periostitis were all exceptionally rare. The clinical features of primary and secondary syphilis do not appear to have changed in recent years.

Chancre

Suppression of frequently recurring genital herpes: acyclovir v inosine pranobex.

The suppressive action of acyclovir and inosine pranobex was compared in a randomised double blind controlled trial in patients with frequently recurring genital herpes. Fourteen patients received acyclovir and 17 inosine pranobex. Treatment continued for 12 weeks. The time to the first recurrence was significantly longer and the frequency of recurrences significantly less in the recipients of acyclovir. No important side effects were noted. It is concluded that acyclovir is the treatment of choice to suppress often recurring genital herpes.

Acyclovir

Primary and secondary syphilis, 20 years' experience. 3: Diagnosis, treatment, and follow up.

The methods of diagnosis (dark ground microscopy and serology), treatment, and follow up of 946 patients with primary and 854 with secondary syphilis who presented to a London STD clinic between 1965 and 1984 were reviewed retrospectively. On dark ground microscopy spirochaetes typical of Treponema pallidum were seen in 673 (78%) of 884 patients with primary syphilitic chancres. Of the patients with primary syphilis, 137 (14.5%) had negative serology results at presentation. Eight (0.9%) of the patients with secondary syphilis had negative results at presentation, but seven of these gave positive results one month later. Procaine penicillin was the treatment used most, and erythromycin the commonest alternative. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction occurred more often after treatment with penicillin than with erythromycin or tetracycline (p less than 0.005). In most patients the Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory (VDRL) test showed a consistent fall in titre after treatment; a small proportion, however, continued to give positive results (some at a high titre) with no other evidence of reinfection or treatment failure.

Erythromycin