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Biomedical subjects

A O George

Publications and source records attributed to A O George.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Pityriasis versicolor: Current concepts in Aetiology and Management.

UNLABELLED: Pityriasis versicolor occurs commonly in this environment. It is characterised by fine scaly macular eruption and has a chronic relapsing nature. It is due to infection with malassezia. Recently with the aid of sequencing of the sub-unit rRNA and nuclear DNA complimentary studies, the malassezia species have been classified into seven. Malassezia (M) furfur, M. Symboidalis, M. Obtuse, M. globosa, M. restricta, M. sloofiae and M. pachydermatitis. M. globosa has been linked to development of pityriasis versicolor. Despite extensive work, factors which change the organism from its commensally to its pathogenic state are yet to be identified, although a genetic factor appears to be involved as familial cases occur. However factors such as hyper-hidrosis, depressed immunity, and occlusion of the skin, malnutrition and abuse of corticosteroids have been observed to be contributory. For many years topical therapy was the main stay of treatment that contributed to the high relapse after treatment. Presently management includes the use of both systemic and topical anti-fungals. Prophylactic treatment is now advocated in preventing relapses, which occurs commonly. KEYWORDS: pityriasis versicolor, current views, aetiology, management.

Environment↗
PubMed2002

Hepatitis C virus and lichen planus in Nigerians: any relationship?

BACKGROUND: The association of lichen planus with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been widely reported in the literature. No such association, however, has been reported amongst black Africans in whom HCV is thought to be endemic. Lichen planus is a frequently encountered dermatosis in this racial group as well. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-HCV amongst Nigerians with lichen planus. METHODS: Fifty-seven Nigerians with lichen planus (LP group) and 24 patients with other dermatoses not reportedly associated with HCV (control group A) and 24 apparently normal subjects (control group B) were screened for the presence of anti-HCV by second generation ELISA. RESULTS: Nine (15.8%) of the 57 LP group, 6 (25%) of the 24 control group A and none out of the 24 control group B were seropositive for anti-HCV. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anti-HCV amongst Nigerian with lichen planus is lower than amongst patients with other dermatoses not associated with HCV but higher than amongst apparently normal control. It would appear that the prevalence of HCV is high in Nigeria and not necessarily in lichen planus as a specific entity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Lichen planus following hepatitis B vaccination in an African girl.

Lichen planus is a papulosquamous disorder with distinctive clinical features. Until now the aetiology has been largely unknown, however, several postulations have been proposed. The immunopathogenic basis has been most favoured. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl who presented with Lichen planus after receiving the second dose of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination. This report, similar to earlier reports, appears to support the immunopathogenic basis of Lichen planus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

The plantar reflex in young healthy adults.

The plantar reflex was empirically observed to be relatively absent in Africans about three decades ago. It was hypothesised that barefoot walking that was the custom of the patients studied at the time, might have made the soles of the feet insensitive to stimulation. In a sample of 193 young adults who do not walk barefoot and had no clinical evidence of hyperkeratosis or callosities on the soles, the plantar reflex was absent in 27%. This finding suggests that the absence of the reflex is not necessarily consequent on previous trauma to the soles in an African community. Lack of comparative data showing the pattern of the plantar reflex in different communities makes it difficult to judge whether the frequency found in this study is usual, high or relatively low.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Dermatology: a useful tool in a depressed economy.

Dermatology is an aspect of medicine which can help produce a cheap and readily available tool for diagnosis, follow-up and epidemiologic study in a depressed economy such as in the developing countries of Africa and Asia. This would involve the provision of some dermatological training to students of medicine, nursing and other paramedical specialities, to allow maximum utilization of dermatology at the primary, secondary and even tertiary health institutions.

Dermatology↗
PubMed1995

Cutaneous manifestations of liver cirrhosis in an African (negroid) population.

Sixty negroid patients with liver cirrhosis were examined for their cutaneous features at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. When compared with age and sex matched controls, the cirrhotic patients had significantly lower body temperature, onycholysis and hyperpigmented palmo-plantar macular areas (p < 0.05). Until now, these features have not been previously associated with liver cirrhosis. Other cutaneous signs such as sparse silky hair, female public hair pattern, digital clubbing, leuconychia, ankle oedema and corneal jaundice are found more commonly in cirrhotic patients (p < 0.05) and have been previously documented. All these features in a middle-aged man with hepatomegaly may be of added distinctive value particularly in many rural centres in tropical countries where facilities for definitive histological diagnosis are frequently lacking. The relevance of some of these cutaneous features in the light of the pattern described in Caucasians is also discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Clinical, biochemical and morphologic features of acne keloidalis in a black population.

BACKGROUND: Acne keloidalis (AK) is an important cause of morbidity in Nigeria and accounts for 1.3% of patients with skin conditions in a Nigerian dermatology clinic. Treatment is usually unsatisfactory because the etiopathogenesis is unclear. METHODS: A prospective clinico-pathological study was carried out to identify predisposing factors, viable treatment modalities, and prognostic indicators. RESULTS: The study suggested that AK is associated with the male gender seborrheic constitution, early reproductive years, and increased fasting blood testosterone concentration. Features that may predispose to the vastly predominant occipital location of the lesions include increased mast cell density and dilatation of dermal capillaries. MANAGEMENT: The main aims are diagnosis of early papules and avoidance of physical and chemical traumatizing agents. Retinoic acid analogs and antiandrogens may be helpful. CONCLUSIONS: The widespread use of irritating physical and chemical traditional treatment remedies and delay in seeking medical attention--AK is typically asymptomatic--contribute to the relatively advanced nature of the disease at the time of presentation to the specialist.

Acne Keloid↗
PubMed1992

Insulinoma in pregnancy presenting as a seizure disorder: a case report.

We present the clinical course and problems in the management of a 30 year old Nigerian lady who was admitted with fasting hypoglycaemia due to a pancreatic islet cell tumour (insulinoma) during the first trimester of pregnancy. Her case was initially misdiagnosed as idiopathic epilepsy. The outcome was fatal mainly because the poor clinical state of the patient limited our treatment options. This condition though uncommon, is potentially easily recognisable and treatable, as long as there is a high index of suspicion.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Incontinentia pigmenti achromians (Ito) in a West African.

Incontinentia pigmenti achromian is a very rare cutaneous disorder of pigmentation which has been reported from Japan, the United States of America, the Caribbean countries, Mexico and India. A case with coarse hair and associated with atopic dermatitis in a West African girl is presented in this brief report. The case, to the authors' knowledge, is the first documented in Africa.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Problems in the management of mycosis fungoides in Nigeria.

The management of Nigerian patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is beset with various problems which are presented in this study. These problems include dearth of specialists medical personnel, shortage of radiotherapy facilities, high cost of chemotherapy drugs which an average patient cannot afford to buy. Cases of eight patients seen and managed over a 21 years period (1968-1989) were analysed. However, many CTCL cases might have been missed since we have acute shortage of medical specialists to carry out accurate diagnosis of this disease in Nigeria. The patients reviewed, received radiotherapy, and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was found to be the optimum treatment for patients with stages I and II CTCL, who in this study had recurrence free periods of 30 to 60 months post radiotherapy. The authors recommend systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy and local radiotherapy for patients with late stages of CTCL as mainstay of treatment.

Adult↗