Is inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal naevus a form of linear naevoid psoriasis?
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
D Devliotou-Panagiotidou
Publications and source records attributed to D Devliotou-Panagiotidou.
Does halo nevus without halo exist?
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Child, Preschool↗
Forty-eight-hour diagnosis of onychomycosis with subtyping of Trichophyton rubrum strains.
A novel strategy for the molecular identification of fungal agents of onychomycosis (including Trichophyton rubrum) has been designed based on the use of species-specific and universal primers in conjunction with a commercial kit that allows the extraction of DNA directly from the nail specimens. The microsatellite marker T1, which is based on a (GT)n repeat, was applied for the species-specific identification of Trichophyton rubrum. To evaluate how often Scopulariopsis spp. are detected in nail specimens, a second primer pair was designed to amplify specifically a 336-bp DNA fragment of the 28S region of the nuclear rRNA gene of S. brevicaulis and closely related species. Other fungal species were identified using amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rRNA gene, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis or sequencing. In addition, polyacrylamide gel separation of the T1-PCR product allowed subtyping of T. rubrum strains. We studied 195 nail specimens (the "nail sample") and 66 previously collected etiologic strains (the "strain sample") from 261 onychomycosis patients from Bulgaria and Greece. Of the etiologic agents obtained from both samples, T. rubrum was the most common organism, confirmed to be present in 76% of all cases and serving as the sole or (rarely) mixed etiologic agent in 199 of 218 cases (91%) where the identity of the causal organism(s) was confirmed. Other agents seen included molds (6% of cases with identified etiologic agents; mainly S. brevicaulis) and other dermatophyte species (4%; most frequently Trichophyton interdigitale). Simultaneous infections with two fungal species were confirmed in a small percentage of cases (below 1%). The proportion of morphologically identified cultures revealed by molecular study to have been misidentified was 6%. Subtyping revealed that all but five T. rubrum isolates were of the common type B that is prevalent in Europe. In comparison to microscopy and culture, the molecular approach was superior. The PCR was more sensitive (84%) than culture (22%) in the nail sample and was more frequently correct in specifically identifying etiologic agents (100%) than microscopy plus routine culture in either the nail or the strain samples (correct culture identifications in 96% and 94% of cases, respectively). Using the molecular approach, the time for diagnosing the identity of fungi causing onychomycosis could be reduced to 48 h, whereas culture techniques generally require 2 to 4 weeks. The early detection and identification of the infecting species in nails will facilitate prompt and appropriate treatment and may be an aid for the development of new antifungal agents.
DNA, Fungal↗
Is itraconazole the treatment of choice in Microsporum canis tinea capitis?
Mycotic scalp infection caused by Microsporum canis is the most dominant cause of tinea capitis in Greece. Griseofulvin has been the gold standard for the treatment of tinea capitis, but it is unavailable in our country. In this study, we evaluated 111 children with M. canis tinea capitis that were treated with itraconazole. Eighty-one of them were treated with itraconazole capsule pulse therapy (group A) and 30 (group B) were treated with oral suspension administered in continuous regimen. Twenty-one patients, all from group A, were lost to follow-up, probably due to the length of this regimen. In all patients that made up the study protocol, complete cure was achieved within seven pulses for group A and 12 weeks for group B. No significant side effects to lead to the cessation of therapy were recorded. Laboratory investigations were performed in 32 randomly chosen patients and were within normal ranges. The response to therapy did not appear to depend upon the formulation administered (capsules versus suspension). Using the pulse regimen, we also believe that it is necessary to individualize the number of pulses administered according to the clinical response. In conclusion, itraconazole proved safe and effective in our study, providing an ideal alternative to griseofulvin.
Adolescent↗
Efficacy and tolerability of 8 weeks' treatment with terbinafine in children with tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis: a comparison of three doses.
BACKGROUND: Tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis is the most common mycosis of the scalp in preschool and school-aged children in Greece. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of an 8-week course of oral terbinafine at different doses. METHODS: Patients received oral terbinafine at doses ranging from 3.3 to 12.5 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks, as follows: group A, terbinafine 3.3 to </= 6.0 mg/kg/day (40 patients); group B, terbinafine > 6.0 to 7.0 mg/kg/day (23 patients); group C, terbinafine > 7.0 to 12.5 mg/kg/day (37 patients). Fungal microscopy and cultures were performed 4 weeks before the start of the treatment, at the end of the treatment (week 8) and at a follow-up visit at week 16. RESULTS: At week 8 mycological cure was achieved in one patient (2.7%) in group A, in 21 patients (91.3%) in group B and in 34 patients (97.1%) in group C. At week 16 mycological cure was achieved in one patient (2.7%) in group A, in 22 patients (95.7%) in group B and in 35 patients (100%) in group C. There was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0005) between dose level and efficacy of terbinafine at the end of the treatment period and also at the follow-up visit at week 16. Five patients (three in group A and two in group C) discontinued treatment because of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of terbinafine at a dose of either 6-7 or 7-12.5 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks is safe and effective for the treatment in children of tinea capitis caused by M. canis.
Administration, Oral↗
Onychomycosis in Northern Greece during 1994-1998.
In the 5-year period 1994-1998, 13957 patients were examined in the Mycological Laboratory of the State Hospital for Skin and Venereal Diseases, in Thessaloniki, Greece. Of the 2766 patients presenting with onychomycoses (20%), 67% were women and 33% were men. In the toenail infections, dermatophytes were most often isolated (72.3%), especially in women, followed by moulds (9.6%) and yeasts (2%); 16.1% of the infections were mixed. In the fingernail infections mostly yeasts were isolated (72%), especially in women, followed by dermatophytes (10%) and moulds (5.6%); 12.4% of the infections were mixed.
Adolescent↗
Tinea capitis in children in northern Greece during the period 1981-1995.
In our 15 years of investigation in northern Greece, the predominant organism producing tinea capitis in children was found to be the zoophilic Microsporum canis (494 strains) which is a common saprophyte of the hair of pets, especially cats. The high percentage of cases with M. canis (97%), in contrast to zoophilic fungi (3%), is probably due to the increased contact of children with pets. The small number of infections with anthropophilic fungi (41 strains) is attributed to good hygienic conditions. The fluorescence of infected hair under Wood's light seems to be a major diagnostic criterion in the hands of dermatologists who are not served by a mycological laboratory.
Adolescent↗
Dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton rubrum in northern Greece during the decade 1981-1990.
During the years 1981-1990 Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequent causative agent of dermatophytic infections in Northern Greece, especially in cases of tinea pedis, cruris, corporis, and unguium, as well as dermatophytosis of the hands. Between sexes there was a prevalence in women in tinea pedis and toenail infections. Men were particularly infected in the groin, the hands and the face. The chronic follicular dermatophytosis in the lower legs was also presented in women, but tinea corporis and fingernail infections showed no significant differences between the sexes. Also studied were the age of the patients, the inflammatory component of the lesions and the morphotypes of T. rubrum isolated.
Adolescent↗
Dermatophytosis in northern Greece during the decade 1981-1990.
Dermatophytic infections are very common in Greece. In the Mycological Laboratory of the Venereal and Skin Diseases Hospital in Thessaloniki, 6572 isolates of different dermatophytes were obtained from 17,120 patients examined. It is suggested that 5% of the people who present with skin problems in Greece suffer from dermatophyte infections. They are frequent causative agents of tinea pedis, tinea cruris, tinea corporis, tinea capitis and tinea unguium. In this paper, the species, the number and the prevalence of the dermatophytes were studied according to location and sex of the patients. The contribution of dermatophyte infections to the overall incidence of superficial fungal infection over 10 years was also studied.
Adult↗