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Biomedical subjects

Kosta Y Mumcuoglu

Publications and source records attributed to Kosta Y Mumcuoglu.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Head louse infestations: the "no nit" policy and its consequences.

Health authorities in the USA, Canada and Australia recommend a "no nit" policy, i.e. the immediate dismissal of all children who have head lice, eggs and/or nits on their hair from school, camp or child-care settings. These children would be readmitted to the institution only when all head lice, eggs and nits have been removed. The "no nit" policy assumes that all nits seen when examining the scalp are viable and therefore the infested individual should be treated for lice, and all nits must be removed from the scalp. However, it has been repeatedly shown that only a small number of children who have nits on their scalp are also infested with living lice. Accordingly, in the USA alone 4-8 million children are treated unnecessarily for head lice annually, which amounts to 64% of all lice treatments. In addition, 12-24 million school days are lost annually. The annual economic loss owing to missed workdays by parents who have to stay home with their children adds US$4-8 billion to the country's economy. The policy also results in serious psychological problems for children and their parents. Therefore, the "no nit" policy should be abandoned and alternative ways of examination and treatment for head lice should be found.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Effective treatment of head louse with pediculicides.

Of the pediculicides on the market, most are not 100% ovicidal and don't have a residual activity of more than 2 days. Therefore, at least 2 treatments are necessary to control the entire louse population. In order for a pediculicide to be effective it should kill all active stages of the louse after a single treatment. Otherwise remaining lice will continue laying eggs and the following treatments will not be fully effective, at least against the eggs. However, there is no general consensus as to when the second treatment should be conducted. Taking into consideration that head louse eggs hatch between 5 to 11 days, it is suggested that a second treatment should be administered 10 days after the beginning of the treatment. This might also explain why most of the clinical trials that were conducted by treating the patients twice with an interval of 6, 7, or 8 days showed a poor efficacy, and clinical trials where the pediculicide was applied with an interval of 10 days showed an efficacy level of more than 90%.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2006

[The in vivo pediculicidal efficac of Prioderm Cream Shampoo formulation].

BACKGROUND: Head louse infestations are prevalent worldwide. Over the past 20-25 years, 15-20% of all children in Israel between 4 and 13 years of age have been infested with head lice. This is mainly due to the existence of ineffective pediculicides on the market. OBJECTIVE: To examine the pediculicidal efficacy and safety of Prioderm Cream Shampoo in an open clinical study. METHODS: The active ingredient of Prioderm Cream Shampoo is malathion (1%) and it was applied to the hair of infested children three times for 10 minutes at 5-day intervals. RESULTS: Of 419 children examined, aged 6-14 years, from four schools in Jerusalem, 109 (26.0%) were infested with lice and eggs, while 110 (26.3%) were infested only with nits. All 109 louse-infested children were included in the study while 86 (78.8%) complied with the instructions for use. Treatment was successful in 79 children (91.8%), while failure was observed in 3 children after the first treatment and in 4 children after the third treatment. Although 21.5% of the children disliked the odor of the product, there were no significant side effects related to this formulation. CONCLUSIONS: The product was very effective in controlling louse infestations under clinical conditions and caused no serious side effects.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2005

Argasid ticks as possible vectors of West Nile virus in Israel.

Mites and soft ticks collected directly from wild and domestic birds and their nests were tested for the presence of West Nile virus (WNV). The cattle egret argas, Argas arboreus, was collected from the nests of seven cattle egret colonies. Out of 1,000 A. arboreus pools examined, 16 were positive for WNV based on RT-PCR technique. The positive pools were from four nesting colonies of birds. Out of 37 cattle egret squabs examined, 37.8% had serum-neutralizing antibodies to WNV. WNV RNA was also detected in one out of 15 pools of R. turanicus, in one out of 21 pools of O. sylviarum, and in one out of 18 pools of D. gallinae, while 63 pools of A. reflexus, 11 of R. sanguineus, and 30 of Hyalomma spec. were negative. The role of mites and ticks in maintaining the endemic state of WNV in Israel is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A clinico-pathological approach to the classification of human demodicosis.

BACKGROUND: Demodicosis is a parasitic skin disease caused by the follicle mites Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis. Although there are several clinical variants of this disease, a clear classification is missing. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical features and course of the different forms of demodicosis. PATIENTS: Prospective study of 87 patients with clinical symptoms of demodicosis and positive acarological findings. Each patient was examined an average of six times during the treatment period. RESULTS: We suggest that demodicosis be divided into both primary and secondary types. The usual etiological agent of primary demodicosis is D. folliculorum, which causes an erythemato-squamous eruption in the facial T-zone. The rash starts on unaltered skin and covers 8 - 15 % of the face. Pruritus accompanies the onset of the rash, while erythema is first apparent after papulo-pustules are seen and disappears after treatment. Half the patients show seasonal exacerbations. Secondary demodicosis is usually caused by D. brevis and characterized by a symmetrical malar papulo-pustular eruption. It develops on diseased skin and covers 30 - 40 % of the face. Pruritus starts after the lesion exacerbation, but erythema precedes the papulo-pustular phase and persists after treatment. Most patients flare during the summer. The facial distribution, seasonality and pathogenesis, as well as the species of mite involved, must be taken into consideration in separating the various forms of demodicosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The role of HLA A2 and Cw2 in the pathogenesis of human demodicosis.

BACKGROUND: Demodicosis is a chronic skin disease caused by parasitic mites of the genus Demodex. It usually affects the face area causing major esthetical problems. The pathogenesis of demodicosis is not fully understood; however, it is quite apparent that immunological mechanisms mediate its development. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to study the correlation between immunological and immunogenetic data obtained from patients with demodicosis in order to clarify the pathogenesis of Demodex infestation. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with demodicosis and 13 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects participated in the study. The presence of mites was determined by microscopic inspection of sebum gland secretions. The immune response was evaluated by identifying membrane markers of different immune cells using monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, CD20+ and CD95+) while the concentration of IgA, IgM and IgG was measured by simple radial immunodiffusion. The level of circulating immune complexes and total hemolytic complement as well as the preparatory and digestive function of neutrophils and the functional activity of leukocytes were also studied. Patients were typed for HLA A, B, Bw and Cw using the microlymphocytotoxicity method. RESULTS: The comparison between patients with and without the A2 phenotype showed that the latter have lower numbers of CD8+, lower functional activity of leukocytes, higher concentrations of IgA, larger affected skin areas and are more often affected by deep papular and papulopustular forms of demodicosis than those with the A2 phenotype, showing that this allele has a protective role in demodicosis. Patients exhibiting the Cw2 phenotypes were rather susceptible to demodicosis. They showed decreased numbers of CD3+, increased levels of phagocytic activity, higher mite density and severer skin damage as compared to patients lacking Cw2. CONCLUSIONS: The HLA A2 and Cw2 phenotypes have an important diagnostic, prognostic and pathogenetic significance and could play a role in resistance or susceptibility to demodicosis by regulating the end phase of the immune response.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Maggot debridement therapy in the treatment of chronic wounds in a military hospital setup in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The medicinal use of maggots for the biological debridement of chronic wounds is increasing around the world, due to its efficacy, safety and simplicity. Thousands of patients have been treated in private and governmental hospitals during the last 10 years. OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of maggot debridement therapy (MDT) in the debridement of chronic wounds in a military hospital. METHODS: MDT was applied for 1-9 days to 7 male and 4 female soldiers or their family members (21-72 years old) with chronic wounds. RESULTS: Complete debridement was achieved in 10 out of 11 patients, while in 1 patient the wound could be cleaned only partially. A remarkable reduction in the odor emanating from the wound and notable granulation were observed in all debrided wounds. Increased pain was observed in 1 patient with a venous stasis ulcer. CONCLUSION: We believe that MDT is a rapid and effective method for the debridement of chronic wounds in a military environment especially in times of war in developing countries.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Use of human lice in forensic entomology.

Hematophagus arthropod bloodmeals may be useful in identifying individual hosts. To examine the application of human lice as a forensic tool, that is, as evidence of physical contact between individuals, body lice from a laboratory colony and head lice, collected from the head of infested children, were studied. The DNA profile of an individual was detectable in the pooled bloodmeals of two body lice, up to 20 h postfeeding. A mixed DNA profile of two hosts was identifiable in the pooled bloodmeals of three lice, for 3 h postfeeding. By pooling the bloodmeals of three adult and three nymphal head lice, a mixed DNA profile was obtained. These results indicate that, in criminal cases where there has been close contact between assailant and victim, louse bloodmeals should not be overlooked as potentially critical evidence.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2004

Repellency of citronella for head lice: double-blind randomized trial of efficacy and safety.

BACKGROUND: Head lice move easily from head to head. The lack of safe, effective repellents leads to reinfestation. OBJECTIVES: To test the efficacy of a slow-release citronella formulation as a repellent against the head louse. METHODS: During 4 months in 2003 a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind clinical study was conducted in four elementary schools; 103 children were treated with the test formulation and 95 with a placebo. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed during the second examination 2 months later, when 12.0% of the children treated with the test repellent and 50.5% of those treated with placebo were infested with lice. A significant difference was also observed at the third examination 2 months later, when 12.4% of the children treated with the test repellent and 33.7% treated with placebo were infested. Overall, there were significant differences between those treated with the repellent and those treated with the placebo (15.4% and 55.1% respectively, P < 0.0001). Side effects were observed in 4.4% of children who disliked the odor of the formulation, and an additional 1.0% who complained of a slight itching and burning sensation. CONCLUSIONS: Use of an effective repellent could significantly lower the incidence of reinfestations, which would lower expenditure on lice control, including pediculicides, combs and products for nit removal, and the time spent on treatment and removal of the nits.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The in vivo pediculicidal efficacy of a natural remedy.

BACKGROUND: Head louse infestations are prevalent worldwide. Over the past 20-25 years, 15-20% of all children in Israel between 4 and 13 years of age have been infested with head lice. This is mainly due to the existence of ineffective pediculicides on the market. OBJECTIVE: To examine the pediculicidal efficacy and safety of a natural remedy ("Chick-Chack") and to compare it in an open clinical study with a known pesticide spray. METHODS: The natural remedy, which contains coconut oil, anise oil and ylang ylang oil, was applied to the hair of infested children three times at 5 day intervals. Each treatment lasted for 15 minutes. The control pediculicide was a spray formulation containing permethrin, malathion, piperonyl butoxide, isododecane and propellant gas, which was applied twice for 10 minutes with a 10 day interval between applications. RESULTS: Of 940 children, aged 6-14 years, from six schools in Jerusalem who were examined for head louse infestation, 199 (21.2%) were infested with lice and eggs, while 164 (17.4%) were infested only with nits. Altogether, 119 children were randomly treated with either the natural remedy or the control product. Treatment was successful with the natural remedy in 60 children (92.3%) and with the control pediculicide in 59 children (92.2%). There were no significant side effects associated with either formulation. CONCLUSIONS: The natural remedy was very effective in controlling louse infestations under clinical conditions and caused no serious side effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Household papular urticaria.

BACKGROUND: Papular urticaria often occurs after bites of insects such as mosquitoes, sandflies, bed bugs and fleas. Multiple bites and local pruritus are characteristic symptoms. Treatment is usually symptomatic and includes antihistamines and corticosteroids. The reappearance of the symptoms can be prevented by successful control of the parasite. OBJECTIVES: To find the causative agent of papular urticaria in afflicted households with involvement of numerous family members, all in a narrow geographic area. PATIENTS: We describe the cases of 20 patients belonging to seven families, who presented to the local primary clinic, suffering from papular urticaria. RESULTS: The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, was the hematophagous insect responsible for all infestations. The pruritus and the papular urticaria were treated symptomatically with calamine lotion, topical corticosteroids or oral antihistamines. All clinical symptoms disappeared within a few weeks after effective control of the parasites by spraying and fumigating the infested locations. CONCLUSIONS: Thorough investigation--including, at times, environmental inspection--is necessary to reach the rewarding discovery of the etiology of household papular urticaria. This condition may arise in other environments of similar character.

Adult↗