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Biomedical subjects

M Walzman

Publications and source records attributed to M Walzman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Hepatitis B markers in heterosexual patients attending two genitourinary medicine clinics in the West Midlands.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in heterosexual patients attending two genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the West Midlands and to examine whether heterosexual activity is a risk factor for acquiring HBV infection with the view to extend HBV vaccination policies to cover this group. DESIGN: HBV markers were determined in the GUM study group and compared with that of the control groups. Responses to a questionnaire were used to examine sexual behaviour patterns that may be related to heterosexual acquisition of HBV infection. SETTING: The West Midlands, UK April 1992-January 1993. SUBJECTS: 788 male patients and 688 female patients attending GUM clinics were compared with 498 male blood donors and 563 females attending antenatal clinics for the seroprevalence of HBV markers. Potential risk factors related to heterosexual activity were assessed in 1436 patients in the study group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of HBV markers in the GUM study group and the controls. The possible use of the risk factors examined as predictors for acquiring HBV infection. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) in GUM patients was 1.9% and 0.5% in the control group. In the study groups the prevalence of anti-HBc from Birmingham was 3.2% while that from Coventry was 0.8%. The low seroprevalence of HBV prevented a multiple logistic analysis. A limited regression analysis showed that being non-white (p < 0.001) and duration of sexual activity (p = 0.013) were risk factors for HBV infection. However, these two factors were poor predictors of the risk to exposure to HBV infection. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HBV infection in heterosexual patients in the West Midlands is very low and does not provide any indications to broaden HBV vaccination into heterosexual patients attending GUM clinics. Risk factors were poor predictors of the exposure to HBV infection. This is partially due to the low prevalence of HBV infection in this study. Further studies are required before definitive conclusions are made regarding the potential predictive value of risk factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Genital colonisation and infection with candida in heterosexual and homosexual males.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the penile, perianal, and oropharyngeal candidal colonisation rates among homosexual and heterosexual males attending an STD clinic. To determine the prevalence of balanitis and candidal balanitis in the two groups. SUBJECTS: 252 heterosexual and 210 homosexual male patients attending consecutively the STD clinic in Coventry, England. DESIGN: A prospective study recording sexual behaviour, relevant history, symptoms, and examination. Specimens for candida culture were collected from the glans penis, perianal area, and oropharynx. RESULTS: Among the 462 men studied, penile, perianal, and oropharyngeal colonisation rates were 74 (16%), 70 (15%), and 116 (25%) respectively. On examination, 47 (10%) were found to have balanitis. Of the 74 patients with penile colonisation, 26 (37%) were symptomatic and 20 (27%) had balanitis. The 223 heterosexual and the 196 homosexual males who had sexual intercourse within 3 months had comparable colonisation rates of candida on the penis, perianal area, and oropharynx. Balanitis was seen in 31 heterosexuals (14%) and candidal balanitis in 16 (7%); the incidence was significantly less in homosexuals where balanitis was seen in 12 (6%) and candidal balanitis in four (2%). CONCLUSIONS: Itching or burning sensations after sex were the most common symptoms associated with penile colonisation with candida and were present in more than one third. Candidal balanitis was commoner in those who had vaginal than those who had anal intercourse within 3 months.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Urinary symptoms, sexual intercourse and significant bacteriuria in male patients attending STD clinics.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between sexual behaviour, urinary symptoms, urinalysis and bacteriuria in men attending STD clinics. DESIGN: A prospective study recording sexual behaviour, urinary symptoms and collecting mid-stream urine specimens. SETTING: Two West Midlands STD clinics, UK. SUBJECTS: 1086 new male patients. RESULTS: 704 patients had had sexual intercourse (SI) within 14 days of testing, 424 had urinary symptoms and 122 had pyuria. All 13 patients with positive culture had SI < 14 days before testing, urinary symptoms and pyuria. No association was found between sexual orientation, type of SI, number of sexual partners, condom usage and bacteriuria. CONCLUSION: Bacteriuria does not behave as an STD but SI may be a factor in acquiring bacteriuria. Dysuria with or without urethral discharge is the most predictive symptom of bacteriuria. Pyuria has a high sensitivity for predicting bacteriuria among males.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Pediculosis pubis: a surrogate marker for sexually transmitted diseases.

A review of all the patients diagnosed to have Pediculosis pubis (P pubis) during a 2 year period 1989-1991 was carried out. They constituted the index group and were compared with 140 consecutive patients seen during the month of June 1990, who served as controls. Both groups were comparable with respect to age and use of modern contraception. Coexisting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were found in 37% of the index group. Incidence of STDs was 51% among the controls. In the preceding 3 months, patients in the index group had significantly more sexual partners p < 0.005. These findings emphasize the need to offer full STD screening and health education to sexually active people who present with P pubis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The value of serum TPHA titres in selecting patients for lumbar puncture.

Between January 1981 and December 1989, 258 patients with positive syphilis serology underwent lumbar puncture. Nine patients had long-standing neurosyphilis and had lumbar punctures performed during the course of their follow-up. Of the remaining 249 only 12 demonstrated the presence of TPHA in the CSF. The serum TPHA titre for eight of these 12 patients, and seven of the nine (two having no titre reported) known neurosyphilis patients at the time of original diagnosis, was 1 in 5120 or more. The four remaining newly found CSF positive patients had serum TPHA titres of 1 in 2560. We suggest that a serum TPHA titre of 1 in 2560 or greater should be considered as a criterion when selecting patients for lumbar puncture, especially when there are no clinical signs or symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The usefulness of the HIV-CHEK assay as a simple, rapid and sensitive screening test for HIV infection.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the HIV-CHEK kit for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing. A comparison with the Serodia-HIV test was made on 42 fresh serum samples. Both tests accurately identified the 11 true positive serum samples, while there was one false positive with the Serodia-HIV and 3 were difficult to interpret using the HIV-CHEK. To assess the sensitivity of the HIV-CHEK assay, a comparison with other tests was made using serial titrations of stored known HIV-positive frozen serum samples. Here the HIV-CHEK demonstrated a poor sensitivity compared to the others. In conclusion, although we found the HIV-CHEK to be simple and quick, the difficulty with interpretation of some specimens and the apparent poor sensitivity on frozen samples makes it difficult to recommend this kit in its present form as a principal initial screening test for HIV antibody.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1989

Labial adhesions after genital herpes infection.

A case of genital herpes complicated by persistent labial adhesions is reported. As far as we know, this is the second such complication of genital herpes to be reported from this side of the Atlantic and only the third case documented world wide.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

White piedra and Trichosporon beigelii: the incidence in patients attending a clinic in genitourinary medicine.

To assess the occurrence of white piedra and the asymptomatic carriage rate of T beigelii, 100 heterosexual and 49 homosexual/bisexual men were entered into the study. White piedra of the scrotal hair was discovered in a total of four (2.7%) patients (two heterosexual, one homosexual and one bisexual), while in addition a positive scrotal culture for T beigelii was noted in a further seven (4.8%) patients (four heterosexual and three homosexual). Rectal carriage rates were 1% in the heterosexual and 4% in the homosexual/bisexual groups, while there was no pharyngeal carriage in either group.

Hair↗