PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P T Doe

Publications and source records attributed to P T Doe.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Skin diseases in Ghana and the UK.

BACKGROUND: Although diseases of the skin have been studied in some African countries, the provision of dermatology services is as yet a relatively underdeveloped aspect of medicine in sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVE: To determine the pattern of skin diseases seen in a sub-Saharan community and to compare it with that seen in a European community. METHODS: The diagnoses of the principal presenting complaint of 2254 consecutive new patients seen at the dermatology clinic of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana, are presented and compared with those of 3383 consecutive new patients seen at the dermatology clinic of The William Harvey Hospital (WHH), Ashford, Kent, UK. RESULTS: The most common conditions in Ghana were infections (46.3%; UK, 12%). In the UK, the most common conditions were malignant and premalignant diseases of the skin (22.2%; Ghana, 0.5%) and benign tumors (16.8%; Ghana, 0.5%). Dermatitis was common in both countries (Ghana, 18.4%; UK, 16.0%). Psoriasis was more common in the UK (6.2%) than in Ghana (0.4%). In Ghana, fixed drug eruption, mainly due to cotrimoxazole (Septrin), was not rare (27 cases), and complications from cosmetic skin lightening creams were a frequent problem among women (86 cases). No cases of rosacea were found in Ghana, but it was not uncommon in the UK (1.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The patterns of skin diseases are different in the two countries. It is hoped that this study may help to catalyze the further development of dermatology services in Ghana.

Cosmetics↗
PubMed2000

What is normal black African hair? A light and scanning electron-microscopic study.

BACKGROUND: The hair of normal black Africans forms a mat of tightly interwoven hair shafts. The effect of this on the structure of the hair shaft and the response to grooming is unknown. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to use light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the structure of Negroid-type hairs and effects of combing in black African volunteers. METHODS: Hair samples were collected, by combing, from Africans and compared with those from Caucasian and Asian volunteers. The volunteers had never used chemical treatments. Their hair had not been cut for at least 1 year and grooming had been limited to shampooing, drying, and combing. RESULTS: More than 2000 hairs in 12 African volunteers were examined by light microscopy. The hairs appear as a tight coiled springlike structure. Many shafts exhibited knots (10%-16% vs 0.15%) and appear broken compared with hair shafts from other ethnic groups. SEM of African hairs showed features consistent with repeated breaks of the shaft. Examination of hairs in situ showed interlocking of hair shafts. CONCLUSION: These observations provide an understanding of the physical nature of, and effect of combing on, black African hair.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Liposuction for axillary hyperhidrosis.

A 23-year-old woman presented with a 10 year history of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), mostly in the axillae, and to a lesser extent the groin and hands. Initial treatment with a sedative antihistamine and topical Driclor (aluminium chloride hexahydrate in 2% alcohol) for 14 weeks resulted in no improvement. Axillary liposuction, a short and simple procedure, then produced a very satisfactory result.

Adult↗