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R Arenas

Publications and source records attributed to R Arenas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

An imported case of Blastomyces dermatitidis infection in Mexico.

Blastomycosis is an acute or chronic primary infection of the respiratory system, endemic in North America (United States of America and Canada), Africa and Asia. We report a case in Mexico, in a three years old child who had been born in California and lived in Chicago, U.S.A. The patient presented pulmonary symptoms prior to development of a skin ulcer. Blastomyces dermatitidis was identified by mycological and molecular procedures. The patient was successfully treated with amphotericin B, oral ketoconazole and itraconazole.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed2003

Antibodies to diverse lipids in the serum of patients with clinically cured leprosy and tuberculosis.

In this study we looked for the presence of antibodies to cardiolipin, cerebrosides, and whole lipids extracted from M. leprae, M. tuberculosis and M. habana, in the serum of patients with clinically cured lepromatous leprosy (sixteen) or tuberculosis (sixteen), 8 to 12 months after arresting the corresponding multi-drug therapy (MDT). Compared to healthy controls (sixteen), both leprosy and tuberculosis ex-patients had still significant levels of antibodies to the three mycobacterial lipids but no detectable levels of antibodies to cardiolipin or cerebroside lipids. Although leprosy and tuberculosis sera recognized the homologous mycobacterial lipids in a preferential fashion, all of them, on the average, reacted more strongly with the lipids of M. habana. This observation backs up, in a certain way, the proposition of using M. habana as a prospective vaccine for leprosy and tuberculosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Frequency of toenail onychomycosis in patients with cutaneous manifestations of chronic venous insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) can originate onychopathy per se. We have anecdotally observed nail changes in patients with CVI, but there are few studies which determine the frequency of both onychopathy and onychomycosis in these patients OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of nail pathology and onychomycosis in patients with CVI PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 36 adult patients, both men and women, aged from 18 to 59 years, with clinically documented venous leg ulcers. All patients were examined by a dermatologist and the venous leg ulcers were classified according to severity in three grades. The nail changes were described and a mycological examination was performed. We obtained a small fragment of the nail for histological examination. In 27 patients, we also performed functional studies to determine the type of venous insufficiency. RESULTS: The ratio of women to men was 5 : 1. The mean age of patients was 46.39 +/- 8.51 years, men being slightly younger than women. Ten patients had ulcers of grade I severity, 12 had grade II, and 14 had grade III. The overall time of evolution of the cutaneous lesions was 11.02 +/- 10.11. Fourteen patients had superficial venous insufficiency, whereas 13 had deep venous insufficiency. Twenty-two (61.11%) of our patients had nail alterations. These nail changes were related more to the type of vascular affection than with the severity of cutaneous involvement. In more than half of the cases (59.09%), onychomycosis was the cause of the nail changes. The overall frequency of onychomycosis was 36.11%. The etiologic agent of onychomycosis was isolated in 38.46% of the cases, and Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequent agent. The histologic examination of the nail plate showed a low sensitivity (62%) but a high specificity (100%) in the detection of nail plate parasitization. No clinical differences could be established between the nail changes observed in patients with true onychomycosis and those with nonfungal onychopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Nail changes are common in patients with venous leg ulcer, and onychomycosis accounts for slightly more than half of the cases. We therefore recommend a routine mycological examination in patients wit nail changes and cutaneous manifestations of CVI, to diagnose or rule out onychomycosis, and therefore avoid overtreating patients without onychomycosis with antimycotics.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Pityriasis versicolor in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In vivo morphological data of Malasezzia spp. in 100 cases].

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis versicolor is caused by Malassezia spp. It is a common world wide mycosis. Seven species are known of the Malassezia genus, and are identified in vitro by their morphological characteristics, biochemical tests and by molecular biology. OBJECTIVES: to determine clinical and epidemiological data of pityriasis versicolor as well as morphological aspects of Malassezia in vivo. METHODOLOGY: we performed a direct examination of the scales and classified the microscopic mycological elements as oval and orbicular spores, short and long hyphae. RESULTS: pityriasis versicolor mainly affected the thorax. Orbiculare yeasts and short hyphae frequently present. We could corroborate the wide morphological range of Malassezia spp. CONCLUSIONS: The morphological study of Malassezia spp. in vivo is not sufficient to determine the distribution of the various species.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2001

[Pityriasis versicolor in infants under one year of age. A report of 92 cases].

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis versicolor is a common world wide mycosis caused by Malassezia spp. and by Malassezia furfur sensu lato. It is uncommon in children and almost always with atypical clinical manifestations. It has been reported as exceptional in children under one year of age. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical and epidemiological data of pityriasis versicolor in infants under one year of age. METHODOLOGY: This is a restrospective and transversal study of pityriasis versicolor in the pediatric population studied during one year at the Instituto Dermatologico y Cirugia de Piel in Dominican Republic. Everyone with a Malassezia spp. positive scotch tape test with methylene blue were included. RESULTS: Among 5160 cases of pityriasis versicolor where 797 were children, we found 92 (11%) cases under one year of age. The clinical manifestations were atypical and the most commonly affected zone was the face (81%) and thorax (16%). Less frequently the neck (8.6%) and upper and lower limbs (5%) were affected. CONCLUSIONS: Pityriasis versicolor in children under one year of age is not exceptional in humid and hot climates. The hypochromic lesions are the main clinical manifestation and the most affected site is the face. Diagnosis is easy and cheap with a positive Malassezia spp. scotch tape test with methylene blue.

English Abstract↗
PubMed1999

Tectonic Evolution of the Careón Ophiolite (Northwest Spain): A Remnant of Oceanic Lithosphere in the Variscan Belt.

Analysis of the Careón Unit in the Ordenes Complex (northwest Iberian Massif) has supplied relevant data concerning the existence of a Paleozoic oceanic lithosphere, probably related to the Rheic realm, and the early subduction-related events that were obscured along much of the Variscan belt by subsequent collision tectonics. The ophiolite consists of serpentinized harzburgite and dunite in the lower section and a crustal section made up of coarse-grained and pegmatitic gabbros. An Early Devonian zircon age (395+/-2 Ma, U-Pb) was obtained in a leucocratic gabbro. The whole section was intruded by numerous diabasic gabbro dikes. Convergence processes took place shortly afterward, giving rise to a mantle-rooted synthetic thrust system, with some coeval igneous activity. Garnet amphibolite, developed in metamorphic soles, was found discontinuously attached to the thrust fault. The soles graded downward to epidote-amphibolite facies metabasite and were partially retrogressed to greenschist facies conditions. Thermobarometric estimations carried out at a metamorphic sole (T approximately 650 degrees C; P approximately 11.5 kbar) suggested that imbrications developed in a subduction setting, and regional geology places this subduction in the context of an early Variscan accretionary wedge. Subduction and imbrication of oceanic lithosphere was followed by underthrusting of the Gondwana continental margin.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Liquid chromatographic assay in plasma of one of the members of a new series of anticonvulsants: D,L-3-hydroxy-3-ethyl-3-phenylpropionamide.

A method for the simultaneous determination of HEPP (D,L-3-hydroxy-3-ethyl-3-phenylpropionamide), a member of a new homologous series of phenylamide-derivative anticonvulsants, with six other antiepileptic drugs (ethosuximide, primidone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine and clonazepam) in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography is described. These drugs are extracted from plasma by adding an equal volume of acetonitrile. An aliquot of the extract is then injected on a reversed-phase column with a acetonitrile-methanol-phosphate buffer mobile phase. The total time required for the whole analytical process, including the plasma pretreatment and chromatography, is approximately 30 min. The assay method is simple, rapid and reproducible, and therefore considered suitable for routine use in clinical investigations monitoring HEPP simultaneously with common antiepileptic drugs.

Acetonitriles↗
PubMed1995

Open randomized comparison of itraconazole versus terbinafine in onychomycosis.

BACKGROUND: Onychomycoses are among the most frequent nail diseases. The principal agents are dermatophytes. Itraconazole and terbinafine are two effective and systemic antimycotics. Previous trials have shown, that treatment schedules with effective concentrations for 3 months cause drug deposits in nail plates that persist 6 months after the end of the treatment. METHODS: A comparative, open, prospective study was carried out with random assignment of patients. The first group included 27 patients under treatment with 200 mg of itraconazole once daily for 3 months. The second group included 26 patients treated with 250 mg of terbinafine for 3 months. Both series of patients were followed for 6 additional months. RESULTS: Both groups were similar in age, sex, and history of onychomycosis. Trichophyton rubrum was the main isolated agent in all patients. The percentage of diseased nails was similar in both groups affecting predominantly the first toenail. Treatment was highly effective and differences between groups were not significant. The rate of adverse events was 21% in the itraconazole group and 47% in the terbinafine group. CONCLUSIONS: Itraconazole and terbinafine are two drugs of choice in dermatophytic onychomycosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Epidemic cutaneous sporotrichosis.

BACKGROUND: Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous fungal infection. Lymphocutaneous and fixed sporotrichosis are the most common forms; cases of disseminated sporotrichosis are rare. There have been isolated reports and some epidemic familial outbreaks of the infection. METHODS: We studied four members of two families who contracted sporotrichosis after sleeping in an old and rust-stained camping tent. RESULTS: All cases presented with polymorphic lesions, three of them with multiple sites of inoculation. The camping tent was shown to be the source of infection. CONCLUSIONS: We report an epidemic of sporotrichosis in a family. In three cases disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis occurred in nonimmunodeficient patients. The isolate of Sporothrix schenckii from a camping tent is extremely rare.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Pigmentary problems in the tropics.

Pigmentary problems are one of the most frequent causes of dermatologic consultation in the tropics. This article deals with diseases seen mostly in tropical countries (ashy dermatosis, lichen planus pigmentosus, frictional dermatitis, pityriasis versicolor, and pinta) and in which a combination of racial, ecologic, nutritional, and social factors all contribute. Other common dermatoses seen worldwide, such as vitiligo and melasma, sometimes acquire dramatic expressions in tropical countries, and their management is usually difficult even for the most experienced dermatologists.

Dermatitis↗
PubMed1991

Onychomycosis treated with itraconazole or griseofulvin alone with and without a topical antimycotic or keratolytic agent.

An open, comparative, randomized study was conducted using griseofulvin or itraconazole for the treatment of onychomycosis of the foot. Group I (45 patients) received itraconazole and Group II (45 patients) received griseofulvin. Each group was divided into three subgroups that received different topical treatment: antimycotic cream (isoconazole 1%), keratolytic cream (urea 40%), or placebo cream. The itraconazole group showed complete clearance in combination with isoconazole cream in 73.3% (11 of 15 patients), in combination with keratolytic cream in 78.5% (11 of 14 patients), and in combination with placebo cream in 91.6% (11 of 12 patients). The griseofulvin group showed complete clearance in combination with isoconazol cream in 46.1% (7 of 15 patients), in combination with keratolytic cream in 42.8% (6 of 15 patients), and in combination with placebo cream in 26.6% (4 of 15 patients). The itraconazole group showed better results compared with the griseofulvin group when the chi-square statistical method was used.

Administration, Topical↗