Calculation of the age of the first infection for skin sores and scabies in five remote communities in northern Australia.

Prevalence of skin sores and scabies in remote Australian Aboriginal communities remains unacceptably high, with Group A Streptococcus (GAS) the dominant pathogen. We aim to better understand the drivers of GAS transmission using mathematical models. To estimate the force of infection, we quantified the age of first skin sores and scabies infection by pooling historical data from three studies conducted across five remote Aboriginal communities for children born between 2001 and 2005. We estimated the age of the first infection using the Kaplan-Meier estimator; parametric exponential mixture model; and Cox proportional hazards. For skin sores, the mean age of the first infection was approximately 10 months and the median was 7 months, with some heterogeneity in median observed by the community. For scabies, the mean age of the first infection was approximately 9 months and the median was 8 months, with significant heterogeneity by the community and an enhanced risk for children born between October and December. The young age of the first infection with skin sores and scabies reflects the high disease burden in these communities.

Nodular type predominance of head and neck cutaneous malignant melanoma in Asian populations leads to poor outcome and low survival.

Cutaneous malignant melanomas of the head and neck (HNM) are proposed to have notable histological and clinical differences from those at other sites (other melanoma); however, HNMs among Asians have remained poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of HNM in Asians. Asian melanoma patients who underwent surgical treatment from January 2003 to December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinicopathological features and risk factors for local recurrence, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis were analyzed. Among 230 patients, 28 (12.2%) were diagnosed with HNM, and 202 (87.8%) with other melanoma. The histologic subtype significantly differed as the nodular type was predominant in HNM whereas the acral lentiginous type was predominant in other melanoma ( P  < 0.001). HNM was significantly associated with higher local recurrence ( P  = 0.045), lymph node metastasis ( P  = 0.048), distant metastasis ( P  = 0.023), and lower 5-year disease-free survival ( P  = 0.022) than other melanoma. Ulceration was the risk factor for lymph node metastasis based on multivariable analysis ( P  = 0.013). A high proportion of HNM present as the nodular subtype in Asians, leading to poor outcomes and low survival. Therefore, more cautious surveillance, evaluation, and aggressive treatment are required.

Regional distinction for the clinical severity of Behçet's disease in Korea: four university-based medical centers study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the clinical manifestations and severity of Behçet's disease (BD) in Korea according to geographic region of residence, and to identify risk factors associated with clinical severity. METHODS: We enrolled 246 BD patients (88 males) who fulfilled the criteria of the International Study Group for BD. These patients were assigned into two groups: a Western group comprising 127 residents in west regions and an Eastern group comprising 119 residents of the SoBaek Mountains situated in the center of Korea. Clinical severity was assessed using a severity scoring index of BD. RESULTS: BD patients from the Western group had a greater prevalence of typical skin lesions, deep vein thrombosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, posterior/ panuveitis, and retinal vasculitis than did the Eastern group (p<0.001, p=0.009, p=0.032, and p=0.007, respectively). The Western group also had higher severity scores than did the Eastern group (5.88±2.5 for the Western group vs. 4.94±2.6 for the Eastern group, p=0.004). Male BD patients had higher severity scores than did female patients (6.14±2.8 vs. 5.03±2.4, p=0.001). The disease duration of BD in the Western group showed a significant association with total severity scores (r=0231, p=0.009), but this was not observed for the Eastern group. CONCLUSIONS: We found distinct differences in the clinical manifestations as well as severity of BD according to geographic region in Korean BD patients. Males, particularly those from the Western region of Korea, had significantly higher severity scores than did females.

Cutaneous ulceration in dermatomyositis: association with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibodies and interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical and serologic correlates of cutaneous ulcers in dermatomyositis (DM). METHODS: We retrospectively examined a cohort of 152 DM patients. We compared the features of patients with ulcers to those without ulcers using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests and used univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to assess the association between ulcers and clinical features such as malignancy, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and amyopathic disease. RESULTS: Forty-three patients (28%) had cutaneous ulcers. Nearly half the patients had ulcers present in more than 1 location: 24 (56%) had ulcers over the extensor surfaces of joints, 18 (42%) at the digital pulp or periungual areas, and 25 (58%) had ulcers located elsewhere. In univariate analysis ulcers were associated with Asian race, but not with other clinical and demographic features, including malignancy or ILD. In multivariate analysis ulcers were significantly associated with anti-melanoma differentiation gene 5 (anti-MDA5) antibodies (odds ratio 10.14, 95% confidence interval 1.95-52.78; P = 0.0059) and this was greatest for ulcers located at the digital pulp. In patients with cutaneous ulcers, ILD risk was specifically increased only in patients with anti-MDA5-positive antibodies. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the strong association between anti-MDA5 antibodies and cutaneous ulcers, with the novel finding that the association of cutaneous ulcers with ILD depends upon the presence of anti-MDA5 antibodies. DM patients who display this cutaneous phenotype should undergo appropriate evaluation for ILD.

Beliefs and attitudes toward Buruli ulcer in Ghana.

Buruli ulcer is a devastating emerging disease in tropical countries. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained by interviewing patients with this disease and control subjects in Ghana. Common perceived causes were witchcraft and curses. Other reported causes were personal hygiene, environment, and close contact with a patient with this disease. Financial difficulties, fear of the mutilating aspects of treatment, and social stigma were the main reasons found for delay in obtaining treatment. Patients are reluctant to seek treatment outside their own community. Patients often expected medical treatment instead of surgery, and underestimated the duration of hospital admission. The stigma of the disease is huge, and is strongly associated with the mysterious nature of the condition, the lack of knowledge about its mode of transmission, and the lack of proper treatment. Stigma scores were higher in unaffected respondents and in a less endemic location. Education on the disease, usually propagated for early case detection, might be useful in reducing stigma.

Validating the Braden Scale for the prediction of pressure ulcer risk in blacks and Latino/Hispanic elders: a pilot study.

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk and determine which variables predict pressure ulcer risk in Black and Latino/Hispanic elders. A prospective clinical design was used to conduct the study. Among 36 patients, 60 years of age or older, 14 (38%) developed a pressure ulcer. A Fisher Exact test (2-tail) revealed that, at a cut-off score of 16, the Braden Scale significantly underpredicted those patients at risk for pressure ulcers (5.13 E-03). Sensitivity was 35 percent and specificity was 100 percent for a Braden Scale score of < or = 16.

Behcet disease in adult Druzes in north Israel: the influence of ethnic origin on disease expression and severity.

BACKGROUND: Behcet's disease (BD) is known to vary in severity and manifestations in different populations. OBJECTIVE: In an attempt to sort out genetic and environmental influences on disease expression, we carried out a study to assess the clinical features of BD in the adult Druze and Arab populations in north Israel, comparing 2 disparate ethnic groups of similar genetic background inhabiting the same geographic region. METHODS: We compared 23 Druze and 30 Arab patients with BD. All patients fulfilled the classification criteria of the International Study Group for BD. RESULTS: Manifestations were similar in 2 groups. The most frequent BD manifestations among the Druzes were recurrent oral aphthae (100%) and genital aphthae (61%) versus 100% and 53% in Arab patients, followed by inflammatory ocular involvement, 65% versus 53%, respectively. Arthritis was noted in 39% of Druze, with 27% in Arabs. Anterior uveitis occurred in 9 Druze patients (48%) and panuveitis in 4, with no case of blindness when compared with 30% with anterior uveitis, 4 with panuveitis, and 4 cases of blindness (P < 0.04) among the Arabs. One Druze BD patient had deep vein thrombosis versus 8 Arab patients (P < 0.017). No pulmonary embolism, aortic aneurysm, nor valvular involvement was documented in the Druze versus 1 case of each in Arabs. No case of neuro-Behcet was reported in Druzes versus 6 cases of neuro-Behcet among Arabs (P < 0.023). The severity score was 4.0 (SD, 1.2) in Druze and 5.8 (SD, 1.9) in Arabs (P = 0.0004). The prevalence of HLA B51 did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSION: Druze BD patients in Israel have a milder disease than do Arabs, similar to observations in familial Mediterranean fever. Druze BD patients had significantly less severe ocular disease and neurologic manifestations. Our results suggest an ethnic influence on expression of BD not related to HLA B 51.

[Behçet disease with primary involvement of the cerebral vessels]. / Morbus Behçet mit primärem Befall zerebraler Gefässe.

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: Two months after the onset of mainly frontal headaches a 25-year-old man of Turkish descent additionally developed double vision. Fundoscopy revealed bilateral choked discs and right trochlear paralysis. Computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography demonstrated thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus. On admission to hospital the patient was fully conscious but had marked meningism, bilaterally positive Lasègue's sign (painful straight leg raising) at a 50 degree angle, and multiple oral aphthous ulcers. The sinus thrombosis suggested a chronic inflammatory process, while the oral ulcers pointed to Behçet's syndrome. INVESTIGATIONS: Inflammatory parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and white blood cell count) were increased and the HLA-B27 test was positive. Other laboratory tests, cerebrospinal fluid, chest radiogram and ECG were unremarkable. TREATMENT AND COURSE: Despite intravenous administration of heparin nad cefuroxim for one week the sagittal sinus thrombosis spread to the straight sinus. In the third week scrotal ulcerations were noted and taken to confirm Behçet's syndrome. Immunosuppressive treatment with methylprednisolone (initially 80 mg daily) and 2 weeks later together with chlorambucil (0.1 mg/kg daily) was started. Four weeks later the patient was free of symptoms and discharged. CONCLUSION: Neurological signs are not adequately stressed by the International Study Group for Behçet's Disease among its listed diagnostic criteria.