Correlation of In Vitro Susceptibility Based on MICs and Squalene Epoxidase Mutations with Clinical Response to Terbinafine in Patients with Tinea Corporis/Cruris.

Recalcitrant dermatophytoses are on the rise in India. High MICs of terbinafine (TRB) and squalene epoxidase (SQLE) gene mutations conferring resistance in Trichophyton spp. have been recently documented. However, studies correlating laboratory data with clinical response to TRB in tinea corporis/cruris are lacking. For this study, we investigated the clinicomycological profile of 85 tinea corporis/cruris patients and performed antifungal susceptibility testing by CLSI microbroth dilution and SQLE mutation analysis of the isolates obtained and correlated these with the responses to TRB. Patients confirmed by potassium hydroxide (KOH) mounting of skin scrapings were started on TRB at 250 mg once a day (OD). If >50% clinical clearance was achieved by 3 weeks, the same dose was continued (group 1). If response was <50%, the dose was increased to 250 mg twice a day (BD) (group 2). If the response still remained below 50% after 3 weeks of BD, the patients were treated with itraconazole (ITR; group 3). Overall, skin scrapings from 64 (75.3%) patients yielded growth on culture. Strikingly, all isolates were confirmed to be Trichophyton interdigitale isolates by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Thirty-nine (61%) of the isolates had TRB MICs of ≥1 µg/ml. Complete follow-up data were available for 30 culture-positive patients. A highly significant difference in modal MICs to TRB among the three treatment response groups was noted (P = 0.009). Interestingly, 8 of the 9 patients in group 3 harbored isolates exhibiting elevated TRB MICs (8 to 32 µg/ml) and SQLE mutations. The odds of achieving cure with TRB MIC < 1 µg/ml strains were 2.5 times the odds of achieving cure with the strain exhibiting MIC ≥1 µg/ml.

Study of menopausal symptoms, and perceptions about menopause among women at a rural community in Kerala.

BACKGROUND: Menopausal health demands priority in Indian scenario due to increase in life expectancy and growing population of menopausal women. Most are either unaware or do not pay adequate attention to these symptoms. AIMS: To find the prevalence of menopausal symptoms and perceptions regarding menopause among menopausal women of Kerala. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A community based cross-sectional house to house survey was conducted at Anjarakandy a field practice area under Kannur Medical College, Anjarakandy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted among 106 postmenopausal women staying more than 6 months at Anjarakandy with the help of pretested questionnaire administered by a trained social worker from January to October 2009. Before that a pilot study was conducted and required sample size of 100 was calculated. Random sampling of houses was done. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data was coded, entered, and analyzed using SPSS 15. Chi-square test, proportions, and percentages were used. RESULTS: The mean age of attaining menopause was 48.26 years. Prevalence of symptoms among ladies were emotional problems (crying spells, depression, irritability) 90.7%, headache 72.9%, lethargy 65.4%, dysuria 58.9%, forgetfulness 57%, musculoskeletal problems (joint pain, muscle pain) 53.3%, sexual problems (decreased libido, dyspareunia) 31.8%, genital problems (itching, vaginal dryness) 9.3%, and changes in voice 8.4%. Only 22.4% of women knew the correct cause of menopause. CONCLUSIONS: Thus study stated that all the ladies were suffering from one or more number of menopausal symptoms. Ladies should be made aware of these symptoms, their causes and treatment respectively.