Prevalence of different Malassezia species in pityriasis versicolor in central India.

BACKGROUND: In the last 10 years, different studies have shown interesting geographical variations in the prevalence of different Malassezia species in pityriasis versicolor. AIM: Identification of Malassezia species isolated from patients with pityriasis versicolor. METHODS: In 100 patients with pityriasis versicolor, Malassezia species were identified by culture in Sabouraud's dextrose agar containing cycloheximide with olive oil overlay and modified Dixon agar and by doing biochemical tests (catalase reaction, assimilation of glycine, and Tween utilisation tests). RESULTS: In 10 patients, 10% KOH smear was negative, while in 90 patients the smear showed characteristic "spaghetti and meatball" appearance. Of these 90 cases, growth was obtained on modified Dixon's agar in 87 cases. Fifty of the isolates (57.5%) were M. globosa, 15 (17.2%) were M. sympodialis, seven (8.0%) were suspected M. sympodialis, 6 (6.9%) each of the isolates were M. furfur and M. obtusa, and three (3.4%) isolates were M. restricta. CONCLUSION: M. globosa was the most common species, followed by M. sympodialis, M. furfur, M. obtusa, and M. restricta.

Accuracy of references cited in articles published in Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Progress in science takes place when investigators build on the work of others. Therefore, in scientific communications, it is very important that others' work is correctly noted and understood. Cited references have been found to be inaccurate in every journal in which they have been examined. AIM: To analyze references cited in articles published in Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology for their citation and quotation precision as an indicator of the quality of articles. METHODS: Twelve citation and five quotation errors were identified and defined. Fifty cited references were selected randomly from the May-June 2008 issue of the journal. For these citations, we obtained 44 full texts of papers and two abstracts. In one case, only citation errors could be verified from the Internet. Three citations of books could not be verified. Thus, citation errors were examined in 47 and quotation errors in 46 citations. RESULTS: Thirteen cited references (28.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 15.3-41.3%) were error-free. Twenty-eight citations (59.6%; 95% CI 45.5-73.6%) contained citation errors and 20 (43.5%; 95% CI 29.2-57.8%) quotation errors. CONCLUSION: RESULTS of this pilot study suggest that improving accuracy of the references is important. Solutions to this problem are suggested.