Preliminary Results of a Screening Programme for Chlamydia in an Asymptomatic Young Population in Spain.

Introduction:Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection has increased in recent years, reaching 127 million cases in 2016. Possible complications, especially among women, require intervention for early detection of the infection. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of CT infection in a young, sexually active, asymptomatic population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2017 and 31 December 2018 among young patients aged 18-25 years attending the emergency room for any reason. The presence of CT and other STIs in urine was determined by the Allplex Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) with a urine sample. All patients testing positive were followed by the STD unit and tests on all sexual partners/contacts were offered. Moreover, we obtained data about sexual habits and risk factors via a self-reporting questionnaire. Results: One thousand three hundred eight patients were eligible for inclusion of whom 298 consented to participate. Of these, 22/298 (7.4%) were diagnosed with CT. Young people with two or more sexual partners in the last month and those suffering from infection by ureaplasma were at greater risk of infection by CT. Up to 50% of participants do not use barrier methods. Conclusion: The prevalence of infection by CT in the asymptomatic young population is higher than expected according to the recent literature in Spain. The scarce use of barrier methods among this population may be one of the causes of this increase and one of the targets to work on in order to reduce the prevalence of the infection.

Automatic Methods for Carotid Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging Quantification of Adventitial Vasa Vasorum.

Adventitial vasa vasorum are physiologic microvessels that nourish artery walls. In the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, these microvessels proliferate abnormally. Studies have reported that they are the first stage of atheromatous disease. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of the carotid allows direct, quantitative and non-invasive visualization of the adventitial vasa vasorum. Hence, the development of computer-assisted methods that speed image analysis and eliminate user subjectivity is important. We developed methods for automatic analyses and quantification of vasa vasorum neovascularization in CEUS and tested these methods in a cohort of 186 individuals, 63 of whom were healthy volunteers. We implemented alternative automatic strategies for using the images to stratify patients according to their risk group and compare the strategies with respect to diagnostic performance. An automatic single-parameter strategy performs less effectively than the corresponding Arcidiacono method based on manual interpretation of the images (68 < area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] for the manual Arcidiacono method < 82; 60 < AUROC for the automatic single-parameter strategy < 63). However, by use of additional image parameters, an automatic multiparameter strategy has significantly improved performance with respect to the manual Arcidiacono method (78 < AUROC < 90). The automatic multiparameter strategy is a valuable alternative to the manual Arcidiacono method, improving both diagnostic speed and diagnostic accuracy.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis mimicking molluscum contagiosum: A case series.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disorder characterized by accumulation of Langerhans-like cells in one or various organs. A correct staging work-up is essential since there are multiorgan presentations with a poor prognosis. We report three patients with LCH skin lesions mimicking molluscum contagiosum in association with both high and low risk organ involvement. This peculiar cutaneous presentation can be a clue for the diagnosis of LCH, a disease with potentially severe systemic involvement.

Cytokeratin Profile of Basal Cell Carcinomas According to the Degree of Sun Exposure and to the Anatomical Localization.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) seems to originate from ultraviolet light-induced mutations involving the bulge or the outer sheath of the hair follicle cells. However, the etiopathogenic mechanisms involved in the development of these tumors in nonphotoexposed and in hairless areas remain unclear. The cytokeratin (CK) profile (including CK5/6, CK7, CK14, CK15, CK17, and CK19) from a series of different BCC subtypes developing in sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed areas, including hairless regions, was evaluated. The authors have observed that CK7 expression in BCC is associated with the anatomical localization of the tumor and its sun-exposition, but not with other factors such as histological subtype. The expression of this CK is higher in BCCs located in non-sun-exposed and nonhairy areas, such as the vulvar semimucosa and the nipple. Because CK7 is a marker of simple glandular epithelia, the authors suggest a glandular origin for BCCs located in hairless and nonphotoexposed areas.