Comparative study of efficacy, rapidity of detection, and cost-effectiveness of potassium hydroxide, calcofluor white, and Chicago sky blue stains in the diagnosis of dermatophytoses.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of superficial mycosis such as dermatophytosis is often done clinically. However, in difficult cases, a rapid test with high sensitivity and specificity helps in the immediate confirmation and administration of treatment. METHODS: The efficacy, rapidity of detection, and cost-effectiveness of KOH preparation, calcofluor white (CW) stain, and Chicago sky blue (CSB) stain in the identification of fungal elements were assessed in patients with dermatophytoses attending the dermatology clinic of a tertiary care hospital. All three tests were performed on each sample collected from 73 patients according to standard procedure. The slides were examined after 5 and 30 minutes in × 10 and × 40 magnifications. The sensitivity and specificity of CW and CSB at 5 and 30 minutes were calculated using KOH preparation as the standard test. RESULTS: CSB stain showed highest positivity (94.5%) within 5 minutes when compared to KOH (75.3%) and CW (83.5%). After 30 minutes, positivity increased in KOH (84.9%) and CW stains (89%), but it remained the same in CSB stain. Both CW and CSB stains when compared to 10% KOH are equally sensitive (100%), but CW was more specific (72.7%), particularly at 30 minutes. When cost of performing tests on 100 specimens is considered, KOH, CW, and CSB stains cost Rs 5, 100, and 15, respectively. CONCLUSION: CSB stain is a better stain for rapid diagnosis of dermatophytoses because of ease of performance, rapidity of detection, better appreciation of morphology of fungal elements, and cost effectiveness.

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome with homozygous nonsense mutation of cathepsin C gene presenting with late-onset periodontitis.

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of keratinization caused by homozygous mutations in the gene encoding lysosomal protease cathepsin C (CTSC). It is clinically characterized by transgredient palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK) and periodontitis. A 15-year-old boy presenting with PPK from the age of 6 months and late-onset periodontitis that began at the age of 12 years is described. Mutation analysis revealed a homozygous nonsense mutation (p.Y304X) in exon 7 of the CTSC gene. Late-onset periodontitis in a patient with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome is a rare phenotypic variation.

Therapeutic Response of Vitamin A, Vitamin B Complex, Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) and Vitamin E in the Treatment of Phrynoderma: A Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: In the treatment of phrynoderma, various nutrients have been tried in different dosages and routes with variable therapeutic outcomes. AIMS: The present study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of various nutrients in the treatment of phrynoderma. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: An open label randomized controlled study was conducted in the out-patient department of Dermatology in a tertiary care hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients were divided into group of five and each patient received one of the five regimens [10 injections of Vitamin A 1 lakh units, intramuscularly (IM) on alternate day, 10 injections of Vitamin B complex, 2cc IM on alternate day, 2 table spoon of safflower oil, two times daily with meals, Tab Vitamin E 400mg once daily, and only topical keratolytic (salicylic acid 3% ointment) two times daily] respectively. The first four regimens also received topical keratolytic. The primary outcome measured was therapeutic response at the end of regimen. The response was graded based on the percentage of flattening and decrease in number of lesions. Less than 25% improvement was graded as poor, 26-50% improvement as moderate, 51-75% improvement as good, and more than 75% improvement as excellent response. In the statistical analysis, comparison was done using Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: A total of 125 patients were included in the study with 25 patients each in five regimen groups. There were 79 (63.2%) males and 46 (36.8%) females with a ratio of 1.72:1. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 26 years with mean of 10.1±4.3 years. Out of 125 patients, 105 completed the study. In regimen 1 and 2, significant number of patients showed good to excellent response whereas significant number of patients in remaining regimen showed moderate to poor response with a p value of <0.05. The therapeutic response to Vitamin A and Vitamin B complex therapy was significantly better than other regimens. CONCLUSION: Intramuscular injections of Vitamin A or Vitamin B are effective in the treatment of phrynoderma. Addition of topical keratolytics helps in faster clearance of keratotic lesions.