Circumcision - A new approach for a different cosmetic result.

AIM: To assess the difference in aesthetic result after a non-religious circumcision with classic Johnston's technique and a new proposed technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 76 children were circumcised (not for religious purposes) in a period of 6 years using the classic Johnston's technique (50 patients) and a new proposed technique (26 patients). Parents of circumcised children were interviewed three months after the operation. The aesthetic result was scored by both the parents and the patients as bad, acceptable, good or very good. Scores between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: No major complications were encountered. The aesthetic result score between the two groups had a statistically significant difference (Mann Whitney U Test, p<0.0005). Children being circumcised with the new technique and their parents were more satisfied with the aesthetic result three months after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: In communities in which religious circumcisions are being performed relatively rare, the aesthetic result of a classic method may seem awkward to the patient and his family. Therefore, circumcision being performed for non religious reasons necessitates an acceptable aesthetic result. Our technique fulfills this prerequisite. Hippokratia 2014; 18 (2):116-119.

HLA haplotypes in recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a mode of inheritance?

The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic association between recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II alleles and HLA haplotypes. Families selected had at least one child suffering from recurrent aphthous stomatitis in addition to one or both of the parents. HLA-A, -B and -DR alleles were typed in 29 families, 27 nuclear and two extended (121 subjects). HLA haplotypes of all family members with RAS were compared with those who were RAS negative. Although major histocompatibility complex class I and II gene analysis failed to demonstrate any significant association between RAS and HLA antigens, the study of HLA haplotypes revealed a significant association between HLA haplotypes and susceptibility to RAS. The results indicate that susceptibility to RAS segregates in families in association with HLA haplotypes.

Outcome following treatment for Helicobacter pylori in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to investigate any association of Helicobacter Pylori (HP) in recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and the effect of eradication of the microorganism in the clinical course of the disease. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-eight patients with RAS were included in the study. Twenty-six were women and 22 men, of average age 41.3 +/- 2.44. Thirty-four out of these 48 patients were HP positive and the rest 14 who were negative were used as a control group. The diagnosis of HP infection was based on the detection of specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), and immunoglubulin A (IgA) antibodies using the enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay technique in the serum and the saliva of the patients. In all HP carriers an eradication therapy was administered. After a 2-month period the patients were checked for HP status, using 13C-UBT. The follow up period was 6-12 months following the eradication therapy. RESULTS: At entry patients with HP infection suffered from more severe symptoms compared with HP negative patients (P < 0.05). After the administration of HP eradication therapy, patients who had become negative showed a remarkable improvement (62.5%) with reference to recurrence of RAS as well as to symptom intensity. In 29.2% of patients symptoms had disappeared and in 33.3% of patients there was a decrease in both the frequency of recurrence and the intensity of symptoms. After the eradication treatment, the periods between recurrence of RAS in patients who had become negative were statistically significantly longer compared with those before treatment (P < 0.001). Another important observation was that patients who became negative after eradication therapy were of comparable clinical status with those who were HP negative from the beginning of the study (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the concept of a potential association between RAS and HP.