Laser and light therapy for onychomycosis: a systematic review

More than just a cosmetic concern, onychomycosis is a prevalent and extremely difficult condition to treat. In older and diabetic populations, severe onychomycosis may possibly serve as a nidus for infection, and other more serious complications may ensue. Many treatment modalities for the treatment of onychomycosis have been studied, including topical lacquers and ointments, oral antifungals, surgical and chemical nail avulsion, and lasers. Due to their minimally invasive nature and potential to restore clear nail growth with relatively few sessions, lasers have become a popular option in the treatment of onychomycosis for both physicians and patients. Laser or light systems that have been investigated for this indication include the carbon dioxide, neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet, 870/930-nm combination, and femtosecond infrared 800-nm lasers, in addition to photodynamic and ultraviolet light therapy. This systematic review will discuss each of these modalities as well as their respective currently published, peer-reviewed literature.     

A retrospective analysis of the use of caspofungin in recipients of liver transplant with a modified high index of suspicion for fungal infection. A critical review of mortality,acute cellular rejection,infections, and changes in the liver function tests while on caspofungin

Doria C, Bodzin AS, Vaccino S, Daskalakis C, Krawitz S, Ramirez CB. A retrospective analysis of the use of caspofungin in recipients of liver transplant with a modified high index of suspicion for fungal infection. A critical review of mortality, acute cellular rejection, infections, and changes in the liver function tests while on caspofungin.
Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 569–575. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: This study is a retrospective analysis of death, adverse events (AE), fungal infections, and hepatic function among recipients of liver transplantation at high risk of fungal infection who received prophylactic treatment with caspofungin. After reviewing data of 105 patients who had received isolated liver transplant between January 2003 and April 2007, we identified and analyzed 82 high‐risk patients. Post‐transplant patients at high risk for fungal infection are commonly defined by the presence of at least one of the following: (i) re‐transplantation; (ii) re‐operation; (iii) renal dysfunction. However, in our practice, patients are also considered at high risk for developing fungal infections if they present with the following: (iv) fever of unknown origin; (v) hypothermia; (vi) positive random culture for fungus at the time of transplant (bile and/or ascites); (vii) sepsis; (viii) use of vasopressors; (ix) re‐intubation, during the first hospitalization after liver transplant; (x) prolonged intubation (>24 h), and (xi) acute respiratory distress syndrome, until negative fungal cultures are obtained. Exact conditional logistic regression was used to compare the risk of death, AEs, and fungal infections between patients who received caspofungin, other antifungal drugs, and no antifungal drugs. Analyses were then performed with SAS 9.1 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Patients were between 27 and 72 yr old (mean = 55), with two‐thirds male and three‐quarters Caucasian. Sixteen patients received caspofungin (11 preventively), and 32 received other antifungal (26 preventively). There were no proven fungal infections among the patients who received caspofungin, three infections among patients who received other antifungal (3/26 = 12%), and 14 infections among patients who were not preventively treated (14/45 = 31%). These infection rates were significantly different across the three groups (p = 0.029), with caspofungin and other antifungal preventive treatment comparable (p = 0.540), and both better than no preventive treatment at all (OR = 0.15, p = 0.049, for caspofungin versus no preventive treatment; OR = 0.29, p = 0.085, for other antifungal versus no preventive treatment). Caspofungin appears to be an effective preventive agent against fungal infections when used in recipients of liver transplant designated as high risk for fungal infection. Usage of caspofungin in these patients does not carry an apparent increase in risk of death or acute cellular rejection, although we observed a significantly higher risk of AEs, especially acute renal failure (p = 0.001), in patients who received this agent.     

肝移植术后肺部真菌感染的诊断和治疗

目的探讨肝移植术后肺部真菌感染的早期诊断及治疗方法。方法回顾分析20例肝移植术后肺部真菌感染患者的临床资料,分析其原发病、免疫状态、感染真菌的种类及抗真菌药物的应用。结果20例患者念珠菌感染17例,死亡2例,曲霉菌感染3例,死亡2例。氟康唑、伊曲康唑、两性霉素B治疗有效率70％,伏立康唑、卡泊芬净治疗有效率100％。结论肝移植术后真菌感染高发,以危重患者为主要目标人群,发生早,病情重。诊断分三级,达到临床诊断即应及早治疗。治疗以伏立康唑为首选,严重感染者联合应用卡泊芬净效果良好。     

纤维支气管镜灌洗抗真菌药治疗肺部真菌感染的疗效分析

目的探讨纤维支气管镜（FB）灌洗抗真菌药治疗肺部真菌感染（PFI）的疗效。方法选取42例患者为灌洗组,给予FB灌洗治疗;对照组患者42例,给予抗真菌治疗。结果灌洗组患者总体疗效优于对照组（U=2.7794,P〈0.01）。灌洗组患者治疗后Pa O2显著高于同期对照组（t=3.4961,P〈0.01）;灌洗组患者治疗后Pa CO2显著低于同期对照组（t=17.9784,P〈0.01）。灌洗组患者治疗后痰菌阴转率显著高于对照组（χ^2=4.8496,P〈0.01）。灌洗组发热天数、住院时间短于对照组;两组均无严重并发症。对照组病死率高于灌洗组（χ^2=3.8961,P=0.0484）。结论FB灌洗抗真菌药治疗PFI,可提高有效率,缩短病程,减少并发症。     

Pediatric alternating allergic fungal rhinosinusitis: A case report and literature review

Objectivesto report the alternating nature of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis in children in the Eastern part of Saudi Arabia and to review the experience of King Fahad Specialist Hospital in the diagnosis and management of alternating allergic fungal rhinosinusitis in children.An 8 years old Saudi girl with alternating allergic fungal rhinosinusitis was diagnosed and managed. The patient was diagnosed to have unilateral left allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and cleaning of the left sinuses from polyps, mud and mucin. One year postoperatively the patient developed AFRS in the contralateral right side.Conclusioninvolvement of the contralateral sinuses in children with AFRS is uncommon. The normal uninvolved sinus should be involved in the routine endoscopic examination and the post-operative treatment in order to minimize the risk of disease recurrence.     

Custom-made antibiotic cement nails: A comparative study of different fabrication techniques

Introduction

The management of intramedullary long bone infections remains a challenge. Placement of antibiotic cement nails is a useful adjuvant to the antibiotic treatment of osteomyelitis. However, fabrication of antibiotic cement nails can be arduous. The purpose of this article is to introduce an easy and reproducible technique for the fabrication of antibiotics cement nails.

Materials and methods

We compared the time required to peel the chest tube off the 6 antibiotic cement nail using 2 different cement-cooling techniques and the addition of mineral oil in the chest tube. Additionally, we evaluated the optimal time to cut the chest tube (before and after cement hardening), consistency of nail's diameter, and the roughness of its surface. Cooling and peeling times were measured and failure was defined as a working time (from cement mixing to have a usable antibiotic cement nail) that exceeded 1 h.

Results

When the antibiotic cement nail was left to cool by convection (i.e. air-cooling), we failed to peel the plastic off the cement nail. When the chest tube was cut after conductive cooling (i.e. cold water-cooled), the cooling time was 10 min and the peeling time was 30 min without the use of mineral oil; the addition of mineral oil reduced peeling time to 7.5 min. Following peeling, residual adherent plastic pieces were found along the entire surface of the nail when no mineral oil was used. This was rarely seen when mineral oil was utilized to coat the inner layer of the chest tube.

Conclusion

Conductively cooling of the cement nail (in cold water) and pre-lubricating the chest tube with mineral oil are 2 tricks that render fabrication of antibiotic nail more efficient, reliable, and practical.     

Pharmacologic review: a review of the literature of ketoconazole therapy in the treatment of tinea pedis and onychomycosis

Ketoconazole, an imidazole derivative, is the first encouraging new oral antimycotic in 20 years. Ketoconazole currently lacks Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of dermatophytosis; however, it has demonstrated usefulness against a variety of fungal diseases, including tinea pedis, when griseofulvin has failed. The authors provide the reader with data from several studies on the medicinal therapy for dermatomycosis and onychomycosis, particularly where ketoconazole was utilized. Several studies utilizing other treatment modalities are also cited.     

钛制弹性髓内钉治疗儿童胫骨不稳定骨折

目的 探讨钛制弹性髓内钉治疗儿童胫骨不稳定骨折的临床疗效.方法 应用钛制弹性髓内钉技术治疗儿童胫骨不稳定骨折16例.结果 所有病例均得到随访,时间6～12个月.术后4、8、12、24、48周定期摄X线片复查,骨折均获得愈合,平均愈合时间8周.术后无感染,未发生骨不连、畸形愈合和骨骺损伤.无下肢短缩、内外翻畸形等并发症,功能恢复良好.结论 钛制弹性髓内钉内固定治疗儿童胫骨干骨折,具有创伤小、恢复快、并发症少等特点,值得临床推广应用.     

狼疮肾炎并发肺部曲霉菌感染及脑膜炎一例暨文献复习

目的 通过报道1例典型的狼疮肾炎（LN）患者并发侵袭性真菌感染（IFI）的病例,并复习相关文献以期为临床提供早期诊治系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）患者并发IFI的依据和经验。 方法 描述患者发病及诊治经过,同时系统地回顾相关文献,分析总结SLE患者并发IFI的诊断方法、常见致病菌及易感因素。 结果 通过应用IFI诊断指南可以早期诊断SLE患者并发IFI,同时有效排除呼吸道定植等非侵袭性真菌感染,早期治疗,有利于提高该疾病的诊断率和治愈率。SLE患者并发IFI最常见的致病菌是隐球菌和曲霉菌,不是常见的白色念珠菌。SLE患者并发IFI的易感因素是狼疮活动和免疫抑制剂的应用。 结论 IFI 诊断指南对SLE并发IFI的诊断和治疗具有指导意义。SLE并发IFI的常见致病菌是隐球菌和曲霉菌,易感因素是狼疮活动和免疫抑制剂的应用。     

肾移植术后深部真菌感染10例报告

１９９１年１月－１９９３年１２月我所３３１例肾移植患者中发生深部真菌感染１０例，其中９例为念珠菌感染，１例为曲霉菌感染。经咪康唑或大扶康的正规治疗后，除１例发展为真菌性败血症死亡外，余９例感染治愈，但有３例移植肾因此丧失功能。我们认为肾移植术后应重视深部真菌感染问题，抗真菌药物以大扶康的首选。     

可膨胀髓内钉与带锁髓内钉治疗胫骨骨折的疗效分析

目的 观察可膨胀髓内钉与带锁髓内钉治疗胫骨骨折的临床效果,探讨可膨胀髓内钉治疗胫骨骨折的方法及临床适应证.方法 72例胫骨骨折患者随机分为2组, A组:34例,行可膨胀髓内钉内固定术;B组:38例,行带锁髓内钉内固定术.从手术时间、术中出血量、骨折愈合时间和并发症等方面进行比较分析.结果 随访5～13个月,平均7个月.两组疗效比较:手术时间、术中出血量、X线透视时间、骨折愈合时间差异有显著性(P＜0.05),术后并发症差异无显著性(P＞0.05).结论 可膨胀髓内钉内固定治疗胫骨骨折能显著减少手术时间和术中出血量,缩短骨折愈合时间,减少并发症,掌握好手术指征,是治疗胫骨骨折的一种较好方法.     

A collaborative approach in patient education for diabetes foot and wound care: A pragmatic randomised controlled trial

Foot care education is an important strategy in reducing lower limb complications. There is evidence that contemporary communication approaches can improve patient education outcomes. To inform the potential of such methods in diabetic foot education, we trialled a collaborative approach in patient education counselling in a podiatry clinic. We conducted a single‐blind pragmatic randomised controlled trial on 52 diabetes patients who had an active foot ulcer. Participants were randomised to either collaborative education or traditional didactic education. Outcomes on knowledge and self‐care behaviours were collected via a pre and post study questionnaire (max score: 75). The study ended at 12 weeks or when the wound healed prior. 42 (80.7%) participants completed the study. The collaborative patient education group had a significant increase in score post‐study (38.8 ± 8.5) compared to pre‐study (32.8 ± 6.9; P < .001). The control group had no significant increase in score post study. The difference in scores between groups had a moderate effect size (d = 0.54). The use of a collaborative approach in patient education was able to produce significantly greater increase in knowledge retention and self‐care behaviours, without the need for additional consultation time in a podiatry clinic.     

Fungal Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A Review of Demographics and Management

BackgroundPeriprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most feared complications of total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Although commonly the result of colonization by Staphylococcal species, a growing number of cases of PJI with fungal pathogens have been reported within the last decade. Although standard treatment with two-stage exchange mirrors that of bacterial PJI, the variability in virulence between fungal species makes for an unpredictable and challenging treatment course.MethodsA review of Pubmed and Scopus from years 2009 to 2019 was conducted with the search terms fungal, infection, Candida, arthroplasty, periprosthetic, and prosthesis. Publications were reviewed and screened, yielding data for 286 patients with fungal PJI in the hip, knee, shoulder, and elbow prosthetics.ResultsPatient comorbidities generally included conditions impairing wound healing and immune response such as diabetes mellitus. Candida species were the most common fungal pathogens identified (85%); 30% had a concomitant bacterial infection. A two-stage exchange was most utilized, with a mean success rate of 65%. Antifungal impregnated spacers were utilized in 82 cases, with a comparatively high success rate (81%). Attempts at debridement with implant retention had substantially lower cure rates (15%).ConclusionsTwo-stage exchange is the favored approach to treating fungal PJI. Debridement with implant retention does not appear adequate to control infection, and retrieval of implanted materials should be prioritized. The use of antifungal impregnated spacers is an important area of ongoing research, with uncertainty regarding the type and quantity of antifungal agent to incorporate, although recent reports support the use of these agents.     

可吸收螺钉在踝关节骨折中的应用

目的 探讨可吸收螺钉治疗踝关节骨折的疗效. 方法 2004年6月至2010年12月采用可吸收螺钉治疗16例踝关节骨折患者,男9例,女7例;年龄21～62岁,平均35岁;其中三踝骨折4例(AO分型:B型2例,C型2例),内外踝骨折8例(AO分型均为B型),单纯内踝骨折2例,单纯外踝骨折2例(1例为AO分型A型,另1例为外踝Maisonneuve骨折合并下胫腓联合和内侧三角韧带损伤).所有涉及外踝的骨折患者只有AO分型A型骨折采用2枚2.7 mm可吸收螺钉或1枚2.7mm可吸收螺钉辅助1枚1.5 mm可吸收棒固定,其余均采用接骨板螺钉固定.内踝骨折采用2～3枚3.5mm或4.0mm可吸收螺钉固定.1例下胫腓联合损伤采用2枚4.5 mm可吸收螺钉贯穿下胫腓固定.后踝骨折采用l～2枚4.0mm或4.5 mm可吸收螺钉从前向后固定.结果 16例患者术后获1.5～4.0年(平均28个月)随访.骨折愈合时间平均为3.0个月,无骨折延迟愈合及骨折不愈合,未出现伤口并发症.按美国足踝外科协会踝与后足功能标准评分评定疗效:优14例,良2例. 结论 可吸收螺钉内固定治疗踝关节骨折疗效好,无需行二次内固定取出手术,但要慎重选择骨折类型.     

A role for lasers in the treatment of pigmented skin grafts

The development of aberrant pigmentation represents an unwelcome complication to an otherwise successful split skin graft resulting in a loss of colour match and, so it follows, of cosmesis. We present two cases where lasers have been successful in the treatment of this problem.     

喙突螺钉固定治疗肩锁关节脱位的初步报告

目的 初步评价喙突螺钉固定技术治疗肩锁关节脱位的临床效果.方法 自2004年1月至2006年11月,对20例Rockwood分型Ⅲ度以上肩锁关节脱位患者均采用喙突螺钉固定,其中Ⅲ度2例,Ⅳ度2例,Ⅴ度16例.男14例,女6例;左侧11例,右侧9例;平均年龄46.6岁.术后患者均采用颈腕吊带固定6周,第2周开始被动活动,第6周逐渐开始主动活动.结果 20例患者术后获6个月～2年(平均10.1个月)随访.术后采用Constant评分:优9例,良7例,可4例,优良率为80%.3例患者出现螺钉脱出,采用保守治疗,3个月后取出螺钉.1例患者进行再手术更换螺钉固定.1例患者出现外展疼痛,给予非甾体类约物治疗.结论 采用喙突螺钉固定技术治疗Rockwood肩锁关节Ⅲ度以上脱位,临床效果良好.