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Direct Microscopic Examination (direct + microscopic_examination)
Selected AbstractsLocalized cutaneous leishmaniasis imported into Paris: a review of 39 casesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2004Lise El Hajj MD Background, Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) is a common cause of dermatosis in travelers returning from the tropics. We describe the epidemiological, clinical, and biological aspects and therapeutic outcome of imported LCL. Methods, A retrospective study of all cases of LCL observed from 1992 to 2000 in our tropical disease unit. Diagnosis was based on direct examination of skin smear and/or culture with identification of subsequent subspecies. Results, Thirty-nine cases (25 males, 14 females; median age: 38 years) were included: 35 French travelers and four foreign immigrants; 15 cases were acquired in the Old World and 24 cases in the New World. The patients presented to our department with a median of 60 days after return. Thirteen patients had already consulted general practitioners, and the diagnosis was missed in five cases (38%). Five clusters were identified. The median number of skin lesions was two per patient. Diagnosis was established by direct microscopic examination in 36 cases (92%). Thirty-five patients were assessable for first-line treatment with antimonials (intramuscularly in 18, intralesionally in nine), intramuscular pentamidine isethionate or oral ketoconazole (four patients each). Twenty-five patients (71.4%) were cured. The remaining 10 patients were cured after one to three courses of other treatments. Overall adverse events occurred in 60% of the patients treated with antimonials and 37% of those treated with pentamidine. Conclusion, Imported LCL is still unrecognized by Western physicians. Clusters may be observed in groups of travelers. The therapeutic outcome is impaired by numerous but minor side-effects. [source] Onychomycosis in primary school children: association with socioeconomic conditionsMYCOSES, Issue 5 2006Turan Gunduz Summary Onychomycosis in childhood is reported to be unusual. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of onychomycosis in primary school children and to make comparison between different socioeconomic status in the rural and urban areas of the city. Hand and foot nails of 23235 children aged 7,14 were examined. Onychomycosis was suspected and nail scrapings for mycological examination were taken in 116 of them. Hyphae or spores were seen in 41 (0.18%) by direct microscopic examination, and mycological cultures were positive in 24 (0.1%) of them. Toenails were affected in all of the fungal culture positive cases. Trichosporon spp, Trichophyton rubrum, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata grew in 11, 6, 5 and 2 of the cultures repectively. Onychomycosis prevalence was significantly higher in the children living in the rural areas (p = 0.016) [Odds ratio = 3.43 (%95 CI 1.11 Auswirkungen der Matrixzusammensetzung auf die Dauerhaftigkeit von Betonen mit textilen Bewehrungen aus AR-GlasBETON- UND STAHLBETONBAU, Issue 8 2009Marko Butler Dipl.-Ing. Baustoffe; Bewehrung; Versuche Abstract Verbundmaterialien aus Feinbetonen mit textiler Bewehrung aus alkaliresistentem Glas (AR-Glas) können ausgeprägten zeitabhängigen Veränderungen hinsichtlich des mechanischen Leistungsvermögens unterliegen. Für eine zielsichere Anwendung solcher Werkstoffe im Bauwesen sind genaue Kenntnisse über die Höhe und die Ursachen dieser Leistungsverluste unabdingbar. In diesem Artikel werden anhand von Ergebnissen aktueller Untersuchungen entscheidende Mechanismen für die Alterungsprozesse dargestellt, die aus der Zusammensetzung der Feinbetone resultieren. Dazu wurden aus verschiedenen Betonzusammensetzungen, die sich maßgeblich in ihrer Hydratationskinetik und Alkalität unterschieden, textilbewehrte Dehnkörper hergestellt und nach beschleunigter Alterung geprüft. Dehnkörper aus Feinbeton mit hoher Alkalität (das Bindemittel bestand nur aus CEM I) zeigten dramatische Einbußen bei Zugfestigkeit und Bruchdehnung. Das Leistungsvermögen von Proben aus Feinbetonen mit puzzolanisch abgepufferter Bindemittelzusammensetzung und gleichzeitig reduziertem Portlandzementklinkeranteil zeigte sich dagegen weitgehend unbeeinflusst von Alterungsprozessen. Mit Hilfe von beidseitigen Garnauszugversuchen an beschleunigt gealterten Feinbetonproben wurden die für das unterschiedliche Materialverhalten verantwortlichen Degradationsmechanismen aufgeklärt. Neben der mechanischen Prüfung wurde dazu auch die Interphase zwischen Fasern und umgebendem Feinbeton mit bildgebenden und analytischen Verfahren charakterisiert. Die festgestellten Einbußen im Leistungsvermögen des Garn-Matrix-Verbundes konnten überwiegend auf die Neubildung von ungünstig strukturierten Hydratationsprodukten in der Interphase Filament-Matrix bzw. in Filamentzwischenräumen zurückgeführt werden. Die Morphologie dieser Phase wird maßgeblich von der Bindemittelzusammensetzung bestimmt. Korrosion des AR-Glases als Schadensursache kann unter ungünstigen Umständen auch eine große Rolle spielen, ist aber bei geeigneter Matrixformulierung von untergeordneter Bedeutung. Effect of Matrix Composition on the Durability of Concretes Reinforced with Glass Fibre Fabric The mechanical performance of composites made of finegrained concrete and textile reinforcement can worsen markedly with increasing age if alkali-resistant glass (AR-glass) is used as the reinforcing material. For reliable practical applications of textile-reinforced concrete, precise knowledge as to the extent and causes of such degradation is indispensable. This paper discusses important aging mechanisms resulting from the composition of fine-grained concrete. Tensile tests on composites made of different concrete compositions distinguished from one another by their hydration kinetics and alkalinity were performed before and after accelerated aging. Composites made of concrete with high alkalinity showed dramatic losses of tensile strength and strain capacity. In contrast the mechanical performance of composites whose binders had reduced Portland cement clinker content plus added puzzolana was hardly affected by the accelerated aging. To clarify the mechanisms of degradation, yarn pullout tests were performed on specimens of equal matrix composition and age. Additionally, the morphology of the interphase between matrix and fibre was characterised using direct microscopic examination and analytical methods. The new formation of unfavourably structured products of hydration in the filament-matrix interphase and/or in the empty spaces between filaments was found to be the main reason for the performance losses observed. The morphology of these hydration products is determined to a great extent by the binder composition. Under unfavourable conditions corrosion of AR-glass can occur as well and lead to distinct composite damage. However, if the formulation of the binder is proper, bulk glass corrosion is of minor importance. [source] Dermoscopy compared with naked eye examination for the diagnosis of primary melanoma: a meta-analysis of studies performed in a clinical settingBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2008M.E. Vestergaard Summary Background, Dermoscopy is a noninvasive technique that enables the clinician to perform direct microscopic examination of diagnostic features, not seen by the naked eye, in pigmented skin lesions. Diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy has previously been assessed in meta-analyses including studies performed in experimental and clinical settings. Objectives, To assess the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy for the diagnosis of melanoma compared with naked eye examination by performing a meta-analysis exclusively on studies performed in a clinical setting. Methods, We searched for publications from 1987 to January 2008 and found nine eligible studies. The selected studies compare diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy with naked eye examination using a valid reference test on consecutive patients with a defined clinical presentation, performed in a clinical setting. Hierarchical summary receiver operator curve analysis was used to estimate the relative diagnostic accuracy for clinical examination with, and without, the use of dermoscopy. Results, We found the relative diagnostic odds ratio for melanoma, for dermoscopy compared with naked eye examination, to be 15·6 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2·9,83·7, P = 0·016]; removal of two outlier studies changed this to 9·0 (95% CI 1·5,54·6, P = 0·03). Conclusions, Dermoscopy is more accurate than naked eye examination for the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma in suspicious skin lesions when performed in the clinical setting. [source]
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