syphilis pcr

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients with anal condyloma acuminata (CA) present an increased risk of anal cancer progression associated with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. It is essential to explore determinants of anal infection by oncogenic HPV among HIV-positive patients with CA. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed in HIV-positive patients with CA between January 2019 to October 2021 in Shenzhen, Southeast China...

BACKGROUND: Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) prevalence and burden at oral and lesion sites in adults with early syphilis were assessed by qPCR. Factors associated with oral shedding were also examined. METHODS: Pre-treatment oral and lesion swabs were collected from adults with early syphilis in a US multicenter syphilis treatment trial. Oral swabs were collected in the presence and absence of oral lesions. Following DNA extraction, qPCR and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were performed to assess burden and strain variability...

The Harmonizing Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) initiative has agreed upon the core outcome set for use in atopic dermatitis (AD) clinical trials, but additional guidance is needed to maximise uptake of the core set. This article provides answers to some of the commonly asked questions about using the HOME core outcome set. It also provides data to aid interpretation of trial results and to support sample size calculations for future trials. By encouraging adoption of the core outcome set and facilitating consistent reporting of outcome data, we hope that results of eczema trials will be more comprehensive and readily combined in meta-analyses and patient care will be improved...

A 69-year-old right-handed man with a history of substance use disorder, hypertension, and diabetes presented to the emergency department in an unresponsive state. Upon examination, apart from tachycardia (heart rate, 108 beats per minute), vital signs were within normal ranges (blood pressure, 134/102 mm Hg; temperature, 97.9°F [36.6°C]; respiratory rate, 16 breaths per minute; oxygen saturation, 96%). He had a Glasgow coma scale score of 8. Otherwise, the physical examination revealed no abnormalities...

Syphilis has long been considered the "great masquerader," notorious for its varying presentations and ability to affect most organ systems in the body. We report the case of a 41-year-old immunocompetent man who presented to ophthalmology with rapidly progressive visual complaints from bilateral panuveitis and concomitant verrucous facial lesions initially disregarded by the patient as acne. Serum testing for syphilis was positive, and he was admitted for 14 days of intravenous (IV) penicillin with multiservice care from dermatology, ophthalmology, and infectious disease...

Patients with anal condyloma acuminatum (CA) are at risk of developing anal cancer which is associated with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Investigation of anal HPV prevalence and risk factors can provide effective strategies for the prevention of anal cancer. A retrospective study was conducted among 549 patients with anal CA in the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen between January 2019 and October 2021. HPV prevalence and HIV antibodies were detected by fluorescent PCR and ELISA, respectively...

BACKGROUND: In the context of a syphilis outbreak in neighboring states, a multifaceted systems change to increase testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young Aboriginal people aged 15 to 29 years was implemented at an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) in New South Wales, Australia. The components included electronic medical record prompts and automated pathology test sets to increase STI testing in annual routine health assessments, the credentialing of nurses and Aboriginal health practitioners to conduct STI tests independently, pathology request forms presigned by a physician, and improved data reporting...

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) are highly vulnerable to anal sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Objectives -to evaluate the prevalence of anal STIs among MSM and TGW attending a referral clinic for anal cancer prevention. Methods -MSM and TGW attending a medical visit for high-resolution anoscopy in Salvador, Brazil, from February 2021 to June 2022 were screened for HPV, gonorrhea, and chlamydial infection by PCR of anal swab and by serum VDRL titration for syphilis screening...

Untreated syphilis can lead to ocular syphilis, otosyphilis, and neurosyphilis, conditions resulting from Treponema pallidum infection of the eye, inner ear, or central nervous system. During March-July 2022, Michigan public health officials identified a cluster of ocular syphilis cases. The public health response included case investigation, partner notification, dissemination of health alerts, patient referral to a public health clinic for diagnosis and treatment, hospital care coordination, and specimen collection for T...

Tertiary syphilis may present a diagnostic challenge due to negative nontreponemal serologies in up to 30% of cases and frequent lack of identifiable spirochetes on histopathology or other direct detection tests. We report 2 cases of round bodies staining with Treponema pallidum immunohistochemistry by light microscopy in biopsies from cutaneous syphilitic gummata. In 1 case, the finding was validated 3 times by 2 independent laboratories; in the other case, T. pallidum was detected by polymerase chain reaction in the biopsy sample...

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) remains underutilized among cis and trans women. The PrEP Initiative Program (PIP) is a novel public-private partnership implemented at 12 local clinics in North Carolina. PIP provides HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and clinical and laboratory monitoring for PrEP to uninsured/underinsured clients. We sought to understand service-related differences among both cis and trans women enrolled in PIP, including STIs diagnoses, clinic type, sources of referral, services needed, and reasons for PrEP discontinuation...

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common and fastest increasing forms of cancer worldwide with metastatic potential. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of RNA-molecules with essential regulatory functions for both physiological and pathological processes. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the function and mode of action of lncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) in cSCC. METHODS: The expression level of PVT1 was quantified in normal skin, premalignant skin lesion actinic keratosis (AK) and cSCCs by qRT-PCR and single molecule in situ hybridization...

BACKGROUND: The global resurgence of syphilis requires novel prevention strategies. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of Treponema pallidum ( TPA ) using different specimen types is essential for vaccine development. METHODS: Patients with primary (PS) and secondary (SS) syphilis were recruited in Guangzhou, China. We collected ulcer exudates and blood from PS participants, and skin biopsies and blood from SS participants for TPA polA polymerase chain reaction (PCR); ulcer exudates and blood were also used to isolate TPA strains by rabbit infectivity testing (RIT)...

Skin ageing is a complex process involving the additive effects of skin's interaction with its external environment, predominantly chronic sun exposure, upon a background of time-dependent intrinsic ageing. Skin health and beauty is considered one of the principal factors perceived to represent overall 'health and wellbeing'; thus, the demand for skin rejuvenation strategies has rapidly increased, with a worldwide annual expenditure expected to grow from $US24.6 billion to around $US44.5 billion by 2030 (https://www...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although the Spanish Ministry of Health prepares national therapeutic positioning reports (TPRs) and drug reimbursement policies, each of the country's 17 autonomous communities is responsible for health care services and prescription requirements in its territory. The aim of the EQUIDAD study was to describe and explore potential differences in prescription requirements for new dermatology drugs across the autonomous communities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted in April and May, 2023...

BACKGROUND: Syphilis is a worldwide sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum. In most cases, the oral manifestations of syphilis infection are associated with cutaneous involvement. However, the present case report is noteworthy since the oral lesions are the sole clinical sign in an HIV-positive transgender patient. CASE PRESENTATIONS: We reported an uncommon case of secondary syphilis in a 37-year-old seropositive transgender male, whose diagnostic suspect was based only on oral mucosal lesions...

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous neurofibromas (cNF) are considered one of the highest burdens of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). To date, no medical treatment can cure cNF or prevent their development. In that context, there is an urgent need to prepare and standardize the methodology of future trials targeting cNF. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to develop a core outcome domain set suitable for all clinical trials targeting NF1-associated cNF. METHODS: The validated approach of this work consisted of a three-phase methodology: i) generating the domains (systematic review of literature (SRL) and qualitative studies), ii) agreeing (three-round international e-Delphi consensus process, working groups), and iii) voting...

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common, chronic skin disorder pathologically featured with abnormal epidermal proliferation, infiltrating inflammatory cells and increased angiogenesis in the dermis. Aberrant expressions of E3 ubiquitin ligase and dysregulated protein ubiquitination system are implicated in the pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the potential role of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2), an E3 ligase and oncogene, in psoriasis. METHODS: Gene expression and protein levels were evaluated by using qRT-PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining in the skin samples from the patients with psoriasis vulgaris and the imiquimod (IMQ)-induced mouse model as well as in the cultured endothelial cells (ECs)...

Exosomes have been implicated in vascular damage in recent research. The influence of dendritic cell-derived exosomes generated by Treponema pallidum ( T. pallidum ) on the inflammatory process of vascular cells was examined in this study. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cocultured with exosomes isolated from dendritic cells induced by T. pallidum . Western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to assess toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression and the quantity of proinflammatory cytokines...

BACKGROUND: The increasing incidence of syphilis and the limitations of first-line treatment with penicillin, particularly in neurosyphilis, neonatal syphilis, and pregnancy, highlight the need to expand the therapeutic repertoire for effective management of this disease. We assessed the in-vitro efficacy of 18 antibiotics from several classes on Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (T pallidum), the syphilis bacteria. METHODS: Using the in-vitro culture system for T pallidum, we exposed the pathogen to a concentration range of each tested antibiotic...