OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to estimate and compare the cost-effectiveness of the most commonly used diagnostic tests for onychomycosis: potassium hydroxide preparation (KOH), interpreted both by a dermatologist (KOH-CLINIC) and a laboratory technician (KOH-LAB); KOH with dimethyl sulfoxide (KOH-DMSO) and with chlorazol black E (KOH-CBE), interpreted by a dermatologist; culture using dermatophyte...

Onychomycosis is a common and difficult-to-treat fungal infection of the nail unit that gradually leads to dystrophic changes of the nail plate and nail bed. If untreated, infection progresses and may lead to discomfort, reduced quality of life, and risk of complications in patients with comorbid conditions (eg, diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus, peripheral vascular disease). Onychomycosis...

OBJECTIVE Several antifungal agents are indicated for onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the toenails and fingernails. These agents differ in their dosing regimen, efficacy, adverse events profile, potential for drug interaction, and cost. We conducted a pharmacoeconomic analysis of oral and topical therapies for onychomycosis from the perspective of a hypothetical managed care payer to deter...

BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis, caused by infection with the blood fluke Schistosoma, is responsible for greater than 200,000 human deaths per annum. Objective high-throughput screens for detecting novel anti-schistosomal targets will drive 'genome to drug' lead translational science at an unprecedented rate. Current methods for detecting schistosome viability rely on qualitative microscopic criter...

Physiological and environmental stresses have been shown to alter the catecholamine metabolism of brain. For example, electric shocks (1) and cold exposure (2) significantly reduce the brain content of norepinephrine. In mice, psychosocial stimulation leads to a marked increase in the catecholamine content and in the enzymatic activities of phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT), monoam...

A biopsy from the lesion on the hand was consistent with features of localized granuloma annulare. The patient was reassured that the condition was self-limited. The lesion on her calf, however, grew larger and new nummular and annular plaques developed that ultimately involved her legs, arms, abdomen, and back. A new diagnosis was made of generalized granuloma annulare. During the next 21⁄2 ye...