Knowledge and attitude regarding human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in dermatological outpatients

Background  Dermatologists are often the first-line specialists who recognize and diagnose human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection because of pathognomic skin signs. It is therefore important to investigate attitudes and knowledge regarding HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) amongst dermatological patients in order to provide information for dermatologists and to draw their attention to the issues.
Objectives  Awareness of HIV/AIDS, its prevention, and hypothetical behaviour were surveyed in dermatological outpatients.
Patients/method  The anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted with consecutive German-speaking outpatients aged 18–65 years, who registered at the dermatological outpatient's clinic (excluding venereology, genitourinary or HIV medicine) of the University of Munich (Germany).
Results  Three hundred forty-seven (77.5%) questionnaires were accepted for analysis. Most of the patients knew about HIV incurability (89.4%), HIV transmissibility during needle sharing (95.3%), or vaginal (87.4%) and anal intercourse (79.5%), as well as about HIV prevention by condom use (97.8%), and use of single needles (76.2%). However, knowledge gaps and misconceptions were detected regarding the risk of HIV transmission during oral sex, and the efficacy of sexual fidelity and avoidance of blood transfusions in HIV prevention. The lowest knowledge level (< 50% correct answers) was detected in patients aged 50–59 years, in unemployed, divorced/widowed, and in those without or with incomplete school education.
Conclusions  Patient education about HIV/AIDS in dermatological ambulant settings should be performed differentially with regard to socio-demographic factors, and focused on the topic of oral sexual HIV transmission and on some other specific misconceptions.

Conflicts of interest

None declared.     

Trapezoid fracture caused by assault

In this report we describe an open fracture of trapezoid and break in anterior cortex of capitate due to assault in a young adult male. Direct impact force of a sharp object to the first web space caused the above fractures. Open reduction and internal fixation of the trapezoid was carried out using Kirschner wires. Cut extensor tendons, extensor retaniculum, capsule, adductor pollicis muscle, first dorsal interosseous muscle, soft tissue and overlying skin were sutured primarily. Three months after the operation the patient has made a complete recovery. There is no similar case reported in the literature.     

The spectrum and dynamics of free amino acids in the tissues of the bovine eye and their interaction with pilocarpine. III. The lens

The authors revealed by chromatographic analysis that in the investigated tissues of the bovine eye a 3% aqueous pilocarpine solution 2.5 hours after the last instillations alters specifically the levels of different free amino acids. In the capsule and anterior coat an increase was observed and in the nucleus and posterior coat a decline of the total amount of these components. In the control and pilocarpine-treated capsule and in the lenticular nucleus glutamic acid, is present in the highest concentration and in the anterior and posterior coat of the lens aspartic acid and lysine.