Gypsy Population Presents a Favorable Attitude Toward Related Living Donation

INTRODUCTION

Negative organ donation rates among the Gypsies is much higher than that of any other social group in Spain. However, living donation rates have not been raised much in this social group, despite the existence of several Gypsy patients on the waiting list for transplantation.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the attitude toward related living donation among the Gypsy population who reside in Spain.

METHODS

This type of study is an observational sociological study. The study consisted of the adult Gypsy population residing in Spain, and a random sampling of 230 adult gypsies was conducted. Attitude questionnaires for live donation, both hepatic PCID-DVH-Ríos and renal PCID-DVR-Ríos, were used, and random selection was based on stratification. Questionnaires were self-administered and completed anonymously. Student t test, χ2, Fisher, and a logistic regression analysis were used.

RESULTS

A sample of 206 Gypsies (52% women) with a mean age of 34 years is obtained. Seventy-two percent (n = 150) would donate an organ to a relative in life, 8% (n = 16) would not donate it, and 20% (n = 41) have doubts. Respondents with a favorable attitude toward living donation presented a more favorable attitude toward cadaveric organ donation (55% vs 0%, P < .001). The attitude toward living kidney donation was more favorable (81% in favor) than toward living liver donation (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The Gypsy ethnic group is sensitized to live donor transplantation. The family and cultural roots of Gypsy people could condition this favorable attitude, a fact to be taken into account to sensitize this social group and promote donation campaigns with the aim of increasing donation rates.

Itraconazole versus griseofulvin in the treatment of tinea capitis: a double-blind randomized study in children

BACKGROUND

Tinea capitis is a fungal infection in which topical therapy is often unsuccessful. Griseofulvin has been considered to be a first-line therapy. Other antifungal agents are the azole derivatives. Among these, itraconazole was compared with griseofulvin in children in a double-blind study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-four children and one adult with clinical signs and symptoms of tinea capitis and with positive culture and microscopy for dermatophytes have been included in a double-blind comparison between itraconazole, 100 mg daily, and ultramicronized griseofulvin, 500 mg daily. Both drugs were given for 6 consecutive weeks. The final evaluation was made 8 weeks after the end of treatment to allow the hairs to regrow. Seventeen itraconazole- and 15 griseofulvin-treated patients received the complete 6-week treatment course. Fifteen of these 17 itraconazole patients and 14 of the 15 griseofulvin patients had infections caused by Microsporum canis. Fifteen of 17 patients were cured by itraconazole (88%) and 15 of 17 patients by griseofulvin (88%). One of the patients who discontinued griseofulvin therapy after 4 weeks was clinically and mycologically cured. Two of the original 17 griseofulvin patients discontinued therapy because of vomiting. None of the itraconazole-treated children experienced side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Itraconazole is the first azole derivate that matches griseofulvin for the treatment of tinea capitis in children. The drug also appears to be better tolerated than griseofulvin.

Experience with amorolfine in the treatment of dermatomycoses

In a double-blind randomized comparative study, 75 patients were treated with amorolfine cream 0.125, 0.25 or 0.5%. At the end of treatment clinical cure rates of 80, 76 and 84%, respectively, and mycological cures of 72, 64 and 76% were obtained. At 2 months posttherapy follow-up relapse rates were 0, 12 and 12%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of clinical and mycological response, duration of treatment or tolerance. In a double-blind parallel study, 40 patients were treated topically with either 0.5% amorolfine cream or 1% bifonazole cream. The percentages of combined clinical and mycological cures were 83.3 and 78.95%, respectively. There was no significant difference in terms of tolerance and clinical and mycological cure rates. All treatments were applied once daily. Posttreatment MIC values did not indicate development of resistance to either amorolfine or bifonazole.

A clinical double-blind trial comparing amorolfine cream 0.5% (RO-14-4767) with bifonazole cream 1% in the treatment of dermatomycoses

In a double-blind parallel study, 40 patients with dermatomycoses (one cutaneous candidosis and 39 dermatophyte infections) were treated topically with amorolfine (RO-14-4767) cream (0.5%), a new antifungal compound, or with bifonazole cream (1%). The treatment was applied once daily and was continued until 1 week after resolution of the symptoms, the maximum duration of treatment was limited to 6 weeks. Assessment of results was based on both clinical and mycological parameters. The percentages of amorolfine- and bifonazole-treated patients who were clinically and mycologically cured were 83.33% and 78.95%, respectively. Two patients treated with amorolfine and one patient treated with bifonazole were withdrawn from the trial because of side-effects. There was no significant difference between the two creams in clinical and mycological cure rates and tolerance.