Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0277787 (stigma)
 13,352 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We report the cases of three adults with a history of intravenous drug abuse who developed endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium xerosis, Neisseria subflava, and Neisseria flavescens, respectively. No cases of endocarditis caused by C. xerosis or N. flavescens and only one case caused by N. subflava have previously been reported in association with narcotic addiction. The prominent clinical features in all patients included poor response to antibiotic therapy, persistent fever, and major embolic events. Stigmata of infection with human immunodeficiency virus, as manifested by oral candidiasis, cervical lymphadenopathy, and serologic evidence, were present in two of the three patients. At our institution, where Staphylococcus aureus remains the most frequent etiologic agent of narcotic-associated endocarditis, the occurrence of these three cases in a 9-month period is striking. We speculate that infection with human immunodeficiency virus may play a role in the pathogenesis of endocarditis caused by these unusual organisms.
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PMID:Unusual pathogens in narcotic-associated endocarditis. 235 5

In the early years of the AIDS epidemic, HIV infection was associated with visible signs and symptoms, adding to the stigma associated with the disease. Physical manifestations associated with HIV infection included muscle wasting, lymphadenopathy, Kaposi's sarcoma, candidiasis, molluscum contagiosum, and hairy leukoplakia. With the advent of antiretroviral therapy, particularly the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy in 1996, many of these outward manifestations of the disease became rare. Ironically, however, the treatments used to control HIV infection (and its visible markers) have themselves been associated with appearance-related side effects. Patients may develop changes in fat distribution, rashes, skin hyperpigmentation, or paronychia. These effects not only have cosmetic and psychological consequences but also may decrease adherence to therapy, potentially causing regimen failure and drug resistance. Newer antiretroviral agents offer improved potency, more convenient dosing, and more treatment options with the potential for fewer side effects and drug interactions, which should foster optimal adherence by the patient. However, these newer drugs are also associated with appearance-related side effects, which must be considered in the selection of treatment regimens. This paper reviews the appearance-related side effects associated with classes of antiretroviral drugs as well as individual agents, including the newer antiretrovirals.
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PMID:Appearance-related side effects of HIV-1 treatment. 1642 51

Among HIV positive patients, Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or biopsy for diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenopathy is often avoided due to an unspoken stigma. Earlier, we had developed a clinical scoring scale for the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBLN), which had 88% sensitivity and detected no false positives. In the present study, we attempted to develop similar scale that could assist in diagnosing TBLN in AIDS. All 42 HIV positive patients of adenitis attending Ramdeo Hospital and Research Centre, Jodhpur between August 2001 and December 2004 were studied. History of past tuberculosis, age, history of rapid weight loss, site, size, consistency, and the presence of matting and sinus formation of enlarged lymph nodes, result of tuberculin test, sputum smear and findings in chest radiograph were compared between patients diagnosed as TBLN and those showing non-tuberculous lymphadenitis (Non-TBLN) on cytopathological examination of material obtained by fine needle aspiration. Based on the results, clinical scores from zero to two were assigned to different clinical features. The total clinical score was then calculated for each patient. A total clinical score of five or more included all TBLN cases and only 10.5% false positives. This scoring system can be used in remote peripheral areas, which do not have the facility for biopsy or FNAC.
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PMID:A clinical scoring system as useful as FNAC in the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis in HIV positive patients. 1707 20