Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis of the penis.

Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis is characterized by skin lesions confined to one body region, without evidence of simultaneous dissemination. Skin lesions frequently occur in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent patient affecting genital area successfully treated with oral itraconazole.

[Impact of delayed discharge for nonmedical reasons in a tertiary hospital internal medicine department].

Background: Delayed discharge occurs from a clinical point of view when a patient is considered medically fit for discharge but continues occupying a bed due to a nonmedical problem. This circumstance overloads the care system, however, its real frequency and loss of useful days of hospitalization have not being evaluated in Spain up to date.

Objective: To analyze the frequency of hospital delayed discharges due to non-medical reasons in a tertiary hospital Internal Medicine Department and to determine the clinical and socio-familial factors related to this situation.

[Utility of 2 biochemical models predictive of liver fibrosis grade in prison inmates with hepatitis C].

Objective: To evaluate the utility of two biochemical tests (APRI and FIB-4) to predict liver fibrosis (LF) in prison inmates with chronic hepatitis C.

Method: We performed a cross-sectional study in 165 inmates with chronic hepatitis C and liver biopsy from two Spanish prisons. LF was staged according to the Metavir Index and was subsequently reclassified as mild or absent (LFor=2) or serious (LF>or=3).

Hepatic steatosis in HIV/HCV co-infected patients: correlates, efficacy and outcomes of anti-HCV therapy: a paired liver biopsy study.

Background/aims: Hepatic steatosis is caused by the complex interaction of host and viral factors, such as metabolic syndrome (MS), alcoholism and HCV genotype, and in HIV-HCV co-infected patients, antiretroviral therapy may also play a role. A large population of patients from the AIDS Pegasys Ribavirin International Co-infection Trial (APRICOT) had paired liver biopsies interpreted and graded for steatosis along with lipid measurements and anthropometric data.

Methods: We analyzed these patients to determine the prevalence of steatosis, baseline factors associated with steatosis, effect of steatosis in HCV therapy efficacy and the impact of anti-HCV treatment on steatosis.

Baseline factors prognostic of sustained virological response in patients with HIV-hepatitis C virus co-infection.

Objective: To identify baseline characteristics predictive of a sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with HIV-hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection treated with interferon-based therapy.

Design/methods: A stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was used to explore the prognostic factors associated with SVR [undetectable HCV-RNA (< 50 IU/ml) at the end of untreated follow-up in week 72].

Results: In all patients (n = 853), in addition to the HCV therapy received, the factors most predictive of SVR were baseline HCV-RNA [< or = versus > 400 000 IU/ml; odds ratio (OR) 4.