New Diagnostic Strategy for Onychomycosis: First-Line Utilization of DermaGenius PCR and Calcofluor Microscopy Combined with Selective Culturing.

Onychomycosis (OM) is a widespread infection requiring prolonged treatment with potential side effects. Diagnostic certainty is therefore essential before initiating antifungal therapy. Molecular biology has already shown benefits in reducing the time to diagnosis, providing technical ease, and increasing sensitivity for the respective species that molecular tests can detect.

Belgian National Survey on Tinea Capitis: Epidemiological Considerations and Highlight of Terbinafine-Resistant with a Mutation on SQLE Gene.

Background: In this last decade, a huge increase in African anthropophilic strains causing tinea capitis has been observed in Europe. The Belgian National Reference Center for Mycosis (NRC) conducted a surveillance study on tinea capitis in 2018 to learn the profile of circulating dermatophytes.

Methods: Belgian laboratories were invited to send all dermatophyte strains isolated from the scalp with epidemiological information.

Disseminated histoplasmosis: case report and review of the literature.

Case report We report the case of a young Cameroonian woman who presented with cough, hyperthermia, weight loss, pancytopenia, and hepatosplenomegaly. A positive HIV serology was discovered and a chest radiography revealed a 'miliary pattern'. Bone marrow aspiration pointed out yeast inclusions within macrophages.

Vascular calcification: from pathophysiology to biomarkers.

The link between vascular calcification (VC) and increased mortality is now well established. Over time, as clinical importance of this phenomenon has begun to be fully considered, scientists have highlighted more and more physiopathological mechanisms and signaling pathways that underlie VC. Several conditions such as diabetes, dyslipidemia and renal diseases are undoubtedly identified as predisposing factors.