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. Strain identification was confirmed by ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) sequencing. Mutation in the squalene epoxidase (SQLE) gene was screened by PCR. Results: The main population affected by tinea capitis was children from 5–9 years. Males were more affected than females. The majority of the strains were collected in the Brussels area followed by the Liege area. Among known ethnic origins, African people were more affected by tinea capitis than European people. The major aetiological agent was Microsporum audouinii, followed by Trichophyton soudanense. One strain of Trichophyton mentagrophytes has been characterized to have a mutation on the squalene epoxidase gene and to be resistant to terbinafine. Conclusions: African anthropophilic dermatophytes are mainly responsible for tinea capitis in Belgium. People of African origin are most affected by tinea capitis. The monitoring of terbinafine resistance among dermatophytes seems necessary as we have demonstrated the emergence of resistance in T. mentagrophytes.

Molecular algorithms may estimate the risk of recurrence and death for patients with endometrial cancer (EC) and may impact treatment decisions. To detect microsatellite instabilities (MSI) and p53 mutations, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular techniques are used. To select the most appropriate method, and to have an accurate interpretation of their results, knowledge of the performance characteristics of these respective methods is essential. The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of IHC versus molecular techniques (gold standard). One hundred and thirty-two unselected EC patients were enrolled in this study. Agreement between the two diagnostic methods was assessed using Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of the IHC were calculated. For MSI status, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 89.3%, 87.3%, 78.1% and 94.1%, respectively. Cohen’s kappa coefficient was 0.74. For p53 status, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 92.3%, 77.1%, 60.0% and 96.4%, respectively. Cohen’s kappa coefficient was 0.59. For MSI status, IHC presented a substantial agreement with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach. For the p53 status, the moderate agreement observed between IHC and next generation sequencing (NGS) methods implies that they cannot be used interchangeably.

Background: Asthma diagnosis is based on the presence of symptoms and the demonstration of airflow variability. Airway inflammation measured by fractional exhaled nitric oxide, measured at a flow rate of 50 ml/s (FE_NO50) remains a controversial diagnostic tool. Aim: To assess the ability of FE_NO50 to identify bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine (provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV₁; PC20M ≤ 16 mg/ml) and to establish whether or not symptoms relate to FE_NO50 and PC20M in patients with no demonstrated reversibility to β₂‐agonist. Methods: We conducted a prospective study on 174 steroid naive patients with respiratory symptoms, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) ≥ 70% predicted and no demonstrated reversibility to β₂‐agonist. Patients answered to a standardised symptom questionnaire and underwent FE_NO50 and methacholine challenge. Receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve and logistic regression analysis assessed the relationship between PC20M and FE_NO50, taking into account covariates (smoking, atopy, age, gender and FEV₁). Results: A total of 82 patients had a PC20M ≤ 16 mg/ml and had significantly higher FE_NO50 (19 ppb vs. 15 ppb; p < 0.05). By constructing ROC curve, we found that FE_NO50 cut‐off value of 34 ppb was able to identify not only BHR with high specificity (95%) and positive predictive value (88%) but low sensitivity (35%) and negative predictive value (62%). When combining all variables into the logistic model, FE_NO50 (p = 0.0011) and FEV₁ (p < 0.0001) were independent predictors of BHR whereas age, gender, smoking and atopy had no influence. The presence of diurnal and nocturnal wheezing was associated with raised FE_NO50 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: The value of FE_NO50 > 34 ppb has high predictive value of PC20M < 16 in patients with suspected asthma in whom bronchodilating test failed to demonstrate reversibility or was not indicated. However, FE_NO50 ≤ 34 ppb does not rule out BHR and should prompt the clinician to ask for a methacholine challenge.

Background: The long-term stability after soft tissue graft for covering gingival recession remains a pivotal goal for both patient and periodontist. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the four-year outcomes of the coronally advanced flap (CAF) versus the pouch/tunnel (POT) technique, both combined with connective tissue graft (CTG), for gingival recession treatment. Methods: Forty patients were initially randomly assigned to the control group (CAF + CTG; N = 20) and the test group (POT + CTG; N = 20). Clinical outcomes included mean root coverage (MRC) and complete root coverage (CRC), gingival thickness (GT), and keratinized tissue (KT) gain. Esthetic outcomes were also analyzed using the pink esthetic score (PES) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). All outcomes initially assessed at six months were extended to four years post-surgery. Results: No significant differences were observed between the two patient groups in terms of MRC and CRC. At four years, significantly greater GT and KT gain were noted in the POT + CTG group, and tissue texture enhancement was also more prominent in the test group. Conclusions: The POT + CTG technique allows for long-term clinical coverage of gingival recessions comparable to that of the CAF + CTG technique, but it potentially improves gingival thickness, keratinized tissue and esthetic results.