Long-term ultrastructural changes in human corneas after tattooing with non-metallic substances.
(1/124)
AIM: To investigate the ultrastructural appearance and the deposition pattern of dye particles in long term non-metallic corneal tattooing. METHODS: Two tattooed human corneas were obtained by keratoplasty. One corneal button was fixed in Karnovsky's solution and the other in Trumps' solution. Both corneas were divided and processed for conventional light (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Five additional formalin fixed corneas with tattoos were retrieved from paraffin for TEM. The time between tattoo and removal of the corneal button/enucleation ranged from 7 to 61 years. All seven corneas were examined using a Jeol JCXA733 microprobe for wave length dispersive analysis in order to exclude any presence of metallic salts in the tattooed area. RESULTS: Histologically, clumps of brown-blackish granules were present mainly in the mid stroma, but also in anterior and partially in the posterior half of the stroma. On TEM, numerous round and oval electron dense particles were seen in the cytoplasm of keratocytes arranged as clusters or large islands. The larger particles appeared black, while the smaller particles were grey. In well fixed tissue a unit membrane was observed around these clusters. No granules were detected in the extracellular matrix. CONCLUSIONS: Keratocytes can actively ingest and retain tattooing particles of non-metallic dyes within their cell membrane for very long periods of time. (+info)
HIV, hepatitis C and risk behaviour in a Canadian medium-security federal penitentiary. Queen's University HIV Prison Study Group.
(2/124)
In a voluntary anonymous HIV and hepatitis C serology screen in a Canadian male medium security federal penitentiary, 68% of 520 prisoners volunteered a blood sample and 99% of those giving a blood sample completed a risk behaviour questionnaire which was linked numerically to the blood sample. Compared to previous screenings for HIV (4 years earlier), and hepatitis C (3 years earlier) in the same institution, HIV seroprevalence had risen from 1% to 2% and hepatitis C seroprevalence from 28% to 33%. The overwhelming risk association for hepatitis C was with drug use outside prison, although there was a small group of men who had only ever injected drugs inside prison, over half of whom had been infected with hepatitis C. The proportion of prisoners who had injected drugs in prison rose from 12% in 1995 to 24% in 1998. The proportion of surveyed individuals sharing injection equipment at some time in prison was 19%, and while HIV rates in the prison are currently low, HIV prevalence amongst Canadian street i.v. drug users is rising rapidly, underlining the need for urgent preventative measures in prisons. (+info)
Bacterial endocarditis following repeated tattooing.
(3/124)
Body decoration in the form of tattooing is becoming increasingly popular, especially among younger age groups. Although serious infections following tattooing are rare they are well documented. The first reported case of endocarditis caused by repeated tattooing in an individual with known valvar heart disease is presented. (+info)
Contact dermatitis after temporary henna tattoos--an increasing phenomenon.
(4/124)
Four patients developed contact dermatitis to black henna tattoos on holiday in the Middle East and Asia. Two to ten days after skin painting an itchy, reddish swelling developed at the site of the tattoo exactly following its sharply demarcated borders. Histological investigation of the lesions revealed spongiotic dermatitis with dense lymphohistiocytic infiltrates. Patch testing in all patients showed a strong reaction to p-phenylenediamine (PPD). The other tests, including standard series and henna powder, were all negative. Healing time after application of topical class III and IV steroids was prolonged. These reports show an impressive side effect of temporary tattoos with possible long-term damage. Rather than henna, the causative agent in the pastes used for temporary tattoos appears to be PPD, a widely used dye that is added to the pastes in high concentrations to produce a darker shade. The growing incidence of this complication requires close observation, while practitioners should be aware of this sensitisation and of possible subsequent allergic reactions, especially after hair colouring with dyes based on PPD. (+info)
Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection in male adults in Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Pakistan.
(5/124)
OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with HCV infection in Islamabad-Rawalpindi. METHODS: Fifty-seven cases and 180 controls were enrolled from various departments of the nine major hospitals of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad during July-September 1998. Cases were enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) positive for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV), aged 20-70 years, and residents of Islamabad or Rawalpindi division. Controls were anti-HCV ELISA negatives of the same age range and from the same area. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic variables and potential risk factors, which was analysed by logistic regression to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risk factors. RESULTS: The final multivariate logistic regression model revealed that after adjusting for age, cases were more likely to have received therapeutic injections in the past 10 years (1-10 vs. 0 therapeutic injections; adjusted OR=2.8, 95% CI: 1.1-7.1; > 10 vs. 0 therapeutic injections; adjusted OR=3.1, 95% CI: 1.2-7.9) and were significantly more likely to have daily face (adjusted OR=5.1, 95% CI: 1.5-17.0) and armpit shaves (adjusted OR=2.9, 95% CI: 1.3-6.5) by a barber. CONCLUSION: HCV control and prevention programs in this region should include safe injection practices and educate men about the risk of HCV infection from contaminated instruments used by barbers. (+info)
Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection among street youths.
(6/124)
BACKGROUND: The relative contributions to risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection resulting from unsafe sexual behaviours and exposures to blood (e.g., tattooing, body piercing and injection drug use) among youths at risk are not well known. We interviewed street youths about risk factors for HCV infection and documented their HCV antibody status. METHODS: From December 1995 to September 1996 we recruited 437 youths aged 14 to 25 years who met specific criteria for itinerancy. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and lifetime risk factors were obtained during a structured interview, and a venous blood sample was taken for HCV antibody testing. RESULTS: Many of the subjects reported behaviours that put them at risk for blood-borne diseases: 45.8% had injected drugs, 56.5% had at least 1 tattoo, and 78.3% had body piercing. The overall prevalence of HCV infection was 12.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.7%-15.9%). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, injecting drugs (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 28.4 [95% CI 6.6-121.4]), being over 18 years of age (adjusted OR 3.3 [95% CI 1.6-7.0]) and using crack cocaine (adjusted OR 2.3 [95% CI 1.0-5.3]) were independent risk factors for HCV infection. Having more than 1 tattoo (adjusted OR 1.8 [95% CI 0.95-3.6]) was marginally associated with HCV infection, and body piercing was not. INTERPRETATION: Drug injection was the factor most strongly associated with HCV infection among street youths. Given that injection drug users are the driving force of the HCV infection epidemic in Canada, increased intervention efforts to prevent initiation of drug injection are urgently needed to curb the epidemic. (+info)
Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV and risk factors in entrants to Irish prisons: a national cross sectional survey.
(7/124)
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen, hepatitis C virus, and HIV in entrants to Irish prisons and to examine risk factors for infection. DESIGN: Cross sectional, anonymous survey, with self completed risk factor questionnaire and oral fluid specimen for antibody testing. SETTING: Five of seven committal prisons in the Republic of Ireland. PARTICIPANTS: 607 of the 718 consecutive prison entrants from 6 April to 1 May 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen, hepatitis C virus, and HIV in prison entrants, and self reported risk factor status. RESULTS: Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen was 37/596 (6%; 95% confidence interval 4% to 9%), to hepatitis C virus was 130/596 (22%; 19% to 25%), and to HIV was 12/596 (2%; 1% to 4%). A third of the respondents had never previously been in prison; these had the lowest prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (4/197, 2%), to hepatitis C (6/197, 3%), and to HIV (0/197). In total 29% of respondents (173/593) reported ever injecting drugs, but only 7% (14/197) of those entering prison for the first time reported doing so compared with 40% (157/394) of those previously in prison. Use of injected drugs was the most important predictor of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen and hepatitis C virus. CONCLUSIONS: Use of injected drugs and infection with hepatitis C virus are endemic in Irish prisons. A third of prison entrants were committed to prison for the first time. Only a small number of first time entrants were infected with one or more of the viruses. These findings confirm the need for increased infection control and harm reduction measures in Irish prisons. (+info)
Treating traumatic tattoo by micro-incision.
(8/124)
OBJECTIVE: To design a micro-incision operation for treating traumatic tattoo. METHODS: With an 11-gauge blade, a micro-incision was made on each side of the small tattoo spot and the tattoo skin was removed. For a longer tattoo particle, a longer incision was needed. The skin incision was sutured with 6-0 silk. For a complex tattoo, dermabrasion could be used first to remove the superficial one so as to expose the deep one which was removed in the same way as mentioned above. When there was a large number of tattoo particles, many operations were needed. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were treated by this method with good to excellent result. CONCLUSION: Micro-incision for treating traumatic tattoo is an effective method. (+info)