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While the incidence of infections with the human immunodeficiency virus largely remained unchanged in Germany, an increase of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was observed. The aim was to analyse the effectiveness of our sexual education lecture for students in improving the awareness, knowledge and prevention of STIs. We conducted a cross-sectional survey after students had attended our extra-curricular lecture at the Department of Dermatology of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany (LMU). We compared the data with a previously performed study in which the same survey was carried out before the lecture had started. A total of 5866 questionnaires were included in the analysis. After attending the lecture significantly more students were aware of STIs (syphilis: 36.8% (before) vs. 63.5% (after); chlamydia: 30.5% vs. 49.3%; gonorrhoea: 22.4% vs. 38.2%; human papillomaviruses (HPV): 17.7% vs. 30.2%), the transmission pathways of STIs (oral: 36.6% vs. 82.6%; vaginal: 81.8% vs. 97.3%; anal: 42.8% vs. 94.0%; penile: 68.7% vs. 92.1%), knew that the HPV vaccination is directed against a virus (36.8% vs. 56.9%) and were interested in receiving a vaccination (57.7% vs. 78.8%). This study demonstrates the positive educative effects of our lecture for awareness and improved knowledge of STIs. To satisfy the need for a comprehensive sexual education, a combination of school and health facility-based programmes should be implemented as one single lecture cannot convey the entire information about STIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Demodex spp. mites are the most complex member of the human skin microbiome. Mostly they are commensals, although their pathophysiological role in inflammatory dermatoses is recognized. Demodex mites cannot be cultivated in vitro, so only little is known about their life cycle, biology and physiology. Different bacterial species have been suggested to be the endobacterium of Demodex mites, including Bacillus oleronius, B. simplex, B. cereus and B. pumilus. Objectives: Our aim was to find the true endobacterium of human Demodex mites. Methods: The distinct genetic and phenotypic differences and similarities between the type strain and native isolates are described by DNA sequencing, PCR, MALDI‐TOF, DNA‐DNA hybridization, fatty and mycolic acid analyses, and antibiotic resistance testing. Results: We report the true endobacterium of Demodex folliculorum, independent of the sampling source of mites or life stage: Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii subsp. demodicis. Conclusions: We anticipate our finding to be a starting point for more in‐depth understanding of the tripartite microbe–host interaction between Demodex mites, its bacterial endosymbiont and the human host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic viral infections caused by highly contagious human papillomaviruses (HPVs) from the alpha genus are a substantial risk factor for tumour diseases. Objectives: The goal of this study was to compare the HPV infection pattern with histology in a patient group of immunocompromised HIV+ and non‐immunocompromised patients with anal intraepithelial neoplasia. Materials and Methods: Tissue samples (n = 210) from the anogenital area of 121 patients underwent retrospective histological and molecular examination for HPV DNA prevalence by chip analysis. The study was part of a cancer screening from the Dermatology Department of the LMU Munich, Germany. All data were collected and processed anonymously. Results: HPV 6 or 11 are more abundant in tissue samples from histologically diagnosed condylomata acuminata (47.7%) compared to grade 1, 2, and 3 intraepithelial neoplasias (IN 1‐3). Detection of high‐risk (hr) alpha‐HPV DNA was significantly higher in tissue samples from IN 3 (67.5%) compared to IN 1 and 2 (12.9%), and compared to condylomata acuminata (29.5%). No HPV types were detected in histologically unremarkable tissue samples. There was a significant association between the prevalence of HPV 16 and the classifications IN 1 to IN 3 (χ2 (2) = 13.62, P = 0.001). We identified a significant correlation between the prevalence of high‐risk and low‐risk (lr) HPV types and HIV, especially mixed infections of different HPV types correlated with high‐grade IN. Based on the present data, we suggest the risk of carcinoma in HIV+/− patients (RICH) score and test it in the 121 patients. Conclusions: hr alpha‐HPVs, mainly HPV 16, are associated with increased oncogenic potential of premalignant lesions (IN 1‐3), especially in HIV+ patients. Based on the combination of HIV/HPV‐testing and histological analysis, we identified correlations that could potentially forecast the risk of malignant transformation and summarized them in the form of RICH score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Striae distensae (SD) represent therapeutically challenging forms of dermal atrophic scarring. In addition to topical ointments, medical needling and various energy‐based devices, non‐ablative fractional lasers have been suggested for their improvement. However, objective evaluations of their efficacy are widely missing. In this study, we aimed to assess the clinical improvement of SD albae after three treatments with a non‐ablative fractional 1565 nm Er: glass laser by employing three‐dimensional analysis and several questionnaires. Methods: A total of 16 Caucasians suffering from SD albae were included in this prospective study. Every patient received three treatments – one every 4 weeks – using a non‐ablative, fractional 1565 nm laser (two passes: 300 μbeams/cm2, 40 mJ inside the SD; 150 μbeams/cm2, 50 mJ inside the SD and within the surrounding area). Questionnaires (DLQI, POSAS), digital photography and three‐dimensional analysis employing PRIMOS® software and VECTRA® camera system were taken at baseline, 1 and 6 months after the last treatment. Results: Evaluation of objective measurements at 6‐month follow‐up (FU) showed a significant reduction in depth of atrophic lesions by 31.7% and less skin irregularities with Smax at baseline of 621.2 μm decreasing to 411.6 μm (P < 0.01, respectively). Improvement in objective measurements was supported by significant changes in patients' rating of skin appearance. POSAS patient total score declined from 33.5 points to 17.5 points throughout the study (P < 0.001). From baseline to 6‐month FU, patients' life quality improved by 68.0% (DLQI score). Procedures showed no lasting negative side‐effects and little to no down time. Conclusion: The use of a fractional non‐ablative 1565 nm laser represents a safe approach for the treatment of SD albae. Clinically observed improvements were supported by significant data from objective measurements. The results achieved at 1‐month FU represented at 6‐month FU, showing stable clinical improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]