The diagnostic value of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Chiamydia trachomatis in comparison with that of the culture technique was established in a follow-up study of 32 patients (81 samples) who were treated for a C. trachomatis infection. The PCR was performed with two different sets of primers, a genus-specific primer set directed against the rRNA genes and a C. trachomatis-specific set directed against the common endogenous plasmid. After treatment with doxycycline, all patients became culture negative after 1 week. Results for the detection of C. trachomatis by the PCR were in complete agreement with the results by the culture method of detection, except for one culture-negative sample, which was found to be positive by the P'CR. The results indicated that 1 week after treatment, no residual chlamydial DNA was found in the samples. Therefore, the PCR can be used for monitoring infections by chlamydiae.

In a randomized comparative study, 83 male patients suffering from acute uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis were treated with a single dose of either 0.8 g pefloxacin, given orally, or 1.0 g cefotaxime, given intramuscularly. The cure rates were 100% in both treatment groups four to seven days and 21 to 31 days, respectively, after therapy. The MICs of the isolated Neisseria gonorrhoeae ranged from 0.008 to 0.06 mg/l for pefloxacin and from 0.0005 to 0.03 mg/l for cefotaxime. Postgonococcal urethritis was found in 9% of the patients treated with pefloxacin and in 20% of the patients treated with cefotaxime. Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum were isolated from 15%, 7% and 22% of the patients, respectively, before therapy and from 22%, 11% and 20% of the patients, respectively, 21 to 31 days after therapy. Both antibiotics had no effect on the presence of these microorganisms. No side effects were recorded in either groups of patients except that 46% of the patients treated with cefotaxime reported mild pain at the injection site. In conclusion, pefloxacin and cefotaxime are safe and effective agents in the treatment of uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis in men.

History. After an uncomplicated pregnancy the boy was born as the first child of healthy Turkish consanguineous parents. Immediately after birth a red and scaly skin was noted. By 2 months the child was transferred to the Sophia Children's Hospital (SCH). Examination. At birth a red skin was noted with peeling on the chin, arms and hands. He did not have the appearance of a collodion baby. One week after birth there was gross lamellar scaling. At the age of 2 months the skin was yellow without any subcutaneous fat. There were fissures but no bullae. The nails were normal and the hair was sparse. There were 'dermogenetic' contractures.

History. A 64-year-oId patient was referred to us with persistent abnormalities ofthe glans penis. In 1974 he had been circumcised for a longstanding phimosis with local fusion ofthe prepuce. After this operation, painful, itchy crusts and small fissures were reported to have developed on the glans penis. At the same time the external urethral orifice became stenosed necessitating dilatation. Different local treatments produced no improvement.Examination. Thick white-yellow adherent crusts and scales were seen on the glans penis. The skin had a dry, cracked appearance and some erythematous erosions were present. The general impression was that of an 'armour' surrounding the glans penis.Histology, (glans penis) The epidermis showed extensive areas of local hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis. The keratinocytes showed large hyperchromatic and polymorphic nuclei with mitoses. The dermis contained an infiltrate of lymphocytes, plasma cells and histiocytes.Therapy. Patient is currently being treated with 5-fiuorouracil cream.Comment. Pseudoepitheliomatous, keratotic and micaceous balanitis was first described by Lortat-Jacob and Civatte in I96i.''^ This skin affection occurs in males who have developed phimosis at a later age. After circumcision the typical clinical features develop. Histopathological FIGURE 1. l^seudoepkheiinmatous, keratotic and micaceous balanitis of Lortat-Jacob and Civatte.

In an open, dose-finding study, a 100% cure rate was observed in patients suffering from uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis who were treated with a single oral dose of either 1.2 g (n = 10), 0.8 g (n = 11), or 0.4 g (n = 10) of cefetamet pivoxil. The MICs of cefetamet for all gonococcal strains ranged from 0.001 to 0.12 ,ug/ml, and the MIC for 90% of the strains tested was 0.008 Lg/ml. Cefetamet pivoxil was ineffective against Chlamydia trachomatis in 3 of 31 patients. Side effects were minor.The incidence of plasmid-and chromosome-mediated drug resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to treatment with penicillin or tetracycline has become a serious worldwide problem (1,6,9,13,14). The development of an alternative anitmicrobial therapy is therefore justified. Intramuscular treatment of patients with broad-spectrum cephalosporins has proved to be highly effective in the eradication of penicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG) and nonpenicillinase-producing N. gonorrhoeae (non-PPNG) and is therefore the therapy of first choice in our clinic (8,12).Cefetamet pivoxil (Ro 15-8075) is a new oral cephalosporin. When given orally with food, approximately 50% of this prodrug ester is absorbed in the intestinal tract and is hydrolyzed into the active free acid cefetamet (2, 3). A single oral dose of 1.5 g of cefetamet pivoxil results in a maximum concentration in plasma of 7.4 + 1.3 ,ug/ml after approximately 5 h. The elimination half-life is 2.3 h. Cefetamet is eliminated predominantly via the kidneys. Thus, its elimination is influenced considerably by renal function.Cefetamet pivoxil possesses an effective in vitro activity against PPNG and non-PPNG, with MICs ranging from 0.0015 to 0.125 p.g/ml, a MIC for 50% of the strains tested of 0.007 jig/ml, and a MIC for 90% of the strains tested of 0.015 ,ug/ml (investigational drug brochure, F. Hoffmann-La Roche & Co. AG, Basel, Switzerland, 1988 evidence of a severe disease (e.g., renal insufficiency, hepatic deficiency, or syphilis), and patients who were treated with other antibiotics within the preceding 15 days were excluded from this study. Fourteen patients were treated with 1.2 g, 16 were treated with 0.8 g, and 11 were treated with 0.4 g of cefetamet pivoxil, which was given as a single oral dose.All participants were requested to return for follow-ups 2 to 3 days and 7 to 8 days after therapy and to refrain from sexual contact during the study period.