Primary cutaneous aspergillosis and idiopathic bone marrow aplasia

Abstract: We describe the case of a 9-year-old boy with idiopathic bone marrow aplasia and severe neutropenia, who developed skin ulcers under cardiac monitoring electrodes. The diagnosis of primary cutaneous aspergillosis was made after the second biopsy and culture. Imaging investigation did not reveal internal fungal infection. The child was treated, but did not improve and died 3 months after admission. The report highlights and discusses the preventable risk of aspergillus skin infection in immunocompromised patients.

Aspergillus fumigatus conidia inhibit early apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To observe the impact of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia on the early apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells.Methods A549 cells was first stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)or staurosporine (STS)to induce cell apoptosis,and then co-cultured with Aspergillus fumigatus conidia of three different concentrations (5 × 10 5 ,5 × 10 6 ,5 × 10 7 )simultaneously.The changes of the apoptosis rate of A549 cells were detected by flow cytometry.Results The early apoptosis of A549 cells was increased markedly after stimulated with TNF-α ([14.94 ± 0.82 ]% vs [3.26 ± 0.74]%,χ2 =9.18,P <0.05)and STS ([18.10±1 .00]% vs [3.26±0.74]%,χ2 =12.32,P <0.05). When Aspergillus fumigatus conidia of different concentrations were added,the apoptosis rate was decreased (χ2 =31 .23,P <0.05 ).The early apoptosis of A549 cells was negatively correlated with the concentration of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia (rTNF = - 0.92,r STS = - 0.94,both P < 0.05 ). Conclusion Aspergillus fumigatus conidia inhibits the early apoptosis of A549 cells induced by TNF-αor STS and the inhibit effect increases with the concentration of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia.

Exuberant clinical presentation of probable Malassezia folliculitis in a young nonimmunosuppressed patient / Apresentação clinica exuberante de provável foliculite por Malassezia em jovem imunocompetente

Malassezia folliculitis is an inflammatory disorder observed in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients. The authors describe an unusual and exuberant presumed case affecting the face, trunk and upper limbs of a 12-year-old nonimmunosuppressed patient. Although the agent was not identified by culture, the clinical and histopathological aspects plus the response to specific treatment support the diagnosis of Malassezia folliculitis. The only possible predisponent cause observed on the patient was greasy skin. Repetitive cultures were negative. Treatment with itraconazol promoted apparent cure, however, the patient relapsed twelve months later.

Foliculite por Malassezia é processo inflamatório observado em pacientes imunocompetentes e imunossuprimidos. Os autores relatam um provável caso exuberante e incomum comprometendo a face, tronco e membros superiores de paciente de 12 anos de idade, não imunossuprimido. Embora o agente não tenha sido cultivado, os achados clínicos e histopatológicos aliados à resposta terapêutica sugerem o diagnóstico de foliculite por Malassezia. A única possivel causa predisponente demonstrada no paciente foi a pele oleosa. Tentativas de cultivo do agente foram negativas. O tratamento com itraconazol promoveu cura aparente, entretanto, houve recaída após 12 meses.

The pharmacological study of Ganoderma spores and their active components / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Recently, the pharmacological study of Ganoderma spores and active components has be-come a focus of attention in the world. The present reviewis based on the auctorial research on Ganoder-maspores. It involves pharmacological effects of Ganodermaspores and its active components, includingimmunomodulating effect, antitumor activity and its mechanismin vivoandin vitro, liver-protectiveeffect, gastric ulcer preventing effect, serum glucose and blood fat depressing effects, anti-hypoxia andscavenging free redical, etc. The possible problems and their solutions in this research area are also dis-cussed.

Effect of Hyphal and Conidial form on the in vitro Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Some Filamentous Fungi to Terbinafine / 中华皮肤科杂志

16 ?g/mL, and ≤0.03 ?g/mL , respectively. The MICs did not show significant differences among the ungerminated conidia and the germinated conidia for all the isolates tested except A.versicolor and Phialophora verrucosa. Conclusions Terbinafine is effective against the isolates of Aspergillus spp., dematiaceous fungi and dermatophytes in vitro except Pseudallescheria boydii and Scedosporium apiospermum. The MIC of terbinafine obtained with ungerminated conidia may reflect the antifungal activity of terbinafine against germinated conidia and hyphae of some filamentous fungi in vitro.

Change of Surface Shape and Distribution of Fibronectin Receptors on Aspergillus fumigatus Conidia / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To observe the changes of the outer ce ll wall in resting phase and during sw elling process of conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus,and the distribution of fibronectin receptors on conidia surface.Methods After being harvested with 3.5～4.0?m steel filters,the conidia were resuspended in RPMI 1640+10%FBS medium.The specimens were observed by the scanning electron microscopy after incubation for 0,2,4,6hours a t37℃respectively.The same amount of conidia was resuspendesd in PBS buffer,and put the suspension on 50?g /ml fibronectin coated microtitre plate,after incubation for 3hrs at 37℃,t he conidia were washed three times wi th PBS.Then rabbit antifibronectin antibody and fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)conjugated goat anti-rabbit immunoglob-ulin antibody were added,respectiv ely.After digesting with trypsin,t he conidia were washed again with PBS and examined by immuno-confocal microscopy.Results Acharacteristic echinulate pattern of protrusions was shown in the cell wall surface of resting coni dia.During swelling process,the ec hinulate layer of swollen conidia wa s gradually disintegrated,and almost complete ly shed 4hr later.Then,a smooth cell wall layer covered by some strands of fib-rillar material was shown.Binding o f fibronectin to the surface of conid ia was revealed by immuno-confocal m i-croscopy.FITC was homogeneously ad hered to the protrusions on the conid ial outer cell wall layer.Conclusion In resting phase the conidia of A.fumigatus express high levels of fibronectin r eceptors on their surface,they are h o-mogeneously distributed over the ex ternal echinulate layer of the conid ia,and shed gradually during the swe lling process.