Phenotype-driven strategies for screening Candida parapsilosis complex for molecular identification

Abstract In this study, phenotypic methods presented >80% agreement with the molecular identification of 59 Candida parapsilosis complex. Growth at 15% NaCl or pH 7.0 significantly reduced cfu-counts of Candida orthopsilosis, suggesting these conditions may support the development of phenotypic methods for the differentiation of the cryptic species of C. parapsilosis complex.

Phenotype-driven strategies for screening Candida parapsilosis complex for molecular identification

Abstract In this study, phenotypic methods presented >80% agreement with the molecular identification of 59 Candida parapsilosis complex. Growth at 15% NaCl or pH 7.0 significantly reduced cfu-counts of Candida orthopsilosis, suggesting these conditions may support the development of phenotypic methods for the differentiation of the cryptic species of C. parapsilosis complex.

Azole resistance in Candida spp. isolated from Catú Lake, Ceará, Brazil: an efflux-pump-mediated mechanism

Abstract Since, there is no study reporting the mechanism of azole resistance among yeasts isolated from aquatic environments; the present study aims to investigate the occurrence of antifungal resistance among yeasts isolated from an aquatic environment, and assess the efflux-pump activity of the azole-resistant strains to better understand the mechanism of resistance for this group of drugs. For this purpose, monthly water and sediment samples were collected from Catú Lake, Ceará, Brazil, from March 2011 to February 2012. The obtained yeasts were identified based on morphological and biochemical characteristics. Of the 46 isolates, 37 were Candida spp., 4 were Trichosporon asahii, 3 were Cryptococcus laurentii, 1 Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, and 1 was Kodamaea ohmeri. These isolates were subjected to broth microdilution assay with amphotericin B, itraconazole, and fluconazole, according to the methodology standardized by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of amphotericin B, itraconazole, and fluconazole were 0.03125–2 µg/mL, 0.0625 to ≥16 µg/mL, and 0.5 to ≥64 µg/mL, respectively, and 13 resistant azole-resistant Candida isolates were detected. A reduction in the azole MICs leading to the phenotypical reversal of the azole resistance was observed upon addition of efflux-pump inhibitors. These findings suggest that the azole resistance among environmental Candida spp. is most likely associated with the overexpression of efflux-pumps.

Antifungal activity of plant extracts against microsporum canis and candida spp. strains / Actividad antifúngica de extractos de plantas contra cepas de microsporum canis y candida spp

Aiming to find a phytotherapeutic compounds to treat animal fungal infections, plants commonly found in Northeastern Brazil were evaluated in vitro against Microsporum canis and Candida spp. strains isolated from dogs and cats. The leaf ethanol extracts of Momordica charantia, Calotropis procera, Peschiera affinis and Piper tuberculatum and decoction of Mangifera indica were initially evaluated by the agar-well diffusion method. Four extracts induced growth inhibition zones against M. canis: P. tuberculatum (20 mm), M. indica (14 mm), M. charantia (13 mm) and P. affinis (11 mm). None of them were active against Candida spp. Broth microdilution tests were performed for M. canis strains (n=5), to find the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). The geometric means for the MIC values were 590, 370, 350, 170 ug/mL, and for the MFC values were 1190, 750, 700, 340 ug/mL for M. charantia, P. affinis, P. tuberculatum and M. indica, respectively. Therefore, extracts from M. charantia, P. affinis, P. tuberculatum and M. indica are good candidates to produce antifungal phytotherapics since these extracts demonstrated good activity against M. canis.

Con el objetivo de encontrar compuestos fitoterapéuticos para tratar las infecciones por hongos de los animales, plantas que se encuentran comúnmente en el noreste de Brasil se evaluaron in vitro frente a cepas de Microsporum canis y Candida spp. aisladas de perros y gatos. Los extractos etanólicos de hojas de Momordica charantia, Calotropis procera, Peschiera affinis y Piper tuberculatum y la decocción de Mangifera índica fueron evaluados inicialmente por el método de difusión en pocillos de agar. Cuatro extractos indujeron zonas de inhibición del crecimiento contra M. canis: P. tuberculatum (20 mm), M. índica (14 mm), M. charantia (13 mm) y P. affinis (11 mm). Ninguno de ellos fue activo contra Candida spp. Se realizaron pruebas de microdilución en caldo para las cepas de M. canis (n = 5), para encontrar la concentración mínima inhibitoria (CIM) y la concentración fungicida mínima (CFM). Las medias geométricas de los valores de CIM fueron 590, 370, 350, 170 mg/ml, y para los valores de CFM fueron 1.190, 750, 700, 340 mg/ml de M. charantia, P. affinis, P. tuberculatum y M. indica, respectivamente. Por lo tanto, los extractos de M. charantia, P. affinis, P. tuberculatum y M. indica son buenos candidatos para la producción de fitoterápicos antifúngicos ya que estos extractos demostraron una buena actividad contra M. canis.

Assessment of serum catecholamine concentrations in patients with pheochromocytoma undergoing videolaparoscopic adrenalectomy

INTRODUCTION: We analyzed the changes in serum catecholamine concentrations, i.e. adrenaline and noradrenaline, in response to surgical stress in patients with pheochromocytoma who undergone videolaparoscopic adrenalectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1998 and March 2002, 11 patients underwent 12 videolaparoscopic adrenalectomies. In one case, the adrenalectomy was bilateral. Serum catecholamines were measured at 6 surgical times: T0: control before induction; T1: following the induction, laryngoscopy and intubation sequence; T2: after installing the pneumoperitoneum; T3: during manipulation-exeresis of the pheochromocytoma; T4: following ablation of the pheochromocytoma; T5: in the recovery room following intervention when the patient was extubated and was hemodynamically stable. RESULTS: Mean concentrations of serum noradrenaline were significantly different when the T0 and T2 surgical times were compared (T0: 3161 pg/mL; T2: 40440 pg/mL; p < 0.01), T0 and T3 (T0: 3161 pg/mL; T3: 46021 pg/mL; p < 0.001), T1 and T3 (T1: 5531 pg/mL; T3: 46021 pg/mL; p < 0.01), T2 and T4 (T2: 40440 pg/mL; T4: 10773 pg/mL; p < 0.01) and T3 and T5 (T3: 46021 pg/mL; T5: 2549 pg/mL; p < 0.001). Mean concentrations of serum adrenaline were significantly different when the T0 and T3 surgical times were compared (T0: 738 pg/mL; T3: 27561 pg/mL; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The pneumoperitoneum significantly increases serum noradrenaline concentrations, manipulation of the adrenal gland significantly increases the serum concentrations of noradrenaline and adrenaline, and the pheochromocytoma ablation significantly decreases serum noradrenaline concentrations.