Diabetes mellitus and candidiases.

Patients in various clinical states of diabetes mellitus (according to the recommendation of the American Diabetes Association) as a primary diagnosis were examined for fungal infections by Candida species. Candida spp. were detected in urine, in the material taken from the mouth cavity, nails, skin lesions, ears and eyes, by cultivation on the Sabouraud agar, CHROMagar Candida, and by saccharide assimilation. In the group of diabetics with symptoms of oral candidiasis and denture stomatitis C. albicans was identified in 8 cases, C. tropicalis in 3, C. parapsilosis in 2; 1 strain of C. guilliermondii was also isolated. In patients with urinary tract infections the presence of C. albicans was shown in 12 cases; C. parapsilosis was detected in 6 cases and two strains of each C. tropicalis and C. krusei were also isolated. In patients with leg ulcers C. albicans (25 cases), C. parapsilosis (5), C. tropicalis (3) and one strain of each C. krusei and C. robusta were isolated. Otomycosis was associated with one strain of C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and C. guilliermondii. C. albicans was most frequently associated with onychomycosis, paronychia and endophthalmitis; C. parapsilosis was the second most rated yeast.

Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum as a cause of zoophilic dermatomycosis in a human family.

Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum is a zoophilic form of T. mentagrophytes. It induces murine favus in the form of coarse yellow scutules bigger than 1 cm in diameter. In March, 2002, a 52-year-old male patient was examined at the Dermatology Clinic of the Medical Faculty in Kosice with a 1-week anamnesis of a solitary, oval, annular focus, 3 cm in diameter, on the right side of his face, located subauricularly. When providing the history, he has mentioned that his 12-year-old son has a ,,similar skin disease". Clinical examination of the son showed similar annular oval lesion, size about 2 x 3 cm, located in the right chest region. Since January 2002 the family has kept a guinea pig. They have obtained it through a mediator from the Kosice ZOO. The material for mycological examination was taken from peripheral parts of the foci or desquamating lesions from the father, son, and the guinea pig. Scales were examined microscopically in 20 % KOH solution with Parker's blue-black ink. The findings proved the presence of septal hyphae and formation of arthrospores. Thus, dermatomycosis was confirmed in the father and son, caused by T. mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum, the source of which was a pet guinea pig (Fig. 3, Ref. 17).

Study of the dermatophytes in dogs and the risk of human infection.

BACKGROUND: The infiltrative growth of fungi that multiplies in the tissues (dermatophytes, candida, agents of visceral mycoses) is the generally known proof of "active" functioning of these organisms. The relative importance of fungi as inducers of human and animal diseases grows constantly. METHODS: The study was carried out on dogs that showed skin changes. The frequency of examinations was determined on the basis of anamneses. Skin scrapings and affected fragile or dull hair and skin swabs were subject to Laboratory diagnostic examinations based on cultivation and microscopical examination. Our evaluations were focused on the type of parasite--ecothrix, endothrix, neoendothrix, and the size of arthrospores. RESULTS: The results of our study are presented as the incidence of dermatophytes and other micromycetes in 100 samples of skin scrapings and swabs from 100 dogs of both sexes, different breeds and age categories that had exhibited skin problems. We isolated 12 species. Malassezia pachydermatis was the most frequently detected species and was isolated from 31 cases. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was isolated from 2 samples, species Microsporum canis was isolated only from one case, Candida albicans was isolated from 3 samples. The agent Candida krusei was isolated from 5 samples, Candida pulcherrima a relatively rare candidal species, was isolated from skin of an 8-year old Dalmatian bitch, Candida sp. in 5 cases. Trichosporon cutaneum was isolated from a 3-year old Laika etc. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the need of constant research in this area. This indicates that the incidence of mycoses in dogs and other pets is of importance in the exposure of people to the risk of acquiring mycotic infections. (Tab. 1, Fig. 5, Ref. 57).

[Immunohistologic determination of extracellular matrix components in granuloma annulare]. / Imunohistologické stanovenie zloziek extracelulárnej matrix u granuloma anulare.

BACKGROUND: The histological diagnosis of granuloma annulare is based on assessment of a palisade-like granuloma and necrobiosis. The authors attempt to make a more accurate diagnosis of the disease based on immunohistological assessment of components of the extracellular matrix. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a group of 15 patients with granuloma annulare the authors assessed, using the immunoperoxidase method, collagens type I, III and V and fibronectin. An increased amount of collagens type III and V was found within the palisade-like granuloma and its neighbourhood resp. In the area of the necrobiosis the findings of the mentioned collagens depended on the degree of necrobiotic changes (12 of 15 patients). An increased occurrence of collagen type I was only indicated in the vicinity of granulomas or within the palisade-like granuloma in 7 of 15 patients. Larger amounts of fibronectin were found in the area of the necrobiosis and in the area of the granulomatous palisade-like infiltrate resp. (12 of 15 patients). CONCLUSIONS: In the author's opinion the higher incidence of collagens types III and V in the neighbourhood of the palisade-like granulomatous infiltrate and its size resp, as well as the finding of fibronectin in the area of necrobiosis and the granulomatous infiltrate justify the use of immunohistological assessment of the above constituents of the extracellular matrix as a supplementary examination in the diagnosis of the above disease.

[Fibronectin, interstitial collagens and type IV collagen in dermatitis herpetiformis]. / Nálezy fibronektínu, intersticiálnych kolagénov a kolagénu typu IV u dermatitis herpetiformis.

BACKGROUND: In the pathogenesis of dermatitis herpetiformis the participation of some proteins of the extracellular matrix has not been elucidated so far. They are found more amply in the papillary derma where they are manifested most markedly as the mentioned type of dermatosis. The objective of the present work was to assess the participation of components of the extracellular matrix in the pathogenesis of diseases and the possibility of their detection to make a more accurate diagnosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a group of 11 patients (mean age 39 +/- 17 years) with dermatitis herpetiformis the diagnosis was established on the basis of the clinical and histological finding. Fibronectin and collagens type I, III, IV, V were assessed in the skin using rabbit antisera (INPHARM Co. Moscow). An elevated level of collagen type III and V was found in the affected papillae and on the floor of the blisters in the papillary derma, collagen type IV on the vault of the blister and fibronectin deposits in the affected papillae which had a netlike structure. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the above findings assessment of fibronectin, collagens type III, IV and V in the affected skin can be considered an important supplementary examination in the histological diagnosis of dermatitis herpetiformis.

[Electron microscopy immunolocalization of ribosomal ribonucleoproteins using autoantibodies from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]. / Elektrónovomikroskopická imunolokalizácia ribozomálnych ribonukleoproteínov autoprotilátkami pacientov so systémovým lupus erythematosus.

Serum of patients against rRNP was tested by Western blot method. Four ribonucleoproteins (15, 16, 36 and 38 kDa) specifically reacted with the antiserum used. The autoantibodies were used for immunolocalization of antigenic structures by immunogold method on ultrathin cryosections of hepatocytes, cumulus cells of antral follicle and spermatocytes. Mice and hamsters were used. The cytoplasm appeared to be labelled most intensively. Gold particles were loosely arranged in the cytoplasm (cumulus cells) or they were associated with endoplasmatic reticulum (hepatocytes). Nucleoli were labelled by a lower incidence of the marker. Gold particles were found over the dense fibrillar component bordering on the granular component. In the cytoplasm individual gold particles were observed. (Fig. 7, Ref. 31.).

[Intravitally undetected tuberculosis and non-registered foci od tuberculous infection]. / Ne vyiavlennyi pri zhizni tuberkylez i neuchtennye ochagi tuberkuleznoi infektsii.

Active pulmonary tuberculosis was revealed in 1.55% of the cases registered in 11042 postmortem certificates representing forensic medical examination material accumulated at the archives for a period of 4 years. 66.35% of the cases had not been registered in a dispensary. Pulmonary tuberculosis was stated as a cause of death in 72.7% and as a concurrent condition in 27.3%. The basic activities of the antituberculosis service is to detect tuberculous infection and to rapidly eradicate its transmission. In addition, a close association and coordinated activities of forensic medical experts, phthisiologists and sanitary-and-epidemiologists will ensure an improvement of the epidemiological situation.