Parir después de los 50 años. Estudio piloto observacional / Birth over 50: A pilot observational study

Objetivos: Evaluar si existe una mayor tasa de resultados obstétricos adversos, incontinencia urinaria posparto y problemas sexuales entre las mujeres que dan a luz después de los 50 años.Material y métodos: Estudio observacional ambispectivo de un solo centro. Se registraron la tasa de parto por cesárea, la diabetes gestacional, la preeclampsia, la restricción del crecimiento intrauterino (RCIU), la prematuridad, la incontinencia urinaria (Cuestionario de incontinencia en formato corto [ICIQ-SF]) y la disfunción sexual (índice de función sexual femenina [FSFI-6]). Resultados: Veinticinco (0,06%) de 38.510 nacimientos ocurrieron en mujeres mayores de 50 años durante el período de estudio en nuestro centro. Hubo 16 (64%) partos por cesárea. Siete (28%) mujeres padecieron diabetes gestacional. Se diagnosticó preeclampsia en 3 (12%) mujeres. Hubo 5 (20%) casos de RCIU. Hubo 5 (20%) partos prematuros. Las diferencias en la tasa de parto por cesárea, diabetes gestacional y RCIU entre el grupo de estudio y la población total fueron estadísticamente significativas. Los resultados de los cuestionarios ICIQ-SF y FSFI-6 se obtuvieron de 17 mujeres. Se encontró algún grado de incontinencia urinaria en 7 (41,1%) y disfunción sexual en 9 (52,9%) mujeres. Conclusiones: Los embarazos en mujeres mayores de 50 años parecen estar asociados con una mayor tasa de diabetes gestacional, RCIU y preeclampsia. Hay una alta prevalencia de incontinencia urinaria y problemas sexuales entre estas mujeres.(AU)

Objectives: To assess whether there is a higher rate of adverse obstetric outcomes, postpartum urinary incontinence, and sexual problems among women who give birth over 50. Material and methods: A single-center ambispective observational study. Rate of cesarean birth, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), prematurity, urinary incontinence (Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form [ICIQ-SF]), and sexual dysfunction (Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI-6]) were recorded. Results: Twenty-five (0.06%) of 38,510 births occurred in women over 50 during the study period. There were 16 (64%) cesarean births. Seven (28%) women had gestational diabetes. Preeclampsia was diagnosed in 3 (12%) women. There were 5 (20%) cases of IUGR. There were 5 (20%) preterm births. The differences in the rate of cesarean birth, gestational diabetes, and IUGR between the study group and the total population were statistically significant. The results of the ICIQ-SF and FSFI-6 questionnaires were obtained from 17 women. Some degree of urinary incontinence was found in 7 (41.1%) and sexual dysfunction in 9 (52.9%) women. Conclusions: Pregnancies in women over 50 may be associated with a higher rate of gestational diabetes, IUGR, and preeclampsia. There is a high prevalence of urinary incontinence and sexual problems among these women.(AU)

Chronic Cadmium Exposure Accelerates the Development of Atherosclerosis and Induces Vascular Dysfunction in the Aorta of ApoE-/- Mice.

Cadmium exposure is related to cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, increased oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and specific biochemical changes induced by this metal. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether cadmium exposure induces endothelial dysfunction, accelerates atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aorta, and enhances oxidative stress in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice. Experiments were performed in 14-week-old male wild-type and ApoE-/- mice. ApoE-/- mice received cadmium (CdCl2 100 mg/L in drinking water for 28 days) or vehicle (distilled water). After treatment, vascular reactivity to phenylephrine, acetylcholine, and sodium nitroprusside was analyzed using isolated aorta. Bone marrow cells were isolated to assess the production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. ApoE-/- cadmium-treated mice had higher cholesterol levels than non-exposed mice. Cadmium exposure decreased the vasodilatation response to acetylcholine in aortic ring of ApoE-/- mice, though no changes in phenylephrine or sodium nitroprusside responses were observed. L-NAME reduced vasodilator responses to acetylcholine; this effect was lower in ApoE-/- cadmium-treated mice, suggesting reduction in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Moreover, in bone marrow cells, cadmium decreased cytoplasmic levels of NO and increased superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxynitrite in ApoE-/- mice. Morphological analysis showed that cadmium exposure increased plaque deposition in the aorta by approximately 3-fold. Our results suggest that cadmium exposure induces endothelial dysfunction in ApoE-/- mice. Moreover, cadmium increased total cholesterol levels, which may promote the early development of atherosclerosis in the aorta of ApoE-/- mice. Our findings support the hypothesis that cadmium exposure might increase the risk of atherosclerosis.

Idoneidad de tratamiento en sospechosos de glaucoma. Estudio de concordancia con el grupo de estudio RAND / Appropriateness of treating glaucoma suspects. Concordancy study with the RAND study group

Objetivo: El grupo de estudio Appropriateness of Treating Glaucoma Suspects propone identificar qué pacientes sospechosos de glaucoma son apropiados o no para tratamiento. Nuestro objetivo es analizar la concordancia entre las decisiones clínicas de nuestra unidad de glaucoma y la del panel de expertos. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de 77 pacientes (39 sospechosos, 38 hipertensos oculares). Se recogen datos de edad, antecedentes familiares, tamaño de disco óptico, cociente excavación/papila, presión intraocular, paquimetría y esperanza de vida. Se asignó una puntuación, a partir del esquema propuesto por el grupo de trabajo Appropriateness of Treating Glaucoma Suspects, según la cual se decide si es idóneo tratar o no hay consenso. Para analizar la concordancia se calculó el índice kappa. Resultados: El valor de índice kappa fue 0,082 (intervalo de confianza al 95% entre -0,11 y 0,27). Se obtuvo una concordancia completa en 41 de los sujetos (63,08%). Nuestra decisión clínica fue tratar a 25 sujetos (22 no tratados según el comité de expertos) y no tratar a 40 (dos tratados por el comité de expertos). De los 12 individuos en los que el comité no encontraba consenso, en 8 nuestra actitud fue tratar. Conclusiones: El índice de concordancia entre nuestra actitud y la del comité de expertos es bajo. Otras variables no recogidas por los expertos (campo visual y parámetros del láser confocal de barrido [Heidelberg Retina Tomography, HRT III]) fueron importantes en nuestras decisiones. No se han elaborado aún guías clínicas precisas en casos de sospecha por lo que es necesario individualizar el tratamiento(AU)

Objective: The Appropriateness of Treating Glaucoma Suspects Study Group proposes to identify which patients suspected of glaucoma are suitable for treatment. Our objective is to analyse the concordance between our clinical decisions and this Study Group. Methods: Retrospective study of 77 patients (39 suspects, 38 ocular hypertensives). Variables such as age, family history, intraocular pressure, disc size, cup-to-disc ratio, central corneal thickness and life expectancy were collected. They were scored following the Appropriateness of Treating Glaucoma Suspects Scale. Whether there was a consensus to treat or not depended on this value. The kappa index was used to measured the concordancy. Results: The kappa index was 0.082 (95% confidence interval between -0.11 and 0.27). Total concordancy was obtained in 41 patients (63,08%). We decided to treat 25 patients (22 of which were not treated by the experts) and not to treat 40 patients (2 of which were treated by the experts). In 12 patients there was noconsensus by the experts to treat, but we decided to treat 8 of them. Conclussions: The concordancy index was low. Others variables such as visual fields and Heidelberg Retina Tomography (HRT III) parameters were not collected by the experts but were important in our decisions. There are no clinical guidelines on suspects. Individualised decisions are still necessary(AU)

[Appropriateness of treating glaucoma suspects. Concordancy study with the RAND study group]. / Idoneidad de tratamiento en sospechosos de glaucoma. Estudio de concordancia con el grupo de estudio RAND.

OBJECTIVE: The Appropriateness of Treating Glaucoma Suspects Study Group proposes to identify which patients suspected of glaucoma are suitable for treatment. Our objective is to analyse the concordance between our clinical decisions and this Study Group. METHODS: Retrospective study of 77 patients (39 suspects, 38 ocular hypertensives). Variables such as age, family history, intraocular pressure, disc size, cup-to-disc ratio, central corneal thickness and life expectancy were collected.They were scored following the Appropriateness of Treating Glaucoma Suspects Scale. Whether there was a consensus to treat or not depended on this value. The kappa index was used to measured the concordancy. RESULTS: The kappa index was 0.082 (95% confidence interval between -0.11 and 0.27). Total concordancy was obtained in 41 patients (63,08%). We decided to treat 25 patients (22 of which were not treated by the experts) and not to treat 40 patients (2 of which were treated by the experts). In 12 patients there was noconsensus by the experts to treat, but we decided to treat 8 of them. CONCLUSIONS: [corrected] The concordancy index was low. Others variables such as visual fields and Heidelberg Retina Tomography (HRT III) parameters were not collected by the experts but were important in our decisions. There are no clinical guidelines on suspects. Individualised decisions are still necessary.

Réplica: «Neuro-Behçet y neurotoxicidad por ciclosporina» / Reply to: «Neuro-Behçet and neurotoxicity due to cyclosporine»

No disponible

Gammagrafía abdominal con leucocitos marcados en la isquemia intestinal / Abdominal scintigraphy using labelled leukocytes in intestinal ischaemia

No disponible

No disponible

Enfermedad de Behçet en tratamiento con ciclosporina y crisis comiciales: el dilema diagnóstico / Behçet’s disease in treatment with cyclosporine and seizures: diagnostic dilemma

No disponible

[Measurement of lens density with a Scheimpflug camera in diabetic patients]. / Medida de la densidad del cristalino con cámara de Scheimpflug en pacientes diabéticos tipo II.

OBJECTIVE: To assess if diabetes, in patients without cataracts or diabetic retinopathy, alters the densitometric values of the lens and to what degree this occurs. METHODS: A total of 93 patients, divided into two groups, were studied: the diabetic patients had a visual acuity equal to or greater than 0.8 and normal eye funduscopy, and the control group consisted of healthy patients of a similar age. Measurements in all patients were made with the Scheimpflug camera and the lens density of the anterior capsule, anterior cortex and nucleus was defined. The values obtained in the two groups were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: All densitometric values were greater in the diabetic patients than in the normal controls. The greatest difference was seen in the values of the anterior capsule, followed by the nucleus and cortex. The differences approached statistical significance (P=0.07) only in the case of the anterior capsule. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes increases densitometric values of the anterior capsule and to a lesser degree of the anterior cortex. However, further studies are necessary to verify if this alteration is of significance.

[Have patients who go to the emergency department changed? Evolutive study for the years 1997 and 2005]. / ¿Han cambiado los pacientes oftalmológicos que acuden a urgencias? Estudio evolutivo entre los años 1997 y 2005.

OBJECTIVE: To study the change in number and profile of patients who came to the Emergency Department of a level 2 hospital with ophthalmic emergencies in the years 1997 and 2005. METHOD: Two groups of randomly selected patients who came to the Emergency Service on the same day in the years 1997 and 2005 were studied. The study focused on the following variables: number of visits per day, gender, age, time period, number of examinations done, diagnoses and type of treatment prescribed. Comparison of proportions was carried out with a confidence interval study and Chi Square Test. RESULTS: The statistically significant changes (p<0.05) were as follows: increase in number of patients seen; increase in the diagnosis of corneal foreign body (25%); decrease in the diagnosis of conjunctivitis (12%); increase in cases in which only one examination was done (19%); increase in frequency of visits between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and decrease between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m; reduced attendance of those of female gender (13%) and increase in the male gender (13%); increase in patients between the age of 31 and 40 years (9%); decrease in the use of treatments such as occlusion and epithelializing ointment (7% and 6% respectively); increase in use of analgesics (5%), artificial tears (5%) and NSAIDs (8%); increase in referral of patients to their primary care physician (17%) and decrease in ophthalmology check ups (34%). CONCLUSIONS: The number of ophthalmological emergencies has increased in the last eight years, especially in young male patients, with work-related disease, who came in the evening. Treatments such as the use of artificial tears have increased, and patients are sent to the primary care physician more often.

Medida de la densidad del cristalino con cámara de Scheimpflug en pacientes diabéticos tipo II / Measurement of lents density with a scheimpflug camera in diabetic patients

Objetivo: Averiguar si la diabetes en pacientes sin catarata ni retinopatía diabética altera los valores densitométricos del cristalino y en qué medida esto se produce. Métodos: Se estudian 93 ojos pertenecientes a 47 pacientes, divididos en dos grupos: 53 ojos de 27 pacientes diabéticos tipo II con agudeza visual igual o superior a 0,8 y fondo de ojo normal y un grupo control de 40 ojos de 20 pacientes sanos con una media de edad semejante. A todos se les realiza una medida con cámara de Scheimpflug y se consignan la densidad cristaliniana de la cápsula anterior, el cortex anterior y el núcleo. Los valores obtenidos en los dos grupos se comparan mediante análisis de la varianza (ANOVA). Resultados: Todos los valores densitométricos fueron mayores en los pacientes diabéticos con respecto a los normales. La mayor diferencia se produce en los valores de la cápsula anterior, seguidos del núcleo y el cortex. Solo en el caso de la cápsula anterior los valores se acercan a la significación estadística (P=0,07). Conclusiones: La diabetes incrementa los valores densitométricos de la cápsula anterior y en menor medida del cortex anterior. No obstante son necesarios nuevos estudios para verificar si esta alteración se produce de forma significativa (AU)

Objective: To assess if diabetes, in patients without cataracts or diabetic retinopathy, alters the densitometric values of the lens and to what degree this occurs. Methods: A total of 93 patients, divided into two groups, were studied: the diabetic patients had a visual acuity equal to or greater than 0.8 and normal eye funduscopy, and the control group consisted of healthy patients of a similar age. Measurements in all patients were made with the Scheimpflug camera and the lens density of the anterior capsule, anterior cortex and nucleus was defined. The values obtained in the two groups were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: All densitometric values were greater in the diabetic patients than in the normal controls. The greatest difference was seen in the values of the anterior capsule, followed by the nucleus and cortex. The differences approached statistical significance (P=0.07) only in the case of the anterior capsule. Conclusions: Diabetes increases densitometric values of the anterior capsule and to a lesser degree of the anterior cortex. However, further studies are necessary to verify if this alteration is of significance (AU)

¿Han cambiado los pacientes oftalmológicos que acuden a Urgencias?: Estudio evolutivo entre los años 1997 y 2005 / Have patients who go to the emergency departament changed? Evolutive study for the years1997 and 2005

Objetivo: Estudiar el cambio en el número y perfil de los pacientes que acuden a las urgencias oftalmológicas de un hospital de segundo nivel durante los ocho últimos años. Método: Se estudian dos grupos de pacientes que acudieron a urgencias en los mismos días, escogidos al azar, en los años 1997 y 2005. Se utilizan distintas variables: número de visitas por día, sexo, edad, franja horaria, número de exploraciones realizadas, diagnósticos y tipo de tratamiento prescrito.La comparación de proporciones se realiza mediante el estudio del intervalo de confianza y el test Chi Cuadrado. Resultados: Son resultados estadísticamente significativos los siguientes: Aumento del número de pacientes vistos en urgencias (p< 0,05). Aumento del diagnóstico de cuerpo extraño corneal (25%); disminución del diagnóstico de conjuntivitis (12%). Aumento de los casos en los que se realizan una sola exploración (19%);aumento de la frecuencia de visitas en la franja horaria entre 18:00-21:00; disminución entre 9:00-12:00; menor frecuencia del sexo femenino (13%) y aumento del masculino (13%); aumento de los pacientes entre 31 y 40 años (9%); disminución del uso de tratamientos como la oclusión y la pomada epitelizante (7% y 6% respectivamente); aumento del uso de analgésicos (5%), lágrimas artificiales (5%) y AINES (8%); aumento de las remisiones de pacientes a su médico de atención primaria (17%) y disminución de las revisiones oftalmológicas (34%). Conclusiones: El número de urgencias oftalmológicas ha aumentado en nuestra muestra en los últimos ocho años, sobre todo a expensas de pacientes varones jóvenes, con patología de origen laboral, que acuden por la tarde. Han aumentado tratamientos como las lágrimas artificiales y son remitidos a su médico de atención primaria con más frecuencia (AU)

Objective: To study the change in number and profile of patients who came to the Emergency Department of a level 2 hospital with ophthalmic emergencies in the years 1997 and 2005. Method: Two groups of randomly selected patients who came to the Emergency Service on the same day in the years 1997 and 2005 were studied. The study focused on the following variables: number of visits per day, gender, age, time period, number of examinations done, diagnoses and type of treatment prescribed. Comparison of proportions was carried out with a confidence interval study and Chi Square Test. Results: The statistically significant changes (p<0.05) were as follows: increase in number of patients seen; increase in the diagnosis of corneal foreign body (25%); decrease in the diagnosis of conjunctivitis (12%); increase in cases in which only one examination was done (19%); increase in frequency of visits between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and decrease between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m; reduced attendance of those of female gender (13%) and increase in the male gender (13%); increase in patients between the age of 31 and 40 years (9%); decrease in the use of treatments such as occlusion and epithelializing ointment (7% and 6% respectively); increase in use of analgesics (5%), artificial tears (5%) and NSAIDs (8%); increase in referral of patients to their primary care physician (17%) and decrease in ophthalmology check ups (34%). Conclusions: The number of ophthalmological emergencies has increased in the last eight years, especially in young male patients, with work-related disease, who came in the evening. Treatments such as the use of artificial tears have increased, and patients are sent to the primary care physician more often (AU)

[Extraosseous accumulation of 99mTc-HMDP in knees with synovial effusion]. / Acúmulo extraóseo de 99mTc-HMDP en rodillas con derrame sinovial.

In the presence of extraosseous activity seen in the late phase of the bone scintigraphy (BS) localized in the distal femur of patients prior to radiation synovectomy, we decided to review the frequency of this finding in 20 patients (24 joints) and its relationship with scintigraphic and clinical parameters. Mild soft tissue accumulation was seen in the late phase of the BS in 14 out of 24 joints, without association between this finding and knee uptake in vascular blood pool and late phases of the BS. However, a significant association with synovial effusion was found, and patients with higher degree of effusion presented extraosseous activity more frequently. In conclusion, we think that soft tissue accumulation in the late phase of the BS is a sign of synovial effusion.

Partial liquid ventilation with perfluorocarbon in acute lung injury: light and transmission electron microscopy studies.

Liquid ventilation using perfluorocarbon has been shown to improve gas exchange in animal models of acute lung injury as well as in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome. This study was designed to define structural features of lung injury following partial liquid ventilation (PLV) using light and transmission electron microscopy in a rabbit model of acute respiratory distress. Animals were treated with either conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV-gas) (n = 6) or PLV (n = 5) for 4 h after the induction of acute lung injury with saline lavage. Control animals were killed after the lung injury. PLV significantly improved alveolar-arterial oxygen tension and the oxygen index compared with CMV (P < 0.05). Morphometric studies using light microscopy show less alveolar hemorrhage, less edema, and fewer hyaline membranes in the PLV group (P < 0.05). Polymorphonuclear leukocyte sequestration in lung capillaries (11.4 +/- 1.5 versus 19.2 +/- 3 x 10(8)/ml, P < 0.05, PLV versus CMV) and migration into airspaces (3.1 +/- 1.2 versus 4.5 +/- 1.1 x 10(8)/ml, P < 0.05, PLV versus CMV) were lower in the gravity-dependent lung regions. There were fewer alveolar macrophages in the PLV group compared with other groups (P < 0.05). Fluorescence microscopy analysis shows fewer type II alveolar epithelial cells in the CMV group and brighter type II cells in the PLV group. Transmission electron microscopy studies show more alveolar wall damage in the CMV group, with type II cells detached from their basement membrane with fewer surfactant-containing lamellar bodies. We conclude that quantitative histologic analysis shows less lung damage and inflammation when perfluorocarbon is combined with CMV in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Early mycological treatment failure in AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis.

Cryptococcal meningitis causes significant morbidity and mortality in persons with AIDS. Of 236 AIDS patients treated with amphotericin B plus flucytosine, 29 (12%) died within 2 weeks and 62 (26%) died before 10 weeks. Just 129 (55%) of 236 patients were alive with negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures at 10 weeks. Multivariate analyses identified that titer of cryptococcal antigen in CSF, serum albumin level, and CD4 cell count, together with dose of amphotericin B, had the strongest joint association with failure to achieve negative CSF cultures by day 14. Among patients with similar CSF cryptococcal antigen titers, CD4 cell counts, and serum albumin levels, the odds of failure at week 10 for those without negative CSF cultures by day 14 was five times that for those with negative CSF cultures by day 14 (odds ratio, 5.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-10.9). Prognosis is dismal for patients with AIDS-related cryptococcal meningitis. Multivariate analyses identified three components that, along with initial treatment, have the strongest joint association with early outcome. Clearly, more effective initial therapy and patient management strategies that address immune function and nutritional status are needed to improve outcomes of this disease.

[False positive with Tl-201 in the study of Ewing's sarcoma of the astragalus caused by reflex sympathetic dystrophy]. / Falso positivo con T1201 en el estudio de un sarcoma de Ewing de astrágalo causado por una distrofia simpático-refleja.

We describe a 14 year old male, diagnosed of Ewing sarcoma in left astragalus. We performed two 201-Thallium scan for evaluating the response to chemotherapy (before and after the treatment). The scan performed after chemotherapy showed patchy uptake in astragalus, calcaneus and some joints of the foot. The following radiology and scintigraphy diagnosed a reflex sympathetic dystrophy in the left foot due to disuse of the limb. The 201-Thallium overestimated viability of the tumour for this reason. We must discard the presence of this kind of associated pathology in order that they could be cause of false positives.

Amphotericin B colloidal dispersion combined with flucytosine with or without fluconazole for treatment of murine cryptococcal meningitis.

Studies with animals and in vitro studies have demonstrated that flucytosine plus amphotericin B or fluconazole has significantly improved mycologic activity against meningitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans compared to the activity of amphotericin B or fluconazole used alone. However, few doses have been tested in combination. This study evaluated the antifungal efficacy of amphotericin B colloidal dispersion (ABCD) combined with flucytosine with and without fluconazole in a murine model of cryptococcal meningitis. The following dosages were tested: ABCD at 0 to 12.5 mg/kg of body weight given intravenously 3 days/week, flucytosine at 0 to 110 mg/kg/day, and fluconazole at 0 to 50 mg/kg/day. Meningitis was established in male BALB/c mice by intracerebral injection of C. neoformans. Treatment with flucytosine with or without fluconazole dissolved in the sole source of drinking water was started on day 2; animals were sacrificed at 16 days, and the numbers of fungal colonies in the brain were quantified. A survival rate of 100% was achieved with ABCD plus flucytosine without fluconazole; however, the addition of fluconazole was required to prevent weight loss (P < 0.00001) and to achieve the maximum antifungal effect (P < 0.00001). The only region of dose combinations for which the 99% confidence intervals were less than 100 CFU/g of brain was defined by ABCD at 5.0 to 7.5 mg/kg combined with flucytosine at 20 to 60 mg/kg/day and fluconazole at 30 to 40 mg/kg/day. The triple combination of ABCD plus flucytosine and fluconazole was necessary to achieve the greatest antifungal activity.

Effect of severity of meningitis on fungicidal activity of flucytosine combined with fluconazole in a murine model of cryptococcal meningitis.

We studied the effect of the severity of meningitis on the response to therapy with fluconazole and flucytosine in a murine model of cryptococcal meningitis. Meningitis was established by intracerebral injection of Cryptococcus neoformans. The severity of meningitis was varied by delaying the onset of treatment from 3 to 7 days. Animals were sacrificed after 14 days of treatment, and the numbers of C. neoformans per gram of brain tissue were quantified. The range of effective dose combinations of fluconazole and flucytosine became progressively reduced as the severity of meningitis increased. The magnitude of treatment effect, as measured by the numbers of CFU/gram of brain tissue, was also reduced with increasing severity of meningitis. In this model, as the severity of meningitis increases, higher doses of fluconazole are required to achieve equivalent levels of activity. The combination of fluconazole and flucytosine appears to have the most-potent antifungal effects. This is most readily observed in animals with more-severe meningitis.