ABSTRACT
A case of fingernail infection by Fusarium is presented. This nondermatophytic mold is an infrequent cause of onychomycosis, more typically involving the great toenail. Characteristic histologic features including the presence of hyphae and chlamydoconia are helpful in rapid diagnosis and selection of appropriate antifungal therapy. Although Fusarium has shown resistance to most antifungal medications in vitro, intermittent therapy with fluconazole led to improvement in this patient.
Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents/administration & dosage , Fluconazole/administration & dosage , Fusarium , Hand Dermatoses/drug therapy , Onychomycosis/drug therapy , Adult , Drug Administration Schedule , Female , Hand Dermatoses/pathology , Humans , Onychomycosis/pathologyABSTRACT
Tinea nigra, a superficial fungal infection caused by Phaeoannellomyces werneckii, presents as a hyperpigmented, nonscaling macule of variable size and shape. Typically lacking induration, erythema, or pruritus, these "ink spot" lesions may resemble junctional nevi or malignant melanoma. Rapid, noninvasive diagnosis can be provided by potassium hydroxide examination, demonstrating numerous large, dematiaceous hyphae.
Subject(s)
Melanoma/diagnosis , Pigmentation Disorders/diagnosis , Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis , Tinea Pedis/diagnosis , Adult , Antifungal Agents/administration & dosage , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Ketoconazole/administration & dosage , Male , Melanoma/pathology , Pigmentation Disorders/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Tinea Pedis/drug therapy , Tinea Pedis/pathology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The DBP5 gene encodes a putative RNA helicase of unknown function in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is shown here that Dbp5p is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase required for polyadenylated [poly(A)+] RNA export. Surprisingly, Dbp5p is present predominantly, if not exclusively, in the cytoplasm, and is highly enriched around the nuclear envelope. This observation raises the possibility that Dbp5p may play a role in unloading or remodeling messenger RNA particles (mRNPs) upon arrival in the cytoplasm and in coupling mRNP export and translation. The functions of Dbp5p are likely to be conserved, since its potential homologues can be found in a variety of eukaryotic cells.
Subject(s)
RNA Nucleotidyltransferases/genetics , RNA Nucleotidyltransferases/metabolism , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/enzymology , Schizosaccharomyces/enzymology , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Cell Line , Cytoplasm/enzymology , Dictyostelium/enzymology , Drosophila/embryology , Drosophila/enzymology , Embryo, Nonmammalian/enzymology , Evolution, Molecular , Female , Genomic Library , Humans , Jurkat Cells , Mice , Molecular Sequence Data , Nuclear Envelope/enzymology , Oocytes/physiology , PC12 Cells , Phylogeny , RNA Helicases , RNA Nucleotidyltransferases/chemistry , Rats , Recombinant Proteins/metabolism , Sequence Alignment , Sequence Homology, Amino Acid , Subcellular Fractions/enzymology , XenopusABSTRACT
The case of a 67-year-old man who has had psoriasis with multiple joints involvement for 30 years and renal failure for 1 year is described. He was admitted because of uremic symptoms and exacerbation of psoriasis. Hypocalcemia and low serum active 1.25(OH)2D3 were also observed. Hemodialysis, oral 1.25(OH)2D3 and CaCO3 supplement were employed. Interestingly, the psoriasis strikingly improved. The relationships among psoriasis, renal failure, 1.25(OH)2D3, serum calcium level and dialysis are discussed.
Subject(s)
Calcitriol/therapeutic use , Psoriasis/drug therapy , Renal Dialysis , Aged , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
4a alpha-Phorbol-9,9a-didecanoate, 4a alpha-phorbol-9-myristate-9a-acetate, and phorbol-9-myristate-9a-acetate-3-aldehyde were tested for skin tumor-promoting activity by using 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene as the initiating agent. There were 30 female ICR/Ha mice/group, and tests were continued for 434 to 461 days. 4a alpha-Phorbol-9,9a-didecanoate and 4a alpha-phorbol-9-myristate-9a-acetate were devoid of tumor-promoting activity. Phorbol-9-myristate-9a-acetate-3-aldehyde resulted in 10 mice with papillomas, 2 of which also bore squamous carcinomas of the skin. The positive control group, in which phorbol myristate acetate was used as promoting agent, resulted in 30 mice bearing multiple papillomas and 15 bearing squamous carcinomas of the skin. The effects of structural and stereochemical changes on tumor-promoting activity suggest that a primary interaction of the phorbol ester series is binding at specific sites on the plasma membrane.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/chemically induced , Papilloma/chemically induced , Phorbols/toxicity , Skin Neoplasms/chemically induced , Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate/toxicity , 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene , Aldehydes , Animals , Decanoates , Drug Synergism , Mice , Mice, Inbred ICR , Neoplasms, Experimental/chemically induced , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
The isobutane chemical ionization mass spectra of a series of 4aalpha-phorbol esters have been determined. Phorbol myristate acetate, a diester of phorbol, is the most potent known tumor promoter in mouse skin carcinogenesis. Several esters of the stereoisomer of phorbol have been synthesized to study the effect of structure and stereochemistry on tumor promotion. Conventional electron impact mass spectra of these esters gave little or no molecular weight information due to their low volatility, tendency to dehydrate and complex fragmentation to peaks in the low mass end of the spectrum. Isobutane chemical ionization mass spectrometry greatly enhanced the molecular ion region and through functional group selectivity established the identity of the various substituted esters.
Subject(s)
Phorbol Esters , Phorbols , Mass Spectrometry , Tetradecanoylphorbol AcetateABSTRACT
Seventeen analogues of the tumor-promoting agent anthralin were tested for the same biological property by repeated skin application on mouse skin using female ICR/Ha Swiss mice, after a single application of a subcarcinogenic dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Seven of the compounds tested are new compounds. They are 1,8-diacetoxy-9-anthrone, 1,8-dimyristoyloxy-9-anthrone, 1,8-dihydroxy-10-acetyl-9-anthrone, 1,8-dihydroxy-10-myristoyl-9-anthrone, 1,8,10-trihydroxy-9-anthrone, 1,8-dihydroxy-9,10-dihydroanthracene, and myristoyljuglone. All compounds were used in pure form for the bioassays. Of the 17 test compounds four showed notable tumor-promoting activity. They are 1,8-dihydroxy-10-acetyl-9-anthrone, 1,8-dihydroxy-10-myristoyl-9-anthrone, 1-hydroxy-9-anthrone, and juglone. In order to determine whether there is any relationship between tumor-promoting activity and metal chelation in this series, the chelating abilities of anthralin and of its inactive analogue 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone were examined using the bivalent metal ions Cu(II), Zn(II), Mn(II), Mg(II), and Ca(II). No relationship between chelation and tumor-promoting ability was found.
Subject(s)
Anthracenes/pharmacology , Anthralin/pharmacology , Skin Neoplasms/chemically induced , Animals , Anthralin/analogs & derivatives , Anthralin/chemical synthesis , Anthraquinones/pharmacology , Chemical Phenomena , Chemistry , Female , Metals , Mice , Mice, Inbred ICR , Neoplasms, Experimental/chemically inducedABSTRACT
A 9-week-old child with "congenital glaucoma" was later found to have, in addition to enlarged corneas and elevated intraocular pressure, subluxated and cataractous lenses, hyphema, iridodialysis, angle recession, and vitreous hemorrhage, along with signs of gross parental neglect and physical abuse. To our knowledge, this is the first report in which a battered child with bilateral "congenital glaucoma" (probably caused by trauma) is described.
Subject(s)
Battered Child Syndrome , Child Abuse , Eye Injuries/diagnosis , Glaucoma/congenital , Diagnosis, Differential , Glaucoma/diagnosis , Humans , Infant , MaleABSTRACT
Electron spin resonance spectroscopy provided evidence for formation of hydroxyl radicals during ultraviolet photolysis (254 nm) at -170C of H2O adsorbed on silica gel or of silica gel alone. The carboxyl radical was observed when CO or CO2 or a mixture of CO and CO2 absorbed on silica gel at -170C was irradiated. The ESR signals of these radicals slowly disappeared when the irradiated samples were warmed to room temperature. However, re-irradiation of CO or CO2, or the mixture CO and CO2 on silica gel at room temperature then produced a new species, the carbon dioxide anion radical, which slowly decayed and which was identical with that produced by direct photolysis of formic acid adsorbed on silica gel. The primary photochemical process may involve formation of hydrogen and hydroxyl radicals by means of (1) photodissociation of H2O physically adsorbed on the silica gel, or (2) absorption of the excitation energy by the silica gel surface with subsequent cleavage of the silanol bonds, or (3) dissociation of H2O molecules throug photosensitization by the surfaces or a combination of (1) to (3). Subsequent reactions of these radicals with adsorbed CO or CO2 or both yield carboxyl radicals, CO2H, the precsursors of formic acid. Our results confirm the formation of formic acid under simulated Martian conditions and provide a mechanistic basis for gauging the potential importance of gas-solid photochemistry for chemical evolution on other extraterrestrial bodies, on the primitive earth and on dust grains in the interstellar medium.
