Mechanism of action of efinaconazole, a novel triazole antifungal agent.

The mechanism of action of efinaconazole, a new triazole antifungal, was investigated with Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida albicans. Efinaconazole dose-dependently decreased ergosterol production and accumulated 4,4-dimethylsterols and 4α-methylsterols at concentrations below its MICs. Efinaconazole induced morphological and ultrastructural changes in T. mentagrophytes hyphae that became more prominent with increasing drug concentrations. In conclusion, the primary mechanism of action of efinaconazole is blockage of ergosterol biosynthesis, presumably through sterol 14α-demethylase inhibition, leading to secondary degenerative changes.

Spontaneous Mammary Adenocarcinoma in a Twelve-week-old Female Sprague-Dawley Rat.

Spontaneous mammary adenocarcinoma was observed in a 12-week-old female SD rat. A movable mass in the right cervical region was found at 11 weeks of age, and the rat was sacrificed the following week. The mass was located in the vicinity of the right salivary gland and measured 38 mm × 26 mm × 16 mm in gross size. It was a firm whitish mass, with a cut surface that was also whitish in appearance. Histopathologically, neoplastic cells formed glandular structures that contained secreted eosinophilic material. Ultrastructurally, similar secreted material and lipid droplets were in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for cytokeratin 8, cytokeratin 18 and estrogen receptor α. Based on these findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a mammary gland adenocarcinoma, and we therefore conclude that this tumor type can occur spontaneously in female SD rats as young as 12 weeks of age.

Revascularization to prevent postoperative bowel infarction after surgery for acute superior mesenteric artery thromboembolism.

PURPOSE: Postoperative bowel infarction is a major contributing factor to the high mortality rate associated with acute thromboembolism of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). This study was conducted to evaluate the prophylactic role of thrombectomy to prevent postoperative mesenteric infarction. METHODS: An autologous fibrin clot (1 cm3) was implanted into the SMA of beagle dogs. The animals in group I (n = 7) underwent only resection of the ischemic intestine 120 min after insertion of the thrombus. In group IIa (n = 6), the intestine was removed before thrombectomy of the SMA, and revascularization was performed 30 min prior to resection in group IIb (n = 6). The postoperative outcomes were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: Postoperative bowel infarction developed in four (57.1%) of the group I dogs, three (42.8%) of which died within 5 days postoperatively. The SMA was patent in the group IIa and IIb dogs, none of which died throughout the observation period. Performing thrombectomy before the resection reduced the length of resected intestine. CONCLUSION: Arterial revascularization is not only an essential procedure for mesenteric infarction due to SMA thromboembolism, but it also prevents the postoperative bowel infarction caused by the extension of thrombus in the mesentery.