bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal perceptions of family‐centred support and their associations with the mother–nurse relationship in the neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Shimizu Aya , Mori Akiko
Published: December 2017

Aims and objectives

To evaluate maternal perceptions of family‐centred support with hospitalised preterm infants and their relationship between mothers and nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Background

Mothers who gave birth to preterm infants tend to suffer more stress and need individual support based on family‐centred care. However, there may be a shortage of support for mothers to obtain parent‐crafting skills before bringing their infants home.

Design

This cross‐sectional study used path analysis and multiple group analysis to evaluate a structural equation model of the relationship between maternal perception based on family‐centred support in parent‐crafting training and the mothers–nurses collaboration.

Methods

We analysed data from 98 mothers (valid response proportion, 41.0%) whose infants were hospitalised in the NICU of two types of perinatal centres in Japan. We used three revised standardised questionnaires in Japanese: Measure of Process of Care in the NICU (Neo‐MPOC 20), Enabling Practice Scale in the NICU (Neo‐EPS) and the author‐developed Mother and Infant Questionnaire.

Results

Path analysis revealed that the relationship between mothers and nurses was linked to three factors related to the perinatal centres’ support: consideration of parents’ feelings, ability to deal with specific needs and coordination in dealing with situations that interact with provision of parent‐friendly visual information. Separate path analyses for each perinatal centre showed the same pattern, although the standard coefficients were different.

Conclusions

Maternal perceptions of family‐centred support with hospitalised preterm infants promoted better collaboration between mothers and nurses to obtain parent‐crafting skills at two types of perinatal units in Japan.

Relevance to clinical practice

Clear visual information materials might promote better maternal understanding of their infants, help in acquisition of parent‐crafting skills and improve mother–nurse collaboration, with the result that mothers are better able to care for their infants autonomously at home.
Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Neisseria gonorrhoeae among Chinese women with urinary tract infections in Shanghai: A community‐based cross‐sectional study
Authors: Xu Wei‐Hong , Chen Jia‐Jie , Sun Qing , Wang Li‐Ping , Jia Yi‐Fei , Xuan Bin‐Bin , Xu Bing , Sheng Hui‐Ming
Published: December 2017

Aim

This study explored chlamydia trachomatis (CT), ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and/or neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) in 5893 women with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Shanghai.

Methods

From January 2009 to December 2014, 5893 women with UTIs in Shanghai were selected to undergo CT, UU and NG detection. Baseline characteristics including age, education level, occupation, reproductive history, sexual behavior and contraceptive method were obtained for epidemiological analysis.

Results

The total CT, UU and/or NG infection rate in the urine samples of 5893 patients was 50.69% (2987/5893), while the infection rate in vaginal secretion samples was 56.22% (3313/5893). The two detection methods were consistent. Patients aged 21–30, service personnel and unemployed persons had the highest rates of CT, UU and/or NG infection, while patients with higher education levels exhibited lower rates. As the number of previous pregnancies, natural births, abortions, sexual partners and the frequency of sexual intercourse increased, the rates of CT, UU and/or NG infection were elevated. Sexual intercourse during the menstruation period, a lack of cleaning before sexual intercourse and the use of intrauterine devices could all lead to an increased rate of CT, UU and/or NG infection.

Conclusions

These data revealed that the rate of CT, UU and/or NG infection may be associated with age, education level, occupation, reproductive history, sexual behavior and type of contraceptive method in female patients with UTI in Shanghai.
Endothelin‐1‐induced expression of α‐smooth muscle actin in human myometrial fibroblasts
Authors: Duan Zhaoning , Jia Ying , Zhang Jing , Long Li , Tang Liangdan
Published: December 2017

Aim

We aimed to investigate the potential role of endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) in the regulation of the expression of α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) in human myometrial fibroblasts.

Methods

Primary myometrial fibroblasts were obtained from myometrium and were identified by immunocytochemical staining. Then, 1 × 107 cells were treated with ET‐1 at a concentration of 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, or 100.0 nM for 24 h. To investigate the time course effects of ET‐1 on the growth of fibroblasts, 1 × 107 cells were treated with 10.0 nM ET‐1 for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. Real‐time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot analysis were used to determine the expression of α‐SMA mRNA and protein, respectively.

Results

Human myometrial fibroblasts were identified by immunohistochemistry. Compared with the control group, the expression levels of α‐SMA mRNA and protein were identified in cells treated with ET‐1 at a concentration of 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, or 100.0 nM for 24 h (P < 0.05). ET‐1 treatment affected the expression of α‐SMA mRNA and protein in a dose‐dependent manner (P < 0.05). The induction of α‐SMA mRNA and protein expression increased from 6 to 48 h.

Conclusion

The results show that ET‐1 induces the expression of α‐SMA in human myometrium in vitro.
Randomized control trial comparing effectiveness of weekly versus daily antenatal oral iron supplementation in preventing anemia during pregnancy
Authors: Goonewardene Indra Malik R. , Senadheera Diluk I.
Published: December 2017

Aim

This study was conducted to determine whether weekly antenatal oral iron and folate supplementation is an effective alternative to a daily regimen in non‐anemic pregnant women to prevent anemia and iron deficiency during the third trimester.

Methods

From December 2014 to April 2015, non‐anemic pregnant women (n = 292) who presented to the Academic Obstetric Unit, Teaching Hospital Mahamodera Galle, Sri Lanka, at 14–22 weeks gestation and who had been treated with mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for three days were randomly allocated to receive 120 mg elemental iron, 3 mg folic acid and 100 mg vitamin C weekly (n = 149) or 60 mg elemental iron, 1 mg folic acid and 100 mg vitamin C daily (n = 143). Side effects were assessed at four weekly intervals and hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit and serum ferritin (SF) were measured at 32–36 weeks gestation.

Results

Only 106 participants in each group completed the study. There were no significant differences between the groups in mean duration of supplementation; presupplementation and post‐supplementation mean Hb, hematocrit or SF levels; risk of developing anemia, ID or high Hb levels by an intension to treat analysis; and in those who completed the trial. Significantly greater side effects occurred in the daily compared to the weekly supplementation group.

Conclusion

In non‐anemic pregnant women, a weekly regimen is an effective alternative to a daily regimen for antenatal oral iron and folate supplementation for preventing anemia and iron deficiency during the third trimester.
Double‐balloon versus single‐balloon catheter for cervical ripening and labor induction: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yang Fang , Huang Shijin , Long Yu , Huang Lingling
Published: December 2017

We searched Embase, PubMed and the Cochrane Library for randomized or quasi‐randomized controlled trials to compare the use of single‐balloon to double‐balloon catheters. The risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using fixed‐effects or random‐effects models.

Four studies involving a total of 793 pregnant women were included. There were no significant differences in the rate of cesarean (RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.86, 1.38; P = 0.48), or vaginal deliveries within 24 h (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.82, 1.09; P = 0.42), the mean time to delivery (MD 0.39, 95% CI −0.90, 1.68 h; P = 0.55) or Bishop score improvement (MD 0.62, 95%CI −0.18, 1.42; P = 0.13) between the groups. Women who received the double‐balloon catheter had a similar risk of maternal intrapartum fever and post‐partum hemorrhage. Pain during ripening was only reported in one trial and was significantly higher with the double balloon, whereas pain during device insertion was measured in two trials: one reported no difference while the other reported significantly increased pain with the double balloon.

The double‐balloon and single‐balloon (Foley) catheters had similar effectiveness and safety. The Foley catheter is significantly cheaper, widely available and accessible, has a longer history of use and remains the logical choice over the double‐balloon catheter for cervical ripening.
Mapping the Langscape—Developing Multilingual Norms in a Transient Project Community
Authors: Hazel Spencer
Published: December 2017

This contribution explores the development of language choice practices within one transient project community, here an international theater ensemble. Transient project communities consist of groups, the members of which have been drawn together in order to complete some or other predetermined project. In projects constituted of members drawn from different linguistic backgrounds, this may involve the local development of interactional norms and practices, including at the level of language choice. The study uses a longitudinal set of video‐recorded data to track emergent practices related to congregational norms for language use within one workplace community. This wider scope of perspective allows one to account for emergence and transience in the cohort's social and linguistic practices.
Introduction to Special Issue on Transience: Emerging Norms of Language Use
Authors: Lønsmann Dorte , Hazel Spencer , Haberland Hartmut
Published: December 2017

In this introduction to the special issue, the concept of transience is introduced as a theoretical perspective and as an object of research. The perspective of transience foregrounds the temporality of norm formation, located within the practices of people on the move. The introduction suggests that it is beneficial to apply the concept of transience in order to understand processes of norm development, including those pertaining to language choice and language socialization. Working from an understanding that communities form and dissolve, we claim that it is useful to look at these processes, as it is in the process of communities coming into being that norms emerge. Transience, in spite of being ubiquitous, is not always salient for members or analysts, but to identify, fixate and theorize it as an object of study in linguistic anthropology invites new ways of conceptualizing the interdependence of language and social structure.
The Sociolinguistic Economy in Contexts of Transience and Change in Danish Multinational Companies
Authors: Millar Sharon
Published: December 2017

Adopting a language ideological perspective, this article explores corporate sociolinguistic economies and the values given to languages and communicative competences within them. The focus is on how values are attributed to language choice and accommodation practices, and the impact of conditions of transience and change on these values. Using interview data from three Danish‐owned multinationals, questions of language management, language exclusion and inclusion, accommodative competences, and instrumentality are explored. It is shown that issues of scale, global to local, as well as numbers, affect values within sociolinguistic economies as do tensions between communicative efficiency and fair access to knowledge. It is argued that conditions of flux favor the instrumental value of English, which is perceived as both a stable resource and a stabilizing force, but in local contexts, other languages, such as Danish, provide alternative and valued resources. Transience can be a disruptive factor, which becomes part of managerial decisions concerning linguistic exclusion and inclusion. Foreign languages, other than English, have situated value and tend to be linked to more long‐term prospects or to more durable relations of varying frequencies of contact.
Doing Understanding in Transient, Multilingual Communities in Higher Education
Authors: Moore Emilee
Published: December 2017

This article analyzes interactions taking place in two transient communities involving local and international actors at a Catalan university. In scenarios in which established norms for language use are less available, people from different language backgrounds face the practical issue of establishing a common means for accomplishing understanding. This study examines how participants in the encounters establish a plurilingual medium of interaction, despite other solutions being available to them. It further proposes the notion of “doing understanding” to refer to the situated, jointly constructed and embodied performance of sharing repertoires. The results demonstrate how participants locally construct and challenge norms and possibilities of language use in transient communities in international higher education, supporting more critical consideration of how languages should be categorized by universities in their internationalization pursuits in seeking harmony with linguistic diversity.
Electronic Video Monitoring in Medicaid Home and Community‐Based Services Waivers for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Friedman Carli , Rizzolo Mary C.
Published: December 2017

While the number of available caregivers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) is reducing, the number of people who need care and support is steadily increasing, effectively creating a vacuum of care. In response to this increasing problem, and as a result of advances in technology, telecare, and remote monitoring in the long‐term support of people who are aging or have I/DD are becoming more prominent. Despite noted benefits, telecare and other forms of technological surveillance are relatively new for caregivers in service to people with I/DD. Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Section 1915(c) waivers are a critical funding stream for people with I/DDs and long‐term support needs in the United States. In order to examine the implementation of electronic monitoring technology for people with I/DD, we examined which HCBS waivers were providing electronic monitoring services and how they were doing so. Ninety‐nine I/DD‐related HCBS 1915(c) waivers (44 states and the District of Columbia) were collected for fiscal year (FY) 2013 from the U. S. CMS Medicaid.gov website. We then examined this data to determine, if applicable, the electronic monitoring services provided, the projected number of users, and the average cost of each unit of service. We also examined the electronic monitoring service definitions to determine themes across services. We found seven out of the 99 HCBS FY 2013 waivers (7.1%) provided electronic monitoring services through nine different services. Moreover, very little funding was allocated for these services. Our findings highlight that electronic monitoring services are largely not being utilized for the more than 600,000 people with I/DD on Medicaid HCBS waivers. As HCBS waivers look to reduce costs and continue to support people with I/DD we believe more states will consider these technologies.
Barriers and enablers for iron folic acid (IFA) supplementation in pregnant women
Authors: Siekmans Kendra , Roche Marion , Kung'u Jacqueline K. , Desrochers Rachelle E. , De‐Regil Luz Maria
Published: December 2017

In order to inform large scale supplementation programme design, we review and summarize the barriers and enablers for improved coverage and utilization of iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements by pregnant women in 7 countries in Africa and Asia. Mixed methods were used to analyse IFA supplementation programmes in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal based on formative research conducted in 2012–2013. Qualitative data from focus‐group discussions and interviews with women and service providers were used for content analysis to elicit common themes on barriers and enablers at internal, external, and relational levels. Anaemia symptoms in pregnancy are well known among women and health care providers in all countries, yet many women do not feel personally at risk. Broad awareness and increased coverage of facility‐based antenatal care (ANC) make it an efficient delivery channel for IFA; however, first trimester access to IFA is hindered by beliefs about when to first attend ANC and preferences for disclosing pregnancy status. Variable access and poor quality ANC services, including insufficient IFA supplies and inadequate counselling to encourage consumption, are barriers to both coverage and adherence. Community‐based delivery of IFA and referral to ANC provides earlier and more frequent access and opportunities for follow‐up. Improving ANC access and quality is needed to facilitate IFA supplementation during pregnancy. Community‐based delivery and counselling can address problems of timely and continuous access to supplements. Renewed investment in training for service providers and effective behaviour change designs are urgently needed to achieve the desired impact.
Gastrointestinal Colonization with Yeast Species and Candida Septicemia in Very Low Birth Weight Infants
Authors: Pappu-Katikaneni L.D. , Rao K.P.P. , Banister E.
Published: December 2017

Yeasts may gain entry into the blood via routes such as intubation, intravenous catheterization or by direct persorption from the gut. The latter route becomes important when the numbers of commensal yeasts in the the gut exceeds a threshold which may vary between animal species. In a prospective study utilizing serial, twice weekly quantitative stool cultures during the first 6 weeks of life of 40 very low birth weight infants, we found a threshold of 8 x 106 Candida colony‐forming units/gram of stool. Beyond this threshold 50% of the infants developed gastrointestinal symptoms and 28.5 % developed systemic sepsis within 1 to 3 weeks of heavy colonization. The gastrointestinal colonization rate was 62.5% (25/40) with 66% having Candida colony‐forming units > 8 x 106/g stool.
Studies on the Yeast Flora in Patients Suffering from Psoriasis Capillitii or Seborrhoic Dermatitis of the Scalp
Authors: Senff H. , Bothe Caren , Busacker J. , Reinel D.
Published: December 2017

In 65 patients with scalp psoriasis or seborrhoic dermatitis of the scalp, stool specimens, tongue swabs and scalp scales were examined for yeasts. The stool specimens showed in 70.8% of the patient group massive and in 7.7% moderate yeast colonization. Yeasts were found in 47.7% of the tongue cultures and in 12.5% of the scalp scales. Candida albicans was the predominant pathogen in the faeces and on the tongue. In comparison with a control group, frequency of yeasts in faeces and on the tongue in patients with psoriasis capillitii and seborrhoic dermatitis of the scalp could be shown to be significantly higher.
Mother‐and‐Child Cases of Infection
Authors: Jin Xue-Zhu , Zhang Huo-Da , Hiruma M. , Yamamoto I.
Published: December 2017

We report the appearance of lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis on the left arm of a 28‐year‐old farmer's wife, followed two months later by the same type of lesion on the right upper eyelid of this patient's three‐year‐old child. According to the mother, the child was accustomed to sleeping with the right side of her face applied to the lesion on the mother's arm, and so it was presumed that the infection had been transmitted by direct contact from mother to child. Cases of person‐to‐person contagion of this disorder are thought to be extremely rare, but where there has been close contact on a daily basis, such contagion is likely to occur.
An Animal Model for Oropharyngeal, Esophageal and Gastric Candidosis
Authors: Cole G.T. , Lynn K.T. , Seshan K.R.
Published: December 2017

Conventional mice inoculated withCandida albicansby the oral‐intragastric route as infants (6‐day‐old) have previously been shown to develop gastrointestinal (GI) candidosis which persists for at least 30–60 days post‐challenge without the use of compromising procedures. Histological preparations of the stomachs of these animals reveal hyphae which have crossed the mucin barrier and are associated with the stratified squamous epithelium of the gastric mucosa primarily in the region of the cardial‐atrium fold. Host inflammatory cells are frequently observed adjacent to these filaments and yeast cells. In this study, groups of neonates were challenged oral‐intragastrically with eitherC. albicansstrain CA30, or strain CA87. The two strains showed marked differences in the numbers of cells associated with tissue of the tongue, esophagus and stomach of non‐immunocompromised mice at 20 days post‐inoculation. After immunocompromising treatment by intraperitoneal administration of cyclosphosphamide and cortisone acetate, both groups of mice showed extensive colonization and tissue invasion of the tongue, proximal and distal portions of the esophagus, and cardial‐atrium fold of the stomach.C. albicans‐containing abscesses were occasionally observed on the tongue of these animals. Histological preparations of the cardiac antrum, located at the junction of esophagus and stomach, frequently revealed concentrations of hyphae and yeast cells associated with the stratified squamous epithelium. We suggest that these non‐immunocompromised and immunocompromised mice with persistentC. albicansinfections of oropharyngeal, esophageal and gastric tissue, initiated by oral‐intragastric challenge at infancy, simulates conditions in different groups of chronically infected humans, and serves as a useful model for testing the efficacy of anti‐Candidadrugs in clearance of candidosis from the alimentary canal.
Indirect immunofluorescence staining and crossed immunoelectrophoresis for differentiation of Candida albicans and Geotrichum candidum
Authors: Jensen H. E. , Hau J. , Aalbæk B. , Schønheyder H.
Published: December 2017

Rabbit hyperimmune antisera were used for differential diagnosis of Candida albicans and Geotrichum candidum in murine and bovine tissues by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) staining. Although the antisera did not detect common antigens by crossed immunoelectrophoresis (XIE) a marked cross‐reactivity of fungal cells was observed in the IIF assay. Following liquid phase absorption with heterologous antigenic preparations the hyperimmune antisera were rendered specific for each species thus making possible an unequivocal differentiation of the two species.
Pityriasis versicolor in school children in Cross River State of Nigeria
Authors: Akpata L. E. , Gugnani H. C. , Utsalo S. J.
Published: December 2017

Out of 2353 primary school children aged 4–16 years in Cross River State of Nigeria examined, 88 (3.7%) showed lesions mycologically proven to be pityriasis versicolor. Incidence was highest (6.3%) in children aged 12–16. Lesions were much more common on the face than on other sites.
In vitro nail invasion by pathogenic and non‐pathogenic fungi under different culture conditions
Authors: Baudraz-Rosselet F. , Frenk E.
Published: December 2017

Data from the literature suggest that the nutritional environment can modify major metabolic functions of fungi and possibly their aggressivity towards keratinous structures. Trichophyton rubrum (TR), Microsporum canis (MC), Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (SB), Aspergillus fumigatus (AF) and Penicillium spec. (P) were inoculated on media of different nutritional value, in presence of nail fragments. The activity of the fungi was evaluated at two and four weeks for intensity and depth of invasion of nail samples. Nail invasion was most pronounced by MC, especially when grown on rice agar or peptone agar. Nail invasion by the other fungi tested was less important, Sabouraud glucose and rice agar were most favorable. Our results indicate that nutritional factors can, at least in some fungus species, alter their rate of nail invasion.
Fluconazole in the treatment of esophageal candidosis in AIDS
Authors: Heise W. , Arasteh K. , L'age M.
Published: December 2017

Bei 135 von 496 AIDS‐Patienten mit gastrointestinalen Symptomen hell sich endoskopisch eine Candida‐Ösophagitis nachweisen. Leitsymptome waren hierbei Erbrechen, Dysphagie und retrosternale Schmerzen. Endoskopisch fanden sich unterschiedliche Schweregrade der Ösophagitis mit kleinen Plaques als leichterem Befund bis hin zu schwerer hämorrhagischer Ösophagitis. 36 Patienten wurden mit 100 mg Fluconazol/die behandelt (orale oder infravenöse Therapie). Bei 33 von 36 Patienten ließ sich klinisch, endoskopisch und mikroskopisch ein gutes Resultat mit kompletter Heilung der Läsionen nach 7, 14 oder 21 Tagen verzeichnen. Bei 3 Patienten mit Wasting Syndrom und schweren opportunistischen Infektionen mit fehlendem Ansprechen muß eine Resistenz gegen das Medikament diskutiert werden. Eine Erhaltungstherapie erscheint wegen der Rezidivrate erforderlich.
Systemic candidosis in I.C.U. patients after antibiotic treatment
Authors: Schweigart Ursula , Allescher H.-D.
Published: December 2017

Berichtet wird über die Therapie mit Fluconazol bei 19 Intensivpatienten mit schweren Allgemeininfektionen , von denen 9 ein septisches Multiorganversagen hatten und die mindestens 7 Tage lang mit Antibiotika behandelt wurden. Die Schwierigkeiten in der Diagnostik der therapiebedürftigen Candidose werden diskutiert. Bei alien Patienten zeigte sich ein giinstiger Verlauf der Candida‐Infektion, kein Patient starb an einer Pilz‐Sepsis. Ernsthafte Nebenwirkungen wurden nicht beobachtet.
Aspergillus fumigatus as a Cause of Mycotic Tracheitis in a Chicken
Authors: Pal M. , Prajapati S. , Gangopadhyay R. M.
Published: December 2017

An unusual case of mycotic tracheitis in a young chick caused by Aspergillus fumigatus was recorded from Anand, India, during 1987. The pathogen was demonstrated in the tracheal exudate by potassium hydroxide technique and also recovered from the trachea on Sabouraud dextrose agar at 37° C. The characteristic hyphae of Aspergillus spp. were demonstrated in tracheal mucosa in histopathological sections stained by periodic acid Schiff method. Interestingly, the lesions were confined only to the trachea. Environmental investigations established the source of infection in the farm where the litter was highly contaminated with A. fumigatus.
Dermatophytoses as Occupational Dermatoses in Industrialized Countries. Report on Two Cases from Munich
Authors: Korting H. C. , Zienicke Helga
Published: December 2017

Although interest in dermatophytoses as occupational dermatoses nowadays focuses on developing countries, pertinent cases are still also seen in industrialized countries. Two recent cases from Munich are reported in which Trichophyton verrucosum had been acquired by a cattle farmer and Microsporum canis by a veterinary surgeon from a pet cat.
Fungal Flora of Human Faeces in Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Buslau M , Menzel Ingrid , Holzmann H.
Published: December 2017

Faeces samples taken from 343 patients with psoriasis and 581 patients with atopic dermatitis were subjected to mycological examination. Yeasts were detected in 68 % of the psoriatics and in 70 % of the patients with atopic dermatitis but in only 54 % of the controls (n = 50). Qualitative analysis revealed a predominance of Candida albicans. Non‐pathogenic yeasts constituted only 1 % in each of these groups. Of the hyphomycetes, Geotrichum candidum occurred in 22 % of the psoriatics, in 10 % of the atopic dermatitis patients and in 3 % of the controls. Aspergillus species were found in 1 % of the patients but not in the controls. Stool samples collected on three consecutive days from 141 patients were examined for yeasts. Qualitative correlation between all three samples was shown in 95 % of the patients and quantitative correlation in 38 %. Deviations were mainly of exponential magnitude. Germ cell concentration of 104 cells per ml and above were measured in 38 % of the psoriatics and in 28 % of the atopic dermatitis patients but in only 22 % of the test subjects with healthy skin. There was no correlation between the concentration levels of yeasts in the faeces and the extent of psoriasis or atopic dermatitis.
Pathogenic Fungi in Soils of Jabalpur, India
Authors: Pandey A. , Agrawal G. P. , Singh S. M.
Published: December 2017

Results of a preliminary survey of pathogenic fungi in soils collected from forest, riverside and residential garbage soil in Jabalpur, India, are reported. A total of 45 soils samples were examined, of which 39 (87 %) were positive for fungi, 66 species of fungi classified in 35 genera were isolated:

Chrysosporium (78 %), Fusarium (69 %), Aspergillus (47 %), Microsporum (38 %), Gliocladium (16 %), Acremonium (11 %), Penicillium (11 %), Humicola (9 %), Scopulariopsis (7 %), Paecilomyces (7 %), Cladosporium (7 %); Chaetomium, Colletotrichum, Cunninghamella, Microascus and Rhizopus (4 % each); Absidia, Aphanocladium, Arthrobotrys, Botryotrichum, Candida, Cephaliophora, Cephalosporium, Curvularia, Histoplasma, Mucor, Shanorella, Syncephalastrum, Thermomyces, Trichophylon, Trichothecium and Verticillium (2 % each); mycelia sterilia (6 %). Acremonium persicinum, Cladosporium trichoides and Shanorella spirotricha are new to India. A new species of Humicola has also been isolated.
Bioassay for Determination of Nystatin in Faeces after Oral Application
Authors: Blaschke-Hellmessen Renate , Schwarze Ulrike
Published: December 2017

An optimized bioassay (agar diffusion assay) using a defined Candida albicans strain as tester strain for determination of nystatin excreted with the faeces during and after oral application is presented . The sensitivity of the test achieves 39 IU nystatin/g faeces relating to the total amount of nystatin (using dimethylformamide for solution of nystatin in the faeces) and 78 IU nystatin/g faeces relating to the biologically active portion (using aqua dest for suspension of nystatin from the faeces). Precision and reproducibility of the bioassay are assured by standardized procedures. By means of the bioassay, doses and application intervals for orally administered nystatin can be optimized.
Results of a Combination Treatment with Natamycin and Butylscopolamine in Cases of Intestinal Candida Colonization
Authors: Gehring W. , Späte W. , Gehse M. , Gloor M. , Braun K. J.
Published: December 2017

The findings described show that Candida species can be found in the feces of approximately half a population of non‐selected test persons and in the mouths of approximately a third. Intestinal Candida colonization was found in most of these persons after one feces examination, and in practically all of them after a second examination. 10 d of therapy with 400 mg natamycin per day in sugarcoated tablet form and 40 mg natamycin in the form of tablets for sucking produced a negative fungus test for the feces in only 20 % of the cases. Although a combination of this therapy with 3 x 10 mg butylscopolamine per day improved short‐term results significantly, the long‐term results were hardly influenced at all. Typifying results according to the Warnock method showed that we are dealing with recurrences in practically all cases and not with new infections. Minimal inhibition concentrations (MIC) of natamycin showed no marked changes as a consequence of the natamycin treatment.
Osteomyelitits Due to Cryptococcus neoformans in Advanced Age Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Kromminga R. , Staib F. , Thalmann U. , Jautzke G. , Seibold M. , Hochrein H. , Witt H. , Bürger H.
Published: December 2017

In an 84‐year‐old man cryptococcosis with a pronounced osteomyelitic course (involvement of a rib, two thoracic vertebrae, the sacrum and a femur) was diagnosed histologically post mortem, thus directing attention to cryptococcosis in advanced age. The presumptive chronic course of the Cryptococcus neoformans (Cr. n.) infection in this patient was ascribed to chronic kidney failure, diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive lung disease. Special reference is made to the mycological and radiological diagnosis of cryptococcosis of the bones as well as to its pathogenesis, therapy and epidemiology.
In Vitro Activities of Polyene and Imidazole Antifungal Agents Against Unusual Opportunistic Fungal Pathogens
Authors: Rotowa N. A. , Shadomy H. J. , Shadomy S.
Published: December 2017

Guidelines for the treatment of Infections caused by unusual opportunistic fungi are limited and available in vitro data are scanty. In vitro susceptibility tests, employing an agar dilution procedure, were performed with amphotericin B (AMB), natamycin (NTC), itraconazole (ICZ), and ketoconazole (KTZ). Two media were used: Kimmig's agar (KA) and Yeast Morphology Agar (YMA). Fungi tested included isolates (n) of A cremonium spp. (10), Cunninghamella spp. (6), Fusarium spp. (18), Pseudallescheria boydii (14), and Trichosporon beigelii (5). All Acremonium and Cunninghamella isolates were susceptible to NTC (MIC ≤4 μg/ml) but many appeared to be resistant to AMB, (MIC ≧32 μg/m1), KTZ and ICZ (MIC ≧128 μg/ml). Most isolates of Fusarium spp. were susceptible to both AMB and NTC (MIC90 = 4 μg/ml); one isolate was cross‐resistant to both polyenes (MIC > 32 μg/ml ). Only two of 18 Fusarium isolates appeared susceptible to the imidazoles (MIC ≤4 μg/ml); the remaining isolates exhibited high MICs (≧64 μg/ ml). All 14 isolates of P. boydii were susceptible to NTC (MIC ≤ μg/ml) but four appeared to be resistant to AMB (MIC 32 μg/ ml). Most isolates of P. boydii were susceptible to both KTZ (MIC ≤4 μg/ml) and ICZ (MIC ≤ 16 μg/ml) but two isolates appeared to be resistant (MIC ≧ 16 μg/ml). AMB was the most active compound against T. beigelii (MIC90 = 0.25 μg/ml) while KTZ was the least active (MIC90 = 64 μg/ml). Sixty‐one MICs were determined for the four drugs on both KA and YMA. The best inter‐test agreement (equal or ± 1 dilution) between paired KA and YMA MICs was observed in tests with NTC (93 %) while the poorest was observed in tests with ICZ (79 %). Four‐fold or greater differences in paired MICs were observed in two tests each with AMB and ICZ.
Subcutaneous mucormycosis caused by Mucor hiemalis Wehmer f. luteus (Linnemann) Schipper 1973
Authors: Costa A. R. , Porto E. , Tayah M. , Valente N. Y. S. , da Silva Lacaz C. , Maranhão W. M. , Rodrigues M. C.
Published: December 2017

The authors report a case of subcutaneous mucormycosis in a diabetic patient with verrucous lesions in the fourth finger of the right hand. Initially diagnosed as a fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis case, success was obtained with the use of potassium iodide with healing of the lesion in a period of nearly 5 months. At present the patient remains under clinical observation with no treatment or relapse.
Cerebrospinal fluid indices in cryptococcal and tuberculous meningitis: The spider web coagulum and its diagnostic significance
Authors: Staib F. , Seibold M. , Antweiler E. , Zimmer C. , Heitz J. , Stoltenburg-Didinger G.
Published: December 2017

The differentiation between a chronic cryptococcal meningitis and a chronic tuberculous meningitis may cause problems for the clinician only if standard microbiological methods are not applied to the diagnosis of both infections.

In a male non‐AIDS patient (50 y), 11 years after a suggested diagnosis of “tuberculous meningitis”, meningoencephalitis with hydrocephalus was diagnosed and treated accordingly without success. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was never found. Because fibrin fibres of a spider web coagulum in the CSF resembled Aspergillus mycelium, the patient was then treated with amphotericin B + flucytosine. Finally, a mycological examination led to the true diagnosis: (1) In the CSF, resembling Aspergillus hyphae were found to be spider web coagulum fibres. (2) Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis based on the detection of Cryptococcus neoformans in CSF and its antigen in serum and CSF. ‐ At post‐mortem, cryptococcal meningoencephalitis was established as cause of death. Residual signs of tuberculosis could not be detected in the brain and the meninges. Common clinical similarities of cryptococcal and tuberculous meningitis and the possibility of a double infection are discussed. A comparison of the presence of Cr. neoformans in the meninges of non‐AIDS and AIDS patients is made. The formation of spider web coagulum in the CSF is discussed. Proposals for the diagnosis, therapy and prophylaxis of cryptococcal meningitis are made.
Study of onychomycosis in India
Authors: Banerjee U. , Sethi M. , Pasricha J. S.
Published: December 2017

Fungal agents causing onychomycosis in an Indian population were studied in a hospital based study. It revealed that onychomycosis is more common in adult males, and that finger nails were more often affected compared with toe nails. Occupation did not seem to be related to infection.Trichophyton rubrumwas the commonest fungus isolated (49.3 %) followed byCandidaspecies (23.2 %). Four morphological varieties ofTr. rubrumcolonies were observed but the role of a particular variety in causing chronic infection could not be ascertained.
Nail dirt ‐ a niche for carcinogenic fungi
Authors: Pande S. K. , Pande Neeta
Published: December 2017

Nail dirt was analysed for the very first time for toxicogenic fungi. During the study it was found that nail dirt carries a substantial number of toxicogenic fungi. These fungi were tested qualitatively and quantitatively for the production of aflatoxins.
Fluconazole monitoring in Candida peritonitis based on histological control
Authors: Kujath P. , Lerch K. , Dämmrich J.
Published: December 2017

Between May 1, 1988 and January 1, 1990, 10 patients were treated for Candida peritonitis. Origins of the infections were lesions and perforations of the gastrointestinal tract. Risk factors promoting the disease were tumours, diabetes mellitus and extensive antibiotic therapy. The mean Classification by the APACHE score 2 was 19.0. All patients underwent the programmed peritoneal lavage for diffuse peritonitis. Daily relaparotomy and lavage of all quadrants of the abdomen was performed. The diagnosis of Candida peritonitis had been established by microbiological investigation, increasing serologic titres, histologic demonstration of a deep mycosis and clinical picture. All patients were treated with 300 mg fluconazole daily. Five of the ten patients died from their severe primary diseases in spite of control of fungal peritonitis. Daily relaparotomies allowed to follow up the microbiologic and histologic course of the disease. Within 2 to 4 days after administration of fluconazole, hydrous swelling and reduction of fungal elements could be demonstrated histologically. On the 4th day after onset of antifungal therapy, fungal mycelia were markedly reduced and distendically decayed. Fluconazole clearly leads to a destruction of deeply invading Candida elements within 4 days.
Enzyme immunoassay detection of antibodies in canine blastomycosis using Blastomyces dermatitidis lysate antigens
Authors: Seawell B. W. , Legendre A. M. , Scalarone G. M.
Published: December 2017

A Blastomyces dermatitidis yeast phase lysate antigen (T‐58) prepared in our laboratory was used in an enzyme‐ linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies in 201 serum specimens from dogs with blastomycosis. In addition 36 sera from non‐infected dogs from an endemic area for blastomycosis and 36 sera from non‐infected dogs residing in a blastomycosis non‐endemic area were assayed . Sensitivity values ranged from 96.2 % (53 pre‐treatment sera) to 88.5 % (148 post‐treatment sera) with the specimens from dogs with confirmed blastomycosis. Minimal reactivity was experienced with the sera from non‐infected dogs. Positive reactions were obtained with 8.3 % of the endemic area sera and with 5.6 % of the sera from the non‐endemic area. Mean ELISA index values ranged from 7.66 with the pretreatment sera to 1.11 and 1.03 with the endemic area sera and non‐endemic area specimens respectively.
White piedra: ultrastructure and a new micro‐ecological aspect
Authors: de Almeida H. L. , Rivitti E. A. , Jaeger R. G.
Published: December 2017

White piedra or trichosporosis is a superficial mycosis of the hair shaft, caused by the yeast Trichosporon beigelii; it has been found in all continents and may involve the hair of any part of the body. We report a case of white piedra on the hairs of the inguinal fold with ultrastructural studies. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the nodules have the same morphological aspects as the fungus in culture (hyphae and arthrospores) except for the presence of a cementant substance. By scanning electron microscopy the elimination of spores was seen on the nodule surface. Interestingly similar nodules were found on cotton fibres of the patient's underwear, which were also studied by scanning electron microscopy. This finding can explain therapeutic failure and demands special hygienic conditions related to clothes.
Infections caused by Trichophyton raubitschekii: clinical and epidemiological features
Authors: Kane J. , Krajden S. , Summerbell R. C. , Sibbald R. G.
Published: December 2017

Thirty‐eight cases of human infection with the recently described dermatophyte species Trichophyton raubitschekii were studied and a description is presented of the clinical and epidemiological features of infection with this organism. Results revealed the usual preponderance of males (2:1) but a high proportion of individuals of Asian origin (60.5 %) in the infected population. Tinea corporis, tinea cruris and tinea pedis were the most common infections. T. raubitschekii differed significantly from the more common Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes in being more strongly associated with tinea corporis. Some T. raubitschekii infections produced inflammatory lesions while others clinically resembled those caused by the related species T. rubrum and 7: mentagrophytes. T. raubitschekii could be distinguished from related species by means of special mycological procedures in the laboratory.
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor with retained INI1 (SMARCB1) expression and loss of BRG1 (SMARCA4)
Authors: Bookhout Christine , Bouldin Thomas W. , Ellison David W.
Published: December 2017

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is a rare, highly aggressive malignancy of the central nervous system (CNS) usually diagnosed in infancy or childhood, most often characterized by loss of expression of the SMARCB1 gene product integrase interactor 1 (INI1) protein. We report a case of AT/RT in a 3 month old boy with retained expression of INI1 by immunohistochemistry. Additional testing demonstrated loss of expression of the SMARCA4 gene product Brahma‐related gene 1 (BRG1) protein by immunohistochemistry, confirmed by next generation sequencing showing a nonsense mutation in SMARCA4. This case illustrates that positivity for INI1 does not rule out a diagnosis of AT/RT, and additional testing, including BRG1/SMARCA4 analysis, is warranted in cases where clinical suspicion is high.
Designing the stem cell microenvironment for guided connective tissue regeneration
Authors: Bogdanowicz Danielle R. , Lu Helen H.
Published: December 2017

Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive cell source for regenerative medicine because of their ability to self‐renew and their capacity for multilineage differentiation and tissue regeneration. For connective tissues, such as ligaments or tendons, MSCs are vital to the modulation of the inflammatory response following acute injury while also interacting with resident fibroblasts to promote cell proliferation and matrix synthesis. To date, MSC injection for connective tissue repair has yielded mixed results in vivo, likely due to a lack of appropriate environmental cues to effectively control MSC response and promote tissue healing instead of scar formation. In healthy tissues, stem cells reside within a complex microenvironment comprising cellular, structural, and signaling cues that collectively maintain stemness and modulate tissue homeostasis. Changes to the microenvironment following injury regulate stem cell differentiation, trophic signaling, and tissue healing. Here, we focus on models of the stem cell microenvironment that are used to elucidate the mechanisms of stem cell regulation and inspire functional approaches to tissue regeneration. Recent studies in this frontier area are highlighted, focusing on how microenvironmental cues modulate MSC response following connective tissue injury and, more importantly, how this unique cell environment can be programmed for stem cell–guided tissue regeneration.
Tissue‐specific endothelial cells: a promising approach for augmentation of soft tissue repair in orthopedics
Authors: Lebaschi Amir , Nakagawa Yusuke , Wada Susumu , Cong Guang‐Ting , Rodeo Scott A.
Published: December 2017

Biologics are playing an increasingly significant role in the practice of modern medicine and surgery in general and orthopedics in particular. Cell‐based approaches are among the most important and widely used modalities in orthopedic biologics, with mesenchymal stem cells and other multi/pluripotent cells undergoing evaluation in numerous preclinical and clinical studies. On the other hand, fully differentiated endothelial cells (ECs) have been found to perform critical roles in homeostasis of visceral tissues through production of an adaptive panel of so‐called “angiocrine factors.” This newly discovered function of ECs renders them excellent candidates for novel approaches in cell‐based biologics. Here, we present a review of the role of ECs and angiocrine factors in some visceral tissues, followed by an overview of current cell‐based approaches and a discussion of the potential applications of ECs in soft tissue repair.
Visual resolution and cone spacing in the nasal and inferior retina
Authors: Woog Kelly , Legras Richard
Published: December 2017

Purpose

To determine the retinal eccentricity at which cones are no longer an observable substitute for ganglion cells on nasal and inferior parafoveal visual acuity.

Method

Visual acuities were measured on 12 healthy volunteers, under dynamic adaptive optic aberrations correction (crx1™) in white light, from 0° to 6°, every two degrees, along the nasal and inferior retinal meridians. Cone spacing was measured on images of the retina acquired using an adaptive optic flood illumination retina camera (rtx1™) at the same eccentricity, except at 0°.

Results

Cone spacing increased by around 0.13 min of arc per degree of eccentricity and a difference of 7% between both meridians was observed (higher cone spacing in the inferior retinal meridian). Visual resolution was higher in the nasal retinal meridian (difference of around 28% or 0.15 logMAR at 6°). Cone spacing can predict minimum angle of resolution (MAR) at 2° in both semi retinal meridians. In the inferior retinal meridian, MAR measurements are fairly well predicted by Watson's 50% mathematical model based on the midget retinal ganglion cell density. Along the nasal retinal meridian, the measured MAR lies between Watson's 50% and 100% models.

Conclusions

At 2° of eccentricity, cone density accurately predicts visual resolution in both the nasal and inferior retina, supporting the idea that only 50% of the foveal midget retinal ganglion cells determine VA. The 50% model can also predict VA in the inferior retinal meridian at 4° and 6° of eccentricity. However, the 50% model underestimated visual acuity in the nasal retinal meridian at 4° and 6° of eccentricity consistent with the partially overlapping ON and OFF midget retinal ganglion cell receptive fields.