bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance of BacticardTM Candida compared with the germ tube test for the presumptive identification of Candida albicans
Authors: Carrillo‐Muñoz A. J. , Quindós G. , Cárdenes C. D. , Alonso‐Vargas R. , Brió S. , Arévalo P. , Pemán J. , Estivill D. , Pontón J. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryBacticardTM Candida was compared with the germ tube test for the rapid, presumptive identification of Candida albicans. This test kit detects the enzymatic activities l‐proline aminopeptidase and beta‐galactosaminidase in yeast colonies grown on culture media. Candida albicans produces both enzymes whereas other yeasts produce only one or neither of the enzymes. We evaluated 536 isolates including eight genera and 33 species of medically important yeasts, including 228 C. albicans and 36 C. dubliniensis. Both tests did not discriminate between C. albicans and C. dubliniensis isolates. The sensitivity and specificity for the BacticardTM Candida test were 97.8 and 96.5%, respectively. BacticardTM Candida and germ tube tests detected 246 (93.2%), and 256 (97%) C. albicans plus C. dubliniensis isolates. There were eight false‐positive results with BactiCardTM Candida kit and four false‐positive results with the germ tube test. Positive and negative predictive values for BacticardTM Candida enzymatic test were 95.3 and 98.4%, respectively, while 97.4 and 98.1% for the germ tube test, its specificity being 98.1% and efficiency 97% (97.7% for germ tube). We have observed slightly lower values of sensitivity and specificity than those reported by others using the BactiCardTM test kit. BacticardTM Candida provides a rapid and accurate alternative to the germ tube test for the presumptive identification of C. albicans.
Successful treatment of Acremonium fungemia with voriconazole
Authors: Mattei D. , Mordini N. , Nigro C. Lo , Gallamini A. , Osenda M. , Pugno F. , Viscoli C. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryWe report two cases of Acremonium fungemia with proven involvement of the skin and probably of the lung in patients who were both undergoing chemotherapy, one for mantle cell lymphoma and the other for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Both patients failed amphotericin B deoxycholate treatment and were successfully treated with voriconazole with very mild toxicity.
Genotyping of clinical Rhodotorula mucilaginosa isolates by pulsed field gel electrophoresis
Authors: Saracli M. A. , Sener K. , Gonlum A. , Yildiran S. T. , Wickes B. L. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryIdentification and typing of fungal isolates is a prerequisite for control and prevention of nosocomial infections. As the discriminatory power of phenotypic methods is not sufficient for epidemiological purposes, genotyping methods such as DNA fingerprinting, random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, or pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) are preferred. To our knowledge, this study is the first application of PFGE for typing Rhodotorula mucilaginosa strains. The PFGE patterns of six clinical isolates produced two different karyotypes, which were confirmed by RAPD analysis. Five strains isolated from bloodstream infections from three different institutions showed the same karyotype and RAPD patterns, while the urological specimen differed slightly.
Skin infection caused by Scedosporium apiospermum
Authors: Karaarslan A. , Arıkan S. , Karaarslan F. , Sesli Çetin E. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryA woman with a skin infection because of Scedosporium apiospermum, in the interdigital spaces of her feet is presented. The minimum inhibition concentration values (MIC, μg ml−1) of this isolated mould for itraconazole, amphotericin B and terbinafine after 48 h were determined as 1, 8 and 16, respectively. The patient was treated successfully with oral terbinafine and topical clotrimazole.
Sinonasal aspergillosis in immunocompetent Indian children: an eight‐year experience
Authors: Gupta A. K. , Ghosh S. , Gupta A. K. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryA retrospective study of 40 otherwise healthy children suffering from paranasal aspergillosis is presented. Fifteen percentage of this group was under 10 years of age. The clinical characteristics were marked facial deformity, orbital involvement (52.5%) and skull base erosion (12.5%). Ethmoid sinus was the commonest sinus to be affected. Aspergillus serology was positive in 35% and fungal culture grew the organism in 40%. Histopathology revealed allergic or non‐invasive fungal infections without any tissue invasions. Surgery was performed in all except one case. Recurrence was 15% treated by revision surgery and antifungal therapy.
Prosthetic joint infections with osteomyelitis due to Candida albicans
Authors: Lerch K. , Kalteis T. , Schubert T. , Lehn N. , Grifka J. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryWe report the case of a 78‐year‐old woman who suffered from a severe soft tissue and bone infection of her left knee 3 years after a total knee‐joint replacement without loosening of her endoprosthesis. Cultures from joint aspiration and tissue specimen identified Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Direct microscopic examination of vital spongy bone and fibrous tissue revealed microabscesses and seeds of yeasts inside the fatty marrow and interface. After removal of the prosthesis several soft tissue and bone specimens were taken during planned re‐operations. The histological examination showed no morphological changing, no reduction or extinction of the yeast cells under fluconazole therapy with a dosage of 6 mg kg−1 body weight (400 mg daily). Curing of the fungal infection with eradication of the yeasts in the bony specimens was achieved with higher doses of 12 mg kg−1 body weight (800 mg day−1) over a 2 month regimen in combination with repeated surgical debridements.
Candida albicans strain carriage in patients and nursing staff of an intensive care unit: a study of morphotypes and resistotypes
Authors: Khan Z. U. , Chandy R. , Metwali K. E. 
Published: November 2003

Summary Candida albicans carriage of patients and nursing staff of an intensive care unit (ICU) was studied over an 8‐month period. Swabs were taken at weekly intervals from multiple sites from patients. None of the patients had clinical Candida infection at the time of the first sampling. The hands and mouth of the nursing staff were sampled at fortnightly intervals. Of the 68 patients investigated for varying periods, 37 (54%) yielded C. albicans from one or more body sites, resulting in the isolation of 269 strains. Nosocomial acquisition of C. albicans was recorded in seven (19%) patients. The frequency of C. albicans isolation increased with extended stay in ICU. Sixteen of the 180 samples taken from hands and mouth of nursing staff, yielded C. albicans, 12 of which came from the mouth. Morphotyping of 88 randomly selected strains of C. albicans originating from 31 patients yielded 34 morphotypes. There appeared to be no preference for any morphotype to colonize a particular anatomic site. Based on the susceptibility results, nine resistotypes were recognized. No correlation was apparent between any specific morphotype and resistotype patterns. The differences in morphotype and resistogram patterns of C. albicans isolates originating from same patients over a period of time suggest that some of the patients were colonized with more than one strain. Similarities in the morphotype and resistotype patterns of C. albicans strains isolated from patients and nursing staff tend to suggest possibility of exogenous acquisition.
Experimental evaluation of antifungal and antiseptic agents against Rhodotorula spp.
Authors: Preney L. , Théraud M. , Guiguen C. , Gangneux J. P. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryWe studied the susceptibility of 21 strains of Rhodotorula rubra and nine strains of R. glutinis to eight antifungals and tested eight antiseptic agents on one strain of R. rubra. The tested strains were susceptible to ketoconazole, 5‐fluorocytosine, amphotericin B, and nystatin, intermediate to econazole and resistant to fluconazole, itraconazole and miconazole. After 5‐min contact, six of the eight antiseptic agents tested showed a fungicidal activity on the tested R. rubra strain.
Invasive fungal infections are responsible for one‐fifth of the infectious deaths in children with ALL
Authors: Grigull L. , Beier R. , Schrauder A. , Kirschner P. , Loening L. , Jack T. , Welte K. , Sykora K. W. , Schrappe M. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryThe following report will discuss in detail all lethal invasive fungal infections (IFI) that occurred in a group of 2021 children with acute lymphoblasic leukaemia (ALL). The German ALL‐Berlin‐Frankfurt‐Muenster (BFM) study group is one of the largest cooperation for the treatment of childhood ALL. Between 1995 and 2000, 2021 children with ALL received chemotherapy according to the German BFM 95 protocols (ALL‐BFM 95). This population was retrospectively screened, whether a lethal fungal infection occurred: totally, in this group, 43 of 2021 (2.1%) children died because of infections. Nine of 43 (21%) patients died in the context of an IFI: six fatal Aspergillus infections and three fatal yeast infections were reported. The following report will focus on the nine children with ALL who died from IFI. The underlying risk factors (RF) included neutropenia (seven of nine patients) and steroid medication (nine of nine patients). Seven of nine children had additional medical complications (e.g. liver failure, haemolytic uraemic syndrome and acute renal failure). In six of nine children the fungal infection was progressive despite intravenous antimycotic therapy, three patients received no antifungal therapy, as IFI was not considered. The progression of IFI despite antimycotic therapy illustrates the inherent problems of diagnosis and the need for innovative therapeutic modalities. The high percentage (21%) of death from IFI among lethal infections in paediatric ALL patients illustrates the relevance of fungi in this group of patients. On the contrary, the total number of IFI in paediatric ALL patients remains to be determined, as only lethal infections were included in this report.
Action mechanisms of modern antifungal agents and resulting problems in the management of onychomycosis
Authors: Seebacher Claus 
Published: November 2003

SummarySuccessful treatment of onychomycosis in the infection site depends not only on achieving the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the antifungal agent, usually determined on fresh, proliferating fungal strains, but also on the effectivity against fungal spores dormant in nail keratin. Ciclopiroxolamine and terbinafine were investigated for their fungicidal properties against proliferating and dormant dermatophyte strains. While ciclopiroxolamine was 100% effective againstTrichophyton mentagrophytes(50 μg ml−1) andMicrosporum canis(5 μg ml−1) both in the proliferative and dormant phase after 5 days of incubation, the same result was achieved under identical test conditions with 0.002 μg ml−1terbinafine usingT. mentagrophytesas test organism in the proliferative and 2.0 μg ml−1in the dormant phase. The terbinafine concentrations of 0.52 μg g−1measured in the nail are well below 2.0. This explains the high treatment failure and relapse rates observed under monotherapy of toenail onychomycosis even with modern antifungals. Consequently, combined therapy is recommended, beginning with atraumatic removal of the affected toenails and continuing with an antifungal nail lacquer combined with a systemic antifungal.
High prevalence of foot diseases in Europe: results of the Achilles Project
Authors: Burzykowski T. , Molenberghs G. , Abeck D. , Haneke E. , Hay R. , Katsambas A. , Roseeuw D. , Van De Kerkhof P. , Van Aelst R. , Marynissen G. 
Published: November 2003

Summary Objective. To provide an insight into the prevalence of foot disease in Europe, and to include an assessment of the prevalence of predisposing factors and their correlation with foot disease. Design. Large population‐based survey conducted in 16 European countries. Setting. The project consisted of two parts (study I and study II), in which all patients presenting to general practitioners and dermatologists over a defined time period were invited to participate. Patients. In study I, 70 497 patients presenting to dermatologists or general practitioners were recruited, and in study II 19 588 patients presenting to dermatologists were recruited. Main outcome measure. The feet of all participants were examined for signs of foot disease. The assessors also recorded relevant details such as the age and sex of patients, and the presence of predisposing factors for foot disease. In addition, patients in study II were offered a free mycological examination of the toenails and skin on the feet. Results. In study I, 57.0% of patients had at least one foot disease. In study II, 61.3% had at least one foot disease. The proportions of patients with fungal foot disease and non‐fungal foot disease in study I were 34.9% and 38.4%, respectively, and in study II were 40.6% and 41.7%, respectively. Orthopedic conditions and metatarsal corns were the most frequently reported non‐fungal foot diseases, and onychomycosis and tinea pedis were the most frequently observed fungal infections. Conclusions. This large‐scale survey suggests that the prevalence of fungal and non‐fungal foot disease is higher than previously estimated.
Cutaneous sporotrichosis: an unusual clinico‐pathologic and therapeutic presentation
Authors: Sharma N. L. , Mahajan V. K. , Verma N. , Thakur S. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryThis report presents a number of unusual clinico‐histopathologic and therapeutic features in a culture proven case of cutaneous sporotrichosis. These include lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis involving face; its dissemination in an otherwise healthy patient; its histology mimicking cutaneous cryptococcosis; two episodes of severe purulent inflammatory reaction bordering the lesion during therapy with saturated solution of potassium iodide; no therapeutic response to potassium iodide therapy and rapid healing of lesion with high‐dose of fluconazole.
Development and evaluation of a one‐tube seminested PCR assay for the detection and identification of Penicillium marneffei
Authors: Prariyachatigul C. , Chaiprasert A. , Geenkajorn K. , Kappe R. , Chuchottaworn C. , Termsetjaroen S. , Srimuang S. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryA one‐tube seminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed to detect and identify Penicillium marneffei DNA coding for 18S rRNA both from purified DNA and from clinical samples. DNA from 120 strains of organisms and 19 blood samples from AIDS patients was amplified with F3, CPL1 and PM primers. Under optimized conditions, these primers detected 100% specifically amplified products of 251 and 331 bp from all P. marneffei DNA preparations (47 strains) and from two blood samples of AIDS patients suspected to suffer from penicilliosis marneffei. The assay was sensitive to detect as little as 10 pg purified DNA, which is equivalent to 250 cells. This PCR assay might be useful as an alternative test, if a rapid diagnosis of penicilliosis marneffei is needed.
Cholinergic transmission to colonic circular muscle of children with slow‐transit constipation is unimpaired, but transmission via NK2 receptors is lacking
Authors: Stanton M. P. , Hengel P. T. , Southwell B. R. , Chow C. W. , Keck J. , Hutson J. M. , Bornstein J. C. 
Published: December 2003

Abstract  Tachykinins (TKs) colocalize with acetylcholine in excitatory motor neurones supplying human colonic circular muscle (CCM). Some children with slow‐transit constipation (STC) have reduced TK‐immunoreactivity in nerve terminals in CCM suggesting a deficit in neuromuscular transmission. This study aimed to test this possibility. Seromuscular biopsies of transverse colon were obtained laparoscopically from STC children (37, 17 with low density of TK‐immunoreactivity). Specimens of transverse (17) and sigmoid colon (20) were obtained from adults undergoing colonic resection for cancer. CCM contractions were measured isotonically and responses to carbachol, neurokinin A (NKA) and electrical field stimulation (EFS) recorded. Carbachol and NKA‐evoked contractions in adult and STC colon. Hyoscine (2 μmol L−1) significantly depressed responses to EFS in all preparations. Blockade of NK2 receptors (SR 48968, 2 μmol L−1) significantly depressed EFS‐evoked contractions of adult transverse CCM, but had no effect on STC preparations. Thus, neuromuscular transmission in both adults and STC children is predominantly cholinergic and this component is unimpaired in the latter, indicating that reduced TK‐immunoreactivity is not a marker for depressed cholinergic responses. Although pharmacologically responsive TK receptors are present in STC colon, we did not detect neuromuscular transmission mediated by release of TKs in these preparations.
Efficacy and pharmacokinetics of a new intrarectal quinine formulation in children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria
Authors: BARENNES H. , PUSSARD E. , MAHAMAN SANI A. , CLAVIER F. , KAHIATANI F. , GRANIC G. , HENZEL D. , RAVINET L. , VERDIER F. 
Published: November 2003

1Three groups of seven children aged 2–14 years with acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria received 12.8 mg kg−1 quinine gluconate by the intrarectal route (new cream formulation) or 8 mg kg−1 Quinimax (a Cinchona alkaloid combination) by the intramuscular or intravenous (4 h infusion) route every 8 h for 3 days. Clinical and parasitological status was similar in the three groups at enrolment. 2At 36 h, body temperature of all children of the three groups was returned to normal and remained so until day 7. 3The decrease in parasitaemia did not differ between the three groups and the time required for a 50% fall in parasitaemia relative to baseline was 12.3±5.4, 18.2±6.1 and 14.5±4.2 h in the intrarectal, intramuscular and intravenous treatment groups, respectively. Parasitaemia expressed as a percentage of initial values was not significantly different in the three groups after 48 h of treatment (7.4±16.0, 4.1±4.2 and 2.2±3.8% in the intrarectal, intramuscular and intravenous treatment groups, respectively). All the patients were aparasitaemic by day 7. 4The tolerability of the three treatments was good; in particular, no rectal irritation was reported with the cream formulation. 5The tmax occurred later after intrarectal (4.1±2.4 h) and intravenous infusion (3.8±0.5 h) than after intramuscular injection (1.6±1.3 h) (P=0.02). Cmax was lower with the intrarectal (3.0±1.0 mg l−1) and intramuscular routes (3.2±0.7 mg l−1) than with the intravenous route (5.1±1.4 mg l−1) (P=0.003). Areas under the curve (AUC(0, 8 h)) were smaller with the intrarectal (17.0±7 mg l−1 h) and intramuscular routes (19.4±4.8 mg l−1 h) than with the intravenous route (27.8±8.2 mg l−1 h) (P=0.02). The approximate bioavailability of intrarectal quinine from 0 to 8 h was 36%vs intravenous quinine and 51%vs intramuscular quinine. 6The good tolerability and efficacy of this new intrarectal quinine formulation outweigh its low approximate bioavailability. This new approach might thus be a safe and effective alternative to intramuscular quinine injection for the treatment of children with acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the field.
The antiemetic efficacy of tropisetron plus dexamethasone as compared with conventional metoclopramide‐dexamethasone combination in Orientals receiving cisplatin chemotherapy: a randomized crossover trial
Authors: CHUA D. T. T. , SHAM J. S. T. , AU G. K. H. , CHOY D. , KWONG D. L. W. , YAU C. C. , CHENG A. C. K. 
Published: November 2003

1We report a single‐blind randomized crossover trial comparing the efficacy of tropisetron plus dexamethasone (TROPDEX) vs conventional combination of metoclopramide, dexamethasone and diphenhydramine (METDEX) in prevention of acute and delayed vomiting in Chinese patients receiving high dose cisplatin. 2Thirty‐six consecutive patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were entered into the study, all received cisplatin at a dose range of 60–100 mg/m2. Patients were randomized in the sequence of antiemetic regimens used in two consecutive cycles. 3The TROPDEX regimen consisting of tropisetron 5 mg i.v. and dexamethasone 20 mg i.v. given on day 1 of chemotherapy, followed by oral maintenance with tropisetron 5 mg daily and dexamethasone 4 mg twice daily from day 2 to 6. The METDEX regimen consisting of metoclopramide 1 mg kg−1 i.v., dexamethasone 20 mg i.v. and diphenhydramine 25 mg i.v. given before chemotherapy and then 2 hourly for two more doses on day 1, followed by oral metoclopramide 20 mg 6 hourly from day 2 to 6. 4Complete control of acute vomiting was observed in 64% of patients with TROPDEX as compared with 14% with METDEX (P<0.01). While complete plus major control of acute vomiting was observed in 84% with TROPDEX as compared with 58% with METDEX. The mean vomiting episodes on day 1 were 1.4 with TROPDEX as compared with 3.5 with METDEX (P<0.01). There was, however, no significant difference between the two regimens in the control of delayed vomiting. 5When patients randomized to TROPDEX in the second cycle were compared with those with TROPDEX in the first cycle, the antiemetic efficacy was reduced, with mean acute vomiting episodes of 2 in the former compared with 0.8 in the latter (P<0.01). 6The most common adverse effect observed was headache in TROPDEX (27%) and dizziness in METDEX (40%). 7In conclusion, the antiemetic regimen TROPDEX is effective in Chinese patients receiving high dose cisplatin chemotherapy and is well tolerated. It is better than conventional METDEX regimen in the control of acute vomiting, but not in the control of delayed vomiting.
Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol nasal spray in patients with renal impairment
Authors: SHYU W. C. , MORGENTHIEN E. A. , BARBHAIYA R. H. 
Published: November 2003

1The pharmacokinetics of butorphanol were evaluated in 18 female volunteers with varying degrees of renal function following a single, 1 mg transnasal dose of butorphanol tartrate. The creatinine clearance (CLCR) values for subjects in the normal (NOR), moderately impaired (MI), and severely impaired (SI) groups were ≥70 ml min−1, 30–60 ml min−1, and ≤30 ml min−1, respectively. 2Serial blood and urine samples were collected immediately after dosing for 48 h. Plasma concentrations of butorphanol were determined using a specific radioimmunoassay. Urine concentrations of butorphanol and its metabolites (hydroxy‐butorphanol, norbutorphanol and their glucuronide conjugates) were determined using h.p.l.c. with fluorescence detection. 3There was no significant difference between the three treatments for peak plasma concentration of butorphanol and time to peak. Statistically significant differences were detected among the study groups for AUC, t1/2, MRT, and CLR with the mean values for severely impaired subjects significantly different from those of normal renal subjects; mean values for moderately impaired subjects were not significantly different from either the normal or severely impaired groups for all respective parameters. 4The elimination half‐life of butorphanol increased from 5.75 h in NOR to 10.48 h in SI. A similar trend was observed for MRT. Creatinine clearance (CLCR) significantly correlated with CLR (r=0.563, P=0.019), CLT/F (r=0.505, P=0.033), t1/2 (r=−0.554, P=0.017) and λ (r=0.606, P=0.008). 5Although the exposure of butorphanol was greater in subjects with renal impairment, there was no trend for an increase in the number of adverse experiences reported by subjects with renal dysfunction. 6Patients with less than 30 ml min−1 creatinine clearance may require less frequent administration of transnasal butorphanol as compared with subjects with normal or moderately impaired renal function.