Orale Langzeitbehandlung von Onychomykosen mit Ketoconazol

Zusammenfassung: An der Studie zur Wirksamkeit und Anwendungssicherheit von Ketoconazol nahmen 27 Männer im Alter von 20 bis 80 (Median: 57) Jahre, davon 18 mit Onychomykosen und 9 als KontroUen bei den Laborwertbestimmungen, teil. Während des ersten Behandlungsmonats erhielten je 9 Patienten 200 mg und 400 mg Ketoconazol täglich. Danach wurden beide Gruppen 6 Monate mit 200 mg/d weiterbehandelt. Die klinische Beurteilung sowie hämatologische, biochemische und Plasmaspiegeluntersu-chungen erfolgten mindestens monafich, mykologische Untersuchungen wurden vor Aufnahme und bei Beendigung der Therapie vorgenommen. Erne letzte klinische Unter-suchung erfolgte 1 Jahr nach Beginn der Studie. Nach 7 Monaten Behandlung wurden 23 von 30 Nägeln mit “gebessert” bis “stark gebessert” beurteilt, nach dem behandlungsfreien Intervall galt dies für 28 von 30 Nägeln. Die Plasmaspiegel waren mit 200 mg/d ausreichend und uber den Behandlungszeit-raum konstant. Dies spricht für gute orale Resorption und Abwesenheit von Enzyminduktion. Die Laborwerte zeigten im Vergleich zu den Kontrollen und den Werten vor Behandlung keine signifikanten Abweichungen, so daß myelo-, nephro- und hepatotoxische Wirkungen von 400 bzw. 200 mg/d ausgeschlossen werden können. Der Lipidhaushalt wurde nicht beeinfluat und es trat unter Therapie als Folge der Ketoconazolwirkung lediglich Lanosterin im Serum auf. Nach Beendigung der Therapie ging der Lanosteringehalt schnell zurück. Damit erweist sich Ketoconazol in den angewandten Dosen als ein gut verträgliches und zur Langzeitbehandlung von Onychomykosen geeignetes Antimykotikum. Summary: Twenty-seven males with a median age of 57 (range: 20 to 80) years took part in this study on the efficacy and safety of ketoconazole. Eighteen men suffered from onychomycosis; nine served as controls in the safety evaluation. During the first month of treatment, nine patients received 200 mg and the nine other 400 mg ketoconazole daily. Then the treatment was uniformly continued with 200 mg/d for 6 months. Clinical evaluation and haematological, biochemical and plasma level investigations were carried out at least at monthly intervals; mycological controls were performed at the start and end of therapy. A final clinical evaluation was carried out one year after the start of the study. After 7 months of treatment, moderate or definite clinical improvement was obtained in 23 out of 30 nails. After 5 more months without antimycotic treatment this was the case in 28 of 30 nails. Plasma levels obtained with 200 mg ketoconazole daily were adequate and constant during the entire treatment period. This indicates a good oral resorption as well as the absence of induction of hepatic enzymes. The laboratory values did not show significant deviations as compared with the controls or with the pretreatment values. This excludes myelo-, nephro- and hepatotoxic effects of 400 and 200 mg ketoconazole daily. The lipid metabolism was not influenced, the only difference was the occurrence of lanosterol in the serum, which is a result of the mechanism of action of ketoconazole. After the medication period the lanosterol levels subsided rapidly. In the applied doses ketoconazole is a well-tolerated and effective drug for the systemic long-term treatment of onychomycosis.     

The medically important dematiaceous fungi and their identification

Dematiaceous fungi include a large group of organisms that are darkly pigmented (dark brown, olivaceous, or black). In most cases the pigment is melanin, and specifically, dihydroxynaphthalene melanin. The diseases produced include chromoblastomycosis, eumycotic mycetoma, and phaeohyphomycosis. Phaeohyphomycosis is a new classification for a diverse group of previously known entities grouped together on the basis of finding dematiaceous hyphal and/or yeast-like forms in tissue; tissue involvement may be superficial, cutaneous and corneal, subcutaneous, or systemic. Identification of these fungi is based mostly upon morphology. Important structures include annellides (Phaeoannellomyces, Exophiala), phialides (Phialophora, Wangiella), adelophialides (Phialemonium without collarettes, Lecythophora with collarettes), differentiation of conidiophores (Xylohypha versus Cladosporium) and conidial hilum, septation and germination (Bipolaris, Drechslera, Exserohilum). Useful laboratory tests include the 12% gelatin test (controversial), nitrate assimilation (W. dermatitidis is negative, most other species are positive), and determination of temperature maxima (especially 37 degrees C for E. jeanselmei, 40 degrees C for W. dermatitidis and B. spicifera, 42 degrees C for X. bantiana, and 45 degrees C for Dactylaria constricta var. gallopava and Scedosporium inflatum).     

Laboratory Techniques Alternative to In Vivo Experiments for Studying the Liberation, Penetration and Fungicidal Action of Topical Antimycotic Agents in the Skin, Including Ciclopiroxolamine

Summary: Short-term experiments on excised skin (human, pig) gave the following results: 1. In the tissue activity test with direct inoculation (D-TAT) commercial preparations of the non-azole antimycotics ciclopiroxolamine, tolnaftate and naftifine, produced higher inhibitory activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (standard strain) in various levels of the horny layer than were produced by the azole antimycotics econazole, miconazole, clotrimazole, oxiconazole and bifonazole. Fast drying solutions of antimycotics invariably gave higher inhibitory activities than creams. In the ultrafiltration tissue activity test (UFT- TAT) against Candida albicans (2 strains), antimycotic agents ranked in order of effectiveness as follows: ciclopiroxolamine – most of the azole antimycotics – bifonazole and naftifine. 2. In tests of fungicidal activity against T. mentagrophytes (2 strains) and Microsporum gypseum (1 strain) the first step was to inoculate the skin surface. After the horny layer had been penetrated by fungal mycelia, antimycotic agents of documented fungicidal potency, chiefly in the form of creams, were applied to the skin surface and left to act for up to 18 hours. The horny layer and epidermis were then scraped off and the concentration of viable fungi was determined. Ciclopiroxolamine cream and lotion produced by far the greatest diminution in viable fungi; creams containing oxiconazole and naftifine were moderately effective and those containing tioconazole and bifonazole produced a relatively small decrease in viable fungi. To avoid erroneous results it is important to homogenize and dilute the skin scrapings; if this is not done certain antimycotics will give misleadingly high fungal killing rates. At this early stage the scatter of results is still wide and minor differences in efficacy cannot as yet be detected with certainty. 3. From the results of various comparative tests it is evident that pig skin can be used as a substitute for human skin in the tests listed under 1. and 2. above. This discovery may make a valuable contribution towards limiting the need for experiments on living animals and trials on human beings. Zusammenfassung: In Kurzzeitversuchen an exzidierter Haut (Mensch, Schwein) wurde gefunden: 1. Im Gewebeaktivitätstest mit direkter Inokulation (D-GAT) wurde mit Handelspräparaten der Nichtazol-Antimykotika Ciclopiroxolamin, Tolnaftat und Naftifin in verschiedenen Hornschichtniveaus eine höhere Hemmaktivität gegenüber Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Standard-Stamm) erzielt als mit solchen der Azol-Antimykotika Econazol, Miconazol, Clotrimazol, Oxiconazol und Bifonazol. Rasch trocknende Lösungen von Antimykotika ergaben durchweg höhere Hemmaktivitäten als Cremes. Im Ultrafiltrations-Gewebeaktivitätstest (UFT-GAT) gegenüber Candida albicans (2 Stämme) ergab sich nach erzielter Wirksamkeit die Rangfolge Ciclopiroxolamine – Mehrzahl der Azolantimykotika – Bifonazol und Naftifin. 2. In Fungizidie-Testen gegenüber T. mentagrophytes (2 Stämme) und Microsporum gypseum (1 Stamm) wurde zunächst die Hautoberfläche inokuliert. Nach Durchdringung der Hornschicht mit Pilzmyzelien wirkten auf die Hautoberfläche bis zu 18 Stunden lang überwiegend Cremes von als fungizid publizierten Antimykotika ein. Während sich in abgeschabter Hornschicht und Epidermis der so bearbeiteten Hautoberflächen mit Ciclopiroxolamin-Creme und -Lotion die weitaus höchste Verminderung lebensfähiger Keime ergab, bewirkten Cremes mit Oxiconazol und Naftifin eine mittlere und solche mit Tioconazol und Bifonazol eine relativ niedrige Keimeliminierung. Zur Vermeidung von fehlerhaften Ergebuissen mußten Homogenisierung und Verdünnung der Hautschabsel erfolgen, anderenfalls bei mehreren Antimykotika eine zu hohe Keimabtötung vorgetäuscht worden wäre. Wegen der vorerst noch hohen Streuung der Ergebnisse können kleinere Wirksamkeitsunterschiede noch nicht sicher erfaßt werden. 3. Nach dem Ergebnis verschiedener Vergleichstests kann in den Testen zu 1. und 2. Schweinehaut als Ersatz für Haut vom Menschen dienen und dürfte damit wesentlich zur Einschränkung von Versuchen am lebenden Tier und von Prüfungen am Menschen beitragen.     

Mycotic keratitis in Paraguay

Patients with corneal ulcer, residing mainly in rural areas of Paraguay, were controlled for mycotic eye infections. In 26 cases out of 45 (58%) presence of filamentous fungi was observed (Fusarium sp. (11), Aspergillus sp. (5), Cladosporium sp. (3), Alternaria sp. (2), Acremonium sp. (1), Curvularia sp. (1), culture negative (3)). In 17 cases also pathogenic bacteria were present. Most of the patients were farmers and belonged to the low income class. These data indicate that mycotic keratitis may be a frequent cause for eye infections in developing countries.     

Efficiency of crude and purified fungal antigens in serodiagnosis to discriminate mycotic from other respiratory diseases

Mycotic immunodiagnosis was performed in 186 hospitalized patients with different respiratory diseases, mostly considered as tuberculosis and others with a doubtful diagnosis. Crude histoplasmin, coccidioidin, paracoccidioidin, blastomycin, candidin, aspergillin, and sporotrichin, as well as purified polysaccharide-protein complexes (PPC) of Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis, and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were used as antigens. Immune tests used included skin test (ST), gel immunodiffusion (ID), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), complement fixation (CF), and ELISA. A possible association with candidosis was observed in 17% of patients with tuberculosis and diabetes; one presumptive paracoccidioidomycosis, one confirmed aspergillosis, and six cases of active histoplasmosis were determined. Candidin ST showed 29% of positive reactions with an increased frequency in patients between 31 and 55 years of age. CF test showed the highest positivity percentages with crude antigens, specially for Candida antigen (26.3%) and histoplasmin (18.2%). Cross reactions were evident with crude antigens but decreased when PPC's were used in ELISA.     

Infection Ability of Watermolds in Some Temperate Fishes of Himalaya, India

Infection ability tests of four species of the Saprolegniales viz., Brevilegnia subclavata Couch, Geolegnia inflata Coker & Braxton, Protoachlya oryzae Khulbe and Scoliolegnia centrica Khulbe were made by artificial inoculation experiments. Except Geolegnia inflata, all the three species parasitized the test fishes (Carassius auratus L., Puntius conchonius Ham., P. ticto Ham. and Nemacheilus rupicola). Two chemicals, namely boric acid and potassium permanganate were effective at 0.1 to 0.15 M concentrations against parasitic watermolds.     

肿瘤的整合治疗

整合肿瘤学是应用循证为基础的身心锻炼、自然产物或传统方法联合标准肿瘤治疗的肿瘤康复学,通过肿瘤患者的自我管理以期提高患者的健康水平、生活质量和临床预后。肿瘤的整合治疗包括体能锻炼、体重控制、冥想和催眠、瑜伽、针灸和推拿、气功、心理教育干预、营养、光遗传学治疗和音乐治疗。以群体和网络为基础的压力干预前景良好。微生物治疗将成为肿瘤整合治疗的重要组成,而选择自己喜欢的方法照顾自己的自我管理将是肿瘤整合治疗的终极目标。     

Isoconazole nitrate in the treatment of tropical dermatomycoses

Summary. A total of 54 patients with culturally proven tropical dermatomycoses, comprising 23 with various types of dermatophytoses, one with foot infection due to Trichosporon beigelii and one with foot infection due to Geotrichum candidum , two with candidoses of the groin and 27 with pityriasis versicolor, were included in a clinical trial of efficacy of 1% isoconazole cream (Travogen^R, Schering, Berlin, Germany). Five patients were not evaluable. A clinical and mycological cure was achieved in 29 cases in 3–4 weeks. In 15 (31%) of the remaining patients treatment was required for 5–6 weeks, while another three patients required treatment for 8 weeks. In two patients the disease proved to be resistant to treatment with the drug.
Zusammenfassung. Insgesamt 54 Patienten mit kulturell gesicherter Dermatomykose, (23 unterschiedliche Dermatophytosen, eine Trichosporon beigelii - und eine Geotrichum candidum -Fußinfektion, 2 Candidosen der Leistengegend und 27 Pityriasis versicolor) wurden in einer klinischen Wirksamkeits-studie mit 1% iger Isoconazol-Creme (Travogen^R, Schering, Berlin, Deutschland) behandelt. Fünf Patienten waren nicht auswertbar. Eine klinische und mykologische Heilung wurde bei 47 von 49 Patienten (96%) erreicht. Bei 29 patienten (59%) wurde die Heilung bereits nach 3–4 Wochen Behandlung erreicht. Weitere 15 Patienten (31%) benötigten 5–6 Wochen und drei Patienten 8 Wochen Behandlungsdauer. Zwei Mykosesituationen erwiesen sich als therapieresistent.     

Der Etest®— eine Alternative zum NCCLS-Standard für die Empfindlichkeitsprüfung von Hefen?

Zusammenfassung. Im Hinblick auf die Reproduzierbarkeit können zwischen dem Etest® und der NCCLS-Methode keine gravierenden Unterschiede festgestellt werden. Bei der Frage der klinischen Korrelation existieren bisher nur Einzelbeobachtungen. Die Korrelation der Teste untereinander ist als Erreger- und Testsubstanz-abhängig bekannt. Die einfachert Handhabbarkeit prädisponiert den Etest® für die Routine. Bevor der Etest® für die Empfindlichkeitsprüing von Hefen uneingeschränkt empfohlen werden kann, sind weitere Evaluierangen erforderlich. Auch für das NCCLS-Verfahren steht eine Validierung noch aus. Andere Verfahren werden sich an diesen beiden Testsystemen messen müssen.
Summary. The Etest® and the NCCLS method are not much differing in respect to their reproducibility. Only single observations exist on the clinical correlation of both tests. The correlation between both tests are known as being dependent on the yeast species and antifungals used. Due to the easy and simple handling the Etest® is attractive for routine laboratories. The Etest® has to be more evaluated before it can be generally recommended. The NCCLS method also is not validated until now. Different test methods should be compared thoroughly with the above mentioned standard.     

Large-scale molecular characterization and analysis of gastric cancer

The recent effort by The Cancer Genome Atlas （TCGA） Network has revealed that gastric cancer, which is a leading cause of cancerrelated deaths worldwide with a 5-year survival rate less than 25%, is a much more heterogeneous disease than previously thought. And yet, conventional treatment approaches and clinical trials have assumed it is a single disease. Although it is well known that under the microscope, gastric cancer cells appear quite different, the current classification scheme recognizes two main categories of gastric cancer： diffuse and intestinal.     

A conceptually new treatment approach for relapsed glioblastoma: Coordinated undermining of survival paths with nine repurposed drugs (CUSP9) by the International Initiative for Accelerated Improvement of Glioblastoma Care

To improve prognosis in recurrent glioblastoma we developed a treatment protocol based on a combination of drugs not traditionally thought of as cytotoxic chemotherapy agents but that have a robust history of being well-tolerated and are already marketed and used for other non-cancer indications. Focus was on adding drugs which met these criteria: a) were pharmacologically well characterized, b) had low likelihood of adding to patient side effect burden, c) had evidence for interfering with a recognized, well-characterized growth promoting element of glioblastoma, and d) were coordinated, as an ensemble had reasonable likelihood of concerted activity against key biological features of glioblastoma growth. We found nine drugs meeting these criteria and propose adding them to continuous low dose temozolomide, a currently accepted treatment for relapsed glioblastoma, in patients with recurrent disease after primary treatment with the Stupp Protocol. The nine adjuvant drug regimen, Coordinated Undermining of Survival Paths, CUSP9, then are aprepitant, artesunate, auranofin, captopril, copper gluconate, disulfiram, ketoconazole, nelfinavir, sertraline, to be added to continuous low dose temozolomide. We discuss each drug in turn and the specific rationale for use- how each drug is expected to retard glioblastoma growth and undermine glioblastoma''s compensatory mechanisms engaged during temozolomide treatment. The risks of pharmacological interactions and why we believe this drug mix will increase both quality of life and overall survival are reviewed.     

Endometrial cancers and predisposition

As nearly 5% of all endometrial cancers occur because of a predisposition, this possibility has systematically to be explored. The hallmarks of predisposition, a young age at diagnosis, a personal or a familial history of cancer, have to be searched systematically. The identification of a predisposition in a family has a major impact on the management of the proband or his relatives. The endometrial cancer main predisposition is Lynch's syndrome. In this review, we will focus on this condition and describe its clinical manifestations, the underlying molecular mechanisms, the cancer risks and the management guidelines. We will also get onto some far less frequent other predispositions.     

Afrikanische Histoplasmose Immunparameter und Behandlung mit Ketoconazol: African Histoplasmosis Immunological Parameters and Treatment with Ketoconazole

Zusammenfassung: Es wird über die erfolgreiche Therapie einer afrikanischen Histoplasma-Mykose mit Ketoconazol berichtet. Immunologische Dysregulationen konnten eruiert werden. Die Spätreaktionen auf Histoplasmin, Candidin, Tuberkulin und Streptokinase waren zunächst negativ. Unter der Therapie konnte dann mit den drei zuerst genannten Antigenen eine positive Spätreaktion registriert werden. Die chemotaktische Reaktivität neutrophiler Granulozyten fehlte fast vollständig; im LTT und im LMHT war mit Recallantigenen sowie mit Histoplasmin keine Lymphozytenstimuliemng bzw. Leukozytenmigrationshemmung vorhanden; die Leukozytenadhänz zeigte mit Histoplasmin eine sehr starke Inhíbition; die Phagozytoserate neutrophiler Granulozyten sowie die T-Zellzahl lagen im Normbereich. Es hat den Anschein, daß, "Con A induzierbare Suppressonellen" im Überschuß vorhanden waren. - Unter der Behandlung kam es zu einer Normalisierung der immunologischen Parameter.
Summary: The successful treatment of an African histoplasma mycosis by means of ketoconazole is described. Immunological dysregulation was found. The delayed reactivities to histoplasmin, candidin, tuberculin and streptokinase were negativ at first, but during therapy positive delayed reactions were recorded for the first three of the above antigens. The chemotactic reactivity of the neutrophil granulocytes was almost completely absent. The LTT and LMHT revealed no lymphocyte stimulation or leucocyte migration inhibition with recall antigen or histoplasmin. Leucocyte adherence was reduced and greatly inhibited by histoplasmin. The phagocytosis rate of the neutrophil granulocytes and the T-cell count were within the normal range. Apparently excess "Con A-inducible suppressor cells" were present. The immunological parameters were normalized during treatment.     

Development of novel biological resection criteria for safe and oncologically satisfying resection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective

To develop criteria for safe and oncologically satisfying liver resection in case of early hepatocellular carcinoma with a 5-year overall survival (OS) similar to liver transplantation.

Spécificités pharmacologiques en oncologie pédiatrique

Anticancer chemotherapy plays a key role in the treatment of cancer in children. Following its increased efficacy, three children out of four can now be cured. Nevertheless, given the fact that 25% of the children with cancer are not cured and chemotherapy-induced long-term side effects are numerous there is a need to keep developing new agents and new strategies to fight cancer. Moreover studies investigating off-patents drugs should be stimulated in paediatric oncology in order to improve our knowledge of “old” drugs. Here we will review the specificities of children as compared to adults in the context of clinical drug development and pharmacology research in paediatric oncology. Such a research is now encouraged and facilitated by a European regulation as well as by international consortia such as “Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer” (ITCC).     

Fluconazole in the treatment of oropharyngeal candidosis in HIV-positive patients

106 HIV-positive patients with 129 episodes of oropharyngeal Candida infection were treated with fluconazole (50-300 mg/d). Treatment lasted from 4 to 23 days. The majority of patients were in more advanced stages of HIV infection (82% AIDS cases). Therapy with fluconazole led to complete healing or improvement of clinical symptoms in 93% of all treatment courses. However, according to cultural findings, an elimination or recession of pathogens was achieved in only 70% of cases. Cultural monitoring showed a slow reduction of pathogens, as opposed to a fairly rapid clinical improvement. Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated Candida species (n = 128); the most selected Candida species during treatment were C. glabrata, C. krusei, and C. inconspicua. It is remarkable that C. glabrata, a low-grade pathogen, caused enanthema in 2 patients and a typical oral thrush in 1 patient. Fluconazole was well-tolerated, and apart from mild gastro-intestinal symptoms in 1 patient, no severe side effects were observed.