The In Vitro Degradation of Peacock Feathers by Some Fungi/ Der in-vitro-Abbau von Pfauenfedern durch einige Pilze

Summary: The breakdown of peacock feathers by 20 fungi is studied and characterized by the release of protein and keratinase activity. All the fungi except Aspergillus quercinus and Chaetomium globosum released protein in the medium. Maximum keratinase activity is measured in Gliocladium roseum. The degradation of feathers and existence of extracellular keratinase in these fungi is presented here for the first time.
Zusammenfassung: Untersuchung über den Abbau von Pfauenfedern durch 20 verschiedene Pilze, wobei die keratinolytische Aktivität durch die Bestimmung freigesetzten Proteins und der Keratinaseaktivität charakterisiert wird. Alle Pilze außer Aspergillus quercinus und Chaetonium globosum setzen Protein in das Medium frei. Die höchste Kerarinaseaktivität zeigte Gliocladium roseum. Der Abbau von Federn und die Bildung extrazellulärer Keratinase wird für diese Pilze zum erstenmal beschrieben.     

Cooperative research of UFT E phase II study. Cooperative Study Group of UFT E in Tohoku Area

Phase II clinical research of UFT E granules (enteric coated) was carried out in 18 institutes (21 clinical dept.) by Study Group of UFT E in Tohoku Area, to investigate its effect and safety on cancer of the digestive organs. Of all the registered 26 cases, 21 cases were available for evaluation (perfect cases: 17 and imperfect cases: 4). Patients were administered UFT E 600 mg/body/day in principle. The response rate of the overall 26 cases was 14.3% and that of perfect 17 cases was 17.6%. PR was seen in 2 cases with far advanced gastric cancer and in 1 case with sigmoid colon cancer metastasized to lung, NC in 8 cases and PD in 6 cases. Side effects more than Grade II were seen in 4 cases (19%), of which 1 case caused diarrhea with leucopenia, 1 case caused diarrhea with anorexia, fever, pigmentation, stomatitis and general tiredness, 1 case caused anorexia and the other 1 case caused paresthesia on both legs with diarrhea and anorexia. Side effects in upper digestive tract were slight, making it possible to continue administration. But 1 case, which caused simultaneously Grade II anorexia, Grade II diarrhea and Grade III paresthesia on both legs, refused administration and dropped out. He recovered from those symptoms 5 days after discontinuance of administration. UFT E is able to administer for a long term because of its slight side effects on the upper digestive tract.     

Case Report. Keratomycosis due to Alternaria alternata in a diabetic patient

A case of keratitis caused by Alternaria alternata in a diabetic male, after traumatic corneal injury with a sharp object, is described. The patient was treated with topical amphotericin B solution and a full uneventful recovery was achieved. This is the first reported case of fungal keratamycosis in Malta, which was substantiated with both positive direct microscopy and a positive culture of the fungus.     

CNS listeriosis confused with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in a patient with a malignant insulinoma

We describe a case of presumed listeria monocytogenes rhomboencephalitis, which was initially confused with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in a patient with a malignant carcinoid tumor. Long-term corticosteroid treatment and immunosuppression caused by malignancy predisposed the patient to developing listeriosis. The clinical and radiologic features of this illustrative case are described. Listeriosis is an important treatable differential diagnosis in patients with malignancy presenting with neurologic signs.     

Laser vaporization: a novel treatment of botryomycosis

Botryomycosis is an uncommon, chronic infection of the skin most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus. It has been successfully treated using carbon dioxide laser vaporization in a case in which antibiotic therapy failed, and surgical excision was not feasible.     

A case of hyperthyroidism due to metastasis of a thyroid carcinoma

A case of hyperthyroidism, which developed in a patient affected by thyroid carcinoma a few days after thyroidectomy, is described. The symptomatology was caused by a bone metastasis at the left ischiopubic branch, which had a high iodine-uptake capacity and was sensitive to metabolic radiotherapy. Pulmonary metastases were also present; they had a distinct low affinity for iodine and showed no response to repeated administrations of 131I. The case is evaluated on the basis of the evolution of the clinical picture and the hormone dosages administered in a follow-up period of 3 years.     

The Os Odontoideum: A Case Report

A case of os ndontoidcum is described in an otherwise healthy male, aged “c* years, the presence of which was discovered radiologieallv following investigation of transient paralvsis of the upper limbs caused by a mild blow to the occiput.     

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy caused by lung adenocarcinoma: Case report with review of the literature

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is an uncommon cancer-related complication characterized by intimal proliferation in pulmonary small arteries and arterioles with or without tumor emboli. In the majority of cases, the causative lesion is gastric poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. In the present study, an autopsy case of PTTM caused by lung adenocarcinoma is reported and the pathogenesis of this complication is discussed. Multiple nodular lesions in the bilateral lungs were found in a 62-year-old Japanese man. Transbronchial biopsy revealed non-small cell carcinoma. Chemotherapy was performed; however, the patient succumbed to sudden dyspnea. Autopsy revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with multiple intrapulmonary metastases and intimal proliferation of pulmonary small arteries and arterioles with or without tumor emboli, which were characteristic of PTTM. Tumor cells were immunohistochemically positive for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and osteopontin (OPN), which are endothelial proliferative factors. This case indicates the possible involvement of VEGF and OPN in the pathogenesis of PTTM caused by lung adenocarcinoma.     

Verfahren zur Züchtung krankheitserregender Fadenpilze aus verfaulendem Stroh und Maisstengeln

Autor beschreibt ein neues Verfahren, welches zum Nachweis krankheitserregender Fadenpilze aus dem Erdboden, Stroh, trockenen Maisstengeln sowie aus verfaulenden Pflanzenstoffen der Organosphäre des Bodens geeignet ist. Das Wesentliche der Methode besteht in der Verwendung von Kleiderstoffarten, anstatt von im To-Ka-Va-System gebräuchlichen geschnittenen Haar. Im neuen System dient der mit Trockenwärme sterilisierte Boden als Wasserbehälter, und im Kleiderstoff besitzen die Wollstoff-Fäden eine besondere Bedeutung, denn sie dienen als Nahrung für die Pilze.
Mit der neuen Untersuchungsmethode wurden aus Stroh folgende Pilze isoliert: Stysanus und Stachybotrys, Mikrosporon gypseum, Trichophyton terrestre Durie et Frey, Trichophyton pratense (Szathmáry) und Trichophyton mentagrophytes neben weiteren Pilzen, die nicht endgültig bestimmt wurden.
An Maisblättern wurden zahlreiche Pilze nachgewiesen, darunter Alternaria tenuis, Myxotrichum deflexum, Chaetomium globosum und Gymnoascus longitrichus , ferner Mikrosporon gypseum und die ungarische Variante (Szathmáry) des Gymnoascus verticillatus.     

Trichophyton rubrum autoinoculation from infected nails is not such a rare phenomenon

Kerion-like lesions are usually caused by zoophilic dermatophytes. Here, we present a rare case report – an inflammatory tinea barbae due to an anthropophilic fungus ( Trichophyton rubrum ), which is the main pathogen of onychomycosis and tinea pedis. Probably the infection, in the presented case, spread from diseased fingernails. We do postulate that physicians should consider autoinoculation as a not so rare way of fungal infection transmission.     

Meningitis caused by Filobasidium uniguttulatum: case report and overview of the literature

Cryptococcal meningitis is mainly caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, but occasionally other Cryptococcus species and phylogenetically related species are involved. Herein, we present a case of cryptococcal meningitis from China, which was caused by an azole and flucytosine resistant Filobasidium uniguttulatum. In addition, we present an overview of the literature of meningitis caused by Cryptococcus species other than C. neoformans and C. gattii. Eight cases were related to infections of the central nervous system. Leukaemia and cancer were important risk factors in HIV-negative patients. Molecular identification and susceptibility testing are important for proper management of patients because the species involved may differ in susceptibility to antifungal drugs.     

An unusual case of impacted oesophageal foreign body

Impacted sharp foreign bodies in the oesophagus can be very difficult to manage. When attempts are made to remove such objects inappropriately, life-threatening complications such as oesophageal perforation can occur. We hare reported a rare case of impacted denture in the oesophagus where endoscopic removal was not possible due to the perforation already caused by the denture, sinee this would have caused an oesophageal laceration, which could have proved fatal. Hence surgical removal had to be performed with repair of the oesophageal perforation.     

Gunshot Injury with Facial Palsy: An Unusual Case

As the use of firearms has become increasingly common in the civilian society, the incidences of homicidal as well as suicidal firearm injury have increased several folds. We here present an interesting case of celebratory firing which accidently caused injury in the head & neck region and an unusual trajectory adopted by the bullet which prevented a fatal outcome.     

乙双吗啉致急性白血病6例临床分析

目的 :探讨乙双吗啉引起急性白血病的临床特点。方法 :观察 6例乙双吗啉引起急性白血病患者的临床表现及预后。结果 :6例患者 ,2例诱导缓解阶段死亡 ,1例 5个诱导方案未缓解 ,2例缓解后 18、2 4个月复发 ,1例未治。结论 :乙双吗啉引起的急性白血病治疗效果差 ,预后欠佳 ,应引起临床医生注意     

Onychomycosis caused by Phaeoacremonium parasiticum: first case report

A variety of non‐dermatophyte moulds can cause human onychomycosis. We report an unusual case of onychomycosis caused by Phaeoacremonium parasiticum, which has not been mentioned in the literature before. The diagnosis was made by a clinical–mycological correlation. The pathogen was identified by morphological characteristics and further confirmed by sequencing of the β‐tubulin gene.     

Pelvic actinomycosis with hydronephrosis and colon stricture simulating an advanced ovarian cancer

Pelvic actinomycosis is an uncommon disease in humans. It has nonspecific and variable clinical features, and thus it is difficult to diagnose. Moreover, appropriate management is delayed or overlooked because it can sometimes simulate advanced ovarian cancer. We report a case of pelvic actinomycosis which manifested with hydronephrosis and bowel stricture, lymph node enlargement and increased level of tumor marker caused by a large pelvic mass. Since this case showed clinical findings mimicking an advanced ovarian carcinoma, it was surgically diagnosed as actinomycosis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.     

Cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis of foot caused by Curvularia clavata

A case of cutaneous lesions on the left foot caused by Curvularia clavata in a 64-year-old immunocompetent man is described. Fungal elements were found in the exudate and biopsy specimen. The isolate was identified as C. clavata based on its colonial and microscopic morphology in pure culture. The skin lesions healed after a 12-week regimen with oral fluconazole. This is the second case of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by C. clavata .     

Paraplegia due to epidural infiltration in a case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

A case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is described during the course of which paraplegia appeared caused by epidural compression of the tissue by leukemic cells. This complication in CLL is rare. The disorders of the nervous system during the course of leukemia are summarized, and, in particular, the circumstances pertaining to the occurrence of paraplegia during chronic lymphocytic leukemia.     

免疫检查点抑制剂致原发性肾上腺功能减退的报道并文献分析

目的:探讨免疫检查点抑制剂致原发性肾上腺功能不全的临床特征。方法:报道1例信迪利单抗致原发性肾上腺功能减退的诊治过程，并通过文献检索的方法收集免疫检查点抑制剂致原发性肾上腺功能减退的病例报告。回顾性分析患者的性别、年龄、原患疾病、用药情况、临床症状、发生时间、治疗方法等。结果:纳入分析的患者共30例。PAI的中位发生时间为18周。主要临床表现为乏力、厌食、恶心、呕吐。其中伴有低血压12例，伴有低血糖5例，伴有体重下降3例，皮肤色素沉着加深1例。实验室检查发现20例出现了低钠血症，其中7例不仅出现低钠血症还伴随高钾血症。25例进行糖皮质激素替代治疗，5例进行糖皮质激素联合盐皮质激素替代治疗。结论:免疫检查点抑制剂相关原发性肾上腺功能减退的临床表现不典型，临床医生需提高警惕，及时诊断及治疗，避免出现肾上腺危象，危及生命。     

Osteomyelitis of the rib caused by Aspergillus flavus following cardiac surgery

Deep sternal wound infections are a rare but severe complication of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, with an estimated prevalence of 1%–4%. We report a case of osteomyelitis of the rib and chest wall abscess caused by Aspergillus flavus in a CABG patient, which was treated successfully with voriconazole.