Zygomycetes hyphae trigger an early, robust proinflammatory response in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils through toll-like receptor 2 induction but display relative resistance to oxidative damage

Human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (HPMNs) displayed attenuated hyphal damage associated with impaired O(2)(-) release following exposure to Rhizopus oryzae versus that with Aspergillus fumigatus. Exposure of HPMNs to R. oryzae hyphae resulted in upregulation in Toll-like receptor 2 mRNA and a robust proinflammatory gene expression with rapid (1-h) induction of NF-kappaB pathway-related genes.     

Caspofungin-resistant Candida tropicalis strains causing breakthrough fungemia in patients at high risk for hematologic malignancies

We identified three cases of C. tropicalis strains causing breakthrough fungemia in allogeneic stem cell recipients receiving caspofungin prophylaxis and treatment. Three genetically unrelated isolates with high echinocandin MICs were identified. Each strain carried a characteristic mutation conferring an amino acid substitution within Fks1p hot spot 1.     

Comparative study between nail retraining with gauze bandaging and the nail remodeling with acrylics as a conservative treatment for stage I and IIa onychocryptosis

Objective

Onychocryptosis is one of the most prevalent onychopathies, being a frequent reason for consultation in podiatric clinical practice. Conservative treatments are the first therapeutic choice, with nail remodeling using clotrimazole gel emerging as an alternative, although its medium-term effectiveness is unknown. The objective of this study was therefore to compare the efficacy of the technique of nail retraining using gauze bandaging with that of nail remodeling for the conservative treatment of stage I and IIA onychocryptosis.

Methods

An analytical, randomized clinical trial study was performed following a longitudinal and prospective design. A sample was selected of 20 subjects presenting stage I and IIA onychocryptosis. Of these, 10 cases formed the group of nail retraining using gauze bandaging, and the other 10 the nail remodeling group. The presence of recurrence in a 3-month period was evaluated.

Results

Before the intervention, the patients in the retraining group presented pain of 6.7 ± 1.9 vs. 6.8 ± 1.6 in the remodeling group, with no significant difference between the two (p = 0.900). After the 3-month follow-up period, seven of the retraining group patients presented recurrence of onychocryptosis vs. only one in the remodeling group.

Conclusion

The technique of nail remodeling has a lower recurrence rate than that of nail retraining with gauze bandaging, with the pain, inflammation, and infection reported being less, and with greater patient satisfaction.