白念珠菌诱导不同来源树突状细胞分化成熟能力的比较

目的:比较白念珠菌诱导人外周血单核细胞源树突状细胞(dendritic cells,DCs)和小鼠骨髓源DCs两者分化成熟能力的差异。方法:体外培养正常人外周血单核细胞源DCs和小鼠骨髓源DCs,随机分为空白组、无菌盐水对照组和实验组。光镜下观察DCs细胞的形态变化。结果:小鼠骨髓源与人外周血单核细胞源DCs CD80、CD86及IL-12分泌量与加入的白念珠菌悬液剂量成正相关,小鼠骨髓源DCs在各组间增加幅度明显高于人外周血单核细胞源DCs(均P0.05);白念珠菌刺激前后小鼠骨髓源DCs形态变化程度较明显,而人外周血DCs形态未见明显变化。结论:白念珠菌可促进人外周血单核细胞源DCs和小鼠骨髓源DCs的成熟;在相同条件下,白念珠菌更易促进小鼠骨髓源DCs分化。     

The role of Toll-like receptors and C-type lectins for vaccination against Candida albicans

Recent progress has provided important novel insights in the processes driving the adaptive immune responses. Central to these developments is the discovery of pattern recognition receptors like TLRs and CLRs that not only induce innate immune responses, but also modulate cellular and humoral adaptive immunity. As vaccination is one of the great achievements in medicine and probably the most powerful tool to protect human and animals against infectious disease, further vaccine development and optimization of current strategies can improve health status of large groups of people. Development of a vaccine against Candida spp. should induce both cellular and humoral immune responses. While the TLRs are strong inducers of inflammatory responses, it seems that the CLRs have the potential to modulate these responses by enhancement or inhibition of cytokine production. Understanding the natural host defense mechanisms against pathogens like C. albicans therefore helps to identify the proper targets for inducing a strong adjuvant effect, in order to stimulate an effective adaptive immune response and protection.     

Frequency of fungi in respiratory samples from Turkish cystic fibrosis patients

An increased isolation of fungi from the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has been reported. The prevalence of different fungi in CF patients from Turkey is not known. Our aim was to determine the frequency of fungi in the respiratory tract of Turkish CF patients. We investigated a total of 184 samples from 48 patients. Samples were inoculated on Medium B+ and CHROMagar Candida. Candida albicans was the predominant yeast isolated [30 patients (62.5%)], followed by C. parapsilosis [6 (12.5%)] and C. dubliniensis 5 (10.4%). Aspergillus fumigatus was the most common filamentous fungus [5 (10.4%)] and non‐fumigatus Aspergillus species were isolated from four (8.3%) patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently detected bacterium in C. albicans positive samples (53.57%). A. fumigatus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa or S. aureus were detected together in 75% of A. fumigatus positive samples each. No statistically significant relationship was detected between growth of yeast and moulds and age, gender, the use of inhaled corticosteroids or tobramycin. No significant correlation was found between the isolation of C. albicans, A. fumigatus and P. aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia or S. aureus, and the isolation of C. albicans and Haemophilus influenzae. Other factors which may be responsible for the increased isolation of fungi in CF need to be investigated.     

Unstimulated whole salivary flow rate and anxiolytics intake are independently associated with oral Candida infection in patients with oral lichen planus

Many factors have been proposed to influence oral infection with yeast. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral yeasts in oral lichen planus (OLP) patients and control subjects, and to perform a multiple logistic regression analysis to identify factors that influence oral Candida infection in OLP patients. In this cross‐sectional study, 90 new patients with OLP and 90 sex‐ and age‐matched control subjects with no mucosal lesions were interviewed about their health status, use of medication, and smoking and alcohol habits. Swab and unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected and salivary pH was measured. A positive Candida culture was more prevalent among OLP patients (48.9%) than among control subjects (26.7%). Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated species in both groups. By logistic regression analysis, unstimulated whole salivary flow rates of 0.11–0.24 ml min^?1 (OR = 5.90) and 0.25–0.32 ml min^?1 (OR = 3.51) and benzodiazepine anxiolytics intake (OR = 8.30) were independently associated with the presence of Candida among OLP patients. Age, denture wearing, levels of dentition, decreased salivary pH, antihypertensive drugs, and alcohol consumption were not associated with oral Candida infection in OLP patients. The results indicate that data on benzodiazepine anxiolytics intake and evaluation of unstimulated whole salivary flow rate should be considered as part of the clinical evaluation to identify OLP patients at risk for Candida infection.     

Pharmacotherapy of yeast infections

The rise of immunocompromised individuals in our society has provoked a significant emergence in the number of patients affected by opportunistic pathogenic yeast. The microorganisms with a major clinical incidence are species from the genera Candida (especially Candida albicans) and Cryptococcus (particularly Cryptococcus neoformans), although there has been a significant increase in other pathogenic yeasts, such as Trichosporon spp. and Rhodotorula spp. In addition, there are an increasing number of patients infected by yeasts that were not previously considered as pathogenic, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The management of these infections is complicated and is highly dependent on the susceptibility profile not only of the species but also of the strain. The available antifungal compounds belong mainly to the polyene, azole and candin families, which show a distinct spectrum of activity. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the use of the main antifungals for treating infections caused by the yeast species with the most significant clinical relevance, including the susceptibility profiles exhibited by these species in vitro.     

Chronic Intraocular Copper Foreign Body and Candida: A Unique Combination

Purpose: To describe a case of unilateral intermediate uveitis, retained copper intraocular foreign body (IOFB) and fungus.

Methods: Interventional case report.

Results: Brown-orange discoloration of the iris, lens and opacified vitreous was observed. Computed tomography revealed a retained IOFB, which was composed of copper. IOFB was removed during vitrectomy and cataract surgery. Copper deposition was demonstrated on the anterior capsule. Incidentally, dimorphic fungus were found in the vitreous.

Conclusions: The presence of intraocular copper might have reduced the virulence of the fungus preventing endophthalmitis.     

The bioassay-guided isolation of antifungal saponins from Hosta plantaginea leaves

Four new steroidal saponins hostaside Ⅰ (1), hostaside Ⅱ (2), hostaside Ⅲ (3), and hostaside Ⅳ (4), together with five known steroidal saponins (5–9), were isolated by the bioassay-guided fractionation from the leaves of Hosta plantaginea (Lam.) Aschers, a worldwide well-known ornamental plant. Hostasides Ⅰ and Ⅱ showed significant antifungal activities, and they could inhibit the growth of Candida albicans and Fusarium oxysporium with MIC values as low as 4 μg/ml.     

ZWX-1型紫外线消毒器对微生物杀灭效果的试验观察

ＺＷＸ １型紫外线消毒器为以２支３０Ｗ高硼玻璃紫外线灯管并联而成的消毒装置。用该消毒器，当辐照度值为７０μＷ／ｃｍ２时，对玻璃表面大肠杆菌与金黄色葡萄球菌照射３ｍｉｎ，对枯草杆菌黑色变种芽胞照射１５ｍｉｎ；为１００μＷ／ｃｍ２时对白色念珠菌照射３ｍｉｎ，平均杀灭率均＞９９９％；为３７７μＷ／ｃｍ２时照射４５ｍｉｎ，可将ＨＢｓＡｇ抗原性破坏。在试验条件下，有机物对枯草杆菌黑色变种芽胞的杀灭有明显影响     

女仕宝灌洗液杀灭微生物效果的试验观察

女仕宝(灌洗液)是在聚乙烯吡咯酮碘液中加入蛇床子．大黄、苦参等水煎提取液并混匀制成的消毒液,其中含有效碘1000mg/L、为了解其杀灭微生物的效果,进行了悬液定量杀菌试验．结果,以其1:20水稀释液对金黄色葡萄球与大肠杆菌作用2 min,对白色念珠菌作用5min,平均杀灭率分别为99．92%,、99．95%与99．91%;以其1:10水稀释液对前两菌作用5min,对白色念珠菌作用10min,杀灭率均为100%;, 该复方为杀菌效果较好的消毒剂。     

洁肤康护肤液杀菌性能的实验室观察

以当归、白芷、紫草等中药提取液为主要成分的洁肤康护肤液，稀释成０１２５％溶液，对大肠杆菌与淋病双球菌作用１ｍｉｎ，对金黄色葡萄球菌作用２ｍｉｎ，对白色念珠菌作用７ｍｉｎ，杀灭率均达９９９％以上。有机物对其杀菌作用有明显影响。该原液放置于５６℃条件下２周，杀菌效果无明显变化