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When protoplasts of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus were treated with low but toxic levels of hydrogen peroxide (0?1 mM) or amphotericin B (0?5 mg ml "1 ), loss of cell viability and death were associated with a number of phenotypic changes characteristic of apoptosis. The percentage of protoplasts staining positive with annexin V-FITC, an indicator of the externalization of phosphatidylserine and an early marker of apoptosis, rose to~55 % within 1 h. This was followed by a similar increase in apoptotic DNA fragmentation detected by the TUNEL assay, and led to a loss of cell permeability and death in~90 % of protoplasts, as indicated by the uptake of propidium iodide. The development of an apoptotic phenotype was blocked when protoplasts were pre-treated with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, indicating active participation of the cell in the process. However, no significant activity against synthetic caspase substrates was detected, and the inclusion of the cell-permeant broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk did not block the development of the apoptotic-like phenotype. Higher concentrations of H 2 O 2 (1?8 mM) and amphotericin B (1 mg ml "1 ) caused protoplasts to die without inducing an apoptotic phenotype. As predicted, the fungistatic antifungal agent itraconazole, which inhibits growth without causing immediate cell death, did not induce an apoptotic-like phenotype. INTRODUCTIONThe incidence of life-threatening invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised hosts has increased dramatically over the last two decades (Groll et al., 1996;Vogeser et al., 1997;Latgé, 1999;Denning et al., 2002). Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common aetiological agent of invasive aspergillosis, being responsible for approximately 90 % of human infections (Derouin, 1994). The incidence of invasive aspergillosis varies between 1 and 19 % for patients who have undergone solid organ transplantation (Patel & Paya, 1997;Verweij & Denning, 1997), and patients with leukaemia, AIDS and granulomatous disease are also at risk (Brown et al., 1998;Denning, 1998;Kaizer et al., 1998). In contrast, the disease is rarely found in immunocompetent hosts (Karim et al., 1997). A. fumigatus is a common, widespread saprophytic fungus, and environmental surveys indicate that humans inhale several hundred A. fumigatus conidia per day (Hospenthal et al., 1998). Ingestion and killing of spores by alveolar macrophages represent the first line of defence against infection, mainly by non-oxidative mechanisms, whilst neutrophils employ an oxidative respiratory burst to kill germinating conidia that have escaped macrophage engulfment (Schaffner et al., 1986;Levitz et al., 1986; Morgenstern et al., 1997;Roilides et al., 1998; Latgé, 2001). Invasive aspergillosis has a high mortality and morbidity rate, with only 34 % of patients showing a favourable response to antifungal therapy (Denning, 1996). The fungicidal agent amphotericin B is widely used to treat invasive aspergillosis, although it can have serious side-effect...

Background:Fungal infections affect various parts of the body and can be difficult to treat. Aspergillus infection causes a spectrum of diverse diseases particularly in lung according to host immunity. The two major entities are invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Candida infections can be superficial or invasive. Superficial infections often affect the skin or mucous membranes. However, invasive fungal infections are often life-threatening. Advances in nanotechnology have opened new horizons in nanomedicine, allowing the synthesis of nanoparticles that can be assembled into complex architectures. Novel studies and technologies are devoted to understanding the mechanisms of disease for the design of new drugs.Objectives:In the present study, the antifungal activity of biogenic selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) against Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans was investigated.Materials and Methods:Se-reducing bacteria previously identified as Bacillus sp. MSh-1 were used for the intracellular biosynthesis of elemental Se NPs. The shape, size, and purity of the extracted NPs were determined with various instrumental techniques. The nanoparticles antifungal characterization mainly derives from the following pathways: (i) to generate sustained flux of nano-ions from the compounds that deposited on special substrates or imbedded in colloidal or semisolid matrices. (ii) To transport active those ions to sensitive targets on plasma membrane of fungi.Results:The results of energy-dispersive X-ray demonstrated that the purified NPs consisted of only Se. In addition, transmission electron micrographs showed that 120- to 140-nm spherical Se NPs were the most common. An antifungal assay was performed with a standard Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) measurements of the antifungal activity of the Se NPs against C. albicans (70 μg/mL) and A. fumigatus (100 μg/mL) showed that yeast cells were more sensitive than mold cells.Conclusions:The MICs against A. fumigatus (100 μg/mL) and C. albicans (70 μg/mL) showed that biogenic Se NPs are useful antifungal agents.

The findings of this study suggest a first step in the search of new antidermatophytic drugs and aid the use of N. sativa seeds in the traditional medicine for dermatophytic infections.

Background:Otomycosis is a superficial fungal infection often involves the pinna and external auditory canal. It is a pathologic condition, with Candida and Aspergillus, the most common fungal species. It is common worldwide but more prevalent in tropical and subtropical countriesObjectives:The aim of this study was to determine the etiologic agents and local epidemiologic pattern of otomycosis in northwest Iran.Patients and Methods:A series of 140 patients with clinically symptomatic otomycosis were studied in 21 cities, towns, and villages throughout northwest Iran between 2009 and 2011. Clinical samples were collected by swabs and then assessed by mycological investigation.Results:Otomycosis was diagnosed in 129 cases (92%, 76 male, 53 female) with the highest prevalence of cases occurring in males between 21 - 40 years of age. From an etiological point of view, 116 patients (90%, 21 - 40 years old) were infected by saprophytic mold and 9 patients (7%) were infected by yeast. Three cases (2%) involved dermatophytes, and in one case (1%) the subject was infected with Eurotium (the perfect stage of Aspergillus fumigatus). Aspergillus niger was the most common mold that was isolated, followed by A. flavus, A. fumigatus, Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., and Rhizopus spp. A total of 2 yeasts belonging to genus Candida, C. albicans and C. tropicalis, were isolated.Conclusions:Our study showed a high prevalence of otomycosis in the northwestern area of Iran. As such, proper diagnosis and treatment by aseptic techniques for this disease is urgently needed.

In this study, in vitro antidermatophytic activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis, and Microsporum gypseum was studied by disk diffusion test and assessment of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using CLSI broth macrodilution method (M38-A2). Moreover, antileishmanial and cytotoxicity activity of B. vulgaris and berberine against promastigotes of Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica were evaluated by colorimetric MTT assay. The findings indicated that the various extracts of B. vulgaris particularly berberine showed high potential antidermatophytic against pathogenic dermatophytes tested with MIC values varying from 0.125 to >4 mg/mL. The results revealed that B. vulgaris extracts as well as berberine were effective in inhibiting L. major and L. tropica promastigotes growth in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) values varying from 2.1 to 26.6 μg/mL. Moreover, it could be observed that berberine as compared with B. vulgaris exhibited more cytotoxicity against murine macrophages with CC50 (cytotoxicity concentration for 50% of cells) values varying from 27.3 to 362.6 μg/mL. Results of this investigation were the first step in the search for new antidermatophytic and antileishmanial drugs. However, further works are required to evaluate exact effect of these extracts in animal models as well as volunteer human subjects.

Our findings suggested that the CDR1 gene expression to fluconazole resistance in C. albicans is greater than other known genes.

Context:A tourniquet is a device that is used frequently in most orthopaedic surgeries but this routine device can lead to serious complications so we decided to review and declare it for safe instruction and use.Evidence Acquisition:We searched the word “tourniquet” in PubMed and Google and reviewed all full text English articles and abstracts of non-English articles. In addition, we read all the reference pages of articles to find the new references.Results:The use of tourniquet in orthopedic surgery can lead to serious but rare complications that can be prevented by its correct knowledge and use.Conclusions:At present, there is not enough evidence to discontinue the routine uses of tourniquets.