Human dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton equinum

A case of dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton equinum is reported. A 25-year-old man employed at a breeding center of a horse racing course was infected on the left arm in August, 1981. The lesion had a vesicle or a small pustule accompanied by severe itching. The fungal elements of the scale were identified by microscopic observation. Griseofulvin administration was found to be very effective for treating this infection. In a mycological examination, T. equinum was isolated mainly on cycloheximide-chloramphenicol Sabouraud's dextrose agar and chloramphenicol potato dextrose agar. Equine dermatophytosis was quite prevalent at this race course, so that this area as well as equipment used for the maintenance and care of the horse was very likely to be the source of the patient's infection.     

The Clonal Population of Trichophyton equinum from Dermatophytoses of Japanese Racehorses

Mycopathologia - Trichophyton equinum is a zoophilic dermatophyte that is frequently isolated from horse dermatophytosis and rare infections in humans. In the present study, molecular and...     

Conversion of 3-cyanopyridine to nicotinic acid by Nocardia rhodochrous LL100-21

3-Cyanopyridinase activity, i.e. the ability to convert 3-cyanopyridine to nicotinic acid plus ammonia, was induced in stationary phase cultures of Nocardia rhodochrous LL100-21 by the addition of 2-, 3-, or 4-cyanopyridine or benzonitrile; the latter nitrile gave maximum induction. Harvested bacteria possessing 3-cyanopyridinase activity could stoichiometrically convert 3-cyanopyridine at concentrations of up to 0.5 to nicotinic acid. Both 3-cyanopyridine and nicotinic acid inhibited the hydrolysis of 3-cyanopyridine by intact bacteria. Bacteria immobilized in calcium alginate beads and used in column bioreactors retained 3-cyanopyridinase activity for over 150 h when continuously supplied with 0.3 3-cyanopyridine.     

Polyphasic Discrimination of Trichophyton tonsurans and T. equinum from Humans and Horses

Mycopathologia - The anthropophilic dermatophyte Trichophyton tonsurans and its zoophilic counterpart T. equinum are phylogenetically closely related. The barcoding marker rDNA internal transcribed...     

Maculopathy induced by nicotinic acid

Nicotinic acid is a commonly used oral medication for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Numerous systemic and ocular adverse effects have been reported. Cystoid macular edema, although uncommon, has been reported and resolves upon cessation of the medication. What makes this maculopathy unusual is the absence of leakage on fluorescein angiography. A 47-year-old white male presented with the complaint of blurred vision OU for several months. The patient had an extensive medical history, including hyperlipidemia, for which he was taking nicotinic acid. Bilateral cystoid macular edema was diagnosed. Nicotinic acid was discontinued and the patient's vision returned to 20/20 after 2 months.     

Prostaglandins contribute to the vasodilation induced by nicotinic acid

The significance of endogenously formed prostaglandins in the vasodilation induced by nicotinic acid (NIC) was investigated. The forearm venous plasma level of radioimmunoassayed PGE (R-PGE) and the forearm blood flow (FBF) were measured in 13 healthy male volunteers at rest and during infusion of NIC. Each subject was subsequently re-studied after pretreatment with the PG synthesis inhibitor, naproxen. In the absence of naproxen, NIC infusion resulted in an almost four-fold rise in the release of R-PGE and a 60% increase in FBF. Pretreatment with naproxen did not affect the basal release of R-PGE or the basal FBF but inhibited both the release of R-PGE and the increase in FBF following NIC. The data support the hypothesis that the vasolidating effect of NIC is largely dependent upon an increased vascular formation of PG.     

Prostaglandins contribute to the vasodilation induced by nicotinic acid

The significance of endogenously formed prostaglandins in the vasodilation induced by nicotinic acid (NIC) was investigated. The forearm venous plasma level of radioimmunoassayed PGE (R-PGE) and the forearm blood flow (FBF) were measured in 13 healthy male volunteers at rest and during infusion of NIC. Each subject was subsequently re-studied after pretreatment with the PG synthesis inhibitor, naproxen. In the absence of naproxen, NIC infusion resulted in an almost four-fold rise in the release of R-PGE and a 60% increase in FBF. Pretreatment with naproxen did not affect the basal release of R-PGE or the basal FBF but inhibited both the release of R-PGE and the increase in FBF following NIC. The data support the hypothesis that the vasodilating effect of NIC is largely dependent upon an increased vascular formation of PG.     

Conversion of calciferols to isotachysterols by trifluoroacetic acid

The conversion of the calciferols to isotachysterols using trifluoroacetic acid is described. The yield of isotachysterol formed is greater by about 10% than that obtained with either antimony trichloride or acetyl chloride. Trifluoroacetic acid also produces a more intense absorption at 500 nm with calciferols than does antimony trichloride, however, the color is less stable.     

Conversion of oleic acid to 10-hydroxystearic acid by Nocardia paraffinae

Resting cells of Nocardia paraffinaeCBS 255 58 anaerobically converted oleic acid to 10-hydroxystearic acid (optimum activity at 35°C and pH 7). Addition of oleic acid (0.22 mg/ml of medium), as an inducer, improved the hydroxylating activity. The biocatalyst was inactivated by sonication, lyophilization and heating, but kept 65% of its initial activity after five freeze-thawing treatments. This activity appeared to be located either in the cells or bound to the plasmic membrane.     

Conversion of beta-methylbutyric acid to beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acid by Galactomyces reessii.

beta-Hydroxy-beta-methylbutyric acid (HMB) has been shown to increase strength and lean mass gains in humans undergoing resistance-exercise training. HMB is currently marketed as a calcium salt of HMB, and thus, environmentally sound and inexpensive methods of manufacture are being sought. This study investigates the microbial conversion of beta-methylbutyric acid (MBA) to HMB by cultures of Galactomyces reessii. Optimal concentrations of MBA were in the range of 5 to 20 g/liter for HMB production. Preliminary shake flask experiments indicated that HMB yields were sensitive to dissolved oxygen levels and that cell growth decreased significantly as MBA concentrations increased. Degradation of HMB was faster at acidic pH, and pH 7.0 was optimal for HMB production. Resting cells obtained from media without MBA could efficiently convert MBA to HMB. Thus, a two-step, fed-batch fermentation procedure in which biomass was first produced, followed by coaddition of MBA and glucose, while dissolved oxygen was maintained at 20% of saturation, was designed. A maximum HMB concentration of 38 g/liter was obtained after 136 h, and the molar conversion yield was more than 0.50 mol of HMB/mol of MBA during the fermentation.