Hyperthermic treatment of chromomycosis with disposable chemical pocket warmers

A case of chromomycosis in which hyperthermia proved effective is reported. The patient was a 56-year-old male bean curd maker who, without any previous history of minor trauma, developed on the extensor side of the left upper arm an eczematous lesion that underwent gradual radial expansion. The lesion showed a well-defined, 7×10 cm infiltrated erythematous plaque with the central area healed and, at the upper and lower borders, adherent scales and crusts on the surface. Histological examination revealed granulomatous changes in the dermis, as well as sclerotic cells within giant cells and microabscesses. On culturing,Fonsecaea pedrosoi was isolated. The patient was treated with disposable chemical pocket warmers, which were secured over the lesion with a rather tight elastic bandage, so that they kept the affected area warm for 24 hours a day. After a month of such hyperthermic treatment, the erythema and infiltration had decreased considerably, and microscopic examination and culture of the crusts both yielded negative results. Examination of biopsy specimens of the lesion after the third month showed that it had cicatrized. The treatment was stopped after 4 months, and no relapse occurred. We also summarize the published results of local hyperthermic treatment of chromomycosis in Japan.     

Virion conformational forms and the complex inactivation kinetics of echovirus by chlorine in water

Aberrant inactivation kinetics were observed when monodispersed echovirus type 1 (Farouk) was inactivated with chlorine. An initial 1- to 2-log10-unit decrease in titer was followed by lag period, during which the titer stayed the same or increased, and this was followed by a final decline in titer. First-order kinetics were obtained with poliovirus type 1 under the same conditions. Isoelectric focusing studies of echovirus before chlorine treatment showed that the virus distributed into two pH-dependent and interconvertible isoelectric forms. After chlorine treatment all remaining virus infectivity was associated with a third pH-independent isoelectric form. The complex inactivation kinetics appeared to be due to shifts between these conformational forms during inactivation in certain ionic environments. Under certain conditions the conformational shifts resulted in substantial resistance of monodispersed echovirus to chlorine.     

Mixed agonist/antagonist properties of NAN-190 at 5-HT1A receptors: behavioural and in vivo brain microdialysis studies

1-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-4-[4-(2-phthalimido)butyl]piperazine, NAN-190, is a novel compound with putative 5-HT1A antagonist properties. In the present study, the effects of NAN-190 were examined with regard to functional pre- and post-synaptic 5-HT1A receptor-mediated events, using in vivo brain microdialysis and behavioural techniques. Our findings provide evidence that NAN-190 acts as a mixed agonist/antagonist at central 5-HT1A receptors. Thus, NAN-190 blocked (+)8-OH-DPAT-induced behaviour in reserpinized rats, indicating antagonist properties at postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors. However, the compound was also able to decrease the release of 5-HT in vivo, tentatively due to an agonist action at somatodendritic 5-HT1A autoreceptors. These data extend previous information on the pharmacological profile of NAN-190 and further emphasizes the difference between pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors in brain.