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.     

Biliary, fecal and urinary excretion of [3H]-prostaglandins in the rat

The profiles of biliary, fecal and urinary excretion of tritium labeled prostaglandins (PG's) of differing biological activity were investigated in the rat. The PG's (10 micrograms/kg: 2 to 50 microCi/rat, in 1 ml polyethylene glycol-400) were administered intragastrically. Excretion data were expressed as a percentage of the total administered radioactivity. For the orally administered PG's 11R-methyl-16R-fluoro-15R-hydroxy-9-oxoprosta-ci s-5-trans-13-dienoic acid and its methyl ester, excretion was equally divided between urine and feces. The fecal and urinary profile of excretion of 3H after prostacyclin (PGI2) was similar to that following administration of 11R, 16, 16-trimethyl-15R-hydroxy-9-oxoprosta-cis-5-trans-13-dienoic acid (trimoprostil), a PG with antisecretory-antiulcer potential. However, PGI2 was very poorly absorbed from the intestine, while the absorption of trimoprostil was very efficient. Biliary excretion, with little entero-porto-hepatic biliary circulation, was the main route of elimination of trimoprostil, thereby resulting in rapid elimination of drug-related products and diminishing the potential for systemic liability in the rat.     

Identification of HLA-B44 subtypes associated with extended MHC haplotypes

The HLA class I antigen B44 is found in each of two different extended major histocompatibility haplotypes (allele combinations of HLA-B, HLA-DR, and complement genes BF, C2, C4A, and C4B in linkage disequilibrium). Using isoelectric focusing, two variants of HLA-B44 were identified. The basic variant was found in all cell lines with the extended haplotype HLA-B44, DR7, FC31, and the acidic variant in all cell lines with the extended haplotype HLA-B44, DR4, SC30. The occurrence of each antigen variant with a unique extended haplotype explains previous observations concerning the nonrandom association of B44 variants with DR antigens.     

Effects of nucleotides and divalent cations on phospholipase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Divalent cations activate the lysophospholipase and transacylase reactions catalyzed by the same enzymes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The activation was observed at neutral pH, but not at the pH optimum of lysophospholipase/transacylase, near 3.5. Adenine nucleotides, especially AMP and ADP, are strong inhibitors of the same group of enzymes. Half maximal inhibition by AMP was found at a concentration of about 20 M. The inhibition by nucleotides in low concentrations is enhanced by divalent cations.     

Pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis in immunized mice

Paracoccidioidomycosis was induced in immunized (IM) and non-immunized (NI) mice. The histopathology, the number of fungi in the lungs, the cellular (footpad test — FPT and macrophage inhibition factor assay — MIF) and humoral (immunodiffusion test) immune response were investigated serially postinfection. In the IM mice, at days 1 and 3, there was intense and predominant macrophagic-lymphocytic alveolitis with loose granulomatous reaction; at day 30, inflammation was mild. In the NI group, up to day 3, the lesions were focal; later there was formation of extensive epithelioid granuloma. The number of fungi in IM mice were always smaller than those of NI group. Immunization alone induced positive FPT and MIF indices with low titer of antibody. After infection, there was a significant decrease of the FPT indices in the IM group, which we interpreted as desensitization due to trapping of sensitized lymphocytes in the lungs. In conclusion, (1) The lesional pattern of pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis in IM mice was similar to that of a hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This reaction was probably effective in reducing the extension of the infection and decrease the number of fungi. (2) In this model, pulmonary resistance against P. brasiliensis seems to be related to local and systemic delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction.     

Comparative effects of a recombinant and a mutein type of granulocyte colony stimulating factor on the growth of Meth-A fibrosarcoma with 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of a recombinant human G-CSF (rhG-CSF) and a mutein G-CSF(KW-2228) on leucopenia and tumor growth in mice treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In normal mice, the number of leucocytes (white blood cell, WBC) reached the peak 12 hours after a single injection of either type of G-CSF and decreased to the normal level after 24 hours. Daily administration induced a continuous increase in the WBC count, however, administrations at intervals did not. Meth-A fibrosarcoma was subcutaneously inoculated into the backs of syngeneic BALB/c mice. The mice were treated with 5-FU alone or with G-CSFs. Chemotherapy with 5-FU alone resulted in leucopenia and an insignificant inhibition of tumor growth. The conjunctive administration of G-CSFs with 5-FU resulted in a significantly augmented inhibition of tumor growth, and leukopenia was not seen. This augmenting effect was more prominent with KW-2228.These results suggest that in 5-FU chemotherapy G-CSFs may be beneficial in restoring the number of leucocytes from leucopenic state and in augmenting the tumor inhibitory effect. Furthermore, KW-2228 may be more beneficial than the natural type rhG-CSF.     

Chemical and spectroscopic evidence for the formation of a ferryl Fea3 intermediate during turnover of cytochrome c oxidase

When partially reduced cytochrome c oxidase samples are reoxidized with dioxygen, an EPR-silent dioxygen intermediate, which is at the three-electron level of dioxygen reduction, is trapped at the dioxygen reduction site. The intermediate has novel spectral features at 580 and 537 nm. Combined optical and EPR results reveal that this intermediate reacts rapidly with CO at 277-298 K causing the abolition of the 580/537 mm features and the appearance of a rhombic CuB EPR signal. A ferryl Fea3, or an intermediate at the same formal level of oxidation, is proposed to oxidize CO to CO2 producing an EPR-detectable CuB adjacent to a low-spin ferrous Fea3-dioxygen (or carbon monoxide) adduct.     

Purification of a phospholipase B inhibitor from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The phospholipase B activity of plasma membrane vesicles from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is inhibited by the 100 000 X g supernatant of mechanically disrupted yeast cells. A 1850-fold purification of the inhibitor activity was achieved by gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography with DEAE-cellulose and hydrophobic interaction chromatography with Octyl-Sepharose. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified inhibitor revealed two main bands with an apparent Mr of 60 000 and 26 500. The phospholipase B activity was strongly reduced but not completely blocked by this preparation, while the lysophospholipase and transacylase reactions, which are catalyzed by the same membrane-bound enzymes (Witt, W. et al. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 795, 108-116), were not affected.