Biomedical subjects

G Samonis

Publications and source records attributed to G Samonis.

93 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Merkel cell carcinoma: a case series of twelve patients and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare tumor of the skin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 12 cases of MCC diagnosed and treated over a 14-year period. RESULTS: Seven females and 5 males, with a median age of 72 years and MCC of the face (5), trunk (1) and extremities (6), were studied. The stage was I in 2 cases and II in 10. Eight patients had surgery, two surgery and chemotherapy and two chemotherapy only. The last two patients died of disease after 10 and 16 months. Three patients suffered locoregional recurrence after 4, 6 and 24 months and three were lost to follow-up after 8, 9 and 24 months while disease-free. Two disease-free patients died of unrelated causes after 4 and 48 months, while three were alive and well after 24, 48 and 84 months. The three relapsing patients received chemotherapy in addition to local radiation in one case. One is alive and well, the other alive with disease and the third died of disease after 84, 107 and 10 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: MCC often recurs locally. Surgery is the treatment of choice, while radiotherapy is important for local control. Chemotherapy produces responses in the neoadjuvant setting or after relapse.

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PubMedDate not supplied

Fungal infections in cancer patients: an escalating problem.

Major advances in anticancer treatment have contributed to an increased frequency of severe fungal infections in patients with neoplastic diseases. Neutropenia remains the most important among the predisposing factors related to the malignancy or its treatment. Most fungal infections are caused by the commonly recognized opportunistic fungi Candida spp and Aspergillus spp, and the pathogenic fungi Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidiodes immitis, and less often by Blastomyces dermatidis. However, recently newer pathogens such as Pheohyphomycetes, Hyalohyphomycetes, Zygomycetes and other fungi of emerging importance such as Torulopsis glabrata, Trichosporon beigelii, Malassezia spp, Saccharomyces spp, Hansenula spp, Rhodotorula spp, and Geotrichum candidum have appeared as significant causes of infection in this patient population. The increasing frequency of fungal infections is of great concern because of the difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. Amphotericin B remains the mainstay of antifungal treatment despite its toxicity and limited efficacy. Liposomal Amphotericin B may be more effective and less toxic. The activity of the azoles in immunocompromised patients is low. New azoles such as fluconazole and itraconazole may show future promise. The availability of the new granulocyte colony stimulating factors which can shorten the duration of neutropenia could represent a significant improvement in the management of fungal infections in cancer patients. As a preventive measure, the invasive procedures that predispose to infections should be done only when absolutely necessary and frequent handwashing by hospital personnel remains an effective prophylactic procedure.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gut colonization of mice by yeast: effects of methylprednisolone and antibiotics.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study evaluated the effects of broad spectrum antibiotics and methylprednisolone on the gut colonization of mice by C. albicans. METHODOLOGY: Male Crl:CD1 (ICR) BR mice, 3 months of age, were fed chow containing Candida albicans, while similar mice were fed regular chow. The gut of the Candida-fed mice was colonized by yeast. Groups of mice were subsequently treated for 10 days, with either ceftriaxone, ticarcillin-clavulanic acid, or methylprednisolone, each alone or with the combination of methylprednisolone and each antibiotic. Other Candida-colonized mice received normal saline, and non-colonized mice, serving as controls, received the same drugs and drug combinations or saline. RESULTS: Candida-colonized mice treated with each antibiotic alone had significantly higher yeast counts in their stool, while those treated with methylprednisolone alone did not. Colonized mice treated with the combination of each antibiotic with methylprednisolone had similar stool concentrations of Candida as mice treated with each antibiotic alone. Saline did not change Candida in the stool concentration. Yeast was not found in the stool of non-colonized mice treated with the drugs under investigation or saline. Dissemination of Candida did not occur in any mouse. CONCLUSIONS: Ceftriaxone and ticarcillin-clavulanic acid significantly increase gut colonization of mice by yeast, while methylprednisolone, either alone or in combination with these antibiotics, does not.

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