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Biomedical subjects

O Fischman

Publications and source records attributed to O Fischman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Incidence of Tinea capitis in São Paulo, Brazil.

To determine the incidence of tinea capitis in São Paulo, Brazil, an investigation was performed in Private and Public Pediatrics Service involving 4,500 children from 0 to 15 years old during 5 years (1996-2000). Samples were taken from 132 children with suspected fungal infection of the scalp, for direct microscopy and culture. Tinea of scalp was mycologically confirmed in 112 patients (85%). Males were more affected than females in all age groups. Children below 8 years old accounted for more than 75% of the occurrences. Only three cases of tinea capitis were diagnosed in children from 12 to 15 years of age. Tinea capitis was prevalent in 103 cases (91.96%); inflammatory kerion type lesions were diagnosed in 9 patients (8.04%). Microsporum canis (70.5%) and Trichophyton tonsurans (23.2%) were the most common agents followed by T. mentagrophytes (3.6%), M. gypseum (1.8%) and T. rubrum (0.9%).

Adolescent↗

Dermatomycoses caused by Nattrassia mangiferae in São Paulo, Brazil.

Nattrassia mangiferae formerly known as Hendersonula toruloidea, is a phaeoid coelomycete described by Nattrass in 1933. We report five cases of N. mangiferae infections in São Paulo, Brazil. This fungus was isolated from interdigital lesions on the feet in one patient, toenails in three cases and fingernails in the other one. The infections were initially considered to be caused by a dermatophyte. Although there are only a few cases described in the medical literature, the five cases reported suggest that N. mangiferae should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of tinea pedis infections.

Adult↗

Onychomycosis caused by Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum in São Paulo, Brazil.

Fusarium species are common soil saprophytes and plant pathogens that have been frequently reported as etiologic agents of opportunistic infections in humans. We report eight cases of onychomycosis caused by Fusarium solani (4) and Fusarium oxysporum (4) in São Paulo, Brazil. These species were isolated from toenails in all cases. The infections were initially considered to be caused by dermatophytes. The clinical appearance of the affected toenails was leukonychia or distal subungual hyperkeratosis with yellowish brown coloration. The eight cases reported here suggest that Fusarium spp. should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of tinea unguium.

Adult↗

Tinea cruris epidemiology (São Paulo, Brazil).

In order to determine the epidemiology of tinea cruris in São Paulo, Brazil, an investigation was carried out from April 95 to March 1997. A total of 2000 individuals were studied, of whom 105 were suspected of having tinea cruris infection. Direct microscopy and/or culture were positive in 66 [62.8%] of the cases. Erythematous-scale plaques and erythematous-liquenificated plaques were the most frequently found clinical types. T. rubrum was the prevalent dermatophyte in 90% of the cases, followed by T. tonsurans (6%) and T. mentagrophytes (4%).

Adolescent↗

Antifungal susceptibilities, varieties, and electrophoretic karyotypes of clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans from Brazil, Chile, and Venezuela.

One hundred clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and non-HIV-infected patients from Brazil, Chile, and Venezuela were separated according to varieties and tested for antifungal susceptibility. A high susceptibility to antifungal agents was observed among all the isolates. The electrophoretic karyotyping of 51 strains revealed good discrimination among Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans strains.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Phaeoisaria clematidis as a cause of keratomycosis.

We report the first case of human infection by Phaeoisaria clematidis. This fungus caused a corneal ulcer in a Brazilian man who had previously suffered an eye injury. Diagnosis was established by positive direct examination and repeated cultures. The isolate was clearly resistant in vitro to the six antifungal agents tested.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Exophiala jeanselmei causing late endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To report two cases of late endophthalmitis caused by Exophiala jeanselmei after cataract surgery. METHODS: Case reports, including clinical evaluation, direct examination, and culture of the aqueous humor. RESULTS: In each case, samples from the anterior chamber had positive growth of yeasts with toruloid hyphae and pseudohyphae. Intravitreal and anterior chamber amphotericin B were used in both cases. Apparent clinical resolution was achieved, but after 3 months in one case and 6 months in the other the infection recurred more aggressively, with severe endophthalmitis leading to ocular atrophy. CONCLUSION: E. jeanselmei causes a severe intraocular infection and isolation, and identification of the agent ensures proper diagnosis and treatment. After clinical resolution of the infection, careful and long-term follow-up is recommended to promptly detect relapse and immediately reintroduce treatment.

Aged↗

Microbiological characteristics of yeasts isolated from urinary tracts of intensive care unit patients undergoing urinary catheterization.

We studied 70 intensive care unit patients to determine the incidence of nosocomial candiduria associated with indwelling urinary catheters and to assess microbiological characteristics of the yeasts. The yeasts were isolated, 13 of 17 in urine cultures and 4 of 17 in blood cultures, and colonization had occurred 3 days after the insertion of indwelling urinary catheters. For four strains the MICs of the antifungal drugs were high.

Adult↗

Lymphangitic sporotrichosis: an uncommon bilateral localization.

Sporotrichosis is a mycotic disease caused by cutaneous inoculation of the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. The primary lesion can spread and often develop a unilateral lymphocutaneous lesions or, rarely, disseminated disease. We report a lymphangitic sporotrichosis case with ulcerated erythematous nodules distributed bilaterally on the posterior and medical aspect of the both legs, probably due to multiple inoculations. The treatment with oral potassium iodide was satisfactory.

Administration, Oral↗

Subcutaneous hyalohyphomycosis caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

The coelomycete Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was isolated in pure culture from subcutaneous nodules of the left forearm and elbow of a farmer after traumatic injury. To our knowledge, we report the first case involving this fungus as an etiological agent of subcutaneous infection. The in vitro inhibitory activities of amphotericin B, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, flucytosine, and fluconazole were studied.

Accidents, Occupational↗

Evaluation of the AUXACOLOR system for the identification of clinical yeast isolates.

In the last decade the number of systemic yeast infections has increased significantly. Although Candida albicans is the most frequently isolated yeast from clinical specimens, the emergence of non-albicans species has clearly been a recent concern. As a consequence, there is a greater need for rapid and accurate methods for yeast identification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the AUXACOLOR system (Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur) for the identification of clinically relevant yeasts, as compared with the conventional method. Yeast isolates (n = 97) belonging to 12 species were identified by the commercial system and the classic method. Correct identifications were obtained by using AUXACOLOR system in 79.4% of the isolates tested. Misidentification occurred in 5.2% of the strains and 15.5% were not identified due to a failure in the manufacturer's data base. In order to improve its accuracy, there is a need for expanding the database or revamping the tests included in the system.

Candida↗

Disseminated dermatophytosis caused by Microsporum gypseum in two patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Microsporum gypseum is not a common agent of human dermatophytosis. To the best of our knowledge, this fungus has not been described in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. We report a tinea corporis infection with atypical presentation caused by M. gypseum in two patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) studied at the São Paulo Hospital (São Paulo, Brazil).

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Humoral immune response to Malassezia furfur in patients with pityriasis versicolor and seborrheic dermatitis.

Humoral immune responses against exoantigen components of oval, elliptic and round yeast forms of Malassezia furfur were analysed by ELISA and Western blotting assays, using sera from patients with pityriasis versicolor (PV), seborrheic dermatitis (SD) and healthy adults (HA), as control. Sera from patients with SD showed IgG anti-oval M. furfur titers ranging from 1/400 to 1/6400 showing geometric mean (GM) of 1/1472, higher than those obtained with sera from patients with PV (1/200 to 1/6400, GM = 1/1239). Both patient groups showed mean titres statistically superior (P < 0.05) than those obtained form HA (GM = 1/229). Similar data were also obtained with the elliptic and round antigens. However, the anti-oval IgG mean titers from patients' sera were much higher than those obtained with elliptic or round antigenic components (p < 0.05) Anti-M furfur IgM titers obtained from patient's sera with PV against all three exoantigens were statistically superior (p < 0.05) than HA group. Patients with SD showed IgM titers statistically superior (p < 0.05) only to oval yeasts of M. furfur. The IgA mean titers from patients' groups against the different morphological antigens were shown be slightly higher than those HA group. By Western blot, using rabbit anti-sera, the different antigenic components of M.furfur showed a close relationship mainly between oval and elliptic yeast cells antigens. The 70 kDa component of the M. furfur exoantigen of oval morphology was recognized by 84% of the PV patients' sera. On the other hand, SD patients' sera recognized 3 principal components of 70 kDa (100%), 65 kDa (67%) and 84 kDa (53%). These components may be considered immunological markers for PV and SD. Twenty-five percent of HA sera recognized the components of 65, 70 and 94 kDa. This investigation shows that M. furfur antigens can sensitize the host, mainly the oval yeast form of M. furfur with a very important specific IgG response in patients with SD and PV.

Antibodies, Fungal↗

Mycoflora of the toxic feeds associated with equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) outbreaks in Brazil.

The mycoflora of 39 feed samples associated with 29 Equine Leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) outbreaks was studied from 1988 to 1990, in Brazil. Microbiological examination indicated Fusarium spp. as the most frequent mold which occurred in 97.4% of samples followed by Penicillium spp. in 61.5% and Aspergillus spp. in 35.9%. The moisture content of feed implicated in death of horses was above 15% which can favor the development of Fusarium spp. From the genus, F. moniliforme was the predominant species with an occurrence of 82.0%. Two additional species, not commonly associated with animal toxicosis, were isolated in low frequency, F. proliferatum (12.8%) and F. subglutinans (2.6%). It is important to emphasize that the isolation of F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans from feed obtained from the epizootic areas has not been documented previously in Brazil.

Animal Feed↗

Agarose gel immunodiffusion tests with the addition of PEG (polyethylene glycol 6000) for the diagnosis and serological follow up of paracoccidioidomycosis infection.

By using PEG (polyethylen glycol 6000) in the gel immunodiffusion tests (ID), the precipitin lines were increased in 25.5% of the 192 sera reactions and the titers were increased from one to four serial dilutions in 44.6% of the 139 serum samples. Owing to its sensitivity, easy interpretation of the results and low cost, the use of 2% PEG incorporated into the gel in ID tests is recommended for the diagnosis and serological follow-up of paracoccidioidomycosis infections.

Follow-Up Studies↗