Alcohol: intolerance syndromes, urticarial and anaphylactoid reactions.
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Anaphylaxis↗
Biomedical subjects
J Brasch
Publications and source records attributed to J Brasch.
Serum-independent neutrophil chemotaxins in the yeast phase of Candida albicans.
Cell extracts from 6 strains of Candida albicans grown under different conditions were partially purified and tested for inherent chemotactic activity for human polymorphonuclear granulocytes. Chemotactic activity was demonstrated in the absence of serum using the Boyden chamber technique. No chemokinetic effects of the extracts examined were found using the same method. Cross desensitization experiments of PMN with C. albicans extracts and known leukotaxins (PAF, LTB4, and FMLP) revealed that C. albicans-derived chemotaxins differed from the known chemoattractants. Their possible role in Candida infections is discussed.
Candida albicans↗
Enzyme release by Trichophyton rubrum depends on nutritional conditions.
Enzymes liberated by growing dermatophytes are of pathogenetic importance in tinea. To investigate the influence of nutrients on this enzyme release, Trichophyton rubrum was grown in media containing peptone, keratin and lipids, to which glucose was added in separate assays. The culture supernatants were compared for extracellular enzyme activities by use of the api-zym test. Our results clearly show that the extracellular enzyme activity is dependent on the nutrients supplied. Seven different enzymes were released when keratin was supplied, as compared with only five and two respectively when lipids or peptone were available. Among these enzymes alkaline phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase were detected in all cultures lacking glucose. Enzyme release was inhibited completely when glucose was added to the media, except for N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase in peptone cultures. This dependency of enzyme release on fungal nutrition can be expected to occur in vivo too. In addition, it has to be considered for in vitro cultural conditions. Alkaline phosphatase and acetylglucosaminidase may be more important in tinea than has been assumed so far.
Culture Media↗
Enzyme patterns of dermatophytes.
Exoenzymes produced by common dermatophytes, in addition to their ability to cause cutaneous inflammation, are thought to contribute to fungal spread. To investigate the patterns of enzymes released by common dermatophytes as well as Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, the fungi were grown in liquid media containing either hair, stratum corneum, neopeptone or lipids, or in RPMI medium. Enzymes recovered from the culture supernatants were compared using the Api-zyme test. As a result, the widest range of enzymes was seen in protein-containing media, with a maximum of 13 enzymes stimulated by growth on hair. Dermatophytes in all protein media produced high levels of alkaline phosphatase, esterases and leucine arylamidase. In these media the highest total enzymatic activity was released by Microsporum canis, whereas the lowest was released by Epidermophyton floccosum. Although RPMI broth stimulated luxuriant growth of all species, recovery was limited to a maximum of six enzymes. In lipid medium E. floccosum and M. canis failed to grow. When comparing the various nutrients, Scopulariopsis released fewer enzymes than the dermatophytes and only minor quantities of alkaline phosphatase. We conclude that alkaline phosphatase, esterases and leucine arylamidase may be important for the parasitic growth of dermatophytes. The total enzymatic activity of dermatophytes appears to be correlated with the intensity of cutaneous inflammation. Furthermore, enzyme measurements may be helpful for species identification.
Arthrodermataceae↗
UV susceptibility and negative phototropism of dermatophytes.
High doses of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) have well-known inhibitory effects upon dermatophytes. In the present study, the effect of repetitive low doses of UVR on mycelial growth of dermatophytes was tested. Pellets of Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis were placed between two thin layers of Sabouraud glucose agar. Obverse, reverse or both sides of these 'sandwich' agars were irradiated for 10 days twice daily with 0.13 or 0.17 J cm-2 UVB. To simulate microaerophilic conditions, one or both agar sides were covered by transparent airtight plastic lids. In addition, T. rubrum was also grown as usual on plates of Sabouraud glucose agar without any covering, and irradiated on its obverse side twice daily with UVA (13.5 J cm-2), UVB (0.17, 0.34 or 0.69 J cm-2) or infrared light, or once only with 3.8-15.1 J cm-2 UVB. As a result, thallus diameters of all strains were found to be reduced by repetitive UVB irradiation under both aerobic and microaerophilic growth conditions. T. rubrum was unaffected by infrared irradiation, responded with an increased pigmentation to UVA (13.5 J cm-2 twice daily) and was inhibited by a single dose of 15.1 J cm-2 UVB. Negative phototropism of dermatophytes is a new observation. It may be biologically relevant as a mechanism to evade harmful doses of UVR.
Aerobiosis↗
Human androgenic steroids affect growth of dermatophytes in vitro.
Hormonal effects on fungal growth are of particular interest to medical mycology. In the skin, androgenic steroids metabolized within pilosebaceous units may have direct effects on dermatophytes that invade hair follicles. In this study, 10(-1) to 10(2) mg 1(-1) testosterone, 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione and androstanedione were used in agar dilution assays to test their effects on thallus diameters of Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, T. tonsurans, T. mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis. All dermatophytes responded in a dose-dependent manner with reduced diameters of thalli. Growth of T. rubrum and E. floccosum was completely or strongly suppressed by 10(2) mg 1(-1) androstenedione and androstanedione. A minor inhibition of all strains was obtained with 10(1) to 10(2) mg 1(-1) testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone, the last being least inhibitory for all species. Trichophyton mentagrophytes and M. canis were least responsive to most hormones. The high susceptibility of T. rubrum and E. floccosum to intrafollicular androstenedione and androstanedione could be one reason why these two species are unable to cause tinea capitis. Receptor-mediated effects and an unspecific interference with fungal sterol metabolism are discussed as mechanisms of fungal inhibition by steroidal hormones.
Androgens↗
Unusual presentation on the right side of ectopic testicular spleen.
An unusual case of right-side testicular spleen is presented. Although described as early as 1889, all cases except one were described to have occurred on the left side. This report documents a second case of extra-testicular spleen occurring on the right side. Since ectopic spleen is an extra-testicular mass and invariably benign, it must be recognized and considered in the primary differential diagnosis of any intrascrotal mass. Since ectopic intrascrotal spleen occurs in the majority of clinical cases under 20 years of age, a preoperative diagnosis of ectopic spleen will prevent possibly unnecessary radical testiculectomy in this age group. Radioactive sulphur colloid will localize in the ectopic spleen, and therefore this modality can be used as an additional preoperative diagnostic tool. Since ectopic testicular spleen was found in up to 25% of all reported cases during orchiopexy and/or herniorrhaphy repair, this entity must be familiar to general and urological surgeons.
Adult↗