scholarly journals Molecular Characterization of Fungal Colonization on the Provox™ Tracheoesophageal Voice Prosthesis in Post Laryngec-tomy Patients

Author(s):  
Hasti Kamali Sarvestani ◽  
Roshanak Daie Ghazvini ◽  
Seyed Jamal Hashemi ◽  
Mohsen Gerami Shoar ◽  
Saham Ansari ◽  
...  

Background: Tracheoesophageal voice prostheses (TVPs) have been the gold standard in rehabilitation, after laryngectomy, producing faster and premier voicing towards esophageal speech. Fungal colonization shortens the device’s lifetime and leads to prosthesis dysfunction, leakage, and subsequent respiratory infection. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to investigate the fungal colonization patterns and to propose prophylactic measures that shall increase the longevity of voice prosthesis. Methods: Failed TVPs were removed - due to leakage and/or aspiration - from 66 post laryngectomy patients and examined. They were referred to Amiralam and Rasoul Hospital, the main centers of Ear, Nose, and Throat in Tehran, Iran from April 2018 to January 2020. Fungal colonization patterns were assessed using DNA sequencing techniques. Furthermore, the susceptibility to fluconazole, amphotericin B, nystatin, and white vinegar was evaluated according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results: Resident fungal species from the upper airways colonized all the 66 TVPs (100%). Diabetes (31%) and smoking (98%) were the predominant underlying disease and predisposing factors, respectively. Among the 79 fungal agents isolated from the 66 TVPs, Candida glabrata (n=25, 31.7%) was the most common. A significant reduction in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were observed for white vinegar when used alone (P<0.05). Conclusion: White vinegar at a very low concentration could decrease the amount of fungal colonization on TVPs without any adverse effects; its wide accessibility and affordability ensure a decrease in the overall health cost.  

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 61-66
Author(s):  
Ola Hashem ◽  
Viola Zaki ◽  
Rawia Adawy

Objective: To study the incidence and seasonal dynamics of different fungi affected freshwater fishes in Lake Manzala with molecular identification of the isolated fungi. Animals: 300 Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and 300 catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Design: Descriptive study. Procedures: Random samples of Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus) and Clarias gariepinus (C. gariepinus) were collected from Manzala fish farms. Clinical and postmortem examination of fish was applied. Isolation and identification of different fungi were performed by conventional methods. Furthermore, the molecular characterization of isolated fungi was carried out. Results: C. gariepinus had a higher rate of infection with different fungal species than O. niloticus. Aspergillus spp. (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus) were the most fungal isolated from the examined fishes, followed by Penicillium spp. and Candida albicans. Aspergillus spp were detected in all seasons with a higher rate in summer and spring. A. flavus, A. niger, Penicillium spp. and C.albicans isolates were amplified from both C. gariepinus and O. niloticus at the specified molecular weight using PCR. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Fungal infection affected the fish showing different external and internal lesions, all species of Aspergillus were found in all seasons with a high rate in, hot seasons, summer and spring. The Prevalence of Penicillium and C. albicans were also reported. All fungal isolates were identified on the phenotypic and molecular bases.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e2017007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umberto Basile

Cryoglobulins are immunoglobulins that precipitate in serum at temperatures below 37°C and resolubilize upon warming. The clinical syndrome of cryoglobulinemia usually includes purpura, weakness, and arthralgia, but the underlying disease may also contribute other symptoms. Blood samples for cryoglobulin are collected, transported, clotted and spun at 37°C, before the precipitate is allowed to form when serum is stored at 4°C in a Wintrobe tube for at least seven days. The most critical and confounding factor affecting the cryoglobulin test is when the preanalytical phase is not fully completed at 37°C. The easiest way to quantify cryoglobulins is the cryocrit estimate. However, this approach has low accuracy and sensitivity. Furthermore, the precipitate should be resolubilized by warming to confirm that it is truly formed of cryoglobulins. The characterization of cryoglobulins requires the precipitate is several times washed, before performing immunofixation, a technique by which cryoglobulins can be classified depending on the characteristics of the detected immunoglobulins. These features imply a pathogenic role of these molecules which are consequently associated with a wide range of symptoms and manifestations. According to the Brouet classification, Cryoglobulins are grouped into three types by the immunochemical properties of immunoglobulins in the cryoprecipitate. The aim of this paper is to review the major aspects of cryoglobulinemia and the laboratory techniques used to detect and characterize cryoglobulins, taking into consideration the presence and consequences of cryoglobulinemia in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection.


2013 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 955-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milica Ljaljevic-Grbic ◽  
M. Stupar ◽  
Jelena Vukojevic ◽  
Ivana Maricic ◽  
Natasa Bungur

Pieces of art stored in museum depots and display rooms are subject to fungal colonization that leads to bio-deterioration processes. Deteriorated wooden sculptures and art photographs temporarily stored in the quarantine room of the Cultural Center of Belgrade were subject to mycological analyses. Twelve fungal species were identified on the wooden substratum and five species were detected on photograph surfaces. Trichoderma viride, Chaetomium globosum and Alternaria sp. were the fungi with proven cellulolytic activity detected on the examined cellulose substrata. Indoor air mycobiota were estimated to 210.09 ? 8.06 CFU m-3, and the conidia of fungus Aspergillus niger were the dominant fungal propagules in the air of the examined room.


2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kumindra Devrajh Ramsunder

Fusarium species produce toxic mycotoxins that are known to exert adverse health effects in humans and animals. No attempts have been made to establish mycotoxin-producing capabilities of isolates of Fusarium species from bananas exhibiting symptoms of crown rot. Crown rot is one of the most serious post harvest problems in banana and the disease is caused by different fungal species, principally Fusarium species. Banana, which is of great economic significance in growing countries (i.e. Costa Rica, Cameroon, Ecuador) is seriously affected by crown rot and is a major cause of fruit loss


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tohir A. Bozorov ◽  
Zokir O. Toshmatov ◽  
Gulnaz Kahar ◽  
Daoyuan Zhang ◽  
Hua Shao ◽  
...  

The gut microflora of insects plays important roles throughout their lives. Different foods and geographic locations change gut bacterial communities. The invasive wood-borer Agrilus mali causes extensive mortality of wild apple, Malus sieversii, which is considered a progenitor of all cultivated apples, in Tianshan forests. Recent analysis showed that the gut microbiota of larvae collected from Tianshan forests showed rich bacterial diversity but the absence of fungal species. In this study, we explored the antagonistic ability of the gut bacteria to address this absence of fungi in the larval gut. The results demonstrated that the gut bacteria were able to selectively inhibit wild apple tree-associated fungi. Among them, Pseudomonas synxantha showed strong antagonistic ability, producing antifungal compounds. Using different analytical methods, such as column chromatography, mass spectrometry, HPLC, and NMR, an antifungal compound, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), was identified. Activity of the compound was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration method and electron microscopy. Moreover, our study showed that the gut bacteria could originate from noninfested apple microflora during infestation. Overall, the results showed that in newly invaded locations, A. mali larvae changed their gut microbiota and adopted new gut bacteria that prevented fungal colonization in the gut.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Margarita Regalado Ibarra ◽  
Loïc Legendre

The goal of this article is to review the anatomy of the brachycephalic canine hard palate and provide a step-by-step guide on diagnosis and treatment of acquired palatitis using the CO2 surgical laser. Brachycephalic breed-related defects are not only limited to the upper airways, some dogs may develop secondary systemic or localized problems. An abnormality that is over-represented in some breeds such as boxers and bulldogs is prominent palatal rugae. The greater depth of the palatal rugae allows for the entrapment of plaque, food debris and hair. Thus, acquired palatitis or granulomatous lesions may develop. This oral pathology and its consequences are commonly neglected by the owners and frequently missed by the veterinarians. Scientific evidence-based diagnosis and treatment for this breed-related oral pathology are absent in the veterinary literature. This article is the first in providing the elements needed for an adequate morphological characterization of the canine hard palate, allowing veterinarians to appropriately identify anomalous areas of the soft tissue component of the hard palate. This article illustrates the use of a noninvasive surgical technique to prevent and cure the sequelae associated with anomalous palatal rugae. The CO2 surgical laser provides a suitable method by offering the fast resolution of the lesions and permanent results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Amin Tahoun ◽  
Helmy K. Elnafarawy ◽  
Ehab Kotb Elmahallawy ◽  
Abdelhamed Abdelhady ◽  
Amira M. Rizk ◽  
...  

Diagnosis and treatment of ocular fungal infection in equine seems very challenging for owners and clinicians. The present study aimed to identify and characterize fungal species isolated from the eyes of clinically healthy and diseased equines (N = 100) from Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. The work also involved morphological and molecular characterization of the major fungal species. In addition, correlations between the occurrence of isolated fungi and some of the potential risk factors were also investigated. Interestingly, the prevalence rate of ocular mycosis in all examined equines in the study was 28% and there were major clinical signs associated with ocular fungal infection. Moreover, the identified fungal species included Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger, Penicillium spp., Mucor spp., and Alternari spp. with a corresponding prevalence rate of 63.9%, 27.8%, 15.3%, 18.1%, 13.9%, and 4.2%, respectively, in healthy equine eyes, while their prevalence in diseased equine eyes was 57.1%, 32.1%, 21.4%, 7.1%, 3.6%, and 0%. Furthermore, a statistical significant association (p < 0.05) was found between the frequency of isolation of A. fumigatus and Penicillium and several risk factors (breed, sex, and ground type), while the remaining risk factors and occurrence of fungi were not statistically correlated. A subset of the Aspergillus species samples positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were sequenced and their phylogenetic analysis identified three species of Aspergillus. Taken together, our study provides novel data related to the occurrence of ocular mycosis in equine in Egypt. Given the zoonotic potential of some identified fungi, our data may be helpful for implementation of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for combating this sight-threatening infection in equine.


2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 2900-2907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf Kramer ◽  
Annette Sauer-Heilborn ◽  
Tobias Welte ◽  
Carlos A. Guzman ◽  
Wolf-Rainer Abraham ◽  
...  

The respiratory mycobiome is an important but understudied component of the human microbiota. Like bacteria, fungi can cause severe lung diseases, but their infection rates are much lower. This study compared the bacterial and fungal communities of sputum samples from a large cohort of 56 adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) during nonexacerbation periods and under continuous antibiotic treatment. Molecular fingerprinting based on single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis revealed fundamental differences between bacterial and fungal communities. Both groups of microorganisms were taxonomically classified by identification of gene sequences (16S rRNA and internal transcript spacer), and prevalences of single taxa were determined for the entire cohort. Major bacterial pathogens were frequently observed, whereas fungi of known pathogenicity in CF were detected only in low numbers. Fungal species richness increased without reaching a constant level (saturation), whereas bacterial richness showed saturation after 50 patients were analyzed. In contrast to bacteria, a large number of fungal species were observed together with high fluctuations over time and among patients. These findings demonstrated that the mycobiome was dominated by transient species, which strongly suggested that the main driving force was their presence in inhaled air rather than colonization. Considering the high exposure of human airways to fungal spores, we concluded that fungi have low colonization abilities in CF, and colonization by pathogenic fungal species may be considered a rare event. A comprehensive understanding of the conditions promoting fungal colonization may offer the opportunity to prevent colonization and substantially reduce or even eliminate fungus-related disease progression in CF.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahnaz Majeed ◽  
Mohmmad Danish ◽  
Aifa Husna Binti Zahrudin ◽  
Gouri Kumar Dash

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Mangamamba ◽  
M. C. Ganorkar ◽  
G. Swarnabala

Coordination complexes with metal ions Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), Cr(III), and VO(II) with six ligands formed by condensation products using azides and aldehydes or ketones are characterized. Both the ligands and the complexes synthesized are characterized by C, H, N, Cl and metal analyses, IR, UV-Vis, TGA, and magnetic susceptibility for tentative structure proposal. Several of them are screened for their toxicity (i.e., physiological activity) against fungal species Rhizoctonia solani and Acrocylindrium oryzae and a bacterium, Xanthomonas oryzae on rice pathogens. The study shows that the observed physiological activity is enhanced for the metal complexes as compared to the simple metal salts or ligands, except in the case of L3 or HAEP ligand, where the free –OH and –NH2 groups on the ligand seemed to have inhibited the activity. It is also observed that the order of activity has a dependence on the increased atomic weight of the metal ion in use. In some cases, especially the VO(II) complexes, they are found to be better than the standards in use, both for the fungicides and for the bactericide.


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