Non-invasive, transdermal, path-selective and specific glucose monitoring via a graphene-based platform.

Currently, there is no available needle-free approach for diabetics to monitor glucose levels in the interstitial fluid. Here, we report a path-selective, non-invasive, transdermal glucose monitoring system based on a miniaturized pixel array platform (realized either by graphene-based thin-film technology, or screen-printing). The system samples glucose from the interstitial fluid via electroosmotic extraction through individual, privileged, follicular pathways in the skin, accessible via the pixels of the array.

Balanced Ambipolar Organic Field-Effect Transistors by Polymer Preaggregation.

Ambipolar organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on heterojunction active films still suffer from an imbalance in the transport of electrons and holes. This problem is related to an uncontrolled phase separation between the donor and acceptor organic semiconductors in the thin films. In this work, we have developed a concept to improve the phase separation in heterojunction transistors to enhance their ambipolar performance.

Gene polymorphisms in pattern recognition receptors and susceptibility to idiopathic recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Objective: Approximately 5% of women suffer from recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). It has been hypothesized that genetic factors play an important role in the susceptibility to RVVC. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of genetic variants of genes encoding for pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on susceptibility to RVVC.

Drug-induced nephrotoxicity caused by amphotericin B lipid complex and liposomal amphotericin B: a review and meta-analysis.

Lipid preparations of amphotericin B, commonly used to treat fungal infections, have been demonstrated to have reduced nephrotoxicity compared to conventional amphotericin B. However, to our knowledge, a comprehensive comparison of nephrotoxicity induced by different lipid preparations of amphotericin B has not been performed. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate nephrotoxicity associated with amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) and liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB).

Early removal of central venous catheter in patients with candidemia does not improve outcome: analysis of 842 patients from 2 randomized clinical trials.

Background: Patients with candidemia frequently have a central venous catheter (CVC) in place, and its early removal is considered the standard of care.

Methods: We performed a subgroup analysis of 2 phase III, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trials of candidemia to examine the effects of early CVC removal (within 24 or 48 h after treatment initiation) on the outcomes of 842 patients with candidemia. Inclusion criteria were candidemia, age >16 years, CVC at diagnosis, and receipt of 1 dose of the study drug.

Treatment of candidemia and invasive candidiasis in the intensive care unit: post hoc analysis of a randomized, controlled trial comparing micafungin and liposomal amphotericin B.

Introduction: Invasive candidiasis and candidemia are life-threatening nosocomial infections in intensive care patients.

Methods: A post hoc analysis of a phase 3 trial assessing micafungin (100 mg/day for subjects > 40 kg; 2 mg/kg/day for subjects View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Defining responses to therapy and study outcomes in clinical trials of invasive fungal diseases: Mycoses Study Group and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer consensus criteria.

Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) have become major causes of morbidity and mortality among highly immunocompromised patients. Authoritative consensus criteria to diagnose IFD have been useful in establishing eligibility criteria for antifungal trials. There is an important need for generation of consensus definitions of outcomes of IFD that will form a standard for evaluating treatment success and failure in clinical trials.

Renal impairment and amphotericin B formulations in patients with invasive fungal infections.

A systematic review was performed to examine renal function in patients with invasive fungal infections, comparing the nephrotoxicity caused by conventional amphotericin B deoxycholate (c-AmB) with that induced by the use of lipid-based amphotericin B formulations. The analysis considered all comparative studies published in the literature between January 1996 and May 2007. The outcome data reviewed herein focused on renal toxicity as measured by serum creatinine (S-Cr) and the doubling or the mean difference in S-Cr levels from baseline to the end of therapy or the need for dialysis.

[Coccidioidomycosis revealed by specific cutaneous lesions occurring after placement of a ventricular cardiac shunt for chronic meningitis].

Introduction: Coccidioidomycosis is a deep mycosis rare in France.

Case: We report the case of a patient with disseminated coccidioidomycosis and meningitis after travel to California. It initially suggested tuberculosis.

Adjuvant corticosteroid therapy for chronic disseminated candidiasis.

Background: Chronic disseminated candidiasis (CDC) is typically observed during neutrophil recovery in patients with acute leukemia and requires protracted antifungal therapy.

Objective: Our objective was to document the efficacy and tolerance of corticosteroid therapy (CST) in patients with symptomatic CDC, including those who experienced fever and abdominal pain despite ongoing antifungal therapy.

Methods: We performed a retrospective, multicenter study involving 10 pediatric and adult patients who experienced ongoing symptomatic CDC despite receipt of appropriate antifungal therapy for whom adjuvant oral CST was initiated.

Literature review and case histories of Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii infections in HIV-infected patients.

African histoplasmosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii is an invasive fungal infection endemic in central and west Africa. Most of its ecology and pathogenesis remain unknown.

Fungal internal carotid artery aneurysms: successful embolization of an Aspergillus-associated case and review.

Background: Fungal aneurysms of the carotid artery are rare. We report here a case of Aspergillus fumigatus invasive sphenoidal sinusitis complicated by carotid artery aneurysms in a severely neutropenic patient who was successfully treated with a combination of antifungal therapy and embolization of all aneurysms.

Methods And Results: Carotid aneurysms were suspected when severe epistaxis occurred during follow-up for sinusitis.

Micafungin versus caspofungin for treatment of candidemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis.

Background: Invasive candidiasis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with health care-associated infection. The echinocandins have potent fungicidal activity against most Candida species, but there are few data comparing the safety and efficacy of echinocandins in the treatment of invasive candidiasis.

Methods: This was an international, randomized, double-blind trial comparing micafungin (100 mg daily) and micafungin (150 mg daily) with a standard dosage of caspofungin (70 mg followed by 50 mg daily) in adults with candidemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis.

Successful treatment of black-grain mycetoma with voriconazole.

Fungal mycetoma (or eumycetoma) are endemic diseases in tropical areas that have economic effects because of their chronic and disabling evolution. Classic treatments include surgery and antifungal drugs, but these have multiple side effects. We report a case of black-grain fungal mycetoma successfully treated with voriconazole without side effects.

[Use of topical antifungal agents].

Topical antifungal agents are not absorbed when given orally. They act by direct contact on the fungus, this type of action requires the simultaneous presence of antifungal and fungus for a minimum of time. There are a large number of compounds belonging to different families of antifungals: polyens, azoles, allylamine and morpholine and antiseptic substances.

Voriconazole treatment for subacute invasive and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.

Background: Voriconazole is a novel triazole antifungal with a broad spectrum including Aspergillus species. We conducted an open, noncomparative multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of voriconazole in subacute invasive and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA).

Methods: Patients without profound neutropenia and a proven or probable diagnosis of subacute invasive aspergillosis (IA) or CPA received voriconazole 200 mg twice daily for a period of 4-24 weeks as primary or salvage therapy.

Morganella morganii pericarditis 3 years after allogenic bone marrow transplantation for mantle cell lymphoma.

We report herein a case of Morganella morganii-associated acute purulent pericarditis that developed 3 years after allogenic bone marrow transplantation. The patient was successfully treated with surgical drainage and cefotaxime for 6 weeks. Splenectomy and immunosuppression for chronic GVH-D are likely to have favored the development of this rare infectious complication after BMT.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in HIV-infected patients with disseminated histoplasmosis.

Four HIV-1-infected patients presented with unusual clinical manifestations in the course of disseminated histoplasmosis, including liver abscesses, compressive lymphadenitis, intestinal obstruction, uveitis and arthritis within a median of 45 days after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). They had a median increase of 106 CD4 cells/mul and granulomas with caseation in three. Partial immune reconstitution induced by HAART during disseminated histoplasmosis either related to the variety capsulatum or duboisii may be associated with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

Voriconazole for invasive bone aspergillosis: a worldwide experience of 20 cases.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND; Bone aspergillosis remains a rare but potentially devastating fungal disease. Although voriconazole is effective for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, evidence of its efficacy for aspergillosis located in bone is limited.

Methods: We report our experience with voriconazole in 4 cases of invasive bone aspergillosis.