Rapid Prototyping of Inertial MEMS Devices through Structural Optimization.

In this paper, we propose a novel design and optimization environment for inertial MEMS devices based on a computationally efficient schematization of the structure at the a device level. This allows us to obtain a flexible and efficient design optimization tool, particularly useful for rapid device prototyping. The presented design environment--handles the parametric generation of the structure geometry, the simulation of its dynamic behavior, and a gradient-based layout optimization.

Delay of antifungal therapy influences the outcome of invasive aspergillosis in experimental models of infection.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of delayed antifungal therapy on the outcome of invasive aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus in experimental models of infection.

Methods: A clinical isolate of A. fumigatus susceptible to amphotericin B (MIC 0.

Effects of amphotericin B on Aspergillus flavus clinical isolates with variable susceptibilities to the polyene in an experimental model of systemic aspergillosis.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of amphotericin B (AMB) on clinical isolates of Aspergillus flavus.

Methods: MICs of both standard AMB and liposomal AMB (L-AMB) were determined using a broth dilution method for seven isolates of A. flavus.

In vitro and in vivo effects of echinocandins against Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, Candida orthopsilosis and Candida metapsilosis.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare, in vitro and in vivo, the effects of caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafungin against Candida parapsilosis complex isolates.

Methods: In vitro activities of all three echinocandins were assessed against C. parapsilosis sensu stricto (n = 4), Candida orthopsilosis (n = 4) and Candida metapsilosis (n = 3) using broth microdilution susceptibility testing, minimum fungicidal concentration determination and a killing-curve assay, in the absence and in the presence of 50% human serum.

Comparative effects of micafungin, caspofungin, and anidulafungin against a difficult-to-treat fungal opportunistic pathogen, Candida glabrata.

The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro and in vivo activities of micafungin, caspofungin, and anidulafungin against Candida glabrata. The MICs against 28 clinical isolates showed that the overall susceptibilities to caspofungin and to micafungin were not statistically different in the absence of human serum, whereas the isolates were less susceptible to micafungin than to caspofungin in its presence. Minimum fungicidal concentrations, as well as time-kill experiments, showed that caspofungin was more active than anidulafungin, while micafungin was superior to either caspofungin or anidulafungin without serum; its addition rendered caspofungin and micafungin equally effective.

In vitro and in vivo activities of posaconazole against zygomycetes with various degrees of susceptibility.

Objectives: We analysed the in vitro and in vivo effects of posaconazole and amphotericin B against three clinical isolates of zygomycetes: Lichtheimia corymbifera, F1; and Rhizopus oryzae, F5 and F6.

Methods: In vitro activities of both drugs were assessed by determining MICs, minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) and fungal damage measured by the XTT assay against either the spores or the hyphal forms. Additionally, the survival curves of neutropenic mice systemically infected with the zygomycete isolates were used as the marker of antifungal response to amphotericin B (1 mg/kg/day) or posaconazole (2.

Posaconazole against Candida glabrata isolates with various susceptibilities to fluconazole.

We investigated the in vitro activities of posaconazole (POS), fluconazole (FLC), amphotericin B (AMB), and caspofungin (CAS) against four clinical isolates of Candida glabrata with various susceptibilities to FLC (FLC MICs ranging from 1.0 to >64 microg/ml). POS MICs ranged from < or =0.

Caspofungin in combination with amphotericin B against Candida parapsilosis.

Candida parapsilosis has emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen. In the present study, a checkerboard broth microdilution method was performed to investigate the in vitro activities of caspofungin (CAS) in combination with amphotericin B (AMB) against three clinical isolates of C. parapsilosis.

Posaconazole prophylaxis in experimental systemic zygomycosis.

Three isolates of zygomycetes belonging to two different genera (Rhizopus oryzae and Absidia corymbifera) were used to produce a systemic infection in neutropenic mice. On days -2 and -1 and at 2 h prior to infection, the mice received either posaconazole (POS) at doses ranging from 20 to 80 mg/kg of body weight/day or amphotericin B (AMB) at 1 mg/kg/day. Antifungal drug efficacy was assessed by determination of the prolongation of survival, determination of the percentage of infected organs (brain, lung, spleen, and kidney), and histological examination for the number of infection foci and their sizes in brain and kidney tissues.

Efficacy of caspofungin against Aspergillus terreus.

We investigated the in vitro and in vivo activities of caspofungin against Aspergillus terreus. The drug increased survival and reduced tissue fungal burden in neutropenic mice. Therefore, our data support the role of caspofungin in treating systemic infections due to this emerging pathogen.

Comparison of the fungicidal activities of caspofungin and amphotericin B against Candida glabrata.

We investigated the fungicidal activity of caspofungin (CAS) and amphotericin B (AMB) against 16 clinical isolates of Candida glabrata. The minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) of CAS were similar to those of AMB, ranging from 2.0 to >8.

Caspofungin in combination with amphotericin B against Candida glabrata.

The effects of caspofungin combined with amphotericin B were investigated with Candida glabrata. Although in vitro experiments showed an indifferent interaction, the combination regimen was the only therapeutic approach yielding organ sterilization in a murine candidemia model.

Tolerance to amphotericin B in clinical isolates of Candida tropicalis.

A broth microdilution method was used for testing amphotericin B against 33 clinical isolates of Candida tropicalis. All isolates were in vitro susceptible to the polyene (MIC [minimal inhibitory concentration] < or = 1.0 microg/mL).

Sequential therapy with caspofungin and fluconazole for Candida albicans infection.

A sequential therapy of caspofungin (CAS) and fluconazole (FLC) administration for treatment of Candida albicans infection was investigated. Treatment with CAS followed by FLC was as effective as CAS treatment given alone for the same duration. Our data suggest that switching from CAS to FLC is a potentially explorable therapeutic option for treatment of systemic candidiasis.

Posaconazole and amphotericin B combination therapy against Cryptococcus neoformans infection.

To investigate the effects of posaconazole (POS) and amphotericin B (AMB) combination therapy in cryptococcal infection, we established an experimental model of systemic cryptococcosis in CD1 mice by intravenous injection of three distinct clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans. Therapy was started 24 h after the infection and continued for 10 consecutive days. POS was given at 3 and 10 mg/kg of body weight/day, while AMB was given at 0.

Tolerance to the protective effect of salmeterol in mild untreated asthmatics.

The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of the occurrence of tolerance to the protective effect of salmeterol on allergen challenge in a large sample of asthmatic subjects. We investigated 53 subjects (45 male and eight female), mean age 24+/-8.2 years, with mild intermittent asthma, in stable phase of the disease, never previously treated with regular beta2-agonists.

Analysis of sputum cell counts during spontaneous moderate exacerbations of asthma in comparison to the stable phase.

Background: Acute airway inflammation is considered to characterize asthma exacerbations, but its specific cellular pattern has not yet been completely evaluated.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of sputum eosinophilia during acute asthma exacerbations of moderate severity, compared with a stable phase of the disease, and to assess the concordance between changes in pulmonary function and sputum eosinophilia in the period between exacerbation and post exacerbation.

Methods: We compared sputum and blood inflammatory cell counts in 29 asthmatic subjects during a spontaneous moderate exacerbation of asthma (visit 1) with sputum and blood cell counts measured 4 weeks after the resolution of asthma exacerbation (visit 2).

In vitro and in vivo anticryptococcal activities of a new pyrazolo-isothiazole derivative.

We investigated the activity of a pyrazolo-isothiazole derivative (G8) against Cryptococcus neoformans. A first screening test showed that G8 at 10 mg/L inhibited the growth of 14 of 15 clinical isolates tested. Killing experiments showed that fungicidal activity was achieved after 8 h of treatment with G8 at concentrations > or =10 mg/L.

Induced sputum is a reproducible method to assess airway inflammation in asthma.

To evaluate the reproducibility of induced sputum analysis, and to estimate the sample size required to obtained reliable results, sputum was induced by hypertonic saline inhalation in 29 asthmatic subjects on two different days. The whole sample method was used for analysis, and inflammatory cells were counted on cytospin slides. Reproducibility, expressed by intra-class correlation coefficients, was good for macrophages (+0.

Ozone exposure increases eosinophilic airway response induced by previous allergen challenge.

We investigated whether exposure to ozone (O(3)) 24 hours after an allergen challenge test would increase airway eosinophilia induced by allergen in subjects with mild asthma with late airway response. Twelve subjects with mild atopic asthma participated in a randomized, single-blind study. Subjects underwent allergen challenge 24 hours before a 2 hour exposure to O(3) (0.