Papillary carcinoma in struma ovarii: an unusual presentation.

Struma ovarii is the presence of thyroid tissue as the major cellular component in an ovarian tumour. Papillary carcinoma in struma ovarii is exceptionally rare. We report a case of papillary carcinoma in struma ovarii in a postmenopausal 51-year-old female who initially presented clinically with hyperthyroidism.

Pulmonary aspergillosis.

Aspergillus species are ubiquitous in the environment and are inevitably inhaled into the airways. Inhalation of Aspergillus conidia or mycelium fragments may result in colonisation of the airways. In susceptible hosts colonisation may subsequently cause disease.

Protease-dependent activation of epithelial cells by fungal allergens leads to morphologic changes and cytokine production.

Background: Proteases in extracts of Aspergillus fumigatus cause epithelial cell desquamation and release of proinflammatory cytokines.

Objective: We sought to assess protease activity in Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, and Aspergillus fumigatus extracts and study the ability of these extracts to cause desquamation and release of proinflammatory cytokines from epithelial cells.

Methods: Protease activities of the fungal extracts were quantified.

Putative virulence factors of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Various putative virulence factors of Aspergillus fumigatus have been studied over the past decades. A. fumigatus gliotoxin is a potent inhibitor of the mucociliary system.