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Background Exophiala dermatitidis is a dematiaceous fungus isolated from various environmental sources. Systemic E. dermatitidis infections can lead to fatal outcomes, and treatment has not yet been standardized. Although E. dermatitidis is also known to cause cutaneous infection, it has not been previously reported to appear as ecthyma gangrenosum (EG), an uncommon cutaneous lesion in neutropenic patients that is mainly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Case presentation A 2-month-old male infant with mixed-phenotype acute leukemia presented with prolonged fever unresponsive to antibacterial and antifungal agents during myelosuppression due to remission induction therapy. He also presented with skin lesions on the left wrist and left lower quadrant of the abdomen. The abdominal lesion gradually turned black and necrotic, which was consistent with the findings of the EG. E. dermatitidis was isolated from the blood, stool, wrist skin, and endotracheal aspirate. During hematopoietic recovery, consolidation in both lungs was evident. Multiagent antifungal treatment failed to eliminate E. dermatitidis from blood. In order to salvage the central venous catheter, ethanol lock therapy (ELT) was adopted, following which the blood culture became negative. The abdominal lesion that evolved as a necrotic mass connecting the small intestine and subcutaneous tissue adjacent to the skin was surgically resected. After these interventions, the general condition improved. Conclusion Disseminated E. dermatitidis mycosis in the neutropenic infant was successfully managed with a multidisciplinary treatment consisting of multiagent antifungal treatment, ELT, and surgery.

The case was a male neonate born by emergent cesarean section due to non-reassuring fetal status at 30 weeks of gestation. His manifestations were consistent with those of Rodriguez syndrome. Molecular analysis revealed an SF3B4 mutation.

Background Campylobacter fetus is an uncommon Campylobacter species, and its infections mainly cause infective endocarditis, aortic aneurysm, and meningitis rather than enteritis. It is more likely to be detected in blood than Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter coli, specifically reported in 53% of patients. In our case, C. fetus was detected in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures. Case presentation A 33-year-old woman, who was on maintenance chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), presented to our clinic with chief complaints of severe headache and nausea. Blood and CSF cultures revealed C. fetus. We administrated meropenem 2 g intravenously (IV) every 8 h for 3 weeks, and she was discharged without neurological sequelae. Conclusion We encountered a case of C. fetus meningitis without gastrointestinal symptoms, neck stiffness or jolt accentuation in a patient with ALL. Undercooked beef was considered the source of C. fetus infection in this case, suggesting that the need for a neutropenic diet and safe food handling be considered.

Summary Background Currently, sequential morphological changes of vascularized scapular bone for mandibular reconstruction have remained unreported. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 18 patients with defects on the lateral segment of the mandible who underwent postoperative computed tomography (CT) scanning at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Using the cross-sectional coronal CT images during each assessment, we measured the height and thickness of the grafted scapular bone at points 10 and 30 mm away from the mesial segment and evaluated their differences over time. Then, the relationship between the morphological changes of the grafted scapular bone and the distance from the mesial bone segment, the number of occlusal supports on the contralateral side of the mandible, and the correlation of sex and age were evaluated. Results The height of the grafted scapular bone decreased by approximately 11% and its thickness increased by 14% within 24 months postoperatively. The bone thickness increase was greater at point 30 mm from the mesial bone segment. Patients with two occlusal contacts (premolar and molar) on the contralateral side had a significantly higher rate of bone thickness increase. Furthermore, the graft morphology was not associated with age or sex. Conclusion A vascularized scapular bone thickens over time, which depends on the distance from the mesial bone segment and the occlusal contact regions on the contralateral side of the mandible.

Three-dimensional shapes created from photographic imagery using a photometric stereo method is restored in the present study. We used one object and one digital camera. The source of light was moved and the camera took a picture of two or more object shape data. The radiance value of the obtained photographic imagery was requested respectively. It was restored to three-dimensional geometry by calculating the normal vector from the radiance value, and combining the data of the photographic imagery. As for this method, it is well-known that application is difficult for objects that have lustre. Therefore, an improvement was attempted using spline interpolation. It has been understood that the method which reproduces it by using spline interpolation as a result is effective. Furthermore, because an error margin is caused when an object with colour variation is reproduced, an improvement was tried. First of all, the colour component of the image was extracted. Then, the image with a small change in brightness was chosen and reproduced. Consequently, a shape near the theoretical value was able to be reproduced for the reproduction of a two-colour object including white.

The enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-hexachlorosulfolipid, a cytotoxin found in the Adriatic mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, is described. The unique chlorinated hydrocarbon motif of the lipid is successfully furnished by a series of dichlorination reactions of chiral epoxides with chlorophosphonium reagent generated in situ from Ph(3)P/NCS. The present total synthesis has allowed the confirmation of the absolute configuration of the natural cytotoxic (+)-hexachlorosulfolipid originally proposed by Fattorusso, Ciminiello, and co-workers.

The novel one-pot three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, 1,2-phenylenediamine, and β-keto esters is described. This reaction involves the γ-selective C–C bond formation of β-keto esters and produces 1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives.

Phase separation of poly(vinylidene fluoride) dimethylformamide solution was induced by the penetration of water vapor, and the porous membrane was formed. As the humidity in the gas phase increased, membrane morphology changed in the order of dense, porous (cellular), and lacy-like structures. At the higher humidity condition, spherical bead structure was observed, which is likely to be crystalline spherulite. With the increase of the initial polymer concentration, less pores were formed in the case of the lower humidity of 20%, whereas more distinguished spherical structures were formed in the case of higher humidity of 40%. The obtained membrane morphologies were discussed based on both the calculated composition paths during the process and the phase diagram. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 171–178, 1999

The isothermal phase diagram for poly(vinylidene fluoride)/dimethyl formamide/water system was derived. The binodal and spinodal were calculated based on the Flory–Huggins theory and the calculated binodal was approximately in agreement with the experimental data of the cloud points. The isothermal crystallization line was also obtained according to the theory of melting point depression. Mass transfer of the three components during membrane formation by the precipitation from the vapor phase has been analyzed. During this process, phase separation of the polymer solution is induced by the penetration of water vapor in the solution. The calculated result on the changes of the cast film weights indicated the good agreement with the experimental data. The time-course of the polymer concentration profile in the film was calculated for various cases of different humidity of the vapor phase and different initial polymer concentration. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 159–170, 1999

The first asymmetric total synthesis of spongotine A is described. The oxidative synthesis of the imidazoline/ketone unit from keto aldehyde and diamine is a key step in this synthesis. The absolute stereochemistry of the asymmetric center of natural spongotine A is revealed as the (S)-configuration.

A series of experiments on the facilitated transport of CO2 through supported liquid membranes impregnated with aqueous solutions of various amines as carriers was performed, and the effects of the reaction rate and the chemical equilibrium of the reaction between CO2 and amine on the permeability of CO2 were investigated. Four primary amines (monoethanolarnine (MEA), ethylenediamine (EDA), monoprotonated ethylenediamine (EDAH+), 2-amino-2-methyl-l-propanol (AMP)), one secondary amine (diethanolamine (DEA)) and two tertiary amines (triethanolamine (TEA), methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)) were used as the carrier. The feed gas was a mixture of CO2 and CH4. High CO2 permeabilities were obtained with the EDAH+ membrane due to its moderate chemical equilibrium constant Keq which is favorable for both fast absorption of CO2 at the feed side of the membrane and fast stripping at the sweep side. Low CO2 permeabilities were obtained with the tertiary amine and AMP membranes due to their low reactivity. The CO2 permeability through the MEA membrane, which has too large a Keq value at low temperature, increased with increasing temperature due to the decrease in Keq and also due to the increase in the reaction rate. The experimental results obtained with the MEA, DEA and EDAH+ membranes were simulated on the basis of the theory of facilitated transport.

A convergent asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-danicalipin A is accomplished, in which two chlorinated fragments are stereoselectively joined by 1,3-dipolar coupling, leading to the confirmation of the absolute configuration of the natural product.

The novel one-pot three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, 1,2-phenylenediamine, and β-keto esters is described. This reaction involves the γ-selective C–C bond formation of β-keto esters and produces 1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives.

A novel method to prepare 2-H-imidazolines from glyoxylic acid monohydrate and 1,2-diamines is described; the key reaction of this method is the oxidative decarboxylation of the 2-carboxy imidazolidines by NBS.

A novel method to prepare 2-H-imidazolines from glyoxylic acid monohydrate and 1,2-diamines is described; the key reaction of this method is the oxidative decarboxylation of the 2-carboxy imidazolidines by NBS.

The rate constant of the CO 2 -EDAH + system has been determined by the chemical absorption method. As very dilute amine solutions and dilute CO 2 were used in gas absorption experiments, physical properties such as diffusivities and solubilities for the CO 2 -pure water system could be used in the analysis. Kinetics of the reaction between CO 2 and some other amines such as ethylenediamine (EDA) and monoethanolamine (MEA) have also been studied and compared with the values reported in the literature.