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Different concentrations (25, 30, 35 and 40%) of Nerium oleander L. leaf extracts were tested against the red grain beetle adults Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Results showed that the percentage mortality ranged from 16.7% in the powder treatment increased to 70% in the alcohol extract at 40% concentration. Highest mortality rate was 49.2% in the alcohol extract, followed by 43.4% in the aqueous extract, while the least (30.9%) was recorded for the dry powder of N. oleander leaves. The results also showed an attraction and repellent effects of the extracts on the pest adults and there was a positive correlation between high mortality rate of the tested products and repellent effects on the adults, while a negative correlation was recorded between mortality rate and attractiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 45-year-old male with rhinocerebral mucormycosis ( Rhizopus oryzae), refractory to liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole, received isavuconazole salvage therapy. Initial isavuconazole plasma and tissue levels were 0.76-0.86 μg/mL and 1.09-1.38 μg/g. Plasma levels increased to 1.3-3.24 μg/mL with reduced comedication. Isavuconazole was well tolerated, and the patient has remained disease-free 24 months post-antifungal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gentian violet (GV) is recommended for initial treatment of oral candidiasis in HIV-infected patients in resource-limited settings. Currently GV is not used because of its staining effects. In this study, we investigated the staining capacity of three different concentrations of GV to determine a concentration that does not cause staining. The selected concentration that did not cause staining was evaluated for its physical stability and antifungal activity. Fifteen healthy participants were randomized to rinse twice daily for 14 days with one of three GV concentrations: 0.1%, 0.0085%, or 0.00165%. Oral examination and intra-oral photographs were performed at baseline and at the end of therapy. Participants responded to a questionnaire to assess adverse events. Antifungal activity was evaluated using the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute methodology. GV at a concentration of 0.00165% did not stain the oral mucosa and was well tolerated. GV at a concentration of 0.00165% was stable and possessed antifungal activity when stored at certain temperatures for different time periods. Gentian violet solution at the concentration of 0.00165% does not stain the oral mucosa, is stable and possesses potent antifungal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections can be serious in severely immunocompromised patients. Use of a targeted infection control program (TICP) has been shown to reduce RSV nosocomial transmission. We evaluated the impact of an enhanced seasonal infection control program (ESICP) vs standard TICP in a hematology-oncology ward. TICP was applied from 1999 to 2001 and ESICP applied from 2001 to 2003. ESICP consisted of strict isolation for all patients admitted on the ward during the RSV season. We prospectively evaluated the incidence, related morbidity and mortality of nosocomial RSV in both field interventions. A total of 40 hospitalized RSV infections were documented. The cumulative incidence of nosocomial RSV during TICP and ESICP was respectively of 42.8 and 3.9 cases/1000 admissions (relative risk=0.09). ESICP needed to be implemented on 26 admitted patients on our ward to prevent one RSV nosocomial case. Furthermore, implementation of ESICP prevented four pneumonias and two deaths per RSV season. We conclude that ESICP is significantly more efficient than TICP to reduce the occurrence of nosocomial RSV infections and its related morbidity and mortality in patients with hematological malignancy and recipients of hematopoietic SCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive fungal infections are major medical complications in immunocompromised patients. The recent rise in the incidence of cancer and the increased use of newer medical treatment modalities, including organ transplantations, have resulted in growing numbers of highly immunosuppressed individuals. Although aspergillosis and candidiasis are among the most common invasive mycoses in such patients, there is evidence that the incidence of infectious diseases caused by Zygomycetes has risen significantly over the past decade. Patients with diabetes, malignancies, solid organ or bone marrow transplants, or iron overload and those receiving immunosuppressive agents, deferoxamine therapy, or broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs are at highest risk for zygomycosis. This review details the emergence and importance of zygomycosis in current clinical practice and its manifestations and management. The etiologic species, pathogenesis and risk factors for zygomycosis are reviewed and updated. The clinical spectrum of zygomycosis is now broader, and it can be difficult to distinguish between mucormycosis and enthomophthoramycosis, both of which can manifest as disease ranging from a superficial infection to an angioinvasive infection with high mortality. Finally, the three-part treatment strategy (antifungal drugs, surgery, control of underlying diseases) is reviewed. Lipid formulations of amphotericin B are the antifungal agents of choice for treatment of zygomycosis. A novel antifungal triazole, posaconazole, has been developed and may become approved for treatment of zygomycosis. The clinical experience with adjunctive treatments like colony-stimulating factors, interferon-gamma, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy is still limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary:The incidence of invasive fungal infection (IFIs) in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients ranges from 10 to 25% with an overall case fatality rate of up to 70-90%. Candida and Aspergillus genera remain the two most common pathogens. Although fluconazole prophylaxis in this population has been moderately effective in reducing mortality due to invasive candidiasis, this agent does not have activity against invasive aspergillosis (IA) and other mould. Several new agents such as voriconazole and caspofungin have enhanced potency and broad-spectrum antifungal activity and show promising results against yeasts and filamentous fungi when given as therapy and as chemoprophylaxis. Further, new diagnostic tools to detect circulating fungal antigens in biological fluids and PCR-based methods to detect species or genus-specific DNA or RNA have been developed. Incorporating these techniques along with clinical criteria appear to improve the accuracy of preclinical diagnosis of IFIs. Such approaches may alter the current treatment strategy from prophylaxis to pre-emptive therapy, thereby potentially decreasing cost and toxicity in high-risk patients.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2004) 34, 377-389. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1704603 Published online 12 July 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive fungal infections are becoming more common. Current therapy is generally limited to amphotericin B in its parent and lipid formulations, 5-fluctyosine, fluconazole, and itraconazole. Toxicity, drug-drug interactions, and increasing fungal resistance reduce the usefulness of these drugs, and the need for new therapies is pressing. This article briefly discusses the limitations of antifungal minimum inhibitory testing, and then summarizes new antifungal drugs in development that have been tested in humans. It also addresses novel treatment strategies such as drug combination therapy, pharmacological reformulations to improve the efficacy or reduce the toxicity of current antifungal drugs, immune function augmentation, and vaccine development. All of these strategies, although in their infancy, will enhance the clinician's ability to care for patients with invasive fungal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat Stem Sawfly (WSS) Cephus pygmaeus Linnaeus is one of the main insect pests that invades both barley and wheat in many regions of the world. Larvae feed on the contents of the host stem, resulting in empty or small-seed spikes. Natural enemiesare one of the important integrated pest management components used to control this insect. A survey was conducted in some wheat fields in the Northern Iraq to determine the most common parasitoid species associated with this pest. Two hymenopterous species of parasitoids were recorded associated with the pest as new parasitoids in Iraq; Collyria coxator, Villers (Ichnoumonidae) and Bracon terebella, Wesmal (Braconidae). The overall ratio of parasitism reached 15%. The highest percentage was found in C. coxator by 8.2%, followed by 6.8%. with B. terebella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of chemotherapy, X-irradiation and a combination of both on the phenomenon of adherence of yeast to buccal epithelial cells (BEC) was investigated in vitro. Growth of three Candida spp. in the presence of eight of eleven antineoplastic agents led to reduction of adherence of the isolates tested (reduction between 30% and 61% of the control value), and this effect was observed whether exponential or stationary phase Candida cells were used. Exposure of C. albicans to various doses of radiation also led to a reduction in adherence of this yeast to BEC between 31% and 53% of the control value. This reduction was shown to be dose related. Similar results were obtained when BEC were exposed to radiation, and the effect of radiation treatment was accentuated when both yeast and BEC were irradiated simultaneously. Furthermore, treating C albicans with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation led to the greatest reduction in adherence of yeast to BEC compared to when the yeast was treated with either chemotherapy or radiation alone (reduction between 63% to 74% as compared with control). The possible mechanism/s involved in reduction of adherence of yeast to BEC are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like other cyanobacteria, Chlorogloeopsis fritschii contained as major lipid classes monogalactosyldiacyl-glycerols, digalactosyldiacylglycerols, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols and diacylglycerophosphoglycerols. In addition to these lipid classes this cyanobacterium also contained small amounts of diacylglycerophosphocholines and sterols, predominantly lanosterol, thus showing similarity to photosynthetic eukaryotes. Dark incubated cells contained larger proportions of the latter two lipid classes than light grown cells. Like other prokaryotes, C. fritschii lacked linolenic acid (18:3) in its lipids. Lipids from the thylakoids were richer in palmitoleic acid (16:1) than those of whole cells. There was no effect of light on the patterns of constituent fatty acids of lipids from C. fritschii, in contrast to photosynthetic eukaryotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The minimum inhibitory concentration values against Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria were determined and compared for a selected group of synthesized α-substituted 2-methyl-5-nitrofuran derivatives. In vitro oxidation of thiols to disulfides by 2-(iodomethyl)-5-nitrofuran indicated that oxidation of enzyme-thiol groups to disulfide bonds was a possible mode of action; but was discounted by noninhibition of thiol enzymes by these compounds. Electron-microscopic studies of the morphology of bacteria after treatment with these derivatives showed the formation of unusual elongation, branching and atypical rod shapes in E. coli, while S. aureus manifested multibud formation with some cytoplasmic protrusions. The possible mode of action of these compounds is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mode of action of the antimicrobial agent, 5-bromo-5-nitro-l,3-dioxane (bronidox), was studied in detail for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeast and fungi. The studies included MIC testing, thiol inhibition of activity, intracellular leakage, oxygen consumption, incorporation ofH-uridine, scanning electron microscopy, inhibition of enzyme activity (papain) and in vitro oxidation of thiols to disulfides. It appears that the primary mode of action of bronidox is the same as, or similar to, that of bronopol, i.e. the oxidation of essential protein thiol causing inhibition of enzyme activity and subsequent inhibition of microbial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kuwaiti desert samples contaminated with crude oil contained Bacillus stearothermophilus strains capable of growth on crude oil as a sole source of carbon and energy, obligately at high temperature. No thermophilic oil utilizers were present in water samples collected from the Arabian Gulf. Most of the desert strains had an optimum temperature of 60°C and grew best on pentadecane (C), hexadecane (C) and heptadecane (C). n-Alkanes with shorter and longer chains, n-alkenes, and aromatic hydrocarbons were less readily utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida albicans KTCC 89062 grown on n-alkanes showed higher levels of sterol content as compared to glucose-grown cells. Certain sterols, such as lanosterol, were significantly reduced in cells grown on n-alkanes, while others, such as ergosterol, increased in these cells. Sterol fractions declined as the chain length of the n-alkanes increased. Ergosterol supplementation of the chemically defined medium showed an increase in the uptake of dodecane (C) by cells grown on such medium. Increase in the concentration of ergosterol supplementation resulted in an increase in C uptake. The uptake of C was not stimulated by ergosterol supplementation in the case of non-viable yeast cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]