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Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic neglected fungal disease that causes serious damage to the physical and mental health of patients. 5-Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) has garnered significant attention in the recent era for the treatment of CBM and has exhibited promising effects in several clinical case reports. We established a mice footpad infection model with Fonsecaea monophora and analyzed the impact of PDT treatment on the immune response of macrophages using single-cell sequencing. The results showed that infection of the mouse footpad skin with F. monophora results in an increase in inflammatory cells, primarily mononuclear-macrophages, with the activation of complement and enhancement of cell chemotaxis, leading to upregulation of anti-infection-related pathways. After ALA-PDT treatment, the number of inflammatory cells decreased, while macrophages upregulated the expression of antigen-recognition-related genes, enhancing phagocytosis and autophagy-related biological functions.

Paraconiothyrium cyclothyrioides is a coelomycetous fungus species that was recently identified. We present a case of an elderly farmer with chronic skin lesions of the opisthenar caused by P. cyclothyrioides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a debilitating disease characterized by continuous, intense pain following an outbreak of herpes zoster. The pain associated with PHN can severely affect a patient's quality of life, quality of sleep, and ability to participate in activities of daily living. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical efficacy of the subcutaneous injection of botulinum toxin‐A (BTX‐A) for the treatment of PHN. Thirteen patients with PHN were enrolled in this study and treated once with BTX‐A. The effects of BTX‐A on pain were measured with the visual analogue scale (VAS) 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after administration. Compared with pretreatment scores, VAS pain scores decreased at 2 weeks post‐treatment in all patients. All patients felt varying degrees of pain relief but remained comfortable. Compared with oral analgesic drugs, VAS scores were significantly different at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks post‐treatment (p <.05). These results demonstrated that subcutaneous administration of BTX‐A can decrease pain in patients with PHN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Impatiens balsamina , Lawsonia inermis L . and Henna in a C57BL/6 mouse model of androgenetic alopecia and explore the mechanisms., Methods: Forty-eight male C57BL/6 mice were randomized equally into blank control group, androgenetic alopecia model group, Impatiens balsamina group, Lawsonia inermis L . group, Henna group and minoxidil group. In all but those in the blank control group, the mice were subjected to dorsal subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate solution (daily dose 5 mg/kg) to establish models of androgenetic alopecia and received subsequent treatment with topical application of the corresponding drugs on a daily basis for 35 days. The concentrations of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and 5α reductase type Ⅱ in the serum and skin tissue were measured, and the histopathological changes of the skin tissues were observed., Results: All the tested drugs were capable of promoting new hair growth in the dorsal skin lesions of the mice. Among these drugs, Henna produced the most pronounced therapeutic effect and resulted in the highest dorsal hair density and a color change of the dorsal skin into gray; Lawsonia inermis L . showed the poorest therapeutic effect and resulted in the lowest dorsal hair density. The total number of follicles and the number of terminal hair follicles in a given field were significantly higher in all the drug treatment groups than in the model group ( P < 0.05). In Impatiens balsamina group and Henna group, the contents of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the skin were significantly lower than those in the model group ( P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels or skin 5α reductase type Ⅱ level between the drug treatment groups and the model group., Conclusions: Impatiens balsamina , Lawsonia inermis L ., and Henna all have therapeutic effects on androgenetic alopecia in C57BL/6 mice. The therapeutic effect of Impatiens balsamina and Henna is possibly achieved by reducing androgen content in local skin tissue.

We report a case of chromoblastomycosis caused by Fonsecaea nubica , which was successfully treated by long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd: YAG laser combined with terbinafine. A 60-year-old man was admitted for the presence of a 30 mm×40 mm erythematous plaque on the dorsum of his right hand for about 10 months without any subjective symptoms. Both microscopic examination and tissue biopsy of the lesion showed characteristic sclerotic bodies of chromoblastomycosis. Lesion tissue culture on SDA at 26 ℃ for 2 weeks resulted in a black colony, and slide culture identified the isolate as Fonsecaea species. ITS sequence analysis of the isolate showed a 99% homology with F. nubica strain KX078407. The in vitro susceptibility of the isolate to 9 antifungal agents was determined using the microdilution method according to the guidelines of CLSI M38-A2 protocol, and terbinafine showed the lowest MIC (0.125 μg/ml). We subsequently established a Wistar rat model of chromoblastomycosis using the clinical isolate F. nubica and treated the rats with long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd: YAG laser (pulse width of 3.0 ms, fluence of 24 J/cm 2 , spot size of 3 mm, frequency of 4 Hz, repeated 3 times at an interval of 30 s) twice a week for a total of 8 sessions. Although the laser treatment alone was not able to eliminate the fungi, histopathological examination showed the aggregation of numerous lymphocytes in the local affected tissue, indicating an immune response that consequently facilitate the regression of the lesion. The patient was successfully treated by long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd: YAG laser once a week combined with terbinafine (0.25 /bid) for 8 weeks, and follow-up for 20 months did not reveal any signs of recurrence.

Objective: We report a case of cutaneous and subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala jeanselmei after renal transplantation in Guangdong. A 66-year-old man who had a renal transplantation 6 years ago was admitted in October 2011 for the presence of 16 nodules (0.5-1.5 cm) found on his right middle finger, wrist and forearm for 5 months. Microscopic examination of the purulent exudate showed segmented and branched brown mycelium, and tissue biopsy and PAS staining showed fungal hyphae. The isolate was processed for morphological identification and molecular sequence analysis. A black colony was found after culture of the isolate on SDA at 26 degrees Celsius;, and small culture identified the isolate as Exophiala jeanselmei. ITS sequence analysis of the isolate showed a 100% homology with Exophiala jeanselmei. E-test strip was used in drug sensitivity test, and the isolate was sensitive to amphotericin B, voriconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole, but resistant to 5-flucytosine and caspofungin. Good response was obtained with surgical intervention, local injection and systemic antifungal treatment.