Environmental isolation of black yeast-like fungi involved in human infection

The present study focuses on potential agents of chromoblastomycosis and other endemic diseases in the state of Paraná, Southern Brazil. Using a highly selective protocol for chaetothyrialean black yeasts and relatives, environmental samples from the living area of symptomatic patients were analysed. Additional strains were isolated from creosote-treated wood and hydrocarbon-polluted environments, as such polluted sites have been supposed to enhance black yeast prevalence. Isolates showed morphologies compatible with the traditional etiological agents of chromoblastomycosis, e.g. Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Phialophora verrucosa, and of agents of subcutaneous or systemic infections like Cladophialophora bantiana and Exophiala jeanselmei. Some agents of mild disease were indeed encountered. However, molecular analysis proved that most environmental strains differed from known etiologic agents of pronounced disease syndromes: they belonged to the same order, but mostly were undescribed species. Agents of chromoblastomycosis and systemic disease thus far are prevalent on the human host. The hydrocarbon-polluted environments yielded yet another spectrum of chaetothyrialean fungi. These observations are of great relevance because they allow us to distinguish between categories of opportunists, indicating possible differences in pathogenicity and virulence

TOWARDS FULLY AUTOMATED DIGITAL ALIBIS WITH SOCIAL INTERACTION

Digital traces found on local hard drives as a result of online activities have become very valuable in reconstructing events in digital forensic investigations. This paper demonstrates that forged alibis can be created for online activities and social interactions. In particular, a novel, automated framework is presented that uses social interactions to create false digital alibis. The framework simulates user activity and supports communications via email as well as instant messaging using a chatbot. The framework is evaluated by extracting forensic artifacts and comparing them with the results obtained from a human user study

Het komkommervisje: Onopvallende spil in het IJsselmeer dreigt te verdwijnen

Het spieringbestand daalt al twee decennia gestaag. De spiering is geen gewaardeerde consumptievis, maar als schakel tussen plankton en predatoren wel een belangrijk onderdeel in het voedselweb. Mogelijke oorzaken die een rol spelen in de teruggang van de spiering zijn de temperatuurstijging en het helder worden van wateren. Nader onderzoek moet uitwijzen welke maatregelen deze vissoort er weer bovenop kunnen helpe

Biodiversity of the genus Cladophialophora

Cladophialophora is a genus of black yeast-like fungi comprising a number of clinically highly significant species in addition to environmental taxa. The genus has previously been characterized by branched chains of ellipsoidal to fusiform conidia. However, this character was shown to have evolved several times independently in the order Chaetothyriales. On the basis of a multigene phylogeny (nucLSU, nucSSU, RPB1), most of the species of Cladophialophora (including its generic type C. carrionii) belong to a monophyletic group comprising two main clades (carrionii- and bantiana-clades). The genus includes species causing chromoblastomycosis and other skin infections, as well as disseminated and cerebral infections, often in immunocompetent individuals. In the present study, multilocus phylogenetic analyses were combined to a morphological study to characterize phenetically similar Cladophialophora strains. Sequences of the ITS region, partial Translation Elongation Factor 1-α and β-Tubulin genes were analysed for a set of 48 strains. Four novel species were discovered, originating from soft drinks, alkylbenzene-polluted soil, and infected patients. Membership of the both carrionii and bantiana clades might be indicative of potential virulence to humans

Химиотерапия взрослых больных с саркомами мягких тканей

В обзоре рассмотрены общие принципы цитостатического лечения взрослых больных с саркомами мягких тканей. Роль химиотерапии при этом заболевании на протяжении последних лет повышается. Hаиболее эффективными цитостатиками являются доксорубицин и ифосфамид, причем у обоих препаратов установлена зависимость эффективности от дозы. Химиотерапию применяют как элемент радикального комбинированного лечения, а также как паллиативный метод при метастатическом процессе. При рабдомиосаркоме химиотерапия эффективна практически при любой стадии заболевания.Chemotherapy has an increasing role in the therapy of soft tissue sarcomas. Meanwhile, chemotherapy of these tumors is frequently considered in general without taking into account the peculiar clinical features of various subtypes. Doxorubicin and ifosfamide are the most active drugs in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas. Chemotherapy could be used both for radical and for palliative treatment. For rhabdomyosarcoma, chemotherapy is effective in all the stages of such disease