Non-lipophilic mycobiota of human skin

The human skin is inhabited by many species of bacteria and fungi, which are its natural microbiota. Fungi colonizing the skin, including those causing disease, characterized by great variety and variability, can be influenced by various factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the composition of the non-lipid-dependent fungal microbiota of skin, including the presence of species potentially pathogenic for humans. Fifty-six volunteers of both sexes aged 22–78 were subjected to the study. Swabs were taken from the face, chest, back and interdigital spaces of hands. Mycobiota isolated proved to vary both in terms of the location of occurrence and gender of patients. Interdigital spaces of hands, dominated by yeasts, constitute a location on human skin most contaminated with fungi. Molds were more often isolated from the face and chest. The back was the least contaminated location. There was no difference in fungal incidence in relation to sex

Susceptibility to tigecycline of Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from intensive care unit patients

Background: Infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii are difficult to cure due to the acquisition of resistance by these bacteria and lead to an increase in the general costs of hospitalization. The aim of this study was to determine tigecycline susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from intensive care unit and non-intensive care unit patients with skin and soft tissue infections. Methods: MICs were tested by Etest among 70 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates. Results: The MIC range was from 0.5 to 8.0 mg L-1. For ESBL-producing Acinetobacter baumannii, as well as for strains without carbapenemases, the highest MIC to tigecycline value was 8.0 mg L-1. For AmpC-producing Acinetobacter baumannii, the highest MIC to tigecycline value was 6.0 mg L-1 and, for MBL-producing strains, 2.0 mg L-1. Conclusions: The majority of Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from ICU and non-ICU patients demonstrated high values of MIC range, MIC50 and MIC90 to tigecycline

Non-lipophilic mycobiota of human skin

The human skin is inhabited by many species of bacteria and fungi, which are its natural microbiota. Fungi colonizing the skin, including those causing disease, characterized by great variety and variability, can be influenced by various factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the composition of the non-lipid-dependent fungal microbiota of skin, including the presence of species potentially pathogenic for humans. Fifty-six volunteers of both sexes aged 22–78 were subjected to the study. Swabs were taken from the face, chest, back and interdigital spaces of hands. Mycobiota isolated proved to vary both in terms of the location of occurrence and gender of patients. Interdigital spaces of hands, dominated by yeasts, constitute a location on human skin most contaminated with fungi. Molds were more often isolated from the face and chest. The back was the least contaminated location. There was no difference in fungal incidence in relation to sex

Occurrence of fungi and cytotoxicity of the species : aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus isolated from the air of hospital wards

Objectives: The basic care requirement for patients with weakened immune systems is to create the environment where the risk of mycosis is reduced to a minimum. Material and Methods: Between 2007 and 2013 air samples were collected from various wards of a number of hospitals in Kraków, Poland, by means of the collision method using MAS-100 Iso MH Microbial Air Sampler (Merck Millipore, Germany). The air mycobiota contained several species of fungi, and almost 1/3 of it was made up of the species of the Aspergillus genus. Sixty-one strains of species other than A. fumigatus were selected for the research purposes, namely: 28 strains of A. ochraceus, 22 strains of A. niger and 11 strains of A. flavus species. Selected fungi underwent a cytotoxicity evaluation with the application of the MTT colorimetric assay (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide). The assay assesses cell viability by means of reducing the yellow tetrazolium salt to insoluble formazan. A semi-quantitative scale for cytotoxicity grading was adopted: low cytotoxic effect (+) with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for values ranging from 31.251 cm2/ml to 7.813 cm2/ml, medium cytotoxic effect (++) for values ranging from 3.906 cm2/ml to 0.977 cm2/ml and the high one (+++) for values ranging from 0.488 cm2/ml to 0.061 cm2/ml. The absence of cytotoxicity was determined when the IC50 values was at ≥ 50. Results: For 48 samples the analyzed fungi displayed the cytotoxic effect with A. ochraceus in 26 out of 28 cases, with 11 strains displaying the high cytotoxic effect. The lowest cytotoxicity was displayed by fungi of A. niger in 13 out of 22 cases, and the major fungi of A. flavus species were toxic (9 out of 11 cases). Conclusions: A half of the fungi displayed the low cytotoxic effect. On the basis of the comparison of average cytotoxicity levels it was determined that there were significant differences in the levels of cytotoxicity of the analyzed fungi. However, such statement may not provide grounds for a definite conclusion about the compared species of fungi that display a more cytotoxic effect than others. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(2):231–23

Distribution of Malassezia species in patients with atopic dermatitis : quality assessment

The fungi Malassezia are a constituent of the skin microbiota in humans and some animals. The fungi may cause skin diseases or even organ and/or generalized infections in the presence of appropriate predisposing factors. To evaluate the occurrence of Malassezia fungi on the skin in patients with psoriasis and search for a relationship between the occurrence of Malassezia and the severity of skin lesions, age and sex of the patients. The materials comprised smears sampled from four sites: scalp, face, chest and back. Malassezia spp. were isolated in cultures on modified Dixon medium and identified on the basis of morphological and biochemical features. Malassezia spp. were isolated in 55.1% of the patients. The fungi were most prevalent on the back (33.3%) and least on the scalp (17.5%) and face (19%). The prevalence on the chest was 30.2%. In the group of patients with AD localized to the head and neck Malassezia spp. were cultured in 71.4% of patients. No statistically significant differences were found between Malassezia prevalence in males vs. females. No relationship with the patients' age was found. Higher values of the atopic dermatitis severity index (SCORAD) were found in the patients in whom Malassezia spp. were isolated. Malassezia spp. were particularly common in the group of patients with AD localized to the head and neck

Sperm antioxidant biomarkers and their correlation with clinical condition and lifestyle with regard to male reproductive potential

Measurement of sperm oxidative-antioxidant indicators is widely used in the assessment and detection of biochemical causes of male infertility. The main purpose of this study was to identify biomarkers that assist in diagnostics and monitoring of male reproductive potential. We performed the assessment of oxidative-antioxidant malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and total redox antioxidant potential (TRAP) indicators in seminal plasma, seminogram, clinical condition, and lifestyle of people with reproductive problems. The combined assessment of GSH and TRAP as potential biomarkers of male infertility in semen plasma was characterized by the highest total sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, we provide evidence that male reproductive potential is significantly correlated with basic sperm parameters, sperm cell membrane integrity, their morphology, lifestyle, eating habits, occupation, and mental health. Our results provide evidence on the importance of oxidative stress and defense against free radicals in diagnosing and monitoring men with infertility that are consistent with previously conducted research. We provide an alternative approach on the possibility of interpreting the combination of the biomarkers that can bring benefits to a multi-threaded approach to the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility

Relative homogeneity of oral bacterial flora in Crohn’s disease compared to ulcerative colitis and its connections with antioxidant defense — preliminary report

Introduction: Interactions between oral microbiota and systemic diseases have been suggested. We aimed to examine the composition of oral microbiota with reference to antioxidative defense and its correlation with clinical state in Crohn’s disease (CD) in comparison to ulcerative colitis (UC). Materials and Methods: Smears were taken from the buccal and tongue mucosa of patients with CD, UC and controls, and cultured with classical microbiology methods. Bacterial colonies were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) with a time-of-flight analyzer (TOF). Blood morphology and C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed in the hospital laboratory. Antioxidative defense potential (FRAP) was determined using spectrophotometry in saliva and serum. Results: Oral microbiota in CD patients were characterized by lower diversity in terms of the isolated bacteria species compared to UC and this correlated with reduced FRAP in the oral cavity and intensified systemic inflammation. Oral microbiota composition in CD did not depend on the applied treatment. In CD patients, a negative correlation was observed between the FRAP value in saliva and serum and the CRP value in serum. Individual diff erences in the composition of oral microbiota suggest that diff erent bacteria species may be involved in the induction of oxidative stress associated with a weakening of antioxidative defense in the oral cavity, manifested by ongoing systemic inflammation. Conclusion: Analysis of both the state of the microbiota and antioxidative defense of the oral cavity, as well as their referencing to systemic infl ammation may potentially prove helpful in routine diagnostic applications and in aiding a better understanding of CD and UC pathogenesis associated with oral microbiota

Distribution of Malassezia species in patients with psoriasis : quality assessment

The fungi Malassezia are a constituent of the skin microbiota in humans and some animals. The fungi may cause skin diseases or even organ and/or generalized infections in the presence of appropriate predisposing factors. To evaluate the occurrence of Malassezia fungi on the skin in patients with psoriasis and to search for a relationship between the occurrence of Malassezia and the severity of skin lesions as well as the age and sex of the patients. The materials comprised smears sampled from four sites: scalp, face, chest and back. Malassezia spp. were isolated in cultures on modified Dixon medium and identified on the basis of morphological and biochemical features. Malassezia spp. were isolated in 57.7% of the patients. The fungi were most prevalent on the chest (37.3%) and least on the scalp (9.8%). The prevalence on the back and face was comparable, 27.5% and 25.5% respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between Malassezia prevalence in males vs. females. No relationship with the patients' age was found. Higher values of the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), and of the body surface area (BSA) were found in the patients in whom Malassezia spp. were isolated

Occurrence of fungi and cytotoxicity of the species: Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus isolated from the air of hospital wards

Objectives: The basic care requirement for patients with weakened immune systems is to create the environment where the risk of mycosis is reduced to a minimum. Material and Methods: Between 2007 and 2013 air samples were collected from various wards of a number of hospitals in Kraków, Poland, by means of the collision method using MAS-100 Iso MH Microbial Air Sampler (Merck Millipore, Germany). The air mycobiota contained several species of fungi, and almost 1/3 of it was made up of the species of the Aspergillus genus. Sixty-one strains of species other than A. fumigatus were selected for the research purposes, namely: 28 strains of A. ochraceus, 22 strains of A. niger and 11 strains of A. flavus species. Selected fungi underwent a cytotoxicity evaluation with the application of the MTT colorimetric assay (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide). The assay assesses cell viability by means of reducing the yellow tetrazolium salt to insoluble formazan. A semi-quantitative scale for cytotoxicity grading was adopted: low cytotoxic effect (+) with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for values ranging from 31.251 cm2/ml to 7.813 cm2/ml, medium cytotoxic effect (++) for values ranging from 3.906 cm2/ml to 0.977 cm2/ml and the high one (+++) for values ranging from 0.488 cm2/ml to 0.061 cm2/ml. The absence of cytotoxicity was determined when the IC50 values was at ≥ 50. Results: For 48 samples the analyzed fungi displayed the cytotoxic effect with A. ochraceus in 26 out of 28 cases, with 11 strains displaying the high cytotoxic effect. The lowest cytotoxicity was displayed by fungi of A. niger in 13 out of 22 cases, and the major fungi of A. flavus species were toxic (9 out of 11 cases). Conclusions: A half of the fungi displayed the low cytotoxic effect. On the basis of the comparison of average cytotoxicity levels it was determined that there were significant differences in the levels of cytotoxicity of the analyzed fungi. However, such statement may not provide grounds for a definite conclusion about the compared species of fungi that display a more cytotoxic effect than others. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(2):231–23