OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of cinnamaldehyde (CA) on systemic Candida albicans infection in mice and to provide supportive data for the development of novel antifungal drugs. METHODS: Ninety BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups according to a random number table: CA treatment group, fluconazole (positive control) group, and Tween saline (negative control) group, with 30 mice in each group. Initially, all groups of mice received consecutive intraperitoneal injections of cyclophosphamide at 200 mg/kg for 2 days, followed by intraperitoneal injection of 0.25 mL C. albicans fungal suspension (concentration of 1.0 × 10⁷ CFU/mL) on the 4th day, to establish an immunosuppressed systemic Candida albicans infection animal model. Subsequently, the mice were orally administered CA, fluconazole and Tween saline, at 240, 240 mg/kg and 0.25 mL/kg respectively for 14 days. After a 48-h discontinuation of treatment, the liver, small intestine, and kidney tissues of mice were collected for fungal direct microscopic examination, culture, and histopathological examination. Additionally, renal tissues from each group of mice were collected for (1,3)- β -D-glucan detection. The survival status of mice in all groups was monitored for 14 days of drug administration. RESULTS: The CA group exhibited a fungal clearance rate of C. albicans above 86.7% (26/30), significantly higher than the fluconazole group (60.0%, 18/30, P<0.01) and the Tween saline group (30.0%, 9/30, P<0.01). Furthermore, histopathological examination in the CA group revealed the disappearance of inflammatory cells and near-normal restoration of tissue structure. The (1,3)-β-D-glucan detection value in the CA group (860.55 ± 126.73 pg/mL) was significantly lower than that in the fluconazole group (1985.13 ± 203.56 pg/mL, P<0.01) and the Tween saline group (5910.20 ± 320.56 pg/mL, P<0.01). The mouse survival rate reached 90.0% (27/30), higher than the fluconazole group (60.0%, 18/30) and the Tween saline group (30.0%, 9/30), with a significant difference between the two groups (both P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS CA treatment exhibited significant therapeutic efficacy in mice with systemic C. albicans infection. Therefore, CA holds potential as a novel antifungal agent for targeted treatment of C. albicans infection.
Animals ; Acrolein/pharmacology* ; Candida albicans/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Candidiasis/pathology* ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Fluconazole/therapeutic use* ; Kidney/drug effects* ; Female

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical value of cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system candidiasis (CNSC), which has no specific clinical manifestations and has no rapid and specific diagnostic tools.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 10 children who were diagnosed with CNSC in Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University between 2009 and 2013.

RESULTSNine of the 10 children underwent cranial MRI within 8 days after admission, and 5 of the 9 children underwent contrast-enhanced MRI at the same time. Eight of the 9 children showed the features of meningoencephalitis, and 6 cases were accompanied by varying degrees of brain atrophy; one case showed hydrocephalus and cerebral abscess, and another case showed leukoencephalopathy. Six cases were found to have the features of cerebral vasculitis after infection in the first MRI after admission, including cerebral infarction (2 cases), venous sinus thrombosis (3 cases), and Moyamoya disease (1 case). Infectious granulomatous lesions were confirmed by contrast-enhanced MRI in 3 cases. Given the clinical manifestations, 8 of the 9 cases were diagnosed as suspected CNSC after MRI, and 7 of these cases received antifungal therapy before the pathogen test results were returned. The lesions on MRI were improved in 6 cases after 3-4 weeks of antifungal treatment. All the 10 children were diagnosed with CNSC by positive cerebrospinal fluid culture results.

CONCLUSIONSCranial MRI, especially contrast-enhanced MRI, is of great significance for the diagnosis and treatment of CNSC. To confirm the guidance of MRI in the diagnosis and treatment of CNSC, further case-control studies are needed.

Candidiasis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Central Nervous System Fungal Infections ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aspergillosis ; complications ; microbiology ; Aspergillus ; isolation & purification ; Candida albicans ; isolation & purification ; Candidiasis ; complications ; microbiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis ; complications ; microbiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucor ; isolation & purification ; Mucormycosis ; complications ; microbiology ; Nocardia ; isolation & purification ; Nocardia Infections ; complications ; microbiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Reports of combined candidal and herpetic esophagitis in immunocompetent states are rare and sporadic. A 44-year-old previously healthy lady presented with a one week history of progressive dysphagia, odynophagia and fever. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed extensive desquamation of the entire esophagus except for distal 4 cm. Histopathological examination revealed ulcerated and inflamed squamous epithelium with the margin of ulcer showing a few overhanging squamous cells with dense eosinophilic cytoplasm, multinucleated and faceted nuclei with glassy chromatin, and an occasional Cowdry type A intranuclear inclusion bodies. Few candidal spores were seen in the underlying stroma. Intravenous acyclovir, fluconazole and pantoprazole were initiated. Oral analgesics were given for pain relief. She was treated for a total of 14 days. She showed significant improvement and was tolerating oral intake after discharge. The patient was asymptomatic with no evidence of recurrence at a 2-month follow-up.
Adult ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Candidiasis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Esophagitis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; virology ; Esophagus ; microbiology ; pathology ; virology ; Female ; Herpes Simplex ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies, Viral ; Spores, Fungal ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of malignant tumors in head and neck region complicated by fungal infection.

METHODSTwenty-one cases of malignant tumors occurring in head and neck region complicated by fungal infection were retrieved from the archival file. The light microscopic findings were reviewed. Histochemical (for PAS and GMS) and immunohistochemical (for MUC5B) studies were carried out. Fungal culture results were available in 13 of the 21 cases.

RESULTSThe age of the patients ranged from 12 to 72 years (median = 48 years). The male-to-female ratio was 17:4. Eight cases (38.1%) were complicated by invasive fungal sinusitis, with orbital involvement in 6 cases and brain involvement in 1 case. The primary tumors in such cases included leukemia (n = 7) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (n = 1). The fungi belonged to Zygomycete in 5 cases and Aspergillus in 3 cases. These patients had history of chemotherapy/radiotherapy or antibiotics usage. The remaining 13 cases of fungal infection often affected necrotic tumor tissue in nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, larynx and palate. The fungi involved were Aspergillus (n = 6) and Candida (n = 4). Seven of such patients had received radiotherapy. Fungal culture was positive in 9 cases. Fourteen patients had follow-up information available and six of them died of the disease.

CONCLUSIONSMalignant tumors occurring in head and neck region can be complicated by fungal infection. Invasive fungal sinusitis (due to Zygomycetes and Aspergillus) often occurs in patients with leukemia, tends to involve orbit and is associated with poor prognosis. On the other hand, Aspergillus and Candida are the commonest fungi found in the necrotic tumor tissue. Pathologic examination remains the hallmark in confirming the diagnosis and fungal typing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aspergillosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Aspergillus ; isolation & purification ; Candida ; isolation & purification ; Candidiasis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sinusitis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Young Adult ; Zygomycosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology

Hepatosplenic candidiasis is also called chronic disseminated candidiasis and usually seen in patients with hematologic malignancies who have just recovered from an episode of neutropenia. Gastric candidiasis most commonly present as a mucosal lesion such as an ulcer or erosions, but other gastric lesion is very rare. We experienced a case of gastric candidiasis which presented as gastric subepithelial mass in a 60-year old woman who had undergone the 2nd consolidation chemotherapy due to acute myeloid leukemia. The pathologic diagnosis was confirmed by fine needle aspiration of the gastric subepithelial mass under the guidance of endoscopic ultrasonography.
Candidiasis/*diagnosis/immunology ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Humans ; *Immunocompromised Host ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Diseases/microbiology/*pathology/ultrasonography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We describe two patients with fungal keratitis refractory to standard antifungal therapy whose conditions were managed with voriconazole. The first case is a patient with endophthalmitis and corneal ulcer due to Candida parapsilosis after receiving a corneal transplant. The patient was treated with amphotericin but showed no signs of improvement. Topical voriconazole, oral voriconazole, and intravitreal voriconazole yielded signs of improvement. The second case is a 63-year-old male who underwent a month of empiric treatment with 0.2% topical amphotericin for fungal keratitis but showed no signs of improvement. Treatment was then provided with 1% voriconazole. Both cases showed effective treatment with voriconazole. Voriconazole may be considered as a new method to treat fungal keratitis refractory to standard antifungal therapy.
Administration, Oral ; Antifungal Agents/*administration & dosage ; Candidiasis/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Cornea/microbiology/pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Eye Infections, Fungal/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratitis/diagnosis/*drug therapy/microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Pyrimidines/*administration & dosage ; Triazoles/*administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate the rate of candidal infection in different condition of oral epithelia, that may imply the possibility of candida in the canceration of oral leukoplakia.

METHODSSaliva culture was used to detect the infection of candida in 100 cases of healthy control group, 110 cases of oral leukoplakia and 11 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma, whose smoking condition were collected carefully. The results were analyzed by Crosstabs, Bivariate Correlations and Binary Logistic Regression analysis.

RESULTSWith Crosstabs and Bivariate Correlations analysis, there was significant correlation within malignant level of oral leukoplakias and candidal infection rates (r = 0.148, P = 0.032). With Crosstabs single factor analysis, there was significant correlation within saliva culture results and pathological types (chi(2) = 21.757, P = 0.010). With Binary Logistic Regression analysis, there was significant correlation within saliva culture results and both of subjects, ages (OR = 0.72, P = 0.000) and duration of smoking (OR = 0.37, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCandidal infection may be one of the most important factors inducing dysplasia of epithelia and malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia. So saliva culture should be taken as a rule for patients with oral leukoplakia. The follow-up of oral leukoplakia patients with candidal infection should be enhanced.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Candida albicans ; isolation & purification ; Candidiasis, Oral ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Leukoplakia, Oral ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; pathology ; Mouth Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Saliva ; microbiology ; Smoking

The objective of this study was to evaluate the etiological factors, diagnosis and therapy of pulmonary fungal infection in hematological malignancies, 14 cases of malignant hematological disease with pulmonary fungal infection were collected and analyzed. The results showed that 11 out of 14 cases had the respiratory manifestations, sputum was sticky and difficult to be expectorated in 7 cases, X rays in chests showed shadows with features of stigma and sheet in 11 cases, Candida albicans and aspergillus infection were observed in 10 and 2 cases respectively, the numbers of neutrophil were below 0.5 x 10(9)/L in 8 cases and below 1.0 x 10(9)/L in 3 cases respectively, fluconazole was used for 12 cases and clinical symptoms of 11 cases were improved within two weeks. In conclusion, the occurrence of pulmonary fungal infection in malignant hematological diseases is associated with intensive chemotherapy, decrease of neutrophil counts and using of broad-spectrum antibiotics, the diagnosis at early stage is difficult and clinicians should pay more attention to its clinical and laboratory examinations, and give them therapy in time.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aspergillosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Candidiasis ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Female ; Fluconazole ; therapeutic use ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Authors report the first autopsy case of acquired immune deficiency syndrome in Korea. The patient was a 26 years old Korean male who died of respiratory failure due to mixed pulmonary infections. He had history of homosexual contacts with partners of both domestic and foreign nationalities. Initial presentation was unexplained fever for two months. Serological test and western blot test for anti-HIV were positive and T-cell subset analysis revealed T3/T4/T8 to be 73/8/67%. Pulmonary tuberculosis with mediastinal lymphadenopathy and esophagonadal fistula and oral candidiasis were presented. Respiratory infection progressed gradually and he died seven months after the initial symptom. Autopsy findings were generalized severe lymphoid cell depletion, especially of T-cell population and mixed pulmonary infections with Pneumocystis carinii and cytomegalovirus (CMV). The CMV infection involved lungs and adrenals. Oral candidiasis was also demonstrated.
AIDS-Related Complex/complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Adult ; Autopsy ; Candidiasis/complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis/complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/complications/diagnosis/pathology