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Mycopathologia Apr 2016Aspergilloma infection consists of a mass of fungal hyphae, inflammatory cells, fibrin, mucus, and tissue debris and can colonize lung cavities due to underlying... (Review)
Review
Aspergilloma infection consists of a mass of fungal hyphae, inflammatory cells, fibrin, mucus, and tissue debris and can colonize lung cavities due to underlying diseases such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, bronchiectasis, cavitary lung cancer, neoplasms, ankylosing spondylitis, bronchial cysts, and pulmonary infarction. Here we report coinfection of pulmonary hydatid cyst and aspergilloma in a 34-year-old female who had had history of minor thalassemia and suffered from chest pain, dyspnea, non-productive cough for at least five months, and hemoptysis for 20 days. Radiographic sign showed a large cavitary lesion (5 × 6 × 6 cm) involving left lower lobe (LLL). Dichotomous septate hyphae were observed in bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsy specimens from LLL. The patient subsequently improved after combined anti-helminth therapies with albendazole (400 mg/bd) and lobectomy. According to morphological and molecular characterization, Aspergillus niger was confirmed. In vitro antifungal susceptibility tests revealed that the MIC values for the antifungals used in this case in increasing order were posaconazole (0.125 µg/ml), itraconazole and voriconazole (0.5 µg/ml), and amphotericin B (1 µg/ml). The minimum effective concentration for caspofungin was 0.125 µg/ml. Subsequently, we systematically reviewed 22 confirmed cases of pulmonary hydatid cyst and aspergilloma during a period of 19 years (1995-2014) and discussed the epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment of this disease.
Topics: Adult; Albendazole; Animals; Anthelmintics; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillus niger; Coinfection; Echinococcosis, Pulmonary; Echinococcus granulosus; Female; Humans; Lung; Pulmonary Aspergillosis
PubMed: 26666549
DOI: 10.1007/s11046-015-9974-2 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in late December 2019. Considering the important...
INTRODUCTION
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in late December 2019. Considering the important role of gut microbiota in maturation, regulation, and induction of the immune system and subsequent inflammatory processes, it seems that evaluating the composition of gut microbiota in COVID-19 patients compared with healthy individuals may have potential value as a diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarker for the disease. Also, therapeutic interventions affecting gut microbial flora may open new horizons in the treatment of COVID-19 patients and accelerating their recovery.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted for relevant studies published from December 2019 to December 2021 using Pubmed/Medline, Embase, and Scopus. Articles containing the following keywords in titles or abstracts were selected: "SARS-CoV-2" or "COVID-19" or "Coronavirus Disease 19" and "gastrointestinal microbes" or "dysbiosis" or "gut microbiota" or "gut bacteria" or "gut microbes" or "gastrointestinal microbiota".
RESULTS
Out of 1,668 studies, 22 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria and a total of 1,255 confirmed COVID-19 patients were examined. All included studies showed a significant association between COVID-19 and gut microbiota dysbiosis. The most alteration in bacterial composition of COVID-19 patients was depletion in genera , , , , , , , and and enrichment of , , , , , , and Also, some gut microbiome alterations were associated with COVID-19 severity and poor prognosis including the increment of , , , , , , , , , , and spp. and the decrement of , , , , and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio.
CONCLUSION
Our study showed a significant change of gut microbiome composition in COVID-19 patients compared with healthy individuals. This great extent of impact has proposed the gut microbiota as a potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategy for COVID-19. There is much evidence about this issue, and it is expected to be increased in near future.
Topics: COVID-19; Dysbiosis; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Prognosis; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 35310853
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.804644 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Sep 2022Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an allergic reaction to colonisation of the lungs with the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, and affects around 10% of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an allergic reaction to colonisation of the lungs with the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, and affects around 10% of people with cystic fibrosis. ABPA is associated with an accelerated decline in lung function. High doses of corticosteroids are the main treatment for ABPA; although the long-term benefits are not clear, and their many side effects are well-documented. A group of compounds, the azoles, have activity against A fumigatus, and have been proposed as an alternative treatment for ABPA. Of this group, itraconazole is the most active. A separate antifungal compound, amphotericin B, has been used in aerosolised form to treat invasive infection with A fumigatus, and may have potential for the treatment of ABPA. Antifungal therapy for ABPA in cystic fibrosis needs to be evaluated. This is an update of a previously published review.
OBJECTIVES
The review aimed to test the hypotheses that antifungal interventions for the treatment of ABPA in cystic fibrosis: 1. improve clinical status compared to placebo or standard therapy (no placebo); and 2. do not have unacceptable adverse effects. If benefit was demonstrated, we planned to assess the optimal type, duration, and dose of antifungal therapy.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group Trials Register, which comprises references identified from comprehensive electronic database searches, handsearches of relevant journals, and abstract books of conference proceedings. Date of the most recent search of the Group's Trials Register was 28 September 2021. We searched ongoing trials registries, most recently on 11 March 2022. Earlier, we also approached pharmaceutical companies regarding possible unpublished trials.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Published or unpublished randomised controlled trials, in which antifungal treatments were compared to either placebo or no treatment, or where different doses of the same treatment were used in the treatment of ABPA in people with cystic fibrosis.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
The searches identified six trials; none of which met the inclusion criteria for the review.
MAIN RESULTS
We included no completed randomised controlled trials. There is currently one ongoing trial, which we may find eligible for a future update.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
At present, there are no randomised controlled trials that evaluate the use of antifungal therapies for the treatment of ABPA in people with cystic fibrosis, although one trial is currently ongoing. Trials with clear outcome measures are needed to properly evaluate the use of corticosteroids in people with ABPA and cystic fibrosis.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary; Aspergillus fumigatus; Cystic Fibrosis; Humans; Itraconazole
PubMed: 36053129
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002204.pub5 -
American Journal of Otolaryngology 2024Chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (CIFRS) and granulomatous invasive fungal sinusitis are two uncommon diseases differentiated primarily by the pathologic finding... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (CIFRS) and granulomatous invasive fungal sinusitis are two uncommon diseases differentiated primarily by the pathologic finding of non-caseating granulomas in GIFRS. Both share many similarities in presentation. We aim to characterize the symptomatology and outcomes of these diseases.
METHODS
A comprehensive search strategy was designed to identify studies in the Cochrane, EMBASE and PubMed databases from database inception to January 2022. Inclusion criteria included all patients with a diagnosis of either CIFRS or GIFRS. All studies were screened by two reviewers. Chi-square analyses were used where appropriate.
RESULTS
51 studies were included totaling 513 patients. The majority were diagnosed with CIFRS (389, 75.8 %) compared to GIFRS (124, 24.4 %). CIFRS was more common in immunocompromised or diabetic patients (p < 0.0001; p = 0.02). Patients with CIFRS were more likely to exhibit nasal symptoms including discharge (p = 0.0001), obstruction (p = 0.03) and congestion (p = 0.001) as well as systemic symptoms including fever, which no GIFRS patient exhibited, facial pain (p = 0.007), headache (p = 0.004). Aspergillus was the most common organism identified in both groups with a slight predominance among GIFRS patients (p = 0.01). GIFRS patients were also more likely to present with no identifiable organisms (p = 0.0006). CIFRS patients were more likely to die of disease (p = 0.0008).
CONCLUSIONS
CIFRS generally presents with more symptoms and is associated with poorer outcomes primarily occurring in an immunocompromised population. GIFRS likely follows a more insidious course in immunocompetent patients. Understanding the key differences in symptomatology and outcomes for these two populations is critical for appropriate diagnosis and prognostication.
Topics: Humans; Rhinosinusitis; Rhinitis; Sinusitis; Invasive Fungal Infections; Chronic Disease
PubMed: 37769504
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.104064 -
PloS One 2019Asthma is one of the neglected diseases in Africa with a high prevalence. Allergic fungal diseases have been reported to complicate asthma progression and treatment... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Asthma is one of the neglected diseases in Africa with a high prevalence. Allergic fungal diseases have been reported to complicate asthma progression and treatment outcomes. However, data about fungal asthma and its associated complications are limited in Africa. We aimed to estimate the burden of fungal asthma among adults and children in Africa using a systematic review.
METHODS
We first engaged the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) to highlight the trend in morbidity and mortality attributed to asthma in Africa. We then searched PubMed, HINARI and Google Scholar for all studies of any design focusing on fungal asthma in any African country. Languages were restricted to English and French, but not year of publication. We estimated the weighted prevalence of allergic fungal infections among asthmatics with a 95% CI and pooled the results using a random effects model. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42019117319.
RESULTS
The IHME data showed that there has been a gradual increase in morbidity and mortality due to asthma in African adults with a prevalence of 4%. Our search retrieved 5233 citations. We retained 20 studies that met our selection criteria. These were from 13 African countries published between 1967 and 2018. There were eight cross-sectional studies and twelve review articles. The average asthma prevalence in Africa was 6% from these studies. The prevalence of fungal sensitisation was relatively high (3-52%) in the asthmatic population with an average of 28% and a pooled estimate of 23.3%, mostly due to Aspergillus species. Prevalence of Allergic bronchopulmonary apsergillosis was estimated at 1.6-21.2%. Diagnosis of fungal allergy was mostly made by skin prick tests. There was no data on the use of medication to manage fungal asthma. None of the studies evaluated the association between fungal allergy and asthma severity. Data were lacking in children.
CONCLUSION
There is a high prevalence of fungal sensitization among Africans with asthma. Fungal asthma is a significant problem in Africa but there remains a paucity of data on the epidemiology and associated complications. There is urgent need for national epidemiological studies to estimate the actual burden of fungal asthma in Africa.
Topics: Africa; Asthma; Fungi; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Mycoses; Prevalence; Prognosis
PubMed: 31095641
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216568 -
Microbial Pathogenesis Dec 2018The co-colonization prevalence of P. aeruginosa and A. fumigatus in cystic fibrosis (CF) has been inconsistently reported. The purpose of this systematic review and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
The co-colonization prevalence of P. aeruginosa and A. fumigatus in cystic fibrosis (CF) has been inconsistently reported. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the overall co-colonization prevalence of P. aeruginosa and A. fumigatus in CF.
METHODS
The Embase, PubMed and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for studies reporting the co-colonization prevalence of P. aeruginosa and A. fumigatus in CF. The co-colonization prevalence of two pathogenic microorganisms in the individual studies was assessed by calculating the proportion and 95% confidence interval (CI). The random effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence. The I test was used to assess statistical heterogeneity. The funnel plot and two statistical methods were used to assess publication bias.
RESULTS
Twenty-three eligible studies were included in this analysis. The pooled co-colonization prevalence of P. aeruginosa and A. fumigatus in CF patients was 15.8% (95% CI: 9.9-21.8). The co-colonization prevalence of P. aeruginosa and A. fumigatus chronic colonization was lower than that of intermittent colonization, higher in sputum cultures than in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cultures, and lower in children than in adults. There was a statistically significant difference in co-colonization prevalence among studies from different decades, but the prevalence was similar in different geographical regions and with different study types.
CONCLUSIONS
The co-colonization prevalence of P. aeruginosa and A. fumigatus in the lower respiratory tract of CF patients was high. The anti-infective treatment in exacerbation of CF should be considered to cover the two pathogenic microorganisms simultaneously. Large-scale research is still needed to obtain more accurate co-colonization data.
Topics: Aspergillus fumigatus; Coinfection; Cystic Fibrosis; Humans; Prevalence; Pseudomonas Infections; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pulmonary Aspergillosis
PubMed: 30217514
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.09.010 -
Alternative Therapies in Health and... Nov 2023Although the level of medical care has been improved in recent years, the probability of patients contracting pathogens has increased greatly, with a rising incidence of...
BACKGROUND
Although the level of medical care has been improved in recent years, the probability of patients contracting pathogens has increased greatly, with a rising incidence of invasive fungal infections. Deep-seated fungi have become common pathogens of nosocomial infections.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to systematically assess the effectiveness, mortality, survival rate, and adverse reactions (ARs) of high-dose (HD) liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) for human diseases.
METHODS
Ten articles (1661 patients) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs; whether randomized, single-blind, or double-blind) from January 1, 1960, to December 31, 2020, of HD-L-AMB treatment of diseases were retrieved from the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. The primary outcome measure was the overall therapeutic effect, and the secondary outcome measures were mortality, ≥10-week survival, and ARs. Data were meta-analyzed using RevMan 5.3.
RESULTS
Ten RCTs involving 1661 patients were included. HD-L-AMB did not show a significant therapeutic advantage in anti-infection treatment. In addition, HD-L-AMB treatment of invasive Aspergillus infection led to high mortality and low survival (≥10 weeks, OR = 0.57, 95%CI 0.34-0.94, P = .03). According to subgroup analysis, the incidence of ARs and the incidence of renal dysfunction associated with invasive fungal infection treatment were higher with HD-L-AMB than with regular-dose L-AMB.
CONCLUSION
HD-L-AMB had no obvious advantage for the treatment of diseases and was accompanied by increased mortality, reduced long-term survival, and increased ARs (including renal insufficiency). Therefore, the use of HD-L-AMB to control infections is recommended with caution only when the preferred treatment is contraindicated.
PubMed: 37971463
DOI: No ID Found -
Food and Chemical Toxicology : An... Dec 2017Citrinin (CIT) is a mycotoxin which causes contamination in the food and is associated with different toxic effects. A web search on CIT has been conducted covering the... (Review)
Review
Citrinin (CIT) is a mycotoxin which causes contamination in the food and is associated with different toxic effects. A web search on CIT has been conducted covering the timespan since 1946. The accumulated data indicate that CIT is produced by several fungal strains belonging to Penicillium, Aspergillus and Monascus genera, and is usually found together with another nephrotoxic mycotoxin, ochratoxin A. Although, it is evident that CIT exposure can exert toxic effects on the heart, liver, kidney, as well as reproductive system, the mechanism of CIT-induced toxicity remains largely elusive. It is still controversial what are the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of CIT. Until now, its toxic effect has been linked to the CIT-mediated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in biological systems. However, the toxicity strongly depends on its concentration, route, frequency and time of exposure, as well as from the used test systems. Besides the toxic effects, CIT is also reported to possess a broad spectrum of bioactivities, including antibacterial, antifungal, and potential anticancer and neuro-protective effects in vitro. This systematic review presents the current state of CIT research with emphasis on its bioactivity profile.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Citrinin; DNA Damage; Food Contamination; Humans; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 28993214
DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.10.002 -
Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official... Feb 2015The objective of this study was to describe the diagnostic yield and complication rate of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung biopsy in the evaluation of pulmonary... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
The objective of this study was to describe the diagnostic yield and complication rate of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung biopsy in the evaluation of pulmonary lesions in patients with cancer and recipients of hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT).
METHODS
We conducted a systematic literature review and performed electronic searches of Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Studies were included if patients had cancer or were recipients of HSCT, and if they underwent BAL or lung biopsy for the evaluation of pulmonary lesions. Only English language publications were included.
RESULTS
In all, 14,148 studies were screened; 72 studies of BAL and 31 of lung biopsy were included. The proportion of procedures leading to any diagnosis was similar by procedure type (0.53 v 0.54; P = .94) but an infectious diagnosis was more common with BAL compared with lung biopsy (0.49 v 0.34; P < .001). Lung biopsy more commonly led to a noninfectious diagnosis (0.43 v 0.07; P < .001) and was more likely to change how the patient was managed (0.48 v 0.31; P = .002) compared with BAL. However, complications were more common with lung biopsy (0.15 v 0.08; P = .006), and procedure-related mortality was four-fold higher for lung biopsy (0.0078) compared with BAL (0.0018).
CONCLUSION
BAL may be the preferred diagnostic modality for the evaluation of potentially infectious pulmonary lesions because of lower complication and mortality rates; thus, choice of procedure depends on clinical suspicion of infection. Guidelines to promote consistency in the approach to the evaluation of lung infiltrates may improve clinical care of patients.
Topics: Adult; Aspergillus; Biomarkers; Biopsy; Bronchoalveolar Lavage; Galactose; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Lung; Lung Diseases; Lung Neoplasms; Mannans; Neoplasms; Pneumonia; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pulmonary Aspergillosis
PubMed: 25559816
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2014.58.0480 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Nov 2016We systematically reviewed and analyzed the available data for galactomannan (GM), β-D-glucan (BG), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays to detect invasive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Galactomannan, β-D-Glucan, and Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Assays for the Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Disease in Pediatric Cancer and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
We systematically reviewed and analyzed the available data for galactomannan (GM), β-D-glucan (BG), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays to detect invasive fungal disease (IFD) in patients with pediatric cancer or undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation when used as screening tools during immunosuppression or as diagnostic tests in patients presenting with symptoms such as fever during neutropenia (FN). Of 1532 studies screened, 25 studies reported on GM (n = 19), BG (n = 3), and PCR (n = 11). All fungal biomarkers demonstrated highly variable sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values, and these were generally poor in both clinical settings. GM negative predictive values were high, ranging from 85% to 100% for screening and 70% to 100% in the diagnostic setting, but failure to identify non-Aspergillus molds limits its usefulness. Future work could focus on the usefulness of combinations of fungal biomarkers in pediatric cancer and HSCT.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Galactose; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Invasive Fungal Infections; Mannans; Neoplasms; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Young Adult; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 27567122
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw592