Echinocandins in invasive candidiasis.

We summarise a recent meeting, sponsored by Pfizer Inc., where experts in Asia shared their clinical experience in managing IC. The echinocandins have demonstrated good activity against non-albicans infections and also azole-resistant strains, both preclinically and in recent clinical trials. As well as proving efficacious, echinocandins have a favourable safety profile and are well tolerated, including among inpatient subpopulations, such as transplant recipients and those with renal or hepatic dysfunction. In addition the echinocandins generally have minimal drug-drug interactions, unlike the oral azoles, which have multiple effects on cytochrome P450-mediated drug metabolism. Echinocandins are characterised by a good safety profile, few drug-drug interactions and good susceptibilities. With the increase in potentially azole-resistant non-albicans infections, echinocandins may become the first-line treatment of choice for many patients.

Familial amyloidosis cutis dyschromica: six cases from three families.

Amyloidosis cutis dyschromica, a rare form of primary cutaneous amyloidosis requiring histopathological confirmation, is characterized by generalized, asymptomatic hyperpigmentation intermingled with several hypopigmented spots without papulation, atrophy, and telangiectasia. Its onset usually begins before puberty. We describe six patients from three families, four male and two female. The mean age at onset was 10.2 years. Although the skin eruptions had developed extensively since childhood, systemic involvement was not evident even after long-term follow-up. Due to its unique and characteristic features, this condition should be considered as a separate entity and differentiated from other variants of primary cutaneous amyloidosis. The familial occurrence in our report suggests a genetic causal factor in this disease.