Preventive effects of topical washing with miconazole nitrate-containing soap to diaper candidiasis in hospitalized elderly patients: A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

The objective of the present randomized, double-blind trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of daily washing with miconazole nitrate-containing soap for candidiasis at diaper-covered sites in elderly subjects under long-term inpatient care. To confirm the onset and disappearance of candidiasis, we microscopically evaluated the existence of the pseudohyphae and/or blastoconidia of Candida spp. We enrolled 75 elderly patients who wore diapers all day in the hospital or nursing home. Patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with either miconazole soap or miconazole-free placebo soap, and 28 patients in the miconazole group and 27 patients in the placebo group were followed for 4 weeks. Although washing with miconazole soap did not affect the frequency of pseudohyphae/blastoconidia-positive patients, it significantly inhibited the positive conversion of pseudohyphae/blastoconidia compared with the placebo group. As a result, the frequency of patients positive for pseudohyphae/blastoconidia was significantly lower in the miconazole group than in the control group at 4 weeks (17.9% vs 44.4%). Clinically apparent diaper candidiasis did not develop in either group. Washing with miconazole soap was a significant independent factor for reducing the cases positive for pseudohyphae/blastoconidia, while diarrhea and heart failure were significant factors associated with an increase in the positive rate at the end-point. Severe adverse effects were not found in any patients. Thus, washing with miconazole soap is well-tolerated and can inhibit the positive conversion of Candida in patients wearing diapers. Therefore, maintenance of genital hygiene using this soap may prophylactically decrease the overall prevalence of patients with diaper candidiasis.

Viscous conductive glue layer in semitransparent polymer-based solar cells fabricated by a lamination process.

Semitransparent polymer-based solar cells were fabricated by using a low-cost, vacuum-free lamination process. This process is to deposit a conductive glue solution on the transparent Ag film, followed by lamination with the active layer. The glue solution and a mixture of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and d-sorbitol was used. To allow future improvements in the conversion efficiency of these cells, we investigated the relationship between major factors of the conductive glue layer and photovoltaic property. As a result, it was suggested that photovoltaic property had less of a relation to conductivity of the conductive glue layer but a strong correlation with the contact area within a certain range of the film thickness of the conductive glue layer. The optimized cells exhibited 2.22% and 2.41% of power conversion efficiencies during front and backside 100 mW cm(-2) AM1.5G illumination with reflection paper, respectively.

A study of poor responders for long-term, low-dose macrolide administration for chronic sinusitis.

PURPOSE: We investigated the clinical factors (CT images, endoscopic nasal findings and allergic factors) involved in resistance of chronic sinusitis to macrolide therapy (ME) retrospectively. METHODS: ME was administered for 8-20 weeks in 68 adults with chronic sinusitis cases. The effect was evaluated in each factor from radiographic findings (R0-R3 according to the severity of the images), nasal findings (N0: no polyp, N1: a single polyp and N2: multiple polyps), allergic factors (A0: no allergy, A1: nasal allergy, A2: bronchial asthma) and objective nasal symptoms. In addition, an effect after polypectomy and histological examination were assessed for N1 and N2 groups. RESULTS: ME was effective in 70.6% (48/68 patients). The efficacy of ME was significantly less in the polyp group compared with the polyp-free group (p < 0.05). Therapeutic efficacy was significantly different between R1 and R3 groups (p < 0.05) with a tendency for worse outcome from R1 to R3. The efficacy in asthma patients was significantly less compared with patients with allergic rhinitis or no allergy (p < 0.05). The efficacy after polypectomy was significantly improved in N2 group but not in N1 group. The number of eosinophil/total inflammatory cells (%) in nasal polyps of resistant cases was significantly higher than in marked improved cases. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of ME was less in patients with polyposis; CT scans indicating severe findings, bronchial asthma and polyps with increased eosinophil infiltrations. Polypectomy resulted in significant improvement in the efficacy of ME.