In vitro activity of anidulafungin in combination with amphotericin B or voriconazole against biofilms of five Candida species.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the in vitro activity of anidulafungin combined with amphotericin B or voriconazole against Candida spp. biofilms. METHODS: Four Candida albicans, four Candida tropicalis, four Candida glabrata, two Candida parapsilosis and two Candida orthopsilosis blood isolates were tested by the microdilution chequerboard method combined with the XTT metabolic assay. Biofilm MIC was defined as the lowest concentration producing 50% metabolic inhibition with respect to control (BMIC50). Concentrations in the combinations ranged from 1/8 × BMIC50 to 4 × BMIC50 found for each antifungal tested alone. RESULTS: Anidulafungin plus amphotericin B acted synergistically against C. albicans and C. glabrata biofilms [fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI): 0.082-0.387], but showed no interaction against C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. orthopsilosis (FICI: 0.516-2.099). The combination of these antifungals failed to completely remove biofilms of C. albicans and C. glabrata, decreasing the metabolic activity of the biofilms up to 80% and 95%, respectively, which did not occur when each antifungal was used alone. Anidulafungin plus voriconazole showed no interaction against all isolates. Using a less stringent criterion previously proposed to define synergism (FICI < 1) and antagonism (FICI > 1.25), antagonistic interactions were found against some isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Anidulafungin with amphotericin B results in a synergistic effect against C. albicans and C. glabrata biofilms at serum concentrations of the drugs, but showed no interaction against C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis complex. Anidulafungin plus voriconazole showed no interaction against the five Candida species assayed. Biofilms of C. tropicalis were found to be the most resistant towards the combinations assayed. The results presented may be of potential interest in the clinical setting.

A new approach based on Machine Learning for predicting corneal curvature (K1) and astigmatism in patients with keratoconus after intracorneal ring implantation.

Keratoconus (KC) is the most common type of corneal ectasia. A corneal transplantation was the treatment of choice until the last decade. However, intra-corneal ring implantation has become more and more common, and it is commonly used to treat KC thus avoiding a corneal transplantation. This work proposes a new approach based on Machine Learning to predict the vision gain of KC patients after ring implantation. That vision gain is assessed by means of the corneal curvature and the astigmatism. Different models were proposed; the best results were achieved by an artificial neural network based on the Multilayer Perceptron. The error provided by the best model was 0.97D of corneal curvature and 0.93D of astigmatism.

Progressive mandibular midline deviation after difficult tracheal intubation.

We report condylar resorption of the temporomandibular joint after difficult intubation, leading to progressive midline mandibular deviation, subsequently treated by prosthetic joint replacement.

[Neurinoma of the descending loop of the hypoglossal nerve. Report of a case]. / Neurinoma del asa descendente del nervio hipogloso. A propósito de un caso.

Neurinomata developed from extracranial portion of hypoglossal nerve are very scarce. We report one case of neurinoma originated in the descending branch of hypoglossal nerve and not having found after careful perusal of the literature of this subject another case we consider the ours as the first portraying this type of pathology and its localization.

[Pilomatrix carcinoma of the face. Two case reports]. / Carcinoma pilomatricial con localización facial. A propósito de dos casos.

Pilomatrixial carcinoma is the malignant variety of pilomatrixoma. It is a malignant lesion, locally aggressive that can reappear, specially if not completely removed. Scanty are the number of cases listed in the literature (2). Although metastases are uncommon one or twice references can be found in the writings (1). We report 2 cases of pilomatrixial carcinoma located in the middle canthal and malar zones, which were treated surgically: excision of the tumor and reconstruction by means of a local rotation flap.