Behavioral and physiological responses to intraperitoneal injection of zymosan in chicks.

Zymosan is a cell wall component of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and produces severe inflammatory responses in mammals. When zymosan is peripherally injected in mammals, it induces several behavioral and physiological changes including anorexia and hyperthermia. However, to our knowledge, behavioral and physiological responses to zymosan have not yet been clarified in birds. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine if intraperitoneal injection of zymosan affects food intake, voluntary activity, cloacal temperature, plasma corticosterone (CORT) and glucose concentrations, and splenic gene expression of cytokines in chicks (Gallus gallus). Intraperitoneal injection of zymosan (2.5 mg) significantly decreased food intake, voluntary activity, and plasma glucose concentration, and increased plasma CORT concentration. The injection of 0.5 mg zymosan significantly increased cloacal temperature, while 2.5 mg zymosan had a tendency to increase it. Finally, 2.5 mg zymosan significantly increased the splenic gene expression of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, IL-8, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-like cytokine 1A. The present results suggest that zymosan would be one of components which induces nonspecific symptoms including anorexia, hypoactivity, hyperthermia, and stress responses, under fungus infection in chicks.

Poor glycemic control and decreased renal function are associated with increased intrarenal RAS activity in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of the present study was to investigate intrarenal RAS activity in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). METHODS: We measured urinary angiotensinogen, a reliable biomarker of intrarenal RAS activity, in 14 controls without T2DM, 25 T2DM patients without nephropathy, 11 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients without T2DM and 46 CKD patients with T2DM. Associations between urinary angiotensinogen and clinical parameters were examined. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, urinary [angiotensinogen:creatinine] were significantly higher in T2DM patients without nephropathy (4.70 ± 2.22 vs. 8.31 ± 5.27 µg/g, p=0.037). Age, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose correlated significantly and positively with the log{urinary [angiotensinogen:creatinine]} (r=0.632, p=0.007; r=0.405, p=0.027; r=0.583, p=0.003, respectively) in T2DM patients without nephropathy. In contrast, the urinary [angiotensinogen:creatinine] were not significantly different between CKD patients with and without T2DM (22.7 ± 27.8 vs. 33.5 ± 40.8 µg/g, p=0.740); although they were significantly higher when compared with non-CKD patients. In the CKD patients with T2DM systolic blood pressure, serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate and urinary [albumin:creatinine] correlated significantly with the log{urinary [angiotensinogen:creatinine]} (r=0.412, p=0.004; r=0.308, p=0.037; r=-0.382, p=0.001; r=0.648, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that poor glycemic control is significantly associated with intrarenal RAS activity in T2DM patients without nephropathy, and that decreased renal function is significantly associated with intrarenal RAS activity in CKD patients with T2DM.

Hypertension and hepatitis C virus infection are strong risk factors for developing late renal dysfunction after living donor liver transplantation: significance of renal biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Late renal dysfunction (LRD) after liver transplantation develops due to several factors such as viral hepatitis, calcineurin inhibitor, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The aim of our study was to clarify the risk factors for LRD after living donor liver plantation (LDLT) by using simple criteria for LRD and paying special attention to the significance of renal biopsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among the 98 recipients undergoing LDLT between March 2002 and June 2008, there were 77 patients who survived more than 1 year and had been followed at our clinic. LRD was simply defined as a postoperative serum creatinine level of 1.5/L or more at any point in time after 1 year from undergoing LDLT. The perioperative risk factors for developing LRD after LDLT were analyzed by uni- and multivariate analyses, and regardless of serum creatinine level, a renal biopsy was indicated when the patient developed clinical symptoms. RESULTS: Comparing the risk factors between 22 patients with LRD and 55 without LRD, univariate analysis revealed recipient's age, generation, hypertension, hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody-positive, pretransplantation serum creatinine level, and graft-to-recipient weight ratio to be significant risk factors. By multivariate analysis, HCV and hypertension were selected as independent risk factors. Renal biopsy was indicated in the 4 patients with proteinuria, all of whom were positive for HCV. However, by histologic and/or electron micrographic analyses, only 1 patient was diagnosed with HCV-related membranous proliferative nephritis, 1 with diabetic nephropathy, and 2 with drug (tacrolimus) -induced renal dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Although HCV and hypertension were determined to be independent risk factors for LRD after LDLT, a renal biopsy should be performed when clinical symptoms develop regardless of creatinine levels to provide appropriate treatment.

Ammonia volatilization in soil treated with tannery sludge.

The utilization of tannery sludge in agricultural areas can be an alternative for its disposal and recycling. Despite this procedure may cause the loss of nitrogen by ammonia volatilization, there is no information about this process in tropical soils. For two years a field experiment was carried out in Rolândia (Paraná State, Brazil), to evaluate the amount of NH(3) volatilization due to tannery sludge application on agricultural soil. The doses of total N applied varied from zero to 1200 kg ha(-1), maintained at the surface for 89 days, as usual in this region. The alkalinity of the tannery sludge used was equivalent to between 262 and 361 g CaCO(3) per kg. Michaelis-Menten equation was adequate to estimate NH(3)-N volatilization kinetics. The relation between total nitrogen applied as tannery sludge and the potentially volatilized NH(3)-N, calculated by the chemical-kinetics equation resulted in an average determination coefficient of 0.87 (P>0.01). In this period, the amount of volatilized NH(3) was more intense during the first 30 days; the time to reach half of the maximum NH(3) volatilization (K(m)) was 13 an 9 days for the first and second experiments, respectively. The total loss as ammonia in the whole period corresponded in average to 17.5% of the total N applied and to 35% of the NH(4)(+)-N present in the sludge. If tannery sludge is to be surface applied to supply N for crops, the amounts lost as NH(3) must be taken into consideration.

A comparison of CH3-DTPA-GD (NMS60) and GD-DTPA for evaluation of acute myocardial ischemia.

PURPOSE: Our objective was to evaluate the use of a new medium weight MRI contrast agent, NMS60 (a synthetic oligomeric Gd-complex containing three Gd(3+) atoms, molecular weight 2158 Da) compared to gadolinium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) in a pig myocardial ischemia model. MATERIALS: We used 13 male white hybrid pigs. Animals were scanned in the acute phase 2-3 h after the onset of myocardial ischemia. Scans were acquired on a 1.5T GE Signa with dynamic T1-weighted imaging during a bolus injection of 0.1 mmol(gd)/kg of either NMS60 or Gd-DTPA, 2D CINE at 5 min after injection, and T1-weighted spin-echo imaging up to 60 min. RESULTS: The postcontrast CINE scans showed improved contrast-to-noise ratio after NMS60 injection, compared to Gd-DTPA. There was significantly greater enhancement with NMS60 in both normal myocardium and in the ischemic lesion on T1-weighted spin-echo scans up to 60 min after injection. The dose ranging study shows a 24% greater enhancement with NMS60 compared to Gd-DTPA. DISCUSSION: This new medium weighted contrast agent offers improved enhancement for cardiac MRI, compared to Gd-DTPA, with similar washout kinetics and lower toxicity, and may prove useful for better detection of myocardial ischemia as well as delayed or hyperenhancement after reperfusion.

A comparative evaluation of CH3-DTPA-Gd (NMS60) for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography.

In a canine model the signal dynamics of a new oligomer-based MR contrast agent (NMS60, 2158 Da) were compared to Gd-DTPA to investigate the agents' potential for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Twelve male mongrel dogs were imaged sequentially under anesthesia with two different MRA sequences (Tlw 3DSPGR). Initial enhancement was measured every 9 s for eight points in time. Thereafter, spatial highly resolved MRAs were obtained at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, and 60 min post-injection of two different dosages. Over the first 20 s following bolus administration the average arterial enhancement of 0.1 mmol(Gd)kg NMS60 was 44% greater than Gd-DTPA. Twenty minutes post-injection the relative signal intensity of NMS60 was as high as the peak signal intensity with Gd-DTPA at the same dosage level (0.1 mmol(Gd)/kg). In the animals that received NMS60 injections the vascular conspicuity was overly superior to those who received Gd-DTPA. No significant toxicity effects were noted for either dosage level. The intermediate weight contrast agent NMS60 offers greater vascular enhancement and retention time than Gd-DTPA. For a given set of optimized imaging parameters this offers improved spatial details, less arterial/venous overlap, and better vascular contrast.

Characterization of low dose streptozotocin-induced progressive diabetes in mice.

Our previous study indicated that a single i.p. injection of 100 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) is able to induce slowly progressive diabetes mellitus in adult ICR mice. In the present study, the non-fasting serum insulin levels of the mice administered 100 mg/kg STZ were normal throughout the 24-week-observation after STZ injection. In the STZ-administered mice, the area of islets and the number of insulin-immunoreactive cells (beta-cells) were normal at 1 week and then continued to decrease gradually as the time went on. In contrast, there was a relative increase in the number of glucagon-immunoreactive cells (alpha-cells) in these mice. In addition, in the STZ-administered mice, the degree of glucose tolerance continued to reduce from 2 weeks till 12 weeks when the experiment terminated. The rise in serum insulin levels stimulated by glucose in the STZ-administered mice began to subside from about 2 weeks and had completely ceased by 12 weeks. These results indicate that 100 mg/kg STZ-induced diabetic mouse model is non-insulin-dependent diabetes, which is characterized by impaired insulin response to glucose stimulation.

Combined effects of hydrostatic pressure, temperature, and the addition of allyl isothiocyanate on inactivation of Escherichia coli.

Combined effects of hydrostatic pressure, temperature, and the addition of allyl isothiocyanate (AIT) on the inactivation of Escherichia coli, including type O157, were investigated. Inactivation to undetectable levels by hydrostatic pressure alone requires 400 to 600 MPa. E. coli growth was delayed with increasing of applied pressure and the AIT concentration added subsequently. The antibacterial effects of AIT vapor increased on JCM 1649 and IFO 3301 after pressurization. The bactericidal effects of pressurization with the addition of AIT at 4 degrees C or 40 degrees C were greater than at 20 degrees C, and all bacteria tested were effectively killed at 200 or 250 MPa with 10 to 80 microg/ml of AIT. We tried to apply the combined treatment to a food product "Asazuke" (low salt vegetables), and it was confirmed that E. coli inoculated into the product was inactivated the same as in the in vitro test. We also studied the inactivation mechanism behind pressurization with AIT from the relationship between pressure resistance and precultivation temperature, and it was suggested that destruction of membrane structure caused bacterial kill.

Low molecular weight chitosan prevents the progression of low dose streptozotocin-induced slowly progressive diabetes mellitus in mice.

The present study was designed to clarify the effect of low molecular weight (LMW) chitosan (chitosan lactate, average MW: 20000) on the progression of slowly progressive non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) induced by a single i.p. injection of low dose (100 mg/kg) streptozotocin (STZ) to 8-week-old male ICR mice. The non-fasting serum glucose levels of STZ-treated control mice continued to rise throughout the experimental period until 23 weeks after STZ treatment. The 0.2% or 0.8% chitosan (water solution), given as drinking water from prediabetic stage (2 weeks after STZ treatment), markedly prevented the time course-related rise of serum glucose levels of diabetic mice. In addition, the reduction of relative numbers of insulin-immunoreactive cells (beta-cells) in the islets of diabetic mice at 24 weeks after STZ treatment was markedly prevented by 0.2% or 0.8% chitosan administration. However, the progression of hyperglycemia in diabetic mice was not affected by 0.2% glucosamine, a monosaccharide of chitosan. The glucose levels of normal mice were not affected by 0.8% chitosan administration. When 0.2% chitosan administration was stopped at 20 weeks, these animals had still maintained significantly lower serum glucose levels, compared to control animals, even at 5 weeks after stopping the administration. These results indicate that LMW chitosan prevents the progression of low dose STZ-induced slowly progressive NIDDM.

[Teaching physical pulmonary examination through the problem-based method]. / O ensino do exame físico pulmonar através do método da problematização.

Action-research was accomplished at the Federal University of Goiás College of Nursing in 1998 aiming at implementing and analyzing the teaching resources of physical pulmonary examination through the problem-based method. The Arch Method Phases were developed with sophomores in the undergraduate Nursing Course. During the Conclusion Hypothesis phase, the need of various activities in order to fix the theme was observed. In the theoretical and psycho-motor evaluation, we verified that the students had more difficulty in performing percussion and palpitation. It was concluded that the application of the problem-based pedagogy in physical examination was feasible.

Brain-derived neurotropic factor prevents superoxide anion-induced death of PC12h cells stably expressing TrkB receptor via modulation of reactive oxygen species.

In our previous report (Satoh et al., 1999. Regulation of reactive oxygen species by nerve growth factor but not by Bcl-2 as a novel mechanism of protection of PC12 cells from superoxide anion-induced death. J. Biochem. 125, 952-959), we reported that nerve growth factor (NGF) protected PC12 cells from superoxide anion (O2-)-induced cell death through a novel regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which increased O2- and decreased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), indicating that decreasing conversion from O2- to H2O2 is a critical process for the protection by NGF. In the present study, we performed a comparative study on protective mechanisms between NGF and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) using TrkB-expressing PC12h cells. When compared with NGF, BDNF induced a weaker but significant protective effect on the cells from O2- induced death. BDNF did not seem to change the total amount of ROS in the cells treated with xanthine and xanthine oxidase. On the other hand, BDNF increased O2- and decreased H2O2- levels in the same cells, although not so strongly as NGF. These results suggest that decreasing conversion from O2- to H2O2 is also critical for the protection by BDNF, which is considered to play a central role in survival and differentiation of CNS neurons.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of Implanted VX2 tumors in rabbit muscle: comparison of Gd-DTPA and NMS60.

We studied the dynamics of injected contrast enhancement in implanted VX2 tumors in rabbit thigh muscle. We compared two contrast agents Gd-DTPA and NMS60, a novel gadolinium containing trimer of molecular weight 2.1 kd. T1-weighted spin echo images were acquired preinjection and at 5-60 min after i.v. injection of 0.1 mmol/kg of agent. Dynamic T1-weighted SPGR images (1.9 s/image) were acquired during the bolus injection. Male NZW rabbits (n = 13) were implanted with approximately 2 x 10(6) VX2 tumor cells and grew tumors of 28+/-27 mL over 12 to 21 days. NMS60 showed significantly greater peak enhancement in muscle, tumor rim, and core compared to DTPA in both T1-weighted and SPGR images. NMS60 also showed delayed peak enhancement in the dynamic scans (compared to Gd-DTPA) and significantly reduced leakage rate constant into the extravascular space for tumor rim (K21 = 5.1 min(-1) vs. 11.5 min(-1) based on a 2 compartment kinetic model). The intermediate weight contrast agent NMS60 offers greater tumor enhancement than Gd-DTPA and may offer improved regional differentiation on the basis of vascular permeability in tumors.

New model of progressive non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in mice induced by streptozotocin.

This study was designed to clarify the relationship between streptozotocin (STZ) dosage (100, 150 and 200 mg/kg i.p.) and the resulting diabetogenic response in mice (8-week-old male ICR). In this experiment, we found that a single i.p. injection of 100 mg/kg STZ is able to induce progressive diabetes mellitus, in which non-fasting serum glucose levels begin to rise from 3 weeks and continue to rise throughout the experimental period until 9 weeks. The non-fasting serum insulin levels of 100 mg/kg STZ-treated mice were normal during the experimental period. In addition, the population of insulin-immunoreactive cells (beta cells) in the islets of pancreata was slightly less than in normal mice at 9 weeks. In 200 mg/kg STZ-treated mice, on the other hand, the insulin levels were below measurable values and insulin-immunoreactive cells were not observed. It is concluded from these results that the progressive diabetic mouse model induced by a single i.p. injection of 100 mg/kg STZ, unlike 200 mg/kg STZ-induced diabetes which is insulin-dependent, is non-insulin-dependent.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor stimulates interactions of Shp2 with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Grb2 in cultured cerebral cortical neurons.

Shp2, a protein tyrosine phosphatase possessing SH2 domains, is utilized in the intracellular signaling of various growth factors. Shp2 is highly expressed in the CNS. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, which also shows high levels of expression in the CNS, exerts neurotrophic and neuromodulatory effects in CNS neurons. We examined how BDNF utilizes Shp2 in its signaling pathway in cultured cerebral cortical neurons. We found that BDNF stimulated coprecipitation of several tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins with anti-Shp2 antibody and that Grb2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) were coprecipitated with anti-Shp2 antibody in response to BDNF. In addition, both anti-Grb2 and anti-PI3-K antibodies coprecipitated Shp2 in response to BDNF. The BDNF-stimulated coprecipitation of the tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, Grb2, and PI3-K with anti-Shp2 antibody was completely inhibited by K252a, an inhibitor of TrkB receptor tyrosine kinase. This BDNF-stimulated Shp2 signaling was markedly sustained as well as BDNF-induced phosphorylation of TrkB and mitogen-activated protein kinases. In PC12 cells stably expressing TrkB, both BDNF and nerve growth factor stimulated Shp2 signaling similarly to that by BDNF in cultured cortical neurons. These results indicated that Shp2 shows cross-talk with various signaling molecules including Grb2 and PI3-K in BDNF-induced signaling and that Shp2 may be involved in the regulation of various actions of BDNF in CNS neurons.

Decreased insulin-stimulated GLUT-4 translocation in glycogen-supercompensated muscles of exercised rats.

It was recently found that the effect of an exercise-induced increase in muscle GLUT-4 on insulin-stimulated glucose transport is masked by a decreased responsiveness to insulin in glycogen-supercompensated muscle. We evaluated the role of hexosamines in this decrease in insulin responsiveness and found that UDP-N-acetyl hexosamine concentrations were not higher in glycogen-supercompensated muscles than in control muscles with a low glycogen content. We determined whether the smaller increase in glucose transport is due to translocation of fewer GLUT-4 to the cell surface with the 2-N-4-(1-azi-2,2,2-trifluroethyl)-benzoyl-1, 3-bis(D-mannose-4-yloxy)-2-propylamine (ATB-[2-3H]BMPA) photolabeling technique. The insulin-induced increase in GLUT-4 at the cell surface was no greater in glycogen-supercompensated exercised muscle than in muscles of sedentary controls and only 50% as great as in exercised muscles with a low glycogen content. We conclude that the decreased insulin responsiveness of glucose transport in glycogen-supercompensated muscle is not due to increased accumulation of hexosamine biosynthetic pathway end products and that the smaller increase in glucose transport is mediated by translocation of fewer GLUT-4 to the cell surface.

Efficacy of antithrombin replacement therapy in severe early-onset preeclampsia.

It has been suggested that the hypercoagulable state in severe preeclampsia is strongly related to the onset of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) through the deterioration of placental circulation. In this study, one of two kinds of anticoagulants, heparin or antithrombin (AT), was given to severe early-onset preeclamptic women (onset before 32 weeks of gestation) with IUGR, and the efficacies in maternal and fetal findings were compared. The mechanism of AT to improve placental circulation was discussed based on our previous study using the culture system of chorionic trophoblastic cells. The mean systolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the AT group (AT concentrate 1,500 IU/d for 7 days, n = 15). Fetal growth was calculated by ultrasonographic measurement, and the weight gain was higher in the AT group than it was in the heparin group. In vitro experiments showed that AT increased the thrombomodulin (TM) antigen on the cell surface and also increased prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) production by cultured trophoblastic cells. This suggests that AT replacement therapy is useful for improving maternal hypertension and fetal findings in severe preeclampsia with IUGR through the increase of TM and PGI2 production in both maternal and placental circulation.

Purification by column chromatographies of beta-amyloid precursor proteins and their association with other 95 kDa protein in rat brain.

Beta-amyloid precursor proteins (APPs) in the subcellular fractions of the homogenate of rat brain were detected immunologically. They were found to be localized in both the cytosol and microsome fractions in generally equal amounts. APPs were purified from the cytosol fraction of rat brain by column chromatography in a DEAE-anion-exchanger, Blue-Sepharose, Ni-charged chelating Sepharose, and Sephacryl S-300 columns. They migrated at about 400 kDa or above in a final gel filtration column with trypsin inhibitor activity. They gave two broad protein bands of 80 and 100 kDa and several other protein bands in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryl amide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The 80 and 100 kDa bands were highly concentrated during purification. They gave the same amino terminal sequence and were identified as rat APPs without an amino terminal signal sequence. These results suggest that rat brain APPs form a complex with themselves or with other proteins and contain APP isoforms including a serine protease inhibitor domain, APP770 or APP751, or both. An antibody produced by a rabbit immunized with the final preparation of APPs reacted with a 95 kDa protein band which migrated between the 80 and 100 kDa bands of APPs in SDS-PAGE, but it did not react with the bands of APPs. The 80 and 100 kDa APP bands were coprecipitated with a 95 kDa antigen protein band by reacting this antibody with the partially purified APPs. We conclude that APPs in the rat brain are associated directly or indirectly with another protein to yield the 95 kDa band demonstrated by SDS-PAGE.

MS-430, a synthetic pyrimidine derivative, influences the intracellular signal transduction pathway leading to neuronal differentiation of PC12h cells.

Although NGF (nerve growth factor) induces neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells, EGF (epidermal growth factor) acts as a mitogen for these cells. We have studied the effects of a synthetic pyrimidine derivative, MS-430, on the NGF and EGF actions on PC12h cells. We found that MS-430 accelerated NGF-induced neurite extension of PC12h cells and that, in the presence of MS-430, PC12h cells extended neurites in response to EGF. Next, we investigated the tyrosine phosphorylation of NGF receptor TrkA and the EGF receptor (EGFR) as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which is a key protein in the intracellular signal transduction pathway. It was found that MS-430 prolonged the EGF-induced phosphorylation of EGFR and MAPK compared to that without MS-430. MS-430 also prolonged the NGF-induced phosphorylation of MAPK, but the phosphorylation of TrkA induced by NGF was not affected by MS-430. These results suggest that MS-430 influences the intracellular signal transduction pathway which causes the neuronal differentiation of PC12h cells.

Comparison of survival-promoting effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3 on PC12h cells stably expressing TrkB receptor.

We obtained two PC12h cell lines, PC-pAB1 and PC-pAB2, stably expressing TrkB receptor and investigated the effects of BDNF and NT-3 in these cell lines. The cells differentiated into neuron-like cells in response to BDNF as well as NGF, neurite extension being more rapid in the former case. These TrkB-expressing cells also extended neurites in response to NT-3, which is a nonpreferred ligand of TrkB. Next, we examined the survival-promoting effects of NGF, BDNF, and NT-3 under apoptotic conditions of oxygen toxicity in naive cells and NGF deprivation in differentiated cells. In both cases, BDNF prevented cell death similarly to NGF. NT-3 prevented cell death induced by oxygen toxicity in naive cells, but not that induced by NGF deprivation in differentiated cells. NT-3 induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of TrkB in naive cells, but not in differentiated cells. These results indicate that NT-3 has survival-promoting effects on naive TrkB-expressing PC12h cells, but not on differentiated cells because of its inability to induce the tyrosine phosphorylation of TrkB.

[A case of cutaneous pseudallescheriosis resembling sporotrichosis].

An 83-year-old man with aplastic anemia and steroid induced diabetes mellitus developed multiple nodules with pus on the back of his right hand and forearm. He had been treated with a daily dose of 30mg prednisolone for 2 months. These lesions had appeared a month before his visit. The histopathological findings revealed dermal abscesses containing hyphal structures, lymphocytes, histiocytes and giant cells. Grocott-Methenamine stain demonstrated abundant fungal elements. In culture, colonies grow rapidly and produce a white, cottony mycelium which later becomes gray in color. Microscopically, ovoid and pyriform conidia are produced at the ends of long slender conidiophores. On PCA agar, synnemata with small conidal heads developed at 37 degrees C but cleistothecia did not appear. The patient did not respond to itraconazole therapy, however, with hyperthermic treatment, the eruptions gradually healed. Based on these findings, this fungal infection was diagnosed as pseudallescheriosis.