[Septicemias caused by Candida and other yeasts. Study of cases observed for 5 years at the University Hospital Center in Strasbourg]. / Les septicémies à Candida et autres levures. Etude des cas observés en 5 ans au CHU de Strasbourg.

Seventy one files of patients with yeasts septicemia have been studied. This study indicates the influence of factors like age (greater than 50 years), health condition, surgery mainly digestive, severe associated bacterial infections, iatrogenic factors (polyantibiotherapy, catheters, intubation), in the occurrence of these septicemia). Clinical symptoms appear to be mainly fever (93%) accompanied with shudders (26%) and toxi-infectious shock (45%). Diagnosis is made by the isolation of yeasts from the blood cultivated on Sabouraud-Chloramphenicol diphasic medium. Among the responsible yeasts, the genus Candida is predominant (82.2%) with C. albicans (59%) followed by the genera Torulopsis (13.7%) and Trichosporon (2.7%). Medical treatment must associate Amphotericin B and 5 Fluorocytosine.

[Surgery of acoustic neurinoma in the elderly]. / Chirurgie des neurinomes de l'acoustique du vieillard.

Eleven patients, between 70 and 85 years old, with acoustic neurinoma, were operated by translabyrinthic approach. The size of the tumor was between 2 and 4 cm in five cases, 4 cm or more in six cases. Complete tumor removal was possible in six cases (55%), in five cases (45%) residual tumor was left behind. Complications included cerebrospinal fluid leakage (2 cases), meningitis (1 case), and hemorrhage (1 case, fatal four days later). Anesthetic management is described.

[Nosocomial Candida albicans septicemia in parenteral alimentation through a peripheral vein]. / Septicémie nosocomiale à Candida albicans au cours d'une alimentation parentérale sur veine périphérique.

Fungal septicaemias during total parenteral nutrition are frequent, but their occurrence during parenteral nutrition via a peripheral vein is uncommon. A case of disseminated candidemia with ocular and renal localizations during parenteral nutrition via a peripheral vein is reported in a 24 year old patient hospitalized for primary cerebellar haemorrhage. The case history showed the importance of early ophthalmologic examination in all septicaemic cases. The diagnosis was confirmed by nine positive blood cultures and immunological tests, but the dosage of soluble antigens remained negative. The part played by a contaminated perfusion bottle out-of-date was suggested, but could not be proved absolutely. The assessment of the immune state could wrongly suggest an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, for it has been demonstrated that Candida albicans itself had an immunosuppressive activity.

Comparison of Coccidioides immitis arthrospore, mycelium, and spherule cell walls, and influence of growth medium on mycelial cell wall composition.

Comparative lipid content, cell wall yield, neutral monosaccharide, glucosamine, and protein (amino acid) contents of arthrospores, mycelia, and spherules of Coccidioides immitis Cash were studied. Cellular lipid contents were found in the decreasing order: spherules, arthrospores, mycelia. Lipid content of mycelia did not reach the level of arthrospores or spherules even when mycelia were grown on relatively rich media. Cell wall yields of spherules were lower than for mycelia when grown on comparable media. Cell walls of arthrospores, mycelia, spherules, and spherule culture filtrate all contained 3-O-methylmannose, mannose, and glucose, but in varying amounts. Cell wall yield and cell wall glucose content increased in mycelia grown in increasingly rich media, whereas mannose content either decreased or remained constant.