Safety assessment of the prophylactic use of silicone gel sheets (Lady Care®) for the prevention of hypertrophic scars following caesarean section.

This study aimed to investigate the side effects of silicone gel sheet (Lady Care®) and evaluate its prophylactic efficacy in preventing abnormal scarring. Sixty women who underwent caesarean section were recruited from September 2016 to September 2017 in this prospective study. Lady Care® was applied from the 2nd to the 6th postoperative months. Side effects of Lady Care® were evaluated through medical examinations and questionnaires. A plastic surgeon diagnosed abnormal scarring. Pruritus was diagnosed in 25 (47.2%) patients; folliculitis, four (7.5%); dry skin, four (7.5%); contact dermatitis, three (5.7%); wound infection, two (3.8%); and epidermolysis, one (1.9%), albeit with mild severity. Following Lady Care® application, no abnormal scarring and mild hypertrophic scarring was observed in 32 (64.0%) and 18 (36.0%) patients respectively. Of seven patients with pre-existing hypertrophic scars, only two showed hypertrophic scarring after Lady Care® application. Our findings support the safety and prophylactic efficacy of Lady Care®.Impact StatementWhat is already known on this subject? The incidence of abnormal scarring, i.e. keloid or hypertrophic scar formation after caesarean section (CS) is reported to be ∼41%. Abnormal or excessive scar formation can lead to functional limitations, pruritus, pain and cosmetic issues. Studies have also shown a prophylactic effect of the application of silicone materials against the development of hypertrophic and keloid scars, though prohibitive cost and lack of adhesiveness of such gel sheets are known factors limiting their usage.What the results of this study add? The new silicone gel sheet 'Lady Care®' has strong adhesive properties and is consequently not easily peeled off. Furthermore, it is easy to use and economically efficient.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This is the first clinical trial on the application of Lady Care® silicone gel sheet for the prevention of CS scarring. Our findings support the safety and prophylactic efficacy of Lady Care®.

Multi-azole-resistant strains of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii isolated from a FLZ-resistant strain by culturing in medium containing voriconazole.

A Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii strain, NUBS14020, was the first fluconazole (FLZ)-resistant strain isolated from a feline cryptococcosis. Subsequent work demonstrated that multi-azole-resistant strains are readily isolated from FLZ-resistant strains by culturing in medium containing voriconazole (VRZ). The resulting clones were assessed for mutation and expression of known target genes, including the loci encoding lanosterol 14-α demethylase (ERG11), an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter (AFR1), or a multidrug efflux pump (MEP); mutation and/or overexpression of these genes is known to be associated with azole resistance. We also examined the interaction between an efflux blocker (FK506, calcineurin inhibitor) and VRZ in the multi-azole-resistant strains. The ERG11 genes from multi-azole-resistant strains encoded a protein with a G344S substitution. Expression levels of AFR1, ERG11, and MEP in the multi-azole-resistant strains were not higher than those in the VRZ-susceptible parent strain (NUBS14020) when cultured in Sabourad's dextrose broth containing VRZ. Synergistic effects between FK506 and VRC were observed in all of the multi-azole-resistant strains. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the combination of VRZ and FK506 in multi-azole-resistant strains were 4 to 8 times lower that the MICs of VRZ alone. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first report that multi-azole-resistant strains of C. neoformans encode a G344S substitution in Erg11p. Further investigation will be needed to determine the mechanism of multi-azole resistance in C. neoformans, given that feline cryptococcosis due to multi- azole-resistant strains is readily transmitted from cats to humans.

Mating Type Gene (MAT) and Itraconazole Susceptibility of Trichophyton tonsurans Strains Isolated in Japan.

Infection by Trichophyton tonsurans is an emerging fungal epidemic in Japan. Itraconazole (ITZ) and terbinafine have been used for the treatment of this infection for 15 years. However, patients with T. tonsurans infections have been shown to remain uncured or to become reinfected, suggesting that subclinical infection or polyphyletic strains and/or antifungal drug-resistant strains might be occurring in Japan. In this study, PCR analysis was performed to confirm the presence of the mating type locus MAT in genomic DNA from 60 Japanese clinical isolates of T. tonsurans, and to assess the previously postulated clonal origin of clinical isolates of this species. Antifungal susceptibility testing on isolates also was performed to confirm the absence of strains resistant to ITZ. PCR analysis proved that all 60 strains contained the MAT1-1 allele, while none contained the MAT1-2 allele. As determined by E-test, the mean MIC of ITZ in the 60 strains was 0.023 mg/L (range 0.002-0.125 mg/L). All strains of T. tonsurans isolated in Japan were clonal and were not resistant to ITZ. Therefore, dermatophytosis due to T. tonsurans is expected to respond to ITZ, since clinical isolates of T. tonsurans tested to date have been susceptible to this antifungal. This infection is proliferating as a subclinical infection in Japan.

Molecular typing of Sporothrix schenckii isolates from cats in Malaysia.

Epidemiological data on the aetiologic agents of feline sporotrichosis in Malaysia have not been reported, though human sporotrichosis in Malaysia is reported to be transmitted primarily via cat scratch. To the best of our knowledge, the present report is the first study of the molecular epidemiology of Sporothrix schenckii isolates from cats with sporotrichosis in Malaysia. In the present work, we characterised 18 clinical isolates from cats in Malaysia based on molecular properties, including sequence analyses of the calmodulin gene and the rDNA ITS region and selective PCR of mating type (MAT) loci. In this study, isolates from feline sporotrichosis were identified as a S. schenckii sensu stricto by sequence analyses of the calmodulin gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Notably, phylogenetic analysis of the ITS confirmed assignment to clinical clade D (and not C) of S. schenckii sensu stricto. Therefore, clinical clade D of S. schenckii sensu stricto appeared to be the prevailing source of feline sporotrichosis in Malaysia. The ratio of MAT1-1-1:MAT1-2-1 in these Malaysian isolates was found to be 1 : 0. This result suggested that a clonal strain of S. schenckii is the prevailing causative agent of feline sporotrichosis in Malaysia.

First Isolation of Azole-Resistant Cryptococcus neoformans from Feline Cryptococcosis.

We report here, to the best of our knowledge, the first description of an in vitro fluconazole (FLZ)-resistant Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii from a case of feline cryptococcosis. In vitro testing demonstrated that this isolate was resistant to FLZ (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC, of 128 µg/ml) but remained susceptible to amphotericin B (0.064 µg/ml), itraconazole (0.38 µg/ml), voriconazole (0.023 µg/ml), and posaconazole (0.125 µg/ml). The predicted amino acid sequence of the lanosterol 14-α demethylase (ERG11) protein in the isolate was identical to that of the C. neoformans var. grubii reference strain, indicating that resistance was not mediated by mutation of the target gene's open reading frame. The RT-qPCR analysis for ERG11 and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter-encoding gene (AFR1) indicated that the isolate increased transcription factor function of ERG11 and AFR1 than that of FLZ-susceptive strains. This observation, in combination with the lack of resistance to other azoles (that is, lack of crossresistance), suggests that resistance in our isolate was the result of overexpression of the endogenous ERG11 and ABC transporter.

Successful use of single-port laparoscopic surgery for ovarian cyst removal during pregnancy: a case series of three cases.

Pregnant patients have an increased risk of torsion compared to that seen in nonpregnant patients, and those with larger cysts undergo torsion more frequently, which can cause obstructions during labor. The risks associated with emergent surgery are higher than those with elective surgery. Laparoscopic surgery can be safely performed during pregnancy. Single-port laparoscopic surgery is reported to be a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique. We report three cases of ovarian dermoid cysts, which were successfully removed during pregnancy through elective single-port laparoscopic surgery. In all cases, imaging showed a dermoid cyst and the cyst size was greater than 6 cm. All patients requested the surgery. The ovarian cysts were successfully removed by single-port laparoscopy without additional ports and without intra- or postoperative complications. All pregnancies progressed well and delivered vaginally at full term. The single-port laparoscopic approach is useful for removing ovarian cysts during pregnancy.