[Study on a Trichophyton quinckeanum species with a distinctly marked fluorescence of the scutulum in animal experiments]. / Studie Uber Trichophyton-quinckeanum-Stamm mit asgeprägter Fluoreszenz des Scutulums im Tierversuch

A vesicular skin lesion which existed since 1 week in the lower part of the leg of a 45-year-old woman appeared to be caused by fungus which was identified as Trichophyton quinckeanum (Zopf) MacLeod & Muende. The patient could not state to have had contact with animals. Peroral administration of griseofulvin and local application of 2% salicyl--5% sulfur--vaseline alternate with tonoftal cream healed the lesion completely. The fast growing fungus produced white, convoluted colonies with a brown, lat er wine-red reverse. Globose and club-shaped, one- and two-celled microconidia were formed especially 'en thrse'. The majority of the thin-walled macroconidia had rounded apices but a fusiform type of spore was also seen. Germination of the macroconidia was frequently observed. Experimental infection into the dorsal skin of white laboratory mouse produced a scutulum with a bright yellow later green fluorescence in Wood's light. The taxonomy of Trichophyton quinckeanum is briefly discussed.

Comparative study of an isolate resembling Banti's fungus with Cladosporium trichoides.

A fungus isolated from a subcutaneous abscess of a cat was found to fit closely to the description of Banti's fungus, Torula bantiana Saccardo, which was reclassified by Borelli as Cladosporium bantianum (Sacc.) Borelli. The cat isolate was different from Cladosporium trichoides Emmons in conidial size, branching of conidial chains, and minimum, optimum, and maximum temperature for growth. Although the isolate was neurotropic in mice, the fungal morphology in mouse brain was clearly different from C. trichoides. From this study, it was apparent that C. bantianum (Sacc.) Borelli and C. trichoides Emmons should be regarded as two separate species. The 2 species were compared with C. carrionii Trejos.

Subcutaneous zygomycosis (phycomycosis).

Decrease of host resistance in subcutaneous zygomycosis appears to be very specific. Potassium iodide causes nonspecific resolution of the eosinophilic granuloma. The disease offers a unique direct human model for the study of host resistance and granuloma resolution.

Dynamics of ventilation, heart rate, and gas exchange: sinusoidal and impulse work loads in man.

Dynamic characteristics of ventilation, heart rate, and gas exchange in response to sinusoidally varying work loads were analyzed in four male subjects, exercising in the upright position on a bicycle ergometer. Mean work-load and sinusoidal amplitude were about 1.5 and 0.9 W/kg, fat-free mass), respectively. Seven different frequencies were used, the periods ranging from 12 to 0.75 min. To further investigate the linearity of the variables under study, 10-s impulse loads were also applied to three of the four subjects. Harmonic analysis of the sine-wave data and comparison of the sine-wave fundamental responses with the impulse frequency responses showed that only O2 uptake behaves in a linear fashion. Ventilation and CO2 production showed quasi- to nonlinear behaviors, whereas the responses of heart rate and alveolar partial pressures were clearly dependent on the type of forcing used. By means of mathematical parameter identification techniques, it was found that the individual frequency responses of O2 uptake could be almost completely described by a four-parameter transfer function with parameter values showing second-order underdamped to critically damped dynamics.

Description of Cyphellophora pluriseptata sp. nov.

A new species, Cyphellophora pluriseptata, isolated from human skin and nails, is described. The generic diagnosis is emended.

Phialophora cyanescens sp. nov. with Phaeosclera-like synanamorph, causing white-grain mycetoma in man.

The human-pathogenic fungus, Phialophora cyanescens sp. nov. is characterized by the abundant production of chlamydospore-like cell aggregates resembling the form-genus Phaeosclera Sigler et al., and by elongate phialides with ellipsoidal conidia. A brown pigment and a blue, acid-labile pigment may be present.

The pathogenic potential of Sporotrichum pruinosum isolated from the human respiratory tract.

The repeated occurrence of Sporotrichum pruinosum, demonstrated by direct microscopy and culture, is reported from the respiratory tract of three patients who complained of cough, expectoration of sputum, dyspnoea and occasional pyrexia. This observation coupled with the presence of immediate, type I, cutaneous hypersensitivity against S. pruinosum in two of the patients and the ability of the fungus to incite lesions in experimentally infected mice supported an etiologic relationship between the fungus and the patients' symptoms. The macroscopic and microscopic characters of one of the clinical isolates of S. pruinosum are briefly described. It is suggested that the isolation of S. pruinosum from clinical specimens should not be regarded as of no etiologic significance without careful clinical and laboratory evaluation of the patient.