Pat's Fungal News

[carla]

This is posted on Pat's orders


Fungal News

http://www.mesothelioma-asbestosis.info/valley-fever-coccidioidomycosis-news/european-union-approves-noxafil-posaconazole-for-fungal-infections-coccidioidomycosis-treatment
During the clinical trials, NOXAFIL has reportedly demonstrated broad-spectrum activity covering both Yeasts and Moulds that are known to cause various (which could be life threatening especially for those who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed*) invasive fungal infections.
Now that European Union has authorized Schering- Plough Research Institute to market NOXAFIL in EU, the company will be able to offer this unique anti-fungal oral suspension in not only the current 25 EU member states, but also in Iceland and Norway.
NOXAFIL is often prescribed for invasive diseases such as Aspergillosis, Coccidioidomycosis, Chromoblastomycosis, Fusariosis, and Mycetoma in adult patients with refractory disease, or for the adult patients that do not respond to the common antifungal agents.
The triazole agent was found to be effective for the treatment of fungal infections caused by Fusarium (responsible for chromoblastomycosis and mycetoma) and Coccidioides. It must be noted, however, that Posaconazole should not be used in conjunction with ergot alkaloids, CYP 3A4, and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.


Aspergillosis is caused by a fungus (Aspergillus), which is commonly found growing on dead leaves, stored grain, compost piles, or in other decaying vegetation.
http://www.doctorfungus.org/mycoses/human/human_index.htm
It causes illness in three ways: as an allergic reaction in people with asthma (Pulmonary aspergillosis - allergic bronchopulmonary type); as a colonization and growth in an old healed lung cavity from previous disease (such as tuberculosis or lung abscess) where it produces a fungus ball called aspergilloma; and as an invasive infection with pneumonia that is spread to other parts of the body by the bloodstream (Pulmonary aspergillosis - invasive type).
The invasive infection can affect the eye, causing blindness, and any other organ of the body, but especially the heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys. The third form occurs almost exclusively in people who are immunosuppressed because of cancer, AIDS, leukemia, organ transplants, high doses of corticosteroid drugs, chemotherapy, or other diseases that reduce the number of normal white blood cells.
Histopathologic Features of the Most Commonly Encountered Fungi

Achieving a successful histopathologic diagnosis begins with selection of the tissue sample to be examined. While some fungi are more readily located at the periphery of the infected lesion, others are more prominent at the center. Then comes the use of appropriate stains and examination by experienced eyes. The major growth forms of the fungi that help in histopathologic diagnosis are the yeast cells, hyphae, pseudohyphae, arthroconidia, chlamydoconidia, and spherules. The characteristics of each of these (shape, size, location, color...) help in identification of the fungus. Tissue components such as Russell bodies, karyorrhectic debris, calcified bodies, elastic fibers, and small blood vessels may resemble fungi. Careful examination by experienced specialists significantly reduces such an overdiagnosis.