Dermatophytosis is a superficial infection caused by keratinophilic fungi, known as dermatophytes, in keratinized tissues including hair, nail and stratum corneum of skin. The dermatophytes include three genera: Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton. The species that most commonly infect animals are Microsporum canis, M. gypseum and Trichopyton mentagrophyte. The fungi invade into keratinized tissues and hair follicles, and cause patchy alopecia, scale, and subsequent inflammation.1,2) Traditional antifungal drugs have variable adverse effects, and fungal resistance is becoming more common. Thus, more potent and safer antifungal agents need to be developed. [3][4][5] Various plant materials are believed to have antifungal activity, and many essential oils have been reported to have antifungal activities. [6][7][8] Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is an evergreen tree in the Cupressaceae family with antibacterial and anticandidal activities as well as a sedative, stress-reducing effect which decreases serum cortisol levels.9,10) Eugenol and nerolidol are extracted from an essential oil from Japanese cypress. Eugenol is a major phenolic component of clove oil used in dentistry as a root canal sealer. Eugenol has been reported to inhibit the growth of bacteria, including oral bacteria 11) and some gram positive and negative bacteria (Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogens), Lactobacillus sakei) by interaction with the cell membrane.12,13) Anticandidal activities of Eugenol have also been described in vitro and in vivo. 14,15) Silva et al. demonstrated that eugenol, a main constituent of essential oils of Ocimum gratissimum, has antidermatophytic activities in vitro; this effect has not been confirmed in vivo. Nerolidol is a sesquiterpenoid component of essential oil used to enhance flavor and aroma, and has been studied as a topical skin penetration enhancer. [16][17][18] In addition, nerolidol has inhibitory activities on S. aureus and E. coli by altering bacterial cell permeability, 19,20) but it has not been evaluated for antifungal activities.Thus, in the present study, antifungal activities of the essential oils, eugenol and nerolidol, were evaluated against dermatophytes. The antifungal activities of these biomaterials were assessed against one dermatophyte, M. gypseum, using the microdilution method in a guinea pig model. 21,22) MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental AnimalsIn the present study, 20 male albino guinea pigs (5-week old, 350 to 400 g) were obtained from Dae Han Biolink Co., Ltd. (Eumsung, Chungbuk, Korea). All animals were individually housed in polycarbonate cages, and used after acclimation to an environmentally controlled room (temperature: 23Ϯ2°C, relative humidity: 50Ϯ10%, frequent ventilation and 12 h light cycle). All experimental and animal procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Chungbuk National University.Test Materials Eugenol and nerolidol were extracted from Japanese cypress at the Department...

Alkaptonuria is a rare metabolic disorder of tyrosine catabolism in which homogentisic acid (HGA) accumulates and is deposited throughout the spine, large joints, cardiovascular system, and various tissues throughout the body. In the cardiovascular system, pigment deposition has been described in the heart valves, endocardium, pericardium, aortic intima and coronary arteries. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients with alkaptonuria varies in previous reports . We present a series of 76 consecutive adult patients with alkaptonuria who underwent transthoracic echocardiography between 2000 and 2009. A subgroup of 40 patients enrolled in a treatment study underwent non-contrast CT scans and these were assessed for vascular calcifications. Six of the 76 patients had aortic valve replacement. In the remaining 70 patients, 12 patients had aortic sclerosis and 7 patients had aortic stenosis. Unlike degenerative aortic valve disease, we found no correlation with standard cardiac risk factors. There was a modest association between the severity of aortic valve disease and joint involvement, however, we saw no correlation with urine HGA levels. Vascular calcifications were seen in the coronaries, cardiac valves, aortic root, descending aorta and iliac arteries. These findings suggest an important role for echocardiographic screening of alkaptonuria patients to detect valvular heart disease and cardiac CT to detect coronary artery calcifications.

Background and ObjectivesArterial stiffness is well known as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. At our institution, we assessed the association between arterial stiffness, as determined by brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD), as detected by conventional coronary angiography (CAG) in patients who visited the outpatient clinic for angina without any previous history of heart disease. In addition, we evaluated if the level of baPWV could predict the revascularization as a clinical outcome.Subjects and MethodsOn a retrospective basis, we analyzed the data of 651 consecutive patients who had undergone baPWV and elective CAG for suspected CAD between June 2010 and July 2011, at a single cardiovascular center.ResultsThe baPWV was one of the statistically meaningful predictors of significant CAD (diameter of stenosis >50%) in addition to male gender, age, the level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and hemoglobin A1c in multivariate analysis. However, baPWV was not the significant predictor of revascularization. When the extent of CAD was classified into following 4 groups; no significant CAD, 1-, 2- and 3-vessel disease, there was significant difference of baPWV between the significant and non-significant CAD group, but there was no difference of baPWV among the 3 significant CAD groups, although there was a trend toward the positive correlation.ConclusionAlthough baPWV was an independent predictor of significant CAD, it was neither associated significantly with the extent of CAD nor with the risk of revascularization. Therefore, baPWV has a limited value for portending the severity of CAD in patients with chest pain.

ABSTRACT:We describe asymptomatic piroplasmosis caused by a Babesia microti-like parasite in wild raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) diagnosed by blood smear and DNA analysis. This is the first description of natural B. microti-like parasite infection in raccoon dogs and suggests that the wild raccoon dog can be a source for B. microti-like parasite infection of domestic dogs and humans.

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