5% of cases. This is the first economic evaluation of voriconazole vs. caspofungin for empirical therapy. Caspofungin appears to have a higher probability of having cost-savings than voriconazole for empirical therapy. The difference between the two medications selleck products does not seem to be statistically significant however. “
“Onychomycosis is difficult to cure as this requires eradication of the primary infection and protection of new areas of growth from reinfection. A new topical treatment (K101) has been developed. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of K101 treatment of distal subungual onychomycosis. This was a 24-week (plus

2-week washout), multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 493 patients with distal subungual onychomycosis (K101,

n = 346; placebo, n = 147), stratified according to degree of nail involvement. More patients with ≤50% nail involvement achieved the primary endpoint (mycological cure after 26 weeks) in the K101 group (27.2%) than placebo (10.4%; P = 0.0012). Proportions for patients with 51–75% involvement were 19.1% for K101 and 7.0% for placebo (not significant). More patients applying K101 than placebo judged that their condition had improved from week 2 (P = 0.0148) to week 24 (P = 0.0004). No safety issues were identified. K101 provides early Selleck Ku 0059436 Casein kinase 1 visible improvements in nail appearance and a clinically meaningful antifungal activity. “
“Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity is controlled by the balance between MMP-9 and its major tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). We hypothesised whether Candida proteinases may affect local tissue inflammatory processes by modifying these molecules. The effects of sonicated cells and concentrated growth media of six Candida species on MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were tested. Incubated samples were analysed by Western blot and detected by enhanced chemoluminescence techniques. The residual

activity of degraded TIMP-1 was evaluated by a casein degradation assay. The proteinase activity of the microbial strains was also assessed by a fluorimetric assay, and the action of inhibitors on MMP-14 and Candida parapsilosis Cp2 was demonstrated. Cell fractions of both strains of C. parapsilosis exerted a weak ability to convert 92-kDa proMMP-9 to 86-kDa active form. Cell fractions of both strains of Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis Cp2, Candida glabrata reference strain, and both strains of Candida krusei fragmented TIMP-1 (28 kDa) to a 24-kDa species, which associated with reduced inhibitory activity on MMP-9 caseinolysis. Our findings indicate that Candida can participate in tissue inflammation by modifying the host’s MMP-9 and their inhibitors. A rapid fluorimetric assay can be adapted for Candida proteinases.