University of Kentucky

About: University of Kentucky is a education organization based out in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 43933 authors who have published 92195 publications receiving 3256087 citations. The organization is also known as: UK.

Posaconazole as salvage therapy for zygomycosis

Abstract: Zygomycosis, an infection that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, is becoming common in immunocompromised patients. Posaconazole is a new extended-spectrum azole antifungal that has demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activity against zygomycetes. This report provides the results from the first 24 patients with active zygomycosis who were enrolled in two open-label, nonrandomized, multicentered compassionate trials that evaluated oral posaconazole as salvage therapy for invasive fungal infections. Posaconazole was usually given as an oral suspension of 200 mg four times a day or 400 mg twice a day. Eleven (46%) of the infections were rhinocerebral. Duration of posaconazole therapy ranged from 8 to 1,004 days (mean, 292 days; median, 182 days). Rates of successful treatment (complete cure and partial response) were 79% in 19 subjects with zygomycosis refractory to standard therapy and 80% in 5 subjects with intolerance to standard therapy. Overall, 19 of 24 subjects (79%) survived infection. Survival was also associated with surgical resection of affected tissue and stabilization or improvement of the subjects' underlying illnesses. Failures either had worsening of underlying illnesses or requested all therapy withdrawn; none of the failures received more than 31 days of posaconazole. Posaconazole oral solution was well tolerated and was discontinued in only one subject due to a drug rash. Posaconazole appears promising as an oral therapy for zygomycosis in patients who receive required surgery and control their underlying illness.

Subcellular Localization of Cadmium and Cadmium-Binding Peptides in Tobacco Leaves: Implication of a Transport Function for Cadmium-Binding Peptides

Abstract: The synthesis of Cd-binding peptides (CdBPs) was induced upon addition of 20 micromolar CdCl2 (nonphytotoxic level) to the nutrient solution of hydroponically grown tobacco seedlings (Nicotiana rustica var Pavonii). Amino acid analysis showed that the main components were γ-(Glu-Cys)3-Gly and γ-(Glu-Cys)4-Gly. Seedlings exposed to the metal for 1 week contained similar glutathione levels as found in the controls (about 0.18 micromole per gram fresh weight). If, as has been proposed, CdBPs are involved in Cd-detoxification by chelation, both metal and ligand must be localized in the same cellular compartment. To directly determine the localization of Cd and CdBPs, protoplasts and vacuoles were isolated from leaves of Cd-exposed seedlings. Purified vacuoles contained virtually all of the CdBPs and Cd found in protoplasts (104% ± 8 and 110% ± 8, respectively). CdBPs were associated with the vacuolar sap and not with the tonoplast membrane. Glutathione was observed in leaves and protoplasts but not in vacuoles. The probability that CdBPs are synthesized extravacuolarly and our finding that they and Cd are predominantly located in the vacuole suggest that these molecules might be involved in transport of Cd to the vacuole. Our results also suggest that a simple cytoplasmic chelator role for CdBPs in Cd tolerance cannot be assumed.