amphotericin-b and Uterine-Neoplasms

Serious infections caused by Torulopsis glabrata, once rarely encountered, have become common over the last 3 decades. The most frequent manifestations of serious fungal infections include septicemia, endocarditis, hepatosplenic infections, and meningitis. We report a case of fungemia and pelvic abscess caused by T glabrata following gynecologic surgery.. A 43-year-old woman developed fever, abdominal pain, and abdominal distention following a total abdominal hysterectomy and right salpingo-oophorectomy. Empirical treatment with broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents was not successful. Three sets of blood cultures were positive for T glabrata, and radiologic investigations revealed pelvic and lesser sac fluid collections. Cultures of the pelvic abscess grew T glabrata. Treatment was changed to amphotericin B, with complete clinical recovery.. Serious T glabrata infections are rare following gynecologic surgery, especially in immunocompetent patients. Given the morbidity and mortality associated with these infections, aggressive treatment with amphotericin B and drainage of abscesses is warranted.

Topics: Abscess; Adult; Amphotericin B; Candidiasis; Female; Fungemia; Humans; Hysterectomy; Pelvis; Postoperative Complications; Uterine Neoplasms

The cultured human choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cells secrete biologically active HCG and free HCG alpha-subunit. When compared with the alpha-subunit dissociated from HCG obtained either from pregnancy urine or JEG-3 cells, free alpha-subunit has a larger molecular weight, is more acidic and is non-functional, lacking the property to recombine with the HCG beta-subunit. The understanding of the biochemical differences observed between free alpha-subunit and alpha-subunit found in HCG is important and should help to unravel the biosynthesis of gonadotrophins. Two proteins which bind to the cell membrane, epidermal growth factor and concanavalin A, are capable of stimulating JEG-3 cell secretion. Epidermal growth factor stimulates the secretion of HCG while concanavalin A stimulates both HCG and HCG alpha-subunit secretion. Amphotericin B, an antifungal agent commonly used in tissue cultures, which also affects the cell membrane, was shown to stimulate HCG and HCG alpha-subunit secretions. The use of these agents should contribute to the understanding of membrane-related events which lead to the secretion of HCG and alpha-subunit.

Topics: Amphotericin B; Cells, Cultured; Choriocarcinoma; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Concanavalin A; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Uterine Neoplasms