All but 1 patient had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Of the 10 cases, 7 occurred while the patients received continuous ambulatory PD. Only 1 patient avoided catheter removal, and 5 patients were permanently transferred to hemodialysis. No patient died as a result of the fungal infection. All 10 fungi represented different species. Most (6 of 10) were saprophytic; only 2 were normal skin flora. Two of the causative species (Chaetomium and Beauveria) have rarely been associated with any form of human infection. In 7 patients, the infection occurred during the wet season (November – April). All cases met clinical criteria for peritonitis. Discussion and

Conclusions:

The NCFP cases described in this series involved a variety of previously known fungal species and also two new species that have not been reported to cause disease in humans. Indigenous patients from Far North Queensland BAY 80-6946 cost are particularly predisposed to infection with these exotic fungi as a result of environmental and social factors. Further understanding is desirable to help devise preventive strategies to avoid the consequences of catheter failure.”
“Purpose: To describe thin-section pulmonary computed tomographic

(CT) EX 527 molecular weight features in asymptomatic elderly individuals.

Materials and Methods: Institutional review board approval was given, and informed consent was obtained. Two study groups (older group, over 75 years of age; younger group, under 55 years) were prospectively identified from outpatient requests for CT of the abdomen or brain.

Fifty-six consecutive volunteers (older group: n = 40, 18 men, 22 women; younger group: n = 16, eight men, eight women) with no known respiratory disease were included. Prone thin-section CT imaging was performed, and two observers independently scored images for the presence and extent of CT features (including reticular pattern, ground glass Luminespib price opacity, and thin-walled cystic air spaces). Group comparisons were made, and logistic regression analysis was used to assess relationships between CT findings and age and smoking history.

Results: A limited predominantly subpleural basal reticular pattern was identified in the majority (24 of 40, 60%) of individuals in the older group and was absent (zero of 16) in the younger group (P < .001). Cysts were seen in 10 (25%) of the 40 subjects in the older group but were seen in none of the subjects in the younger group (P = .02). Bronchial dilation and wall thickening were also seen significantly more frequently (P < .001) in the older group (24 [60%] and 22 [55%] of 40, respectively) than in the younger group (both one [6%] of 16). All findings were independent of pack-year smoking history with multiple logistic regression analysis.