Search

The clinical appearances of infections in 128 patients caused by the mould fungi Hendersonula toruloidea (102) and Scytalidium hyalinum (37) are described. All the patients originated from the tropics or subtropics but those infected with S. hyalinum came from either the Caribbean or West Africa. Forty-one per cent of those studied had a concurrent dermatophyte infection. While the clinical features of Hendersonula and Scytalidium infections resembled those seen in 'dry type' Trichophyton rubrum infections, there were a number of distinctive features. These included the absence of dorsal infection on the feet, lateral and distal onychomycosis with extensive onycholysis and the development of paronychia on the fingers. The majority of affected patients showed no serious underlying abnormality or predisposing skin disease which could facilitate invasion. The routine incorporation of cycloheximide, which inhibits the growth of these organisms, in mycological media may explain why they are infrequently diagnosed.

Uptake of glucose-(3)H into cultured HLM cells was measured. Equilibration of intracellular and extracellular pools occurred after 25 min. Glucose influx was determined subsequently by measuring the glucose-(3)H entering in precisely 1 min. Although saturation kinetics were demonstrated these were not of the simple Michaelis-Menten type. The K(m) of the glucose carrier system is probably about 60 mM glucose. Galactose did not compete with glucose. Insulin stimulated glucose flux without increasing the value of V(max). The stimulation was fully demonstrable after 10 min, could be elicited at concentrations of 10(-4) units/ml, and was absent 2-4 hr after removal. Increasing pH had little or no effect in stimulating glucose flux. Increasing osmotic pressure caused a marked increase and reduced the effect of insulin. Glucose influx was unaffected by anoxia. Glucose influx was increased and the effect of insulin abolished in the absence of K(+). Glucose influx was increased by mercuric chloride, iodoacetate, and fluoride which abolished the effect of insulin. Dinitrophenol decreased the rate of glucose uptake but did not alter the effect of insulin. Phlorizin reduced the rate of glucose uptake and abolished the effect of insulin. ATP and AMP enhanced the rate of glucose uptake. These findings are discussed in relation to the mode of action of insulin.