Yong Liao

Trichosporon asahiiis the major pathogen causing invasive trichosporonosis. Conventional methods of its detection are time-consuming or costly and often require complex DNA extraction and purification steps, which hinders rapid clinical diagnosis. In this study, we evaluated colony PCR, which directly uses colonies or trace clinical samples as the template for amplification, for rapid detection ofT. asahiiinfection. Four methods, namely, direct colony, freeze-thaw, glass beads, and enzymolysis, were compared to select the best DNA extraction strategy. We subsequently designed and screened species-specific primers targeting the intergenic spacer 1 (IGS1) of the ribosomal DNA ofT. asahiiand used them to detect mock infection clinical samples. The species-specific colony PCR based on glass beads proved advantageous, with short procedure time (154.8 ± 0.6 min), good sensitivity (detection limit, 10²CFU/mL), and specificity forT. asahii, indicating that this method can be used for the rapid and simple identification of clinical samples ofT. asahiiinfection.

：Objective To analyze the distribution and characteristics of pruritus/itch literatures and understand the current research status, so as to provide evidence for future research on pruritus/itch. Methods Literatures on pruritus/itch since 1970 in PubMed database were analyzed by bibliometric tool-Thomson Data Analyzer. The distributions of year, nation, journal, author and current focus area on pruritus/itch were analyzed, and the author cooperation network diagram was plotted. Results The earliest literature of pruritus/itch was traced back to 1843, and the number of papers published during 1970 to 1980 was stable, but after that the number witnessed a steady increase annually. The United States and Germany played a leading role in the the papers of pruritus/itch. The numbers of papers from Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy and France were also great. The top three journals that published the most papers of pruritus/itch were: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, British Journal of Dermatology and Archives of Dermatology. Professor Yosipovitch G from Wake Forest Medical Center(USA), professor Staender S from the Intensive Care Medicine and Anesthesiology Department, Maennedorf Regional Hospital (Germany) and professor Ring J from Allergy and Dermatology Department, University of Munich (Germany) were the top 3 authors who published the most papers on pruritus/itch. The research focuses in the field of pruritus/itch included diagnosis, differential diagnosis and treatment. Conclusion The United States and European countries are the main players in research of pruritus/itch. More Chinese research teams should join in the research on pruritus/itch. Clinical diagnosis and treatment of pruritus/itch are supposed to be the main future focus of pruritus/itch field.

Trichosporon species now ranks as the second most common cause of disseminated yeast infections with a high mortality rate. Breakthrough trichosporonosis in patients receiving echinocandins therapy is being recognized recently. We present a case of breakthrough trichosporonosis with acute viral myocarditis while receiving caspofungin therapy. Trichosporon infection should be considered in patients, who have risk factors for invasive fungal infection and develop unexplained clinical manifestations of infection despite treatment with echinocandins.