Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis
08:48

Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis

Published on: March 19, 2019

[Pathophysiology of invasive fungal infection in diabetic patients]

Yoichiro Okubo1, Haruo Nakayama, Chikako Hasegawa

  • 1Department of Surgical Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine.

Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine
|December 17, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Diabetes mellitus weakens immune defenses, increasing risks for invasive fungal infections like candidiasis, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis. Further research is needed to fully understand the complex relationship between diabetes and these opportunistic infections.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Endocrinology
  • Mycology

Context:

  • Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for infectious diseases.
  • Diabetes-related angiopathy exacerbates infection susceptibility.
  • Invasive fungal infections are significant opportunistic infections in diabetic patients.

Purpose:

  • To review the pathophysiology of diabetes-induced immunosuppression.
  • To describe histopathological characteristics of common invasive fungal infections in diabetes.
  • To highlight the obscured relationship between diabetes and invasive fungal infections.

Summary:

  • Diabetes mellitus impairs neutrophil and macrophage function, cellular and humoral immunity, and iron metabolism.
  • This review details the pathological mechanisms of immunosuppression in diabetes.
  • Histopathological features of candidiasis, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis in diabetic individuals are discussed.

Impact:

  • Provides insights into the increased risk of invasive fungal infections in diabetic patients.
  • Highlights the need for further research into the diabetes-fungal infection link.
  • Aids clinicians in understanding and managing opportunistic infections in diabetes.

More Related Videos

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract07:42

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Published on: July 1, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Diabetic Foot Ulcer01:31

Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Definition A diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a chronic, non-healing wound that develops in individuals with diabetes. It typically occurs on pressure-bearing areas such as the heel, metatarsal heads, or hallux, and carries a high risk of infection and amputation.Pathophysiology • The development of DFUs can be explained by four interconnected mechanisms: neuropathy, ischemia, infection, and impaired wound healing. • Neuropathy is the most common factor. Sensory neuropathy reduces pain perception,...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Diabetic Neuropathy01:22

Diabetic Neuropathy

DefinitionDiabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by long-standing diabetes mellitus. It results directly from prolonged high blood sugar levels.PathophysiologyThe pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy involves both metabolic and vascular disturbances triggered by chronic hyperglycemia.Metabolic injury: Elevated glucose levels activate the polyol pathway within nerve cells, leading to the accumulation of sorbitol and fructose. This increases oxidative stress, disrupts normal nerve...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Diabetic Ketoacidosis ll: Pathophysiology01:22

Diabetic Ketoacidosis ll: Pathophysiology

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a metabolic emergency characterized by hyperglycemia, ketonemia, and metabolic acidosis. It results from severe insulin deficiency and an excess of counterregulatory hormones, leading to uncontrolled lipolysis, ketogenesis, and widespread electrolyte and fluid disturbances.Pathophysiology The central event in DKA is a profound loss of insulin action. Without insulin, glucose uptake in insulin-dependent tissues is impaired, while hepatic glucose production...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...