Disease: cancer

Association of mushroom consumption with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among American adults: prospective cohort study findings from NHANES III

This study followed over 15,000 American adults for nearly 20 years and found that people who ate mushrooms had a lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who didn’t eat mushrooms. The more mushrooms people ate, the greater the benefit. Replacing red or processed meat with mushrooms was associated with even greater longevity benefits. Mushrooms’ beneficial effects likely come from their high antioxidant content, particularly compounds called ergothioneine and glutathione.

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Advancing Patient Advocacy in Mycology: Cultivating Collaboration in Education, Research, and Policy

This paper highlights how patients with fungal infections and their caregivers are rarely included in discussions about healthcare policies and research funding, unlike patients with cancer or HIV. The authors argue that fungal diseases deserve more attention and resources, and that listening to patient experiences is essential for improving how these diseases are prevented, diagnosed, and treated. They propose that dedicated advocacy organizations, like the MyCARE Foundation, can help bridge this gap and ensure fungal infections receive the policy support and research investment they need.

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Research advances in fungal polysaccharides: production, extraction, characterization, properties, and their multifaceted applications

This comprehensive review explores how mushrooms and fungi produce special carbohydrates called polysaccharides that have remarkable health benefits. These compounds can boost the immune system, fight cancer, reduce inflammation, and act as antioxidants. The article details various methods to produce and extract these valuable compounds from fungi and discusses their practical uses in medicine, food production, and agriculture.

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Valorization of various lignocellulosic wastes to Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst (Reishi Mushroom) cultivation and their FT-IR assessments

This research demonstrates how agricultural and forestry waste materials can be effectively converted into nutritious Reishi mushrooms through sustainable cultivation practices. Oak wood substrates produced the highest mushroom yields, while various agricultural wastes showed promising results for producing medicinal mushrooms. Using specialized spectroscopy techniques, scientists confirmed that the Reishi mushroom effectively breaks down and utilizes the complex plant materials in these waste substrates. This approach offers an environmentally friendly solution to waste management while producing valuable medicinal mushrooms.

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Multi-omics analysis of Taiwanofungus gaoligongensis: effects of different cultivation methods on secondary metabolites

Researchers studied how different growing methods affect the medicinal compounds produced by Taiwanofungus gaoligongensis, a rare fungus. By growing the fungus on different substrates including wood from specific trees, they found that certain growing methods produced much higher levels of beneficial compounds like antcins that have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. They also identified which genes control the production of these compounds, which could help improve cultivation methods to make the fungus more medicinally valuable.

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Optimization of triterpenoids biosynthesis in Athelia termitophila as a source of natural products

Researchers optimized growing conditions for a parasitic termite fungus called Athelia termitophila to produce more triterpenoids, which are medicinal compounds with health benefits. By systematically testing different nutrients and fermentation parameters, they increased triterpenoid production by 1.9 times and fungal biomass by 1.66 times. This breakthrough makes it more practical and cost-effective to produce these natural compounds for use in pharmaceuticals and functional foods.

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Advances in the extraction, purification, structural characterization, and elucidation of the biological functions of polysaccharides from Hericium erinaceus

Hericium erinaceus, commonly known as the monkey head mushroom, contains special molecules called polysaccharides that have numerous health benefits. Researchers have found that these polysaccharides can boost immunity, lower cholesterol and blood sugar, fight tumors, reduce inflammation, and promote healthy gut bacteria. Different extraction methods and purification processes can be used to obtain these beneficial compounds, making them useful for developing health supplements and medicines.

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Haplotype-resolved genomes of Phlebopus portentosus reveal nuclear differentiation, TE-mediated variation, and saprotrophic potential

Scientists sequenced the complete genomes of two compatible strains of the king bolete mushroom (Phlebopus portentosus), an important edible and medicinal species. The study found that mobile DNA elements called transposons play a major role in creating genetic differences between the two fungal nuclei and in generating the diversity of compounds that give mushrooms their health benefits. The research shows this mushroom can both partner with trees and break down organic material on its own, making it uniquely adaptable.

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Adaptive Responses in High-Radiation Environments: Insights From Chernobyl Wildlife and Ramsar Residents

Animals and humans living in highly radioactive environments have evolved protective mechanisms to survive and thrive. Frogs in Chernobyl have developed darker skin that absorbs radiation energy, while people in Ramsar have enhanced DNA repair abilities. These natural adaptations challenge the assumption that all radiation exposure is harmful and provide insights into how life adapts to environmental challenges.

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