candidiasis – Page 5

Musculoskeletal Manifestations of Disseminated Fungal Infections

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Fungal infections can spread to bones and joints, causing serious complications especially in people with weakened immune systems. These infections are tricky to diagnose because their symptoms are similar to bacterial infections or other diseases. Treatment typically involves antifungal medications and sometimes surgery to remove infected tissue. Early detection and aggressive treatment are crucial for better patient outcomes.

Plants, fungi, and antifungals: A little less talk, a little more action

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Plants and fungi communicate through small chemical molecules, and scientists are discovering that understanding this dialogue could lead to new antifungal medicines. Researchers found that a plant hormone called strigolactone affects a specific fungal protein involved in nutrient uptake, suggesting this could be a target for new drugs. By using baker’s yeast as a laboratory model, scientists can study how fungal cells respond to plant chemicals and identify new ways to fight dangerous fungal infections that are becoming resistant to current treatments.

Synthesis, Physicochemical Properties and Anti-Fungal Activities of New Meso-Arylporphyrins

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Researchers created three new porphyrin compounds that effectively kill fungal infections like Candida and athlete’s foot fungi. These compounds can also generate singlet oxygen when exposed to light, making them potentially useful for photodynamic therapy treatments. Testing showed they inhibited fungal growth at relatively low concentrations, suggesting they could become new antifungal medications.

Strengthening Fungal Infection Diagnosis and Treatment: An In-depth Analysis of Capabilities in Honduras

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This study examined how well healthcare facilities in Honduras can diagnose and treat serious fungal infections. Researchers surveyed laboratories and hospitals to find out what diagnostic tools and antifungal medications were available. The findings showed that while basic tests like microscopy were common, advanced techniques were rare, and many important antifungal drugs were difficult to access. The study recommends improving training, building better laboratories, and making essential medications more available.

Graphene nanomaterials: A new frontier in preventing respiratory fungal infections

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Fungal lung infections are a serious problem, especially for people with weak immune systems. Researchers are exploring graphene nanomaterials as a new treatment approach that can deliver antifungal drugs directly to infected areas in the lungs. These tiny particles work by creating toxic stress inside fungal cells and breaking down their protective biofilms, while using smaller drug doses and causing fewer side effects than traditional treatments.

Superficial Fungal Infections in Children—What Do We Know?

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Superficial fungal infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot are common in children and are caused by fungi, yeasts, or molds that spread through contact with infected people, animals, or contaminated surfaces. These infections primarily affect the scalp, skin, and nails, with scalp infections being most common in young children. Treatment typically uses topical creams for mild cases or oral medications for more severe infections, particularly those affecting nails or the scalp. Proper hygiene, avoiding contaminated areas, and limiting contact with infected individuals or animals are key to prevention.

Functional Amyloids in Adhesion of Non-albicans Candida Species

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Candida fungi cause common infections and form tough biofilms that resist treatment. These fungi stick to body surfaces using proteins called adhesins that form amyloid-like structures. Researchers found that special peptides can block these amyloid structures in several Candida species, preventing them from sticking to cells and potentially offering a new way to fight these infections.

Antifungal Effects of the Phloroglucinol Derivative DPPG Against Pathogenic Aspergillus fumigatus

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Scientists developed a new antifungal compound called DPPG based on a natural antibacterial molecule produced by soil bacteria. This synthetic derivative showed strong activity against dangerous fungal pathogens like Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida species, which cause serious infections in humans. The compound works by disrupting the fungal cell membrane, causing it to leak and die. Testing in insect models demonstrated effectiveness comparable to current clinical antifungal medications.

Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity and Antifungal Efficacy of Crocus sativus (saffron) Petals on Clinical Isolates of Candida albicans

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Researchers tested saffron petals as a natural antifungal treatment against Candida albicans, a common fungal infection. While the saffron extract was less potent than the standard drug fluconazole, it showed promise as a safer alternative with minimal toxicity to human cells. The findings suggest saffron petals could be a cost-effective herbal option for treating fungal infections, especially as resistance to conventional antifungals increases.

Enhancing antifungal stewardship: The educational and healthcare benefits of involving pharmacy students in audits

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This study examined how pharmacy students could help improve the use of fluconazole, a common antifungal medication, in hospitals. Researchers found that nearly one-third of fluconazole prescriptions were not being used appropriately. By having pharmacy students participate in reviewing prescriptions under expert supervision, hospitals could better identify problems and educate future pharmacists, while the students gained valuable real-world experience in patient care.

Disease: candidiasis