Medicinal – Page 128

Odontogenic-onset mucormycosis: A case series from a tertiary care institute in North India

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Mucormycosis is a serious fungal infection that can develop after dental procedures like tooth extraction or root canal therapy, especially in people with poorly controlled diabetes. This case study from India describes five patients who developed this infection within weeks of dental work. The infection destroys bone in the upper jaw and palate but usually doesn’t spread to the sinuses like other forms of mucormycosis. All patients improved with antifungal medications and surgical cleaning, highlighting the importance of proper sterilization during dental procedures.

Effects of Short-Chain Fatty Acid Combinations Relevant to the Healthy and Dysbiotic Gut upon Candida albicans

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Short-chain fatty acids produced by healthy gut bacteria appear to slow the growth and reduce the invasive characteristics of Candida albicans, a fungus that normally lives harmlessly in the gut but can cause infections when the microbiota is disrupted by antibiotics. This study tested whether healthy gut SCFA levels inhibit Candida more effectively than dysbiotic levels and found that the healthy SCFA mix was somewhat more effective at preventing fungal hyphal formation, which is important for tissue invasion. However, different Candida strains responded differently to the SCFAs, suggesting that individual variation affects how protective these bacterial metabolites can be.

Discovery of the antifungal compound ilicicolin K through genetic activation of the ilicicolin biosynthetic pathway in Trichoderma reesei

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Scientists used genetic engineering to activate a dormant gene cluster in the fungus Trichoderma reesei, enabling it to produce the antifungal compound ilicicolin H in high quantities. During this process, they discovered a new related compound called ilicicolin K that shows even stronger antifungal properties. These compounds could potentially overcome limitations of current antifungal treatments, especially against drug-resistant fungi like Candida auris.

Northwest Iranian dermatophyte isolates: anthropophilic and geophilic

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Researchers in northwestern Iran studied fungal infections of skin, hair, and nails by identifying different types of dermatophytes from patient samples and soil. They found that a fungus called Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the most common cause, but also discovered a rare fungus called Myriodontium keratinophilum causing nail infections. Using modern DNA testing methods, they identified seven different dermatophyte species and several other soil fungi, providing important information about fungal infections in this region.

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

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This study involved pharmacy students in reviewing fluconazole prescriptions at two Sydney hospitals to improve antifungal medication use. The researchers found that many fluconazole prescriptions were not being used appropriately, and some patients had dangerous drug interactions. The pharmacy students gained valuable real-world experience while helping the hospitals improve their antifungal stewardship practices.

Nuts, vegetables, fruits, and protein dietary pattern during pregnancy is inversely associated with risk of childhood allergies: a case–control study

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This study found that pregnant women who ate more nuts, vegetables, fruits, and protein had children with significantly lower rates of allergies. The research compared the diets of mothers whose children developed allergies to mothers of allergy-free children and discovered that higher consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid during pregnancy was linked to healthier immune development. The findings suggest that eating a nutrient-rich diet during pregnancy may help protect babies from developing allergies and other immune-related conditions.

Antioxidant Potential-Rich Betel Leaves (Piper betle L.) Exert Depigmenting Action by Triggering Autophagy and Downregulating MITF/Tyrosinase In Vitro and In Vivo

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This research shows that betel leaves, a traditional herb used in Asian cultures, can lighten skin pigmentation through multiple mechanisms. The extract works by reducing tyrosinase enzyme activity, activating cellular cleanup processes called autophagy, and boosting the body’s natural antioxidant defenses. In both laboratory cells and living mice exposed to UV radiation, betel leaves extract effectively reduced unwanted skin darkening, suggesting it could be developed into safe natural skin-whitening products.

GDF11 slows excitatory neuronal senescence and brain ageing by repressing p21

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As we age, brain cells called excitatory neurons undergo senescence, similar to cellular ageing. This study found that a protein called GDF11 protects these neurons from ageing. When GDF11 was removed from excitatory neurons in mice, the neurons aged faster, leading to memory problems and shorter lifespans. The research reveals that GDF11 works by blocking p21, a molecule that promotes cellular ageing.

Azole fungicides and Aspergillus resistance, five EU agency report highlights the problem for the first time using a One Health approach

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A major European health agency report warns that widely-used fungicides sprayed on crops to prevent plant diseases may be creating resistant fungi that can infect humans and make medical treatments ineffective. The study found that about 10,000 tonnes of these azole fungicides are used in Europe annually, and their residues accumulate in the environment where they can cause harmful fungi to become resistant to the same medicines doctors use to treat patients. The report calls for urgent action to better monitor this problem and prevent resistance through smarter use and regulation of agricultural fungicides.

Roles of the Sec2p Gene in the Growth and Pathogenicity Regulation of Aspergillus fumigatus

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Scientists studied a gene called Sec2p in a harmful fungus that causes serious lung infections in people with weak immune systems. When they removed this gene, the fungus grew more slowly and was much less dangerous to infected mice, with 67% of mice surviving compared to only 22% with normal fungus. The gene controls how the fungus breaks down its own cell parts for nutrition and repairs its cell wall, so blocking it weakens the fungus significantly.

Research Topic: Medicinal