Medicinal – Page 170

Polysacharide of Agaricus blazei gel mitigates bone necrosis in model of the jaws related to bisphosphonate via Wnt signaling

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This study tested whether a gel made from Agaricus blazei mushroom could help repair jaw bone damage caused by bisphosphonate medications (used to treat bone loss). Using a rat model, researchers found that the mushroom gel significantly improved bone healing by activating biological pathways that promote bone-forming cell growth and activity. The treatment increased the number of living bone cells, improved bone quality, and reduced bone death and tissue damage. These promising results suggest the mushroom extract could become a helpful treatment to prevent or manage jawbone damage in patients taking bisphosphonate medications.

Comparative Multi-Omics Analysis and Antitumor Activity of Phylloporia crataegi and Phylloporia fontanesiae

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Researchers compared two types of medicinal fungi (Phylloporia crataegi and Phylloporia fontanesiae) to understand why one is better at fighting cancer. They used advanced techniques to examine the fungi’s chemicals, genes, and proteins, discovering that P. crataegi contains special compounds like trans-cinnamic acid that help kill cancer cells. This study provides important information for developing new cancer treatments from these fungi.

Photo Quiz: A cutaneous fungal infection with discordant biomarker results—a diagnostic challenge

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A woman with advanced HIV disease presented with unusual skin lesions that were initially suspected to be from a virus, but laboratory testing revealed a rare fungal infection called histoplasmosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. The case was challenging because some standard fungal tests came back negative even though the patient had the infection, showing why doctors need to rely on culture and examination under the microscope. She was treated with antifungal medications and her diagnosis highlights the importance of considering fungal infections in severely immunocompromised patients even when initial tests seem negative.

A novel pan-fungal screening platform for antifungal drug discovery: proof of principle study

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Researchers developed a faster, more efficient screening method to test potential antifungal drugs against multiple disease-causing fungi simultaneously. Using an improved growth medium and screening 500 chemical fragments, they identified compounds with antifungal activity and demonstrated the platform can reliably detect promising drug candidates. This approach could accelerate the discovery of new antifungal medications, which are urgently needed as fungi develop resistance to current treatments.

Epigenome-wide association study of BMI and waist-to-hip ratio and their associations with dietary patterns in Korean adults

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This research examined how different types of obesity (overall body weight versus belly fat) are associated with changes in DNA methylation patterns in Korean adults. The study found that certain DNA regions become less methylated in obese individuals, and that these epigenetic changes are linked to different dietary patterns. The findings suggest that specific foods may influence these epigenetic modifications differently depending on whether someone has overall obesity or more belly fat, opening new possibilities for using diet to prevent or manage obesity.

Fluconazole worsened lung inflammation, partly through lung microbiome dysbiosis in mice with ovalbumin-induced asthma

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Fluconazole is an antifungal medication that works well for treating asthma caused by fungal infections, but may actually worsen asthma from other causes. In mice with allergic asthma, fluconazole killed beneficial bacteria and promoted the growth of harmful bacteria that increased inflammation. This study suggests that fluconazole should only be used for fungal-related asthma and careful monitoring is needed if used in patients with regular asthma.

Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis in a Patient With Diabetes: A Rare but Critical Infection in the United Arab Emirates

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A middle-aged man with undiagnosed diabetes developed a serious fungal infection called mucormycosis that affected his sinuses, eyes, and brain. He presented with flu-like symptoms and facial weakness, and blood tests showed dangerously high blood sugar and acid levels (diabetic ketoacidosis). Doctors treated him with multiple rounds of antifungal medications, several surgeries, and innovative injections directly into and around his eyes and spinal cord, resulting in his successful recovery and discharge.

The regulatory variant rs1950834 confers the risk of depressive disorder by reducing LRFN5 expression

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Researchers identified a genetic variant (rs1950834) that increases depression risk by reducing production of LRFN5, a protein important for brain connections. They found this variant affects how brain cells in a region called the nucleus accumbens produce LRFN5. When LRFN5 levels are low, mice become more depressed and sensitive to stress, but boosting LRFN5 protects against depression. This discovery could lead to new ways to diagnose and treat depression.

Time- and temperature-dependent Pentraxin 3 stability in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples

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This study investigated how stable Pentraxin 3 (Ptx3), a protein used to detect fungal infections, remains when stored at different temperatures. Researchers found that Ptx3 stays reliable for up to 8 months in freezer storage at −20°C and even longer at −80°C, making it a dependable biomarker for diagnosing serious fungal infections. However, storing samples at room temperature (37°C) causes the protein to break down quickly, so proper cold storage is essential for accurate test results.

Utility of MALDI-ToF MS for Recognition and Antifungal Susceptibility of Nannizzia, an Underestimated Group of Dermatophytes

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Nannizzia species are soil-dwelling fungi that increasingly cause stubborn skin, nail, and hair infections in humans and animals. This study tested two laboratory methods for identifying these fungi and measured their sensitivity to eight antifungal drugs. The faster liquid-based method was slightly more accurate (67%) than the traditional culture method (62%), though neither method could identify six very rare species. Terbinafine emerged as the most effective antifungal treatment in laboratory tests.

Research Topic: Medicinal