Medicinal – Page 90

Exposure to Tebuconazole Drives Cross-Resistance to Clinical Triazoles in Aspergillus fumigatus

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When farmers use antifungal pesticides called triazoles to protect crops, the fungi can develop resistance to these chemicals. This study found that when the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is exposed to the agricultural triazole tebuconazole, it can become resistant not only to that pesticide but also to clinical triazole drugs used to treat human fungal infections. The resistant fungi maintain this resistance even when the pesticide is removed, suggesting that environmental pesticide use may threaten the effectiveness of medical antifungal treatments.

Prevalence of Tinea pedis in military personnel: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection affecting the feet that is especially prevalent in military personnel due to their unique living and working conditions. This comprehensive analysis of 25 studies found that about 17% of military personnel worldwide have tinea pedis, with higher rates in hot and humid climates like the Americas and Australia. The infection is promoted by factors such as tight military boots, shared facilities, sweating, and poor foot hygiene. The study recommends better footwear, improved hygiene practices, and more effective diagnostic methods to reduce this health problem in military populations.

Life Profile of Vaidyan Puthiyedathu Raman Menon

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Vaidyan Raman Menon was an important Ayurvedic doctor and writer from Kerala who lived from 1877 to 1965. He is famous for two major works: a detailed commentary on an ancient Ayurvedic text that included his own clinical insights, and a handbook that explained and standardized traditional Kerala therapeutic procedures like oil massage and herbal treatments. His contributions helped make Ayurvedic treatments safer and more consistent by establishing clear methods based on both ancient principles and practical experience.

Molecular Docking, Synthesis, and Tyrosinase Inhibition Activity of Acetophenone Amide: Potential Inhibitor of Melanogenesis

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Researchers developed new chemical compounds that can inhibit tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for producing melanin (the pigment that colors skin). One compound, called 5c, proved exceptionally effective at blocking this enzyme—significantly more potent than existing skin-lightening agents. These acetophenone-based compounds could lead to improved cosmetic treatments for unwanted pigmentation like age spots and melasma, with better safety profiles than current options.

Approaches to Invasive Fungal Diseases in Paediatric Cancer Centres: An Analysis of Current Practices and Challenges in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

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This study examined how 62 children’s cancer hospitals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland manage fungal infections in young cancer patients. Researchers found that hospitals use different methods to prevent and treat these serious infections, with some having special fungal infection experts and others not. The study revealed that larger hospitals tend to have better resources and expertise, while smaller hospitals face challenges like drug interactions and delays in getting test results.

Deep cutaneous fungal infection in an immunocompetent individual caused by a biological pesticide: a rare case report

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A 66-year-old farmer developed a deep skin fungal infection from a biological pesticide she used for over 10 years. The pesticide contained a fungus called Purpureocillium lilacinum, which is normally harmless to healthy people but caused repeated skin lesions on her face and arms. She was successfully treated with antifungal medication (itraconazole) for three months, and her skin fully healed without returning. This is the first reported case showing that biological pesticides can pose health risks to workers who handle them regularly.

In vitro antifungal activity of plant extracts against fungal pathogens of onion (Allium cepa L.) and red pepper (Capsicum annum L.) in selected districts of Western Hararghe, Ethiopia

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Onion and pepper farmers in Ethiopia lose significant crops to fungal diseases, and chemical fungicides are expensive and harmful. This study tested plant extracts from garlic, neem, and African wintersweet against disease-causing fungi. Acokanthera schimperi (African wintersweet) was most effective at stopping fungal growth, offering farmers an affordable, natural, and environmentally safe alternative to chemical fungicides.

Tailoring mRNA lipid nanoparticles for antifungal vaccines

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Researchers are exploring mRNA vaccines, similar to those used for COVID-19, as a new approach to prevent fungal infections. These vaccines use fatty particles called lipid nanoparticles to deliver instructions to cells on how to make fungal proteins, triggering an immune response. The review discusses how to optimize these vaccines, what challenges need to be overcome, and why they might be especially useful for people with weakened immune systems who are most vulnerable to serious fungal infections.

Toward the consensus of definitions for the phenomena of antifungal tolerance and persistence in filamentous fungi

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Scientists have proposed clear definitions and testing methods for two drug-resistance phenomena in fungi that cause infections. Unlike typical drug resistance, tolerance and persistence allow fungi to survive antifungal medications but in different ways: tolerance affects most spores while persistence affects only a small fraction. By standardizing how these phenomena are tested using fungal spores and measuring how quickly drugs kill them, researchers can better understand treatment failures and develop better therapies.

New wine in old skins: Scopoletin biosynthesis in cotton

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Cotton farmers face significant crop losses from a soil-dwelling fungus called Verticillium dahliae. Scientists discovered that cotton plants can protect themselves by producing a compound called scopoletin, which damages and kills this fungus. By understanding how cotton activates the genes that make scopoletin, researchers may be able to genetically engineer more disease-resistant cotton varieties, providing farmers with a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides.

Research Topic: Medicinal