A Mycological and Molecular Epidemiologic Study on Onychomycosis and Determination In Vitro Susceptibilities of Isolated Fungal Strains to Conventional and New Antifungals

BackgroundOnychomycosis is one of the most common and recurrent dermatological diseases worldwide. The antimycotic activity of prescribed medications varies according to the causative agents, and treatment failure rates exceeding 30%. This study aimed to assess the epidemiological profile of onychomycosis in Iran. Also, the susceptibilities to conventional and new antifungals were investigated.MethodsIn this descriptive cross-sectional study, during the period of 18 months starting from September 2019 until March 2020, 594 nail specimens were obtained from patients who presented nail changes compatible with a clinical diagnosis of onychomycosis. The patients were referred from different cities, including Tehran, Kermanshah, Arak, Kashan, Rasht, Qom, Urmia, Zahedan, Hamadan, Zanjan, Borujerd, Bushehr, and Yazd. All the samples were subjected to microscopic examination and fungal culture. Fungi identified were confirmed through the PCR-sequencing method. The susceptibility to itraconazole, fluconazole, terbinafine, griseofulvin, posaconazole, ravuconazole, efinaconazole, luliconazole, and tavaborole was evaluated according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines, document M38-A2 for filamentous fungi, and document M27-A3 for yeasts.Results594 patients were included. Of these, in 179 cases (30.1%) (95% CI:0.3 ± 0.037) onychomycosis was confirmed. The majority of patients were ≥ 60 years of age (n=58, 32.6%) and female (n=113, 63.1%). Saprophytic fungi accounted for the vast majority of the nail isolates (n=92, 51.4%) (95% CI:0.051 ± 0.0.073), followed by dermatophytes (n=45, 25.1%) (95% CI:0.25 ± 0.063), and yeasts (n=42, 23.5%) (95% CI:0.23 ± 0.061). Diabetes mellitus (77.3%), hypothyroidism (18.2%), and solid tumors (4.5%) were documented as the most prevalent underlying conditions. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed against 60 fungal isolates (20 each of Candida species, saprophytic fungi, and dermatophytes). Efinaconazole, ravuconazole, and luliconazole were the most active agents against Candida species. Also, luliconazole, posaconazole, and efinaconazole were most potent against dermatophytes. Luliconazole had the greatest antifungal activity against saprophytic fungi.ConclusionsThe prevalence of onychomycosis in Iranian patients was relatively high. LUL exhibited potent antifungal activity against the three groups of fungi tested, determining its broad-spectrum antimycotic activity and its probable use as the first-line therapy for onychomycosis.

EFFECT OF ONION AND GINGER JUICE EXTRACT ON THE QUALITY OF HOT. SMOKED MEAT

A experiment who conducted to determine the activeness of extracts from ginger rhizome and onion bulbs, in retarding lipid oxidation On the organoleptic quality of smoked meat. Brine solution consisting of potassium sorbate, sodium chloride with or without butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), onion juice ainst and ginger Juice extract respectively were used us dips for curing Samples dipped la 10% brine served as control. Meat samples nere trimmed of visible fats, cut lato 1kg sizes, pen broiled at 80°C for 30 minutes, and then recut into 100 - 130g pieces. Samples were divided randomly into four batches and dipped for 5 minutes in different solutions, drined, revoked at • temperature of 70 - 80Cfor 6 hours and cooked to room temperature. Products were individually packaged in polythene bags, stored at room temperature (25 30°C) and used for sensory evaluation, chemical and microbial analysis. Results of chemical, and sensory analyses indicated that upid oxidation was not a problem in smoked beef. Samples dipped in solution containing ginger juice and BHT were noted better than others. Six per cent potassium sorbate did not offer adequate antimycotic activity. Samples dipped in solution without potassium sorbate were unacceptable by the fourth day of storage as these were covered by visible mouldy mass. of mycelia.

Antibacterial Activity of Modified Carbon Sorbents, Prospective for Application

The aim of the work is to study the antibacterial and antimycotic properties of carbon sorbents modified with biologically active substances in relation to pathogens of purulent-inflammatory diseases. Material and methods. The activity of modifier solutions and modified samples of carbon sorbents was studied in relation to test strains of opportunistic microorganisms in comparison with the initial sample of carbon sorbent. A suspension with a known content of microbial cells was prepared from test strains of microorganisms; it was incubated in wells with test samples for 48 hours. The survival of microorganisms was determined by quantitative inoculation from each well of the sample and microorganism mixture at regular intervals of incubation on Petri dishes with simple agar nutrient, then the number of viable microbial cells in the test mixture was counted. Results. Studies have shown high antibacterial and antimycotic activity of modified carbon sorbents. The best result in comparison with the initial sample was demonstrated by a carbon sorbent modified with lactic acid oligomers and immobilized lysozyme. Studies have shown the promise of using modified carbon sorbent samples for the application therapy in bacterial infections.

Antimycotic Activity of Leaf Extracts of Medicinal Plants Against Dermatophytes

Plant products have been used as medicines against fungal infectious diseases. In this research antimycotic activity of the leaf extracts of five medicinal plants (Nerium indicum, Catheranthus roseus, Lantana camera, Ziziphus mauritiana) were tested against three dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum. gypseum). Development of more effective and less toxic antimycotic agents is required for the treatment of dermatophytosis. The plant materials were extracted with methanol, ethanol and diethyl ether solvent to investigate their antimycotic activities in Vitro. Ethanol and methanol extracts of all selected medicinal plants were showed the positive activity against all tested dermatophytes. Diethyl ether extract was showed lowest activity against T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum and showed moderate activity against M. gypseum. The three dermatophytes differed with regard to their susceptibility to plant extracts.

Antifungal activity of new derivatives of 4-(het)aryl-2,4-dioxobutanoic acids

Among more than 600 types of micromycetes of clinical importance, fungi of the Candida spp. are the most common pathogen, causing different forms of candidiasis (superficial candidiasis, visceral candidiasis). The aim of this work was to determine the antifungal activity of new derivatives of 4-(het)aryl-2,4-dioxobutanoic acids, in relation to typical strains of Candida yeast and to identify the most active compounds. The study of the antifungal activity of the compounds was carried out by the micromethod of double serial dilutions in a liquid medium. The antifungal activity of 6 compounds in relation to 4 typical strains of Candida spp. was studied; the high antimycotic activity of 4 compounds against the Candida albicans strain was established. A leader compound with high antifungal activity for all the studied strains was revealed. The prospects of studying the modified compounds of this series are shown.

Helichrysum araxinum Takht. ex Kirp. grown in Italy: volatiloma composition and in vitro antimicrobial activity

In the present work the composition of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and the essential oil (EO) of Helichrysum araxinum Takht. ex Kirp. aerial parts, together with the antimicrobial activity, were investigated. The results showed the prevalence of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons in both spontaneous emissions as well as in the EO. The main compounds of BVOCs were γ-curcumene (10.7%), γ-muurolene (9.2%), and β-selinene (8.5%). This latter constituent also showed a similar amount in the EO and represented the most abundant compounds together with α-selinene (8.0%). It is Interesting to note the same percentage of monoterpene hydrocarbons (MHs) in both the aroma profile and the EO (18.0%) with the same most abundant compounds: β-pinene (6.3% in BVOCs vs. 5.1% in EO, respectively) and limonene (4.5% in VOCs vs. 4.9% in EO, respectively). With regard to the antimycotic activity, the EO showed to be inactive against the tested strains, while a moderate antibacterial activity was shown against Staphylococcus isolates.