Ganoderma lucidum extract inhibits Schistosoma mansoni survival in silico and in vitro study.

Schistosomosis is a worldwide tropical disease primarily caused by Schistosoma mansoni. Praziquantel is the only available drug for controlling schistosomosis, with many challenges. This study aims to evaluate the in vitro anti-Schistosoma effect of Ganoderma lucidum (G.

Is bronchoscopic view a reliable method in diagnosis of tracheobronchial aspergillosis in critically ill non-neutropenic patients?

Introduction: Pulmonary aspergillosis is the main respiratory fungal infection however; its diagnosis is missed or delayed in critically ill non-neutropenic patients. Despite the utility of fiberoptic bronchoscopy for the evaluation of tracheobronchial aspergillosis (TBA) in immunocompromised patients has been extensively studied, however its utility in critically ill non-neutropenic patients is underestimated.

Objectives: To assess the bronchoscopic changes suspected TBA relative to the microbiological and histopathological aspects in critically ill non-neutropenic patients admitted to respiratory intensive care unit (RICU).

Types of yeasts that cause vulvovaginal candidiasis in chronic users of corticosteroids.

The current study aims to compare between the types of yeasts that cause vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in women using corticosteroid medication compared to nonusers and estimate their sensitivity to available commercial antifungal agents. In a descriptive analytical cross-sectional study, we recruited 41 chronic corticosteroid users diagnosed clinically to have VVC from Women's Health Hospital, Assiut University, Egypt. Forty-seven age-matched women with VVC were recruited as a control group.

Antileishmanial Carbasugars from Geosmithia langdonii.

Two new carbasugar-type metabolites, (1 S,2 R,3 R,4 R,5 R)-2,3,4-trihydroxy-5-methylcyclohexyl-2',5'-dihydroxybenzoate (1) and (1 S,2 S,3 S,4 R,5 R)-4-[(2',5'-dihydroxybenzyl)oxy]-5-methylcyclohexane-1,2,3-triol (2), were isolated from the filamentous fungus Geosmithia langdonii isolated from cotton textiles from Assiut, Egypt. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated based on comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR and MS data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed antileishmanial activity against Leishmania donovani with IC values of 100 and 57 μM, respectively.

Antileishmanial metabolites from Geosmithia langdonii.

Antileishmanial bioassay guided fractionation of Geosmithia langdonii has resulted in the isolation and identification of two new compounds (1 and 2) together with 10 known compounds (3-12). The structures of the isolated metabolites were elucidated based on comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data as well as mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration at C4, C5, and C6 of 2 was determined as R using a modified Mosher esterification method and NOESY correlations.

Evaluation of chromogenic media and seminested PCR in the identification of Candida species.

Identification of Candida cultured from various clinical specimens to the species level is increasingly necessary for clinical laboratories. Although sn PCR identifies the species within hours but its cost-effectiveness is to be considered. So there is always a need for media which help in the isolation and identification at the species level.

Bacterial and fungal keratitis in Upper Egypt: in vitro screening of enzymes, toxins and antifungal activity.

Purpose: This work was conducted to study the ability of bacterial and fungal isolates from keratitis cases in Upper Egypt to produce enzymes, toxins, and to test the isolated fungal species sensitivity to some therapeutic agents.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and fifteen patients clinically diagnosed to have microbial keratitis were investigated. From these cases, 37 bacterial isolates and 25 fungal isolates were screened for their ability to produce extra-cellular enzymes in solid media.

Responsiveness of the health insurance and private systems in Alexandria, Egypt.

Background: Responsiveness to patients is a key indicator for measuring the health system performance with respect to nonhealth aspects. This study aimed to compare responsiveness of the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) with the private healthcare system and also to assess the importance of the different responsiveness domains according to the study population's perspective.

Participants And Methods: Patients attending both inpatient and outpatient settings of both organizations were interviewed (200 outpatients and 200 inpatients from each selected hospital) using the WHO questionnaire.

New anthraquinone derivatives from Geosmithia lavendula.

A phytochemical study of Geosmithia lavendula Pitt led to the isolation of three new anthraquinones: 1-acetyl-2,4,6,8-tetrahydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (1), 2-acetyl-1,4,5,7-tetrahydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (2), and 1-acetyl-2,4,5,6,7-pentahydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (3), as well as another new compound named didodecyl thiodipropionate (propionic acid, 3,3-sulfinyl di-1,1'-didodecyl ester) (4), along with ten known compounds: 1-acetyl-2,4,5,7-tetrahydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (rhodolamprometrin) (5), 1-acetyl-2,4,5,7,8-pentahydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (6), (22E)-ergosta-6,22-diene-3beta,5alpha,8alpha-triol, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, oleic acid, D-mannitol, palmitic acid, stearic acid, cis-vaccenic acid and 2-decenal. The structures of the isolated metabolites were elucidated based on NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. Compound 1 exhibited moderate activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus with an IC50 value of 16.

Detection of fumonisin producing Fusarium verticillioides in paddy (Oryza sativa L.) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

The study reports the occurrence of fumonisin producing Fusarium verticillioides in 90 samples of stored paddy (Oryza sativa L.) collected from different geographical regions of Karnataka, India. Fumonisin producing F.