Prevalence of Dermatophytic Infection and Detection of Dermatophytes by Microscopic and Culture Methods

Background: Dermatophytosis is considered as one of the major public health problems in the world and is the most commonly diagnosed skin disease in Bangladesh. The prevalence and characteristics of dermatophytic infections vary with climatic conditions, age, lifestyle and population migration patterns. Objective: To determine the prevalence of dermatophytic infection and sensitivity of different diagnostic procedures among the patients visiting dermatology outpatient department of Tairunnessa Memorial Medical College & Hospital, Gazipur, Bangladesh (TMMCH). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done during a period of 12 months from July 2015 to June 2016. Total 80 specimens were collected based on clinical presentations irrespective of age and sex. The diagnosis was confirmed by microscopic examination using 20% potassium hydroxide (KOH) and culture on Sabouraud’s dextrose agor medium. Results: Out of 80 samples, 31(38.75%) were found positive by culture and 21 (26.25%) were found positive by microscopic method which were also found positive by culture. This study found that most (51.62%) of the dermatophyteinfected cases were in the age group of 21−40 years followed by 41−60 years (29.03%) with male and female distribution 58.06% and 41.94% respectively The maximum number of infections was reported from groin followed by hands/legs and feet. Conclusion: The result of this study shows higher prevalence of dermatophytosis in both genders in this area. An accurate diagnosis can help in proper and effective treatment of dermatophytosis

A versatile functional food source Lasia spinosa leaf extract modulates the mRNA expression of a set of antioxidant genes and recovers the paracetamol-induced hepatic injury by normalizing the biochemical and histological markers

Lasia spinosa leaf extract (LSML) has been studied as a functional food source for DNA damage protection and antioxidant gene expression in paracetamol (PCM)-induced liver injury. The DNA damage-protecting capacity of LSML was evaluated using pBR322 plasmid DNA. A toxic dose of PCM was administered to rats, followed by an intervention with LSML of 65–250 mg/kg for 22 days. In LSML-treated animals, a significant decrease in hepatic parameters, hepatocyte growth, and cell injury was noticed when compared to the hepatic control. The increase of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA) were manifested. The serum total protein, ALP, ALT, AST, and bilirubin reverted to normal compared to the healthy and silymarin-treated groups. An elevated mRNA expression of SOD2, CAT, GPX1, PON1, and PFK1 was manifested in LSML-treated groups. The results demonstrate that LSML could be an antioxidant gene upregulating functional food sources to protect against liver injury

Unraveling Tamarindus indica Pulp-Derived Green Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles for Cardioprotective Potential against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy: A Comprehensive Biochemical and Gene Expression Study

The present work investigates a sustainable approach to synthesize magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) using an aqueous pulp extract derived from Tamarindus indica. The effective synthesis of MgO NPs was verified by characterizing methods such as UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). These nanoparticles possess small crystallite sizes, distinctive surface shapes, specific elemental compositions, and stabilizing and encapsulating constituents. Furthermore, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) tests revealed the existence of phytochemical components in MgO NPs. Significantly, these MgO NPs demonstrated exceptional antioxidant capabilities, as evidenced by their strong performance in antioxidant assays such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), nitric oxide (NO) scavenging, and iron chelation tests. They also exhibited a notable ability to inhibit red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis and lipid peroxidation. In toxicity assessments using Baby Hamster Kidney fibroblasts (BHK-21) and Vero cell lines, the MgO NPs displayed a safe profile. Additionally, in vivo studies on Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity revealed the cardioprotective properties of these NPs, accompanied by a detailed understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Pretreatment with MgO NPs effectively countered DOX-induced alterations in cardiac biomarkers, lipid profiles, cardiac enzymes, and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, they modulated apoptosis-related markers (caspase-3 and p53), upregulated antiapoptotic (Bcl-2), and antioxidant (SOD) markers, suggesting their potential therapeutic value in addressing DOX-induced cardiomyopathy. In conclusion, this study underscores the promising cardioprotective, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic qualities of MgO NPs derived from tamarind pulp, offering valuable insights into their therapeutic applications and underlying biological mechanisms