Extracts from "Clinical evidence": Athlete's foot and fungally infected toenails

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Reinforced Waste Buffing Dust Based Composite Insole and Its Antimicrobial Activity

The objective of this research is to use zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) combined with buffing dust to develop footwear insole with antibacterial properties. In addition, performance analysis (mechanical, chemical, and thermal) of fabricated insole is also the integral consideration of this study. With such aim, antimicrobial composite insoles were fabricated via simple solution mixing of ZnONPs and natural rubber latex (NRL) binder along with buffing dusts with optimum ratio. Then, removal of water was considered by mechanical pressing followed by natural drying in sunlight. The chemical bonding and material interactions of composites were investigated using FT-IR and XRD, respectively. TGA analysis confirmed the thermal stability of composites, while SEM and OTR are elucidating the surface morphology and gas barrier properties, respectively. Tensile strength, elongation, flexibility, hardness, and water absorption of prepared composite with optimum NRL content were increased by 39, 31, 30, 38, and 28%, respectively. Finally, 78% antimicrobial performance was achieved against the suspension of ( $1.5\times {10}^6\text{CFU}/\text{mL}$ ) bacterial strain Staphylococcus aureus.

Dermatophytes and other associated fungi in patients attending to some hospitals in Egypt

Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that infect keratinized tissues causing diseases known as dermatophytoses. Dermatophytes are classified in three genera, Epidermophyton, Microsporum, and Trichophyton. This investigation was performed to study the prevalence of dermatomycosis among 640 patients being evaluated at the dermatology clinics at Kasr elainy, El-Husein and Said Galal hospitals in Cairo and Giza between January 2005 and December 2006. The patients were checked for various diseases. Tinea capitis was the most common clinical disease followed by tinea pedis and tinea corporis. Tinea cruris and tinea unguium were the least in occurrence. Tinea versicolor also was detected. The most susceptible persons were children below 10 years followed by those aged 31-40 years. Unicellular yeast was the most common etiological agent and T. tonsuranswas the second most frequent causative agent followed by M. canis.

A nitric oxide-releasing solution as a potential treatment for fungi associated with tinea pedis

AIMS

To test a nitric oxide-releasing solution (NORS) as a potential antifungal footbath therapy against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum during the mycelial and conidial phases.

METHODS AND RESULTS

NORS (sodium nitrite citric acid) produces nitric oxide verified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antifungal activity of this solution was tested against mycelia and conidia of T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum, using 1-20 mmol l(-1) nitrites and 10-30 min exposure times. The direct effect of the gas released from the solution on the viability of those fungi was tested. NORS demonstrated strong antifungal activity and was found to be dose and time dependent. NO and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2) ) were the only gases detected from this reaction and are likely responsible for the antifungal effect.

CONCLUSIONS

This in vitro research suggests that a single 20-min exposure to NORS could potentially be used as an effective single-dose treatment against fungi that are associated with tinea pedis in both mycelia and spore phase.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study provides the background for developing a user-friendly footbath treatment for Athlete's Foot that will kill both vegetative fungi and its spores.