Nanotechnology-based fungal detection and treatment: current status and future perspective.

Fungal infections impose a significant impact on global health and encompass major expenditures in medical treatments. Human mycoses, a fungal co-infection associated with SARS-CoV-2, is caused by opportunistic fungal pathogens and is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Recently, there is increasing threat about spread of antimicrobial resistance in fungus, mostly in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The diagnosis and treatment of fungal infections are associated with several issues, including tedious and non-selective detection methods, the growth of drug-resistant bacteria, severe side effects, and ineffective drug delivery. Thus, a rapid and sensitive diagnostic method and a high-efficacy and low-toxicity therapeutic approach are needed. Nanomedicine has emerged as a viable option for overcoming these limitations. Due to the unique physicochemical and optical properties of nanomaterials and newer biosensing techniques, nanodiagnostics play an important role in the accurate and prompt differentiation and detection of fungal diseases. Additionally, nano-based drug delivery techniques can increase drug permeability, reduce adverse effects, and extend systemic circulation time and drug half-life. This review paper is aimed at highlighting recent, promising, and unique trends in nanotechnology to design and develop diagnostics and treatment methods for fungal diseases.

Dysbiosis and Alzheimer's disease: role of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by dementia and the accumulation of amyloid beta in the brain. Recently, microbial dysbiosis has been identified as one of the major factors involved in the onset and progression of AD. Imbalance in gut microbiota is known to affect central nervous system (CNS) functions through the gut-brain axis and involves inflammatory, immune, neuroendocrine and metabolic pathways. An altered gut microbiome is known to affect the gut and BBB permeability, resulting in imbalance in levels of neurotransmitters and neuroactive peptides/factors. Restoration of levels of beneficial microorganisms in the gut has demonstrated promising effects in AD in pre-clinical and clinical studies. The current review enlists the important beneficial microbial species present in the gut, the effect of their metabolites on CNS, mechanisms involved in dysbiosis related to AD and the beneficial effects of probiotics on AD. It also highlights challenges involved in large-scale manufacturing and quality control of probiotic formulations.

An update on novel therapeutic intervention in Rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that is slow progressive destruction of the joints and is caused by autoantibodies that target a variety of organs thereby leading to auto-destruction. Patients diagnosed with RA develop deformity of joints and show gradual functional impairment if they do not receive treatment within the desired timeline. The availability of biological treatments and the introduction of treat-to-target regimens have dramatically enhanced the outcome for patients treated with RA conditions. Nevertheless, there is still attention required for RA because patients do not respond adequately to currently available treatment regimens. Over the past few decades, newer therapy methods are evolving to better understand the in-depth literature behind the actual cause of RA. Thus, getting an insight into the importance of RA there is a need for a shift in the existing treatment. This article focuses on a comprehensive review of the therapeutic potential of newer targets such as Janus Kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway, Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Pathway, Phosphoinositide-3-kinase Pathway, Dendritic cells, Neuropathway, Receptor activator of nuclearfactor-kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) Inhibitors, Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Synovial Anatomy emphasizing on Synovial fibroblasts Myeloid Cells which have been summarized. In addition, novel therapeutic targets such as proteins, small molecular metabolites, and epigenetics are described in this article. Cytokines, chemokines, and other protein targets are among the protein target. Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, platelet-activating factor, cannabinoids, and specific fatty acid amide hydrolase are all examples of small molecular metabolites. DNA, RNA, and Histone Modification are epigenetic targets. Furthermore, the article provides an in-depth understanding of the exact mechanism in underlying pathophysiology in RA and thereby substantiating their evident therapeutic effect with ongoing clinical trials. Nevertheless, these newer targets would help to bring and paradigm shift in the treatment of this ancient autoimmune disorder.

Deciphering Role of Cytokines for Therapeutic Strategies Against Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory disorder that affects both large and small synovial joints in a symmetric pattern. RA initiates as painful inflammation of the joints leading to stiffness of joint, joint destruction and further worsens the condition causing permanent irreversible damage to the joints, making them physically disabled. Across the globe, there are around 1.2 million cases of RA reported. Inspite of various available therapeutic and pharmacological agents against RA, none of the treatments assure complete cure. Understanding the in depth-role of cytokines and interleukins in the disease pathogenesis of RA could help in exploiting them for developing novel therapeutic strategies against RA. This review provides insights into the pathogenesis of RA and gives a brief overview of cytokines, which play an important role in the progression of the disease. We have also discussed the possible role of interleukins in the context of RA, which could help future researchers to explore them for identifying new therapeutic agents.