Publications by authors named "Mahmoud Ghannoum"

Fluoroquinolones, available in topical and oral formulations, are used to manage bacterial skin and soft tissue infections, including , atypical mycobacteria, and select multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms. Their excellent tissue penetration, bactericidal activity, and convenient dosing make them effective for certain skin and soft tissue infections. However, their use is limited by potential safety concerns, including tendinopathy (odds ratio up to 9.

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Diet is known to influence the composition of the gut microbiome. For patients who require enteral feeding, there has been a growing popularity of using blenderized tube feeds (BTFs) as an alternative to standard enteral formula (SEF). There is limited literature exploring the impact of BTFs on the gut microbiome.

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The global burden of fungal infections is rising at an alarming rate, with superficial, cutaneous, and mucosal mycoses among the most prevalent. Conventional treatments rely on oral and topical antifungal agents; however, these therapies are often limited by adverse effects, toxicity, frequent recurrence, and poor patient adherence due to prolonged treatment regimens. Moreover, the emergence of antifungal resistance and multidrug-resistant species such as and highlights the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies, such as antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT).

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Background: Treatment of acne may require many months of treatment before maximal benefits are observed, and acne sequelae (eg, scarring, dyspigmentation) can persist long after lesion resolution. In 12-week clinical trials, triple-combination clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/adapalene 0.

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Background/objectives: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO) are distinct yet often overlapping conditions characterized by an abnormal increase in microbial populations within the small intestine. SIBO results from an overgrowth of colonic bacteria, while SIFO is driven by fungal overgrowth, primarily involving species. Both conditions present with nonspecific gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and malabsorption, making differentiation between SIBO and SIFO challenging.

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Background: Antibiotic resistance is growing globally, with multiple countries reporting resistance in >50% of () strains. Combination formulations of an antibiotic and the antimicrobial benzoyl peroxide (BPO) may reduce this resistance risk, especially with prolonged use. This 4-part study tested susceptibility of 31 clinical strains and development of resistance to antibiotics alone or combined with BPO.

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The ability of probiotics, comprising live microbiota, to modulate the composition of intestinal microbiomes has been connected to modulation of the central nervous system (Gut-Brain axis), neuroendocrine system (Gut-Skin axis), and immune response (Gut-Immune axis). Less information is known regarding the ability of postbiotics (cell wall components and secreted metabolites derived from live organisms) to regulate host immunity. In the present study, we tested postbiotics comprising single strains of bacteria and yeast ( 16axg, 18fx, 16mxg) as well as combinations of multiple strains for their ability to stimulate cytokine production by human CD14 monocytes.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focuses on how gut microorganisms impact Crohn's disease by causing immune responses that result in inflammation, particularly analyzing a new blend of probiotics and amylase in a mouse model of the disease.
  • - Four groups of mice were treated for 56 days with different combinations of probiotics, amylase, or a control solution, and their inflammation levels and immune cell profiles were assessed.
  • - Results showed that the probiotic + amylase blend significantly reduced inflammation and changed the abundance of immune cells, suggesting it may be an effective therapeutic option for managing Crohn's disease and warranting further clinical trials.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial disorder involving genetic and environmental factors leading to pathophysiologic symptoms and comorbidities including neurodevelopmental disorders, anxiety, immune dysregulation, and gastrointestinal (GI) abnormalities. Abnormal intestinal permeability has been reported among ASD patients and it is well established that disturbances in eating patterns may cause gut microbiome imbalance (i.e.

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Article Synopsis
  • Part I covered the skin microbiome in healthy people, focusing on its normal function and composition.
  • Part II dives into how the skin microbiome changes in certain diseases, highlighting these alterations and their implications.
  • The discussion also includes how environmental factors and medications like antibiotics impact the microbiome, along with current research on potential microbiome-based treatments.
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Article Synopsis
  • Human skin hosts various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that help maintain skin health and balance.
  • Our knowledge of the skin microbiome is still developing, mostly from lab and animal studies, and more research is needed to apply these findings to humans.
  • The article explores the concept of the skin microbiome, its interactions with the host, and how changes to the microbiome can relate to skin diseases and potential treatments.
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Introduction: Topical antifungals for toenail onychomycosis must penetrate the nail to deliver an inhibitory concentration of free drug to the site of infection. In two ex vivo experiments, we tested the ability of topical antifungals to inhibit growth of Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, the most common causative fungi in toenail onychomycosis.

Methods: Seven topical antifungals were tested: three U.

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The present study was performed to determine if ingesting a blend of probiotics plus amylase would alter the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota in subjects consuming the blend over a 6-week period. 16S and ITS ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing was performed on fecal samples provided by subjects who participated in a clinical study where they consumed either a probiotic amylase blend ( 19bx, 16axg, 18fx, and 16mxg, alpha amylase (500 SKB (Alpha-amylase-Dextrinizing Units)) or a placebo consisting of rice oligodextrin. The abundance and diversity of both bacterial and fungal organisms was assessed at baseline and following 6 weeks of probiotic amylase blend or placebo consumption.

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Background: Dermatophytoma, also described as a longitudinal streak/spike, is a form of onychomycosis that presents as yellow/white streaks or patches in the subungual space, with dense fungal masses encased in biofilm. This scoping review of the literature was conducted to address a general lack of information about the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of dermatophytomas in onychomycosis.

Methods: A search was performed in the PubMed and Embase databases for the terms "longitudinal spike" or "dermatophytoma.

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Unlabelled: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is linked with clinical advantages in urothelial carcinoma for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Despite comprehensive research into the influence of tumor mutation expression profiles and clinicopathologic factors on chemotherapy response, the role of the gut microbiome (GM) in bladder cancer chemotherapy response remains poorly understood. This study examines the variance in the GM of patients with bladder cancer compared with healthy adults, and investigates GM compositional differences between patients who respond to chemotherapy versus those who exhibit residual disease.

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() infections represent a serious health risk for people affected by inflammatory bowel disease. An important fungal virulence factor is the capacity of the fungus to form on the colonized surface of the host. This research study aimed to determine the effect of a and co-infection on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice.

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Increased antifungal resistance is exacerbating the burden of invasive fungal infections, as well as potentially contributing to the increase in resistant dermatomycoses. In this commentary, we focus on antifungal drug resistance, in contrast to antibacterial resistance. We provide a brief historical perspective on the emergence of antifungal resistance and propose measures for combating this growing health concern.

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Article Synopsis
  • - A case of tinea genitalis was reported in an immunocompetent woman in Pennsylvania, caused by Trichophyton indotineae, likely from sexual contact.
  • - The infection showed resistance to terbinafine, the standard antifungal treatment, but responded positively to itraconazole.
  • - It's important for healthcare providers to recognize T. indotineae as a possible cause of antifungal-resistant genital infections.
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The increase in incidence of superficial fungal infections combined with the emergence of antifungal resistance represents both a global health challenge and a considerable economic burden. Recently, dermatophytes, the main culprit causing superficial fungal infections, have started to exhibit antifungal resistance. This can be observed in some of the most common species such as and .

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A growing body of literature has marked the emergence and spread of antifungal resistance among species of Trichophyton, the most prevalent cause of toenail and fingernail onychomycosis in the United States and Europe. We review published data on rates of oral antifungal resistance among Trichophyton species; causes of antifungal resistance and methods to counteract it; and in vitro data on the role of topical antifungals in the treatment of onychomycosis. Antifungal resistance among species of Trichophyton against terbinafine and itraconazole-the two most common oral treatments for onychomycosis and other superficial fungal infections caused by dermatophytes-has been detected around the globe.

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Introduction And Hypothesis: Our objective was to evaluate if botox alters the urinary microbiome of patients with overactive bladder and whether this alteration is predictive of treatment response.

Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study included 18-89-year-old patients undergoing treatment for overactive bladder with 100 units of botox. Urine samples were collected by straight catheterization on the day of the procedure (S1) and again 4 weeks later (S2).

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Background: Studies have demonstrated that the gut microbiome changes upon exposure to systemic antibiotics. There is a paucity of literature regarding impact on the gut microbiome by long-term usage of erythromycin ethyl succinate (EES) when utilized as a prokinetic.

Methods: Stool samples from pediatric patients with feeding intolerance who received EES ( = 8) as a prokinetic were analyzed for both bacteriome and mycobiome.

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Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are burdened with a significantly higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) compared to the general population. Accumulating evidence suggests the potential influence of microbial dysbiosis on transplant outcomes. Based on these observations, we sought to identify differences in the cutaneous and gut microbiomes of SOTRs with and without a history of SCC.

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We developed an oral Salmonella-based vaccine that prevents and reverses diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Related to this, the gastrointestinal tract harbors a complex dynamic population of microorganisms, the gut microbiome, that influences host homeostasis and metabolism. Changes in the gut microbiome are associated with insulin dysfunction and type 1 diabetes (T1D).

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