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Hansen Disease (leprosy) is a chronic inflammatory infectious disease that primarily targets skin, nerves and other internal organs (testis, liver etc.) caused by the acid fast intracellular bacilli, Mycobacterium leprae. Clinical presentation occurs with a wide spectrum including hypo pigmented anaesthetic patches, raised erythematous plaques and nodules and thickened peripheral nerves showing tenderness. The most important complication is the disability and deformity. The diagnosis of leprosy is frequently delayed because of its similarity with other more common skin conditions prevailing in some non endemic areas. We present a rare case report of tinea barbae in an old treated case of leprosy. This case is one of the rarest fungal infection in leprosy patient searched in PUBMED as there were other more tinea infection involving various sites in body which sometimes misdiagnosed as leprosy.

Background and Objectives: Citrus flavonoids are not only components of daily nutrition, they are also promoted as dietary supplements and are important ingredients in traditional medicines. Interactions of flavonoids with synthetic drugs represent an often neglected issue. We therefore investigated in vitro whether the polymethoxyflavones nobiletin, sinensetin, and tangeretin and the flavonoid rutinosides didymin, hesperidin, and narirutin can inhibit human organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP) 1B1, 1B3, and 2B1, which are important transporters mediating drug-drug and food-drug interactions. Methods: Inhibition was investigated by quantifying the decreased uptake of the fluorescent OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 substrate 8-fluorescein-cAMP in HEK293 cells overexpressing OATP1B1 or OATP1B3 and of the fluorescent OATP2B1 substrate 4′,5′-dibromofluorescein in HEK293 cells overexpressing OATP2B1. Results: We demonstrate that all flavonoids investigated inhibit OATP2B1 in the lower micromolar range (IC50 between 1.6 and 14.2 µM), but only the polymethoxyflavones also inhibit OATP1B1 and 1B3 (IC50 between 2.1 and 21 µM). Conclusions: All flavonoids investigated might contribute to the intestinal OATP2B1-based interactions with drugs observed with citrus juices or fruits. In contrast, the concentration of the polymethoxyflavones after consumption of citrus juices or fruits is most likely too low to reach relevant systemic concentrations and thus to inhibit hepatic OATP1B1 and OATP1B3, but there might be a risk when they are consumed as medicines or as dietary supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wild vegetables in the Mediterranean Basin are still often consumed as a part of the diet and, in particular, there is a great tradition regarding their use in Sicily. In this study, an ethnobotanical field investigation was carried out to (a) identify the wild native taxa traditionally gathered and consumed as vegetables in Sicily, comparing the collected ethnobotanical data with those of other countries that have nominated the Mediterranean diet for inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and (b) highlight new culinary uses of these plants. Methods: Interviews were carried out in 187 towns and villages in Sicily between 2005 and 2015. A total of 980 people over the age of 50 were interviewed (mainly farmers, shepherds, and experts on local traditions). Plants recorded were usually collected in collaboration with the informants to confirm the correct identification of the plants. The frequencies of citation were calculated. Results: Two hundred fifty-three taxa (specific and intraspecific) belonging to 39 families, and 128 genera were recorded (26 were cited for the first time). The most represented families were Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Apiaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Malvaceae, and Polygonaceae. Only 14 taxa were cited by 75% of the people interviewed. The aerial parts of wild plants, including leaves, tender shoots, and basal rosettes, are the main portions collected, while the subterranean parts are used to a lesser extent. For some vegetables, more parts are utilized. Most of the reported vegetables are consumed cooked. In addition to the widely known vegetables (Borago officinalis, Beta spp., Cichorium spp., Brassica spp., Carduus spp., etc.), the so-called ancient vegetables are included (Onopordum illyricum, Centaurea calcitrapa, Nasturtium officinale, Scolymus spp., Smyrnium rotundifolium), and some unique uses were described. Comparing the Sicilian findings to those from other countries, a very high number of vegetable taxa were detected, 72 of which are eaten only in Sicily, while 12 are consumed in all the Mediterranean countries examined. Conclusions: The research shows a high level of Sicilian knowledge about using wild plants as a traditional food source. Wild vegetables are healthy and authentic ingredients for local and ancient recipes, which are fundamental to the revitalization of quality food strictly connected to traditional agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technology based upon the smallest possible particles is known as nanotechnology. It involves the production, manipulation and application of materials ranging in size from less than a micron to that of individual atoms. The reactivity and absorption level of nanomaterial is more than bulk material due to large surface area and high particle number per unit mass. While metal nanoparticles are being increasingly used in many sectors of the economy, there is growing interest to find out the best biological and environmentally safe methods for their production. The basic methods for nanoparticles production are chemical and physical approaches, whereas plant extract and different microorganisms have been actively pursued in recent years as an alternative method. The application of nanotechnology in agriculture system will completely revolutionize it. This technology includes different tools for disease treatment and detection and can be used as sensors, fertilizers and smart delivery system in gene transfer. The other side of this technology cannot be neglected because its application on the large scale has potential adverse effects on biological and other systems. So, the present review gives the whole idea about different approaches of nanoparticles production and its positive and negative repercussions, particularly on agricultural ecosystem. There is also a need to predict its effects on other environmental issues in near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arab world's environment is among the most vulnerable and harsh ones across the globe. This entails much efforts to mitigate the potential environmental risks. Analysing contributions of Arab scholars in environmental research in terms of quantity and quality can bring up insights on their endeavours in this regard. Bibliometric techniques are proposed to conduct such this analysis over publications originated from Arab world in a leading environmental journal 'Science of the Total Environment'. Research productivity is being used as quantitative indicator, while citation rates and Hirsch index ( h-index) are being used as qualitative indicators. The research outputs were compared with those obtained from non-Arab Middle Eastern countries (Iran, Turkey and Israel). Worldwide research productivity was 17,258 documents, while that from Arab countries, Iran, Turkey and Israel were 215, 34, 83 and 87 documents, respectively. The h-index of Arab world research was 31, and total citations were 3616 with an average of 16.8. The highest share of publications was recorded by Saudi Arabia (53 documents; 24.7%). Egypt and Saudi Arabia had highest h-index with 15 for each one. American University of Beirut in Lebanon was the highest productive institution (16; 7.4%). The most collaborated country with Arab world was France (29; 13.5%). In the conclusion, the study reveals a clear gap in terms of research productivity between Arab countries and other Middle Eastern countries, precisely Israel and Turkey. More research efforts through optimizing investments in environmental research, developing regional experiences and fostering international collaboration are required to eliminate these lags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of seven flavonoids including nobiletin, tangeretin, naringin, naringenin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, and hesperetin in Pericarpium Citri reticulatae (PCR). Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) to obtain maximum extractive contents of the seven flavonoids. A Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to study the main effects and interactions of independent variables. Following UAE, chromatographic separation was accomplished on a C column with a linear gradient elution. Full validation of the assay was implemented. It was found that this method had good linearity and specificity. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for the tested flavonoids were 0.17-0.49and 0.75-1.75 μg/mL, respectively. Precisions (relative standard deviation, RSD) for intra- and interday were better than 4.54 %. Reproducibility was less than 4.91 %. Analyzed samples were stable for at least 48 h. Analysis had a good robustness (RSD < 8.00 %). Recoveries for the flavonoids were 98.00-101.32 %. The established method was successfully applied to determine the seven components in real samples from different locations and under different stress conditions. Results demonstrated that this analytical method was rapid, comprehensive, and cost effective for quality control of Pericarpium C. reticulatae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]