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- Quality of life and therapeutic regimen management in onychomycosis patients and in vitro study of antiseptic solutionsPublication . Silva-Neves, Vasco; Hugo, Vitor; Alves, Paulo; Amado, João Costa; Pais-Vieira, Carla; Sousa, Fátima; Cerqueira, Fátima; Pinto, Eugénia; Pais-Vieira, MiguelOnychomycosis or tinea unguium (EE12.1) and Onychomycosis due to non-dermatophyte moulds (1F2D.5) (OM) is a fungal infection of the nail plates with a high prevalence that often afects vulnerable people with co-existing health problems. Gold standard pharmacological treatments for onychomycosis have been associated with low success rates and increasing antifungal resistance, suggesting that treatment outcome is dependent on multiple variables. Here, the prevalence of OM and quality of life were characterized in two vulnerable populations—Hospital patients and Homeless people. Comparing both groups, the most prevalent fungal species were identifed in Hospital patients. Then, the in vitro fungicidal properties of the antiseptics povidone-iodine, polyhexamethylene biguanide-betaine, octenidine dihydrochloride, and a super-oxidized solution against two ATCC strains (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) and three clinical fungal isolates from Hospital patients (Candida parapsilosis, Trichophyton interdigitale, and Trichophyton rubrum) were tested. OM prevalence was high in both patient groups studied, who also reported a reduction in quality of life and concerns about the state of their feet. In addition, Hospital patients had a nonnegligent therapeutic regimen management style. Antiseptics tested in vitro revealed antifungal properties. As antiseptics are low-cost and easy to apply and have few iatrogenic efects, the demonstration of fungicidal properties of these solutions suggests that they may constitute potential supportive therapeutics for OM.
- Electrochemical characterization of imidazole-based carboxamidrazones in aqueous and organic solutions and structure-activity relationshipPublication . Rodrigues, Rui; Dantas, Daniela; Carvalho, Filipe; Ribeiro, Ana; Zille, Andrea; Silva, Renata; Remião, Fernando; Dias, Alice; Pinto, Eugénia; Cerqueira, Fátima; Geraldo, Dulce
- Cyclam-based metal complexes as antimicrobial agentsPublication . Alves, Luis; Almada, Stephanie; Mendes, Beatriz; Sousa, Sílvia; Silva, Elisabete; Leitão, Jorge; Cerqueira, Fátima; Pinto, Eugénia
- Mechanism of antifungal activity by 5-aminoimidazole-4-carbohydrazonamide derivatives against candida albicans and candida kruseiPublication . Cerqueira, Fátima; Maia, Marta; Gabriel, Carla; Medeiros, R.; Cravo, Sara; Ribeiro, Ana Isabel; Dantas, Daniela; Dias, Alice Maria; Saraiva, Lucília; Raimundo, Liliana; Pinto, EugéniaSystemic mycoses are one major cause of morbidity/mortality among immunocompromised/debilitated individuals. Studying the mechanism of action is a strategy to develop safer/potent antifungals, warning resistance emergence. The major goal of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of action of three (Z)-5-amino-N’-aryl-1-methyl-1H-imidazole-4-carbohydrazonamides (2h, 2k, 2l) that had previously demonstrated strong antifungal activity against Candida krusei and C. albicans ATCC strains. Activity was confirmed against clinical isolates, susceptible or resistant to fluconazole by broth microdilution assay. Ergosterol content (HPLC-DAD), mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity (MTT), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (flow cytometry), germ tube inhibition and drug interaction were evaluated. None of the compounds inhibited ergosterol synthesis. Ascorbic acid reduced the antifungal effect of compounds and significantly decreased ROS production. The metabolic viability of C. krusei was significantly reduced for values of 2MIC. Compounds 2h and 2k caused a significant increase in ROS production for MIC values while for 2l a significant increase was only observed for concentrations above MIC. ROS production seems to be involved in antifungal activity and the higher activity against C. krusei versus C. albicans may be related to their unequal sensitivity to different ROS. No synergism with fluconazole or amphotericin was observed, but the association of 2h with fluconazole might be valuable due to the significant inhibition of the dimorphic transition, a C. albicans virulence mechanism.
- Mechanism and structure-activity relationship of the antimicrobial imidazole-based carboxamidrazonesPublication . Dantas, Daniela; Rodrigues, Rui; Carvalho, Filipe; Ribeiro, Ana; Zille, Andrea; Silva, Renata; Remião, Fernando; Geraldo, Dulce; Pinto, Eugénia; Cerqueira, Fátima; Dias, Alice