In 2012, pharmaceutical companies, donors, endemic countries, and nongovernment organisations met in London and signed the London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases. Together, they committed to controlling, eliminating or eradicating ten diseases by 2020, and improving the lives of over a billion people. Great progress has been made, and the declaration has achieved many of its goals [1]. Mycetoma was recognised as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) by the World Health Assembly in 2016 [2]. GlobalAU : Pleasecheckandconfirmthattheedittothese measures have been initiated to assess the current policies and practices worldwide; international consultation to identify priority areas of work and a Global Mycetoma Working Group were established [3]. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development were adopted by world leaders in 2015. They build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals and aim to go further to end all forms of poverty, calling for action by all countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. The third goal is the Good Health and Well-Being [3]. The Sixth International Conference on Mycetoma and the First International Training Workshop on Mycetoma were organised in Khartoum, Sudan, by WHO and the Mycetoma Research Centre. The conference delegates have endorsed a "Call for action" urging the global community to work together with multilateral agencies, partners, research institutions, and pharmaceutical companies to address the devastating consequences of this disease [3]. WHO had launched the Roadmap on NTDs, setting out the next decade of action against NTDs, closely aligned with the 2030 SDGs. The roadmap calls for global action and response to prevent, control, eliminate, or eradicate 20 diseases and disease groups and cross-cutting targets associated with the SDGs. The Kigali Summits on Neglected Tropical Diseases and Malaria, 2020 and 2022, were convened in Kigali and attended by some leading global health voices, world leaders, leading WHO figures, humanitarians, scientific experts, global influencers, and community champions. The Summits issued Calls to Action on the actions needed to end malaria and NTDs. Many delegates had signed the Kigali Declaration and committed to raising funds to accelerate the WHO/NTD 2030 roadmap progress [4]. Despite all this massive international recognition of the NTDs, mycetoma, which is the most neglected of the neglected diseases, had meagre attention. Still, only a few of the research funding bodies had included mycetoma in their priority funding list, few international research consortia on mycetoma were established, it is not on many countries' health priority agenda, not a reported disease yet, and no new drug for mycetoma is in the pipeline.

Huntington's disease is an inherited progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of the polyglutamine tract leading to malformation and aggregation of the mutant huntingtin protein in the cell cytoplasm and nucleus of affected brain regions. The development of neuroprotective agents from plants has received considerable research attention. Our study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effects of luteolin and the mechanisms that underline its potential mediated protection in the mutant htt neuroblastoma cells. The mutant htt neuroblastoma cells were transfected with 160Q, and the control wild-type neuroblastoma cells were transfected with 20Q htt for 24 h and later treated with luteolin. Cell viability was determined by MTT and PI staining in both groups, while western blotting was used to evaluate caspase 3 protein expression. Aggregation formation was assessed via immunofluorescence microscopy. Also, western blotting was utilized to measure the protein expression of mutant htt aggregated and soluble protein, Nrf2 and HO-1. The impact of Nrf2 on luteolin-treated neuroblastoma cells was assessed using small interfering RNAs. Our study reports that luteolin can protect cultured cells from mutant huntingtin cytotoxicity, evidenced by increased viability and decreased apoptosis. Also, luteolin reduced the accumulation of soluble and insoluble mutant huntingtin aggregates in mutant htt neuroblastoma cells transfected with 160Q compared to the control wild-type. The mutant htt aggregate reduction mediated by luteolin appeared to be independent of the Nrf2 –HO-1 antioxidant pathway. Luteolin presents a new potential therapeutic and protective agent for the treatment and decreasing the cytotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease.

Mycetoma profoundly affects marginalised communities, especially in impoverished and remote areas with limited access to healthcare. This chronic and debilitating inflammatory disease highlights the typical issues of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), such as insufficient attention, funding, and resources, which perpetuate neglect and suffering. Patients often delay seeking medical help, leading to advanced disease stages, severe complications, and lasting disabilities. The lack of medical infrastructure and skilled healthcare professionals worsens the situation, causing delays in diagnosis and inadequate treatment. Engaging affected communities in tailored interventions is essential to tackle these challenges, promote collaboration, raise awareness, and mobilise resources to improve healthcare access and enhance diagnostic and treatment capabilities. Since 1991, the Mycetoma Research Center (MRC) at the University of Khartoum, Sudan, has led community engagement initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for mycetoma-affected individuals through education, advocacy, and local collaboration. In this communication, the MRC shares its extensive experience in community engagement to benefit mycetoma-affected communities.

Mycetoma presents numerous therapeutic challenges, particularly due to delays in diagnosis, the toxic nature of existing antifungals and antibiotics treatments, and the lack of robust clinical evidence to guide care. This neglected tropical disease, which primarily affects low-resource regions, is further complicated by socio-economic barriers that limit access to healthcare and treatment. These challenges underscore the urgent need for better treatment options, more comprehensive research, and strengthened pharmacovigilance systems to monitor treatment safety and efficacy. Pharmacovigilance plays a critical role in managing mycetoma due to the prolonged and often toxic treatment regimens required. Adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and treatment side effects need continuous monitoring to ensure patient safety. Effective pharmacovigilance systems should be adapted to the resource-limited settings where mycetoma is most prevalent, integrating into broader public health efforts to improve both the safety and efficacy of treatments. Such systems could greatly enhance patient outcomes by preventing unnecessary harm from toxic therapies and ensuring proper drug use. However, several barriers remain in endemic regions, including inadequate healthcare infrastructure, a lack of trained healthcare professionals, and limited access to pharmacovigilance tools. Addressing these issues requires building stronger national systems, offering more training for healthcare workers, and leveraging innovative technologies such as mobile health tools. Additionally, involving patients in reporting adverse effects could enhance the accuracy and reliability of pharmacovigilance data. Global collaboration and increased clinical research are also essential in improving mycetoma treatment. Investment in these areas, alongside the development of infrastructure and education in endemic countries, will help ensure safer long-term medical therapies and better outcomes for mycetoma patients. Furthermore, improving pharmacovigilance practices is critical to ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the most effective and safe care possible for this neglected disease.

OA Text is an independent open-access scientific publisher showcases innovative research and ideas aimed at improving health by linking research and practice to the benefit of society.

Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of luteolin treatment in Huntington's disease (HD), an inherited progressive neurodegenerative disorder.Methods: HD N171‐82Q transgenic and WT mice received luteolin or vehicle for treatment at 6 weeks of age. The mice's body weight changes and survival rates were monitored throughout the study, and a series of motor functional tests were conducted. Serum level of the marker NfL was also determined. Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting were utilized to assess the expression of huntingtin aggregates.Results: Luteolin treatment enhanced survival and prevented weight loss in HD mice compared to the vehicle‐treated HD group. Furthermore, the luteolin‐treated HD mice exhibited enhanced motor coordination and balance and significantly reduced motor dysfunction. Also, luteolin decreased serum NfL levels in HD mice. Notably, the accumulation of huntingtin aggregates was significantly reduced in the brain's cortex, hippocampus, and striatum of luteolin‐treated HD mice compared to the vehicle‐treated HD group.Conclusion: Luteolin holds promise as a therapeutic agent for improving survival outcomes, managing motor dysfunction, and reducing huntingtin aggregates in HD. The findings are of significance as currently, there are no approved therapeutic interventions that reverse HD pathology or slow down its progression.