Multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria associated with wounds are extremely escalating. This study aims to survey different wounds in Alexandria hospitals, North Egypt, to explore the prevalence and ...characteristics of MDR bacteria for future utilization in antibacterial wound dressing designs. Among various bacterial isolates, we determined 22 MDR bacteria could resist different classes of antibiotics. The collected samples exhibited the prevalence of mono-bacterial infections (60%), while 40% included poly-bacterial species due to previous antibiotic administration. Moreover, Gram-negative bacteria showed dominance with a ratio of 63.6%, while Gram-positive bacteria reported 36.4%. Subsequently, the five most virulent bacteria were identified following the molecular approach by 16S rRNA and physiological properties using the VITEK 2 automated system. They were deposited in GenBank as Staphylococcus haemolyticus MST1 (KY550377), Pseudomonas aeruginosa MST2 (KY550378), Klebsiella pneumoniae MST3 (KY550379), Escherichia coli MST4 (KY550380), and Escherichia coli MST5 (KY550381). In terms of isolation source, S. haemolyticus MST1 was isolated from a traumatic wound, while P. aeruginosa MST2 and E. coli MST4 were procured from hernia surgical wounds, and K. pneumoniae MST3 and E. coli MST5 were obtained from diabetic foot ulcers. Antibiotic sensitivity tests exposed that K. pneumoniae MST3, E. coli MST4, and E. coli MST5 are extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) bacteria. Moreover, S. haemolyticus MST1 belongs to the methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococcus (MRCoNS), whereas P. aeruginosa MST2 exhibited resistance to common empirical bactericidal antibiotics. Overall, the study provides new insights into the prevalent MDR bacteria in Egypt for further use as specific models in formulating antibacterial wound dressings.
The pathophysiology of different neurodegenerative illnesses is significantly influenced by the polarization regulation of microglia and macrophages. Traditional classifications of macrophage ...phenotypes include the pro-inflammatory M1 and the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes. Numerous studies demonstrated dynamic non-coding RNA modifications, which are catalyzed by microglia-induced neuroinflammation. Different nutraceuticals focus on the polarization of M1/M2 phenotypes of microglia and macrophages, offering a potent defense against neurodegeneration. Caeminaxin A, curcumin, aromatic-turmerone, myricetin, aurantiamide, 3,6′-disinapoylsucrose, and resveratrol reduced M1 microglial inflammatory markers while increased M2 indicators in Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid beta-induced microglial M1 activation was suppressed by andrographolide, sulforaphane, triptolide, xanthoceraside, piperlongumine, and novel plant extracts which also prevented microglia-mediated necroptosis and apoptosis. Asarone, galangin, baicalein, and
a
-mangostin reduced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in M1-activated microglia in Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, myrcene, icariin, and tenuigenin prevented the nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 inflammasome and microglial neurotoxicity, while
a
-cyperone, citronellol, nobiletin, and taurine prevented NADPH oxidase 2 and nuclear factor kappa B activation. Furthermore, other nutraceuticals like plantamajoside, swertiamarin, urolithin A, kurarinone, Daphne genkwa flower, and
Boswellia serrata
extracts showed promising neuroprotection in treating Parkinson’s disease. In Huntington’s disease, elderberry, curcumin, iresine celosia,
Schisandra chinensis
, gintonin, and pomiferin showed promising results against microglial activation and improved patient symptoms. Meanwhile, linolenic acid, resveratrol,
Huperzia serrata
, icariin, and baicalein protected against activated macrophages and microglia in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis. Additionally, emodin, esters of gallic and rosmarinic acids, Agathisflavone, and sinomenine offered promising multiple sclerosis treatments. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of using nutraceuticals to treat neurodegenerative diseases involving microglial-related pathways.
The possible protective effect of sitagliptin (SIT) against nephrotoxicity induced by a single dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (150 mg/kg, i.p.) was investigated in rats. SIT treatment (5 and 10 ...mg/kg/day, p.o.) was given for 7 days, starting 5 days before 5-FU administration. Both SIT doses caused significant reductions of serum creatinine and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in rats received 5-FU. Both doses of SIT also significantly decreased malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65), Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and cleaved caspase-3 in kidneys of 5-FU-challenged rats. Additionally, SIT, at both doses, significantly increased renal total antioxidant capacity and nuclear factor erythroid 2related factor 2 (Nrf2) in rats received 5-FU. Besides, SIT markedly attenuated the 5-FU-induced histopathological kidney tissue injury in rats. It was concluded that SIT, at both doses, provided a significant nephroprotective effect in 5-FU-challenged rats, through its antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antiapoptotic activities, and by modulating Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways.
-Background:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by triglycerides deposition in hepatocytes causing their injury and leading to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis ...and cirrhosis. Mangosteen (MG) is a tropical fruit that contains a lot of bioactive anti-oxidant, and anti-adipogenic compounds.
Aim:
To investigate the ability of MG to ameliorate NAFLD/NASH and its role in the regulation of apoptosis and autophagy within the injured hepatocytes.
Materials and Methods:
A total number of 50 adult male mice were divided into 5 groups: GI were fed with standard diet, GII were fed with high fat diet (HFD), GIII were fed with HFD concomitant with MG by oral gavage for 16 weeks, GIV were fed with HFD for 16 weeks followed by MG for 2 weeks, and GV were fed with HFD for 16 weeks followed by standard diet (SD) for 2 weeks.
Results:
MG reduced body weight gain, liver weight coefficient, and plasma free fatty acids levels. There was a decrease in lipid accumulation with improved liver function. Most of the histopathological changes observed in NASH were ameliorated. Immunohistochemical results showed that MG increased autophagy process and suppressed hepatocyte apoptosis. There was a significant decrease in CD68 positive macrophages and a significant decrease in α-SMA expression.
Conclusions:
MG exerts effects by regulating hepatic lipid homeostasis, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy. Therefore, it could be a new approach to a dietary based method that suspends the onset and development of steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis and HCC risk by the prevention and management of NAFLD//NASH.
Our research objective was to obtain a fundamental understanding of how ITO thin films layered on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates fail due to tensile, shear, and bending loading ...conditions. In our approach, we employed a nonlinear finite-element (FE) approach coupled with dislocation-density crystalline and hypoelastic material models and fracture approaches tailored for channel (film) cracking and interfacial delamination. These predictions were validated with mechanical experiments and characterization at different physical scales. Failure to strain and fracture predictions were used to account for interrelated mechanisms, such as channel and interfacial cracking nucleation and propagation along cleavage planes, interfaces, and within layers. Our predictions indicate that interfacial delamination occurred when channel cracks transitioned to interfacial cracks at the ITO/PET interface for tensile loading conditions. Furthermore, the thin film system, when subjected to three-point bending and shear loading conditions was more resistant to failure in comparison to systems subjected to tensile loading conditions.
Bone metabolism is characterized by an interplay between the deposition of bone matrix and mineralization and the resorption process. Osteoporosis is a form of systemic metabolic bone condition that ...causes bone density to decline and its microarchitecture to deteriorate, increasing the risk of fracture owing to fragility. The underlying cause of this clinical disease lies in the imbalance in bone remodeling, in which bone resorption by osteoclasts predominates over bone creation by osteoblasts. Natural remedies have long been used to cure and prevent osteoporosis. Genus
Sophora
of the Fabaceae family comprises about 69 species that showed many pharmacological effects, including bone health preservation. The activity of
Sophora
sp. in maintaining bone health was attributed to its antioxidant, regenerative, and anti-inflammatory qualities. In this review, we focused on the therapeutic properties of the extracts and isolated compounds from the genus
Sophora
in maintaining bone health, with special emphasis on the management of osteoporosis.
In this prospective study, we compared the results of bilateral varicocelectomy and left varicocelectomy for treatment of infertile patients with subclinical right and clinical left varicoceles with ...oligoasthenospermia. Because there was more improvement in semen parameters and pregnancy rate in patients who underwent the bilateral surgery, we concluded that right subclinical varicocele should be surgically treated in conjunction with the left one.
Aim This study evaluated the use of Lumbar Puncture (LP) in a general paediatric unit over a 3-year period. Methods Index patients, who had a successful LP, were identified from the microbiology ...database and failed LP procedures were identified from a chart review of the serum PCR database. Data abstracted included 1) patient age, 2) LP indication, 3) LP procedure outcome; classified as atraumatic, traumatic or failed, 4) grade of doctor undertaking the procedure and 5) the final diagnosis. Results We identified 104 paediatric patients, of whom 29(27.9%) were neonates. LP was indicated for the evaluation of acute undifferentiated illnesses, with 33 (31.7%) patients having fever without source beyond the neonatal period and 16 (15.4%) being neonates with fever. A CSF sample was obtained in 96 (92.4%) patients, with 71 (73.9%) being atraumatic. Successful LP was undertaken by Consultants in 4 (4.1%), Registrars in 83 (86.5%) and SHOs in 9 (9.4%) patients. 14 (14.6%) patients had positive CSF cultures with an additional 23 having positive cultures or serology (9 blood cultures, 11 urine cultures and 3 positive serum PCR). Conclusion Skill in LP performance is still required, to evaluate acute undifferentiated illness, in general paediatric units and ancillary methods to aid SHOs with LP skill development is desirable.
Lung cancer (LC) is the most common cancer-related death globally, and many efforts have been made to improve the patient care of LC patients, as well as the development of efficient methods and a ...wider range of biomarkers for prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment purposes. MicroRNAs (miRs, miRNAs) regulate a wide range of cellular functions and play a key role in the development and spreading of LC by inhibiting or degrading the expression of their target protein-coding genes. Because of their dysregulation and disruption in function, miRNAs have been linked to the malignant pathophysiology of LC by influencing many cellular functions involved in the disease. These biological processes include increased invasive and proliferative potential, cell cycle abnormality, apoptosis evasion, promotion of angiogenesis, EMT and metastasis, and reduced susceptibility to certain treatments. Here, we discuss the findings from recent years that show the role of oncogenic and TS miRNAs in LC, as well as their significance in LC pathogenesis, and resistance to anticancer therapy. We also explore the biological relevance of miRNAs and their clinical application in LC diagnosis and prognosis.
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Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs with a length larger than 200 nucleotides that participate in various diseases and biological processes as they can control gene ...expression by different mechanisms. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder characterized by symmetrical destructive destruction of distal joints as well as extra-articular involvement. Different studies have documented and proven the abnormal expression of lncRNAs in RA patients. Various lncRNAs have proven potential as biomarkers and targets for diagnosing, prognosis and treating RA. This review will focus on RA pathogenesis, clinical implications, and related lncRNA expressions that help to identify new biomarkers and treatment targets.
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