: Siesta, which is a short afternoon nap, is a habit that is commonly practiced in the Mediterranean and tropical areas. Data on the association between siesta and coronary artery disease has been ...conflicting. A protective effect has been demonstrated in the countries that commonly practice siesta, but a harmful effect has been observed in the countries that infrequently practice the siesta habit. Information on the association between siesta and ischemic stroke has been, however, lacking. Hence, the purpose of our study was to determine the effect of siesta on ischemic stroke.
: This was a case-control study, conducted on the patients with acute ischemic stroke who came for their first follow-up visit to the neurology clinic. Controls were randomly selected from the patients visiting the neurology clinic on the same day as the patients with ischemic stroke. In addition to basic demographics and the occurrence of established stroke risk factors, information about siesta practice was also collected from both groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to determine the relationship between siesta practice and ischemic stroke.
: A total of 206 patients were recruited from the neurology clinic of King Khalid university hospital; of which only 194 subjects were included in the analysis (98 ischemic stroke cases and 96 controls). The mean age of the participants was 59.68 ± 13.75 years and 98 (50.52%) were male. Interestingly, 43% of the whole study cohort practiced regular siesta. However, when compared to the stroke population, the control group practiced siesta more frequently (30% vs. 56%). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, excess body weight (body mass index > 25 kg/m
) and dyslipidemia were found to increase the risk of ischemic stroke (OR 2.12, 95% CI: 1.02-4.66,
= 0.005; OR 2.72, 95% CI: 1.94-4.88,
= 0.014; OR 2.94, 95% CI: 1.5164-5.7121
= 0.0014; OR 3.27, 95% CI: 2.42-5.199,
≤ 0.001, respectively). On the contrary, the practice of regular siesta lowered the risk of ischemic stroke (OR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.3551-0.9526,
= 0.031).
: Siesta was associated with a reduced risk for the occurrence of ischemic stroke. Large prospective longitudinal studies should be conducted to verify the protective effect of siesta on stroke.
Introduction
Low back pain (LBP) is a major health problem with significant public health and economic burden. Few studies have clarified the role of psychosocial factors in LBP occurrence. In this ...study, we assessed psychosocial and occupational factors associated with LBP, within the last 12 months, among nurses in Saudi Arabia.
Methods
A cross‐sectional study was conducted in 16 hospitals across Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A sample of 427 nurses was surveyed. The anonymous questionnaire contained valid and reliable questions assessing LBP, as pain between the costal margins of the 12th rib and the gluteal folds, and questions related to psychosocial and work‐related factors experienced by the nurses. Descriptive statistics were reported for all variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses assessed the likelihood of significant associations between study variables and LBP.
Results
The prevalence of reported LBP was 80%. Factors associated with LBP in univariate analysis were frequent lifting (OR = 2.32; 95%CI: 1.34‐4.01), work‐related stress (OR = 5.81; 95%CI: 3,37‐9,62), lack of job satisfaction (OR = 2.08; 95%CI: 1.13‐3.85), work‐related problems (OR = 2.40; 95%CI: 1.44‐4.02), and financial problems (OR = 2.08; 95%CI: 1.26‐3.38), while factors that remained significantly associated with LBP in the final multivariate analyses were frequent lifting (OR = 2.04; 95%CI:1.09‐3.81), work‐related stress (OR = 4.22; 95%CI: 2.34‐7.48), and lack of job satisfaction (OR = 1.87; 95%CI: 1.24‐3.58).
Conclusion
The prevalence of LBP is high in this sector of the health‐care workforce. Ergonomic and psychosocial factors may be considered contributing factors for low back pain. Special attention to stress‐reduction, counseling, and policies to improve job satisfaction are recommended in order reduce LBP and improve the health and safety of nurses in Saudi Arabia.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment procedure that involves breathing 100% O2 for a certain time and under a certain pressure. HBOT is commonly administrated as a primary or alternative ...therapy for different diseases such as infections. In this paper, we reviewed the general aspect of HBOT procedures, the mechanisms of antimicrobial effects and the application in the treatment of infections. Parts of the antimicrobial effects of HBOT are believed to result of reactive from the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It is also said that HBOT enhances the antimicrobial effects of the immune system and has an additive or synergistic effect with certain antimicrobial agents. HBOT has been described as a useful procedure for different infections, particularly in deep and chronic infections such as necrotizing fasciitis, osteomyelitis, chronic soft tissue infections, and infective endocarditis. The anti-inflammation property of HBOT has demonstrated that it may play a significant role in decreasing tissue damage and infection expansion. Patients treated by HBOT need carful pre-examination and monitoring. If safety standards are strictly tracked, HBOT can be considered a suitable procedure with an apt rate of complication.
Appropriate recognition of bacterial infections in health care setting is the basis for effective treatment and control of infectious diseases. The positivity rate of traditional methods is low and ...is influenced by quality and quantity of specimens, patient antibiotic administration, severity of infection, and laboratory sufficiency. Currently, there are novel non-culture-based techniques that are being accomplished to improve the identification of infections. Several immunologic biomarkers have been assessed to develop the best indicator of infections. Presepsin is an immunologic biomarker which has been demonstrated as new, emerging, early indicator for the detection of different infections. The biological function of presepsin is not well known. However, it is believed that it may be a regulatory molecule of the adaptive immune system and also a stimulator of monocyte phagocytosis. The early increased levels of presepsin during the sepsis and other bacterial infections have made it an attractive indicator for laboratory testing. Several studies have investigated the capacity of presepsin for use in clinical settings. The aim of the present study was review the clinical application of presepsin in diagnosis and prediction of infections. To achieve this objective, the documents on diagnostic and clinical assessment were evaluated in PubMed and Scopus databases regarding the use of presepsin as indicators of infections.
Staphylococcus epidermis is one of the most frequent causes of device-associated infections due to biofilm formation. Current reports noted that subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics induce ...biofilm production in some bacteria. Accordingly, we evaluated the effect of exposure of different subinhibitory concentrations of cloxacillin, cefazolin, clindamycin, and vancomycin on the biofilm formation of methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentration of antimicrobial agents were determined. MRSE isolates were selected, and their biofilm formation ability was evaluated. The effect of subinhibitory concentrations of cloxacillin, cefazolin, clindamycin, and vancomycin, antibiotics selected among common choices in the clinic, on MRSE biofilm formation was determined by the microtitre method. Besides, the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of cloxacillin, cefazolin, clindamycin, and vancomycin on the expression of the biofilm-associated genes icaA and atlE was evaluated by Reverse-transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of MRSE strains showed a high level of resistance as follows: 80%, 53.3%, 33.3%, 33.3%, and 26.6%, for erythromycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, clindamycin, and gentamicin, respectively. Besides, 73.3% of S. epidermidis strains were Multidrug-resistant (MDR). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were in the range of 0.5 to512 mug/mL and 1 to1024 mug/mL for cloxacillin, 0.125 to256 mug/mL and 1 to512 mug/mL for cefazolin, 0.125 to64 mug/mL and 4 to>1024 mug/mL for clindamycin, and 2 to32 mug/mL and 4 to32 mug/mL for vancomycin, respectively. The findings showed that subinhibitory concentrations of cloxacillin, cefazolin, and clindamycin induce biofilm production in MRSE strains. In particular, the OD values of strains were in the range of 0.09-0.95, 0.05-0.86, and 0.06-1 toward cloxacillin, cefazolin, and clindamycin, respectively. On the other hand, exposure to subinhibitory vancomycin concentrations did not increase the biofilm formation in MRSE strains. The findings also demonstrated that sub-MIC of antibiotics up-regulated biofilm-associated genes. In particular, atlE and icaA were up-regulated 0.062 to 1.16 and 0.078 to 1.48 folds, respectively, for cloxacillin, 0.11 to 0.8, and 0.1 to 1.3 folds for cefazolin, 0.18 to 0.98, and 0.19 to 1.4 folds, respectively, for clindamycin. In contrast, the results showed that sub-MIC of vancomycin did not increase the biofilm-associated genes. These findings overall show that exposure to sub-MIC of traditional antibiotics can cause biofilm induction in MRSE, thereby increasing the survival and persistence on various surfaces that worsen the condition of comorbid infections.
Curcumin has been used in numerous anti‐microbial research because of its low side effects and extensive traditional applications. Despite having a wide range of effects, the intrinsic ...physicochemical characteristics such as low bioavailability, poor water solubility, photodegradation, chemical instability, short half‐life and fast metabolism of curcumin derivatives limit their pharmaceutical importance. To overcome these drawbacks and improve the therapeutic ability of curcuminoids, novel approaches have been attempted recently. Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems can increase the efficiency of curcumin in several diseases, especially infectious diseases. These innovative strategies include polymeric nanoparticles, hydrogels, nanoemulsion, nanocomposite, nanofibers, liposome, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), polymeric micelles, quantum dots, polymeric blend films and nanomaterial‐based combination of curcumin with other anti‐bacterial agents. Integration of curcumin in these delivery systems has displayed to improve their solubility, bioavailability, transmembrane permeability, prolong plasma half‐life, long‐term stability, target‐specific delivery and upgraded the therapeutic effects. In this review paper, a range of in vitro and in vivo studies have been critically discussed to explore the therapeutic viability and pharmaceutical significance of the nano‐formulated delivery systems to elevate the anti‐bacterial activities of curcumin and its derivatives.
Biofilms are microbial communities established in the self‐produced extracellular substances that include up to 80% of associated microbial infections. During biofilm formation, bacterial cells shift ...from the planktonic forms to aggregated forms surrounded by an extracellular polymeric substance. The bacterial biofilm shows resistance against immune reactions as well as antibiotics and is potentially able to cause disorders by both device‐related and nondevice‐related infections. The nondevice‐related bacterial biofilm infections include dental plaque, urinary tract infections, cystic fibrosis, otitis media, infective endocarditis, tonsillitis, periodontitis, necrotizing fasciitis, osteomyelitis, infectious kidney stones, and chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, we will summarize and examine the literature about bacterial biofilm infections unrelated to indwelling devices.
The bacterial melibiose permease (MelB) belongs to the glycoside-pentoside-hexuronide:cation symporter family, a part of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS). Structural information regarding ...glycoside-pentoside-hexuronide:cation symporter family transporters and other Na(+)-coupled permeases within MFS has been lacking, although a wealth of biochemical and biophysical data are available. Here we present the three-dimensional crystal structures of Salmonella typhimurium MelBSt in two conformations, representing an outward partially occluded and an outward inactive state of MelBSt. MelB adopts a typical MFS fold and contains a previously unidentified cation-binding motif. Three conserved acidic residues form a pyramidal-shaped cation-binding site for Na(+), Li(+) or H(+), which is in close proximity to the sugar-binding site. Both cosubstrate-binding sites are mainly contributed by the residues from the amino-terminal domain. These two structures and the functional data presented here provide mechanistic insights into Na(+)/melibiose symport. We also postulate a structural foundation for the conformational cycling necessary for transport catalysed by MFS permeases in general.
Islamic banking across the developing countries may undoubtedly become more prevalent thanks to financial technology, making it more competitive in the financial sector. The current study's goal is ...to extensively address fintech on Islamic banks and to examine the effect of fintech Services upon Islamic banking financial performance around Jordan. The investigation utilized a quantitative-descriptive survey approach. The study utilized annual data (panel data) which were acquired via financial institutions figures of the annual statements from the Jordan's Islamic Bank (JIB) registered with Amman Stock Exchange from 2017 to 2021. This investigation found Fintech services, such as internet banking, mobile banking, crowdfunding, and automated teller machines had a substantial effect on JIB's financial performance. The positive beta value suggests that there were favorable relationships among JIB's financial success from 2017 to 2021 on Fintech services. Finally, the study recommends that JIB increase its efforts to inform the public concerning Islamic banking services.
Infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens are a global public health problem. The introduction of a new antimicrobial strategy is an unavoidable option for the management of drug-resistant ...pathogens. Induction of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by several procedures has been extensively studied for the treatment of infections. In this article, the general aspects of ROS production and the common procedures that exert their antimicrobial effects due to ROS formation are reviewed. ROS generation is the antimicrobial mechanism of nanoparticles, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, medical honey, and photodynamic therapy. In addition, it is an alternative bactericidal mechanism of clinically traditional antibiotics. The development of ROS delivery methods with a desirable selectivity for pathogens without side effects for the host tissue may be a promising approach for the treatment of infections, especially those caused by drug-resistant organisms.
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