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TheScientificWorldJournal 2024The dried stigmas of L. produce saffron, a precious spice used for its culinary and medicinal properties since ancient times, while its petals are considered the main... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
The dried stigmas of L. produce saffron, a precious spice used for its culinary and medicinal properties since ancient times, while its petals are considered the main by-product of saffron production. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and antibacterial activity of methanolic extracts of stigmas and petals of L. from Taliouine. The polyphenol content was measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, the antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH free radical scavenging method, and the well-diffusion method was used to assess antibacterial activity against seven pathogenic bacterial strains (, , and ). Furthermore, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts was determined using the microdilution broth test. Our findings revealed that stigmas and petals contained phenolic compounds at the rate of 56.11 ± 4.70 and 64.73 ± 3.42 mg GAE/g, as well as DPPH radical scavenging capacity with IC of 1700 g/ml and 430 g/ml, respectively. Petal extract showed more effective antibacterial activity, with inhibition diameters ranging from 10.66 ± 0.57 to 22.00 ± 1.00 mm and MIC values ranging from 2.81 to 5.62 mg/ml, compared to the stigma extract, which displayed inhibition diameters from 10.00 ± 0.00 to 18.67 ± 0.76 mm and MIC from 2.81 to 11.25 mg/ml, against five of the seven bacterial strains tested, including S. aureus, E. coli, P. vulgaris, P. aeruginosa, and . Statistical analyses were performed to determine the significance of these results. Thus, stigmas and petals of L. might serve as a suitable source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Topics: Crocus; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antioxidants; Plant Extracts; Phenols; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Flowers; Morocco; Bacteria
PubMed: 38808159
DOI: 10.1155/2024/6676404 -
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and... May 2024Proteus mirabilis is a significant nosocomial pathogen that is frequently associated with a wide range of infections, necessitating heightened attention to mitigate...
BACKGROUND
Proteus mirabilis is a significant nosocomial pathogen that is frequently associated with a wide range of infections, necessitating heightened attention to mitigate potential health risks. Hence, this study was performed to investigate the impact of sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ciprofloxacin (CIP) on Proteus mirabilis clinical isolates.
METHODS
The sub-MICs of CIP were selected using the growth curve approach. The untreated and treated isolates with sub-MICs of CIP were assessed for their biofilm development, motilities on agar, and other virulence factors. The cell morphology of untreated and treated isolates with sub-MIC of CIP was explored using electron microscope. Moreover, the expression levels of the virulence genes in isolates were measured using quantitative real-time PCR.
RESULTS
Data revealed that sub-MICs of CIP significantly (p < 0.05), in a concentration-dependent manner, inhibited biofilm formation and other virulence factors in the selected isolates. Electron microscope analysis showed cell enlargement and various abnormalities in the cell wall and membrane integrity.
CONCLUSION
Sub-MICs of CIP exhibited inhibition of virulence and alterations in morphological integrity against P. mirabilis isolates.
Topics: Proteus mirabilis; Ciprofloxacin; Biofilms; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Proteus Infections; Virulence Factors; Virulence
PubMed: 38802894
DOI: 10.1186/s12941-024-00704-4 -
Pharmaceutics May 2024is a fern documented in ethnobotanical records for its use in Mexican traditional medicine to treat gastric disorders and mouth ulcers. Consequently, conducting...
is a fern documented in ethnobotanical records for its use in Mexican traditional medicine to treat gastric disorders and mouth ulcers. Consequently, conducting biological and pharmacological assays is crucial to validate the therapeutic efficacy of this plant within the context of traditional medicine. In the present study, we investigated the biological activity of extracts and fractions obtained from organs against bacteria (, , , , , , and using in vitro models. The precipitate fraction obtained from the frond methanolic extract showed significant antibacterial activity (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] 120 µg/mL) against the strain and was effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The hexane fraction also obtained from frond methanolic extract, showed a trichomonacidal effect with an IC of 82.8 μg/mL and a low cytotoxic effect. Hsf6 exhibited the highest activity against , and the GC-MS analysis revealed that the predominant compound was 16-pregnenolone. The remaining identified compounds were primarily terpene-type compounds.
PubMed: 38794287
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050624 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Chalcone (1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-one) is an α, β-unsaturated ketone that serves as an active constituent or precursor of numerous natural substances, exhibiting a broad...
Chalcone (1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-one) is an α, β-unsaturated ketone that serves as an active constituent or precursor of numerous natural substances, exhibiting a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects. In this study, the classical Claisen-Schmidt condensation method was used to synthesize the chalcone derivative 2',4'-dimethoxychalcone (DTC) and evaluate its pharmacological activity. By upregulating the expression of the epithelial cell marker E-cadherin and downregulating the expression of the mesenchymal cell marker vimentin, DTC was found to inhibit transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in A549 cells, maintaining the cells' epithelial-like morphology and reducing the ability of the cells to migrate. Additionally, DTC demonstrated the ability to decrease the expression levels of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in RAW264.7 cells, suggesting a possible anti-inflammatory effect. Furthermore, DTC was found to exhibit bacteriostatic activity against (), (), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and (), indicating that this chemical may possess broad-spectrum antibacterial activity.
PubMed: 38794223
DOI: 10.3390/ph17050653 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2024PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS) encompasses diverse clinical phenotypes, including Cowden syndrome (CS), Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS), Proteus syndrome... (Review)
Review
PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS) encompasses diverse clinical phenotypes, including Cowden syndrome (CS), Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS), Proteus syndrome (PS), and Proteus-like syndrome. This autosomal dominant genetic predisposition with high penetrance arises from heterozygous germline variants in the PTEN tumour suppressor gene, leading to dysregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway, which promotes the overgrowth of multiple and heterogenous tissue types. Clinical presentations of CS range from benign and malignant disorders, affecting nearly every system within the human body. CS is the most diagnosed syndrome among the PHTS group, notwithstanding its weak incidence (1:200,000), for which it is considered rare, and its precise incidence remains unknown among other important factors. The literature is notably inconsistent in reporting the frequencies and occurrences of these disorders, adding an element of bias and uncertainty when looking back at the available research. In this review, we aimed to highlight the significant disparities found in various studies concerning CS and to review the clinical manifestations encountered in CS patients. Furthermore, we intended to emphasize the great significance of early diagnosis as patients will benefit from a longer lifespan while being unceasingly advised and supported by a multidisciplinary team.
Topics: Female; Humans; Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple; Proteus Syndrome; PTEN Phosphohydrolase; Male
PubMed: 38792950
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60050767 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024To investigate the diversity and dynamics of microorganisms in Chinese fresh beef (CFB) without acid discharge treatment during cold storage, high-throughput sequencing...
To investigate the diversity and dynamics of microorganisms in Chinese fresh beef (CFB) without acid discharge treatment during cold storage, high-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze the CFB refrigerated for 0, 3, 7, and 10 days. The results showed that the community richness of the fungi and bacteria decreased significantly. However, the diversity decreased in the early stage and increased in the later stage. At the phylum level, Ascomycota (74.1-94.1%) and Firmicutes (77.3-96.8%) were the absolutely dominant fungal and bacterial phyla. The relative abundance of both fungal and bacterial phyla displayed a trend of increasing and then decreasing. At the genus level, (29.3-52.5%) and (19.8-59.3%) were, respectively, the dominant fungal and bacterial genera. The relative abundance of showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing, while possessed the opposite trend. KEGG metabolic pathways analysis suggested that carbohydrate metabolism, membrane transport, and amino acid metabolism were the major metabolic pathways of bacteria. Bugbase prediction indicated the major microbial phenotype of bacteria in CFB during cold storage was Gram-positive (17.2-31.6%). Correlation analysis suggested that , , , and might be the main microorganisms promoting the production of off-flavor substances in CFB. This study provides a theoretical basis for the preservation of Chinese fresh beef.
PubMed: 38790782
DOI: 10.3390/foods13101482 -
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and... May 2024Proteus mirabilis is an opportunistic pathogen that has been held responsible for numerous nosocomial and community-acquired infections which are difficult to be...
BACKGROUND
Proteus mirabilis is an opportunistic pathogen that has been held responsible for numerous nosocomial and community-acquired infections which are difficult to be controlled because of its diverse antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
METHODS
Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of P. mirabilis isolates collected from different clinical sources in Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt was determined. Moreover, the underlying resistance mechanisms and genetic relatedness between isolates were investigated.
RESULTS
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated elevated levels of resistance to different classes of antimicrobials among the tested P. mirabilis clinical isolates (n = 66). ERIC-PCR showed great diversity among the tested isolates. Six isolates (9.1%) were XDR while all the remaining isolates were MDR. ESBLs and AmpCs were detected in 57.6% and 21.2% of the isolates, respectively, where bla, bla, bla, bla and bla were detected. Carbapenemases and MBLs were detected in 10.6 and 9.1% of the isolates, respectively, where bla and bla genes were detected. Quinolone resistant isolates (75.8%) harbored acc(6')-Ib-cr, qnrD, qnrA, and qnrS genes. Resistance to aminoglycosides, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and chloramphenicol exceeded 80%. Fosfomycin was the most active drug against the tested isolates as only 22.7% were resistant. Class I or II integrons were detected in 86.4% of the isolates. Among class I integron positive isolates, four different gene cassette arrays (dfrA17- aadA5, aadB-aadA2, aadA2-lnuF, and dfrA14-arr-3-bla-aadA15) and two gene cassettes (dfrA7 and aadA1) were detected. While class II integron positive isolates carried four different gene cassette arrays (dfrA1-sat1-aadA1, estXVr-sat2-aadA1, lnuF- dfrA1-aadA1, and dfrA1-sat2).
CONCLUSION
P. Mirabilis ability to acquire resistance determinants via integrons may be held responsible for the elevated rates of antimicrobial resistance and emergence of XDR or even PDR strains limiting the available therapeutic options for management of infections caused by those strains.
Topics: Egypt; Humans; Proteus mirabilis; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Proteus Infections; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Prevalence; beta-Lactamases; Integrons; Bacterial Proteins; Cross Infection; Male
PubMed: 38790053
DOI: 10.1186/s12941-024-00705-3 -
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology :... May 2024This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus acidophilus, alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin, against otitis media-associated...
This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus acidophilus, alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin, against otitis media-associated bacteria. L. acidophilus cells were isolated from Vitalactic B (VB), a commercially available probiotic product containing two lactobacilli species, L. acidophilus and Lactiplantibacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) plantarum. The pathogenic bacterial samples were provided by Al-Shams Medical Laboratory (Baqubah, Iraq). Bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing for 16 antibiotics were performed using the VITEK2 system. The minimum inhibitory concentration of ciprofloxacin was also determined. The antimicrobial activity of L. acidophilus VB1 cell-free supernatant (La-CFS) was evaluated alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin using a checkerboard assay. Our data showed significant differences in the synergistic activity when La-CFS was combined with ciprofloxacin, in comparison to the use of each compound alone, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa SM17 and Proteus mirabilis SM42. However, an antagonistic effect was observed for the combination against Staphylococcus aureus SM23 and Klebsiella pneumoniae SM9. L. acidophilus VB1 was shown to significantly co-aggregate with the pathogenic bacteria, and the highest co-aggregation percentage was observed after 24 h of incubation. The anti-biofilm activities of CFS and biosurfactant (BS) of L. acidophilus VB1 were evaluated, and we found that the minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration that inhibits 50% of bacterial biofilm (MBIC50) of La-CFS was significantly lower than MBIC50 of La-BS against the tested pathogenic bacterial species. Lactobacillus acidophilus, isolated from Vitane Vitalactic B capsules, demonstrated promising antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities against otitis media pathogens, highlighting its potential as an effective complementary/alternative therapeutic strategy to control bacterial ear infections.
PubMed: 38789905
DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01363-5 -
American Society of Clinical Oncology... Jun 2024Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are being increasingly integrated into routine clinical practice to enhance individual patient care. This has been driven by recognition... (Review)
Review
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are being increasingly integrated into routine clinical practice to enhance individual patient care. This has been driven by recognition of the benefits of PROs in enhancing symptom management, patient satisfaction, quality of life, and overall survival, and reductions in acute health care utilization. These benefits are reflected in the emergence of value-based health care initiatives incorporating PRO symptom monitoring such as the Enhancing Oncology Model in the United States. However, implementing PROs can be challenging and it can be difficult to know where to begin to select appropriate PROs, and effectively display and appropriately interpret PRO data. This manuscript summarizes an educational session at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting, which provided practical guidance to clinicians seeking to incorporate PROs into the care of people with advanced cancer. We focus on why it is important to collect PROs in routine care from a patient's perspective, how to select PROs for symptom monitoring (including using static patient-reported outcome measures and newer item libraries), and highlight key pearls and pitfalls in the display and interpretation of PROs. We highlight the breadth of existing resources available to guide clinicians in PRO implementation.
Topics: Humans; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Medical Oncology
PubMed: 38788184
DOI: 10.1200/EDBK_438512 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria of the utmost importance are extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CRE),...
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria of the utmost importance are extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CRE), carbapenem-resistant (CRAB), carbapenem-resistant (CRPA), methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant spp. (VRE). In this study, an evaluation of MDR bacteria in surgical intensive care units in a tertiary referral hospital was conducted. The study aimed to characterize β-lactamases and other resistance traits of Gram-negative bacteria isolated in surgical intensive care units (ICUs). Disk diffusion and the broth dilution method were used for antibiotic susceptibility testing, whereas ESBL screening was performed through a double disk synergy test and an inhibitor-based test with clavulanic acid. A total of 119 MDR bacterial isolates were analysed. ESBL production was observed in half of the , 90% of the and all of the and isolates. OXA-48 carbapenemase, carried by the L plasmid, was detected in 34 and one and complex isolates, whereas NDM occurred sporadically and was identified in three isolates. OXA-48 positive isolates coharboured ESBLs belonging to the CTX-M family in all but one isolate. OXA-23 carbapenemase was confirmed in all isolates. The findings of this study provide valuable insight of resistance determinants of Enterobacterales and which will enhance surveillance and intervention strategies that are necessary to curb the ever-growing carbapenem resistance rates.
PubMed: 38787264
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050411