Isolation and Identification of Streptomyces from Different Sample of Soils

A total of 36 actinomycetes were isolated and purified from soil samples collected from agricultural soils in Hilla. The isolates were morphologically distinct on the basis of spore mass color, reverse slide color, aerial and substrate mycelia formation and production of diffusible pigment. Only two isolates which were S.A.2 and S.S.10 was selected for further investigation due to its strong antibacterial activity against six pathogenic bacteria which were (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa,Serratiamarcescens, Klebsiella pneumonia, Aeromonashydrophila).These two isolates was identified asStreptomycesorientalisand Streptomyces humidus respectively based on its morphological, cultural, physiological, microscopic features, utilization of carbon sources, biochemical characteristics and  molecular analysis of the 16S rRNA gene primers. Keywords :actinomycetes, spore mass color, 16S rRNA gene primers

Quorum sensing and Biofilm formation by Bacterial Isolates from Hemodialysis Patients

In this study, blood and urine samples were collected from (60) patients with hemodialysis with age range between (12-82) years old from both sexes. All samples were subjected to identify the bacterial aerobic cultivation. Different types of bacteria were isolated that caused septicemia or urinary tract infection. The predominant bacteria were E. coli for Gram negative, and S. aureus for gram positive. Quorum sensing were studied for E. coli and K. pneumoniae and the results shown that all tested bacteria show an aggregation of the bacterial cells in the presence of homoserine lactone and the best interval for accumulation of homoserine lactone was after 4 hours in E. coli, 2 hours in K. pneumoniae. biofilm formation were studied for all bacterial isolates and the results shown that the all bacteria can form biofilm, S. epidermidis (87.5%), S. aureus (85.7%) as strong where E. coli and Proteus mirabilis show moderate biofilm formation

Molecular Characterization of Restriction Endonuclease Extracted from Local E.coli Isolate

An endonucleases enzyme named EcoRHI has been purified partially from one of pathogenic E.coli isolate about 87-fold with endonuclease recovery about 12.6% . The purification steps included ammonium sulfate precipitation with 50% saturation ratio, and the enzymatic solution reclaimed it through Sephadex G-100 column .The SDS-PAGE analysis that showed molecular weight of EcoRHI enzyme is 45 KDa. The purified endonuclease was able to digest λ-DNA into two fragments

Reuse of Iraqi Agricultural Drainage Water Using Nanofiltration

Abstract: Irrigated areas between Euphrates and Tigris rivers in Iraq suffer from salinity buildup in the root zone of corps. Agricultural drain water (ADW) from these areas is collected in a single main drain canal, in an annual flow rate of about 6 billion cubic meter. In the present work, a pilot-scale nanofiltration membranes unit was used to evaluate the feasibility of desalinating ADW from the main drain canal for further reuse. Bench scale experiments were conducted to determine the optimum anti-scale dosage values in the unit. These values were verified in a plate type laboratory scale NF membrane to visually monitor the onset of crystal appearance behavior. A method for calcium sulfate precipitation control is presented and an empirical correlation of anti-scale dosage as a function of concentration factor (CF) was obtained. A pilot-scale unit was used to investigate the performance of NF membrane. High rejection values for both cations and anions indicate that the use of NF membrane in desalinating ADW from the Iraqi main drain canal is promising. The treated drainage water is considered good for irrigation when classified according to Wilcox classification

Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis as a Complication of Neonatal Septic Arthritis : Report of two cases

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis as a complication of neonatal septic arthritis is rarely reported in the literature. We report two clinical cases of unilateral TMJ ankylosis occurring in paediatric patients subsequent to neonatal septic arthritis. The first case was a 15-month-old male infant who presented to the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, in May 2010. According to the published English scientific literature, he is the youngest person yet to be diagnosed with this condition. The second case was a five-year-old female who presented to the Al-Nahda Hospital, Muscat, Oman, in October 2011. Both cases presented with facial asymmetry and trismus. They subsequently underwent gap arthroplasty and interpositional temporalis muscle and fascia grafts which resulted in an immediate improvement in mouth opening. Postoperatively, the patients underwent active jaw physiotherapy which was initially successful. Both patients were followed up for a minimum of two years following their surgeries

Effect of measles infection on cellular immunity in tuberculosis patients

This study was applied on 60 TB patients admitted in the Babylon Center of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases in Hilla, Iraq. TB patients consisted of 38 males and 22 females with 40 healthy individuals as control group. Blood samples were collected from patients and control group to estimate phagocytic index, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and anti-measles IgG level. The level of anti-measles IgG showed a significant increase (27.9 DU, p<0.05) in comparison to control (18.9 DU). The cell mediated parameters showed a significant decrease (p< 0.05) in phagocytic index (7.3%) with no significant increase in IFN-γ level (0.123 IU/ml, p> 0.05) compared to the control group

Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and doppler sub-endometrial parameters as predictors of successful implantation in Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) patients

Objective: to investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients having infertility due to low endometrial acceptance, and to correlate it to non-invasive ultrasound variables, endometrial thickness, and sub-endometrial Doppler parameters (PI, RI, Vs/Vd). Methods: 80 women all under the age of 40 underwent ICSI-ET; all patients were exposed to ovarian stimulation protocols. The oocytes were retrieved using an ultrasound guide, and were fertilised via injection of sperm inside the follicle (ICSI). VEGF serum level was analysed at day of embryo transfer by ELIZA test, and sub-endometrial evaluation was conducted via two-dimension power Doppler ultrasound (2D PD-US), by measuring resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) on the day of embryo transfer. Results: There was a significantly higher VEGF level and endometrial thickness in pregnant (433± 207 and 9.72± 1.35) women, compared to non-pregnant (276± 165 and 8.95 ± 1.21) respectively as p-values were (0.001 and 0.01)). Additionally, there were significantly lower RI and PI in pregnant (0.584 ± 0.124 and 0.829 ± 0.301) women compared to non-pregnant (0.651±0.132 and 1.006±0.335) women, as p-values were (0.02 and 0.02, respectively). The level of E2 was on the day of embryo transfer and Vs/Vd in pregnant women (1402± 524 and 3.14 ± 3.75) and in the non-pregnant group (1296± 611 and 3.82 ± 3.07), as p-values were 0.41 and 0.38, respectively. Conclusion: The combined analysis of endometrial receptivity was completed, and the serum level of VEGF and sub-endometrial evaluation with 2D PD-US was defined by measuring resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) on the day of embryo transfer. These can serve as useful prognostic methods for the detection of endometrial receptivity and pregnancy outcomes in infertile women undergoing ICSI protocols, and will be helpful for candidate counselling about postponing embryo transfer and cryopreservation, which may serve as a better option, to be recommended for the next cycle, when achieving better endometrial Doppler parameters

Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Microbial Presence in Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Patients in Intensive Care Unit and Safety Protocols Under Surveillance of Healthcare Provider: A Research Study

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common hospital-acquired infection that is associated with longer stays in intensive care units (ICUs) and under mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. This article explores the prevalence and impact of VAP on mortality and morbidity, emphasizing the microbial associations involved in hospital-acquired infections. Various infections, including Lung infections, surgical site infections, sepsis, and urinary tract infections, are discussed, along with their associated microorganisms. Diagnostic criteria for VAP and related infections are outlined, highlighting the importance of microbiological testing for accurate diagnosis. The underlying factors for VAP acquisition in ICU patients are identified, and prompt antibiotic initiation is emphasized as a critical first-line defense against VAP. In this study, we have populated data from 100 ICU patients, among which 45 were suffering from VAP. It was found that female patients (57.40%) were more affected than male patients (30.43%). The decreasing PaO2 level was seen to be the early sign of infection. It was found that the time of ventilation was the major factor influencing the VAP. The most common organism causing infection in our study was found to be Staphylococcus Aureus (45.1%). The prognosis of early-onset VAP was 35.55% while compared to Late-onset VAP 64.44%. When compared to VAP and Non-VAP patients there was not very huge difference with 55% and 45% respectively. The other factor was age and position. Implementation of Prevention strategies, such as protective environments and HEPA filtration systems, is proposed to reduce VAP incidence. Proper diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are crucial to combatting VAP and enhancing patient outcomes in hospital settings

Identification of Cuscuta Campestris Yuncker in UAE: Study of Bar Code Loci- Rbcl, Matk and Trnh-Psba in the UAE and Egyptian Cultivars and In the Respective Host Plants Basil and Jute

Cuscuta campestris is a stem holoparasite. We observed Cuscuta parasite on basil host plant Ocimum basilicum, in Al Mohadub Umm Al Quwain, UAE. The parasite was pale green in color, twined around the host in anti-clock wise direction, with white flowers that had green ovaries at maturity. Based on the morphology and floral structures, we identified the parasite as C. campestris Yuncker. To authenticate the species, three “Bar-code loci†viz, rbcL, matK and inter-spacer region trnH-psbA were studied. A portion of rbcL locus and the trnH-psbA non-coding spacer region seem to be intact, revealed by PCR amplification and sequencing, while three sets of primers failed to amplify the maturase K locus. Although the stem and floral structures were light green in color, RuBisCo protein could not be detected in polyacrylamide gels, indicating its total dependency on the host at that stage of development. To validate thus obtained results, frozen samples of C. campestris were collected from Egypt and the three bar code loci (rbcL, matK and trnH-psbA) were amplified with the same set of primers; the PCR products were sequenced. There was 100% similarity with respect to the sequenced loci (rbcl and trnH-psbA) between the two cultivars of C. campestris Yuncker. Sequences were deposited in Genbank with accession numbers KXO15762 (C. campestris, UAE) and KXO15761 (C. campestris, Egypt). C. campestris is being reported for the first time from Al Mohadub Umm Al Quwain, UAE. There is no difference in both the candidate bar code gene loci rbcL and trn-H psbA between the UAE and Egyptian cultivars of Cuscuta campestris and the region is conserved

Weak or no association of TCF7L2 variants with Type 2 diabetes risk in an Arab population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The rs7903146 and rs12255372 variants of <it>TCF7L2 </it>have been strongly associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk in most populations studied to date. Meta-analysis of 27 different studies has resulted in a global OR of 1.46 [1.42–1.51] (rs7903146 variant). Thus far, despite a high incidence of T2D, the role of this variant in Arabs has not been established.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a case-control association study using 522 Saudi T2D patients (WHO criteria), and 346 controls (age > 60; fasting plasma glucose < 7 mmol/L). Genotyping was performed by pyrosequencing. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 13.0 for Windows (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For rs7903146, the T allele frequency of the cases (0.415) was not different from that observed in the controls (0.405). The crude odds ratio (OR) was 1.04 with a 95% CI of 0.86–1.27 (P = 0.675). For rs12255372, the T allele frequency of the cases (0.368) was not different from that observed in the controls (0.355). Retrospective power calculations based upon an OR of 1.46 reported in a comprehensive meta-analysis of <it>TCF7L2 </it>risk, indicated this study was sufficiently powered (96.92%; α = 0.05) to detect an effect of similar magnitude to that reported for rs7903146.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study is consistent with weak or no association of T2D in Arabs with the two <it>TCF7L2 </it>variants, however it cannot rule out an effect of other SNPs in this gene. Future studies in this population are required to confirm our findings and may indicate the presence of yet to be defined genetic risk factors for T2D.</p