Antibacterial Compounds from Bacteria Isolated from Hot Springs Water in Saudi Arabia

Recently, the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections has been considered one of the global health crises that threaten communities. The rise and dissemination of resistance within bacterial pathogens make the effectiveness of antibiotics decline gradually over time. As a result, the search for novel antibiotics from different natural sources has increased. Some microorganisms are able to produce secondary metabolites for protection. Bacteria, for example, have the ability to yield antibiotics. One important habitat that has yet to be fully exploited for antibiotic-producing bacteria is geothermal springs. Hot springs have been used for spas as well as for treating dermatological infections. Thirty-two water samples were collected from six different hot springs in Saudi Arabia. Several biological and microbiological assays were used to assess the antibacterial activities of samples against antimicrobial-resistant- and susceptible-bacterial strains and identify the genus and species of antibiotic-producing bacteria. Moreover, chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques were utilized to isolate the active compounds, and aid structural elucidation. The cross-streak assay’s findings illustrated that there were 14 bacteria with antimicrobial activities against most of the resistant- and susceptible-bacterial strains. 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that all antibiotic-producing bacteria to be Bacillus species; Bacillus paralicheniformis (6), Bacillus licheniformis (2), Bacillus pumilus (5) and Bacillus cereus (1). Seven compounds were isolated from these bacteria: five of which were known and two compounds were novel. The outcomes of MIC assay showed that all isolated compounds had mild to moderate antibacterial activities (between 128 µg/mL and 512 µg/mL in compared to the control) against all tested strains except for one compound (cholesterol (OM2)), which had no activity. The other known compounds were phenylacetic acid (OM7), isovaleric acid (OM4), ethyl-4-ethoxybenzoate (OM5) and N-acetyltryptamine (OM1). The two new compounds were N1-(N,N-dimethylcarbamimidoyl)-N1-methylterephthalamide (OM3) that belongs to the guanidine class of antibiotics, which are commonly isolated from microbes and 3-methyl-2H,7H-pyrano[2,3-b]pyran-2,7-dione (OM6), coumarin-like structures, which are also known for their antibacterial activities. In summary, this is the first study to investigate antibiotic-producing bacteria from hot thermal springs in Saudi Arabia. Screening revealed the propensity to isolate Bacillus spp., which are known to produce antibiotics in other habitats, particularly soil and aquatic environments. New compounds of known antibacterial classes could be isolated illustrating the potential of hot thermal springs as a source of discovering antibiotics

Performance Analysis of Adaptive Rate Scheduling Scheme for 3G WCDMA Wireless Networks with Multi-Operators

Sharing of 3G network infrastructure among operators offers an alternative solution to reducing the investment in the coverage phase of WCDMA. For radio access network (RAN) sharing method each operator has its own core network and only the RAN is shared. Without an efficient RRM, one operator can exhausts the capacity of others. This paper proposes and analyzes an efficient uplink-scheduling scheme in case of RAN sharing method. We refer to this new scheme as Multi-operators Code Division Generalized Processor sharing scheme (M-CDGPS). It employs both adaptive rate allocation to maximize the resource utilization and GPS techniques to provide fair services for each operator. The performance analysis of this scheme is derived using the GPS performance model. Also, it is compared with static rate M-CDGPS scheme. Numerical and simulation results show that the proposed adaptive rate MCDGPS scheduling scheme improves both system throughput and average delays

Performance Analysis of Adaptive Rate Scheduling Scheme for 3G WCDMA Wireless Networks with Multi-Operators

Sharing of 3G network infrastructure among operators offers an alternative solution to reducing the investment in the coverage phase of WCDMA. For radio access network (RAN) sharing method each operator has its own core network and only the RAN is shared. Without an efficient RRM, one operator can exhausts the capacity of others. This paper proposes and analyzes an efficient uplink-scheduling scheme in case of RAN sharing method. We refer to this new scheme as Multi-operators Code Division Generalized Processor sharing scheme (M-CDGPS). It employs both adaptive rate allocation to maximize the resource utilization and GPS techniques to provide fair services for each operator. The performance analysis of this scheme is derived using the GPS performance model. Also, it is compared with static rate M-CDGPS scheme. Numerical and simulation results show that the proposed adaptive rate MCDGPS scheduling scheme improves both system throughput and average delays

Detection of Android Malware in the Internet of Things through the K-Nearest Neighbor Algorithm

Predicting attacks in Android malware devices using machine learning for recommender systems-based IoT can be a challenging task. However, it is possible to use various machine-learning techniques to achieve this goal. An internet-based framework is used to predict and recommend Android malware on IoT devices. As the prevalence of Android devices grows, the malware creates new viruses on a regular basis, posing a threat to the central system’s security and the privacy of the users. The suggested system uses static analysis to predict the malware in Android apps used by consumer devices. The training of the presented system is used to predict and recommend malicious devices to block them from transmitting the data to the cloud server. By taking into account various machine-learning methods, feature selection is performed and the K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) machine-learning model is proposed. Testing was carried out on more than 10,000 Android applications to check malicious nodes and recommend that the cloud server block them. The developed model contemplated all four machine-learning algorithms in parallel, i.e., naive Bayes, decision tree, support vector machine, and the K-Nearest Neighbor approach and static analysis as a feature subset selection algorithm, and it achieved the highest prediction rate of 93% to predict the malware in real-world applications of consumer devices to minimize the utilization of energy. The experimental results show that KNN achieves 93%, 95%, 90%, and 92% accuracy, precision, recall and f1 measures, respectively

PHYTOCHEMICAL FINGERPRINT AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF THREE MALAYSIAN FICUS DELTOIDEA CULTIVARS.

Background Ficus deltoidea (Moraceae), is a Malay Traditional Medicine locally known as Mas Cotek. Three varieties (angustifolia, deltoidea and kunslerii) has been indictincty used.  Aims We here aim to better understand their chemistry and bioactivities to inform future scientific and agronomic research. Methods We extracted and analyzed samples from these varieties by HPTLC and HPLC-UV. The in vitro screening looked up to the scavenging activities against both DPPH and NO radicals, inhibitory activity upon tyrosinase and cytotoxicity against human prostate cancer cells PC3, DU145 and LNCaP using the sulforhodamine B proliferation assay and the MTT mitochondrial viability assay. Results We achieved to analytically differentiate the three varieties  in term of the presence of flavonoids, establishing that vitexin, orientin and isoorientin may act as intraspecific and interorgan phytomarkers Their biological activities point out to the antioxidant value of extracts from the deltoidea and kunslerii varieties whilst the inhibition of tyrosinase is only present in the roots extract of the var. deltoidea which here we show is also endowed with cytotoxic activity against prostate cancer cells. Conclusion We suggest that the three Malaysian Ficus deltoidea botanical varieties (angustifolia, deltoidea and kunslerii) can be also considered chemovars. The least bioactive chemovar was angustifolia. The most active extract was from the roots of var. deltoidea that shows antioxidant, antimelanogenic and cytotoxic potential.  Keywords: Chemotaxonomy; Prostate Cancer; Tyrosinase; Antioxidant; Ficus

Ameliorative inhibition of sirtuin 6 by imidazole derivative triggers oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis associated with Nrf2/Keap1 signaling in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines

Background: Redox homeostasis is the vital regulatory system with respect to antioxidative response and detoxification. The imbalance of redox homeostasis causes oxidative stress. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2, also called Nfe2l2)/Kelchlike ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) signaling is the major regulator of redox homeostasis. Nrf2/Keap1 signaling is reported to be involved in cancer cell growth and survival. A high level of Nrf2 in cancers is associated with poor prognosis, resistance to therapeutics, and rapid proliferation, framing Nrf2 as an interesting target in cancer biology. Sirtuins (SIRT1-7) are class III histone deacetylases with NAD + dependent deacetylase activity that have a remarkable impact on antioxidant and redox signaling (ARS) linked with Nrf2 deacetylation thereby increasing its transcription by epigenetic modifications which has been identified as a crucial event in cancer progression under the influence of oxidative stress in various transformed cells. SIRT6 plays an important role in the cytoprotective effect of multiple diseases, including cancer. This study aimed to inhibit SIRT6 using an imidazole derivative, Ethyl 2-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-1-H-Imidazole-4-yl] acetate, to assess its impact on Nrf2/Keap1 signaling in A549 and NCI-H460 cell lines.Method: Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Ethyl 2-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-1-H-Imidazole-4-yl] acetate was fixed by cell viability assay. The changes in the gene expression of important regulators involved in this study were examined using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and protein expression changes were confirmed by Western blotting. The changes in the antioxidant molecules are determined by biochemical assays. Further, morphological studies were performed to observe the generation of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial damage, and apoptosis.Results: We inhibited SIRT6 using Ethyl 2-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-1-H-Imidazole-4-yl] acetate and demonstrated that SIRT6 inhibition impacts the modulation of antioxidant and redox signaling. The level of antioxidant enzymes and percentage of reactive oxygen species scavenging activity were depleted. The morphological studies showed ROS generation, mitochondrial damage, nuclear damage, and apoptosis. The molecular examination of apoptotic factors confirmed apoptotic cell death. Further, molecular studies confirmed the changes in Nrf2 and Keap1 expression during SIRT6 inhibition.Conclusion: The overall study suggests that SIRT6 inhibition by imidazole derivative disrupts Nrf2/Keap1 signaling leading to oxidative stress and apoptosis induction

Overview On Surgical Management Of Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder syndrome is a persistent and incapacitating disorder that has profound medical, psychological, and social implications, greatly impacting the wellbeing of countless individuals globally. A significant number of individuals experience urine urgency, which can be extremely bothersome. The primary indicator of overactive bladder (OAB) is a sense of urgency, often accompanied by increased urine frequency and nocturia. After ruling out other medical conditions with similar symptoms, the initial approach to managing OAB is providing guidance on fluid consumption and bladder training. If needed, antimuscarinic medicines may be added as a supplement. If patients have significant distress from OAB symptoms even after maximizing medicinal treatment, they may choose to undergo invasive procedures. There is currently a limited understanding of the hierarchical structure of central nervous system control. However, the use of functional imaging is starting to reveal the difficulties that need to be addressed in this area. Current research is exploring the use of botulinum neurotoxin-A injection, oral β3-adrenergic agonists, and innovative methods for nerve stimulation as potential therapies. The inherent subjectivity of urine urgency, the absence of animal models, and the complex pathophysiology of overactive bladder (OAB) pose substantial obstacles to achieving effective clinical therapy

Physical Activity, Mental Health, and Quality of Life among School Students in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey When Returning to School after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Increasing evidence suggests that Physical Activity (PA) can reduce depression and anxiety in adolescents. At the same time, Quality of life (QoL) is sensitive to both Mental Health and PA, but little is known about the mechanism between these three variables among adolescents. This study aimed to assess physical activity, mental health, and quality of life of school students when they returned to school after two years of distance learning in the Jazan region. This current investi-gation represents an observational cross-sectional survey conducted in January 2022 among a random sample of 601 students from intermediate and high schools in the Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. Three standardized questionnaires were used for data collection; the Arabic version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS21) and the Fels PAQ for children. The analysis revealed a moderate level of physical activity, decreased HRQoL, and symptoms of mental health problems (anxiety, depression and stress) among the schools’ students when they returned to school following COVID-19 Lockdown. The overall pe-diatric Quality of Life mean score was (81.4 ± 16.4), which differs significantly according to gender, age groups, and grade levels (p < 0.05 for all). There was a negative correlation between overall quality of life and mental health domains. Sport is negatively correlated with mental illness symptoms and positively correlated (p < 0.05) with pediatric Quality of Life. The regression models revealed that stress is a significant predictor for the quality of life of male and female adolescents [β = −0.30, (95% CI (−0.59) to (−0.02), p < 0.05) and [β = −0.40, (95% CI (−0.70) to (−0.01), p < 0.05), respectively. The analysis revealed a moderate level of physical activity among the schools’ stu-dents when they returned to school following COVID-19 Lockdown. Children’s involvement in physical activity was associated with improved Quality of Life and mental health. The results call for the need to develop appropriate intervention programs to increase school students’ physical activity levels

Association between Serum Vitamin B12 Concentration and Obesity Among Adults in The Ksa

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum vitamin B12 levels and weight among the adult population in KSA. Methods: This research will employ a cross-sectional study design to investigate the association between serum vitamin B12 concentration and obesity among adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Cross-sectional studies are suitable for examining relationships between variables within a specific population at a single point in time. The target population for this study includes all adult residents of the KSA aged 18 years and older. Results: The study included 869 participants. The most frequent weight among them was 51-65 kg (n= 255, 29.3%), followed by 66 -75 kg (n= 214, 24.6%). The most frequent height among study participants was 161-170 cm (n= 324, 37.3%) followed by 151-160 cm (n= 266, 30.6%). The most frequent body mass index (BMI) value among study participants was Normal 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 (n= 344, 39.6%), followed by overweight 25-29.9 kg/m2 (n= 281, 32.3%).  Vitamin B12 varied among study participants, with most of them having a normal range (n= 319, 36.7%) followed by a low range (n= 117, 13.5%) and the least common high range (n= 23, 2.6%). On the other hand, among 410 participants, 47.2% did not know their vitamin B12 value. Wech may indicate a lack of knowledge about the topic. Figure 4 shows the vitamin B12 levels among study participants. Conclusion: Study results showed that most of the study participants do not know their vitamin B12 level and need to increase awareness, followed by those who have a normal vitamin B12 level. The most common BMI was the normal level. There was a relationship between vitamin B12 levels and obesity.