THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF NIGELLA SATIVA AGAINST MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA ISOLATED FROM DIABETIC WOUND INFECTIONS

Thirty-five specimens were isolated from diabetic patients with superficial and deep wounds. The isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were selected from cetrimide agar plates supplemented with nalidixic acid.P. aeruginosawere subjected to in vitro evaluation of antibiotic sensitivity test using antibiotics from different classes. Multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa (MDRPA) were selected for further tests and multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR)index was calculated. Eleven commercial essential oils (EOs) were chosen to evaluate their activities as antimicrobial agents against MDRPA. The sensitivity was determined using agar disc diffusion method. The black seed oil (Nigella sativa) showed a wide spectrum of inhibition against MDRPA3. The characterization of Nigella sativa was conducted by GC-MS and FT-IR which showed the antibacterial activity and safety of this oil.&nbsp

Scaled-up biodiesel synthesis from Chinese Tallow Kernel oil catalyzed by Burkholderia cepacia lipase through ultrasonic assisted technology: A non-edible and alternative source of bio energy.

Abstract In East Asia, for thousands of years, the fruit of Chinese tallow tree ( Sapium sebiferum ) has been used for multiple purposes because of its chemical composition; the presence of high amounts of lipids is remarkable, showing potential to be used as substrate for biodiesel synthesis. Previously have been reported the use of alkaline and enzymatic catalysts, microwave technology and the use of ionic liquids as co-solvents with the lipids of this tree species to produce biodiesel. This study shows the results of the use of Burkholderia cepacia lipase as enzymatic catalyst for transesterification of Chinese Tallow Kernel oil (CTK), extracted from the fruit of Chinese tallow tree, into biodiesel, with the use of ultrasonic assisted technology and without the usage of solvents. The optimal operational parameters were determined and the reactions were developed in a batch reactor with the use of ultrasonic irradiation and emulsification to enhance the mass transfer. The scaled-up experiments, in an especially designed 3 L capacity reactor, showed promising results, obtaining 55.20% biodiesel and a kinematic viscosity of 10.31 mm 2 .s −1 in only 4 h, in comparison with previously published ( in vitro ) methods. The valorization of this non-edible source of oil represents an opportunity to use as an alternative source for bioenergy and also to tackle the uncontrolled expansion of this oleaginous tree species in some ecologically fragile ecosystems

Hypoxia-Adaptation Involves Mitochondrial Metabolic Depression and Decreased ROS Leakage

Through long-term laboratory selection, we have generated a Drosophila melanogaster population that tolerates severe, normally lethal, level of hypoxia. This strain lives perpetually under severe hypoxic conditions (4% O2). In order to shed light on the mechanisms involved in this adaptation, we studied the respiratory function of isolated mitochondria from the thorax of hypoxia-adapted flies (AF) using polarographic oxygen consumption while monitoring superoxide generation by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. AF mitochondria exhibited a significant 30% decrease in respiratory rate during state 3, while enhancing the resting respiratory rate during State 4-oligo by 220%. The activity of individual electron transport complexes I, II and III were 107%, 65%, and 120% in AF mitochondria as compared to those isolated from control flies. The sharp decrease in complex II activity and modest increase in complexes I and III resulted in >60% reduction in superoxide leakage from AF mitochondria during both NAD+-linked state 3 and State 4-oligo respirations. These results provide evidence that flies with mitochondria exhibiting decreased succinate dehydrogenase activity and reduced superoxide leakage give flies an advantage for survival in long-term hypoxia

Dihydrophenazine:a multifunctional new weapon that kills multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and restores carbapenem and oxidative stress susceptibilities

AimsThe current work aims to fully characterize a new antimicrobial agent against Acinetobacter baumannii, which continues to represent a growing threat to healthcare settings worldwide. With minimal treatment options due to the extensive spread of resistance to almost all the available antimicrobials, the hunt for new antimicrobial agents is a high priority. Methods and resultsAn Egyptian soil-derived bacterium strain NHM-077B proved to be a promising source for a new antimicrobial agent. Bioguided fractionation of the culture supernatants of NHM-077B followed by chemical structure elucidation identified the active antimicrobial agent as 1-hydroxy phenazine. Chemical synthesis yielded more derivatives, including dihydrophenazine (DHP), which proved to be the most potent against A. baumannii, yet it exhibited a safe cytotoxicity profile against human skin fibroblasts. Proteomics analysis of the cells treated with DHP revealed multiple proteins with altered expression that could be correlated to the observed phenotypes and potential mechanism of the antimicrobial action of DHP. DHP is a multi-pronged agent that affects membrane integrity, increases susceptibility to oxidative stress, interferes with amino acids/protein synthesis, and modulates virulence-related proteins. Interestingly, DHP in sub-inhibitory concentrations resensitizes the highly virulent carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strain AB5075 to carbapenems providing great hope in regaining some of the benefits of this important class of antibiotics. ConclusionsThis work underscores the potential of DHP as a promising new agent with multifunctional roles as both a classical and non-conventional antimicrobial agent that is urgently needed.<br/

The diabetic brain and cognition

The prevalence of both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) is increasing with the aging of the population. Studies from the last several years have shown that people with diabetes have an increased risk for dementia and cognitive impairment. Therefore, the authors of this consensus review tried to elaborate on the role of diabetes, especially diabetes type 2 (T2DM) in both AD and VaD. Based on the clinical and experimental work of scientists from 18 countries participating in the International Congress on Vascular Disorders and on literature search using PUBMED, it can be concluded that T2DM is a risk factor for both, AD and VaD, based on a pathology of glucose utilization. This pathology is the consequence of a disturbance of insulin-related mechanisms leading to brain insulin resistance. Although the underlying pathological mechanisms for AD and VaD are different in many aspects, the contribution of T2DM and insulin resistant brain state (IRBS) to cerebrovascular disturbances in both disorders cannot be neglected. Therefore, early diagnosis of metabolic parameters including those relevant for T2DM is required. Moreover, it is possible that therapeutic options utilized today for diabetes treatment may also have an effect on the risk for dementia. T2DM/IRBS contribute to pathological processes in AD and VaD. © 2017 Springer-Verlag GmbH Austri

Effect of preoperative ureteral stenting on the surgical outcomes of patients with 1-2 cm renal stones managed by retrograde intrarenal surgery using a ureteral access sheath

Objective: To assess the surgical results of patients who underwent retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) using a ureteral access sheath (UAS) for management of renal stones sized 1-2 cm compared between patients who did and did not undergo preoperative ureteral stenting. Materials and methods: This prospective study included 83 patients (aged ≥ 20 years) who underwent RIRS from July 2021 to January 2023. All patients had renal calculi (stone size: 1-2 cm) located within the pelvicalyceal system. 43 and 40 patients were allocated to the non-prestent (group A) and prestent (group B), respectively. Patient baseline characteristics, renal stone details, operative data, stone-free rate (SFR) at 4 weeks and 6 months, and perioperative complications were compared between groups. Results: The baseline characteristics of all patients were comparable across the groups. Four weeks after surgery, the overall stone-free rate (SFR) stood at 62.65%. In the non-prestent and prestent groups, the SFRs were 58.12% and 67.5%, respectively (p = 0.89). By the sixth month post-surgery, the overall SFR rose to 80.72%. In the non-prestent and prestent groups, the SFRs were 76.74% and 85%, respectively (p = 0.081). No notable differences emerged in other variables, including perioperative complications, between the two groups. Conclusions: The SFR showed no significant difference between the prestenting and non-prestenting groups at the 4-week and 6-month postoperative marks. Additionally, there were no substantial differences in complications during surgery and recovery between the groups. Notably, the SFR increased from 4 weeks to 6 months without any additional procedures in either group