Emergence of Colistin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginasa in Sohag University Hospitals, Egypt

Background:  Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a globally recognized cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), the recent increase of the MDR and XDR P.  aeruginosa strains encouraged the use polymyxins as a treatment option, and thus the emergence of colistin-resistant strain is an alarming problem. Objectives: This study aimed to trace the emergence of colistin-resistance in P.  aeruginosa strains associated with HAIs in Sohag University Hospitals, to identify the genetic basis of colistin-resistance in these isolates. Methods: P. aeruginosa strains were isolated and identified phenotypically and genotypically, antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was tested by disc-diffusion method. The MIC of colistin was measured by E test in colistin resistant isolates. Conventional PCR was used to detect plasmid genes responsible for colistin resistance among the isolates. Results: Seventy-six(76%) of P. aeruginosa isolates were resistant to colistin, the highest percentage of colistin resistant strains were isolated from patients admitted to General Surgery Department that was (50%), no colistin resistant strains were isolated from patients admitted to Vascular Surgery Department. Colistin-resistant isolates exhibited the highest resistance to polymyxin B, norfloxacin, ofloxacin and gatifloxacin by a percentage of (100%). mcr-1gene was detected in (44.4%) of colistin-resistant isolates and mcr-2 gene in (16.6%). Sensitivity of E-test in comparison with PCR was (100%) and specificity was (86.36%). Conclusion: The emergence of colistin resistance in P. aeruginosa in our health care setting is an alarming issue that needs strict adherence to the infection control guidelines specially plasmid mediated resistance as it usually associated with MDR and XDR patterns

Well as its Microcapsules in Rats

ABSTRACT Ketorolac is a potent non-steroidal analgesic drug. It is 36 times more potent than phenyl butazone, and twice as that of indomethacin. The oral administration of ketorolac is associated with high risk of adverse effects such as irritation, ulceration, bleeding of gastrointestinal tract, edema as well as peptic ulceration. These attributes make ketorolac a good candidate for controlled release dosage forms, so as to ensure slow release of the drug in the stomach. The present study reports on the formulation of ketorolac loaded Eudragit RS100, Eudragit RL100 as well as Ethyl cellulose as a controlled release drug delivery system. Solid dispersion and microencapsulation by air suspension method were the techniques of choice in order to coat the drug so as to improve bioavailability and stability and also target a drug at specific sites. The ratio of (1:3) drug to polymer from all polymers used was selected from solid dispersions systems as well as microcapsules to conduct further in vivo evaluation, since it was the best ratio which achieved significant reduction in the release of ketorolac at acidic pH of the stomach and maximal release at alkaline pH of the intestine. The effects of various formulations on ulcer index as well as ulcer incidence were studied. The obtained results indicate that microencapsulation technique was able to protect the stomach from ulcerogenic effect ketorolac compared to solid dispersion technique

Impact of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations on sustained virologic response in HCV-infected patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort

BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. METHODS: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. RESULTS: SVR24 rates were 46.1% (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1, 2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced 651 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with 651 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not 655. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin

Corn Cob-Derived Biochar Improves the Growth of Saline-Irrigated Quinoa in Different Orders of Egyptian Soils

Biochar is one of the important recycling methods in sustainable development, as it ensures the transformation of agricultural wastes into fertilizers and conditioners that improve soil properties and fertility. In the current study, corn cob-derived biochar (CB) was used to reduce the negative effects of saline water on quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa cv. Utosaya Q37) grown on Aridisols and Entisols, which are the major soil groups of Egyptian soils. Quinoa plants were cultivated in pot experiment and were irrigated with saline water (EC = 10 dS m−1). The experiment contained three treatments, including control without any treatment, biochar at a rate of 1% (w/w) (BC1), and biochar at a rate of 3% (w/w) (BC3). The findings of the current study showed that BC treatments realized significant effects on soil salinity, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and plant availability and nutrients’ uptake in the two soils types. BC3 increased the SOM in Entisols and Aridisols by 23 and 44%; moreover, the dry biomass of quinoa plants was ameliorated by 81 and 41%, respectively, compared with the control. Addition of biochar to soil increased the nutrients’ use efficiencies by quinoa plants for the two studied Egyptian soils. Biochar addition caused significant increases in the use efficiency of nitrogen (NUF), phosphorus (PUE), and potassium (KUE) by quinoa plants. BC3 increased NUE, PUE, and KUS by 81, 81, and 80% for Entisols, while these increases were 40, 41, and 42% in the case of Aridisols. Based on the obtained results, the application of corn cob biochar improves the soil quality and alleviates the negative effects of saline irrigation on quinoa plants grown on Aridisols and Entisols Egyptian soils. Biochar can be used as a soil amendment in arid and semi-arid regions to reduce the salinity hazards

Compost Enhances Forage Yield and Quality of River Saltbush in Arid Conditions

High temperatures and water scarcity are among the main obstacles to producing fodder in arid regions. Saltbush shrubs are used for livestock in many arid regions, especially in saline conditions, due to their high salt tolerance. The produced forage materials under these saline conditions are often low in quantity and quality. This article presents field studies that were conducted for two growing seasons to evaluate the forage yield and quality of river saltbush (Atriplex amnicola Paul G. Wilson) as a function of compost application. The plants were cultivated in saline soil (15 dS m−1), and compost was added at four rates (0, 5, 10, and 15 t ha−1). River saltbush plant produced 9.23−15.60 t ha−1 of stems and 4.25−7.20 t ha−1 of leaves yearly (over all the treatments). The crude protein (CP) ranged between 48−70 g kg−1 in the stems and between 160−240 g kg−1 in the leaves (over all the treatments). The forage yield, crude protein, dry matter, and mineral contents of the tested plant increased significantly (p −1 of compost reduced the Na+ concentrations in the leaves by 14, 16, and 19% (as means of two years) compared with the control. In the same trend, these rates reduced the oxalate concentrations in the leaves by 38, 30, and 29% (as means of two years) compared with the control. Our results show that compost application improves the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and catalase (CAT). Compost reduces the adverse impacts of soil salinity by improving the photosynthesis process and increasing the activity of antioxidant defense. Compost also enhances the growth of river saltbush plants cultivated in saline soils, thus, enhancing their value as animal feed. Halophyte plants can be used to utilize saline soils that are not suitable for traditional production. Compost addition is a good agricultural strategy to increase growth and reduce the negative effects of salts

Induction of Catharanthus roseus Secondary Metabolites When Calotropis procera Was Used as Bio-Stimulant

Available information associated with Calotropis procera posted its phytotoxic effect as bio-herbicide scarce works studied its stimulatory/nutritive effect. A pot experiment was performed to assess the validity of using Calotropis procera (C. procera) leaves extract as a bio-stimulant for the growth and quality of a medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) evaluated by some physio-biochemical indices. Different types of C. procera leaves extracts (CLEs) (methanolic, cold water and autoclaved water extracts) were delivered by two different modes of application. The results revealed that application of CLEs as irrigation or foliar spraying caused a stimulation effect on C. roseus plant. Root and shoot length, dry and fresh weight were significantly improved due to CLEs applications. C. roseus bioactive molecules such as anthocyanins, phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione and α-tocopherol were abundance increased significantly with CLEs applications. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) decreased explaining the involvement of CLEs in induction of antioxidant enzymes catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, guaiacol peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase for modifying cell oxidative status witnessed by lower lipid peroxidation that kept below the untreated plants’ baseline reflected the improvement of growth and quality rather than phytotoxic effect. The promotion of wholesome-promoting secondary metabolites by CLEs was closely correlated to elevated phenylalanineammonialyase activity. The comparable efficient effect induced by all treatments might be judged by the relation between C. procera phytochemicals and C. roseus metabolism (donor-receiver relation). It is concluded that application of CLEs can be a promising approach for improving the yield and quality of plants despite using polluting fertilizers. The current investigation may provide a matrix for coming studies to seek illustration of numerous plants’ response to C. procera extracts

Effect of Two Urea Forms and Organic Fertilizer Derived from Expired Milk Products on Dynamic of NH3 Emissions and Growth of Williams Banana

Sustainable agricultural development depends mainly on the recycling of organic wastes to reduce environmental pollution, as well as to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers. Expired milk products are rich in organic carbon and nitrogen, so they are good raw materials for making organic fertilizers. In this study, expired milk products were converted to organic fertilizer (EDPF) by gravity and thermal treatments. The extracted EDPF was used in the nutrition of Williams banana plants under field conditions for two growing seasons. The field experiment consisted of four treatments including: C = control without N fertilization, U = traditional urea, SRU = slow-release urea, and EDPF. EDPF significantly (p &lt; 0.05) improved the growth and yield of Williams banana in comparison to U and SRU. EDPF significantly minimized the soil pH and increased the soil organic-C and cation exchange capacity compared to the other treatments. EDPF increased the total yield of bunches by 20% and 17% in the first and second years, respectively, above U and SRU. EDPF surpassed the traditional and slow-release urea in its ability to supply the banana plants with nitrogen. NH3-N loss from U, SRU, and EDPF reached 172, 132, and 100 kg N ha−1, respectively, which accounted for 34%, 26%, and 20% of the total added nitrogen. Nitrogen loss from the investigated treatments was in the order: U &gt; SRU &gt; EDPF &gt; C. EDPF significantly reduced the ammonia volatilization compared to U and SRU by reducing the soil pH and increasing the soil organic matter. The dynamic of NH3 emissions not only depends on the nitrogen form but also on climatic conditions and concentrations of NH4+ in the soil solution. Protecting the ecosystem and maximizing the benefits of wastes utilization can be done through the recycling of expired dairy products to organic fertilizers

Antibiotics and Phage Sensitivity as Interventions for Controlling Escherichia coli Isolated from Clinical Specimens

Escherichia coli is considered one of the most frequent causative agents of common bacterial infections worldwide. In addition, effective treatment and prevention measures are still in demand due to the rise of antibiotic resistance and the emergence of new virulent strains. In this work, we evaluated antibiotics and bacteriophages as interventions for controlling pathogenic E. coli. A total of 15 E. coli isolates were included in this study. The automated identification system, namely Vitek 2, has been utilized for the identification. Antibiotics susceptibility profiles of all isolates were confirmed by disc diffusion method. All strains exhibited resistance at least to one antibiotic (ampicillin) while 13 strains were resistant to Ampicillin/Sulbactam, Cefazolin, and Ceftriaxone. Except for two strains, no resistance to Amikacin was observed. On the other hand, bacteriophages designated øEU-3 and øEU-4 were isolated by single plaque isolation and investigated as antimicrobial agents against pathogenic E. coli. Phages morphology, determined by transmission electron microscopy, revealed a structure comprised of a head diameter (71.42 nm) and a tail length (214.28 nm). These features placed the øEU-3 phage in the family Siphoviridae while øEU-4 belonged to family Myoviridae with a head diameter (66.6 nm) and a contractile tail length (108.3nm). Phages susceptibilities were determined by spot test to fifteen E. coli isolates. Coliphage øEU-3 and øEU-4 had narrow host range. This work described the efficacy of antibiotics and bacteriophages as intervention strategies to control pathogenic E. coli and paved the way for depth studies to broaden the antimicrobial spectrum of øEU-3 and øEU-4 phages

Mechanisms of Chitosan Nanoparticles in the Regulation of Cold Stress Resistance in Banana Plants

Exposure of banana plants, one of the most important tropical and subtropical plants, to low temperatures causes a severe drop in productivity, as they are sensitive to cold and do not have a strong defense system against chilling. Therefore, this study aimed to improve the growth and resistance to cold stress of banana plants using foliar treatments of chitosan nanoparticles (CH-NPs). CH-NPs produced by nanotechnology have been used to enhance tolerance and plant growth under different abiotic stresses, e.g., salinity and drought; however, there is little information available about their effects on banana plants under cold stress. In this study, banana plants were sprayed with four concentrations of CH-NPs—i.e., 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg L−1 of deionized water—and a group that had not been cold stressed or undergone CH-NP treatment was used as control. Banana plants (Musa acuminata var. Baxi) were grown in a growth chamber and exposed to cold stress (5 °C for 72 h). Foliar application of CH-NPs caused significant increases (p &lt; 0.05) in most of the growth parameters and in the nutrient content of the banana plants. Spraying banana plants with CH-NPs (400 mg L−1) increased the fresh and dry weights by 14 and 41%, respectively, compared to the control. A positive correlation was found between the foliar application of CH-NPs, on the one hand, and photosynthesis pigments and antioxidant enzyme activities on the other. Spraying banana plants with CH-NPs decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), i.e., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and superoxide anions (O2•−). CH-NPs (400 mg L−1) decreased MDA, H2O2, •OH, and O2•− by 33, 33, 40, and 48%, respectively, compared to the unsprayed plants. We hypothesize that CH-NPs increase the efficiency of banana plants in the face of cold stress by reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and, in consequence, the degree of oxidative stress. The accumulation of osmoprotectants (soluble carbohydrates, proline, and amino acids) contributed to enhancing the cold stress tolerance in the banana plants. Foliar application of CH-NPs can be used as a sustainable and economically feasible approach to achieving cold stress tolerance