A comparative study between one-factor-at-a-time and minimum runs resolution-IV methods for enhancing the production of polysaccharide by Stenotrophomonas daejeonensis and Pseudomonas geniculate

Two bacterial strains were isolated from compost sample from Egypt and identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics using 16S rRNA sequence as Stenotrophomonas daejeonensis B14 and Pseudomonas geniculate Y8. Optimization of fermentation factors was performed by using one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) and minimum runs resolution-IV statistical (Min Run Res IV) approaches. OFAT technique achieved the maximum polysaccharide dry weight at 30.1 and 25.3 g/L from S. daejeonensis B14 and P. geniculate Y8, respectively on medium containing 25% (w/v) blackstrap molasses (BSM) and 1.5 g/L corn steep liquor (CSL). The optimum pH was 6.5 and 7.5 for P. geniculate Y8 and S. daejeonensis B14, respectively. This medium inoculated with 5% (v/v) of standard inoculum of each strain individually, then incubated at 30 °C using shake flasks at 200 rpm for 96 h of the incubation period, respectively. Whereas, Min Run Res IV approach was recording that 3, among 8 factors had a significant effect on biopolymer production by both strains being fermentation time (72 h), BSM concentration (250 g/L), and shaking speed (at 250 rpm). This method resulted in a 7.3 and 9.2% increase in polysaccharide yield from S. daejeonensis B14 and P. geniculate Y8, respectively as compared to OFAT. The biopolymer was partially characterized according to physiochemical properties as follows; white colour crystalline, soluble in hot water, low viscosity and its contents of ash, total carbohydrate, total reducing sugar and total protein are ranged from 5.5 to 7.8%, 44.7 to 42.4%, 14.1 to 13.5%, 1.5 to 2.4%, respectively. Keywords: Biopolymer production, Pseudomonas geniculata, Stenotrophomonas daejeonensis, Min Run Res IV design, Polymer characterizatio

Antibacterial, antibiofilm and antitumor activities of grape and mulberry leaves ethanolic extracts towards bacterial clinical strains

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were measured at concentrations of 0.01–2.56 mg/mL of grape and mulberry leaves ethanolic extracts. The MIC values were ranged from 0.08 to 0.16 mg/mL against Ps. aeruginosa Ps9, and 0.32 mg/mL against each of S. aureus St3, E. coli Ec3, and S. typhi Sa1. Whereas, the MBC values were ranged from 0.32 to 1.28 mg/mL of the tested extracts. The effects of the tested extracts were also studied representing the bactericidal effect of the grape extract with a ratio of 2 against all investigated isolates, except S. typhi Sa1. Whereas, the mulberry extract had a bactericidal effect towards S. aureus St3 and E. coli Ec3 with ratio of 2, and a bacteriostatic effect against Ps. aeruginosa Ps9 and S. typhi Sa1 with a ratio ≥4. The investigated bacteria found to have a strong ability to form biofilms with densities ranged from 0.67 to 0.80. Both tested extracts inhibited these biofilms with percentages ranged from 48 to 66% at sub-inhibitory concentrations (SICs) ranged from 0.04 to 0.16 mg/mL. In addition, the tested extracts have an excellent cytotoxic activity towards colon cancer cell lines (HCT-16). Five phenolic compounds detected in the tested extracts of grape and mulberry using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after 9.53 min of the retention time. The phenolic compounds of both tested extracts were gallic, coumaric, ferulic, chlorogenic and caffeic with concentrations ranged from 1.28 to 6.56 µg/mL

Entrepreneurial leadership, nurses’ proactive work behavior, and career adaptability: a structural equation model

Abstract Background Healthcare organizations with practitioners who exhibit proactive work behavior and career adaptability acquire a competitive advantage in the face of many adversities. Entrepreneurial leadership (EL) is a new leadership approach that has a huge impact on followers’ behavior, although research into its theory and empirical evidence is still in its infancy. Methods A non-probability convenience sample methodology (n = 450) was utilized to choose study participants, who were equally dispersed among the two private hospitals in Alexandria. A cross-sectional study was carried out in all departments of the hospitals, which were chosen at random using a simple random procedure. Three validated scales were used in this study to measure the study variables and establish a structural equation model. Results The result of this study revealed that nurses perceived moderate mean scores of all variables; entrepreneurial leadership (140.84 ± 11.94), proactive work behavior (46.02 ± 5.85), and career adaptability (85.55 ± 10.35). In addition, the structured equation model revealed a goodness fit index and presents that entrepreneurial leadership significantly affects nurses’ proactive work behavior with an estimated β of 0.555, coefficient of regression C.R. of 4.006, at P value < 0.001. Also, it significantly affects career adaptability with an estimated β of .834, a coefficient of regression C.R. of 3.491 at P value < 0.001. Conclusions The developed structural equation model confirmed the significant impact of entrepreneurial leadership (EL) on nurses’ proactive work behavior (PWB) and career adaptability (CA)”. Therefore, this study offers important implications for nurse managers, staff nurses, hospital human resources management practice, and academics

Toxicity assessment of green synthesized Cu nanoparticles by cell-free extract of Pseudomonas silesiensis as antitumor cancer and antimicrobial

Spherical homogeneous 32 nm, protein coated Pseudomonas silesiensis strain A3 CuNPs was investigated for their cytotoxicity effect as well as antimicrobial and antitumor activity. CuNPs cytotoxicity was estimated using human normal lung cell lines (Wi38) against CuNPs with concentrations ranging from 25 to 150 μg/mL using neutral red uptake assay. The cytotoxicity study revealed that the bacterial CuNPs had an impact on Wi38 cell viability at concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 150 μg/mL CuNPs were 95.8, 91.1, 89.2 and 82.3%, respectively, with a strong correlation coefficient (r = 0.94) and a CuNPs IC50 value of 1057.0 μg/mL. CuNPs exhibit a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against various microorganism species, including fungi and Gram positive and negative bacteria using the agar-well diffusion method. The findings revealed that the most sensitive pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus ATCC5638 and Aspergillus flavus ATCC 9643 which tended to have a high inhibition zone diameter (50 and 47 mm, respectively). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CuNPs was 50 μg/mL. The minimum lethal concentration (MLC) values were 50 and 75 μg/mL for S. aureus ATCC 5638 and A. flavus ATCC 9643, respectively. MLC/MIC ratio was ≤2, suggesting the CuNPs had a bactericidal or fungicidal effect on both pathogenic strains. Results also indicated that bacterial CuNPs at varying concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 150 μg/mL were such a good antitumor agent against A549 lung carcinoma cell lines with an IC50 value of 137.5 μg/mL and a cell viability of 89.3, 79.6, 64.9 and 44.1%, respectively. The results also suggested that the biosynthesized-CuNPs were an antimicrobial and anticancer agent that could be used in future in food preservation, biomedicine and pharmaceutical fields

Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection among immunocompromised and immunocompetent humans in Egypt

Background: Encephalitozoon cuniculi infects a wide range of homoeothermic animals, including man. Complications due to this microsporidian have been reported only in immunocompromised patients. Reports on E. cuniculi in immunocompetent humans are lacking, most probably, because it is not linked to any clinical manifestations in such hosts. The present work was carried out with the aim of studying, for the first time in Egypt, the prevalence of E. cuniculi infection of urinary tract among non-HIV immunocompromised patients and immunocompetent individuals. It tested also the influence of some factors on the risk of infection. Methods: Blood and urine samples were collected from 88 persons (44 non-HIV immunocompromised patients and 44 subjects as immunocompetent control group). IFAT serological assay and Weber’s green modified trichrome stain (MTS) urine smears were carried out. Molecular study by PCR was also performed to detect DNA of E. cuniculi in urine samples. A full history sheet was fulfilled for each subject to test the suspected risk factors. Results: The IFAT examination confirmed the presence of antibodies against E. cunic­uli in 44.3% of the human subjects. The seroprevalence of E. cuniculi was significantly higher in the immunocompromised patients compared with the immunocompetent individuals (77.3% versus 11.4%). Compared with IFAT (the gold standard), the sensitivity and specificity of Weber’s green MTS smears were 69.23% and 89.80%. By using PCR, no positive cases were detected among human subjects. Conclusion: A high prevalence of E. cuniculi infection in the studied individuals was noted. Although infection was found in some immunocompetent individuals, the im­mune status of the host remains the corner stone for occurrence of the infection

Genotypic characterization of symptomatic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in Egypt

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) in many developing countries. In Egypt, HEV seroprevalence is among the highest in the world; however, only a very limited number of Egyptian HEV sequences are currently available. Objectives: The objectives were to determine the HEV genotype(s) currently circulating in Egypt. Study design: AVH patients without serologic evidence of hepatitis A, B, and C viruses were evaluated for possible HEV infection using serologic assays for anti-HEV IgM and anti-HEV IgG and real-time PCR for HEV RNA. Stool suspensions from suspected cases were inoculated into rhesus macaques to confirm the presence of HEV. Sequence analysis was utilized to determine HEV genotype. Results: Of 287 subjects with AVHenrolled, 58 had serologic evidence of acute HEVinfection. Stool samples for two of these patients were repeatedly positive for HEVRNAby real-time PCR. Macaques experimentally inoculated with these human stools also developed viremia. Sequence analysis of open reading frame (ORF) 1 demonstrated that these isolates belonged to HEV genotype 1 and were 3.9–9.5% divergent from other genotype 1 isolates. ORF2 was 5.3–8.7% divergent from previously reported Egyptian isolates. Conclusions: This study strongly suggests that genotype 1 HEV related to other North African isolates is circulating in acute symptomatic patients in Egypt. Further evaluation of genotypic variability is underway in this highly endemic cohort and is considered an important component of our increased understanding of HEV pathogenesis

Egyptian consensus on treat-to-target approach for osteoporosis: a clinical practice guideline from the Egyptian Academy of bone health and metabolic bone diseases

Abstract Background This study was carried out to achieve an Egyptian expert consensus on a treat-to-target management strategy for osteoporosis using Delphi technique. A scientific committee identified researchers and clinicians with expertise in osteoporosis in Egypt. Delphi process was implemented (2 rounds) to establish a consensus on 15 clinical standards: (1) concept, (2) diagnosis, (3) case identification, (4) whom to treat, (5) who should treat?, (6) case stratification and intervention thresholds, (7) falls risk, (8) investigations, (9) treatment target, (10) management, (11) optimum treatment duration, (12) monitoring, (13) drug holiday, (14) osteoporosis in men, and (15) post-fracture care and fracture liaison service. Results The surveys were sent to an expert panel (n = 25), of whom 24 participated in the two rounds. Respondents were drawn from different governorates and health centres across Egypt including the Ministry of Health. Most of the participants were rheumatologists (76%), followed by internists (8%), orthopaedic doctors (4%), rehabilitation doctors (4%), primary care (4%), and ortho-geriatrics (4%) physicians. Seventy-two recommendations, categorised into 15 sections, were obtained. Agreement with the recommendations (rank 7–9) ranged from 83.4 to 100%. Consensus was reached (i.e. ≥ 75% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed) on the wording of all 15 clinical standards identified by the scientific committee. An algorithm for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis has been suggested. Conclusion A wide and representative panel of experts established a consensus regarding the management of osteoporosis in Egypt. The developed guidelines provide a comprehensive approach to the assessment and management of osteoporosis for all Egyptian healthcare professionals who are involved in its management

Strong Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)–specific Cell-mediated Immune Responses in the Absence of Viremia or Antibodies Among Uninfected Siblings of HCV Chronically Infected Children

Background. Cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigens in adults without seroconversion or viremia are biomarkers for prior transient infection. We investigated HCV-specific CMI responses in seronegative children living with HCV-infected siblings