Poultry and Beef Meat as Potential Seedbeds for Antimicrobial Resistant Enterotoxigenic Bacillus Species: A Materializing Epidemiological and Potential Severe Health Hazard

Although Bacillus cereus is of particular concern in food safety and public health, the role of other Bacillus species was overlooked. Therefore, we investigated the presence of eight enterotoxigenic genes, a hemolytic gene and phenotypic antibiotic resistance profiles of Bacillusspecies in retail meat samples. From 255 samples, 124 Bacillus isolates were recovered, 27 belonged to B. cereusand 97 were non-B. cereus species. Interestingly, the non-B. cereus isolates carried the virulence genes and exhibited phenotypic virulence characteristics as the B. cereus. However, correlation matrix analysis revealed the B. cereus group positively correlates with the presence of the genes hblA, hblC, and plc, and the detection of hemolysis (p \u3c 0.05), while the other Bacillus sp. groups are negatively correlated. Tests for antimicrobial resistance against ten antibiotics revealed extensive drug and multi-drug resistant isolates. Statistical analyses didn’t support a correlation of antibiotic resistance to tested virulence factors suggesting independence of these phenotypic markers and virulence genes. Of special interest was the isolation of Paenibacillus alvei and Geobacillus stearothermophilus from the imported meat samples being the first recorded. The isolation of non-B. cereus species carrying enterotoxigenic genes in meat within Egypt, suggests their impact on food safety and public health and should therefore not be minimised, posing an area that requires further research

Organic Tracers from Asphalt in Propolis Produced by Urban Honey Bees, Apis mellifera Linn.

Propolis is a gummy material produced by honey bees to protect their hives and currently has drawn the attention of researchers due to its broad clinical use. It has been reported, based only on observations, that honey bees also collect other non-vegetation substances such as paint or asphalt/tar to make propolis. Therefore, propolis samples were collected from bee hives in Riyadh and Al-Bahah, a natural area, Saudi Arabia to determine their compositional characteristics and possible sources of the neutral organic compounds. The samples were extracted with hexane and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the major compounds were n-alkanes, n-alkenes, methyl n-alkanoates, long chain wax esters, triterpenoids and hopanes. The n-alkanes (ranging from C17 to C40) were significant with relative concentrations varying from 23.8 to 56.8% (mean = 44.9±9.4%) of the total extracts. Their odd carbon preference index (CPI) ranged from 3.6 to 7.7, with a maximum concentration at heptacosane indicating inputs from higher plant vegetation wax. The relative concentrations of the n-alkenes varied from 23.8 to 41.19% (mean = 35.6±5.1%), with CPI = 12.4-31.4, range from C25 to C35 and maximum at tritriacontane. Methyl n-alkanoates, ranged from C12 to C26 as acids, with concentrations from 3.11 to 33.2%(mean = 9.6±9.5%). Long chain wax esters and triterpenoids were minor. The main triterpenoids were α- and β-amyrins, amyrones and amyryl acetates. The presence of hopanes in some total extracts (up to 12.5%) indicated that the bees also collected petroleum derivatives from vicinal asphalt and used that as an additional ingredient to make propolis. Therefore, caution should be taken when considering the chemical compositions of propolis as potential sources of natural products for biological and pharmacological applications. Moreover, beekeepers should be aware of the proper source of propolis in the flight range of their bee colonies

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Molecular characterization of the capsular antigens of Pasteurella multocida isolates using multiplex PCR

The use of molecular techniques for detection and characterization of the Pasteurella multocida is very important for rapid and specific detection and characterization of the organism. During the period from 15th February, 2014 to 15th April, 2015, 425 nasopharyngeal swabs and 175 lung and spleen samples were collected and examined by conventional methods, 80 strains (18.82%) of P. multocida were isolated from the calves, sheep and goat with respiratory manifestation. Meanwhile, 77 strains (44%) were isolated from emergency slaughtered animals. All the recovered strains were positive for specific PCR for detection of P. multocida strains previously identified as P. multocida by standard microbiological techniques. Multiplex PCR for molecular typing of the capsular antigens of the recovered P. multocida revealed positive amplification of 1044 bp fragments specific to the capsular antigen type A with 105 strains (66.88%), and amplification 511 bp fragments of the capsular antigen type E with 52 strain (33.12%) and absence of B, D and F antigens. Multiplex PCR for molecular typing of the capsular antigens of P. multocida can be used as a simple, sensitive, rapid, reliable technique instead of the serological techniques for identification of the capsular antigens of P. multocid

Cold Drinking Water Boosts the Cellular and Humoral Immunity in Heat-Exposed Laying Hens

This study aimed to investigate the effects of cold drinking water on cellular and humoral immunity in heat-exposed laying hens. One hundred and eight laying hens at 19 weeks old were placed into three treatments with six replicates of six hens in each group as follows: (1) hens were provided with normal drinking water (NW) under the control of thermoneutral temperature (CT: 25 ± 1 °C; CT + NW), (2) hens were provided with NW under high ambient temperature (HT: 35 ± 1 °C; HT + NW) for 8 h/d for a month, and (3) hens were treated under HT with cold drinking water (CW: 15 ± 1 °C; HT + CW) for 8 h/d for a 4-weeks. Then, the feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, feed conversion ratio, and blood immune parameters were investigated. The results showed that cold drinking water (CW) caused a significant (p < 0.05) recovery in the reduction of food intake and egg production due to heat stress; however, there was no significant effect (p > 0.05) on egg weight and feed conversion ratio. Moreover, CW significantly (p < 0.05) restored the immune-suppressing effects of heat stress on the contents of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, including B-cell (BU-Ia), helper T cell (CD4), and the ratio of helper/cytotoxic T cell (CD4/CD8). In addition, CW significantly (p < 0.05) recovered the reduction on the level of mRNA expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), as well as significantly (p < 0.05) restored the reduction of plasma concentration of IL-2, IFN-γ and immunoglobulin G in heat-stressed laying hens. These results prove that CW increased heat dissipation and enhanced feed intake, egg production, and cellular and humoral immunity in heat-exposed laying hens

Cold Drinking Water Boosts the Cellular and Humoral Immunity in Heat-Exposed Laying Hens

This study aimed to investigate the effects of cold drinking water on cellular and humoral immunity in heat-exposed laying hens. One hundred and eight laying hens at 19 weeks old were placed into three treatments with six replicates of six hens in each group as follows: (1) hens were provided with normal drinking water (NW) under the control of thermoneutral temperature (CT: 25 ± 1 °C; CT + NW), (2) hens were provided with NW under high ambient temperature (HT: 35 ± 1 °C; HT + NW) for 8 h/d for a month, and (3) hens were treated under HT with cold drinking water (CW: 15 ± 1 °C; HT + CW) for 8 h/d for a 4-weeks. Then, the feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, feed conversion ratio, and blood immune parameters were investigated. The results showed that cold drinking water (CW) caused a significant (p p > 0.05) on egg weight and feed conversion ratio. Moreover, CW significantly (p p p < 0.05) restored the reduction of plasma concentration of IL-2, IFN-γ and immunoglobulin G in heat-stressed laying hens. These results prove that CW increased heat dissipation and enhanced feed intake, egg production, and cellular and humoral immunity in heat-exposed laying hens

Cytokine expression by Foxp3+ Treg in adenoidal cells.

<p>Percentage of Foxp3+ Treg in adenoidal MNC after stimulation with WCA compared with unstimulated medium control (A). Intracellular cytokine staining shows IL-10 (B) and IL-17 (C) production by Foxp3+ Treg and Foxp3− CD4+ T cells after WCA stimulation compared with unstimulated control. Only CD4+ T cell gate is shown in B and C. Result of one representative experiment of four replicates is shown.</p

Expression of CD39 and CTLA4 by Foxp3+ Treg cells.

<p>Fluorescence histograms showing CD39 (A) and CTLA4 (B) expression by Foxp3+ Treg cells in PBMC (black) and adenoidal MNC (AdMNC) (red) from one representative of 20 replicate experiments summarized in panel C. (*p<0.01 compared to PBMC).</p

Proportion of Treg in CD4+T cells and percentages of Treg expressing CD45RO and CD69 in PBMC and adenoidal MNC.

<p>Mean percentages (SD) are shown. (*p<0.05, **p<0.01 compared to PBMC).</p