Prevalence, antibiotic-resistance properties and enterotoxin gene profile of Bacillus cereus strains isolated from milk-based baby foods

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence, distribution of enterotoxins and antibiotic resistance of B. cereus in milk-based infant foods.Methods: Three-hundred milk-based infant foods were collected and immediately transferred to the laboratory. Samples were cultured and B. cereus isolates were also confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection of gyrB gene. B. cereus strains were subjected to disk diffusion and PCR-based detection of enterotoxigenic genes.Results: Prevalence of B. cereus in infant foods was 3 %. Contamination was in the range of 12.5 – 41.5 CFU/g. Brand D had the highest prevalence of B. cereus (6.2 %). NheA (88.8 %), nheC (55.5 %) and entFM (55.5 %) were the most commonly detected enterotoxigenic genes. Bacteria showed the highest prevalence of resistance against penicillin (100 %), tetracycline (77.7 %) and oxacillin (66.6 %). Prevalence of resistance against two antibiotics were 100 %.Conclusion: Considerable prevalence of resistant and toxigenic B. cereus and high consumption of milk-based infant foods in Iran, represent an important public health issue which should be considered for further preventive approaches.Keywords: Prevalence, Bacillus cereus, Antibiotic resistance, Enterotoxigenic genes, Milk-based infant foo

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Iranian restaurant food samples: Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, SCCmec phenotypes and antimicrobial resistance

Purpose: To assess the distribution of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, SCCmec types and antimicrobial resistance pattern of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from restaurant food.Methods: Five-hundred and eighty food samples were collected and directly transported to the laboratory. Samples were cultured and S. aureus strains were confirmed using biochemical tests. MRSA strains were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based amplification of mecA and femA genes. MRSA strains were then subjected to disk diffusion methods.Results: One-hundred and nineteen out of 580 samples (20.51 %) were positive for S. aureus. Eightythree out of 119 S. aureus (69.74 %) were methicillin-resistant. Thirty-nine out of 83 MRSA samples (46.98 %) harbored PVL gene. Cooked chicken (37 %) had the highest prevalence of S. aureus. Marked seasonality was observed for the prevalence of bacteria. MRSA strains exhibited high resistance against penicillin G (100 %), tetracycline (92.77 %), oxacillin (83.13 %) and azithromycin (71.08 %). All MRSA bacteria were resistant to at least 2 antibiotics (100 %). TetK (80.72 %), linA (67.46 %), aadA1 (62.65 %), and msrA (55.42 %) were the most frequently identified resistance genes. SCCmec V (57.83%), SCCmec Iva (55.42 %) and SCCmec IVb (30.12 %) were the most frequent.Conclusion: Based on the high prevalence of resistant MRSA strains and also high consumption rate of restaurant foods in Iran, it is essential to exercise control over the hygienic conditions of restaurant foods to minimize MRSA strains.Keywords: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Antibiotic resistance, SCCmec types, Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, Restaurant foo

The Impact of High-Intensity Interval Training on Vascular Function in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) compared with moderateintensity continuous training (MICT) or with no exercise (CON) on vascular function in adults who were free of cardiometabolic diseases and those with cardiometabolic diseases. Methods: A search across three electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science was conducted through February 2022 to identify the randomized trials evaluating HIIT vs. MICT and/or CON on vascular function as measured using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in adults. Separate analyses were conducted for HIIT vs. MICT and/or CON to calculate weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) using random or fixed models. Results: A total of 36 studies involving 1,437 participants who were either free of cardiometabolic diseases or had cardiometabolic diseases were included in the meta-analysis. HIIT effectively increased FMD when compared with MICT [1.59% (95% CI 0.87–2.31), p = 0.001] or CON [3.80% (95% CI 2.58–5.01), p = 0.001]. Subgroup analysis showed that HIIT increased FMD in participants with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, but not in participants who were free of cardiometabolic diseases. In addition, HIIT effectively increased FMD regardless of age and body mass index. Conclusion: We confirm that HIIT is effective for improving vascular function in individuals with metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases and has a superior effect compared to MICT, demonstrating time efficiency. Systematic review registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero], identifier [CRD42022320863]

Interleukin-15 responses to acute and chronic exercise in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeInterlukin-15 (IL-15) is an inflammatory cytokine that plays a vital role in immunology and obesity-associated metabolic syndrome. We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate whether exercise promotes circulating IL-15 concentrations in adults.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus from inception to May, 2023 and identified original studies that investigated the effectiveness of acute and/or chronic exercise on serum/plasma IL-15 levels in adults. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random effect models. Subgroup analyses were performed based on type of exercise, and training status, health status and body mass indexes (BMI) of participants.ResultsFifteen studies involving 411 participants and 12 studies involving 899 participants were included in the acute and chronic exercise analyses, respectively. Our findings showed that acute exercise increased circulating IL-15 concentrations immediately after exercise compared with baseline [SMD=0.90 (95% CI: 0.47 to 1.32), p=0.001], regardless of exercise type and participants’ training status. Similarly, acute exercise was also associated with increased IL-15 concentrations even one-hour after exercise [SMD=0.50 (95% CI: 0.00 to 0.99), p=0.04]. Nevertheless, chronic exercise did not have a significant effect on IL-15 concentrations [SMD=0.40 (95% CI: -0.08 to 0.88), p=0.10].ConclusionOur results confirm that acute exercise is effective in increasing the IL-15 concentrations immediately and one-hour after exercise intervention, and thereby playing a potential role in improving metabolism in adults.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=445634, identifier CRD42023445634

Genotyping and antibiotic resistance of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from raw and frozen meat samples and assessment of the antimicrobial effects of origanum vulgare against MRSA isolates

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a resistant bacterium responsible for food poisoning. The present survey was done to assess the genotyping and antibiotic resistance of MRSA strains isolated from raw and frozen meat samples and assessment of the antimicrobial effects of Origanum vulgare against MRSA isolates. Methods: Two-hundred raw and frozen meat samples were collected and presence of MRSA was assessed using the culture. Disk diffusion was used to assess the antibiotic resistance of isolates. Isolates were subjected to PCR to obtain the virulence characters. Gas chromatography was used to determine chemical components of O. vulgare. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bacterial Concentration of O. vulgare essential oil was also assessed. Results: Thirty two out of 200 meat samples (16%) were positive for MRSA. MRSA isolates had the highest resistance toward penicillin (100%), ceftaroline (100%), tetracycline (87.50%), and erythromycin (68.75%). Distribution of seA and eta genes amongst the raw and frozen meat samples were 75% and 58.33% and 50% and 33.33%, respectively. Β-Caryophyllene (31.10%), 1-Octen-3-ol (18.41%), 1,8-Cineole (15.19%), and Thujopsene (8.20%) were the most commonly identified chemical components.&nbsp

Prevalence, identification of virulence factors, O-serogroups and antibiotic resistance properties of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from raw milk and traditional dairy products

Abstract Background Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli strains are one of the most important foodborne bacteria with an emergence of antibiotic resistance. Foodborne STEC strains are mainly associated with presence of certain virulence factors and O-seogroups. The present investigation was done to study the distribution of virulence factors, O-serogroups and antibiotic resistance properties of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from milk and dairy products. Methods Six-hundred samples were randomly collected and immediately transferred to laboratory. All samples were cultured and E. coli strains were isolated. STEC strains were identified based on the presence of putative virulence factors and subtypes. STEC isolates were subjected to multiplex PCR and disk diffusion methods. Results One-hundred and eighty-one out of 600 samples (30.16%) harbored E. coli. Prevalence of STEC strains was 10.66%. O157 (43.75%) and O26 (37.50%) were the most frequently identified serogroups. Aac(3)-IV (100%), CITM (96.87%) and tetA (76.56%) were the most commonly detected antibiotic resistance genes. STEC strains had the highest prevalence of resistance against ampicillin (100%), gentamicin (100%) and tetracycline (96.87%). Conclusions Kashk and dough were negative for presence of E. coli strains. High prevalence of resistant-O157 strains and simultaneous presence of multiple virulence factors pose an important public health problem regarding the consumption of raw milk and dairy products

GRADE analysis of the overall quality of the evidence.

GRADE analysis of the overall quality of the evidence.</p

Forest plot of the effects of exercise training versus control on sICAM-1.

Data are reported as SMD (95% confidence limits). SMD: standardized mean difference.</p

Risk of bias assessment.

IntroductionThe current meta-analysis investigated the effects of exercise training on circulating adhesion molecules i.e. soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in adults.MethodPubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase were searched to identify original articles, published in English languages journal from inception up to 31 August 2023 that compared the effects of exercise training with non-exercising control on sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in adults. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% CIs were calculated using random-effect models.ResultsTwenty-three studies including 31 intervention arms and involving 1437 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. Exercise training effectively reduced sICAM-1 [SMD: -0.33 (95% CI -0.56 to -0.11), p = 0.004; I2 = 56.38%, p = 0.001; 23 intervention arms]. Subgroup analyses showed that sICAM-1 decreased in adults with age 2 = 36.29%, p = 0.04; 23 intervention arms].ConclusionOur results show that exercise training reduces sICAM-1, but not for sVCAM-1, where both aerobic and resistance training is effective in reducing sICAM-1 in adults with metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases.Trial registrationThe current meta-analysis was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero with ID registration number: CRD42023410474.</div

Search strategy.

IntroductionThe current meta-analysis investigated the effects of exercise training on circulating adhesion molecules i.e. soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in adults.MethodPubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase were searched to identify original articles, published in English languages journal from inception up to 31 August 2023 that compared the effects of exercise training with non-exercising control on sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in adults. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% CIs were calculated using random-effect models.ResultsTwenty-three studies including 31 intervention arms and involving 1437 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. Exercise training effectively reduced sICAM-1 [SMD: -0.33 (95% CI -0.56 to -0.11), p = 0.004; I2 = 56.38%, p = 0.001; 23 intervention arms]. Subgroup analyses showed that sICAM-1 decreased in adults with age 2 = 36.29%, p = 0.04; 23 intervention arms].ConclusionOur results show that exercise training reduces sICAM-1, but not for sVCAM-1, where both aerobic and resistance training is effective in reducing sICAM-1 in adults with metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases.Trial registrationThe current meta-analysis was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero with ID registration number: CRD42023410474.</div