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COVID-19 virus is a causative agent of viral pandemic in human beings which specifically targets respiratory system of humans and causes viral pneumonia. This unusual viral pneumonia is rapidly spreading to all parts of the world, currently affecting about 105 million people with 2.3 million deaths. Current review described history, genomic characteristics, replication, and pathogenesis of COVID-19 with special emphasis on Nigella sativum (N. sativum) as a treatment option. N. sativum seeds are historically and religiously used over the centuries, both for prevention and treatment of different diseases. This review summarizes the potential role of N. sativum seeds against COVID-19 infection at levels of in silico, cell lines and animal models.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , COVID-19 , Nigella , Pandemics , Pathology, Molecular , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Biofilm is a complex community of single or different types of microorganisms [bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa] attached to a surface and stick to each other through production of extracellular matrix. Salmonella typhi forms biofilm on cholesterol gallstones resulting in carrier state. Once formed, biofilm is difficult to treat. To date cholecystectomy is the only cure for this condition. Manuka honey is known to have tremendous antibiofilm activity against various organisms. S. typhi biofilm was grown in vitro on clinical samples of human cholesterol gallstones by Gallstone tube assay method for 12 days. Biofilm mass was quantified on day 1, 5, 7, 9 and 12 by crystal violet assay and was also examined by scanning electron microscope. Three concentrations w/v of Manuka honey [40%, 60% and 80%] were used, each one at 24, 48 and 72 hours. The most effective concentration [80% w/v] was repeated on two sets of gallstones. Biofilm mass was re quantified by crystal violet assay and was examined by scanning electron microscope. S. typhi formed uniform biofilm on cholesterol gallstone surface. The optical density measurements exhibited a rising pattern with time thereby indicating an increase in biofilm mass. It was 0.2 on day 1 and 0.9 on day 12. With 80% w/v Manuka honey, biofilm mass decreased most effectively with 0.5 OD after 72 hours. Biofilm formation by S, typhi on gallstones is surface specific and bile dependant. Either increasing the duration [beyond 72 hours] of the effective concentration [80% w/v] of honey or increasing the concentration [above 80%] of honey for a specific duration [72 hour] may cause complete disruption of the S. typhi biofilm on gallstone. S. typhi forms biofilm on cholesterol gallstones surface in vitro and it can be visualized by scanning electron microscopy. Biofilm mass can be quantified using crystal violet assay. Among various concentrations 80% Manuka honey for 72 hours is most effective in disrupting S. typhi biofilm on gallstones in vitro as evident from crystal violet assay
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Objective: To determine the frequency of vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [VRSA] among clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA]. Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore from Jul 2014 to Dec 2014
Material and Methods: A total of 240 [n=240] clinical isolates of MRSA were collected by consecutive sampling from different tertiary care hospitals of Lahore. Re-confirmation of MRSA was done by the standard microbiological methods using disc diffusion technique according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI] guidelines 2014. Minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of the vancomycin was done by agar dilution method
Results: It was found that vancomycin inhibited MRSA strains in the range of 1.0-2.0 microg/ml. Ninety percent [90%] of the strains inhibited at 1 microg/ml while 25 [10.41%] strains showed growth at 1 microg/ml which indicates that their MIC was 2 microg/ml. No vancomycin resistant [VRSA] or intermediate strains [VISA] of MRSA were found during the study but there were significant numbers of isolates having >/=1 microg/ml MIC of vancomycin
Conclusion: Vancomycin has until now excellent activity against clinical isolates of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
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Background: Antibiotic Resistance for Group B streptococci is a threat to health of newborn. Objective: To find out the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the Group B Streptococci [GBS] isolated from pregnant women
Methodology: Fifty four isolates of Group B Streptococci were included in this study. All the strains were isolated from pregnant women who were observed to have colonized by Group B streptococci during the screening of a total 250 pregnant women. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using Kirby-bar disc diffusion test using five common antibiotics that are routinely used against gram positive cocci i.e. penicillin, tetracycline, vancomycin, erythromycin and clindamycin. Study was conducted from 1st January 31st to March 2014. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis
Results: None of the fifty four isolates was found resistant to penicillin and vancomycin, while one isolate indicated resistance to erythromycin and three isolates were resistant to clindamycin
Conclusion: Consistent surveillance is required for antibiotics sensitivities of GBS and other bacteria implicated in newborn sepsis and maternal infections
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Typhoid fever is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Data from World Health Organization [WHO] shows that 21 million cases of typhoid occur globally every year and over 200, 000 die each year; most of them at a very young age. The situation in Pakistan is similar. Typhi and other typhoidal salmonellae have developed resistance to chloramphenicol and other first line anti-typhoid. There is a rapid increase in multi-drug resistance [MDR] throughout the world. There is an urgent need to find out alternative medicine to sort out this problem. This study was conducted to establish preventive as well as therapeutic potential of Manuka honey. A total of eighty pathogen free BALB/C mice between 8 weeks to 12 weeks of age, weighing 25-30 grams were taken and divided into 4 groups. Group A, B and C were infected through oral route with 108 colony forming unit [CFU] of Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028 to produce typhoid like disease in mice. Group A, which comprised of 20 mice was further divided in A1 and A2 given Manuka honey at a dose of 15ml/kg and 20 ml/kg respectively. Group B, which comprised of 20 mice was further divided in B1 and B2 was given Manuka honey at dose of 20ml/kg and 25ml/kg respectively. Clinical features of mouse typhoid, like body temperature, respiratory rate, number of stools and general behavior were recorded twice daily. Blood cultures of mice in different groups were taken at different days to evaluate the establishment of infection as well as to observe the therapeutic and preventive potential of Manuka honey in mouse typhoid. Fisher's Exact, Chi- Square and t-test were used to analyze the data. Significant association was observed in the ultimate fate of mice in Group A1 and Group A2 [P<0.001], showing that from a total of 20 mice in both groups, 10 mice fall in Group A1 of which 10 [100%] developed infection as it was not prevented by honey at a dose of 15ml/kg body weight [15.00+0.00] in Group A1 and ten mice fall in Group A2 of which 10[100%] did not developed an infection as it was prevented by honey at a dose of 20ml/kg body weight [20.00+0.00] in Group A2. Significant association was observed in the ultimate fate of mice in Group B1 and Group B2 [p<0.001] showing that from a total of 20 mice in both groups, 10 mice fall in Group B1 of which 10 [100%] had an infection, which was not treated by honey at a dose of 20 ml/kg body weight. Ten mice fall in Group B2 of which 10 [100%] had an infection, which was treated by honey at a dose of 25 ml/kg body weight [25.00+0.00]. Results of the present study suggest that Manuka honey [UMF25+] has a potent anti-typhoid activity in vivo as well. There is an intense need for a carefully designed clinical trial in which this therapeutic potential of Manuka honey should be further evaluated. There is also need for the search of local honeys comparable to Manuka honey as a therapeutic option for typhoid fever.
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Background: After the loss of natural teeth, dental prosthesis is of vital importance for the functional and esthetic restoration. Denture wearing is accepted as a pre disposing factor for oral candidiasis
Objective: To compare the candidal growth before and after the insertion of complete dentures
Materials and Methods: A total of forty patients wearing complete denture were included in this cross-sectional study. This study was conducted from 15[th] January, 2009 to 15[th] January, 2010 at department of Prosthodontics Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore. They were asked to rinse their mouth with 10ml of saline in fasting condition. The rinse was centrifuged and the deposit was sent to the Microbiology Laboratory for evaluation. The data was entered and analyzed in SPSS version 13
Results: At the time of insertion the candidal count zero in all patients and after one month of wearing denture 35% of the patients showed oral candidal growth. [P= 0.000]
Conclusion: The results of present study revealed that there is a significant quantitative increase in on the candidal count after complete denture wearing
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Background: Poor prosthetic hygiene is related with high level of oral candidal infection and many factors are being evaluated as its risk factors
Objective: The objective of present study was to determine whether gender and overnight denture wearing affects oral Candidal growth. Setting: Department of Prosthodontics, Lahore Medical and Dental College and Pathology Department, Microbiology Section of Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore
Patients and Methods: Forty edentulous patients including 20 male and 20 females, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria i.e. first time complete denture wearer between 50 to 65 years of age were included in this cross-sectional study. Exclusion Criteria: Patients with history of treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy in past six months, smokers and diabetic were excluded from the study. Oral rinse on same time a day technique was used for sample collection in which patient was provided 10 ml of sterile saline in a sterile disposable container and requested to rinse for 60 sec. It was sent to Microbiology section of Pathology Department, Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore. Qualitative and quantitative growth of Candida was studied. Microscopy, Gram stain and colony count was done
Results: Difference in candidal growth was significantly higher after one month of wearing complete denture in females. Results showed that overnight denture wearing caused a higher candidal growth
Conclusion: General population and specially, females should be given the awareness that their oral hygiene is important and dentures should be taken off at night, as they do with their eyeglasses. This will prevent denture stomatitis
ABSTRACT
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] continues to be one of the commonest pathogens encountered in clinical as well as laboratory practice. It has become a major health problem worldwide. Newer antimicrobials/agents are urgently needed to combat this problem MRSA resistance to various anti-staphylococcal agents. In the back-drop of this difficult situation Nigella sativa commonly known as black seed [ethanolic extract] was aimed at to evaluate if it had any anti-staphylococcal activity. The extract was prepared by reflux extraction method. Disc diffusion and in agar dilution methods were performed to assess the antibacterial activity. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 was used as the standard reference strain. All tested strains of MRSA were sensitive to N. sativa extract at a concentration of 4 mg/disc while the extract had an MIC range of 0.2-0.5 mg/ml. The results indicated that N. sativa has inhibitory effect on MRSA. This finding warrants necessity of further investigation of this product of folk medicine
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus , Plant Extracts , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Staphylococcus aureus , Drug ResistanceABSTRACT
To compare Bactec MGIT 960 with LJ media in terms of time taken for the initial isolation of mycobacteria. A total of 100 AFB [acid fast bacillus] positive sputum samples were processed and inoculated in both the Lowenstein Jensen [LJ] media and mycobacterium growth indicator tube [MGIT] tubes. Of the 100 samples, positive growth was obtained from all the samples on both the MGIT and LJ media. In MGIT 53% samples grew in 4 days, 30% in 5 days and 17% in 6 days [Mean=4.6 days] while on LJ media, 44% grew in 30 days, 20% in 35 days and 36% in 44 days [Mean=37 days]. Significant difference was observed between two systems with a p-value of less than 0.05. Bactec MGIT 960 is a much faster and efficient system for the initial isolation of mycobacteria