Potency of Moringa oleifera leaf extract and silver nanoparticles against immune, microbial and HT-29 colon cancer cells growth modulation.

Moringa oleifera plant grows in many countries worldwide and being utilized as a customary medication. The current study aimed to investigate the biological effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOE) alone or in combination with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on colon cancer, microbial cell growth. MOE was utilized in the green synthesis of AgNPs. The characterization of AgNPs was done by UV-Vis-spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). MOE was tested for their sugars, active biomolecules, ROS, protein contents. Results revealed that created AgNPs are about 61 nm in diameter. There were no detectable sugar and protein in MOE, but it contains ROS and active biomolecules. MOE and MOE+AgNPs exerted mild antibacterial action and increased the number of apoptotic cells and p53 protein expression of HT-29 colon cancer cells. MOE and MOE+AgNPs could arrest HT-29 cells at G2/M phase and stimulate splenic cell growth. Both extract preparations showed antioxidant activities. Because MOE and MOE+AgNP stimulated immune cells and activated apoptosis in cancer cells, these preparations can be utilized as anticancer agents.

Antibiogram of Urinary Tract Infections and Sepsis among Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Neonatal infections including sepsis and urinary tract infections are considered among the leading causes of mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Thus, use of empiric antibiotics is very important in infected neonates and the success of this practice is mainly reliant on the availability of an up-to-date antibiogram for currently used antibiotic drugs. In this study, we aim to determine the bacteriological profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacteria isolated from blood or/and urine cultures belonging to patients at the NICU. A total of 54 urine samples were collected in the period between January 2015 and December 2019. Data of infants with positive urine and blood bacterial isolates were gathered retrospectively. The most commonly isolated bacteria from urine observed were K. pneumoniae (44%) and E. coli (39%), while Acinetobacter baumannii (33%) and K. pneumoniae (22%) predominated in neonatal blood samples. The majority of uropathogens and blood isolates exhibited low resistance to imipenem and tigecycline, respectively. These antibiotics would be recommended for future use as empirical treatment in neonates with urinary tract infections and/or sepsis. This investigation highlights the importance of surveillance studies to manage and ensure the effectiveness of treatment plan for critically ill infants.

Antibacterial and molecular docking studies of newly synthesized nucleosides and Schiff bases derived from sulfadimidines.

A new series of nucleosides, moieties, and Schiff bases were synthesized from sulfadimidine. Infrared (IR), 1HNMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectrometry techniques and elemental analysis were employed to elucidate the synthesized compounds. The prepared analogues were purified by different chromatographic techniques (preparative TLC and column chromatography). Molecular docking studies of synthesized compounds 3a, 4b, 6a, and 6e demonstrated the binding mode involved in the active site of DNA gyrase. Finally, all synthesized compounds were tested against selected bacterial strains. The most effective synthesized compounds against S. aureus were 3a, 4d, 4b, 3b, 3c, 4c, and 6f, which exhibited inhibition zones of inhibition of 24.33 ± 1.528, 24.67 ± 0.577, 23.67 ± 0.577, 22.33 ± 1.528, 18.67 ± 1.528 and 19.33 ± 0.577, respectively. Notably, the smallest zones were observed for 4a, 6d, 6e and 6g (6.33 ± 1.528, 11.33 ± 1.528, 11.67 ± 1.528 and 14.66 ± 1.155, respectively). Finally, 6b and 6c gave negative zone values. K. pneumoniae was treated with the same compounds and the following results were obtained. The most effective compounds were 4d, 4c, 4b and 3c, which showed inhibition zones of 29.67 ± 1.528, 24.67 ± 0.577, 23.67 ± 1.155 and 19.33 ± 1.528, respectively, followed by 4a and 3d (15.33 ± 1.528 for both), while moderate results (13.67 ± 1.155 and 11.33 ± 1.528) were obtained for 6f and 6g, respectively. Finally, 6a, 6b, 6c, 3a, and 3b did not show any inhibition. The most effective compounds observed for the treatment of E. coli were 4d, 4b, 4c, 3d, 6e and 6f (inhibition zones of 26.33 ± 0.577, 21.67 ± 1.528, 21.67 ± 1.528, 19.67 ± 1.528, 17.67 ± 1.155 and 16.67 ± 1.155, respectively). Compounds 3b, 3c, 6a, 6c, and 6g gave moderate results (13.67 ± 1.528, 12.67 ± 1.528, 11.33 ± 0.577, 15.33 ± 1.528 and 12.67 ± 1.528, respectively), while 6b showed no effect. The MIC values against S. aureus ranged from 50 to 3.125 mg, while those against E. coli and K. pneumoniae ranged from 50 to 1562 mg. In vitro, the antibacterial effects were promising. Further research is required to study the in vivo antibacterial effects of these compounds and determine therapeutic doses.

Metformin pre-conditioning enhances the angiogenic ability of the secretome of dental pulp stem cells.

The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of metformin on the angiogenic ability of secretomes from dental pulp stem cells. The stem cells were obtained from the dental pulp (DPSCs) (n = 3) using the explant culture method. We treated the DPSCs with different concentrations of metformin and assessed the expression of the angiogenesis-related genes. We also tested the angiogenic effect of the secretomes on the yolk sac membrane of the chick embryos by counting the quaternary blood vessel formations on the yolk sac membrane. We found that metformin treatment enhanced the angiogenic potential of the stem cell secretome in a dose-dependent manner. This was evidenced by the increase in the quaternary blood vessel formations in the yolk sac membrane with lower to higher concentrations of metformin. Pre-treatment with metformin modulates the angiogenic potential of the stem cell-conditioned media in a dose-dependent manner. The augmentation of the angiogenic potential of the DPSCs can aid regeneration, especially in scenarios requiring the regeneration of vacuoles.

Risk of incident SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in Egyptian quarantine hospitals

In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, Egypt established a unique care model based on quarantine hospitals where only externally-referred confirmed COVID-19 patients were admitted, and healthcare workers resided continuously over 1-to 2-week working shifts. While the COVID-19 risk for HCWs has been widely reported in standard healthcare settings, it has not been evaluated yet in quarantine hospitals. Here, we relied on longitudinal data, including results of routine RT-PCR tests, collected within three quarantine hospitals located in Cairo and Fayoum, Egypt. Using a model-based approach that accounts for the time-since-exposure variation in false-negative rates of RT-PCR tests, we computed the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs. Over a total follow-up of 6,064 person-days (PD), we estimated an incidence rate (per 100 PD) of 1.05 (95% CrI: 0.58-1.65) at Hospital 1, 1.92 (95% CrI: 0.93-3.28) at Hospital 2 and 7.62 (95% CrI: 3.47-13.70) at Hospital 3. The probability for an HCW to be infected at the end of a shift was 13.7% (95% CrI: 7.8%-20.8%) and 23.8% (95% CrI: 12.2%-37.3%) for a 2-week shift at Hospital 1 and Hospital 2, respectively, which lies within the range of risk levels previously documented in standard healthcare settings, whereas it was >3-fold higher for a 7-day shift at Hospital 2 (42.6%, 95%CrI: 21.9%-64.4%). Our model-based estimates unveil a proportion of undiagnosed infections among HCWs of 46.4% (95% CrI: 18.8%-66.7%), 45.0% (95% CrI: 5.6%-70.8%) and 59.2% (95% CrI: 34.8%-78.8%), for Hospitals 1 to 3, respectively. The large variation in SARS-CoV-2 incidence we document here suggests that HCWs from quarantine hospitals may face a high occupational risk of infection, but that, with sufficient anticipation and infection control measures, this risk can be brought down to levels similar to those observed in standard healthcare settings. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDSO_ST_ABSWhat is already known on this topicC_ST_ABSPrevious studies conducted in standard care settings have documented that frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) face high risk of COVID-19. Whether risk levels differ in alternative care models, such as COVID-19 quarantine hospitals in Egypt where HCWs resided in the hospital days and nights for various durations, is unknown. What this study addsCOVID-19 risk for HCWs in quarantine hospitals varies substantially between facilities, from risk levels that are in the range of those documented in standard healthcare settings to levels that were approximatively 3 times higher. How this study might affect research, practice or policyWith sufficient anticipation and infection control measures, occupational COVID-19 risk for HCWs working in quarantine hospitals can be brought down to levels similar to those observed in standard healthcare settings.

Susceptibility Assessment of Multidrug Resistant Bacteria to Natural Products.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of some natural compounds against multidrug-resistant bacteria. METHODS: Forty-three bacterial strains were collected. Disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests were carried out for natural compounds including quercetin, Acacia nilotica, Syzygium aromaticum, and Holothuria atra. Scanning electron microscope analysis and bacterial DNA apoptosis assays were performed. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus strains were resistant to imipenim, ampicillin, and penicillin. Most Escherichia coli strains were resistant to amoxicillin, clavulanat, and ampicillin. Finally, tigecycline was effective with Klebsiella pneumoniae and was resistant to all antibiotics. Only S aromaticum had an antibacterial effect on K pneumoniae. Most S aureus strains were sensitive to S aromaticum, A nilotica, and quercetin. All examined natural extracts had no effect on E coli. Holothuria atra had no effect on any of the strains tested. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values for examined plants against S aureus were 6.25 to 12, 1.6 to 3.2, and 9.12 to 18.24 mg/mL, respectively. Syzygium aromaticum was active against K pneumoniae with an MIC of 12.5 mg/mL. Scanning electron microscope analysis performed after 24 and 48 hours of incubation showed bacterial strains with distorted shapes and severe cell wall damage. Syzygium aromaticum, quercetin, and A nilotica showed clear fragmentations of S aureus DNA. CONCLUSIONS: Current findings confirmed the beneficial effect of using natural products such as clove (S aromaticum), quercetin, and A nilotica as a promising therapy to overcome multidrug resistant bacteria.

Study of the antioxidant, immunomodulatory and antibacterial properties of Origanum majorana leaf acetone extract.

Origanum majorana (OM) is known to have antioxidant properties. The present work was designed to evaluate, for the first time, the hepato/nephroprotective, immunomudulatory and antibacterial potentials of OM leaves acetone extract (OMLE). OML was collected from Al-Soudah, Aseer, Saudi Arabia, and OMLE was prepared. Active biomolecules were screened utilizing FT-IR spectroscopy, protein electrophoresis and HPLC. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using ELISA. Male rats were treated with OMLE and livers, kidneys and sera were collected. Liver enzymes, kidney function markers, antioxidants in liver and kidney tissues and tumor markers were quantitated. OMLE immunomodulatory potentials were tested using rat splenocytes. Antimicrobial power was tested against Gram negative/positive bacteria. The extract contained many functional biomolecules and ROS but no sugars and proteins. OMLE treatment did not affect liver and kidney functions or the tumor markers. There were some changes in measured antioxidant biomolecules. The extract is not harmful to hepatocytes as indicated by levels of AST and ALT. It is not carcinogenic as it did not make any changes in tumor marker levels. The extract could modulate the splenocytes. The use of OMLE is useful in protecting normal vital organs from oxidative stress. It can also be used as immunostimulant.

Modulatory effects of levamisole and garlic oil on the immune response of Wistar rats: Biochemical, immunohistochemical, molecular and immunological study.

Levamisole (LEVA) and garlic are prevalent immunomodulators in humans and animals. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the immunomodulatory effects of LEVA and garlic oil (GO) alone or in combination on the immune response of Wistar rats. A total of 24 male Wistar rats were allocated into four equal groups: Control group, which was given ad libitum access to food and water; and groups 2­4, which were orally administered LEVA [2.5 mg/kg body weight (BW) every 2 days], GO, (5 ml/kg BW daily), or LEVA plus GO, respectively for 4 consecutive weeks. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM levels were measured using a radial immunodiffusion assay. Serum cytokine levels, including interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-5 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, were measured using enzyme­linked immunosorbent assay kits. Total blood counts were measured automatically using a cell counter. Serum lysozyme enzymatic activity was determined by measuring the diameters of the zones of clearance relative to lysozyme. Immunohistochemical detection of CD4 and CD8 was carried out using the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of IL­4, IL­5 and IL­12 were measured in the leukocytes and thymus gland by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed that LEVA increased serum levels of IFN­Î³, IL­5 and TNF­α cytokines, whereas co­administration of LEVA and GO decreased the stimulatory action of LEVA alone. LEVA and GO alone increased the serum levels of IgG, IgM and total blood cell counts, and co­administration of GO and LEVA inhibited the effects of LEVA. At the cellular level, in the spleen, LEVA increased immunoreactivity of CD4 and CD8, whereas co­administration of GO with LEVA decreased this strong expression. At the molecular level, in leukocytes, LEVA upregulated the mRNA expression levels of IL­2, IL­4 and IL­5, whereas GO alone downregulated mRNA expression. Co­administration of GO with LEVA inhibited the LEVA­induced upregulation of IL­2, IL­4 and IL­5 mRNA expression. In the thymus, both LEVA and GO upregulated the mRNA expression levels of IL­4 and IL­5, whereas LEVA alone did not affect IL­12 mRNA expression. Co­administration of GO with LEVA inhibited LEVA­induced upregulation of IL­4 and GO­induced upregulation of IL­12 expression, and had an additive upregulatory effect on IL­5 expression. In conclusion, LEVA stimulated T­helper (Th)1 cytokines, whereas GO stimulated a Th2 response, and co­administration of GO with LEVA inhibited the stimulatory effects of LEVA and balanced the Th1/Th2 response.