Comprehensive Bio-Screening of Phytochemistry and Biological Capacity of Oregano (Origanum vulgare) and Salvia triloba Extracts against Oral Cariogenic and Food-Origin Pathogenic Bacteria.

This study utilized phytochemical screening to conduct the qualitative analysis of plant extracts, aiming to identify various classes of secondary metabolites. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of different types of Oregano vulgare and Salvia triloba extracts was determined. To achieve the aim of this study, aqueous, ethanolic, and enzymatic extracts were prepared and screened for phytochemical capacity and antioxidant activities. The determination of the antibacterial activity included phenotypic screening of antibiotic susceptibility pattern of oral and food pathogenic bacterial strains, determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration-via microdilution broth test and in vitro valuation of antibacterial efficacies-of the anti-biofilm properties of the studied herbal extractions. Results: Our study evaluated the phytochemical composition and the antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-biofilm properties of O. vulgare and S. triloba extracts. The analyzed samples contained bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and flavonoids, contributing to the observed strong antioxidant effect. Furthermore, they exhibited notable activity against oral biofilm formation and demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy against dental caries' microorganisms as well as food pathogens. Despite methodological variations, all extracts showed significant antioxidant capacity and promising antibacterial activity against various pathogens, including resistant strains, while also inhibiting biofilm formation. Although limited to two plant species and facing methodological constraints, this study lays the groundwork for future research, indicating the therapeutic potential of O. vulgare and S. triloba extracts. Further exploration is needed to report on underlying mechanisms and validate efficacy through clinical trials.

COVID-19 on the spectrum: a scoping review of hygienic standards.

The emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, rapidly escalated into a worldwide public health crisis. Despite numerous clinical treatment endeavors, initial defenses against the virus primarily relied on hygiene practices like mask-wearing, meticulous hand hygiene (using soap or antiseptic solutions), and maintaining social distancing. Even with the subsequent advent of vaccines and the commencement of mass vaccination campaigns, these hygiene measures persistently remain in effect, aiming to curb virus transmission until the achievement of herd immunity. In this scoping review, we delve into the effectiveness of these measures and the diverse transmission pathways, focusing on the intricate interplay within the food network. Furthermore, we explore the virus's pathophysiology, considering its survival on droplets of varying sizes, each endowed with distinct aerodynamic attributes that influence disease dispersion dynamics. While respiratory transmission remains the predominant route, the potential for oral-fecal transmission should not be disregarded, given the protracted presence of viral RNA in patients' feces after the infection period. Addressing concerns about food as a potential viral vector, uncertainties shroud the virus's survivability and potential to contaminate consumers indirectly. Hence, a meticulous and comprehensive hygienic strategy remains paramount in our collective efforts to combat this pandemic.

The Impact of Obesity on Perioperative Outcomes for Children Undergoing Appendectomy for Acute Appendicitis: A Systematic Review.

Today, the prevalence of obesity in the pediatric population has increased dramatically. Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common surgical condition among pediatric patients. We aimed to investigate the impact of obesity on postoperative outcomes in terms of operative time (OT), length of stay (LOS), surgical site infection (SSI), overall complications, adverse events, and mortality in children undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis. An extensive search of the literature in PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of normal weight (NW), overweight (OW), and obese (OB) children who underwent appendectomy. Although no statistically significant differences were noted in perioperative outcomes and overall postoperative complications between OW/OB and NW children in the majority of the included studies, prolonged OT and LOS and SSI were found in some studies. Moreover, no differences in terms of readmissions and ED visits were recorded. We conclude that the impact of obesity on postoperative outcomes for children undergoing appendectomy for AA is unclear, and, therefore, no safe conclusions can be drawn with the currently available data. Due to the lack of high-quality studies, further research is required to optimize the surgical approach and prevent unwarranted complications.

Insights into Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Applications of Plant Bioactive Compounds.

Plants have long been thought to contribute to health promotion due to their fiber and phenolic content, as well as their inherent biological potential. The bioactive derivatives of medicinal plants are a valuable resource in the fight against serious diseases all around the world. The present review focuses on the current state of knowledge on the usage and medicinal applications of plant bioactives. Issues concerning the effect of aromatic plant derivatives on human gut microbiota and their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory potentials are discussed and worth further exploring.

Interactions between Medical Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds: Focus on Antimicrobial Combination Effects.

It is accepted that the medicinal use of complex mixtures of plant-derived bioactive compounds is more effective than purified bioactive compounds due to beneficial combination interactions. However, synergy and antagonism are very difficult to study in a meticulous fashion since most established methods were designed to reduce the complexity of mixtures and identify single bioactive compounds. This study represents a critical review of the current scientific literature on the combined effects of plant-derived extracts/bioactive compounds. A particular emphasis is provided on the identification of antimicrobial synergistic or antagonistic combinations using recent metabolomics methods and elucidation of approaches identifying potential mechanisms that underlie their interactions. Proven examples of synergistic/antagonistic antimicrobial activity of bioactive compounds are also discussed. The focus is also put on the current challenges, difficulties, and problems that need to be overcome and future perspectives surrounding combination effects. The utilization of bioactive compounds from medicinal plant extracts as appropriate antimicrobials is important and needs to be facilitated by means of new metabolomics technologies to discover the most effective combinations among them. Understanding the nature of the interactions between medicinal plant-derived bioactive compounds will result in the development of new combination antimicrobial therapies.

Antimicrobial Evaluation of Various Honey Types against Carbapenemase-Producing Gram-Negative Clinical Isolates.

The development of antibiotic resistance is a major public health issue, as infections are increasingly unresponsive to antibiotics. Emerging antimicrobial resistance has raised researchers' interest in the development of alternative strategies using natural compounds with antibacterial activity, like honey, which has emerged as an agent to treat several infections and wound injuries. Nevertheless, the antibacterial effect of honey was mostly evaluated against Gram-positive bacteria. Hence, the objective of our study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity, as well as the physicochemical parameters, of genuine Greek honeys against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. In this vein, we aimed to study the in vitro antibacterial potential of rare Greek honeys against Verona integron-encoded metallo-ß-lactamase (VIM)- or Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, hydrogen peroxide, free acidity, lactonic acid, total phenols total flavonoids, free radical scavenging activities, tyrosinase enzyme inhibitory activity and kojic acid were examined. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of 10 different honey types was evaluated in five consecutive dilutions (75%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25%) against the clinical isolates by the well diffusion method, as well as by the determination of the minimum inhibition concentration after the addition of catalase and protease. Almost all the physicochemical parameters varied significantly among the different honeys. Fir and manuka honey showed the highest values in pH and H2O2, while the free acidity and lactonic acid levels were higher in chestnut honey. Total phenols, total flavonoids and free radical scavenging activities were found higher in cotton, arbutus and manuka honey, and finally, manuka and oregano honeys showed higher tyrosinase inhibition activity and kojic acid levels. The antimicrobial susceptibility depended on the type of honey, on its dilution, on the treatment methodology and on the microorganism. Arbutus honey was the most potent against VIM-producing Enterobacter cloacae subsp. dissolvens in 75% concentration, while fir honey was more lethal for the same microorganism in the 25% concentration. Many honeys outperformed manuka honey in their antibacterial potency. It is of interest that, for any given concentration in the well diffusion method and for any given type of honey, significant differences were not detected among the four multidrug-resistant pathogens, which explains that the damaging effect to the bacterial cells was the same regardless of the bacterial species or strain. Although the antimicrobial potency of different honey varieties dependents on their geographical origin and on their compositional differences, the exact underlying mechanism remains yet unclear.

Towards Advances in Medicinal Plant Antimicrobial Activity: A Review Study on Challenges and Future Perspectives.

The increasing incidence of drug- resistant pathogens raises an urgent need to identify and isolate new bioactive compounds from medicinal plants using standardized modern analytical procedures. Medicinal plant-derived compounds could provide novel straightforward approaches against pathogenic bacteria. This review explores the antimicrobial activity of plant-derived components, their possible mechanisms of action, as well as their chemical potential. The focus is put on the current challenges and future perspectives surrounding medicinal plants antimicrobial activity. There are some inherent challenges regarding medicinal plant extracts and their antimicrobial efficacy. Appropriate and optimized extraction methodology plant species dependent leads to upgraded and selective extracted compounds. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests for the determination of the antimicrobial activity of plant extracts may show variations in obtained results. Moreover, there are several difficulties and problems that need to be overcome for the development of new antimicrobials from plant extracts, while efforts have been made to enhance the antimicrobial activity of chemical compounds. Research on the mechanisms of action, interplay with other substances, and the pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic profile of the medicinal plant extracts should be given high priority to characterize them as potential antimicrobial agents.