Probing the microbial diversity and probiotic candidates from Pakistani foods: isolation, characterization, and functional profiling.

Probiotics represent beneficial living microorganisms that confer physiological, nutritional, and functional advantages to human health, holding significant potential for development of functional foods. This research aimed to isolate, identify, and characterize potential probiotic bacterial strains sourced from fermented and non-fermented foods from Pakistan. A total of 341 bacterial strains were isolated from diverse food samples (81) collected from various regions of Pakistan. Strains were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The identified strains belonged to genera Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Microbacterium, Shigella, Micrococcus, Enterococcus, Sporosarcina, Paenibacillus, Limosilactobacillus, Kosakonia, Dietzia, Leclercia, Lacticaseibacillus, Levilactobacillus, Kluyvera, Providencia, Enterobacter, Neisseria, Streptococcus, Acinetobacter, Corynebacterium, Pantoea, Mammaliicoccus, Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, and Alkalihalobacillus. Selected strains were chosen for probiotic assessment, employing existing literature as a guideline. Among these selections, six strains exhibited hemolytic activity, and seven strains displayed resistance to multiple antibiotics, prompting their exclusion from subsequent evaluations. The remaining strains demonstrated auto-aggregation capacities spanning 3.39-79.7%, and displayed coaggregation capabilities with reported food-borne pathogens. Furthermore, nine strains exhibited antimicrobial properties against food-borne pathogens. The assessment encompassed diverse characteristics such as cell surface hydrophobicity, survival rates under varying conditions, cholesterol reduction ability, casein digestion capability, and antioxidant activity. Phylogenomic analysis, digital-DNA DNA hybridization (digi-DDH), and average nucleotide identity (ANI) calculations unveiled novel species potentially belonging to the genera Sporosarcina and Dietzia. Based on these findings, we advocate for the consideration of Staphylococcus cohnii subsp. cohnii NCCP-2414, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus NCCP-2569 and Levilactobacillus brevis NCCP-2574 as prime probiotic candidates with the potential for integration into formulation of functional foods. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03903-6.

Postpartum-Acquired Hemophilia A Presenting as Hemoperitoneum: A Case Report.

Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a bleeding diathesis caused by the production of autoantibodies to factor VIII (FVIII). It manifests as an isolated deranged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) indicating a defect in the intrinsic coagulation pathway. Herein, we report a case of a 26-year-old woman who presented with hemoperitoneum in the postpartum period following a lower segment Caesarean section (LSCS). AHA carries significant mortality if it remains undiagnosed, and early recognition and measures to eradicate the acquired inhibitors are the mainstays of its management.

Tongue-tie assessment and division: a time-critical intervention to optimise breastfeeding.

OBJECTIVES: Recent reports have highlighted the benefits of surgical division of tongue-tie (frenulotomy) in infants with breastfeeding difficulties. There is no clear consensus defining the appropriate age for this procedure to be undertaken in selected infants. We aimed to evaluate the impact of delays in time between referral and frenulotomy in relation to maternal abandonment of breastfeeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study done in out-patient Neonatal Surgery Department, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, UK, between April 2013 and July 2013. All infants, referred to our tongue-tie clinic between April and July 2013, were studied prospectively. Referral time lags were calculated using computer records; details regarding breastfeeding were collected by an independent interviewer completing a questionnaire. RESULTS: Seventy patients were included. The median infant age at clinic was 28.5 days [range 1-126]. Fifty eight [82%] of mothers had breastfeeding difficulty and their infants were confirmed to have a prominent tongue-tie. By the time of their clinic attendance, breastfeeding had either not been established or abandoned in 21%. Despite difficulty, 61% of mothers persisted breastfeeding and all these mothers consented for frenulotomy. At time of clinic, median age of infants whose mothers had abandoned breastfeeding was 37 days [range 1-80] compared to 27 days [range 1-126] in infants whose mothers had persisted. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated a time-critical dimension for frenulotomy: delay beyond 4-weeks from referral to assessment of neonatal tongue-tie is more likely to be associated with abandonment of breastfeeding. Timely assessment and division of tongue-tie in selected infants can therefore play an important role in a birthing unit's breastfeeding strategy.

Mutagenic and cytotoxic potential of Endosulfan and Lambda-cyhalothrin - in vitro study describing individual and combined effects of pesticides.

Excessive use of pesticides poses increased risks to non target species including humans. In the developing countries, lack of proper awareness about the toxic potential of pesticides makes the farmer more vulnerable to pesticide linked toxicities, which could lead to diverse pathological conditions. The toxic potential of a pesticide could be determined by their ability to induce genetic mutations and cytotoxicity. Hence, determination of genetic mutation and cytotoxicity of each pesticide is unavoidable to legislate health and safety appraisal about pesticides. The objective of current investigation was to determine the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of Endosulfan (EN) and Lambda-cyhalothrin (LC); individually and in combination. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay was utilized to determine cytotoxicity, while two mutant histidine dependent Salmonella strains (TA98, TA100) were used to determine the mutagenicity of EN and LC. Moreover, mutagenicity assay was conducted with and without S9 to evaluate the effects of metabolic activation on mutagenicity. Even though a dose dependent increase in the number of revertant colonies was detected with EN against both bacterial strains, a highly significant (p<0.05) increase in the mutagenicity was detected in TA98 with S9. In comparison, data obtained from LC revealed less mutagenic potential than EN. Surprisingly, the non-mutagenic individual-concentrations of EN and LC showed dose dependent mutagenicity when combined. Combination of EN and LC synergistically induced mutagenicity both in TA98 and TA100. MTT assay spotlighted comparable dose dependent cytotoxicity effects of both pesticides. Interestingly, the combination of EN and LC produced increased reversion and cytotoxicity at lower doses as compared to each pesticide, concluding that pesticide exposure even at sub-lethal doses can produce cytotoxicity and genetic mutations, which could lead to carcinogenicity.

A survey to assess knowledge among international colorectal clinicians and enterostomal therapy nurses about stoma-related faith needs of Muslim patients.

Quality of life after the creation of a stoma can be influenced by religious factors. Enterostomal specialist nurses often offer holistic preoperative counseling to discuss religious concerns with Muslim patients, which requires a sound working knowledge of relevant Islamic practices. To assess colorectal surgeon and enterostomal specialist nurse awareness of Islamic practices that influence quality of life in Muslim patients with stomas, a questionnaire comprised of 16 multiplechoice questions was developed and face and content validity established. In addition to the knowledge questionnaire, participant demographic data, including practice setting and geographical location, years in practice, and personal religious affiliation, were included in the data collection instrument. The questionnaires were sent to all members of the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET) and the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) via association-directed emails. Data were collected over a 5-month period; 132 responses (90 enterostomal nurses and 42 surgeons) were received. Among the 90 WCET respondents, 29 (32%) were from the United Kingdom and Europe, 24 (27%) from the United States, and 10 (11%) from Australasia, and 10 (11%) from South East Asia. All 42 ACPGBI respondents were consultant colorectal surgeons from the UK and Ireland. Eight (8) out of 42 surgeons (20%) and 11 out of 85 nurses (11%) did not feel confident to discuss religious practices before surgery. Of the 127 respondents who answered the question, only four (<5%) correctly identified all Islamic prayer positions. Thirty-two (32, 52%) of the 62 enterostomal therapists and 27 (73%) of the 37 surgeons responding did not discuss fasting with Muslim stoma patients. More than one third of all respondents (48 out of 126) did not feel it was necessary to include religious leaders in the counseling process. Awareness of Islamic practices relevant to Muslim persons with ostomies may be suboptimal among colorectal specialists, which may negatively affect patient experiences after stoma surgery. Further research is required to assess the impact of faith-based counseling on postoperative quality of life in Muslim patients.

In vitro toxic action potential of anti tuberculosis drugs and their combinations.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading infectious causes of death due to single infectious agent after HIV/AIDS. Rifampicin (RIF), Isoniazid (INH), Ethambutol (EMB), Pyrazinamide (PZA) and/or their combinations are extensively prescribed to treat TB. Despite several therapeutic implications, these drugs also produce several toxic effects at cellular level. MTT assay and Ames test were adopted in this study for the determination of cytotoxic and mutagenic potential of these anti-TB drugs. Among all tested drugs, cytotoxic potential of RIF was strongest with highly significant decline (p<0.001) in cell numbers at the concentration of 250µg/ml with LC50 at 325µg/ml, while significant decline (p<0.01) in cell count was observed in INH treated group at the concentration 500µg/ml with LC50 at 1000µg/ml. Moreover, combination RIPE demonstrated significant reduction (p<0.01) in cell number at the concentration of 25-500-500-500µg/ml with LC50 at 60-1200-1200-1200µg/ml. It is apparent from the data that almost all drugs represented identical mutagenic pattern i.e., more significant results were achieved in TA100 with metabolic activation (+S9). RIF proved to be highly mutagenic of all tested drugs with significant mutagenicity (p<0.01) at 0.0525µg/plate against TA98 strain with S9. The combination RIPE exhibited highly significant mutagenic activity (p<0.01) at concentration 0.125-3-3-3µg/plate without S9, while addition of S9 resulted in similar activity at lower doses, i.e., 0.0525-1-1-1µg/plate. It was concluded from the data that all anti-TB drugs possess significant cytotoxic and mutagenic potential, especially in combination, making TB patient more vulnerable to cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of anti-TB drugs, which could produce further health complications in TB patients.