The vacuolating cytotoxin VacA and cytotoxin associated gene product CagA, encoded by vacA and cagA are major virulence determinants associated with pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori. The presence and prevalence of two major H. pylori virulence associated genes among gastric biopsies of Pakistani children were investigated in the current study. Fifty one gastric biopsy specimens of children were analysed for 16S rRNA, vacA and cagA genes using PCR. The results showed that 21 (41.2%) biopsies were positive for H. pylori as determined by 16S rRNA PCR. In the 21 H. pylori positive gastric biopsies, 19 (90.5%) showed vacA s1a, 1 (4.75%) was vacA s1b and 1 (4.75%) was vacA s2 whereas, 5 (23.8%) were vacA m1 and 16 (76.2%) were vacA m2. None of the H. pylori positive biopsies carried vacA s1c subtype. The cagA gene was found in 13 (61.9%) of H. pylori infected biopsies and different vacA combinations were found with or without cagA gene. H. pylori was detected with high frequency of cagA while vacA s1a and vacA m2 regions with vacA s1a/m2 genotype were predominant in H. pylori infected gastric biopsies of children.

No abstract available.
Humans ; Students, Medical*

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes ; Collagen ; Collagen Type II ; Glucosamine ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Knee ; Male ; Manikins ; Models, Theoretical ; Osteoarthritis ; Proteoglycans ; Rats ; Risedronate Sodium

Aims: This study was aimed to monitor the asymptomatic carriage of coagulase-positive staphylococcal bacteria among university male students and detect the prevalence of virulence marker genes that encode methicillin resistance (mecA) and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin among the isolates. Methodology and results: Single nasal swaps were collected from 144 participating students who resided at four different locations within Al-Madinah city. A total of 112 Gram-positive staphylococcal isolates were recovered from the 144 participants (carriage rate of 77.8%). Coagulase-positive staphylococci were differentiated using duplex PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA and nuc genes and accounted for 30 isolates (carriage rate of 20.8%). These isolates were most prevalent in the northern and southern parts of Al-Madinah city, while the lowest numbers of isolates were detected in students of the eastern part. Coagulase-positive isolates were further phenotypically characterized for methicillin resistance by the disc diffusion method. Uniplex PCR assays were conducted to screen for mecA- and PVL toxin-encoding genes. The mecA gene was amplified from all 15 (50%) methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive isolates, while the PVL toxin-encoding gene was detected in 19 isolates (63.3%), 10 (33.3%) of which contained the mecA gene. Lastly, PCR amplification of the NRPS gene from coagulase-positive isolates revealed the absence of Staphylococcus argenteus, the recently discovered genetically divergent lineage of Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion, significance and impact of study An elevated prevalence of coagulase-positive isolates harboring mecA and PVL virulence genes was observed compared with previous investigations. This poses a potential threat if they spread among the population, resulting in outbreaks of community-acquired infections.

Aims: Aims: When attending family members, the procedure for the resuscitation of cardiac arrest patients remains controversial. There have been conflicts on why healthcare professionals, should include the family during resuscitation. This systematic review seeks to identify the barriers and facilitators related to the FWR of adult patients at Emergency Department. Design: A systematic review was conducted on ten studies. This review utilized a clearly formulated research question then the data was gathered and analysed from the included studies. Data Source: Studies on the barriers and facilitators related to allowing family members to attend were included during January 2020 to May 2020. Methods: A systematic review of studies that investigate the barriers and facilitators of the FWR of adult patients at emergency department. All studies evaluated the barriers and facilitators related to allowing family members to attend cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO with the registration number CRD42020169383. Results: This review has demonstrated that the facilitators reduce conflict and provide a supportive presence that builds the emotional adequacy and closure related to the resuscitation. These policies can eliminate barriers, such as conflicts in EDs and negative attitudes, and expedite the accommodation of the professional as well as individual staff’s needs during witnessed resuscitation.

Objective: To investigate the prophylactic efficacy of date palm fruit extract against doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. Methods: The rats were equally and randomly assigned to 6 groups: group 1 (untreated control), group 2 and 3 given daily oral administration of prophylactic aqueous extract of date palm fruit at 0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg body weight, respectively, and group 4, 5 and 6 intraperitoneally injected with doxorubicin at 15 mg/kg on day 30. Rats in group 5 and 6 received daily oral administration of aqueous extract of date palm fruit at 0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for 30 d. The phytochemicals identified by GC-MS analysis were analyzed using in silico study. Antioxidant enzymes, liver enzymatic, biochemical parameters and histopathological analysis were determined to evaluate hepatoprotective activity of date extract. Results: Aqueous extract of date palm fruit significantly mitigated doxorubicin-induced changes in activities of liver enzymes, reduced reactive oxygen species levels, and suppressed lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. Moreover, aqueous extract of date palm fruit reduced doxorubicin-induced hepatic lesions. Molecular docking studies showed that most compounds of aqueous extract of date palm fruit identified via GC-MS had good interaction with proteins of human pregnane X receptor, oxygenase-1, and CYP2C9. Conclusions: The aqueous extract of date palm fruit mitigates doxorubicin-mediated DNA damage and hepatotoxicity, and restores normal liver function and may be a promising agent against the deleterious effects of doxorubicin.