Aims: This study aims to investigate the phylogroups, antibiotics susceptibility and biofilm formation among CVEC isolated from female with bacterial vaginosis. Methodology and results: High vaginal swab from girl with age (18-60 years) were collected and cultured on MacConkey agar, EMB agar and UTI chromogenic medium to recover CVEC and only the confirmed Escherichia coli will pass through rest of the assays like phylogrouping (by PCR), antibiotics susceptibility test and biofilm formation. The results revealed that only 32 (20.38%) of CVEC were recovered and among them only 3 (9.375%) of CVEC belong to intestinal subgroup A1 and the rest 29 (90.625%) assigned to extraintestinal phylogenetic group B2. CVEC isolates belong to B1 and D groups not reported. Antibiotics resistance results shown that, 32 (100%) for cefazolin, cephalothin, cefoxitin and metronidazole, 31 (96.9%) for erythromycin, 24 (75%) for fosfomycin, 20 (62.5%) for cefotaxime, 16 (50%) for ceftazidime, 14 (43.75%) for cefepeim, (28.1%) for aztreonam, 7 (21.9%) for streptomycin, 6 (18.75%) for meropenem, 5 (15.6%) for both imipenem and gentamicin, 2 (6.25%) for both ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin, amikacin 1 (3.1%) and no resistance stated for nitrofurantion (0.00%). TCP methods results display that 12 (37.5%) of CVEC were biofilm former while 20 (62.5%) were non biofilm former. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: This study concluded that, most of the CVEC belong to highly virulent phylogroup B2 and have the ability to resist multiple antibiotics and the ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, amikacin and nitrofurantion still the best choice for treatment and CVEC have the ability to form biofilm which make the infection ruthless and hard to cure.
Vaginosis, Bacterial

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with gastroparesis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) often report decreased enjoyment when eating. Some patients remark that food does not smell or taste the same. To determine if taste and/or smell disturbances are present in patients with gastroparesis and/or GERD and relate these to gastrointestinal symptom severity. METHODS: Patients with gastroparesis and/or GERD completed questionnaires evaluating taste and smell (Taste and Smell Survey [TSS]), Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index (PAGI-SYM), and Demographics. TSS questioned the nature of taste/smell changes and the impact on quality of life. PAGI-SYM was used to calculate Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI) and Heartburn and Regurgitation Score (HB/RG). RESULTS: Seventy-six subjects were enrolled: healthy controls (n = 13), gastroparesis alone (n = 30), GERD alone (n = 10), and both gastroparesis and GERD (n = 23). Taste and smell disturbances were higher in patients with gastroparesis, GERD, and both gastroparesis and GERD compared to healthy controls. Taste and smell abnormalities were significantly correlated (r = 0.530, P < 0.001). Taste score was strongly correlated with HB/RG (r = 0.637, P < 0.001) and with GCSI (r = 0.536, P < 0.001). Smell score was also strongly correlated to HB/RG (r = 0.513, P < 0.001) and GCSI (r = 0.495, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Taste and smell abnormalities are prominent in gastroparesis and GERD patients. Abnormalities in taste and smell are significantly correlated with both gastroparesis and GERD symptom severity. Awareness of this high prevalence of taste and smell dysfunction among patients with gastroparesis and GERD may help to better understand the food intolerances these patients often have.
Demography ; Eating ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Gastroparesis* ; Heartburn ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Smell*

Objective: Recently, oral antioxidants in combined forms have been used to treat men with idiopathic infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of treatment with vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, arginine, L-carnitine, and coenzyme Q10 on sperm quality parameters, DNA integrity, reproductive hormones, and pregnancy rates in men with infertility and idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 420 men with infertility and idiopathic OAT who took an oral supplement of antioxidant SP-Power tablets twice daily for 6 months. Semen quality, reproductive hormones, and the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were evaluated at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after supplementation, using the World Health Organization 2021 guidelines. Results: No significant difference was observed in volume or the percentage of typical morphology during treatment. A significant improvement in sperm concentration was observed after supplementation (8.67±1.41, 12.17±1.91, and 19.01±0.86 at baseline, 3, and 6 months respectively, p<0.01). The total motility, progressive motility, and total motile sperm count also increased significantly (p<0.01), whereas the DFI decreased after 6 months. There was an increase in normal FSH levels and testosterone levels after 6 months of supplementation of antioxidant SP-Power but these differences were not statistically significant (p=not significant and p=0.06, respectively). Conclusion Supplementation with SP-Power tablets improved sperm quality parameters, sperm DFI, some reproductive hormones, and pregnancy rates in men with infertility and idiopathic OAT, which could be attributed to the supplement’s synergistic antioxidant action. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of supplementation on oxidative stress markers.