Enterococcus species are Gram-positive cocci normally found in the gut but have emerged as opportunistic pathogens in healthcare settings, with rising multidrug resistance, particularly vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) posing major therapeutic challenges. This study evaluated the antibacterial and synergistic effects of plant-derived stilbenes from Reynoutria japonica against clinical VRE isolates. Ten clinical Enterococcus faecalis isolates were identified using standard morphological, biochemical, and Gram-staining methods, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The antibacterial activity of polydatin, resveratroloside, and trans-resveratrol was assessed by agar well diffusion, and evaluation of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and evaluation of bactericidal activity concentrations (MBCs), with synergistic effects tested in combination with vancomycin.Molecular docking was performed with DapF, vanA, and gelE proteins. All isolates were resistant to vancomycin, ampicillin, imipenem, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin but sensitive to linezolid. All three stilbenes displayed antibacterial activity. Notably, trans-resveratrol was the most active compound, with a MIC value of 0.156 mM and bactericidal activity (an MBC value equal to the MIC). Furthermore, all compounds exhibited synergistic effects when combined with vancomycin. Phytochemical analysis confirmed these stilbenes as major constituents in the root extract of R. japonica. Molecular docking studies revealed strong binding affinities of the compounds to key virulence and resistance-associated proteins (DapF, VanA, and GelE). These results indicate that transresveratrol and related stilbenes are promising candidates for development as alternative or adjunct therapeutic agents against VRE infections. Additionally, this study substantiates the traditional use of R. japonica as a source of bioactive antimicrobial compounds.

OCCUPATIONAL STRESS, COPING STRATEGIES, AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG NURSES IN ABHA CITY Background: The nursing profession is inherently stressful, and nurses in Abha City face unique challenges due to rapid population growth and evolving healthcare needs. Objective: The purpose of the present study is to identify the correlation between “Occupational stress, coping strategies and quality of life” among nurses in Abha city. Method: The present study utilized a cross-sectional, descriptive survey, and correlational research design. A convenience sampling throughout an online questionnaire was used to recruit 411 nurses from three hospitals in Abha city, and data was collected using three validated instruments: The Expanded Nursing Stress Scale, the Brief Cope Scale, and the World Health Organization-Quality of Life Scale. SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis, including descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Findings revealed a moderate level of occupational stress (mean score 2.31 ± 0.56 on the ENSS-59 scale), with the main sources being dealing with patients and their families (2.35 ± 0.65), uncertainty concerning treatment (2.33 ± 0.66), and discrimination (2.32 ± 0.88). Nurses employed coping strategies such as planning (2.49 ± 0.75), religion (2.47 ± 0.72), and substance use (2.45 ± 0.77), while the least adopted strategies were self-blame (2.40 ± 0.71), self-distraction (2.37 ± 0.73), and behavioral disengagement (2.32 ± 0.73). Significant associations were found between sources of occupational stress and coping strategies, such as death and dying stress source correlating with self-distraction (r=0.202), use of instrumental support (r=0.111), positive reframing (r=0.154), humor (r=0.111), religion (r=0.142), and self-blame (r=0.141). Conflict with peers as a stress source was significantly correlated with self-distraction (r=0.157), denial (r=0.158), substance use (r=0.183), use of instrumental support (r=0.130), behavioral disengagement (r=0.106), venting (r=0.121), humor (r=0.203), religion (r=0.106), and self-blame (r=0.152). A significantly negative association between occupational stress and quality of life was also identified (r=-0.451). Conclusion: Significant correlation were found between sources of occupational stress and coping strategies. The study also demonstrated a significant negative association between occupational stress and quality of life, emphasizing the need for interventions to reduce occupational stress and enhance nurses’ well-being. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (2) February, 2024; 1-14.

Rumex acetosa is a folk medicine for gastritis and gastric ulcers. In our previous study, the ethanol extract of R. acetosa inhibited gastric ulcers and protected gastric tissue in mice induced with HCl/ethanol from gastric ulcers. Moreover, we isolated six anthraquinone compounds from this plant and evaluated their antiHelicobacter pylori activity. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify further the related antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and the bioactive constituents. Five fractions of n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions were obtained from the total ethanolic extract from whole parts of R. acetosa that had exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The ethyl acetate fraction contained the highest total phenol and flavonoid contents among the five fractions and exhibited the most potent antioxidant effect on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. Among the six compounds, emodin showed the most potent antioxidant activity. Next, we induced inflammation in the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell line. The methylene chloride fraction showed the strongest reducing nitric oxide production activity among the fractions. In addition, the methylene chloride fraction suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in a dose-dependent manner. These physiological activities of the fraction and the compounds could be involved in the anti-gastric ulcer activity of R. acetosa

Objective: The present study aimed to detect the behavioral problems pre- and post-cochlear implantation in comparison to normal hearing group to be able to manage these problems to get more benefit from using cochlear implants. Methods: A case-control study included 53 children was done. They were divided into 2 groups, the control group included 28 healthy volunteers with normal hearing and the case group included 25 children with severe to profound hearing loss, fitted for cochlear implantation. The Arabic Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to detect different behavioral problems in both groups. Case group children were followed up and reassessed again by CBCL 3 months later after cochlear implantation. Results: There were highly significant differences regarding total scores of internalizing and externalizing domains of empirically based CBCL between the control group and the case group after cochlear implants (p=0.001). There were non-significant differences in children within case group (pre- and post-cochlear implantation) regarding emotional and behavioral problems on both empirically based and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-based CBCL. Conclusion For better results, it is necessary to include a specialist of psychosomatic medicine in the cochlear rehabilitation teamwork.

Helicobacter pylori is a well-known pathogen that is responsible for gastric disorders. Overcoming of the antibiotic-resistance is a main barrier to treat H. pylori infection. In our search for anti-H. pylori compounds from natural resources, bioactivity-guided isolation on the ethyl acetate fraction of Fraxinus mandshurica bark that had shown anti-H. pylori activity gave twelve compounds (1 - 12) of six coumarins, three phenylethanoids, two secoiridoids, and a lignan using silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex-LH 20, and recrystallization.The chemical structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis, including 1D, 2D NMR, and mass spectrometry. Among them, compounds 2, 10, and 11 showed moderate growth inhibitory activity against three strains ofH. pylori, compared with positive controls of quercetin and metronidazole. Compounds 5, 6, 8, and 12 exhibited the inhibitory activity against strains 26695 or 43504. This is the first report on the anti-H. pylori activity of this plant and the isolated compounds.

Opioid drugs are the first line of defense in severe pain but the adverse effects associated with opioids are considered as a serious issue worldwide. Acupuncture/electroacupuncture is a type of Chinese medicine therapy which is an effective analgesic therapy, well documented in animals and human studies. Electroacupuncture stimulation could release endogenous opioid peptides causing analgesia in a variety of pain models. It can be used as an alternative therapy to control the opioid crisis.

Breast cancer is a frightful disease and serious concern in women around the world causing significant health care burden in both developed and developing countries. Extensive research work has shown that breast cancer provides strong resistance to chemical agents, UV radiation, and hormonal treatments. It is generally accepted that cell genetics is not the only main reason for breast cancer and genetic risk factors, for example, mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes constitute 5%-10% of all breast cancer rates. Other related factors include age, gender, race, ethnicity, weight, reproductive factors, exo- and endogenous hormonal exposures, oral contraceptives use, ultraviolet radiation, diet, and night work (circadian disruption). Many studies have revealed that dietary isoflavones regulate breast cancer occurrence, recurrence and prognosis. Dietary isoflavones have long been part of Asian population diet and there is a significant increase as compared to dietary isoflavones intake among other populations. Dietary isoflavones are natural phytoestrogens having both estrogenic and anti-estrogenic potentials on breast cancer cells in culture, animal models and in experimental trials. This literature survey provides a comprehensive overview on the tumor preventive and tumor promoting potentials of dietary isoflavones on breast cancer. In addition, this paper provides a literature review of dietary isoflavones and their effects on up-regulation and down-regulation of different signaling pathways, genes and proteins. Finally, future perspectives of dietary isoflavones and breast cancer researchers are also critically discussed, which will provide a deeper insight regarding the inner molecular mechanisms of action.

The National Cancer Institute had projected breast cancer (BC) as one of the topmost prevalent malignancies around the globe. In many cases, BC becomes resistant to chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapies. Traditional BC therapies are associated with adverse side effects, drug resistance and recurrence. Extensive research work has shown that these dietary phytochemicals (DPs) may exert therapeutic effects by regulating the miRNA expression. A large number of DPs have been researched as miRNA regulatory agents against BC and some other DPs have not yet been tested against BC. We have discussed the effects of curcumin, diallyl disulphide, 3,3′ diindolylmethane, ellagic acid, genistein, indole-3-carbinol, quercetin, resveratrol, and sulforaphane on regulation of expression of BC miRNAs in a wide range of in vitro and in vivo models. We have also shown some of the possible DPs (Oleanolic acid, capsaicin, benzyl isothiocyanate, epigallocatechin gallate, phenethyl isothiocyanate and ursolic acid) that have shown miRNA regulatory activities and have not yet been tested against BC miRNAs. Finally, current limitations, challenges, future perspectives of DPs and BC research are also critically discussed.

Cancer is a frightful disease and represents one of the biggest health-care issues for the human race and demands a proactive strategy for cure.Plants are reservoirs for novel chemical entities and provide a promising line for research on cancer.Hitherto,being effective,chemotherapy is accompanied by certain unbearable side effects.Nevertheless,plants and plant derived products is a revolutionizing field as these are Simple,safer,ecofriendly,low-cost,fast,and less toxic as compared with conventional treatment methods.Phytochemicals are selective in their functions and acts specifically on tumor cells without affecting normal cells.Carcinogenesis is complex phenomena that involves many signaling cascades.Phytochemicals are considered suitable candidates for anticancer drug development due to their pleiotropic actions on target events with multiple manners.The research is in progress for developing potential candidates (those can block or slow down the growth of cancer cells without any side effects) from these phytochemicals.Many phytochemicals and their derived analogs have been identified as potential candidates for anticancer therapy.Effort has been made through this comprehensive review to highlight the recent developments and milestones achieved in cancer therapies using phytomolecules with their mechanism of action on nuclear and cellular factors.Furthermore,drags for cancer treatment and their limitations have also been discussed.