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Abstract Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) is one of the most important causative pathogens associated with complicated urinary tract infections with a 20% incidence. For epidemiological determinations, several phenotypic and molecular typing methods have been implicated. Sixty P. mirabilis isolated undergo antibiotic susceptibility test by standard Kirby Bauer method. They showed high resistance to nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole that appear mainly in 3rd age group. The 2nd age group comprised most of the resistant isolates to the tested antibiotics. A total of 73.33% of isolates were classified as multi drug resistance (MDR) and 78.3% of isolates were distributed in several antibiotypes with MAR index over 0.2. Twenty-one isolates were strong biofilm-producers and they were significantly related to MDR. Different virulence factors as protease, urease and hemolysin production are detected. Detection of several virulence genes by PCR; zapA and ureC were harbored by all isolates, followed by rsbA (95%), ureA and flaA (93%), hpmA (91.7%) and mrpA (73.3%). Determination of genetic diversity between isolates was performed by different methods (RAPD, ISSR, ERIC, BOX-AIR and REP-PCR) by using several parameters as typeability and discriminatory power indicating that ERIC-PCR was the best method followed by REP-PCR 1R. Rand’s & Wallace coefficients were used for calculating the congruence among typing methods. Conclusions: The results obtained from both conventional and molecular typing methods indicated that molecular methods are superior to conventional methods in the discrimination of isolates. ERIC-PCR and Rep-PCR provide high discrimination ability among P. mirabilis clinical isolates contributing to epidemiological studies.

Background: Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is a significant concern in healthcare due to its ability to cause serious infections and increasing antibiotic resistance, commonly causes urinary tract infections (UTIs) and possesses various virulence factors. The study aimed to assess the antimicrobial sensitivity of E. faecalis isolates from UTIs, as well as investigate the presence of fsr quorum sensing (QS) and virulence-related genes. Additionally, the correlation between antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of QS and virulence genes was examined. Methods: Thirty-seven uropathogenic E. faecalis isolates were tested for susceptibility to ten antibiotics using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion. Then PCR was conducted to detect the presence of fsr QS and virulence associated genes. The correlation between QS genes, virulence genes and antimicrobial sensitivity was analyzed. Results: Resistance rates were high for ampicillin (100%), kanamycin (94.5%), ciprofloxacin (86.5%), levofloxacin (83.8%), erythromycin (83.8%), and tetracycline (78.4%). Approximately half of the isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol (48.6%) and amoxicillin-clavulanate (43.3%). Nitrofurantoin (10.8%) and vancomycin (8.10%) had the lowest resistance rates. PCR analysis detected fsrB and fsrC genes in 81% and 83.7% of isolates, respectively. The gelE and sprE genes were present in 72.9% and 89% of isolates, respectively. The efaA gene was amplified in all isolates, while the esp, ebpA, and asa1 genes were prevalent in 91.8%, 83.7%, and 64.8% of isolates, respectively. The cylLL gene was found in 48.6% of isolates. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the concerning issue of antimicrobial resistance and the presence of virulence factors in multi-virulent E. faecalis isolates from UTIsز

A total of 47 species belonging to 46 genera, 34 subfamilies, 23 families and 7 orders of predator and parasitoid insects were collected and identified. The survey was conducted throughout the program held by the General Directorate of Agriculture-Duhok, in cooperating with the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq from May 2013 to April 2014. The species hosts, collecting date, locality and distributions are given. The current checklist also included some species previously collected by other researchers in Duhok Province.

Background Prior studies showed that female patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) suffer a worse disease-specific quality of life (QoL). Goal The aim of this study is to investigate gender differences in sinonasal QoL outcomes in patients requiring endoscopic endonasal skull base surgeries (EESBS). Methods Cross-sectional analysis of patients presenting to our clinic from August 2020 to December 2022 with skull base tumors, spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, or Grave's orbitopathy (for orbital decompression) was performed. Baseline and postsurgical QoL were measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Patients' demographics and comorbidities were reviewed. Patients with concomitant CRS were excluded. Results Eighty-six patients were included (54 with skull base tumors, 17 Grave's orbitopathy, and 15 spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea). The mean age of the patients was 52 years (range: 12.4–81.5 years), and 51.6% of the patients were females. There was no age difference between female and male patients. Smoking history, asthma, and allergic rhinitis were also similar between the two groups. Female patients had a significantly higher incidence of depression (58.3 vs. 32.4%, p = 0.018) and migraine (50.0 vs. 21.6%, p = 0.007). Female patients had a significantly worse overall SNOT-22 scores at baseline (33.6 vs. 18.2, p = 0.001), at the 3-month follow-up (29.7 vs. 15.5, p = 0.002), and at the 6-month follow-up (33.5 vs. 14.9, p = 0.005). This worse QoL was seen mainly in the ear/facial, sleep, and psychological domains. Linear regression of the SNOT-22 scores and its subdomains adjusting for comorbidities showed that migraine was found to be the most significant determinant of gender differences in the QoL. Conclusion Female patients who undergo EESBS show higher overall SNOT-22 scores secondary to higher incidence of migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of diabetes among Egyptians is rising. Therefore, there is always a demand for innovative natural medicines. Medicinal plants have long been a significant source in search of novel, effective alternatives for human therapy. Chamomile is one of the most widely used medicinal plants, which may help hyperglycemic patients by lowering blood sugar levels. Objectives: To determine how chamomile extract affects the kidneys when albino male rats with chronic diabetes are induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Methods: The study was conducted in the Al-Azhar Faculty of Medicine (Assiut) pharmacology department animal laboratory. For this investigation, a local strain of fifty adult male albino rats was used as the animal model and weighed 120 to 150 g. In this study, rats were divided into five groups, body weight, and systolic blood pressure was measured, and blood samples were collected for measuring blood glucose and insulin level, HbA1c, Na, K, and renal function tests, and histopathological examination was done. Results: After the study, mean glucose levels, HbA1c, urea, creatinine, K, and systolic blood pressure were significantly decreased in group IV & group V compared to group III. In contrast, body weight serum insulin level and Na increased dramatically in group IV & group V compared to group III. Conclusion: The serum levels of urea and creatinine in diabetic patients may be positively affected by chamomile. Additionally, short-term chamomile uses benefits diabetic individuals by decreasing loss of body weight, lowering HbA1c, and increasing insulin levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The squash beetle Epilachna chrysomelina (F.) is an important insect pest which causes severe damage to cucurbit plants in Iraq. The aims of this study were to isolate and characterize an endogenous isolate of Myrothecium-like species from cucurbit plants and from soil in order to evaluate its pathogenicity to squash beetle. Paramyrothecium roridum (Tode) L. Lombard & Crous was isolated, its phenotypic characteristics were identified and ITS rDNA sequence analysis was done. The pathogenicity of P. roridum strain (MT019839) was evaluated at a concentration of 107 conidia · ml–1) water against larvae and adults of E. chrysomelina under laboratory conditions. The results revealed the pathogenicity of the isolate to larvae with variations between larvae instar responses. The highest mortality percentage was reported when the adults were placed in treated litter and it differed significantly from adults treated directly with the pathogen. Our results documented for the first time that P. roridum has potential as an insect pathogen.

Life in a limited-space dwelling is one of the most important problems facing residents due to the failure to meet their changing living needs. Which requires re-thinking in a functional way to provide the largest number of human needs without the need to change housing and move from one housing unit to another larger. Thus, it is possible to overcome the problem of owning large and expensive spaces in order to satisfy the wishes of the user and meet his changing needs. Hence, the responsibility of the interior designer comes towards finding appropriate design solutions to solve this problem in a way that is consistent with the user culture in light of modern technology for furniture design.Through the technological developments in the design of residential buildings using artificial intelligence technology (computer home, digital home, interactive home ... etc.). Consequently, the traditional concept of furniture units has changed from just inanimate objects that humans use to units that are able to sense, identify and interact with users to meet their needs and desires.It was therefore necessary to resort to the idea of intelligent furniture that integrates with everything that surrounds it and interacts with it in response to changing human needs within the void using intelligent systems that have helped to time and effort to perform the required tasks in a given time.It is worth mentioning that the change in the function of the furniture unit was not only a functional change but was followed by a change in shape to suit this advanced technology, the reductive trend became the dominant in furniture design, where the designs with geometric shapes became easy to configure and realize, far from Jostling decorative elements, the clean lines are suitable for the computer technology used in the furniture unit, as well as with the executing materials of wood, glass and metal that have made an unprecedented breakthrough in the age of technology.

Objectives: Prior studies evaluating the role of sinonasal anatomic variants with recurrent acute rhinosinusitis (RARS) are limited by inconsistent results. The goal of this study is to evaluate the association between sinonasal anatomic variants and RARS. Methods: A 1:2 retrospective case–control study was conducted using patients presenting to the rhinology clinic from August 2020 to January 2023. A total of 60 patients with RARS were compared to 120 control patients. RARS was diagnosed based on the International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology criteria of four or more independent episodes of acute rhinosinusitis per year with at least one episode documented by objective findings, with complete resolution of the infection in‐between episodes. Sinonasal anatomic variants included nasal septal deviation (NSD), concha bullosa (CB), infraorbital (Haller) cells, nasal septal spur in the middle meatus, and frontal sinus cells (supra‐agger, supra‐agger frontal, and suprabullar frontal cells). Results: Age was similar in RARS and control patients (47.4 ± 16.5 vs. 49.3 ± 14.5, p = 0.432). Both the RARS group and control group were more likely to be female (78.3% vs. 77.5%, p = 0.899). There was no significant association between NSD and RARS compared to the control group (OR = 0.97, p = 0.916), and no significant association between any of the anatomic variants and RARS [infraorbital cells (OR = 0.64, p = 0.167), CB (OR = 0.84, p = 0.596), spur in the middle meatus (OR = 1.28, p = 0.514), supra‐agger (OR = 0.88, p = 0.708), supra‐agger frontal cells (OR = 0.97, p = 0.939), or suprabullar frontal cells (OR = 1.13, p = 0.766)]. Conclusion: Our findings suggest no association between nasal septal deviation or any of the anatomic variants studied and RARS. Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3489–3492, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Laboratory and field bioassays were conducted to evaluate the pathogenicity of an endophytic and a soil isolate of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. against different stages of squash beetle, Epilachna chrysomelina (F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Both isolates were identified by ITS rDNA sequence analysis. Both isolates were pathogenic to the squash beetle; however, their potential was different according to the conidia concentration and the exposure period. Three days post treatment, (100%) mortality rate was obtained, when the first and second larval instars were treated by the B. bassiana ES (soil isolate) compared to 83.67 and 72.60%, respectively when treated with the endophytic isolate. A percentage of 17.67% malformation occurred among the adults that emerged from treated pupae. The highest mortality percentage under field conditions were 28.67 and 22.33% for larvae and adults, respectively.

β-lactam resistance represents a worldwide problem and a serious challenge for antimicrobial treatment. Hence this research was conducted to recognize several mechanisms mediating β-lactam resistance in E. coli and K. pneumoniae clinical isolates collected from Mansoura University hospitals, Egypt. A total of 80 isolates, 45 E. coli and 35 K. pneumoniae isolates, were collected and their antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the Disc diffusion method followed by phenotypic and genotypic detection of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), AmpC β-lactamase, carbapenemase enzymes. The outer membrane protein porins of all isolates were analyzed and their genes were examined using gene amplification and sequencing. Also, the resistance to complement-mediated serum killing was estimated. A significant percentage of isolates (93.8%) were multidrug resistance and showed an elevated resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. The presence of either ESBL or AmpC enzymes was high among isolates (83.75%). Also, 60% of the isolated strains were carbapenemase producers. The most frequently detected gene of ESBL among all tested isolates was blaCTX-M-15 (86.3%) followed by blaTEM-1 (81.3%) and blaSHV-1 (35%) while the Amp-C gene was present in 83.75%. For carbapenemase-producing isolates, blaNDM1 was the most common (60%) followed by blaVIM-1 (35%) and blaOXA-48 (13.8%). Besides, 73.3% and 40% of E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates respectively were serum resistant. Outer membrane protein analysis showed that 93.3% of E. coli and 95.7% of K. pneumoniae isolates lost their porins or showed modified porins. Furthermore, sequence analysis of tested porin genes in some isolates revealed the presence of frameshift mutations that produced truncated proteins of smaller size. β-lactam resistance in K. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates in our hospitals is due to a combination of β-lactamase activity and porin loss/alteration. Hence more restrictions should be applied on β-lactams usage to decrease the emergence of resistant strains.

Over the past decades, Escherichia coli (E. coli) have acquired extensive resistance to antibiotics; especially β- lactams. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase producers among E. coli isolates and their correlation with serotypes, phylogenetic background, and pathogenicity associated islands. A total of 105 E. coli strains were isolated and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing against β-lactam antibiotics. All isolates showed a high resistance profile. Resistant isolates were tested for ESBL and carbapenemase production. Fifty-three and 18 isolates were positive for ESBL and carbapenemase producers, respectively. ESBL and carbapenemase genes were detected by PCR. TEM gene was the most prevalent gene among all isolates followed by SHV and CTX-M15. In carbapenemase-producers, OXA-48 and IMP were the predominant genes. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) were the major producers of ESBL and carbapenemase, respectively as indicated by serodiagnosis. They were further assessed for the presence of pathogenicity islands (PAIs) and phylogenetic background. The most predominant DEC PAI and ExPEC PAI were HPI and IICFT073. Most clinically ESBL-producers were group D and B2 while environmentally ones were group B1 and A. On contrary, clinically carbapenemase-producers belonged to group C and D. In conclusion, our study confirms the importance of phylogenetic group D, B2, and C origin for antibiotic resistance in E. coli. Ultimately, our findings support the fact that environmental isolates contribute to the local spread of E. coli pathogenicity in Egypt and these isolates maybe serve as reservoirs for transmission of resistance.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic bacterium, which considered as a common cause of nosocomial infection and life-threatening complications in immunocompromized and cystic fibrosis patients. Here, we evaluate the protective effect of recombinant vaccines composed of outer membrane proteins OprF and OprI alone or in combination with flagellin B against mucoid and nonmucoid pseudomonas infection. Methods: BALB/C mice were immunized subcutaneous using OprF and OprI with or without flagellin B and antibody titers were determined. Serum bactericidal and opsonophagocytosis activities of immunized and control sera were estimated against mucoid and nonmucoid pseudomonas strains. Lung tissue sections from immunized and nonimmunized mice were analyzed and the levels of peripheral neutrophils infiltration into the lung and tissue inflammation were scored. Results: Subcutaneous immunization using OprF and OprI with or without flagellin B elicited higher antibody titers against OprF, OprI, and flagellin B. The produced antibodies successfully opsonized both mucoid and nonmucoid strains with subsequent activation of the terminal pathway of complement that enhances killing of nonmucoid strains via complement-mediated lysis. Furthermore, opsonized mucoid and nonmucoid strains showed enhanced opsonophagocytosis via human peripheral neutrophils, a mechanism that kills P. aeruginosa when complement mediated lysis is not effective especially with mucoid strains. Immunized mice also showed a significant prolonged survival time, lower bacteremia, and reduced lung damage when compared with control nonimmunized mice. Conclusion: Our data showed that mice immunized with OprF/OprI or OprF/OprI and flagellin B are significantly protected from infection caused by mucoid and nonmucoid strains of P. aeruginosa.