European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common health problem in both community and nosocomial settings, affecting both men and women equally. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic human pathogen causing devastating acute and chronic infections in individuals with compromised immune systems. Biofilm is an architecture built mostly by autogenic extracellular polymeric substances which function as a scaffold to encase the bacteria together on surfaces, and to protect them from environmental stresses, impedes phagocytosis and thereby conferring the capacity for colonization and long-term persistence. So, the aim of this study to screen of some important quorum sensing and biofilm genes among pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from UTIs patients. Methods: These study was conducted in Al-Qadisiyah province, Iraq at five major hospitals (AL-Diwanyia Teaching Hospital, Feminine and children teaching hospital, Afak General Hospital, AL-Hamzah General Hospital and AL-Shamiya General Hospital) during the period from (November, 2020 to June, 2021). A total of 800 urine samples were collected from male and females referring to five major hospitals. The age of the patients ranged from (1 to 80) years-old. Results: Sixty isolates were showed positive and identified as P. aeruginosa by using selective media, biochemical test system and VITEK-2 compact system. Genetically, in the present study, a total DNA was extracted from all clinical P. aeruginosa isolates. The current study revealed that all isolates showed difference in contain the ninth genes (lasR, rhlI, pelA, pslA, lecA, ndvB, tssc1, vfr and QscR), which was related with biofilm formation and Quorum sensing (QS) phenomenon. Conclusion: The study conclude the quorum sensing system play a important role in pathogenicity and biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa, and it’s an essential for bacteria to increase growth and resistant of antibiotics.

Herbal remedy has been used for beauty and health purposes in the traditional and modern medicine. The range of using herbs has been escalating in the past few years. However, there are no enough scientific based evidence in this aspect, as herbs contain a wide range of phytochemicals that has to be studied in meticulous details to understand its effect on the body. In this study, three plants were chosen from the local Iraqi market and extracted, then a pharmacological study was conducted on mice. Histopathological changes were studied on all the study groups. It was concluded that the three herbal aqueous extracts of (APIUM GRAVEOLENS, CARTHAMUS TINCTORIOUS AND PUNICA GRANATUM) gave an antiaging effect and was able to reverse aging induced by D- Galactose. PUNICA GRANATUM (Pomegranate) gave the best result in reversing aging signs on mouse skin.

One significant member of the Rubiaceae family and a frequently used herb in siddha treatment is Spermacoce hispida Linn. Phytochemical components found in plant extracts include saponins, tannins, phenolics, steroids, essential oils, flavonoids, and terpenoids. This plant's chemical components have been employed for its antidiabetic, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, analgesic, antifungal, anticancer, and antioxidant activities. In the current investigation pharmacognostic evaluation and antioxidant potential of Spermacoce hispida was carried out. The outcome of study showed that the methanolic extract of S.hispida had strong hydrogen donating ability with an IC50 value of 60.91 µg/ml, respectively and the value was found to be less than the standard vitamin C (IC50 value of 19.77 µg/ml).

Flavonoids and the other phenolic compounds are commonly known as plant secondary metabolites that hold an aromatic ring bearing at least one hydroxyl groups. Flavonoids are principal active constituents have been used to treatment of various human diseases. The plant Desmodium gangeticum (DC), Family-Fabaceae has been used in folklore medicine in the treatment of various ailments.

Antibiotic resistance has become a serious global concern. It is important to identify new sources of natural antioxidants and antimicrobials. The present study describes for the first time the antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of various extracts of Monodora myristica a traditional medicinal plant. Each prepared concentration of the different extracts was tested for its antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli (E. coli) on nutrient agar plates using disc diffusion method. At 50mg/ml showed inhibition of 13 and 15 mm against E. coli only for dichloromethane and methanol extracts respectively. The standard ciprofloxacin at1mg/ml showed inhibition to all four tested pathogens, while antioxidant activity was analyzed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method. A mixture of phytochemicals like phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides were found in dichloromethane and methanolic extract of Monodora myristica which also showed remarkable potential with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The current study provides initial data that justify the use of Monodora myristica folkloric medicine. Our results showed that Monodora myristica has powerful antibacterial bioactivity against E. coli and antioxidant activity. Further investigations are needed to identify and characterize these constituents.

Background: Pediatric pneumonia is an acute infection typically associated with respiratory symptoms and clinical and/or radiological evidence of parenchymal involvement. Worldwide pneumonia is leading cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. Pneumonia is defined as the infection of lung parenchyma is the single leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children less than 5 years worldwide. OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of ZINC supplementation as an adjuvant therapy on outcome of pneumonia. MATERIAL & METHODS: Study Design: Prospective hospital based comparative study. Study area: Department of PAEDIATRICS, Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences, Suraram, Hyderabad. Study Period: Aug. 2019 – July 2020. Study population: children of age group 2 months to 5 years attending to the OPD (either of the sex) fulfilling IMNCI guidelines for Acute Pneumonia. Sample size: study consisted a total of 100 cases. Sampling method: Simple Random sampling method. Study tools and Data collection procedure: The Care takers will be explained about the purpose of the study and a written assent will be taken. Data will be collected in a pre –designed, pre-structured, questionnaire which will include demographic details of patients such as Name, Age, Sex, Education, Per capita Income, Social Class, Residence, Signs & Symptoms of Pneumonia, Nutritional assessment, Dietary History, Immunization history and other investigative findings will also be included. For children up to 2months of age group RR >60 is taken as tachypnea. For children 2months up to 1-year RR > 50 is taken as tachypnea. For children 1year to 5 years RR > 40 is taken as tachypnea 5 years RR > 40 is taken as tachypnea. The 100 selected participants (either of the sex) will be grouped in to two study groups and each group will be allotted 50 patients. Results: The mean time required for zinc group to become asymptomatic was 66.44±34.75 hrs vs. 87.20±38.65 hrs in Non-zinc group (p= 0.055). This is statistically significant. The mean time for the disappearance of danger signs was 46.66±14.49 hours in zinc group and 64.28±12.80 hrs in Non-zinc group (p=0.262). present study showed mean time for disappearance of danger sign was less in zinc supplemented group (but statistically no significant). CONCLUSION: According to the results of the present study and comparing them with other similar studies in this field, it can be inferred that zinc can hasten the recovery from pneumonia and quickly resolve its symptoms in children suffering from this disease.