Development Of A Thermostabilized Multiplex PCR Assay For The Rapid Detection Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Staphylococcus aureus rintang methicillin (MRSA) bertanggungjawab terhadap kebanyakan jangkitan nosokomial dan komuniti. Ujian kultur konvensional mengambil masa selama dua hingga lima hari untuk menghasilkan maklumat penuh mengenai organisma dan pola kerintangan antibiotiknya. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk membangunkan ujian reaksi berantai polimerasi berganda untuk pengesanan MRSA dengan pantas. Ujian ini akan mengesan lima gen iaitu 16S rRNA gen dari genus Staphylococcus,femA Staphylococcus aureus, mecA yang mengekod rintangan methicillin, lukS yang mengekod pengeluaran leukosidin Panton-Valentine (PVL), sitotoksin nekrosis, dan satu gen kawalan dalaman secara serentak. Pasangan primer yang unik dan khusus telah pireka untuk mengamplifikasi lima gen dengan produk reaksi berantai polimerasi pada julat 151 hingga 759 bp. Primer yang spesifik disahkan berdasarkan urutan jujukan DNA produk reaksi berantai polimerasi berganda dan analisa Blast. The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is responsible for nosocomial and community-acquired infections. The conventional culture test takes 2-5 days to yield complete information of the organism and its antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Hence our present study was focused on developing a multiplex PCR assay for the rapid detection of MRSA. The assay simultaneously detected five genes, namely 16S rRNA of the Staphylococcus genus,femA of S. aureus, mecA that encodes methicillin resistance, lukS that encodes production of Panton- Valentine leukocidin (PVL), a necrotizing cytotoxin and one internal control. Unique and specific primer pairs were designed to amplify the 5 genes with the PCR products ranging from 151 to 759 bp. The specificity of the primers was confirmed by DNA sequencing of the multiplex PCR products and BLAST analysis

Malignancy risk analysis in patients with inadequate fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the thyroid

Background Thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the standard diagnostic modality for thyroid nodules. However, it has limitations among which is the incidence of non-diagnostic results (Thy1). Management of cases with repeatedly non-diagnostic FNAC ranges from simple observation to surgical intervention. We aim to evaluate the incidence of malignancy in non-diagnostic FNAC, and the success rate of repeated FNAC. We also aim to evaluate risk factors for malignancy in patients with non-diagnostic FNAC. Materials and Methods Retrospective analyses of consecutive cases with thyroid non diagnostic FNAC results were included. Results Out of total 1657 thyroid FNAC done during the study period, there were 264 (15.9%) non-diagnostic FNAC on the first attempt. On repeating those, the rate of a non-diagnostic result on second FNAC was 61.8% and on third FNAC was 47.2%. The overall malignancy rate in Thy1 FNAC was 4.5% (42% papillary, 42% follicular and 8% anaplastic), and the yield of malignancy decreased considerably with successive non-diagnostic FNAC. Ultrasound guidance by an experienced head neck radiologist produced the lowest non-diagnostic rate (38%) on repetition compared to US guidance by a generalist radiologist (65%) and by non US guidance (90%). Conclusions There is a low risk of malignancy in patients with a non-diagnostic FNAC result, commensurate to the risk of any nodule. The yield of malignancy decreased considerably with successive non-diagnostic FNAC

A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the impact of diurnal intermittent fasting during Ramadan on body weight in healthy subjects aged 16 years and above

PURPOSE: Studies on the effect of Ramadan diurnal intermittent fasting (RDIF) on body weight have yielded conflicting results. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the effect size of body weight changes in healthy, non-athletic Muslims practicing Ramadan fasting, and to assess the effect of covariates such as age, sex, fasting time duration, season, and country, using subgroup analysis, and meta-regression. Covariate adjustments were performed to explain the variability of weight change in response to Ramadan fasting.METHODS: CINAHL, Cochrane, EBSCOhost, EMBASE, Google Scholar, ProQuest Medical, PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from date of inception in 1950 to the end of August 2019.RESULTS: Eighty-five studies, conducted in 25 countries during 1982-2019, were identified. RDIF yielded a significant, but small reduction in body weight (K = 85, number of subjects, N = 4176 (aged 16-80 years), Hedges' g =- 0.360, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 0.405 to - 0.315, I2 = 45.6%), this effect size translates into difference in means of - 1.022 kg (95% CI - 1.164 kg to - 0.880 kg). Regression analysis for moderator covariates revealed that fasting time (min/day) is a significant (P &lt; 0.05) moderator for weight change at the end of Ramadan, while age and sex are not. Variable effects for the season and country were found.CONCLUSION: RDIF may confer a significant small reduction in body weight in non-athletic healthy people aged 16 years and above, directly associated with fasting time and variably correlated with the season, and country.</p

Validation of a new optical diagnosis training module to improve dysplasia characterization in inflammatory bowel disease: a multicenter international study

Background and Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases risk of dysplasia and colorectal cancer. Advanced endoscopic techniques allow for the detection and characterization of IBD dysplastic lesions, but specialized training is not widely available. We aimed to develop and validate an online training platform to improve the detection and characterization of colonic lesions in IBD: OPtical diagnosis Training to Improve dysplasia Characterization in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (OPTIC-IBD). Methods: We designed a web-based learning module that includes surveillance principles, optical diagnostic methods, approach to characterization, and classifications of colonic lesions using still images and videos. We invited gastroenterologists from Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom with a wide range of experience. Participants reviewed 24 educational videos of IBD colonic lesions, predicted histology, and rated their confidence. The primary endpoint was to improve accuracy in detecting dysplastic lesions after training on the platform. Furthermore, participants were randomized 1:1 to get additional training or not, with a final assessment occurring after 60 days. Diagnostic performance for dysplasia and rater confidence were measured. Results: A total of 117 participants completed the study and were assessed for the primary endpoint. Diagnostic accuracy improved from 70.8% to 75.0% (P = .002) after training, with the greatest improvements seen in less experienced endoscopists. Improvements in both accuracy and confidence were sustained after 2 months of assessment, although the group randomized to receive additional training did not improve further. Similarly, participants’ confidence in characterizing lesions significantly improved between before and after the course (P &lt; .001), and it was sustained after 2 months of assessment. Conclusions: The OPTIC-IBD training module demonstrated that an online platform could improve participants’ accuracy and confidence in the optical diagnosis of dysplasia in patients with IBD. The training platform can be widely available and improve endoscopic care for people with IBD

Study the effect of Aqueous cold water and Alcoholic extracts of Ziziphus spina christi against bacteria isolated from Conjunctivitis In vitro and In vivo

This study aimed to study the effect of Ziziphus spina christi Aqueous cold and Alcoholic leaves and fruits extracts on the growth and activities of the following types of bacteria :( Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes ). The results appeared outweigh the alcoholic extract of leaves and fruits of Sidr that prepared by saxholate extractor by addition of ethanol 95% significant superiority as compared with aqueous extract that prepared by using distilled water as was its influence inhibitor to the growth and effectiveness of bacteria , about the treatment of in-vivo to cause injury to these types of bacteria diagnosed laboratory mice and treated with alcoholic extract of the leaves of Sidr highest concentration of inhibitor Tests showed a positive response to treatment

Climate changes impact on the distribution of vegetation in Wasit and Nineveh regions of Iraq

Climate changes have a direct or indirect impact on many vital systems, including human and animal, as well as vegetation. The monthly precipitation and temperature for the period (1981-2021) and vegetation images (NDVI) for the period (2000-2022) from the satellite (NASA) for the regions of Ninevah and Wasit of Iraq were used to find out their variations over the space and time. It was found that the temperature was increasing with time, but the precipitation was in a state of turbulent increase in the two study areas. The distribution of vegetation was also in a state of change with time as well as within a region. The vegetation area increased with increase in precipitation which was greater in the Ninevah region than in the Wasit region. When there was a lack of precipitation, the vegetation cover area decreased in the two study areas.  The increase in temperature also resulted in a decrease in the density and area of vegetation. It was found that the change in the amount of precipitation was more influential than the change in temperature on the vegetative distribution