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Sepsis is the leading cause of mortality in children worldwide. There is a paucity of data on the criteria used to define sepsis and septic shock and predict mortality. Schlapbach et al. published Phoenix criteria to define sepsis in JAMA in 2024. Previously, paediatricians have used systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria, but these criteria lack sensitivity and specificity. This group recommends that sepsis in children be identified by a Phoenix Sepsis Score of at least 2 points in children with suspected infection, which indicates potentially life-threatening dysfunction of the respiratory, cardiovascular, coagulation, and/or neurological systems. Though included in the 8-point criteria, important criteria like renal and liver are missing from the main criteria. We remain worried about the way these criteria got excluded from the main criteria. Therefore, in this brief report, whilst commending the authors for this stelar task, we highlight the main pitfalls in these criteria especially the renal, neurologic, and liver criteria. These criteria have been shown to be independently associated with outcomes, and we recommend that in the future iterations of the criteria, renal and liver criteria should be defined according to latest definitions and the task force consider utilizing latest criteria for each organ system involved within the formulated criteria. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, Phoenix criteria are a step in the right direction to define life-threatening organ dysfunction in sepsis, but clinicians need to be mindful that diagnosis/treatment of less severe sepsis should not be delayed if these criteria are not met. Therefore, local early detection and management tools for sepsis should be followed. WHAT IS KNOWN: ⢠There has always been a quest for a definition for pediatric sepsis. There are limitations to the previous pediatric sepsis criteria which were published in 2005 by the International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference (IPSCC). IPSCC defines sepsis as a suspected or confirmed infection in the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). These new Phoenix Pediatric Sepsis (PPS) criteria for sepsis and septic shock are intended to identify children with life-threatening organ dysfunction due to infection, and the score was developed based on a very large pediatric dataset. WHAT IS NEW: ⢠Though the intention of Phoenix criteria is to help identify children with life threatening organ dysfunction, unfortunately the crietria will miss signs of early sepis. In this manuscript, we point out some of the drawbacks of these criteria which need to be borne in mind while applying these criteria.
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Due to its nutritional value and health benefits, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an essential dietary food crop throughout Middle Eastern and African countries. Consumers are concerned about the possible microbial contamination of dates, especially since most dates arriving in local markets are unprocessed. The absence of processing increases the possibility of microbial contamination, which raises the probability of microbial contamination. This study aims to analyze and evaluate the variability of fungal and bacterial microbiota identified in the most popular date palm fruits in Saudi Arabia. The study assessed ten date variety fruits from the most popular date palm varieties for consumption in Saudi Arabia and analyzed the microbial count. Morphological and molecular characterization and comparison of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences identified 78 fungi, including 36 distinct species across 15 fungal genera. Alternaria, Fusarium, Curvilaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium were the most frequent genera among the ten fruit cultivars studied, according to ITS-rDNA sequence analysis. Furthermore, 36 bacterial isolates were obtained from ten date varieties studied, each with a unique colony morphology. These isolates were identified based on sequence alignment and comparison of their 16S rDNA internal spacer regions to those available in public databases. The results showed that the bacterial isolates included 15 species from five bacterial genera. The results suggested that Bacillus, Stenotrophomonas, and Brucella were the prevailing genera among the ten tested fruit varieties. Some bacterial genera, such as Brucella, Achromobacter, and Stenotrophomonas, are well-known potential human pathogens. Chaetomium globosum was also recognized as air pollution causing adverse health effects such as allergies and as the causal agent of human fungal infections among the tested date varieties; the Rashodiah type exhibited the highest fungal contamination, whereas the Sagai variety displayed the lowest fungal contamination. Conversely, the Sukkari, Barhi, and Mejdool varieties were the most contaminated with bacteria among the ten tested varieties, while the Khalas variety showed the least bacterial contamination. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study provides the initial comprehensive account of the molecular and morphological identification of all fungal and bacterial genera associated with date palm (P. dactylifera) fruits.
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Bacterias , Biodiversidad , Frutas , Hongos , Microbiota , Phoeniceae , Phoeniceae/microbiología , Phoeniceae/genética , Frutas/microbiología , Microbiota/genética , Hongos/clasificación , Hongos/genética , Hongos/aislamiento & purificación , Bacterias/clasificación , Bacterias/genética , Bacterias/aislamiento & purificación , Arabia Saudita , Filogenia , ARN Ribosómico 16S/genética , ADN Espaciador Ribosómico/genéticaRESUMEN
Unlabelled: Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive technology in which delivery of psychological therapy techniques can be automated. Techniques can be implemented similarly to real-world delivery or in ways that are not possible in the real world to enhance efficacy. The potential is for greater access for patients to effective therapy. Despite an increase in the use of VR for mental health, there are few descriptions of how to build and design automated VR therapies. We describe the development of Phoenix VR Self-Confidence Therapy, designed to increase positive self-beliefs in young patients diagnosed with psychosis in order to improve psychological well-being. A double-diamond, user-centered design process conducted over the course of 18 months was used, involving stakeholders from multiple areas: individuals with lived experience of psychosis, clinical psychologists, treatment designers, and VR software developers. Thirteen meetings were held with young patients diagnosed with psychosis to increase the understanding and improve the assessment of positive self-beliefs, help design the scenarios for implementing therapeutic techniques, and conduct user testing. The resulting Phoenix therapy is a class I United Kingdom Conformity Assessed (UKCA)-certified medical device designed to be used on the standalone Meta Quest 2 (Meta Platforms) headset. Phoenix aims to build up 3 types of positive self-beliefs that are connected to psychological well-being. In a community farm area, tasks are designed to increase a sense of mastery and achievement ("I can make a difference"); in a TV studio, users complete an activity with graded levels of difficulty to promote success in the face of a challenge ("I can do this"); and in a forest by a lake, activities are designed to encourage feelings of pleasure and enjoyment ("I can enjoy things"). Phoenix is delivered over the course of approximately 6 weekly sessions supported by a mental health provider. Patients can take the headsets home to use in between sessions. Usability testing with individuals with lived experience of psychosis, as well as patients in the National Health Service (aged 16-26 years), demonstrated that Phoenix is engaging, easy to use, and has high levels of satisfaction.
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Plants thrive in diverse environments, where root-microbe interactions play a pivotal role. Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), with its genetic diversity and resilience, is an ideal model for studying microbial adaptation to different genotypes and stresses. This study aimed to analyze the bacterial and fungal communities associated with traditional date palm cultivars and the widely cultivated "Deglet Nour" were explored using metabarcoding approaches. The microbial diversity analysis identified a rich community with 13,189 bacterial and 6442 fungal Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs). Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidota dominated bacterial communities, while Ascomycota dominated fungal communities. Analysis of the microbial community revealed the emergence of two distinct clusters correlating with specific date palm cultivars, but fungal communities showed higher sensitivity to date palm genotype variations compared to bacterial communities. The commercial cultivar "Deglet Nour" exhibited a unique microbial composition enriched in pathogenic fungal taxa, which was correlated with its genetic distance. Overall, our study contributes to understanding the complex interactions between date palm genotypes and soil microbiota, highlighting the genotype role in microbial community structure, particularly among fungi. These findings suggest correlations between date palm genotype, stress tolerance, and microbial assembly, with implications for plant health and resilience. Further research is needed to elucidate genotype-specific microbial interactions and their role in enhancing plant resilience to environmental stresses.
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Bacterias , Hongos , Microbiota , Phoeniceae , Microbiología del Suelo , Phoeniceae/microbiología , Phoeniceae/genética , Bacterias/clasificación , Bacterias/genética , Bacterias/aislamiento & purificación , Hongos/genética , Hongos/clasificación , Hongos/aislamiento & purificación , Hongos/fisiología , Genotipo , Raíces de Plantas/microbiología , Suelo/químicaRESUMEN
The incidence of cardiovascular disorders is continuously rising, and there are no effective drugs to treat diabetes-associated heart failure. Thus, there is an urgent need to explore alternate approaches, including natural plant extracts, which have been successfully exploited for therapeutic purposes. The current study aimed to explore the cardioprotective potential of Phoenix dactylifera (PD) extract in experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Following in vitro phytochemical analyses, Wistar albino rats (N = 16, male; age 2-3 weeks) were fed with a high-fat or standard diet prior to injection of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg i.p.) after 2 months and separation into the following four treatment groups: healthy control, DCM control, DCM metformin (200 mg/kg/day, as the reference control), and DCM PD treatment (5 mg/kg/day). After 25 days, glucolipid and myocardial blood and serum markers were assessed along with histopathology and gene expression of both heart and pancreatic tissues. The PD treatment improved glucolipid balance (FBG 110 ± 5.5 mg/dL; insulin 17 ± 3.4 ng/mL; total cholesterol 75 ± 8.5 mg/dL) and oxidative stress (TOS 50 ± 7.8 H2O2equiv./L) in the DCM rats, which was associated with preserved structural integrity of both the pancreas and heart compared to the DCM control (FBG 301 ± 10 mg/dL; insulin 27 ± 3.4 ng/mL; total cholesterol 126 ± 10 mg/dL; TOS 165 ± 12 H2O2equiv./L). Gene expression analyses revealed that PD treatment upregulated the expression of insulin signaling genes in pancreatic tissue (INS-I 1.69 ± 0.02; INS-II 1.3 ± 0.02) and downregulated profibrotic gene expression in ventricular tissue (TGF-ß 1.49 ± 0.04) compared to the DCM control (INS-I 0.6 ± 0.02; INS-II 0.49 ± 0.03; TGF-ß 5.7 ± 0.34). Taken together, these data indicate that Phoenix dactylifera may offer cardioprotection in DCM by regulating glucolipid balance and metabolic signaling.
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Diabetes Mellitus Experimental , Cardiomiopatías Diabéticas , Metabolismo de los Lípidos , Phoeniceae , Extractos Vegetales , Ratas Wistar , Animales , Phoeniceae/química , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Extractos Vegetales/uso terapéutico , Masculino , Cardiomiopatías Diabéticas/metabolismo , Cardiomiopatías Diabéticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Cardiomiopatías Diabéticas/patología , Cardiomiopatías Diabéticas/prevención & control , Ratas , Metabolismo de los Lípidos/efectos de los fármacos , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/tratamiento farmacológico , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/complicaciones , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/patología , Metanol/química , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Remodelación Ventricular/efectos de los fármacos , Cardiotónicos/farmacología , Cardiotónicos/uso terapéutico , Miocardio/metabolismo , Miocardio/patologíaRESUMEN
Reliable detection of mecA and mecC-mediated beta-lactam resistance using automated antimicrobial susceptibility test systems is critical for patient care. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the new cefoxitin screen test (oxsf02n) on the Vitek 2 card (Vitek 2) and BD Phoenix PMC-100 Gram-Positive AST Panel (Phoenix) against the reference method for the detection of mecA (and mecC)-mediated beta-lactam resistance. Two hundred fifty clinical fresh and stock Staphylococcus spp. isolates were included. There were 120 mecA-positive, 10 mecC-positive, and 120 mecA and mecC-negative isolates. Cefoxitin screen and oxacillin tests were performed on Vitek 2 and Phoenix and by their respective reference methods (disk diffusion for the cefoxitin screen test and broth microdilution for oxacillin) for all isolates. PCR testing was also performed to confirm the presence of mecA and/or mecC genes. Results from each system were compared to the reference methods. Statistical hypotheses were evaluated both for Vitek 2 compared to the reference methods and Vitek 2 compared to the Phoenix. Compared to the reference method, the Vitek 2 cefoxitin screen test had 100% sensitivity/98% specificity and the Phoenix cefoxitin screen test had 84% sensitivity/100% specificity for the detection of mecA (and mecC)-mediated beta-lactam resistance. When the oxacillin test was combined with the cefoxitin screen for Vitek 2, the sensitivity and specificity were unchanged. However, when the oxacillin and cefoxitin screen tests were combined for the Phoenix, the sensitivity increased to 100% and the specificity remained unchanged (100%). When considering cefoxitin alone, the Vitek 2 screen test showed a higher sensitivity than the Phoenix for the detection of mecA and mecC-mediated beta-lactam resistance. However, currently, both systems use a combination of the cefoxitin and oxacillin tests to interpret the final result, and both reached a high level of performance when cefoxitin and oxacillin results were combined.IMPORTANCEThis research marks the inaugural evaluation of the revamped cefoxitin screen test version in Vitek 2, juxtaposing it against reference methods and a primary competitor BD Phoenix.
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Antibacterianos , Cefoxitina , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Cefoxitina/farmacología , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana/métodos , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Humanos , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Oxacilina/farmacología , Staphylococcus/efectos de los fármacos , Staphylococcus/genética , Resistencia betalactámica , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/microbiología , Proteínas de Unión a las Penicilinas/genéticaRESUMEN
This work investigates the quality change of date palm fruits after hydration treatment which is commonly applied to enhance the hard textured 'Deglet Nour' fruits that are unacceptable for consumption. Date palm fruits were treated at 60-62 °C with saturated steam for 4 h in three different processing units (DPU). Mid Infrared Spectroscopy (MIR) giving a global spectral evaluation discriminates samples from the three DPUs and highlights date palm fruits of the first DPU regarding hydration treatment. Treatment led to a decrease of fruit firmness, skin lightness, and of sucrose and malic acid contents whereas citric acid and procyanidins contents and procyanidins 'degree of polymerization increased. Thermal treatment had no effect on glucose and fructose contents, on cell wall content and composition and on minor phenolic groups. Significant differences existed on dates from the three DPUs, discriminating dates presenting high firmness. Hydration treatment improve dates texture as expected while nutritional parameters were quite stable, confirming that is very promising and could be highly recommended to valorise fruit that are currently not commercialized. However, optimisation is needed for the very hard-type dates.
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Manipulación de Alimentos , Frutas , Phoeniceae , Frutas/química , Phoeniceae/química , Calor , Agua/análisisRESUMEN
Members of the genus Lysinibacillus attract attention for their mosquitocidal, bioremediation, and plant growth-promoting abilities. Despite this interest, comprehensive studies focusing on genomic traits governing plant growth and stress resilience in this genus using whole-genome sequencing are still scarce. Therefore, we sequenced and compared the genomes of three endophytic Lysinibacillus irui strains isolated from Canary Island date palms with the ex-type strain IRB4-01. Overall, the genomes of these strains consist of a circular chromosome with an average size of 4.6 Mb and a GC content of 37.2%. Comparative analysis identified conserved gene clusters within the core genome involved in iron acquisition, phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis, and volatile compounds. In addition, genome analysis revealed the presence of genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes, and proteins that confer resistance to oxidative, osmotic, and salinity stresses. Furthermore, pathways of putative novel bacteriocins were identified in all genomes. This illustrates possible common plant growth-promoting traits shared among all strains of L. irui. Our findings highlight a rich repertoire of genes associated with plant lifestyles, suggesting significant potential for developing inoculants to enhance plant growth and resilience. This study is the first to provide insights into the overall genomic signatures and mechanisms of plant growth promotion and biocontrol in the genus Lysinibacillus. KEY POINTS: ⢠Pioneer study in elucidating plant growth promoting in L. irui through comparative genomics. ⢠Genome mining identified biosynthetic pathways of putative novel bacteriocins. ⢠Future research directions to develop L. irui-based biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture.
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Bacillaceae , Genoma Bacteriano , Genómica , Bacillaceae/genética , Bacillaceae/metabolismo , Composición de Base , Familia de Multigenes , Arecaceae/microbiología , Desarrollo de la Planta , Secuenciación Completa del Genoma , Bacteriocinas/genética , Bacteriocinas/metabolismo , Bacteriocinas/biosíntesis , Filogenia , Reguladores del Crecimiento de las Plantas/metabolismo , Ácidos Indolacéticos/metabolismo , Estrés FisiológicoRESUMEN
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit samples belonging to the 'Mejhoul' and 'Boufeggous' cultivars were harvested at the Tamar stage and used in our experiments. Before scanning, date samples were dried using convective drying at 60 °C and infrared drying at 60 °C with a frequency of 50 Hz, and then they were scanned. The scanning trials were performed for two hundred date palm fruit in fresh, convective-dried, and infrared-dried forms of each cultivar using a flatbed scanner. The image-texture parameters of date fruit were extracted from images converted to individual color channels in RGB, Lab, XYZ, and UVS color models. The models to classify fresh and dried samples were developed based on selected image textures using machine learning algorithms belonging to the groups of Bayes, Trees, Lazy, Functions, and Meta. For both the 'Mejhoul' and 'Boufeggous' cultivars, models built using Random Forest from the group of Trees turned out to be accurate and successful. The average classification accuracy for fresh, convective-dried, and infrared-dried 'Mejhoul' reached 99.33%, whereas fresh, convective-dried, and infrared-dried samples of 'Boufeggous' were distinguished with an average accuracy of 94.33%. In the case of both cultivars and each model, the higher correctness of discrimination was between fresh and infrared-dried samples, whereas the highest number of misclassified cases occurred between fresh and convective-dried fruit. Thus, the developed procedure may be considered an innovative approach to the non-destructive assessment of drying impact on the external quality characteristics of date palm fruit.
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Worldwide, environmental groups and policymakers are focusing on waste recycling to create economic value and on the decomposition of waste by leveraging on scarce resources. This work, therefore, explores the thermal decomposition of enhanced biodegradable polymer matrices made from a mixture of discarded Phoenix dactylifera L./high-density polyethylene (PD/HDPE) using the machine learning analysis of experimental data. The experimental results of these samples were obtained via thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis under an oxidation-free environment, with heating rates of 10, 20, and 40 °C·min-1 and a degradation temperature range from 25 to 600 °C. The TGA analyses revealed the continued dependence of the actual percentage weight loss by these materials as a test function of the degradation temperature, shifting thermograms to temperature maxima consistent with increasing heating rates. Although high-density polyethylene (HDPE) materials were found to be thermally more stable than Phoenix dactylifera L. (PD) materials, PD/HDPE composite materials contained a significant amount of residual ash. Using a machine learning deep neural network approach for this process, significantly improved learning algorithms have been developed, which reduces the overall cost function (residual error) to almost zero (0.025) after just over a million iterations (epochs) and provides predictions that overlap with the experimental results (R2~1). Learning algorithms, along with optimized synaptic weights and biases, were employed to predict the behaviour of PD materials based on experimental thermograms conducted at higher degradation temperatures, typically ranging between 600 and 1000 °C. Predicted data using the enhanced learning algorithms completely overlapped the experiments (R2~1) for these higher degradation temperatures with near unity correlation if the decomposition of the materials continued until the residue was attained. With this approach, it is possible to predict and optimize the thermal characteristics of PD and HDPE with greater efficiency, which reduces the need for multiple design iterations and experimentation.
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BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the performance of three commercial panels, the ERIC Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Test (ERIC CRE test), the NG-Test CARBA 5 (NG CARBA 5), and the BD Phoenix CPO Detect Panel (CPO panel), for the detection of main types of carbapenemases among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). METHODS: We collected 502 isolates of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) demonstrating intermediate or resistant profiles to at least one carbapenem antibiotic (ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem, or doripenem). Carbapenemase genes and their specific types were identified through multiplex PCR and sequencing methods. Subsequently, the ERIC CRE test, CPO panel, and NG CARBA 5 assay were conducted on these isolates, and the results were compared with those obtained from multiplex PCR. RESULTS: The results indicated that the ERIC CRE test exhibited an overall sensitivity and specificity of 98.1% and 93.6%, respectively, which were comparable to 99.1% and 90.6% for the NG CARBA 5. However, the CPO panel demonstrated a sensitivity of only 56.2% in identifying Ambler classes, exhibiting the poorest sensitivity for class A. Moreover, while the ERIC CRE test outperformed the NG CARBA 5 in identifying multi-gene isolates with multiple carbapenemase-encoding genes, the CPO panel failed to accurately classify these isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the utilization of the ERIC CRE test as one of the methods for detecting carbapenemases in clinical laboratories. Nonetheless, further optimization is imperative for the CPO panel to enhance its accuracy in determining carbapenemase classification and address limitations in detecting multi-gene isolates.
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Antibacterianos , Proteínas Bacterianas , Enterobacteriaceae Resistentes a los Carbapenémicos , Carbapenémicos , Infecciones por Enterobacteriaceae , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , beta-Lactamasas , beta-Lactamasas/genética , Enterobacteriaceae Resistentes a los Carbapenémicos/genética , Enterobacteriaceae Resistentes a los Carbapenémicos/efectos de los fármacos , Enterobacteriaceae Resistentes a los Carbapenémicos/aislamiento & purificación , Enterobacteriaceae Resistentes a los Carbapenémicos/enzimología , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Humanos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana/métodos , Carbapenémicos/farmacología , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Infecciones por Enterobacteriaceae/microbiología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa Multiplex/métodosRESUMEN
Background: Cancer rates continue to climb, owing largely to the world population's aging and growth, as well as economically developing countries, a surge in cancer-causing behavior, particularly smoking. The third or fourth most prevalent type of cancer is colon cancer. Cancer of the large intestine (colon) is one of the primary causes of death from cancer. Colorectal cancer prevention is mostly based on adenomatous disease screening approaches. The cytotoxic and pharmacological properties of Phoenix pusilla are widely documented. As a result, there is little recorded evidence of its cytotoxic activity against colon cancer cells. Therefore, we planned to study the efficacy of a methanolic leaf extract of Phoenix pusilla against in vitro colon cancer cells. Aim: To evaluate the anti-cancer effects of the methanolic leaf extract of Phoenix pusilla on colon cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: In vitro screening and anti-cancer effects of the methanolic effect of Phoenix pusilla on colon cancer cell lines were assessed by cell viability assays and cell and nuclear morphological studies. For the in vitro cell culture study, different concentrations of Phoenix pusilla leaf extract (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 µg/ml) were used, and IC50 doses were calculated. Results: The results of the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay revealed that the fraction of viability cells significantly decreased in treated cells when compared to untreated control groups, was expressed as 100%, and an inhibitory concentration of µg/ml was identified. A phase-contrast microscope was used to observe cell shrinkage and cytoplasmic membrane blebbing. A fluorescent microscope was used to examine the apoptotic nuclei (internally dyed nuclei, shattered nuclei, and condensed chromatin). Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study results showed that the leaf extracts of Phoenix pusilla had a strong cytotoxic effect and induced significant apoptosis in the colon cancer cell lines at a concentration of 75 µg/ml in the 24 h incubation period. More research is needed to investigate the extract's active components as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-cancer properties.
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The many limitations of implementing anticancer strategies under the term "precision oncology" have been extensively discussed. While some authors propose promising future directions, others are less optimistic and use phrases such as illusion, hype, and false hypotheses. The reality is revealed by practicing clinicians and cancer patients in various online publications, one of which has stated that "in the quest for the next cancer cure, few researchers bother to look back at the graveyard of failed medicines to figure out what went wrong". The message is clear: Novel therapeutic strategies with catchy names (e.g., synthetic "lethality") have not fulfilled their promises despite decades of extensive research and clinical trials. The main purpose of this review is to discuss key challenges in solid tumor therapy that surprisingly continue to be overlooked by the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death (NCCD) and numerous other authors. These challenges include: The impact of chemotherapy-induced genome chaos (e.g., multinucleation) on resistance and relapse, oncogenic function of caspase 3, cancer cell anastasis (recovery from late stages of apoptosis), and pitfalls of ubiquitously used preclinical chemosensitivity assays (e.g., cell "viability" and tumor growth delay studies in live animals) that score such pro-survival responses as "lethal" events. The studies outlined herein underscore the need for new directions in the management of solid tumors.
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There are increasing reports of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) that test as cefepime-susceptible (S) or susceptible-dose dependent (SDD). However, there are no data to compare the cefepime testing performance of BD Phoenix automated susceptibility system (BD Phoenix) and disk diffusion (DD) relative to reference broth microdilution (BMD) against carbapenemase-producing (CPblaKPC-CRE) and non-producing (non-CP CRE) isolates. Cefepime susceptibility results were interpreted according to CLSI M100Ed32. Essential agreement (EA), categorical agreement (CA), minor errors (miEs), major errors (MEs), and very major errors (VMEs) were calculated for BD Phoenix (NMIC-306 Gram-negative panel) and DD relative to BMD. Correlates were also analyzed by the error rate-bounded method. EA and CA for CPblaKPC-CRE isolates (n = 64) were <90% with BD Phoenix while among non-CP CRE isolates (n = 58), EA and CA were 96.6%, and 79.3%, respectively. CA was <90% with DD for both cohorts. No ME or VME was observed for either isolate cohort; however, miEs were >10% for CPblaKPC-CRE and non-CP CRE with BD Phoenix and DD tests. For error rate-bounded method, miEs were <40% for IHigh + 1 to ILow - 1 ranges for CPblaKPC-CRE and non-CP CRE with BD Phoenix. Regarding disk diffusion, miEs were unacceptable for all MIC ranges among CPblaKPC-CRE. For non-CP CRE isolates, only IHigh + 1 to ILow - 1 range was acceptable at 37.2%. Using this challenge set of genotypic-phenotypic discordant CRE, the BD Phoenix MICs and DD susceptibility results trended higher (toward SDD and resistant phenotypes) relative to reference BMD results yielding lower CA. These results were more prominent among CPblaKPC-CRE than non-CP CRE.
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Antibacterianos , Enterobacteriaceae Resistentes a los Carbapenémicos , Cefepima , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Cefepima/farmacología , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana/métodos , Humanos , Enterobacteriaceae Resistentes a los Carbapenémicos/efectos de los fármacos , Pruebas Antimicrobianas de Difusión por Disco/métodos , Infecciones por Enterobacteriaceae/microbiología , Cefalosporinas/farmacologíaRESUMEN
In the European Mediterranean Region, palm trees are a common element in cities and semi-urban landscapes and have become important habitat structures for local fauna. This study aimed to monitor the invertebrate and vertebrate fauna occurring on and associated with ornamental palms of the genus Phoenix, over the course of one year. Five study sites were used in southern Spain, with varying levels of management. Several complementary methods were applied monthly in order to assess the vertebrates and invertebrates associated with the full seasonal cycle of palms, including flowering and fruiting. The study resulted in the identification of 216 invertebrate families from seven different classes and 89 vertebrate species, consisting of 62 bird, 20 mammal (including bats), six reptile and one amphibian species associated with Phoenix palms. It thus highlights that Phoenix palms provide a habitat for many species and individuals over the course of one year.
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BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare the performance of carbapenemase classification in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) obtained using the BD Phoenix CPO Detect panel (CPO panel) and Cepheid Xpert Carba-R assays. We analyzed 55 CRKP strains from clinical specimens collected between November 2020 and November 2022. The CPO panel was used to detect both antibiotic susceptibility and phenotypic carbapenemase classes, while Xpert Carba-R was employed to identify KPC, NDM, VIM, OXA-48, and IMP genes. Due to the limited availability of molecular kits, we arbitrarily selected 55 isolates, identified as carbapenemase-producing according to the CPO panel and with meropenem minimum inhibitory concentration values > 8 mg/L. RESULTS: According to the Xpert Carba-R assay, 16 of the 55 isolates (29.1%) were categorised as Ambler Class A (11 of which matched CPO panel Class A identification); three isolates (5.5%) were identified as Class B and 27 isolates (49.1%) as Class D (in both cases consistent with CPO panel B and D classifications). A further eight isolates (14.5%) exhibited multiple carbapenemase enzymes and were designated as dual-carbapenemase producers, while one isolate (1.8%) was identified as a non-carbapenemase-producer. The CPO panel demonstrated positive and negative percent agreements of 100% and 85.7% for Ambler Class A, 100% and 100% for Class B, and 96.4% and 100% for Class D carbapenemase detection, respectively. CONCLUSION: While the CPO panel's phenotypic performance was satisfactory in detecting Class B and D carbapenemases, additional confirmatory testing may be necessary for Class A carbapenemases as part of routine laboratory procedures.
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Proteínas Bacterianas , Infecciones por Klebsiella , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , beta-Lactamasas , beta-Lactamasas/genética , Klebsiella pneumoniae/genética , Klebsiella pneumoniae/enzimología , Klebsiella pneumoniae/aislamiento & purificación , Klebsiella pneumoniae/efectos de los fármacos , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Humanos , Infecciones por Klebsiella/microbiología , Infecciones por Klebsiella/diagnóstico , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Enterobacteriaceae Resistentes a los Carbapenémicos/aislamiento & purificación , Enterobacteriaceae Resistentes a los Carbapenémicos/genética , Enterobacteriaceae Resistentes a los Carbapenémicos/enzimología , Enterobacteriaceae Resistentes a los Carbapenémicos/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Phoenix dactylifera L. and its wastes are known to be high in nutrients that are beneficial to human health. The study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antiviral properties of Phoenix dactylifera L. pits extract (PDPE) in vitro. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis indicated phenol, 2,5-bis(1,1-dimethyl ethyl), tetradecanoic acid, octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether, á-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid, and heptaethylene glycol monododecyl ether existence. The PDPE influenced pathogenic microorganisms, with inhibition zone diameters (IZDs) ranging from 10.0 to 35.0 mm. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 5638 had the highest IZD, while Salmonella typhi DSM 17058 and Shigella sonnei DSM 5570 had the lowest. The antifungal effect observed only in spore failure or conidia formation. PDPE showed a 100% antibacterial spectrum against bacteria, with MIC values between 250 and 1000 µg/ml. MIC was only indicated with S. aureus of 500 µg/ml. MBC values ranged from 500 to 1000 g/ml, with MBC values of 500 g/ml for B. cereus, E. faecalis, S. typhi, and S. sonnei. The activity was 66.7% at 500 µg/ml, further concentrations of 125-250 g/ml had no antibacterial effect. PDPE biofilm inhibition % had the highest percentage of inhibition (98.59%) with S. aureus, B. cereus (94.12%), and E. coli (74.46%). With 50% (CC50) viral activity, the highest non-toxic PDPE dose was found to be at 123.0 µg/ml.
RESUMEN
Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) is the most significant member of the palm family (Arecaceae), particularly in the Middle East and Arab World. It is a valuable source of both primary and secondary metabolites including sugars, amino acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, carotenoids, phytosterols, terpenes and sphingolipids, besides vitamins and minerals. Besides, it possesses a wide array of pharmacologic activities viz. immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, anti-mutagenic and anti-cancer activities, in addition to its positive effects on male and female fertility. Further research is still required to deeply understand its clinical implications, especially concerning women's health. Moreover, there are other Phoenix species that still need to be investigated to learn more about their undiscovered phytochemical components and biological activities.
Asunto(s)
Phoeniceae , Fitoquímicos , Salud de la Mujer , Humanos , Fitoquímicos/farmacología , Fitoquímicos/química , Fitoquímicos/aislamiento & purificación , Phoeniceae/química , Femenino , Antioxidantes/farmacología , Antioxidantes/química , Antioxidantes/aislamiento & purificación , Extractos Vegetales/química , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Extractos Vegetales/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Majhool date (Phoenix dactylifera), renowned for its premium taste and texture, is extensively consumed in the Islamic world, particularly during Ramadan. Despite its popularity, concerns persist regarding its potential to induce diabetes in non-patients. This study aims to explore the diabetogenic effects of prolonged Majhool date (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption, the widely used fruit in the Islamic world, through animal experiments and human clinical data. METHODS: Medjool dates were processed into an ethanolic extract for the animal experiment. Then, 21 Balb/c mice received varying doses of the extract for one month. The fasting blood glucose levels were analyzed at the beginning and after one month of consumption of the Majhool date extract. For the clinical study, 387 healthy participants were recruited, with fasting blood glucose levels assessed before and after Ramadan, a period of heightened Majhool date consumption. RESULTS: all groups of the experimental animals exhibited a significant (p<0.05) weight increase after Majhool date consumption, while no significant (p>0.05) alteration in fasting blood glucose levels among groups. In addition, it was found that fasting blood glucose levels remained statistically unchanged (p>0.05) after heightened Majhool date consumption among humans. CONCLUSIONS: The study challenges the belief that Majhool date induces diabetes, supported by both animal and human data. Findings suggest that Majhool date consumption, even at higher doses, does not induce diabetes. Further investigations could explore the impact of other date varieties on the fasting blood glucose levels.
Asunto(s)
Glucemia , Ayuno , Islamismo , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Phoeniceae , Extractos Vegetales , Animales , Glucemia/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Ayuno/sangre , Phoeniceae/química , Ratones , Masculino , Adulto , Femenino , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto Joven , Frutas/químicaRESUMEN
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) seed is widely used in Arabian traditional medicine to alleviate several health problems including inflammatory conditions. The herbal tea of date palm seed has been consumed by rheumatoid patients to relief their symptoms. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study was to investigate the claimed beneficial use of P. dactylifera L. (Sewy variety) seed (PDS) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its mechanism of action as well as to study its phytoconstituents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties of the non-polar and the polar extracts of PDS were studied using Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis rat model. Paw edema, body weight, total nitrate/nitrite NOX content and cytokine markers were evaluated to monitor the progress of arthritis. Also, histological examination and thermal analysis were conducted. The phytoconstituent profiles of non-polar and polar extracts of PDS were investigated using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The multiple reactions monitoring mode (MRM) of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was used to quantify phenolic phytoconstituents in both extracts. RESULTS: According to the findings, the polar and non-polar PDS extracts kept body weight comparable to those of healthy individuals while considerably lowering paw swelling, edema, and neutrophil infiltration. It also reduced the levels of Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 22, Interleukin 23, Interferon (IFN), Interleukin 17, Interleukin 1ß, Interleukin 6, Interleukin 36, Janus Kinase 1 (JAK1), and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3). They also reduced the degenerative alterations caused by RA. Thermal research gave additional support for these findings. 83 phytoconstituents were identified in the non-polar PDS extract and 86 phytoconstituents were identified in the polar PDS extract. 74 of the identified phytoconstituents were common in both extracts. 33 phytoconstituents were identified here from P. dactylifera for the first time as far as we know. In MRM-LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis, the major phenolics in both extracts were chlorogenic acid, naringenin, and vanillin. Catechin was only detected in the non-polar PDS extract. On the other hand, apigenin, kaempferol, and hesperetin were only detected in the polar PDS extract. Generally, the polar PDS extract showed higher concentrations of the identified phenolics than the non-polar extract. CONCLUSIONS: The PDS extracts especially the non-polar extract showed significant anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties in the CFA-induced arthritis rat model. PDS might be used to produce RA medicines.