Evaluating food safety knowledge and practices among Saudi women in Al-Ahsa Region, Saudi Arabia.

Foodborne illnesses are responsible for about half a million deaths annually, of which 30% occur among kids. This study aimed to assess the current food safety knowledge and practice level of Saudi women in Al-Ahsa region, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted through personal interviews among 239 Saudi women. The questionnaire consisted of close-ended questions covering different aspects of food safety knowledge and practices at home and during shopping. Descriptive analyses were used to identify the level of participant's awareness, and the scores were shown in three categories (good - fair - poor) based on their food safety knowledge and practice awareness. The effect of socio-demographic characteristics and their correlation to food safety knowledge and practices was conducted using Chisquare analysis. The results about food safety knowledge showed that around 50% of participants achieved a good score, and 37.5% achieved a fair score, while 12.5% achieved a poor score. In comparison, the participants achieved 75% good score, whereas 12.5% achieved both fair and poor in food safety practices. The results also highlighted a significant correlation (P<0.05) between level of food safety knowledge, practices of participants and their age, marital status, work status, and educational level, while there's no correlation with their family size and total income. Although, the overall result showed good level in food safety knowledge and slightly less in food safety practices among Saudi women living in Al-Ahsa region, continuous education, training, awareness, and motivation are highly recommended to improve women's knowledge and practices to higher levels.

Detection of TEM, AmpC, SHV, CTX-M, and MCR-1 Genes in Gram Negative Isolates of Urinary Tract Infections.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection caused by the presence and growth of microorganisms anywhere in the urinary tract. It is usually due to bacteria from the digestive tract which climb the opening of the urethra and begin to multiply to cause infection. However, UTI is more frequent in female than male, because of the short urethra, absence of prostatic secretion, and pregnancy. METHODS: This study was aimed to detect extended spectrum beta lactamase and MCR-1genes from Gram negative bacterial clinical isolates from urinary tract infections. Ninety-one urine samples were collected in this study, then cultured on CLED agar and identified by conventional biochemical methods. Modified Kirby-Bauer method was used for sensitivity testing. Genomic DNA extracted by boiling method, and multiplex PCR was conducted to amplify TEM, AmpC, MCR-1, SHV, and CTX-M genes from all Gram-negative isolates. RESULTS: The result of the susceptibility test revealed that the highest resistant rates were 73% for Ceftazidime, followed by 63%, 56%, and 55% for Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, and Co-trimoxazole, respectively, and 21% were resistant to Imipenem. Moreover, for the presence of resistance genes, multiplex PCR results displayed that the TEM gene was present in 34% of bacteria, AmpC gene was found in 49.4% of isolates. Also, 38.5% and 6.6% were positive for MCR-1 gene and SHV gene, respectively. All Proteus species were negative to MCR-1 and TEM genes. Fifty E. coli, 7 Klebsiella pneumonia, two Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and five Proteus species were positive for CTX-M gene and all Citrobacter spp. were negative for CTX-M gene. Eighty-nine isolates were positive for one or more ESBL genes, while two isolates were negative to all genes. CTX-M gene is predominant among uropathogenic bacteria and imipenem is the best effective antibiotic. CONCLUSIONS: This recent study proved that the result of the susceptibility test revealed that the highest resistant rate were 73% for Ceftazidime, followed by 63%, 56%, and 55% for Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, and Co-trimoxazole, respectively, and 21% were resistant to imipenem.

Assessment of farmers practices to date palm soil fertilization and its impact on productivity at Al-Hassa oasis of KSA.

Al-Hassa oasis is considered as the biggest irrigated one in the World, being well known for its extensive date palm cultivation with an estimate of at least three million trees. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of soil fertilization practices on the productivity potential of date palm trees grown under the climatic conditions of Al-Hassa oasis, KSA. The opinions of 258 active farmers were randomly surveyed using specifically designed questioners that were also fortified with personal communications. The size of the samples was designated in accordance to Cocoran equation. The total samples were allocated into two major parts (193 for the old oasis and 65 for the new oasis). Results showed that the farm features (utilized agricultural area (UAA), ownership and labors) are different in both parts of the oasis. Fertilization practices (quantity applied per area or per tree) were diverse causing dissimilar productivity potentials (total or per area or tree). The average production of a tree in the old oasis is 81.4 kg, whilst it is 54.6 kg in the new oasis. Date palm production is significantly affected by total number of trees, applied fertilizer quantity, cultivated area and labor power. The impact of these factors is unlike between the two parts of the oasis. It is then concluded from the study that there are sincere needs for improving the soil fertilization practiced for the date palm trees grown in the Al-Hassa oasis, KSA in order to increase their productivity potential and hence improve the farmers' income.

Valorization of Olive Pruning Residues through Bioconversion into Edible Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. Ex Fr.) P. Kumm. (1871) of Improved Nutritional Value.

In several Mediterranean countries, olive pruning residues (OLPRs) are abandoned or burned leading to several environmental problems. Valorization of these agrowastes could be a challenge for the primary decomposer Pleurotus ostreatus, turning them into edible biomass. The OLPR was used alone (OLPR), or in mixtures with wheat straw (WS : OLPR 1 : 3 v/v and WS : OLPR 3 : 1 v/v). Mycelial colonization was hastened by 3.7 days in WS : OLPR 1 : 3 (v/v). Yields were comparable to control (WS) in WS : OLPR 3 : 1 (v/v). Organic matter loss decreased with increasing proportions of OLPR in substrates. The nutritional value of mushrooms was improved by lower fat and sodium contents, in WS : OLPR 1 : 3 (v/v) and WS : OLPR 3 : 1 (v/v), and higher total protein, crude fiber, iron, and total carbohydrates contents in WS : OLPR 3 : 1 (v/v), compared with those of control. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid, were the most abundant in mushrooms. Monounsaturated fatty acids increased in mushrooms of the substrates containing OLPR. A good predictive model of partial least square regression analysis showed different relationships of mushroom palmitic, oleic, linolenic, palmitoleic, and stearic acids with substrate composition. Findings suggested the use of OLPR as a supplement to commercial wheat straw and as a tool to reduce the negative impacts of their hazardous disposal on the environment.