Bacillus methylotrophicus ASWU-C2, a strain inhabiting hot desert soil, a new source for antibacterial bacillopyrone, pyrophen, and cyclopeptides.

A strain of Bacillus methylotrophicus was isolated from a soil sample collected in Aswan eastern desert, which is known for its extremely arid climate. After fermentation of the strain in liquid culture and subsequent extraction, a bioassay-guided isolation procedure yielded five compounds: 2-benzyl-4H-pyran-4-one, named bacillopyrone (1), pyrophen (2), macrolactin A (3) and the cyclopeptides malformin A1 (4), and bacillopeptin A (5). The structures were determined by interpretation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) data. This is the first report on the isolation of compounds 1 and 2 from Bacillus species; compound 1 was reported previously as synthetic product. Bacillopyrone (1) exhibited moderate activity against the Gram-negative Chromobacterium violaceum with minimum inhibitory concentration 266.6 µg/mL, while macrolactin A (3) and malformin A1 (4) inhibited Staphylococcus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentrations 13.3 and 133.3 µg/mL, respectively).

Retraction: Fahr Disease: A Rare Cause of First-Time Seizure in the Emergency Department.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.19965.].

Fahr Disease: A Rare Cause of First-Time Seizure in the Emergency Department.

Seizure is a common neurological problem in the emergency department. First-time seizure needs careful evaluation to exclude the underlying structural brain lesions. Neuroimaging studies, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scan, are strongly recommended for all adult patients with first-time seizures. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman who was brought to the emergency department because of the first-time loss of consciousness episode. She developed bilateral jerky movements in both her upper and lower limbs. It was associated with frothy secretions from the mouth and cyanosis. The episode lasted for two minutes and terminated spontaneously. The patient was tired after gaining consciousness. The past medical history of the patient was remarkable for anxiety, depression, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. She has undergone multiple cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, but she did not take any psychiatric medications. Neurological examination did not reveal any focal neurological deficit. The patient underwent a computed tomography scan to exclude any space-occupying lesion. The unenhanced scan demonstrated bilateral symmetrical calcification of the basal ganglia. No calcification was noted in the cerebellum or the cerebral cortex. Otherwise, no intracranial pathology was seen. Such findings conferred the diagnosis of Fahr disease. The patient was discharged on carbamazepine to prevent further seizure episodes. After six months of follow-up, the patient did not experience further convulsion episodes. Fahr disease is a rare disorder with a wide spectrum of manifestations. Despite its rarity, physicians should keep this condition as a possible differential diagnosis when they encounter an adult patient with a first-time seizure, particularly in a patient with a history of neuropsychiatric disorders.

UGT1A1 promoter polymorphism associated with serum bilirubin level in Saudi patients with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Polymorphism in (TA)n of the UGT1A1 promoter influences bilirubin level and risk of gallstones in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) of African descent. Modifiers of bilirubin level and gallstones in Saudi patients with SCD are not known. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Patients with SCD presenting to participating institutions between July 2009 and July 2012 were enrolled in our study. METHODS: A total of 223 SCD patients were enrolled. Laboratory workup at steady state included complete blood count, reticulocytes, serum bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), G6PD level, and hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis. The (TA)n UGT1A1 promoter polymorphism and presence of a-thalassemia were also deter.mined. RESULTS: TA6/6 in the UGT1A1 promoter was identified in 189 patients (84.7%), TA7/7 in 26 (11.7%), TA5/5 in 6 (2.7%), and TA5/6 in 2 (0.9%). Increased (TA)n of the UGT1A1 promoter (P < .0001), male gender (P=.02), higher LDH (P=.001), and lower Hb level (P=.009) were associated with higher bilirubin level, while the co-inheritance of a-thalassemia (P=.003) was linked with lower bilirubin level. UGT1A1 (TA)n (P < .0001) and Hb level (P=.005) remained significant on multivariate analysis. Gallstones were more frequent in patients with TA7/7 (72%) compared to patients with TA6/6 (57%) and TA5/5 or 5/6 (37%); however, this difference was not statistically significance (P=.18). Older age (P=.0001) and absence of a-thalassemia (P=.03) were associated with higher risk of gallstones. CONCLUSION: (TA)n in the UGT1A1 promoter and intensity of hemolysis modify steady-state serum bilirubin level in SCD. Co-inheritance of a-thalassemia reduces the risk of gallstones in Saudi patients with SCD.