Antibacterial Activity of a New Strain of Streptomyces maritimus MSQ21 against Ralstonia solanacearum.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Actinobacteria represent the most prominent group of microorganisms, which produce a vast number of bioactive compounds especially antibiotics. The present study investigated the antibacterial activity of some actinomycete isolates against <i>Ralstonia solanacearum</i> type 3 biovar 2 (phytopathogenic bacterium that causes tomato wilt disease and brown rot of potatoes). <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The most potent actinomycete isolates in the antibacterial activity was further identified up to species based on its phenotypic and molecular characteristics. Additionally, the most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources for increasing the antibacterial activity were also investigated. <b>Results:</b> Interestingly, <i>Streptomyces </i>isolate MSQ21 achieved the highest antibacterial activity against <i>R. solanacearum</i> with an inhibition zone of 18 mm. 16S rRNA gene analysis suggested that <i>Streptomyces </i>MSQ21 was identified as a strain of <i>S. maritimus</i> Glycerol (2.25%, w/v) and (NH₄)₂SO₄ (0.13%, w/v) were the most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources for increasing the antibacterial activity. <b>Conclusion:</b> It could be concluded that the maximum antibacterial activity (30mm) produced by <i>S. maritimus </i>strain MSQ21 against <i>R. solanacearum </i>could be obtained by using the modified starch nitrate medium containing (g L¹): Glycerol, 25: Ammonium sulphate, 1.6: Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, 1: Magnesium sulphate, 0.5: Sodium chloride, 0.5: Calcium carbonate, 3: Ferrous sulphate and 0.01: Distilled water up to 1 L and under the following conditions: Temperature 30°C, agitation speed 250 rpm, inoculum size 1-50 mL medium, incubation period 4 days and pH 8.5.

Predictors of postpartum depression in a sample of Egyptian women.

INTRODUCTION: Postpartum depression (PPD) represents a considerable health problem affecting women and their families. The aims of this study were to: (a) compare female patients with PPD to normal controls with regard to some biopsychosocial variables, (b) correlate between the severity of PPD and some clinical and biological variables, and (c) to predict some risk factors for PPD. METHOD: Sixty female patients with PPD were compared with 60 healthy postpartum females (control group). Patient and controls were subjected to: (1) a complete psychiatric and obstetric examination, (2) psychometric studies using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Fahmy and El-Sherbini's Social Classification Scale for Egyptian socioeconomic classification and Horowitz et al's Impact of Event Scale, (3) quantities of thyroid hormone (T3), cortisol hormone, and estrogen were assessed. RESULTS: There were high statistical differences between PPD females and controls as regard psychosocial stressors, level of (estradiol, thyroxin [T3], and cortisol), marital status, residence, parity, method of delivery, complicated puerperium, positive history of premenstrual tension syndrome and baby variables (eg, unwelcomed, with a negative attitude of parents toward the baby, underweight, female, artificially feeding, unhealthy baby). While there were moderate statistical differences in attitude toward spouse and social support and mild statistical difference in socioeconomic status between them. Severity of depression is positively highly correlated with onset of depression, psychosocial stress, levels of T3 and cortisol. However, severity of depression is negatively high when correlated with socioeconomic status. Stepwise linear regression indicated that PPD was significantly predicted by social support, socioeconomic status, feeding of baby, and prior psychiatric problems. CONCLUSION: Many factors may lead to development of PPD. These factors include some psychosocial, socioeconomic, obstetric, and hormonal variables. Early detection of these factors could help in prediction of the development of PPD.

Primary lifelong delayed ejaculation: characteristics and response to bupropion.

INTRODUCTION: In contrast to premature ejaculation and secondary delayed ejaculation (DE), primary lifelong DE has not been studied extensively. In addition, there is no approved drug treatment. AIMS: To explore the clinical and laboratory characteristics of a series of men complaining of lifelong DE and to report the response to bupropion. METHODS: Nineteen consecutive men with primary lifelong DE were prospectively enrolled in this study. Study group was compared with an age-matched group of 19 healthy men. Both groups underwent history taking, physical examination, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), anxiety, and depression scores, ejaculation latency time (IELT) using stop watch and measurement of serum prolactin (PRL) and serum total testosterone (T). Patients received open-label bupropion-SR 150 mg/day for 2 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stopwatch-measured IELT values, global efficacy question, IIEF, anxiety, and depression scores. RESULTS: The mean age was 30.8 ± 5.5 year (range 25-42 years). Men with DE exhibited significantly higher masturbatory activity during marital period, lower night emissions, longer IELT, lower orgasmic, and intercourse satisfaction domains of IIEF, higher anxiety and depression scores compared with the controls (all P<0.05). Both serum T and PRL levels did not differ significantly between patients and controls (all P<0.05). Four DE patients (21%) showed history of infertility. The percentage of DE men rating control over ejaculation as "fair to good" increased from 0 to 21.1% after bupropion therapy. The fold decreases of the geometric mean IELT was 0.74 after treatment. The intercourse satisfaction and the orgasmic domains of IIEF and depression score were significantly improved from baseline in the bupropion group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lifelong DE is mainly associated with higher and idiosyncratic masturbatory activity, lower night emissions, infertility, longer IELT, lower orgasmic, and intercourse satisfaction domains of IIEF, higher anxiety and depression scores. Bupropion-SR in a daily dosage of 150 mg seemed to be of limited benefit in lifelong DE.