Characterization of staphylococci sampled from diabetic foot ulcer of Jordanian patients.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize staphylococcal isolates from diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) in Jordanian patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Selected aerobic pathogens recovered from DFU specimens and patients' nares with a focus on staphylococci were investigated. Antimicrobial susceptibilities and the prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) were determined. SCCmec types and toxigenic characteristics were analysed and spa typing was performed for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates. The relationship between toxigenic characteristics of MRSA and the Wagner ulcer grading system was statistically analysed. A total number of 87 DFU patients were recruited for the study. The DFU cultures were polymicrobial. Members of the genus Staphylococcus were the most common among DFU-associated isolates found in 48·3% (n = 42) of all patients enrolled. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) comprised 63·3% of staphylococci isolated from DFUs predominated by Staphylococcus epidermidis in both DFU (7·6%) and nares (39·2%). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from DFUs and nares in 14·2 and 9·8%, respectively, while 93 and 70% of these isolates were MRSA. Most of MRSA carried SCCmec type IV (76·2%) while SCCmec elements were non-typeable in most methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS) (61·9%). The most frequent MRSA spa type was t386 (23·8%). Most MRSA and MR-CoNS exhibited resistance towards aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones and macrolides and susceptibility towards vancomycin, mupirocin and linezolid. No association was found between the possession of pvl, tst, sea and hlg toxins and Wagner ulcer grading system (P value >0·05). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of Jordanian DFU culture demonstrated its polymicrobial nature with predominance of Staphylococcus sp. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first of its type to assess the microbiology of DFU among Jordanian patients. The results will help in the appropriate application of antimicrobial chemotherapy in the management of DFU.

Impact of synthesized metal oxide nanomaterials on seedlings production of three Solanaceae crops.

Prospective involvement of metal oxide nanomaterials as a prominent agriculture practice for improving existing crop production directed the present investigation for synthesizing of ZnO and TiO2 nanomaterials as an attempt to enhance the transplants production of some Solanaceae crops. The morphological characterizations of the prepared nanomaterials indicated that the hydrothermal synthesized ZnO was produced in nanorod structure with an average aspect ratio of 7. However, SEM and TEM micrographs of microwave prepared TiO2 evident that it has a nanoparticle structure with an average diameter of 43 nm. The BET results confirmed the high specific areas of the two prepared metal oxide nanomaterials. The two synthesized metal oxide nanomaterials were coated in gel and mixed with the seeds of eggplant, pepper and tomato crops at four concentrations 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/L, whilst the control seeds were germinated in distilled water without gel-coating. The results pointed to the outstanding effect of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles on germination characters and seedlings growth. The maximum transplants lengths, fresh and dry weight were recorded at the level 100 mg/L whatever the crop plant used. Hastening germination operation of nanomaterials-gel coated seedlings compared to control plants may be ascribed to the reduction of mean germination time and coefficient variation of the germination process besides increasing the mean germination rate and the synchrony of germination traits. Overall, better performance of growing transplants has been accredited for nanoparticles-gel coated seedlings more than the control treatments which could be efficient for the safer production of transplants in an innovative way.

Biosafety assessment of graphene nanosheets on leaf ultrastructure, physiological and yield traits of Capsicum annuum L. and Solanum melongena L.

Due to limited knowledge of graphene nanosheets (GNS) on phyto-biological studies, GNS was sprayed to pepper and eggplants during the seasons 2016 and 2017 at doses 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 GNS g L-1 to assess their biosafety on leaf ultrastructure and agro-physiological traits. GNS was localized on plastids, cell walls and intercellular spaces of both plants. GNS-sprayed peppers characterized by giant chloroplasts with large starch granules and increment of mitochondrial number adjacent to chloroplasts. Whilst, chloroplast ultrastructure of GNS-treated eggplants appeared to be ellipsoidal-shaped with few normal sized-starch granules compared to control. The localization of GNS inside chloroplast may be activated photosynthetic pigments; thereby stimulation of fructose, sucrose and starch was displayed. The rising of hydrogen peroxide of GNS-treated leaves had beneficial role on triggering the activity of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase. Furthermore, the reduction of hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion reflected the involvement of GNS in induction of antioxidant molecules and superoxide dismutase for modulating cell oxidative status. Thus, the lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage of GNS-treated plants were kept below the baseline of water-sprayed plants. Moreover, the promotions of health-promoting secondary metabolites via GNS aerosol were in close association to exacerbation of phenylalanine ammonialyase actvity. This study conclusively demonstrated that GNS did not have cytotoxic properties in pepper and eggplant cells rather healthy growth and promoted yield in the terms of number of branches plant-1, number of fruits plant-1 and fruit yield (ton hectare-1) were the net result of GNS-induced metabolic regulation of the leaves physiological status.

High frequency of low serum levels of vitamin 12 among patients attending Jordan University Hospital.

This study aimed to estimate the status of serum vitamin B12 level in patients attending Jordan University Hospital in Amman, and to examine the relationship with demographic data, chronic illness, dietary habits, haematological parameters and symptoms related to vitamin B12 levels. A total of 838 patients completed a questionnaire and gave blood samples; 44.6% were vitamin B12 deficient (< 180 pg/mL) and 34.2% had hypovitaminosis (180-300 pg/mL). Vitamin B12 deficiency was associated with memory impairment, low meat intake and strict vegetarian (vegan) diets. The high frequency of low vitamin B12 warrants the development of a strategy to correct this problem in Jordan.

High frequency of low serum levels of vitamin B [12] among patients attending Jordan University Hospital

This study aimed to estimate the status of serum vitamin B[12] level in patients attending Jordan University Hospital in Amman, and to examine the relationship with demographic data, chronic illness, dietary habits, haematological parameters and symptoms related to vitamin B[12] levels. A total of 838 patients completed a questionnaire and gave blood samples; 44.6% were vitamin B[12] deficient [< 180 pg/mL] and 34.2% had hypovitaminosis [180-300 pg/mL]. Vitamin B[12] deficiency was associated with memory impairment, low meat intake and strict vegetarian [vegan] diets. The high frequency of low vitamin B[12] warrants the development of a strategy to correct this problem in Jordan

Surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism 1962-1996: indications and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine changes over the past three decades in the indications for, and outcomes of, surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism. DESIGN: Survey of a prospective hospital database. SETTING: Royal North Shore Hospital (a tertiary referral and university teaching hospital), Sydney, New South Wales, January 1962 to December 1996. PATIENTS: All 733 patients who underwent neck exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism. RESULTS: The annual number of parathyroidectomies increased virtually exponentially, from a mean of two in 1962-1969 to 73 in 1996. In the 1960s and 1970s, the most common indication for surgery was the presence of renal calculi (58% and 43%, respectively), but in the 1980s there was a marked increase in presentation of asymptomatic disease after biochemical screening (19%). In the 1990s, low bone mineral density detected by osteodensitometry has become the most common indication for surgery (31%). After initial operation, 11 patients (2%) had persistent hypercalcaemia, with five of these cured by reoperation--an overall failure rate of 1%. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism has become increasingly common, with low bone mineral density replacing renal calculi as the most common indication for surgery. Neck exploration in experienced hands results in an overall cure rate of 99%.