Nano-metals forming bacteria in Egypt. II. Efficacy towards biomolecules, ultrastructure, growth parameters, and eco-friendly therapeutic of soft rot/blackleg genera.

The nanoparticles (NPs) formed by Enterococcus thailandicus, Pseudomonas putida, Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus, and P. geniculate were tested against soft rot/blackleg genera. The effects of NPs recorded on bacterial DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates concentration of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, Enterobacter cloacae (soft rot), and Dickeya solani (soft rot/blackleg). Treated cells showed degradation in isolated DNA, decreased proteins and carbohydrates concentration compared with untreated cells. Using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), the treated cells showed collapsed and small pits in the cell wall. Using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), internal changes showed penetration of NPs inside the tested bacterial cells, the appearance of periplasmic space, formation of vacuoles, and condensation of cytoplasm. Disease severity ex vivo of potato tuber infected with tested genera demonstrated that NPs treatment didn't show any rotted tissue compared with untreated. The ability to uptake and accumulate FeNPs from the soil in potato (Solanum tuberosum) seedlings; Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was used. It recorded an increase in iron content of treated potato (Solanum tuberosum) seedlings with NPs, compared with untreated. FeNPs can be used to control soft rot/blackleg diseases, instead of copper pesticides. It could be a new, approach for disease management and increase the plant's nutritional value.

Post-cholecystectomy major bile duct injury: ideal time to repair based on a multicentre randomized controlled trial with promising results.

BACKGROUND: Bile duct injury (BDI) is one of the serious complications of cholecystectomy procedures, which has a disastrous impact on long-term survival, health-related quality of life (QoL), healthcare costs as well as high rates of litigation. The standard treatment of major BDI is hepaticojejunostomy (HJ). Surgical outcomes depend on many factors, including the severity of the injury, the surgeons' experiences, the patient's condition, and the reconstruction time. The authors aimed to assess the impact of reconstruction time and abdominal sepsis control on the reconstruction success rate. METHODS: This is a multicenter, multi-arm, parallel-group, randomized trial that included all consecutive patients treated with HJ for major post-cholecystectomy BDI from February 2014 to January 2022. Patients were randomized according to the time of reconstruction by HJ and abdominal sepsis control into group A (early reconstruction without sepsis control), group B (early reconstruction with sepsis control), and group C (delayed reconstruction). The primary outcome was successful reconstruction rate, while blood loss, HJ diameter, operative time, drainage amount, drain and stent duration, postoperative liver function tests, morbidity and mortality, number of admissions and interventions, hospital stay, total cost, and patient QoL were considered secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Three hundred twenty one patients from three centres were randomized into three groups. Forty-four patients were excluded from the analysis, leaving 277 patients for intention to treat analysis. With univariate analysis, older age, male gender, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, conversion to open cholecystectomy, failure of intraoperative BDI recognition, Strasberg E4 classification, uncontrolled abdominal sepsis, secondary repair, end-to-side anastomosis, diameter of HJ (< 8 mm), non-stented anastomosis, and major complications were risk factors for successful reconstruction. With multivariate analysis, conversion to open cholecystectomy, uncontrolled sepsis, secondary repair, the small diameter of HJ, and non-stented anastomosis were the independent risk factors for the successful reconstruction. Also, group B patients showed decreased admission and intervention rates, decreased hospital stay, decreased total cost, and early improved patient QoL. CONCLUSION: Early reconstruction after abdominal sepsis control can be done safely at any time with comparable results for delayed reconstruction in addition to decreased total cost and improved patient QoL.

Nano-metals forming bacteria in Egypt. I. Synthesis, characterization and effect on some phytopathogenic bacteria in vitro.

Bacterial metal reducers were isolated from water samples collected from harsh condition locations in Egypt. Four selected isolates were identified as Enterococcus thailandicus, Pseudomonas putida, Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus, and P. geniculata for Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co) and Zinc (Zn) Nanoparticles (NPs) production sequentially. Nitrate reductase enzyme was assayed for bacterial isolates which demonstrated that P. putida, and M. hydrocarbonoclasticus have the maximum enzyme production. The produced NPs were characterized by using XRD, TEM, UV-VIS spectroscopy. Magnetic properties for all selected metals NPs were measured using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) and demonstrated that FeNPs recorded the highest magnetization value. The antibacterial activity of selected metals NPs was tested against some phytopathogenic bacteria causing the following diseases: soft rot (Pectobacterium carotovorum, Enterobacter cloacae), blackleg (Pectobacterium atrosepticum and Dickeya solani), brown rot (Ralstonia solanacearum), fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) and crown gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens). All metals NPs showed an antagonistic effect against the tested isolates, particularly, FeNPs showed the highest antibacterial activity followed by CuNPs, and ZnNPs. Due to the small size, high reactivity, and large surface area of biologically synthesized NPs, they are used as a good disinfector, and can be considered as a new and alternative approach to traditional disease management methods.

Minimal invasive para-rectus approach for limited open reduction and percutaneous fixation of displaced acetabular fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Minimal invasive fixation has been reported as an alternative option for treatment of acetabular fractures to avoid blood loss and complications of extensive approaches. Closed reduction and percutaneous lag screw fixation can be done in minimally displaced acetabular fractures. Open reduction is indicated, if there is wide displacement. In this study, we report the use of a mini-open anterior approach to manipulate and reduce anteriorly displaced transverse acetabular fractures combined with percutaneous lag screw fixation. METHODS: This report included eight patients. All had anterior displaced simple transverse acetabular fractures. An oblique mini-incision was made above and medial to the mid-inguinal point, and lateral to the lateral border of rectus abdominis muscle. The external abdominal oblique aponeurosis was incised along its fibres. The arched fibres of internal abdominal oblique were displaced medially above the inguinal ligament to expose and incise the fascia transversalis. Care was taken to avoid injury of ilioinguinal nerve, inferior epigastric vessels, and spermatic cord. The external iliac vessels were palpated and protected laterally. A blunt long bone impactor was introduced through this small incision to manipulate and reduce the fracture under fluoroscopic control. Fluoroscopic guided percutaneous lag screw fixation was done in all patients. RESULTS: The average time to operation was 4 days. Average blood loss was 110mL. Operative time averaged 95min. Maximum fracture displacement averaged 10mm preoperatively and 1.3mm postoperatively. According to Matta score, anatomical reduction of the fracture was achieved in five patients and imperfect in three. Follow up averaged 27 months. Wound healing occurred without complications and fracture union was achieved without secondary displacement in all patients. Average time to fracture healing was 14 weeks. According to the modified Merle d'Aubigné score, functional outcome was good to excellent in all patients. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Limited open reduction can solve the problem of fracture reduction, which is the main concern in minimal invasive fixation of acetabular fractures. It may help the inclusion of displaced acetabular fractures for percutaneous lag screw fixation. This mini-para-rectus approach has the advantages of minimal soft tissue dissection with the possible anatomical reduction of simple transverse displaced acetabular fractures.

Antimicrobial therapy for asymptomatic patients with elevated prostate-specific antigen: can the change in prostate-specific antigen reliably guide prostate biopsy decisions?

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of a 4-week levofloxacin course on PSA in asymptomatic men with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and on prostate biopsy decision. METHODS: Fifty asymptomatic men with elevated PSA (4.0-10.0 ng/dl) were given levofloxacin 500 mg/day for 4 weeks followed by repeat PSA. Prostate biopsy was recommended at the end of the study. We compared pre- and post-treatment PSA as well as PSA changes between prostate cancer cases and non-cancer patients. RESULTS: Mean (±SD) PSA decreased from 6.91 ± 2.13 to 6.05 ± 3.0 ng/dl after antimicrobial treatment (p = 0.025). Twenty-five (56.8%) patients had a post-treatment decrease in PSA, including 20 (45.5%) patients to <4.0 ng/dl and/or >25% of the initial PSA value. The difference in PSA change between prostate cancer and non-cancer patients was not statistically significant (p = 0.104). CONCLUSIONS: Levofloxacin resulted in an overall decrease in PSA for asymptomatic men with PSA in the 4-10 ng/dl range. PSA changes, however, were not significantly different between patients with prostate cancer and non-cancer patients. Prostate cancer was detected in 20% of patients with a clinically relevant PSA decline.