Glabridin Functions as a Quorum Sensing Inhibitor to Inhibit Biofilm Formation and Swarming Motility of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Objective: Acinetobacter baumannii is a hazardous bacterium that causes hospital-acquired nosocomial infections, and the advent of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MDR-AB) strains is concerning. Novel antibacterial therapeutic strategies must be developed. The biological effects of glabridin on MDR-AB were investigated in this study. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of glabridin against eight clinical MDR-AB strains were determined using the broth microdilution technique. Crystal violet staining was used to assess biofilm development, which has significant contribution to bacterial resistance. Swarming motility was measured according to surface growth zone of MDR-AB on LB agar medium. qRT-PCR was used to evaluate the expression of quorum sensing genes abaI and abaR. Glabridin and routinely used therapeutic antimicrobial agents were tested for synergistic action using the checkerboard method. Results: According to our findings, glabridin suppressed MDR-AB growth at high doses (512-1024 µg/mL). The 1/4 MIC of glabridin significantly decreased MDR-AB biofilm formation by 19.98% (P < 0.05), inhibited MDR-AB motility by 44.27% (P < 0.05), whereas the 1/2 MIC of glabridin dramatically reduced MDR-AB biofilm development by 27.43% (P < 0.01), suppressed MDR-AB motility by 50.64% (P < 0.05). Mechanistically, glabridin substantially downregulated the expression of quorum sensing-related genes abaI and abaR by up to 39.12% (P < 0.001) and 25.19% (P < 0.01), respectively. However, no synergistic effect between glabridin and antibacterial drugs was found. Conclusion: Glabridin might be a quorum sensing inhibitor that inhibits MDR-AB biofilm development and swarming motility.

Gender differences in the academic and clinical performances of undergraduate nursing students: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Nursing is often regarded as a female-dominated profession. Many nursing curricula are received by mainly female students. It is uncertain how male students behave in this environment of nursing education in hospitals and universities. This article aimed to review gender differences in the academic and clinical performances of undergraduate nursing students. DESIGN: A systematic review was assessed and different themes were extracted by inductive approach. DATA SOURCES: A search strategy was carried out for the period 2006-2011 utilising six computerised databases: Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, ERIC, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and the Wiley Online Library. REVIEW METHODS: Research studies were included and screened by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. All articles in English that met our aim were selected and relevant results were abstracted and thematised. RESULTS: Fifty-five articles were included. Five themes were generated from the literatures, including the differences of academic, clinical, psychological, nursing profession identity and health concept between male and female nursing students. CONCLUSIONS: Both genders performed similarly in different aspects. Most studies revealed that the clinical placement satisfaction of male students was similar to that of female, despite the negative experiences the former faced during obstetric placement. Further research is needed to examine the gender differences in studying and make changes in the nursing curricula to accommodate with male students.