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Go to Editorial ManagerObjective: Acinetobacter baumannii is a pathogenic bacterium with clinical attributes of nosocomial infection and resistance to antibiotics. Phage therapy represents a potential solution because it can specifically target MDR strains. This study aimed to isolate and characterize a lytic bacteriophage specific to A. baumannii, evaluate its kinetic and lytic properties, and investigate the effects of laser treatment on enhancing phage antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates. Methods: Clinical specimens were collected from patients in three hospitals in Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq, and A. baumannii isolates were identified using standard biochemical tests, API systems, and 16S rRNA PCR sequencing. Environmental samples were screened to isolate lytic phages, which were propagated, purified, and analyzed using plaque assays and scanning electron microscopy. Phage kinetics—including adsorption rate, eclipse period, lysis time, and burst size—were assessed using standard bacteriophage quantification methods. Laser treatment was applied to evaluate its effect on phage activity under different temperatures and pH conditions. Results: A lytic phage specific to A. baumannii was successfully isolated, exhibiting an icosahedral head and a long tail typical of virulent phages. The phage showed rapid adsorption, a short eclipse period, and a high burst size (~111 phages per infected cell). It demonstrated strong lytic activity at temperatures between 35–45 °C and pH 8–10.5. Laser exposure, at 250 pulses, significantly enhanced phage antibacterial activity, resulting in faster bacterial lysis and increased phage productivity. Conclusions: The combination of phage therapy and laser treatment represents a promising strategy for combating MDR A. baumannii
With the increasing applications of gold nanoparticles in cancer treatment and medical delivery, it has become necessary to study the biological effects of gold nanoparticles. The study aimed to evaluate the biological effects of gold nanoparticles against the mcf-7 & mda-mb-231 cell line. Gold nanoparticles were characterized using several analytical techniques including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-VIS), Energy Dispersion X-ray (EDX), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Filed Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM).. The characterization results confirmed the successful synthesis of high purity quasi-spherical gold nanoparticles with particle sizes ranging from 38 to 59 nm. The cytotoxic effect of the synthesized AuNPs was investigated using the MTT assay on both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines at six different concentrations. The results indicated a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of gold nanoparticles on both cancer cell lines, with a high cytotoxic activity observed against the MDA-MB-231 cell line. The results of this study indicate the potential use of gold nanoparticles against various types of cancer cell lines, as well as the potential use of gold nanoparticles in treating cancerous diseases with vivo cell.
Objective: To compare the distribution of ApoE polymorphisms between women with PCOS and healthy controls to explore whether specific ApoE genotypes contribute to the genetic susceptibility of developing PCOS, and to investigate the association between APOE gene polymorphisms and lipid profiles in PCOS patients. Methods: A case-control study was conducted between November 2023 and January 2025, enrolling 120 women with PCOS diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria and 60 age-matched healthy controls. Participants underwent comprehensive clinical assessment, hormonal evaluation (FSH, LH, total and free testosterone), lipid profiling, and inflammatory marker analysis. DNA extraction was performed from whole blood, followed by PCR amplification and direct sequencing of ApoE gene fragments containing SNPs rs429358 and rs7412. Results: PCOS participants demonstrated significantly higher age, body weight, and height compared to controls (p<0.05). Hormonal analysis revealed characteristic PCOS patterns with elevated LH, total testosterone, free testosterone, and C-reactive protein levels, alongside reduced FSH concentrations (p<0.001). Lipid profile analysis showed significantly higher total cholesterol and LDL levels, with lower HDL concentrations in PCOS patients (p<0.05). Genetic analysis identified three ApoE genotypes (ε3ε3, ε2ε3, ε3ε4), with ε3ε3 being most prevalent in both groups. No significant differences were observed in ApoE genotype or allele distribution between PCOS patients and controls (p>0.05). However, within the PCOS group, ε4 allele carriers exhibited significantly elevated total cholesterol (p=0.039), triglycerides (p=0.013), and VLDL levels (p=0.026) compared to ε2 and ε3 carriers. Conclusions: ApoE gene polymorphisms do not appear to significantly influence PCOS susceptibility, as genotype distributions were comparable between patients and controls. However, ApoE variants, particularly the ε4 allele, may modulate metabolic dysfunction severity in women with established PCOS, potentially affecting cardiovascular risk stratification and therapeutic management approaches.
Mitoxantrone is a chemotherapeutic very effective against a variety of human malignancies Administration of Mitoxantrone is associated with hepatotoxicity Zinc has protective effect in liver illness. This study aimed to determine the role of zinc gluconate as a hepatoprotective agent in Mitoxantrone induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Methods there were twenty-four male and female rats used. Rats were divided up Into three groups, each consisting of eight animals. Distilled water is in Group I (negative control).Group II Mitoxantrone was delivered intraperitoneally with a dosage of 2.50 mg/ kg in order to achieve a cumulative complete dosage of 7.50 mg /kg by day 20. Group III Zinc gluconate was orally provided at a dosage of 20 mg/ kg/day, and Mitoxantrone was injected intraperitoneally at a rate of 2.50 mg/kg. The goal was to attain a cumulative total dosage of 7.50mg/ kg by day 20.After 48 hours following the completion of the treatment period, diethyl ether was used to euthanize each animal (i.e., on day 22). Serum was used to determine the activity of the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes.Each animal's liver was removed in order to perform a terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated-deoxyuridine-triphosphate, necked labeling (TUNEL) test to detect DNA fragmentation. Results Zinc gluconate significantly (P<0.05) decreased blood ALT and AST, and group III showed a higher percentage of normal hepatocyte cells and a lower percentage of apoptotic cells than group II. Conclusions Zinc gluconate may have a protective effect against the hepatotoxicity induced by Mitoxantrone in rats.
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are essential in food generation and the maintenance of good health. There is a growing interest in these species in order to learn more about the many health advantages they may provide. LAB's activities are dependent on the number of bacteria present in the gastrointestinal system and their species and strain specific. Chemical preservatives and processed meals are causing a lot of anxiety among consumers. Products containing or treated with LAB, on the other hand, are widely acknowledged as a normal approach to keep food and enhance health. The current publication intended to summarize the research on the function of probiotic LAB in food preservation, gastrointestinal immunomodulation, and health benefits. In food science and associated researches, the identification and categorization of helpful bacteria is critical. Traditional phenotypic techniques have several drawbacks, including the possibility of misidentification of a target, which limits their use. Genotyping techniques have a larger chance of succeeding, and they are commonly employed to differentiate microorganisms. The techniques used to genotype lactic acid bacteria (LAB) varies somewhat from each other, and each instrument has a set of benefits and drawbacks. This reviewing study covers different fingerprinting approaches used to identify and characterize LAB at the species, sub-species, and strain levels. The majority of such methods rely on restriction digestion, polymerase chain reaction amplification, as well as sequencing. Concerning cost, technique, and throughput DNA sequencing technologies have advanced significantly in recent years. A worldwide research effort is underway to produce enhanced versions of broadly