Background: Suppression of quorum sensing (QS) that regulates many virulence factors, including antimicrobial resistance, in bacteria may subject the pathogenic microbes to the harmful consequences of the antibiotics, increasing their susceptibility to such drugs. Aim: The current study aimed to make an aqueous crude extract from the soil Proteus mirabilis isolate with the use of the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique for its analysis, and then, study the impact of the extract on clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: Preparation of crude extracts from P. mirabilis (both organic and aqueous), which were then analyzed by GC-MS to detect the bioactive ingredients. Furthermore, the extract’s capability to interfere with both the expression of the QS of P. aeruginosa and its antibacterial resistance was examined. Results: The highest GC-MS peak (37.11%.) appeared for 1,3-benzodioxole, 4-methoxy-6-(2-propenyl), along with the presence of other components of antibacterial activities. When the aqueous extract was added to the culture of two multi-drug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa, a significant reduction in the expression of the QS regulatory gene LasI occurred, indicating its interference with QS. Moreover, upon adding the extract to the culture of P. aeruginosa (MDR) and then subjecting it to Amikacin and Colistin, already not effective on the bacteria, the isolates became more susceptible to these antibiotics showing zones of inhibition of 25 and 17 mm, respectively. Conclusion: The crude aqueous extract of the soil P. mirabilis isolate might be a potential producer of QS inhibitors with antibacterial activities that render the MDR P. aeruginosa more susceptible to antibiotics to whom they already exerted resistance.
The second leading cause of death and one of the most common causes of disability in the world is stroke. Researchers have found that brain–computer interface (BCI) techniques can result in better stroke patient rehabilitation. This study used the proposed motor imagery (MI) framework to analyze the electroencephalogram (EEG) dataset from eight subjects in order to enhance the MI-based BCI systems for stroke patients. The preprocessing portion of the framework comprises the use of conventional filters and the independent component analysis (ICA) denoising approach. Fractal dimension (FD) and Hurst exponent (Hur) were then calculated as complexity features, and Tsallis entropy (TsEn) and dispersion entropy (DispEn) were assessed as
... Show MoreThe research aims to enhance the level of evaluation of the performance of banking transactions control policies and procedures. The research is based on the following hypothesis: efficient transactions control policies and procedures contribute enhancing financial reporting, by assessing non-application gap of those policies and procedures in a manner that helps to prevent, discover, and correct material misstatements. The researchers designed an examination list that includes the control policies and procedures related to the transactions, as a guide to the bank audit program prepared by the Federal Financial Supervision Bureau. The research methodology is
... Show MoreThis study was conducted to detect the relationship between organic content in the sediment of Rivers Tigris and Diyala, at two locations south of Baghdad, with some environmental factors and the benthic invertebrates and values of diversity indices. Monthly samples collected from the area for the period November 2007 to October 2008. Results showed differences in the physical and chemical characteristics of the two sites, Where the annual average in Tigris and Diyala were respectively for: water temperature (19, 20) C°, pH (8, 8), dissolved oxygen (4, 8) mg / l , Biochemical oxygen Demand BOD5 (3,44 ) mg/l, TDS (632,1585) mg / l, TSS (42, 44) mg / l, turbidity (28,74) NTU, and total hardness as CaCO3 (485,823) mg / l ,Sulfat
... Show MorePsoriasis is a long-lasting autoimmune disease that is characterized by swollen skin patches. Normally, these skin patches are dark, swollen, itchy and scaly. The single application of the innate TLR7/8 ligand Imiquimod (IMQ) in mice easily induces a dermatitis that closely resembles human psoriasis, critically dependent on the axis of IL-23/IL-17. Artemisia dracunculus prepared as an ointment and has been used topically to mice before imiquimod application. The results of the current study showed that A. dracunculus ointment can significantly reduce psoriasis area and severity index in (A. dracunculus ointment + imiquimod group as compared with both control group and (vehicle ointment + imiquimod) group.
Endometriosis is a common women health disorder that occurs when Endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus. This may lead to irregular bleeding , pelvic pain, infertility and other complications. Metformin, because of its activity to improve insulin sensitivity, it is used for the treatment of diabetes; it also has a modulatory effect on ovarian steroid production and has anti-inflammatory properties, all may suggest its possible effect in treatment of endometriosis. This study was planned to determine the effect of metformin on serum levels of&nbs
... Show MoreObjectives: to assess the normal range of different lip parameters with gender difference and its role in esthetic procedures for Iraqi people. Methods: direct lip measurements were performed with closed lip position using a digital vernier caliper in 132 young Iraqi subjects (89 female and 43 male). Results: Lip measurements showed sexual dimorphism with higher value in men than women in six parameters. Cutaneous height of the upper lip was higher in both sexes. The mustache area in males was longer in males compared to females. Also, it was noticed that upper lip vertical thickness had a higher value, especially in subjects with cosmetic procedures. In addition to that, vertical upper lip thickness showed a higher rise in values
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