Prevention Of Bacterial Infections Research Articles

Metagenomic profiling uncovers microbiota and antibiotic resistance patterns across human, chicken, pig fecal, and soil environments

The ongoing and progressive evolution of antibiotic resistance presents escalating challenges for the clinical management and prevention of bacterial infections. Understanding the makeup of resistance genomes and accurately quantifying the current abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are crucial for assessing the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to public health. This comprehensive study investigated the distribution and diversity of bacterial community composition, ARGs, and virulence factors (VFs) across human, chicken, pig fecal, and soil microbiomes in various provinces of China. As a result, multidrug resistance was identified across all samples. Core ARGs primarily related to multidrug, MLS (Macrolides-Lincosamide-Streptogramins), and tetracycline resistance were characterized. A significant correlation between ARGs and bacterial taxa was observed, especially in soil samples. Probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus harbored ARGs, potentially contributing to the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. We screened subsets of ARGs from samples from different sources as indicators to assess the level of ARGs contamination in samples, with high accuracy. These results underline the complex relationship between microbial communities, resistance mechanisms, and environmental factors, emphasizing the importance of continued research and monitoring to better understand these dynamics.

Oral Vaccines for Prevention of Bacterial Infections: Development Strategies and Prospects

Oral Vaccines for Prevention of Bacterial Infections: Development Strategies and Prospects

Green Synthesis and Characterization of Ginger-Derived Silver Nanoparticles and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Anticancer Activities.

The efficacy, targeting ability, and biocompatibility of plant-based nanoparticles can be exploited in fields such as agriculture and medicine. This study highlights the use of plant-based ginger nanoparticles as an effective and promising strategy against cancer and for the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections and related disorders. Ginger is a well-known spice with significant medicinal value due to its phytochemical constituents including gingerols, shogaols, zingerones, and paradols. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) derived from ginger extracts could be an important non-toxic and eco-friendly nanomaterial for widespread use in medicine. In this study, AgNPs were biosynthesized using an ethanolic extract of ginger rhizome and their phytochemical, antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties were evaluated. UV-visible spectral analysis confirmed the formation of spherical AgNPs. FTIR analysis revealed that the NPs were associated with various functional biomolecules that were associated with the NPs during stabilization. The particle size and SEM analyses revealed that the AgNPs were in the size range of 80-100 nm, with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.510, and a zeta potential of -17.1 mV. The purity and crystalline nature of the AgNPs were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The simple and repeatable phyto-fabrication method reported here may be used for scaling up for large-scale production of ginger-derived NPs. A phytochemical analysis of the ginger extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids, which can serve as active biocatalysts and natural stabilizers of metallic NPs. The ginger extracts at low concentrations demonstrated promising cytotoxicity against Vero cell lines with a 50% reduction in cell viability at 0.6-6 μg/mL. When evaluated for biological activity, the AgNPs exhibited significant antioxidant and antibacterial activity on several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. This suggests that the AgNPs may be used against multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Ginger-derived AgNPs have a considerable potential for use in the development of broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anticancer medications, and an optimistic perspective for their use in medicine and pharmaceutical industry.

Design, optimization and pharmaceutical characterization of wound healing film dressings with chloramphenicol and ibuprofen

Objective The aim of the present study was to develop and optimize a wound dressing film loaded with chloramphenicol (CAM) and ibuprofen (IBU) using a Quality by Design (QbD) approach. Significance The two drugs have been combined in the same dressing as they address two critical aspects of the wound healing process, namely prevention of bacterial infection and reduction of inflammation and pain related to injury. Methods Three critical formulation variables were identified, namely the ratios of Kollicoat SR 30D, polyethylene glycol 400 and polyvinyl alcohol. These variables were further considered as factors of an experimental design, and 17 formulations loaded with CAM and IBU were prepared via solvent casting. The films were characterized in terms of dimensions, mechanical properties and bioadhesion. Additionally, the optimal formulation was characterized regarding tensile properties, swelling behavior, water vapor transmission rate, surface morphology, thermal behavior, goniometry, in vitro drug release, cell viability, and antibacterial activity. Results The film was optimized by setting minimal values for the folding endurance, adhesive force and hardness. The optimally formulated film showed good fluid handling properties in terms of swelling behavior and water vapor transmission rate. IBU and CAM were released from the film up to 80.9% and 82.5% for 8 h. The film was nontoxic, and the antibacterial activity was prominent against Micrococcus spp. and Streptococcus pyogenes. Conclusions The QbD approach was successfully implemented to develop and optimize a novel film dressing promising for the treatment of low-exuding acute wounds prone to infection and inflammation.

Isolation of cultures of microorganisms from pathological material from cows

Rapidly developing antibiotic resistance limits the capabilities of veterinary specialists and doctors in the fight against infectious diseases. Effective diagnosis and continuous improvement in the field of antimicrobial therapy is the main approach in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. According to available data, bacteria are able to develop resistance in 2-3 years, while it takes an average of 5 years to develop and test a new antimicrobial drug. In our study, bacteriological examination of samples of pathological material from cows from 10 livestock farms in different districts of the Leningrad region was carried out, followed by determination of the sensitivity of isolated crops to antibiotics. In this study, 84 samples from cows were selected and examined and 115 cultures of microorganisms were isolated. As a result of the bacteriological study of the pathological material from cows, 9 groups and types of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms were identified. The main proportion is detected on staphylococci – 35.7%, mainly Staphylococcus aureus, epidermal staphylococcus and citrus staphylococcus. Escherichia coli (23.5%) and Proteus vulgaris (20.9%) were among the microorganisms in terms of frequency of occurrence. Most of the isolated cultures had average sensitivity to gentamicin, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, cefepim, cefotaxime, neomecin; resistant to doxycycline, amoxicillin, levofloxacin, colistin, doxycycline, streptomycin, tylosin, tetracycline.

Comparison of antimicrobial properties of inorganic peroxide polymer composites

AbstractWound healing and prevention of bacterial infections are critical aspects of modern medical care. In this work, antibacterial films were produced by creating composites of polycaprolactone with inorganic peroxides. Calcium, magnesium, and zinc peroxide were incorporated in a biocompatible polymeric film. Iron oxide, sodium bicarbonate, and calcium phosphate were added to reduce hydrogen peroxide and to maintain pH in a less alkaline range, allowing for optimization of the material's antibacterial efficacy while minimizing cytotoxicity toward human fibroblasts. Experiments with common wound pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aerugonisa, confirmed significant and prolonged antibacterial effects of peroxide‐doped films. Findings showed that the addition of CaO2 and MgO2 within the film increased cytotoxicity toward human fibroblasts after 48 h (30%–40% decrease compared to control), whereas ZnO2‐based films exhibited a minimal cytotoxicity consistently maintaining over 70% cell viability throughout the course of the experiment. We examined the materials’ sustained release of reactive oxygen species and oxygen, and pH variation correlated with antibacterial activity. Given the unique combination of antibacterial efficacy and mammalian biocompatibility, these peroxides have value as components to sustain hydrogen peroxide release when appropriately compounded to reduce pH variation and avoid excessive hydrogen peroxide levels.

TiO2/Polystyrene Nanocomposite Antibacterial Material as a Hemoperfusion Adsorbent for Efficient Bilirubin Removal and Prevention of Bacterial Infection.

The use of hemoperfusion adsorbents for the removal of bilirubin in patients with liver failure has become a critical treatment. However, the insufficient clearance of bilirubin and the possibility of bacterial infection during hemoperfusion limit the application. In this work, we designed a novel antibacterial bilirubin adsorbent (PSVT) through the suspension polymerization reaction between double-bond functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles and styrene. PSVT showed an excellent bilirubin adsorption ability and antibacterial performance, ensuring efficient clearance of bilirubin in liver failure patients during hemoperfusion and preventing bacterial infection. The experimental results indicated that TiO2 was uniformly dispersed in the microspheres, which improved the mesoporous structure and increased the specific surface area. Composite adsorbent PSVT showed an exceptional bilirubin adsorption capacity, with the maximum adsorption capacity reaching 24.3 mg/g. In addition, the introduction of TiO2 endowed PSVT with excellent antibacterial ability; the ultimate antibacterial rates against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus reached 97.31 and 96.47%, respectively. In summary, PSVT served as a novel antibacterial bilirubin adsorbent with excellent bilirubin clearance capacity and antibacterial performance, providing excellent application prospects for treating liver failure patients.

Research Progress on Strategies for Improving the Enzyme Properties of Bacteriophage Endolysins.

Bacterial resistance to commonly used antibiotics is one of the major challenges to be solved today. Bacteriophage endolysins (Lysins) have become a hot research topic as a new class of antibacterial agents. They have promising applications in bacterial infection prevention and control in multiple fields, such as livestock and poultry farming, food safety, clinical medicine and pathogen detection. However, many phage endolysins display low bactericidal activities, short half-life and narrow lytic spectrums. Therefore, some methods have been used to improve the enzyme properties (bactericidal activity, lysis spectrum, stability and targeting the substrate, etc) of bacteriophage endolysins, including deletion or addition of domains, DNA mutagenesis, chimerization of domains, fusion to the membrane-penetrating peptides, fusion with domains targeting outer membrane transport systems, encapsulation, the usage of outer membrane permeabilizers. In this review, research progress on the strategies for improving their enzyme properties are systematically presented, with a view to provide references for the development of lysins with excellent performances.

Green synthesis of copper nanoparticles from agro-waste garlic husk

Abstract The objective of this study was to test the antibacterial activity of copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) against bacterial pathogens by green synthesizing them from aqueous extracts of garlic husk. The synthesized Cu NPs were examined by UV-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy at (200–400 nm), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and zeta potential analysis. The findings supported the capping, reduction, and production of Cu NPs with an average crystalline size of 14 nm in the husk extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration technique (MIC test) was used to measure the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholera) and Gram-negative (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus) microorganisms. The lowest concentration required for inhibiting the growth of the bacterial strains ranged from 34.7 to 43.04 μg/ml. The above findings suggest that greenly synthesized Cu NPs made from garlic agro-waste may have potential uses in the realm of nanomedicine as an antibacterial drug in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections due to their superior antibacterial activity.

Strategies to Enhance Biomedical Device Performance and Safety: A Comprehensive Review

This paper reviews different approaches to obtain biomaterials with tailored functionalities and explains their significant characteristics that influence their bioactivity. The main goal of this discussion underscores the significance of surface properties in materials, with a particular emphasis on their role in facilitating cell adhesion in order to obtain good biocompatibility and biointegration, while preventing adverse effects, such as bacterial contamination and inflammation processes. Consequently, it is essential to design strategies and interventions that avoid bacterial infections, reducing inflammation and enhancing compatibility systems. Within this review, we elucidate the most prevalent techniques employed for surface modification, notably emphasizing surface chemical composition and coatings. In the case of surface chemical composition, we delve into four commonly applied approaches: hydrolysis, aminolysis, oxidation, and plasma treatment. On the other hand, coatings can be categorized based on their material composition, encompassing ceramic-based and polymer-based coatings. Both types of coatings have demonstrated efficacy in preventing bacterial contamination, promoting cell adhesion and improving biological properties of the surface. Furthermore, the addition of biological agents such as drugs, proteins, peptides, metallic ions plays a pivotal role in manifesting the prevention of bacterial infection, inflammatory responses, and coagulation mechanism.

Knowledge levels of graduate and trainee dentists on antibiotic use in endodontics

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the level of knowledge of dentists and dental students about the rational use of antibiotics (RUA), their clinical approaches when prescribing antibiotics, and student and graduate dentists.
 Introduction: Rational use of medicines means that patients take their medicines according to their clinical needs, in appropriate doses, for sufficient time, and at the lowest cost to themselves and society. The RUA is very important in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections.
 Materials and Methods: The questionnaire, which was prepared on Google Forms for all graduate and trainee dentists in Turkey that we could reach and included questions about RUA and antibiotic use in dentists, was distributed to approximately 400 people, and 331 people returned the questionnaire.
 Results: Of the respondents, 52.3% were dental students, and the remaining 47.7% were dental graduates. 94.8% of the participants reported that they received information about RUA from the faculty, followed by scientific publications, the internet and social media, the Ministry of Health, relatives, spouses, and friends, professional associations, and newspapers. The majority of participants, 303 people, answered the question, 'Can inappropriate use of antibiotics increase antimicrobial resistance? The majority of participants answered yes, while the remaining 18 answered no. The majority of participants, 62.1%, thought that antibiotics were prescribed more than necessary. Only 35% of participants (110 people) correctly answered the question about antibiotics that are not suitable for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
 Conclusion: According to the results of our study, dentists have an important role to play in ensuring the RUA. Dentists should be regularly trained with updated curricula.

Biocompatible 3D-Printed Tendon/Ligament Scaffolds Based on Polylactic Acid/Graphite Nanoplatelet Composites.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has become a popular tool to produce complex structures. It has great potential in the regenerative medicine field to produce customizable and reproducible scaffolds with high control of dimensions and porosity. This study was focused on the investigation of new biocompatible and biodegradable 3D-printed scaffolds with suitable mechanical properties to assist tendon and ligament regeneration. Polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds were reinforced with 0.5 wt.% of functionalized graphite nanoplatelets decorated with silver nanoparticles ((f-EG)+Ag). The functionalization of graphene was carried out to strengthen the interface with the polymer. (f-EG)+Ag exhibited antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), an important feature for the healing process and prevention of bacterial infections. The scaffolds' structure, biodegradation, and mechanical properties were assessed to confirm their suitability for tendon and ligamentregeneration. All scaffolds exhibited surface nanoroughness created during printing, which was increased by the filler presence. The wet state dynamic mechanical analysis proved that the incorporation of reinforcement led to an increase in the storage modulus, compared with neat PLA. The cytotoxicity assays using L929 fibroblasts showed that the scaffolds were biocompatible. The PLA+[(f-EG)+Ag] scaffolds were also loaded with human tendon-derived cells and showed their capability to maintain the tenogenic commitment with an increase in the gene expression of specific tendon/ligament-related markers. The results demonstrate the potential application of these new 3D-printed nanocomposite scaffolds for tendon and ligament regeneration.

Anti-Biofilm Activity of Nigella sativa Extracts against Pathogenic Bacteria

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is still a serious problem for global health; however, new antibiotic research is lagging behind AMR. There are dangers associated with bacterial biofilms in hospitals, restaurants, and water treatment plants. Several medicinal herbs are utilized ethnomedically in India to cure infectious diseases. However, apart from the conventional inhibitory effects on cell development, little is known about the possible anti-biofilm action of medicinal herbs, which may help in the prevention of bacterial infection. Here, we investigated the in vitro anti-biofilm activity of plant extracts of Nigella sativa (black cumin) seeds. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test was performed using the two-fold serial dilution technique. The establishment and growth of biofilms were evaluated using crystal violet (CV) tests. Methanol extracts showed antibacterial action against all bacterial strains, with S. aureus showing the most activity. N. sativa seed extract had good activity against bacterial biofilms. Further research into the isolation of antimicrobial compounds and the mechanism of action of N. sativa seed methanol extract may provide promising leads.

Rapid visualization molecular fluorescence detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using the multiplex MIRA-qPCR method.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections constitute a major public health problem worldwide. A rapid method for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is critical for the timely prevention of bacterial infections and the accurate clinical use of drugs. The nuc and mecA genes are potentially indicative of MRSA infection and in this study, a multiplex molecular fluorescence multi-enzyme isothermal rapid amplification visual assay was proposed and established. The method is capable of detecting MRSA at 17min, 40°C amplification, and is well differentiated from common clinical bacteria in specific assays, with 500 colony-forming units (CFU)mL-1 of MRSA detected under optimal conditions. This method has excellent diagnostic capabilities versus classical methods to detect clinical samples and shows potential in the identification of pathogenic microorganisms in a clinical setting.

Biodegradable piezoelectric skin-wound scaffold

Electrical stimulation (ES) induces wound healing and skin regeneration. Combining ES with the tissue-engineering approach, which relies on biomaterials to construct a replacement tissue graft, could offer a self-stimulated scaffold to heal skin-wounds without using potentially toxic growth factors and exogenous cells. Unfortunately, current ES technologies are either ineffective (external stimulations) or unsafe (implanted electrical devices using toxic batteries). Hence, we propose a novel wound-healing strategy that integrates ES with tissue engineering techniques by utilizing a biodegradable self-charged piezoelectric PLLA (Poly (l-lactic acid)) nanofiber matrix. This unique, safe, and stable piezoelectric scaffold can be activated by an external ultrasound (US) to produce well-controlled surface-charges with different polarities, thus serving multiple functions to suppress bacterial growth (negative surface charge) and promote skin regeneration (positive surface charge) at the same time. We demonstrate that the scaffold activated by low intensity/low frequency US can facilitate the proliferation of fibroblast/epithelial cells, enhance expression of genes (collagen I, III, and fibronectin) typical for the wound healing process, and suppress the growth of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa bacteria in vitro simultaneously. This approach induces rapid skin regeneration in a critical-sized skin wound mouse model in vivo. The piezoelectric PLLA skin scaffold thus assumes the role of a multi-tasking, biodegradable, battery-free electrical stimulator which is important for skin-wound healing and bacterial infection prevention simultaneuosly.

Isolation and Preparation Three Types of Antigens From S.pseudintermedius

This study aimed to prepare and evaluate the immunogenic activity of three distinct antigens derived from S. pseudintermedius, a prominent isolate identified from otitis externa samples of dogs and human infections. The isolation and identification of Staphylococcus species were conducted using rigorous cultural, morphological, and biochemical methods, with confirmation via VITEK technique. A total of 100 samples, comprising 50 from humans and 50 from dogs, were collected. Following successful antigen preparation, twenty rabbits were immunized and divided into four groups, including a control group. Cellular immunity was assessed through a delayed hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test, revealing positive skin reactions among the immunized groups. Subsequent challenge dosing resulted in clinical observation, with marked signs of illness and severe infection in the control group. Histopathological examination further confirmed this infection and bacterial isolation. Remarkably, the prepared antigens exhibited substantial protein concentrations and induced a robust immune response in immunized rabbits against experimental L. monocytogenes infection. These findings underscore the potential of S. pseudintermedius antigens for developing protective strategies against bacterial infections in both veterinary and human medicine, offering significant implications for global health practitioners and researchers in the field.
 Highlights :
 
 Rigorous identification: S. pseudintermedius derived antigens evaluated after precise Staphylococcus species identification using cultural, morphological, and biochemical methods, confirmed via VITEK technique.
 Robust immune response: Immunization with prepared antigens induced positive delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions and protected against severe L. monocytogenes infection, demonstrating potential for cross-species bacterial infection prevention.
 Clinical and histopathological insights: Control group exhibited illness and Listeriosis upon challenge, validated through histopathological examination, highlighting antigen-induced protection against bacterial invasion.

Fe/N-doped carbon dots-based nanozyme with super peroxidase activity, high biocompatibility and antibiofilm ability for food preservation

Bacterial biofilm infections cause about 600 million foodborne illnesses and about 420,000 confirmed deaths annually. However, traditional antibiotics and emerging nanomaterials have the problem of causing bacterial resistance, no catalytic activity and low biocompatibility. Herein, one new antibacterial carbon dots-based nanozyme Fe/N-CDs was developed with antibiofilm ability, excellent peroxidase activity and high biocompatibility. The Fe/N-CDs nanozyme manifested outstanding broad-spectrum antibacterial activity (even multidrug-resistant bacteria) by catalyzing the decomposition of H2O2 to •OH through a peroxide-like reaction (Vmax/Km=1.07×10-6/s), which was 5.35-fold that of horseradish peroxidase (Vmax/Km=0.20×10-6/s). The antibacterial activity increased more than 500-fold after catalysis. The inhibitory capability of Fe/N-CDs nanozyme for Hafinia alvei biofilm was up to 80.2% of by inhibiting extracellular polymeric substances, total protein, AKP enzyme and ATPase. Notably, no obvious cytotoxicity and development of bacteria resistance were observed after co-culturing with the Fe/N-CDs nanozyme. Furthermore, the fresh test results demonstrated that the Fe/N-CDs nanozyme could effectively extend the shelf life of salmon for 3–6 days. These findings indicated that nanozyme could be used to extend the shelf life of food. What’s more, this antibiofilm Fe/N-CDs nanozyme provides the potential idea for developing carbon-based nanomaterials with catalytic activity and prevention of bacterial infections in food preservation.

Comparison of intravenous ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin in prevention of infection in cirrhosis patients with variceal bleeding

Background: Patients with variceal gastrointestinal bleeding are very susceptible to bacterial infections. This study was designed to examine the effectiveness of ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone in controlling in-hospital morbidity, mortality, and infection in variceal bleeding patients. Methods: From August 2010 to August 2012, an interventional randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Gastroenterology, East Medical Ward, Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Adult patients who were diagnosed to have gastroesophageal variceal bleeding after endoscopic examination were included. These patients were randomly distributed to 2 groups. Group ceftriaxone: receiving injection Ceftriaxone 1000 mg intravenously 12 hourly for 7 days, Group ciprofloxacin: receiving injection ciprofloxacin 200 mg intravenously 12 hourly for 7 days. Results: Most common viral etiology was Hepatitis C in both the study groups. It was observed that in the ceftriaxone group, 4.8% had rebleeding, while in the ciprofloxacin group 5.6% had rebleeding (p=0.77), one case each had porto-systemic encephalopathy (p=0.99), 0.8% in ceftriaxone group and 3.2% in ciprofloxacin group had spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (p=0.39) and 4.8% in ceftriaxone group and 8% in ciprofloxacin group had systemic inflammatory response syndrome (p=0.31). No patients died during one week follow up. Conclusions: From our study, it was concluded that ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone had same efficacy when used intravenously for prevention of bacterial infection and improvement in mortality and morbidity in patient of variceal bleeding. Future multicentric studies are required with a longer patient follow to support our findings.

<em>In-vitro</em> wound healing potential of <em>Ziziphus oenoplia</em> (L.) Miller

Non-healing wounds are a global health problem. Substances that enhance cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and prevention of bacterial infections accelerate the wound healing process. In this study, the wound healing potential of Ziziphus oenoplia, is investigated for its ability in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and antibacterial potential. The potential of cell proliferation enhancement (mean percent wound closure) and angiogenic response (mean vascular index) of hexanes, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of leaf and bark of Z. oenoplia were evaluated by scratch wound assay (SWA) using Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells and chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, respectively. The antibacterial activity of these extracts was evaluated against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by disc diffusion method. Enhanced cell proliferation was shown by the hexanes, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate extracts of leaf and the hexanes extract of bark. An enhanced angiogenic response was shown by the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of leaves and the methanol and hexanes extracts of bark. Dichloromethane extract of both leaf and bark showed considerable antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa which is less susceptible to common antibiotics. SWA-directed fractionation of the hexanes extract of the leaf has resulted in the isolation and identification of an active fraction showing mean percent wound closure of 86.4% (positive control 90.2%) and mean vascular index of 34.5 (positive control 48.6). This fraction contained lupeol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, hexacosanol, and octacosanol. The present study provides supportive evidence for the potential of wound healing enhancement of leaf and bark extracts of Z. oenoplia.

Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Bacterial Infections: A Review Study

Background: In spite of great advances in the prevention of bacterial infections, they are still considered the most common reason for mortality worldwide. In accordance with the data from the World Health Organization (WHO), around 15% of pediatric mortality was caused by bacterial infections in 2017. Since cigarette smoke can cause serious damage to organs such as the respiratory system and weakening of the immune system, the aim of the present review study was to investigate the effects of cigarette smoking on various bacterial pneumonia. Methods: The present review study was performed on 90 articles obtained through searching in ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar using keywords such as bacterial pneumonia, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Haemophilus, Pseudomonas, Legionella, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, tuberculosis, and cigarette. Results: Different results of previous studies indicated that given the detrimental effect of cigarettes on the respiratory and immune system of individuals, cigarette smoking affects the prognosis and outcome of infectious diseases. Disease severity, requiring hospitalization at both general and intensive care units, and mortality rate vary across these patients, thereby challenging the treatment. Thus, the cessation of cigarette smoking may help improve the respiratory system function. Conclusion: Given contradictions in the results of previous studies, exposure to cigarette smoke affects the respiratory system and increases the severity of bacterial pneumonia.