Biological Sciences

Problem statement: Hospital cleanleness and hygene are consederd among the most important aspects of clinical success and in preventing nosocomial infections. In this study we will address the problem of effectiveness of commonly used chemical agents in cleaning and disinfection in hospitals of north Jordan. For evaluating the effectiveness of chemical agents. Approach: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the method of serial broth dilutions. The bacteria used were Acinetobactev calcoaceticus, Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia marcescens were isolated from material collected from Princess Badea and Princess Rahma hospitals in north Jordan, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 9372, Bacillus stearothermophilus ATCC 7953, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923,were used as controls. Results: Chlorhexidine showed no inhibitory activity for Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus stearothermophilus. A. calcoaceticus, showed resistance to the majority of the agents tested, followed by E. cloacae and S. marcescens. The MIC intervals, which reduced bacteria populations over 08 log 10 , were: 65-11000 mg L −1 of chlorhexidine digluconate, 200-4500 mg L −1 of chlorine-releasing-agents (CRAs), 4100-82000 mg L −1 of isopropanol or ethanol, 1350-3500 mg L −1 of glutaraldehyde, 50-250 mg L −1 of formaldehyde, 1200-6000 mg L −1 of iodine in polyvinyl-pyrolidone complexes, 450-2400 mg L −1 of hydrogen peroxide and 60-160 mg L −1 of quaternarium ammonium compounds (QACs). Conclusion: Ethanol, Ethanol plus glycerin and Ethanol iodine were found to be the most effective agents against microorganims tested p<0.05.

The primary aim of this study was to determine the incidents of pseudomonas aeruginosa in post-operative wound infection and its sensitivity pattern to commonly used antibiotics. During a period of six months between February to December, 2005, 115 specimens were collected from King Abdullah University Hospital, Princess Basma Hospital, Princess Badea and Princess Rahma Hospitals. Samples were obtained from the hospitals and processed in our research microbiology lab. Assessment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an agent of nosocomial infections. Out of the 115 bacterial isolates found in post-operative wound infection, 20 (27.8%) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by E. coli 18 (15.6%), S. aureus 17 (14.7%), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 15 (13.0%), K. species 14 (12.1 %), Proteus species 7 (6.0 %), Citrobacter freundii 4 (3.4%), Streptococcus pyogenes 3 (2.6 %), Enterococcus faecalis 3 (2.6%) and no growth 2 (1.7 %). The results showed that the occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was higher in young groups than in the other groups. The lowest causative agents of post operation infections were Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Citrobacter freundii. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of hospital infection between males and females. The sensitivity pattern of P. aeruginosa isolated from patients in postoperative wound infections, the organism was sensitive to amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin and aztreonam with amikacin showing the highest percentage sensitivity. In conclusion this study shows that there is an increased rate of incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in postoperative wound infections.

The allele distributions at five STR loci, D16S539, TPOX, CSF1PO, Penta D, and Penta E have been determined. None of the five loci were found to deviate from Hardy-Weinberg expectations according to the results of the G (homogeneity) test. q

The present work quantitatively evaluates the antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials of two Libyan folk medicinal plants [Artemisia campestris (Astraceae) and Ziziphus lotus (Rhamnacea)] that commonly grow in the south of Libya. The crude methanolic leaves extracts of both plants are appreciably active against Gram-positive species, associated with week anti-Gram-negative activity. These two plant extracts also showed reasonably high contents of polyphenolics and alkaloids, with minimal inhibitory concentrations between 12.5-25 and 250-1000 lg/ml for Gram-positive and Gram-negative species, respectively. Results collectively suggest that A. campestris and Z. lotus are not only reliable natural sources of antimicrobials but also potential sources of phenolic antioxidants and hence could be nominated for future intensive studies.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) results from mutations in the gene encoding the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) which is a regulated chloride channel. The F508 mutation prevents the post-translational glycosylation and membrane insertion of the protein. Severe disease follows, with the formation of a viscous mucus and subsequent chronic bacterial infection of the lungs, necessitating frequent, and often long, periods of antibiotic treatment. The pharmacokinetics of antibiotics in CF patients are abnormal, with lower blood serum levels and higher clearance rates which have never been satisfactorily explained. We found that accumulation of gentamicin in nasal polyp tissue non-CF cells was subject to regulation by the effectors and inhibitors of CFTR function; regulation was lost in F508 CF cells and accumulation was more than doubled because of the inhibition of exocytosis. †Present address:

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and their seasonal variation in northern Jordan. A total of 21 906 stool samples were collected over a period of 4 years (2009-2013) from 5 government hospitals in 3 cities. Samples were processed and examined microscopically and by concentration methods. Parasitic infection was found in 9611 samples (44%). Giardia lamblia was the most prevalent parasite (41%) followed by Entamoeba histolytica (31%) and Ent. coli (13%); the least prevalent parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides (1%), Hymenolepis nana, Taenia sp., and Chilomastix mesnili (all < 1%). The prevalence of different parasites varied according to season, on average the summer months showed the highest incidence of parasitic infection (62%) compared with the winter months (16%). Giardia lamblia and Ent. histolytica were most prevalent in the summer months.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to various antimicrobial agents, and the relationship between antimicrobial resistance of the isolates and carriage of plasmids. Design: A random sampling of milk and meat samples was carried out. Setting: Milk was collected from various dairy cooperative societies in Nairobi and Kiambu districts. Minced meat samples were purchased from various outlets in the city of Nairobi. Subjects: Ninety six Staphylococcus aureus isolates from milk (seventy five isolates) and minced meat (twenty one isolates) samples. Main outcome measures: Plasmid profiles and antimicrobial susceptibility tests to ampicillin, lincomycin, penicillin, erythromycin, methicillin, minocycline, cotrimoxazole and chloramphenicol. Results: Seventy one per cent of the isolates carried between one and six plasmids of molecular sizes ranging from 0.1 to 14.5 kilobases. High frequency of resistance was observed with lincomycin (67.7%), penicillin (66.7%) and cotrimoxazole (51%). A high percentage (76%) of isolates were susceptible to minocycline followed by erythromycin (57.3%). Most (80.2%) of isolates were multiply resistant to between two and six antibiotics. Conclusion: Most Staphylococcus aureus isolates were multiply resistant to various antimicrobial agents, but there was no apparent relationship between carriage of plasmids and antimicrobial resistance. Milk and meat may contain resistant Staphylococcus aureus posing a potential risk to consumers.

Expression of Epstein-Barr virus Latent Member Protein-1 (EBV LMP-1) and loss of P16 protein expression are documented in lymphoma, indicating a relationship between them, but this relationship is not clear and sometimes contradictory. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the relationship between the loss of P16 and EBV LMP-1 expression in Jordanian patients diagnosed with lymphoma. Sections were made from archival formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded blocks from 55 patients diagnosed with lymphoma. P16 expression and LMP-1 expression were detected by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies. In Hodgkin&#39;s Lymphoma (HL), the loss of P16 was higher in LMP-1 positive cases (61%) than LMP-1 negative cases (25%; P = 0.072). Conversely, in Non-Hodgkin&#39;s Lymphoma (NHL), none of LMP-1 positive samples showed loss of P16. Furthermore, among LMP-1 HL positive cases, the loss of P16 was more frequent in male (75%) than female (33%). Also, there was a significantly higher p...

P16/INK4A is tumor suppressor protein that plays a critical role in cell cycle regulation. Loss of P16 protein expression has been implicated in pathogenesis of many cancers, including lymphoma. Therefore, we sought to investigate if loss of P16 protein expression is associated with lymphoma and/or any specific lymphoma subtypes (Hodgkin-s lymphoma (HL) and nonHodgkin-s lymphoma (NHL)). Fifty-five lymphoma cases consisted of 30 cases of HL and 25 cases of NHL, with an age range of 3 to 78 years, were examined for loss of P16 by immunohistochemical technique using a specific antibody reacting against P16. In total, P16 loss was seen in 33% of all lymphoma cases. P16 loss was identified in 47.7% of HL cases. In contrast, only 16% of NHL showed loss of P16. Loss of P16 was seen in 67% of HL patients with 50 years of age or older, whereas P16 loss was found in only 42% of HL patients with less than 50 years of age. P16 loss in HL is somewhat higher in male (55%) than in female (30%). In...

The effect of repeated administration of cimetidine, an antiulcer agent, twice daily for 7days on the phosphatase (acid and alkaline) and some function indices of rat liver and kidney was investigated. Sixty-four white albino rats were randomly grouped into two, A and B. Group A which consisted of 32 rats served as the control and were administered twice daily with 1ml of distilled water (the vehicle) for 7days while group B which served as the test group were also administered twice daily with 1ml of cimetidine (2.8mg.kg-1 body wt) for 7days. Cimetidine administration (2.8mg.kg-1 body wt) resulted in significant increases (P<0.05) in the activities of liver and kidney alkaline phosphatase while there was no significant change (P>0.05) in the serum alkaline phosphatase activities. Acid phosphatase showed a decreased activity (P<0.05) in the liver but an increase (P<0.05) in activity in the kidney following the administration of cimetidine. Serum albumin content exhibited significant reduction (P<0.05) throughout the experimental period. There was a decrease (P<0.05) in the concentration of serum bilirubin from after the third day which was accompanied by a significant increase (P<0.05) in creatinine concentration and these pattern of changes were sustained as long as the administration of the agent lasted. The results indicated alterations in the biochemical parameters investigated with a more pronounced effect on the liver function than the renal function tests. It can be inferred that chronic administration of cimetidine repeatedly apart from altering the activities of the phosphatase enzymes, will also adversely affect the functional capabilities of the liver and kidneys.

The aim of this project is to study the molecular characteristics of blaTEM-1 gene, and the associated ampicillin resistance mechanisms present in E. coli in north Jordan. In this study, 150 unrelated Escherichia coli bacterial samples were isolated from different clinical sources (urine, blood, pus and abscess) and tested for their susceptibility to 17 antimicrobial agents, including ampicillin. The isolates were typed by plasmid profiling, and were investigated by PCR for the presence of various resistance genes. Out of the 150 isolates, 14 strains were multi-resistant; they showed resistance to Cotrimoxazole (70%), Ampicillin (67%), nalidixic acid (51%), Cephalothin (27%), Augmentin and Nitrofurantoin (19%), Tetracycline and Ciprofloxacin (15%) and Gentamycin (12%). Plasmid analysis of clinical isolates showed the presence of 1 to 7 plasmids with size ranging from 1.9 to 21.1 Kb compared with the control E.coli ATCC 25922 (size range from 2 to 19.5 Kb). PCR results showed the pre...