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Gasmi A, Asghar F, Zafar S, Oliinyk P, Khavrona O, Lysiuk R, Peana M, Piscopo S, Antonyak H, Pen JJ, Lozynska I, Noor S, Lenchyk L, Muhammad A, Vladimirova I, Dub N, Antoniv O, Tsal O, Upyr T, Bjørklund G. Berberine: Pharmacological Features in Health, Disease and Aging. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:1214-1234. [PMID: 36748808 DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230207112539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Berberine is the main active compound of different herbs and is defined as an isoquinoline quaternary botanical alkaloid found in barks and roots of numerous plants. It exhibits a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects. Berberine has antibacterial activity against a variety of microbiota, including many bacterial species, protozoa, plasmodia, fungi, and trypanosomes. OBJECTIVE This review describes the role of berberine and its metabolic effects. It also discusses how it plays a role in glucose metabolism, fat metabolism, weight loss, how it modulates the gut microbiota, and what are its antimicrobial properties along with its potential side effects with maximal tolerable dosage. METHODS Representative studies were considered and analyzed from different scientific databases, including PubMed and Web of Science, for the years 1982-2022. RESULTS Literature analysis shows that berberine affects many biochemical and pharmacological pathways that theoretically yield a positive effect on health and disease. Berberine exhibits neuroprotective properties in various neurodegenerative and neuropsychological ailments. Despite its low bioavailability after oral administration, berberine is a promising tool for several disorders. A possible hypothesis would be the modulation of the gut microbiome. While the evidence concerning the aging process in humans is more limited, preliminary studies have shown positive effects in several models. CONCLUSION Berberine could serve as a potential candidate for the treatment of several diseases. Previous literature has provided a basis for scientists to establish clinical trials in humans. However, for obesity, the evidence appears to be sufficient for hands-on use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Gasmi
- Société Francophone de Nutrithérapie et de Nutrigénétique Appliquée, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Farah Asghar
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (MMG), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Saba Zafar
- Department of Research, The Women University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Petro Oliinyk
- Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
- CONEM Ukraine Life Science Research Group, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Oksana Khavrona
- Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
- CONEM Ukraine Life Science Research Group, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Roman Lysiuk
- Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
- CONEM Ukraine Life Science Research Group, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Massimiliano Peana
- Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Salva Piscopo
- Société Francophone de Nutrithérapie et de Nutrigénétique Appliquée, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Halyna Antonyak
- Department of Ecology, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Joeri J Pen
- Diabetes Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Nutrition, UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Iryna Lozynska
- Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
- CONEM Ukraine Life Science Research Group, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Sadaf Noor
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Larysa Lenchyk
- Department of Research, National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
- CONEM Ukraine Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry Research Group, National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Akram Muhammad
- Department of Research, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Inna Vladimirova
- Department of Research, National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
- CONEM Ukraine Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry Research Group, National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Natalia Dub
- Andrei Krupynskyi Lviv Medical Academy, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Olha Antoniv
- Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
- CONEM Ukraine Life Science Research Group, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Oksana Tsal
- Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
- CONEM Ukraine Life Science Research Group, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Taras Upyr
- Department of Research, National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
- CONEM Ukraine Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry Research Group, National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Mo i Rana, Norway
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Bano A, Asghar F, Ejaz H, Junaid K, Bashier Eltayeb L, Javed N. Exploring the virulence potential of immune evasion cluster genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from cancer patients. Saudi J Biol Sci 2023; 30:103835. [PMID: 37885612 PMCID: PMC10597789 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is accountable for a plethora of infections, ranging from minor cutaneous manifestations to grave metastatic conditions. The dissemination of MRSA among cancer patients poses a substantial public health hazard on a global scale. This study explores the association between MRSA and bacteriophage-encoded immune evasion cluster (IEC) genes. This investigation employed a total of 168 pathogenic MRSA collected from 38 cancer and 130 non-cancer patients. A cefoxitin disc diffusion method followed by PCR analysis was used to identify the mecA gene. In this study, we employed singleplex and multiplexed PCR techniques to detect specific IEC genes. No association (p = 0.98) was observed between the sex and age of patients and MRSA isolates. However, MRSA isolates demonstrated a notable association (p = 0.01) with pus samples in non-cancer patients and skin swabs in cancer patients. The resistance profiles of MRSA strains from cancer and non-cancer patients did not show significant differences (p > 0.05). Notably, the sea gene was found to be more prevalent in MRSA isolates from cancer patients, displaying a significant association (p = 0.03). Additionally, this study identified two novel and distinct combinations of IEC types, namely V1 (sea, chp, scn) and V2 (sea, scn). Cancer patients had higher multidrug resistance and toxin gene abundance than non-cancer patients. The identification of two novel IEC patterns underscores the urgent need to control MRSA dissemination in hospitals and monitor emerging clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abida Bano
- Institute of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics (MMG), University of the Punjab, Quaid e Azam (New) Campus, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Farah Asghar
- Institute of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics (MMG), University of the Punjab, Quaid e Azam (New) Campus, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Hasan Ejaz
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kashaf Junaid
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Lienda Bashier Eltayeb
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin AbdulAziz University- Al-Kharj, 11942, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Numan Javed
- Institute of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics (MMG), University of the Punjab, Quaid e Azam (New) Campus, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
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Asghar F, Bano A, Waheed F, Ahmed Anjum A, Ejaz H, Javed N. Association of exogenous factors with molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in human oral cavity. Saudi J Biol Sci 2023; 30:103613. [PMID: 36936700 PMCID: PMC10018566 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The frequency of Staphylococcus aureus strains associated with oral cavity microbiota has prodigious consideration. Although S. aureus has been reflected as an ephemeral member of the human oral cavity microbiota, the isolation, identification, and characterization of S. aureus is important. The present study aimed to characterize S. aureus strains from the oral cavity microflora, isolation of S. aureus from the human oral cavity microbiota, and demographic information of the participants to evaluate exogenous factors associated with the presence of S. aureus and their genetic analysis linkage with different factors. The method used in this study is the isolation of oral cavity microbiomes using sheep blood agar and Mannitol salt agar. We performed antibiotic profiling with various antibiotics and genetic analysis utilizing gene-specific primers for specific genes, including nuc, mecA, pvl, agr, and coa. A significant number of S. aureus isolates were found in the oral cavity of humans 18/84 (21.42%), and all 18 strains tested positive for the confirmatory nuc gene. Antibiotic resistance-conferring gene mecA was positive in 10 (55.6%) isolates. It was found that the occurrence of pvl, agr, and coagulase (coa) genes was 9 (50%), 6 (33.33%), and 10 (55.6%), respectively. The genetic analysis reported that significant associations were present between male and mecA gene (P = 0.03) and coa (P = 0.03), smokers with the occurrence of mecA (P = 0.02), agr (P = 0.048) and coa (P = 0.02) genes. Likewise, the association of antibiotic usage was significantly found with mecA (P = 0.02), coa (P = 0.02); however, the individuals who have taken orthodontic treatment recently have a significant association with agr (P = 0.017). The use of mouth rinse was significantly associated with the prevalence of the pvl gene (P = 0.01), and tooth brushing frequency and inflammation of the buccal cavity were also statistically significant in relation to pvl gene prevalence (P = 0.02, 0.00, respectively). Moreover, calories and weight-controlled diet were significantly associated with mecA, agr, and highly significant with coa (P = 0.02, 0.048, 0.000), so all P < 0.05, and no significant association was found between the socioeconomic status of individuals with aforementioned analyzed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Asghar
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Abida Bano
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Fadia Waheed
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Aftab Ahmed Anjum
- Quality Operations Laboratory, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hasan Ejaz
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia
| | - Numan Javed
- Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
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Sebok-Syer SS, Shaw JM, Asghar F, Panza M, Syer MD, Lingard L. A scoping review of approaches for measuring 'interdependent' collaborative performances. Med Educ 2021; 55:1123-1130. [PMID: 33825192 DOI: 10.1111/medu.14531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Individual assessment disregards the team aspect of clinical work. Team assessment collapses the individual into the group. Neither is sufficient for medical education, where measures need to attend to the individual while also accounting for interactions with others. Valid and reliable measures of interdependence are critical within medical education given the collaborative manner in which patient care is provided. Medical education currently lacks a consistent approach to measuring the performance between individuals working together as part of larger healthcare team. This review's objective was to identify existing approaches to measuring this interdependence. METHODS Following Arksey & O'Malley's methodology, we conducted a scoping review in 2018 and updated it to 2020. A search strategy involving five databases located >12 000 citations. At least two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, screened full texts (n = 161) and performed data extraction on twenty-seven included articles. Interviews were also conducted with key informants to check if any literature was missing and assess that our interpretations made sense. RESULTS Eighteen of the twenty-seven articles were empirical; nine conceptual with an empirical illustration. Eighteen were quantitative; nine used mixed methods. The articles spanned five disciplines and various application contexts, from online learning to sports performance. Only two of the included articles were from the field of Medical Education. The articles conceptualised interdependence of a group, using theoretical constructs such as collaboration synergy; of a network, using constructs such as degree centrality; and of a dyad, using constructs such as synchrony. Both descriptive (eg social network analysis) and inferential (eg multi-level modelling) approaches were described. CONCLUSION Efforts to measure interdependence are scarce and scattered across disciplines. Multiple theoretical concepts and inconsistent terminology may be limiting programmatic work. This review motivates the need for further study of measurement techniques, particularly those combining multiple approaches, to capture interdependence in medical education.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer M Shaw
- Women's Studies, Western University Faculty of Arts and Humanities Ringgold Standard Institution, London, ON, Canada
| | - Farah Asghar
- Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Panza
- Centre for Education Research and Innovation, Western University Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, ON, Canada
| | - Mark D Syer
- Computing, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Lorelei Lingard
- Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Goulas A, Sabourin L, Asghar F, Haudin CS, Benoit P, Topp E. Explaining the accelerated degradation of ciprofloxacin, sulfamethazine, and erythromycin in different soil exposure scenarios by their aqueous extractability. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018; 25:16236-16245. [PMID: 29594886 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-1834-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics are frequently introduced into agricultural soils with the application of sewage sludge or farm organic fertilizers. Repeated exposure of soils to a pollutant can enrich for microbial populations that metabolize the chemical, reducing its environmental persistence. In London, Canada, soils from a long-term field experiment have received different concentrations of antibiotics annually for several years. The purpose of the present study was to assess the bioavailability of sulfamethazine, erythromycin, or ciprofloxacin through aqueous extractions with borax or EDTA solutions and their biodegradation following different soil exposure scenarios. Control soils and soils treated annually in the field with 10 mg antibiotics per kg were sampled, supplemented in the laboratory with radiolabeled antibiotic either added directly or carried in dairy manure. Sulfamethazine and erythromycin were initially more bioavailable than ciprofloxacin, with aqueous extractabilities representing 60, 36, and 8%, respectively. Sulfamethazine and erythromycin were degraded in soils, with a larger fraction mineralized in the long-term exposed soil (20 and 65%, respectively) than in control soil (0.4 and 3%, respectively) after 7 days of incubation. In contrast, ciprofloxacin was not mineralized neither in control nor long-term exposed soils. The mineralized fractions were similar for antibiotics added directly to soil or carried in dairy manure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Goulas
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78850, Thiverval-Grignon, France.
| | - Lyne Sabourin
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Farah Asghar
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Claire-Sophie Haudin
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78850, Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Pierre Benoit
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78850, Thiverval-Grignon, France
| | - Edward Topp
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, ON, N5V 4T3, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Bukhari MH, Ghayyor A, Zainab M, Siddiqa A, Qadri I, Asghar F, Anwar M. Comparison of diagnostic modalities used for the diagnosis of HPV in cervical tumors. Clin Biochem 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2011.08.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Asghar F, Zaire M, Dwyer MO, Bhuinneain MN. Management of thrombophiliac problems during pregnancy. Ir Med J 2007; 100:507-9. [PMID: 17668688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
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Kimyai-Asadi A, Lin AY, Huang CH, Asghar F, Nousari HC. Toe web infections and prosthetic joints. Orthopedics 1999; 22:381, 389. [PMID: 10220050 DOI: 10.3928/0147-7447-19990401-03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Eisinger RP, Asghar F, Kolasa C, Weinstein MP. Does pyuria indicate infection in asymptomatic dialysis patients? Clin Nephrol 1997; 47:50-1. [PMID: 9021242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that the finding of leukocyturia > 10 WBC/HPF in asymptomatic dialysis patients predicts a positive urine culture and hence indicates urinary tract infection. Seventeen asymptomatic ESRD patients contributed clean catch specimens. Nine patients had ten or more WBC/HPF. One of these grew a possible pathogen in pure culture (23% of specimens excluding those growing multiple organisms). Thus, leukocyturia is not a good marker for positive urine culture and moreover is not demonstrated to indicate infection even when positive cultures follow.
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Affiliation(s)
- R P Eisinger
- UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Medicine, New Brunswick 08903, USA
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Bailey SC, Asghar F, Przekop PA, Kurtz ES. A novel contact hypersensitivity model for rank-ordering formulated corticosteroids. Inflamm Res 1995; 44 Suppl 2:S162-3. [PMID: 8548378 DOI: 10.1007/bf01778312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- S C Bailey
- Dermatology Division, Hoechst-Roussel Pharmaceuticals Inc., Somerville, NJ 08876-1258, USA
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