Fermented foods can cause adverse effects on human health because of the biogenic amines (BAs) accumulating through amino acid decarboxylation. This study investigated the presence of BAs including tyramine and histamine in 240 samples of some cheese and fermented milk samples using high-performance liquid chromatography. Another aim of this study is to isolate and identify Enterococcus spp. as the most important and frequent BA producer in the examined samples. The isolated Enterococcus spp. was investigated phenotypically for their capacity to produce amino acid decarboxylase enzyme using decarboxylase microplate assay, and genotypically through molecular detection of some genes encoding amino acid decarboxylation (tyrdc and hdc). Biogenic amines producing enterococci were then investigated for their antimicrobial resistance, biofilm production as well as their virulence determinants.
Tyramine and histamine could be detected in 86.7 and 87.9% of the investigated samples with 52.9% being contaminated with Enterococcus spp. Significant correlation between the incidence of Enterococci enterococci and BAs formed in the examined samples (P < 0.0001). tyrdc and hdc genes were detected in 85 and 5% of amino acid decarboxylating Enterococcus spp., respectively. A high percentage of Enterococcus isolates (57.5%) were multidrug-resistant and resistance against penicillin was widespread among isolates followed by tetracycline, vancomycin, erythromycin and linezolid. Also, 77.5% of the isolates were capable of forming biofilms and a highly significant correlation (P < 0.0001) was found between biofilm formation and multidrug resistance. The results showed that the rates of most virulence genes gelE, esp, ace, asa1, and cylA were 77.5. 47.5, 47.5, 35 and 7.5%, respectively, while the hyl gene was not detected in any isolates.
The study highlights the significant presence of BAs (TYM and HIS) in cheese and fermented milk samples, with a strong correlation between enterococci contamination and TYM production. The high prevalence of tyramine-producing Enterococcus species poses a notable public health concern especially with the high prevalence of multidrug-resistant, biofilm production and virulence in BAs producing Enterococcus spp. in dairy products, emphasizing the urgent need for improved antimicrobial stewardship among food producers and veterinarians to mitigate the risk of transferring resistant strains to humans.
Background: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a chronic disorder that has an impact on a patient’s quality of life. A structured education booklet has the potential to affect self-efficacy, self-care practices and subsequently better quality of life. Aim: To investigate the effect of structured education booklet on self-efficacy, self-care practices and health related quality of life in adult patients with sickle cell disease.Design: Pre experimental one group (pretest-posttest) design. Top of FormBottom of FormSetting: Inpatient and outpatient clinic, Clinical Hematology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine Assiut University Hospital. Study subjects: Purposive sample of forty adult patients with sickle cell disease of both sexes were included in the study and followed up for 3 months. Data collection tools: (I) structured interviewing questionnaire, (II)Sickle Cell Self-Efficacy Scale, (III) Self-care practices assessment sheet (a-Jeanerette Self-care Assessment Tool, b-The 24-item Appraisal of Self-care Agency Scale) and (IV)Adult Sickle Cell Quality of Life Measurement Information System. Results: The mean score of self-efficacy (14.25±2.78Vs.30.22±3.37), self-care practices measured as self-care actions (20.2±1.4Vs. 27.55±1.65), perceived self-care ability (65.9±4.1 Vs. 97.25±11.3), and health-related quality of life improved significantly when compared to the pre-structured education (p < 0.001**). Conclusion: Structured education booklet improved patient’s self-efficacy, self-care practices, hence improving QOL in SCD patients. Recommendation: The study findings underscore the significance of implementing structured education booklet as an integral component of management of individuals with sickle cell disease as a means of enhancing self-efficacy, care practices and health-related quality of life.
In the published article, Zahran AM, Nafady-Hego H, Moeen SM, Eltyb HA, Wahman MM, Nafady A. Higher proportion of non-classical and intermediate monocytes in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients in Egypt: A possible prognostic marker. Afr J Lab Med. 2021; 10 (1), a1296. https://doi. org/10.4102/ajlm. v10i1. 1296, there was an error on page 3 under the'Results' section. The mean age of the MM patients should be 63.5 as per Table 1 instead of 6.35. The first paragraph under the'Results' section is updated to:
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