Two series of benzofuran-based thiosemicarbazides 7, 8(a-l) are evaluated as P. aeruginosa quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs). The studied compounds resulted in reduction of violacein production of C. violaceum, at ¼ MIC, up to 26.04 – 67.36%, relative to the reference drug azithromycin (54%). In vitro evaluation of QS and antivirulence activities, at the same concentration, against P. aeruginosa, showed promising inhibitory effect of biofilms formation, bacterial motility and virulence factors production (pyocyanin, and rhamnolipids). Compounds 7a, 7d, and 7k inhibit biofilm formation up to 57.31%, 67.54%, 78.38%, respectively, in addition to > 50% inhibition of hemolysin production. On the other hand, compounds 8a, 8d, 8f and 8k of the bromobenzofuran series showed, 55.66%, 50.67%, 73.34%, 79.93%, reduction in biofilm formation, respectively. Compounds 8d and 8f exhibit > 50% reduction of hemolysin

Accumulating evidence has indicated that immune regulatory cells are involved in the establishment of the anti-tumor activity, however; the role of regulatory B cells (B-regs) in breast cancer (BC) remains unclear. This study intended to assess the frequency of peripheral B-regs phenotypes in patients with BC, and to determine the relation between these phenotypes and the patient's clinicopathological characters. The expressions of the immune cell populations were analyzed by four-color flow cytometry in 40 naïve BC patients and 10 age-matched apparently healthy individuals as controls attending the department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine at Assiut University Hospitals. The percentages of B-regs phenotypes CD19+IL10+ and CD19+CD24hiCD27+IL10+ were higher in BC patients than in the controls. The percentage of CD19+IL10+ B cells phenotype was significantly associated with the HER-2 expression levels, T, and N stages of BC. In conclusion, high percentage of B-regs phenotypes CD19+IL10+ and CD19+CD24hiCD27+IL10+ in BC patients indicates a possible role in immune suppression during the development of BC.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging multidrug-resistant global opportunistic pathogenand isacquiring increasing importance as a nosocomial pathogen. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nosocomial S. maltophilia infections and the important risk factors associated with such infections in Assiut University Hospitals. This study included 362 patients with nosocomial infections admitted to different wards and intensive care units (ICU) from March 2011 to March 2012. A total of 690 different clinical samples according to the site of infection were collected from them. The samples were processed and diagnosed by conventional bacteriological methods. A total of 35 strains of S. maltophilia were isolated from 362 patients (9.6%). The commonest clinical manifestations were lower respiratory tract infections (71.43%), wound infections (17.14%), bacteraemia (8.57%) and urinary tract infections (2.86%). The chest ICU showed the highest percentage of isolation (14.75%). Previous antibiotic intake was found to be a significant risk factor for nosocomial Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections. We conclude that nosocomial Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections are significant in Assiut University Hospitals with lower respiratory tract infections being the commonest and previous antibiotic intake an important risk factor.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB) infections are prevalent in cancer patients with weakened immune systems, causing significant morbidity and mortality. The empirical use of antimicrobials has reduced mortality but led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. In this study, identification and susceptibility testing were carried out using standard procedures (Kirby-Bauer and broth microdilution techniques), and phenotypic and genotypic detection of carbapenemase-producing GNB isolated from adult cancer patients was performed using conventional procedures. Methods: One hundred and eight Gram negative bacteria were recovered from various specimens, with the most common isolates being, Escherichia (E.) coli (45; 41.7%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (38; 35.2%), Acromobacter spp. (9;8.3%), Acinetobacter (A.) baumannii (5; 4.6%) and others including Enterobacter aerogenes, Raoultella ornithinolytica, Serratia fonticola, Citrobacter brakii, Comamonas testosteroni, Proteus mirabilis (11; 10.2%). Concerningly, 64 of 108 Gram-negative bacterial isolates (59.3%) were MDR. Furthermore, 91 out of 108 GNB isolates (84.3%) revealed a pattern of meropenem resistance using the broth microdilution method, which is a worrying rise in the rate of carbapenem resistance. Following the modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM), EDTA carbapenem inactivation method (eCIM), and combined disc test as phenotypic tests for the preliminary screening of carbapenemase producers (CPs), conventional PCR was performed on the 91 extracted DNA (Using 6 common carbapenemase primers). Results: It was found that blaNDM was the most common 60(66%), then blaOXA-48, VIM 47 (51.6%), blaIMP 32(35.2%), blaKPC 20(22.2%), and blaGES 12(13.2%). Conclusion: Based on these results, rapid and precise carbapenemase detection is crucial for clinical care, epidemiological investigations, and infection control.