Recent advances in gene-editing approaches for tackling antibiotic resistance threats: a review.

Antibiotic resistance, a known global health challenge, involves the flow of bacteria and their genes among animals, humans, and their surrounding environment. It occurs when bacteria evolve and become less responsive to the drugs designated to kill them, making infections harder to treat. Despite several obstacles preventing the spread of genes and bacteria, pathogens regularly acquire novel resistance factors from other species, which reduces their ability to prevent and treat such bacterial infections.

Cracking the Code: Unveiling the Diversity of Carbapenem-Resistant Clones in the Arabian Peninsula through Genomic Surveillance.

The rise of antimicrobial resistance is a global challenge that requires a coordinated effort to address. In this study, we examined the genetic similarity of carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) in countries belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to gain a better understanding of how these bacteria are spreading and evolving in the region. We used in silico genomic tools to investigate the occurrence and prevalence of different types of carbapenemases and their relationship to specific sequence types (STs) of CRKP commonly found in the region.

Children with Delayed-Type Cow's Milk Protein Allergy May Be at a Significant Risk of Developing Immediate Allergic Reactions Upon Re-introduction.

Background: Cow's Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) is the most common food allergy in children. The reaction is classified into IgE-mediated immediate reaction and delayed-onset, according to the underlying immune mechanism, and hence, the timing of the symptoms. Case reports suggest that children, with delayed CMPA reactions on elimination diet, may develop severe immediate reactions on reintroduction.

Elucidating the virulence genes harboured by carbapenemase- and non-carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant rectal isolates from patients admitted to intensive care units using whole-genome sequencing in Kuwait.

is a Gram-negative pathogen responsible for community- and nosocomial-acquired infections. The presence of an accessory genome determines the bacterial pathogenicity and the host immune response, and thus indicates multidrug-resistant strains or more virulent groups. Little is known about the virulence genes in in Kuwait.

Macrolides from rare actinomycetes: Structures and bioactivities.

Rare actinomycetes are a source of numerous diverse, biologically active secondary metabolites, including macrolides, which have been shown to display several antibiotic activities. The bioactivities and representative structures of 26 groups of macrolides from rare actinomycetes are presented in this review. The most interesting groups, with a wide range of biological activities, are ammocidins, bafilomycins, neomaclafungins, rosaramicins, spinosyns, and tiacumicins.

Molecular characterization of rectal isolates of carbapenemase-negative carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales obtained from ICU patients in Kuwait by whole-genome sequencing.

Carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales (CRE) are listed among the most urgent antibiotic resistance threats. Previous studies on the mechanisms of CRE in Kuwait have focused on carbapenemases. There have been no studies on non-carbapenemase-producing CRE in Kuwait.

Discovery of cytotoxic natural products from Red Sea sponges: Structure and synthesis.

Marine ecosystem continues to produce a great wealth of molecules endowed with cytotoxic activity towards a large panel of tumor cells. Marine sponges, apparently defenseless organisms are endowed through evolution with a range of cytotoxic metabolites for self protection against predators and space competition. Interestingly, high biodiversity of sponges with Demospongiae and Calcarea species that have yielded numerous bioactive compounds have been accorded in different regions of the Red Sea.

Clinical and economic burden of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

Background And Aims: The Middle East (ME) has a high prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), driven by obesity and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Studies in Saudi Arabia (KSA) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) predict an escalating impact of NAFLD/NASH, particularly advanced fibrosis due to NASH (AF-NASH), increasing cases of cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. The scale of this burden in other ME countries is unknown with no reports of NAFLD/NASH healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) or costs.

Prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and emergence of high rectal colonization rates of blaOXA-181-positive isolates in patients admitted to two major hospital intensive care units in Kuwait.

Background: Fecal colonization by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) can be the main reservoir for transmission of these resistant organisms especially in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the rate of rectal carriage and molecular characterization of CRE in patients hospitalized in the ICUs of 2 major hospitals (Adan and Mubarak Al Kabeer Hospitals) in Kuwait.

Materials And Methods: Rectal swabs were collected from all patients at admission, 48 h after admission and once weekly from April 2017- March 2018.

Detection and Management of Intraoperative Pneumothorax during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Intraoperative pneumothorax is a rare but potentially lethal complication during general anesthesia. History of lung disease, barotrauma, and laparoscopic surgery increase the risk of developing intraoperative pneumothorax. The diagnosis during surgery could be difficult because the signs are often nonspecific.

Kuwait Recommendations on Vaccine Use in People with Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases.

People with IRD are at increased risk of infection, and in 2011 EULAR made general recommendations for vaccination in these patients. Global and European perspectives are important, but they cannot accurately reflect the individual situations of patients in different countries and regions. Based on our clinical experience and opinions, we have sought to tailor the original EULAR recommendations to include advice for vaccination with new agents approved in the intervening years-including the new class of targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Advanced medical students' experiences and views on professionalism at Kuwait University.

Background: Professionalism is a core competency in the medical profession worldwide. Numerous studies investigate how this competency is taught and learned. However, there are few reports on the students' views and experiences with professionalism especially in the Arab world.

Gestational lead exposure induces developmental abnormalities and up-regulates apoptosis of fetal cerebellar cells in rats.

Lead (Pb), a known environmental toxicant, adversely affects almost all organ systems. In this study, we investigated the effects of maternal lead exposure on fetal rat cerebellum. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were given lead nitrate in drinking water (0, 0.

Parental authority to refuse acute burn treatment versus the protection our children deserve.

Our society has empowered parents to care for their children and take legally binding decisions on their behalf. One of the areas where such decision making is required is in medical care when a child's health is at stake. Three cases of child abuse and neglect were identified and reported.

Epidemiology and outcome of burns at the Saud Al Babtain Burns, Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Center, Kuwait: our experience over five years (from 2006 to 2010).

Aim To determine the epidemiology and clinical presentation, and any contributing factors responsible for burns and outcome of care in Kuwait over the 5-yr period January 2006 to December 2010. Patients and methods. The study reviewed 1702 burn patients admitted over the study period to the Saud Al Babtain Burns, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center, Kuwait.

Versatile use of vacuum-assisted healing in fifty patients.

Context: Wound management can often be a challenging experience, especially in the presence of diabetes mellitus, vascular or immunological compromise. While no single technique can be considered by itself to be ideal, vacuum-assisted healing, which is a recent innovation, is fast becoming a necessary addition as adjuvant therapy to hasten wound healing.

Aims: To determine the efficacy of vacuum-assisted healing.

Glycolipids from the red alga Chondria armata (Kutz.) Okamura.

Three distinct fractions containing polar glycolipids (PF(1-3)) were isolated from the chloroform soluble fraction of crude methanolic extract of red alga Chondria armata (Kütz.) Okamura on gel chromatography over Sephadex LH20. Their structure was elucidated by multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques like 1H, 1H correlation spectroscopy (COSY), 1H, 1H total COSY (TOCSY), 1H, 13C heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC), and 1H, 13C heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) complemented by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in the positive ion mode.

Paediatric burns in Kuwait: incidence, causes and mortality.

From a prospective study on burn patients admitted at the Burn Center in Kuwait during 1993-2001, 826 paediatric burn cases, in 0-14 years age group, were retrieved to study incidence, causes, and mortality among children. The demographic characteristics, clinical features, and outcome constituted our data file in Statistical Software, SPSS. Overall incidence rate was 17.

Pediatricians' knowledge, attitudes and experience regarding child maltreatment in Kuwait.

Objectives: This cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate the awareness and actual professional experience of pediatricians in Kuwait regarding child maltreatment, a topic rarely explored in this part of the world.

Methods: Data were obtained from all pediatricians in public hospitals with pediatric emergency services using a structured detailed self-completed questionnaire.

Results: The experience of child neglect was more common than that of child abuse in the clinical practice of surveyed pediatricians.