Phenotypic and molecular characterization of vancomycin resistant enterococci from wild birds: first detection of a plasmid-borne vanC1 in Enterococcus faecalis.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a public health concern as they lead to therapeutic impasses and play a pivotal role in the dissemination of vancomycin resistance genes. As recent evidence suggests that wildlife can play a role in the dissemination of bacterial resistomes, this study explored the potential role of Algerian wild birds as a reservoir of VRE. A total of 222 cloacal and fecal samples were collected from various wild bird species and screened for VRE using a selective medium.

Effect of cholecalciferol versus calcifediol on serum 25(OH)D concentrations: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Deficiency in vitamin D is widely prevalent around the world. Oral vitamin D supplementation is suggested for older adults to sustain appropriate 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels throughout the year. At present, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) are the most commonly used compounds.

Soil contamination by trace elements and radioelements and related environmental risks in agricultural soils of the M'Dhilla Basin (southwestern Tunisia).

Agricultural soil contaminated by phosphogypsum pile stocked in plan air remains a major problem in M'Dhilla city southwestern of Tunisia. The present effort aimed to enhance the knowledge of trace elements and radioactivity abundance and to assess the corresponding environment. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was used to evaluate the trace elements, radioactive elements, and major element concentrations.

Giant cell tumor of the cervical spine: A very uncommon cause for cervical spine compression.

Giant cell tumors (GCTs) are rare neoplasms, primarily found in long bones, typically affecting the epiphysis of the distal femur, proximal tibia, and distal radius. However, their occurrence in the cervical spine is exceedingly rare. Here, we present a case report of a 21-year-old female patient who presented with progressive neck pain, radiating numbness, and right hemiparesis.

Unusual coexistence of low-grade mucinous cystic neoplasm and idiopathic granulomatous hepatitis.

Introduction And Importance: Mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) of the liver are rare precancerous lesions, accounting for less than 5 % of all hepatic cysts. The coexistence of MCNs with idiopathic granulomatous hepatitis is exceedingly uncommon and lacks documentation in the existing literature.

Case Presentation: A 43-year-old Tunisian woman with no significant medical history presented with persistent right hypochondrium pain.

Conservative treatment in uterine perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of uncertain malignant potential: a case report.

Introduction: Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors are uncommon mesenchymal tumors. The genital tract is the most common extrarenal location. Preoperative diagnosis is rarely achieved owing to non-specific symptoms and imaging features.

Regioselective Oxidation of Tetrahydronaphthalenes to α-Tetralone Derivatives Using DDQ as Oxidizing Agent: Synthesis and Evaluation of Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities.

An easy and efficient approach for the synthesis of highly regioselective functionalized dihydronaphthalen-1(2)-one family of α-tetralones from functionalized tetralone precursors which derived from Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) adducts as starting substrates has been developed. The target dihydronaphthalen-1(2)-ones are obtained through the oxidation of tetrahydronaphthalenes (THN) using DDQ as the oxidizing agent, conducted in aqueous acetic acid at reflux conditions. The yields obtained ranged from 90 to 98%.

Neurofilaments light chains as a diagnostic and predictive biomarker for Tunisian Multiple Sclerosis patients.

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) course was shown to be more severe among North Africans compared to Caucasians. Validation of prognostic biomarkers of disease activity and severity is a priority in our practice.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the association between baseline cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum NfL (sNFL) levels and disease activity and disability accrual in a cohort of Tunisian patients with MS.

Case Study: Contribution of Extended Sequencing and Phylogeographic Analysis in the Investigation of Measles Outbreaks in Tunisia in 2019.

Despite the availability of an effective vaccine for several decades, the measles virus continues to spread worldwide. From 2018 to 2019, several countries experienced large measles outbreaks with genotype B3, including Tunisia. We analyzed 66 samples collected from serologically confirmed measles cases during this outbreak.

Caligus minimus Otto, 1821 (Copepoda: Caligidae): A commercially important but poorly described parasite of cultured European Sea Bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (Linnaeus, 1758).

Caligus minimus Otto, 1821 has been known for over two centuries and it is the second oldest of the approximately 275 species of Caligus O. F. Müller, 1985.

Stercoral perforation of the sigmoid colon secondary to chronic heroin use: A case report and a review of the literature.

Introduction: Stercoral perforation of the colon is a rare and life-threatening condition caused by pressure necrosis due to fecal impaction. It is commonly associated with chronic constipation, particularly in patients with neurogenic bowel disorders or prolonged opioid use. However, its occurrence in the context of chronic heroin use is rarely reported.

Collisional excitation of propargylimine by helium: new 3D-potential energy surfaces and scattering calculations.

We present quantum coupled-state calculations for the rotational excitation of interstellar propargylimine due to collisions with helium. The calculations are based on new high-accurate three-dimensional potential energy surfaces (3D-PESs) adapted for rigid-rotor scattering computations. The two PESs (/-PGIM-He) were determined using the explicitly correlated coupled-cluster approach with single, double and perturbative triple excitation [CCSCD(T)-F12] and the standard aug-cc-pVTZ basis set.

Comparative analysis of RNA interference and pattern-triggered immunity induced by dsRNA reveals different efficiencies in the antiviral response to potato virus X.

Antiviral responses induced by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) include RNA interference (RNAi) and pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), but their relative contributions to antiviral defence are not well understood. We aimed at testing the impact of exogenous applied dsRNA on both layers of defence against potato virus X expressing GFP (PVX-GFP) in Nicotiana benthamiana. Co-inoculation of PVX-GFP with either sequence-specific (RNAi) or nonspecific dsRNA (PTI) showed that nonspecific dsRNA reduced virus accumulation in both inoculated and systemic leaves.