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Antibiotic resistance is a major problem and a major global health concern. In total, there are 16 million deaths yearly from infectious diseases, and at least 65% of infectious diseases are caused by microbial communities that proliferate through the formation of biofilms. Antibiotic overuse has resulted in the evolution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microbial strains. As a result, there is now much more interest in non-antibiotic therapies for bacterial infections. Among these revolutionary, non-traditional medications is quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs). Bacterial cell-to-cell communication is known as quorum sensing (QS), and it is mediated by tiny diffusible signaling molecules known as autoinducers (AIs). QS is dependent on the density of the bacterial population. QS is used by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria to control a wide range of processes; in both scenarios, QS entails the synthesis, identification, and reaction to signaling chemicals, also known as auto-inducers. Since the usual processes regulated by QS are the expression of virulence factors and the creation of biofilms, QS is being investigated as an alternative solution to antibiotic resistance. Consequently, the use of QS-inhibiting agents, such as QSIs and quorum quenching (QQ) enzymes, to interfere with QS seems like a good strategy to prevent bacterial infections. This review sheds light on QS inhibition strategy and mechanisms and discusses how using this approach can aid in winning the battle against resistant bacteria.

The rapid progress of antibiotic resistance among bacteria has prompted serious medical concerns regarding how to manage multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. One emerging strategy to combat antibiotic resistance is the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are amino acid chains that act as broad-spectrum antimicrobial molecules and are essential parts of the innate immune system in mammals, fungi, and plants. AMPs have unique antibacterial mechanisms that offer benefits over conventional antibiotics in combating drug-resistant bacterial infections. Currently, scientists have conducted multiple studies on AMPs for combating drug-resistant bacterial infections and found that AMPs are a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics. On the other hand, bacteria can develop several tactics to resist and bypass the effect of AMPs. Therefore, it is like a battle between the bacterial community and the AMPs, but who will win? This review provides thorough insights into the development of antibiotic resistance as well as detailed information about AMPs in terms of their history and classification. Furthermore, it addresses the unique antibacterial mechanisms of action of AMPs, how bacteria resist these mechanisms, and how to ensure AMPs win this battle. Finally, it provides updated information about FDA-approved AMPs and those that were still in clinical trials. This review provides vital information for researchers for the development and therapeutic application of novel AMPs for drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Background Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, and conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy face significant limitations including toxicity, variable efficacy, and resistance. There is a critical need for innovative strategies that offer precision targeting with fewer side effects. Main body Bacteriophages, traditionally recognized for their bacteriolytic activity against oncogenic bacteria, have recently emerged as promising tools in breast cancer management. Beyond their natural antibacterial role, engineered bacteriophages have been developed to act as vehicles for targeted gene delivery, drug delivery, and vaccine production. Phage display technologies enable the presentation of tumor-specific ligands, enhancing specificity and minimizing off-target effects. Additionally, phage-mediated targeting can modulate the tumor microenvironment and improve immune responses against breast cancer. Conclusion Bacteriophages represent a dual therapeutic strategy in breast cancer: eradication of oncogenic bacteria and precision engineering as nanocarriers for cancer therapeutics. Their unique biological properties offer a foundation for developing safer, more effective treatments that complement or even surpass conventional approaches.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is defined as an infection of the endocardium, or inner surface of the heart, most frequently affecting the heart valves or implanted cardiac devices. Despite its rarity, it has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. IE generally occurs when bacteria, fungi, or other germs from another part of the body, such as the mouth, spread through the bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in the heart. The epidemiology of IE has changed as a consequence of aging and the usage of implantable cardiac devices and heart valves. The right therapeutic routes must be assessed to lower complication and fatality rates, so this requires early clinical suspicion and a fast diagnosis. It is urgently necessary to create new and efficient medicines to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial (MDR) infections because of the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance on a worldwide scale. MDR bacteria that cause IE can be treated using phages rather than antibiotics to combat MDR bacterial strains. This review will illustrate how phage therapy began and how it is considered a powerful potential candidate for the treatment of MDR bacteria that cause IE. Furthermore, it gives a brief about all reported clinical trials that demonstrated the promising effect of phage therapy in combating resistant bacterial strains that cause IE and how it will become a hope in future medicine.

The co-channel interference for mobile users (MUs) of a public safety network (PSN) in the co-existence of heterogeneous networks such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and LTE-based railway networks (LRNs) needs a thorough investigation, where UAVs are deployed as mobile base stations (BSs) for cell-edge coverage enhancement. Moreover, the LRN is employed for the train, and its control signal demands high reliability and low latency. It is necessary to provide higher priority to LRN users when allocating resources from shared radio access channels (RACs). By considering both sharing and non-sharing of RACs, co-channel interference was analyzed in the downlink network of the PSN, UAV, and LRN. By offloading more PSN MUs to the LRN or UAVs, the resource utilization of the LRN and UAV BSs was enhanced. In this paper, we aimed to adopt deep-learning (DL)-based enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (eICIC) and further enhanced ICIC (FeICIC) strategies to deal with the interference from the PSN to the LRN and UAVs. Moreover, a DL-based coordinated multipoint (CoMP) for coordinated scheduling technique was utilized along with FeICIC and eICIC to enhance the performance of PSN MUs. In the simulation results, the performance of DL-based interference management was compared with simple eICI, FeICIC, and coordinated scheduling CoMP. The DL-based FeICIC and CoMP for coordinated scheduling performed best with shared RACs.

Tagetes erecta L., commonly known as marigold, has been recognised for its diverse medicinal properties, which have been increasingly studied in recent years. The use of biostimulants (BSs) in marigold production is vital for enhancing growth, improving flowering and increasing floral yield. This study was designed to examine the effect of BSs on the growth, yield and flowering parameters of African marigold F1 ‘Antigua Orange’ ( T. erecta L.). Plants were sprayed three times during the growing period after 30 days, 40 days and 50 days from transplanting with control (tap water), Spirulina (0.1 g · L −1 ), Moringa leaves extract (MLE) (3%), chitosan (0.1 g · L −1 ) and pollen grains date palm extract (PGPE) (0.1 g · L −1 ). Results revealed that the plants sprayed with all the BS treatments significantly increased all growth, flowering and yield attributes compared with the non-treated plants. Chitosan and MLE had the maximum growth attributes, flower quality parameters, flower behaviour and flower yield per plant and per hectare. Spirulina treatment improved the flowering rate by 86.67%. In comparison, MLE recorded a maximum increase of flower yield per plant and per ha as 66.49%, followed by PGPE by 63.17% over the control. PGPE was more effective in promoting root elongation by 51.27%. The findings contribute to sustainable agriculture and horticulture by providing eco-friendly strategies to enhance marigold production, leading to improved crop management practices, reduced reliance on synthetic fertilisers and increased economic returns for growers.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) help to lower inflammation and pain, but improper prescription can cause potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs), affecting the therapeutic outcomes. Given the great frequency of polypharmacy and concomitant medication interactions, NSAID-related problems are especially pertinent in outpatient settings. This study aims to assess the prescription pattern of NSAIDs at the Outpatient Pharmacy Department of a Secondary Care Hospital in the Northern Emirates of the United Arab Emirates. A prospective observational study based on data from electronic medical records of patients who received NSAID prescriptions from Jan-June 2023. Data collected were screened for prescription patterns of NSAIDs and polypharmacy, and the potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) were identified using the Portable Emergency Physician Information Database (PEPID). Data were extracted and analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis to study the association between treatment-related variables and the presence of pDDIs. Chi-square was used to test the association between the type of NSAID prescribed and co-prescribed gastro-protective agents. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In total, 1005 NSAID prescriptions were analyzed, with a majority (53.23%) being prescribed to female patients. Pain related to elbow/shoulder/joints/lower back (41.09%) was the most common diagnosis in the study populations. Celecoxib (49.7%) was the most commonly prescribed oral, and Ketoprofen (39.5%) was the predominant topical NSAID. A significant association was found between the prescribed NSAID and its co-prescription with gastroprotective agents, specifically ibuprofen, celecoxib, piroxicam, meloxicam (P < 0.001), diclofenac (P = 0.007), and aspirin (P = 0.001). Age and chronic illnesses such as diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.446; 95% CI: 1.018-2.054) and cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.818; 95% CI: 1.279-2.585) are significantly associated with polypharmacy. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the pDDIs were significantly higher with an increasing number of prescribed drugs and co-morbidities (p < 0.001). The study examines NSAID prescribing trends and emphasizes the potential for drug-related issues, particularly in light of polypharmacy, which calls for careful monitoring and prescribing practices. Healthcare providers should routinely conduct medication reviews and team up with clinical pharmacists to ensure rational NSAID use, reduce drug interactions, and enhance patient safety by thus mitigating this risks.

Postoperative endophthalmitis is a devastating complication of cataract surgery. Intracameral moxifloxacin has emerged as a promising prophylactic strategy due to its broad-spectrum properties and pre-formulated preparations. However, a robust synthesis of evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is needed to confirm its efficacy and safety. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using evidence from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL, including RCTs published up to August 2025. The primary outcome was the incidence of endophthalmitis, while secondary outcomes included endothelial cell count (ECC) and central corneal thickness (CCT). We pooled outcomes using risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Stata (version 18). A total of six RCTs involving 4,438 patients were included. Overall, one RCT demonstrated a low risk of bias, three RCTs raised some concerns, and two RCTs were assessed as having a high risk of bias. Intracameral moxifloxacin significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis compared to the control group ( = 5 RCTs, RR: 0.22, 95% CI [0.07, 0.77], = 0.02). A sensitivity analysis excluding studies with a high risk of bias demonstrated that the effect remained statistically significant ( = 3 RCTs, RR: 0.183, 95% CI 0.038, 0.874, = 0.03), with no evidence of heterogeneity ( = 0%, = 0.65). There was no significant difference between the moxifloxacin and control groups regarding postoperative changes in ECC ( = 3 RCTs, MD: 22.17, 95% CI [-8.53, 52.88], = 0.16) or CCT ( = 3 RCTs, MD: -0.03, 95% CI [-0.36, 0.31], = 0.88). Prophylactic intracameral moxifloxacin significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery. This substantial protective benefit is achieved without evidence of compromised endothelial safety; however, safety conclusions are limited by the small number of patients assessed and should be interpreted with caution. The study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (ID: CRD420251144067), https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251144067.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are designated by the World Health Organization as critical-priority pathogens. While global outcomes are well documented, regional data from the Middle East remain limited. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of adults with confirmed CRE infections admitted to King Fahad Hospital of the University, Saudi Arabia, between 2019 and 2024. Clinical, microbiological, and therapeutic data were analyzed. Primary outcomes were infection recurrence, recurrence-related readmissions, and all-cause mortality at 14, 30, and 90 days. Predictors were assessed using univariate tests and multivariate Cox regression. Results: Among 101 patients (mean age 65 years, 57% female), Klebsiella pneumoniae predominated (94%), with OXA-48 detected in 70%. Most infections were hospital-acquired (78%). Recurrence occurred in 16.8% of cases, with 12.9% requiring readmission. Mortality reached 22.8% at 14 days, 30.7% at 30 days, and 42.6% at 90 days. Diabetes mellitus predicted recurrence (p = 0.024). Independent predictors of 90-day mortality were pneumonia (HR 2.39, 95% CI 1.23–4.64), critical care admission (HR 6.24, 95% CI 2.44–15.97), and hypotension (HR 4.10, 95% CI 1.84–9.15). Elevated Pitt bacteremia and INCREMENT-CPE scores also stratified risk. Conclusions: CRE infections in Saudi Arabia impose a heavy clinical burden, with high recurrence, frequent readmissions, and late mortality. Identifying drivers of recurrence and mortality highlights opportunities for targeted risk stratification. Beyond treatment choices, these findings emphasize the need for proactive surveillance, integrated stewardship, and early recognition of high-risk patients. Region-specific evidence such as this is critical to shaping infection control policies and guiding future multicenter research into novel therapeutic approaches.

Background/Objectives: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used for pain management but pose gastrointestinal (GI) and cardiovascular (CV) risks, particularly during long-term use. This study evaluated NSAID-prescribing patterns and the appropriateness of gastroprotective co-therapy among patients with varying GI and CV risk profiles. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient pharmacy department over six months (March 2023 to August 2023) at a public secondary care facility. Data pertaining to patient demographics, NSAIDs prescription, and GI/CV risks were collected and reviewed from electronic health records. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were performed. Results: A total of 1005 prescriptions containing 2051 NSAIDs were analyzed. Selective COX-2 inhibitors and non-selective NSAIDs were the most frequently prescribed. Only 42.1% of patients received proton-pump inhibitors despite guideline recommendations. Non-selective NSAIDs were significantly associated with CV history and GI risk (p < 0.0001). Logistic regression showed age, gender, CV history, and GI risk significantly influenced NSAID selection. Notably, non-selective NSAIDs continued to be prescribed among moderate- and high-GI-risk patients. Conclusions: Suboptimal adherence to guideline-recommended gastroprotective strategies was evident, particularly among high-risk patients. Comprehensive GI and CV risk assessment and the rational use of gastroprotective co-therapy are essential. Integrating evidence-based digital tools may enhance safer NSAID prescribing in routine practice.