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The oleo gum resin of Boswellia sacra Fleuck. (Burseraceae) is widely consumed for treatment of several diseases and disorders. To determine the effect of repeated administration of this resin on liver and kidney functions, three different doses of standardized methanolic extract were administered orally to rats for 28 days. Apart from histological studies and determination of biomarkers of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, other parameters of sub-chronic toxicity such as behavioral change, food consumption and change in body weight were assessed. The extract contained about 36.91% of total boswellic acids; of which 11-keto beta boswellic acid, acetyl-11-keto beta boswellic acid, boswellic acids (α and β) and acetyl boswellic acid (α and β) were found to be 5.81%, 1.91%, 21.92% and 7.27% respectively. Oral administration of the extract for 28 consecutive days did not show any sign of behavioral toxicity and did not affect food consumption or weight gain significantly. Determination of biomarkers of hepatic and nephrotoxicity revealed that extract was safe at the tested doses as it did not produce any significant change in the studied biomarkers except producing a dose dependent increase in serum total protein levels. The histological examination supported biochemical findings. To conclude, methanolic extract of Boswellia sacra doen not produce any significant toxicity to liver and kidney up to doses of 100 mg/kg body weight. The results contradict earlier reports that members of boswellia species produce organ toxicity in rats. Keywords: Frankincense, Boswellic acid, Biomarkers, Sub-chronic toxicity, HPLC

Background: Helicobacter pylori is an important gastrointestinal pathogen associated with gastritis, peptic ulcers, and an increased risk of gastric carcinoma. The present study was carried out to determine the relationship between this organism with different gastrointestinal ailments.Methods: 150 outpatients referrals to Saudi Arabian Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was recruited in January to June 2015. Each patient was subjected to endoscopic examination. Biopsy specimens were taken from the stomach for rapid urease test and culture. Suspected H. pylori colonies were subjected to colony morphology identification, microscopical examination and biochemical reactions. The samples were also subjected to PCR to detect ureA subunit of urease gene.Results: The endoscopic examination of patients revealed normal, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastritis, and gastric cancer with a rate of 20.7%, 20%, 24%, 33.3%, and 2%, respectively. Direct smear exam revealed that 52% of patients were H. pylori positive while culture and rapid urease test showed a prevalence of 71.33%. Fifty four biopsies (36%) were urease positive after 1 hour at room temperature, 39 (62%) after 1 hour incubation at 37°C and 14 (71.33%) after 24 hours incubation. Isolated H. pylori showed that they were catalase, oxidase, and urease positive. PCR results showed 411-bp fragment, which is indicative for the ureA subunit of urease gene.Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was high among tested population. Strong association between H. pylori and duodenal ulcer was noticed. A 411-bp fragment indicative of the ureA subunit of urease gene was detected in all the tested isolates.

Background: Candida species are important hospital-acquired pathogens in infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This study was performed in the NICU of Saudi Arabian Hospital, Riyadh region, KSA to analyze patterns of neonatal Candida colonization as well as to determine the potential risk factors. Methods: Weekly surveillance fungal cultures of anal area, oral cavity, umbilicus and ear canal of neonates were performed from birth until their discharge from the hospital. Colonization was analyzed for timing, site, species, birth weight and gestational age. Potential environmental reservoirs and hands of health care workers (HCWs) were also cultured monthly for fungi. Antifungal susceptibility of the identified isolates was also determined. Results: One hundred subjects have been recruited in this study. The overall colonization rate was 51%. Early colonization was found in 27 (27%) neonates whereas 24 (24%) neonates were lately colonized during their stay in NICU. Colonization was more in preterm neonates than in full and post term. Perianal area and oral cavity were the most frequent colonized sites. C. albicans was the main spp. (58.8%) isolated from the neonates followed by C. tropicalis (17.6%), C. glabrata (15.6%), and C. krusei (2%). Of the 51 isolated Candida spp., 68.6% were sensitive to fluconazole, 80% to itraconazole and 64.7% to ketoconazole, while only 33% were sensitive to amphotericin B. Conclusion: Candida has emerged as a common cause of infections in infants admitted to NICU, and C. albicans is the most commonly isolated candidal species. Neonatal infections caused by non- albicans species occur at a later age during their stay in NICU.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been causing increasing problems in hospitals and nursing homes worldwide. Limited number of studies in Saudi Arabia has attempted to investigate infection and risk factors associated with nosocomial acquired MRSA. The present study was undertaken to determine the occurrence, prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility pattern and genetic characteristics of MRSA among admitted cases at Shaqra General Hospital (Saudi Arabia). METHODOLOGY This study was conducted from October, 2014 to March, 2015. Nasal swabs were taken from 220 patients (105 males and 115 females) admitted at Shaqra General Hospital. The isolates were identified as S. aureus based on morphology, Gram stain, catalase test, coagulase test and mannitol salt agar fermentation. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of MRSA was performed with standard disk diffusion method. All methicillin-resistant isolates were examined for the existence of the mecA gene by PCR technique. RESULTS Of the 220 patients, 90 (40.91%) were found to be nasal carriers of S. aureus. Among these 90 S. aureus isolates, 48 (21.82%) were MRSA. A statistically significant difference was only found for antibiotics usage between those with and without MRSA colonization. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of isolated MRSA showed high susceptibility to vancomycin, linezolid, rifampicin, teicoplanin, complete resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, oxacillin and cefoxitin and intermediate resistance to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, teicoplanin, tetracycline and vancomycin. CONCLUSION A high prevalence of multidrug-resistant MRSA nasal carriage was found. The identification of MRSA carriers is a step towards establishing a control policy for MRSA and helps to identify measures needed to reduce colonization pressure.

The prevalence of Candida infections of the urinary tract (candiduria)has increased significantly over the past few years due to various predisposing factors especially in hospitalized patients. The predisposing factors frequently asso-ciated with candiduria are urinary tract instrumentation, prior antibiotic use, prolonged hospital stay, extremes of age, di-abetes mellitus, female sex and use of immunosuppressive therapy. The purpose of this study was to apply different diag-nostic techniques for characterization of Candida species in urine samples from renal failure patients using urinary cathe-ters. Results showed that 20 % of renal failure patients were suffering from candiduria. Females were more affected than males (64% versus 36% of culture positive cases). Diabetes mellitus and catheterization were the obvious risk factors. Dif-ferent Candida isolates showed variations in their phenotypic (macroscopic and microscopic) characteristics when cultured on CHROMagar Candida, corn meal agar and bovine serum. Candida albicans was the most common species being isolated from 54% of positive cases. C.krusei (Teleomorph: Pichia kudriavzevii), C. glabrata and C.tropicalis were respectively identified in 24%, 16% and 6% of samples. Positive germ tube test (in serum) and production of chlamydospores (on corn meal agar) were only confined to C. albicans. Sequencing of rRNA gene (18S covering ITS1 and ITS2) confirmed the identification of the four Candida species. In vitro antifungal sensitivity test (disc diffusion method) revealed that all Candida strains were inhibited by Amphotericin-B and Nystatin. Other compounds as Clotrimazole, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Tioconazole, Fluconazole and Sertaconazole were effective against 50% - 67% of Candida strains. All isolates of C. glabrata were resistant to Clotrimazole and Sertaconazole.It is highly recommended to follow standard hygienic precautions to avoid cross contamination by Candida during hemodialysis. Complications following candiduria can be avoided by early diagnosis and proper treatment with effective antifungal agents.