Objectives: This study assessed community pharmacists’ attitudes about melatonin supplements’ distribution, safety, and effectiveness, identified knowledge gaps, and proposed educational interventions to enhance safe practices. Method: A reliability-validated online survey was created and sent out to community pharmacists in Jordan in 2024 to fill out. Social media was used to extend the survey to facilitate contact among pharmacists from multiple parts of the community. A questionnaire was used to assess melatonin dispensing practices, the knowledge about adverse effects, drug interaction, safe practices, and counseling. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses were used to evaluate the data. Results: A questionnaire was administered to 350 community pharmacists, those approved to participate in the study, with a response rate of 92%, and responses were recorded electronically. 69.9% are from the central area of Jordan. A considerable number of the participants (64.6%) had bachelor’s degrees, and the participants were mostly male. The mean age of participants was 29.04 ± 7.56 years, and 75.8% (n = 244) of community pharmacists reported dispensing melatonin supplements. The greatest prescribing and dispensing pattern for melatonin supplements was pharmacists’ recommendation (p = 0.003), which is an over-the-counter sublingual (34.2%) with a 5 mg strength (57.5%). However, our study revealed that many pharmacists dispensing melatonin supplements believed it safe (p < 0.001) and they were unaware of side effects. Furthermore, the study showed the importance of pharmacists’ awareness in preventing and controlling the side effects of melatonin supplements. Conclusion: This research highlights the need to properly monitor prescription and distribution processes to avoid abuse, and educational gaps in melatonin supplements. We recommend targeted educational interventions to help Jordanian pharmacists improve safe practices and the health of patients and drug users.

Antibiotic resistance is considered a widespread problem with global health implications, leading to increased patient morbidity and impacting the selection of effective antibiotics, consequently influencing patient recovery. This study aimed to assess antibiogram resistance patterns of bacterial records at the Islamic Hospital in Jordan using a retrospective study during the period 2020-2022. A total of 9369 samples obtained from different patients were cultured. Data were processed and analyzed with SPSS v.23.0. The results showed that 2841 (30.3%) samples were positive for bacterial infections. Microbial profiles of positive samples indicated the highest proportion for Escherichia coli, 39%, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae 12% were the most frequent Gram-negative bacterial isolates, whereas Staphylococcus aureus 13% and Streptococcus pneumoniae 4% were the most common Gram-positive bacterial isolates. Interestingly, multidrug-resistant bacteria comprised 61.7% of the isolates. The percentage of multi-drug resistance in isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae was 68.7%, 73.1%, and 72%, respectively. Escherichia coli was most resistant to ampicillin (89%) and most sensitive to imipenem (100%). Klebsiella pneumoniae showed a 100% sensitivity to meropenem but 49% resistance to ceftriaxone. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most sensitive to amikacin and colistin (86% and 100%, respectively). Staphylococcus aureus isolates have resistance rates of 78% for ciprofloxacin, 35.6% for clindamycin and an overall resistance rate of 68.7%. These findings indicate multiple resistance for isolated bacteria. Therefore, antimicrobial resistance should be monitored continuously, and patients should be treated based on anti-microbial susceptibility tests.

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is emerging as a global public health concern due to its nature of spread. There are limited treatment options, as the sole drug for treatment is lacking, highlighting the need for new therapeutic options. The use of computer-aided drugs discovery such as molecular docking, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and post-simulation analysis are important tools in identifying potential compounds that can target specific proteins of the virus, such as DNA polymerase to stop virus replication. This study employed molecular docking and molecular simulation with the aim to identify potential inhibitors for MPXV treatment from the ZINC Database. Molecular docking was performed using PyRx 0.8 version after virtual screening of the ZINC database using the Tranches tool; then, toxicity prediction of the selected compounds was performed using the ProTox-3.0 web server. Molecular dynamics simulation was conducted using GROMACS version 4.5 to evaluate the structural stability and dynamic behavior of the protein–ligand complex for the best interacting compound. Furthermore, post-simulation analysis was conducted using standard GROMACS utilities for visualizing time-dependent properties from MD simulations. A total of 16 compounds were shortlisted based on their molecular docking scores and interaction profiles with the monkeypox virus DNA polymerase (PDB ID: 8HG1). The leading compound, ZINC000019418450, demonstrated strong binding affinity (−7.4 kcal/mol). According to post-simulation analysis, all top compounds formed between one and five hydrogen bonds and up to eleven hydrophobic contacts with residues within the active site, thus providing strong geometric and energetic evidence for binding stability. Notably, our identification of ZINC000104288636 as a Class 6 compound with an LD₅₀ of 23,000 mg/kg adds translational value by highlighting candidates with low predicted acute toxicity. Overall, this study lays a solid foundation for the rational design of next-generation monkeypox antiviral therapeutics. Future work is needed for experimental validation of prioritized compounds to assess their biochemical efficacy and pharmacological potential.

Escherichia coli is the most prevalent bacterium causing Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of E. coli organisms causing UTIs in Thaiban region at Madaba city and to assess their pattern of antibiotic resistance. The study was conducted from January to December 2023 on 295 adult patients with urinary tract infections who were either inpatients or outpatients. Their ages ranged from 40 to 98. All the urine samples by the hospital and in accordance with the accepted procedures, significant bacteriuria received, and susceptibility tests analyzed. From 295 urine samples taken from UTI patients, 157 (53%) were female and 138 (47%) were male; 52 (18%) of the 295 samples had positive urine cultures. E. coli was the most common bacteria among the isolated pathogens 36 (69%) followed by Klebsiella 6 (11.5%), Proteus 6 (11.5%), Pseudomonas 2 (3.8%), and Enterobacteria 2 (3.8%). The highest resistance rate (61.7%) found against amoxicillin (10 μg) while the lowest resistance rate (5.5%) was against imipenem (10 μg). In conclusion, E. coli was the most prevalent isolated bacterium, and the most effective antibiotic for it was imipenem.

The impact of Infectious diseases knows no boundaries, as the implications involve increase in morbidity, mortality and cost of healthcare system globally. Early and accurate infection diagnosis contributes to reduction of infection burden; however, this is often not achieved using traditional methods such as culture-based methods. Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases require fast and accurate detection method, hence, the advancement of molecular testing techniques such as polymerase chain reaction, whole genomic analysis, biosensor, nucleic acid sequencing and loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) have changed the diagnosis of infectious diseases. However, unavailability and lack of adequate funding to the latest innovative methods, especially in less developed countries have been a major hurdle in the applications of such diagnostic methods. Therefore, this review will appraise both traditional diagnostic methods and the new innovative diagnostic techniques for their merits and demerits.

Renal stones are the most common urological problem worldwide. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of renal stones in Jordanian population and to determine factors that play role in stones formation. Data from 1296 participants had been enrolled in the study during the time interval (June 2022 to June 2023). The study enrolled 243 patients were suffering from kidney stones and meet the criteria needed to complete the aim of the study; 75 patients who respond to the phone call interview, 116 patients who visited urology clinic and 52 respondents to an electronic survey. The highest percentage of stone incidence was in patients of age > 50 years and averaged 80 kg. The renal stone appeared in (36%) of hypertension, (53%) elevated uric acid and (41%) diabetic patients. As nutritional status, (83%) of patients drink water less than 2 liters per day, 42% of the patients consume large amount animal protein (meat mainly), 31% of them have meals rich in sodium chloride, while 74% eat dairy products in large quantities, only 12% eat sea food frequently, finally 81% of the patients drink tea and coffee heavily during the day. Among the family history of renal stones, 66% of calculi patients had positive family history of calculi. The average prevalence of renal stone disease among Jordanian residents was about 18.1%. The study results showed that smoking, physical activity, fluid intake, sodium chloride, family history, proteins and dairy products are important risk factors that are associated with renal stone development. Monitoring a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet is important to reduce the renal stone formation in Jordanian population in Amman city.