Excessive use of antimicrobials and inadequate infection control practices has turned antimicrobial resistance (AMR) into a global, public health peril. We studied the expression of qnrA, qnrB, and qnrS plasmid in ciprofloxacin (CIP)-resistant strains of Escherichia coli in swine and humans from Romania, using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST) for human subjects (H) on 147 samples and 53 swine (S) was ascertained as well as the isolation of bacterial DNA (E. coli) as follows: bacteriolysis, DNA-binding, rinsing, elution, amplification, and nucleic acids’ migration and U.V. visualization stages. From 24 samples of E. coli resistant to CIP collected from H subjects and 15 from S, for PCR analysis, 15 H and 12 S were used, with DNA purity of 1.8. The statistically analyzed results using the Crosstabs function (IBM SPSS Statistics-Ver. 2.1.), revealed the qnrS (417 bp) gene in 13 human subjects (52.0%), as well as in all swine samples studied. The qnrB (526 bp) gene was exposed in 9 of the human patients (36.0%) and in all swine isolates, and the qnrA (516 bp) gene was observed only in 3 of the isolates obtained from human subjects (12.0%) and was not discovered in pigs (p > 0.05). The presence of plasmids qnrA, qnrB, and qnrS in the human samples and of qnrB and qnrS in swine, facilitates the survival of pathogens despite the CIP action. The long-term use of CIP could cause a boost in the prevalence of qnr resistance genes, and resistance in the pigs destined for slaughter, a perturbing fact for public health and the human consumer.

Honey is a traditional remedy, with its biologically active compounds being responsible for its properties. The aim of this study was to characterize linden honey from a physico-chemical point of view as well as its antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential. Two samples of linden honey with different origins were subjected to physico-chemical analyses, including the determination of water content, impurities, dry matter, acidity, pH, reducing sugar content, total phenol content, flavonoids, antioxidant potency by DPPH, and mineral content. The microbiological analysis involved determining the inhibition rates of microbial growth and the antibiotic capacity of linden honey against ten standardized bacterial strains and five bacterial strains isolated from patients. The analyzed linden honey can be characterized based on physico-chemical parameters as having a slightly increased water content, moderate acidity, rich in antioxidants, and a balanced pH. The average concentrations of macroelements and microelements in the honey samples showed that potassium was the dominant mineral element, followed by calcium and magnesium. The heavy metal content was consistent with European and international standards. The chemical content of linden honey influenced its antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential. In Gram-positive bacteria, inhibition rates were between 70.83 and 91.28% (sample A) and 71.14–90.16% (sample B) when applying concentration c1. For Gram-negative bacteria, values ranged between 63.91 and 78.30% (sample A) and 46.56–90.92% (sample B) at concentration c1. In bacterial strains isolated from patients, the inhibition rate values were between 75.42 and 85.69% (sample A) and 78.31–86.22% (sample B) when applying concentration c1. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential was highlighted in all bacterial strains studied, with differences occurring depending on the concentration of honey tested and the type of bacterial strain studied.

Biotissues represent a new technology in tissue regeneration in otolaryngology. Various biomaterials functioning in different combinations are used as bioinks for 3D bioprinting of tissues/tissue fragments. The scaffolds can be populated with several cell categories, each offering distinct advantages and disadvantages, depending on the targeted pathology. Results from in vitro and in vivo studies on animal models are promising, with superior therapeutic potential. The combination of these elements provides promising results, enabling their potential application in personalized medicine. Based on these findings, their application in ENT (ear, nose, and throat) pathology is starting to gain traction. Despite being an emerging field, 3D/4D bioprinting in otolaryngology is rapidly evolving, increasingly replacing conventional inert materials with more sophisticated, bio-integrated alternatives. These alternatives are based on novel bioink formulation involving cells capable of proliferating and integrating the new neo-fragment organ into the host’s endogenous tissues. In this context, this review outlines novel applications that could enhance traditional procedures in ENT reconstructive medicine. Furthermore, biomimetic scaffolds for otolaryngology can be tailored to address factors influencing implant fate during the procedure and in the early and late postoperative periods.

Honey has been appreciated for its medicinal properties since ancient times; it is known as a powerful antimicrobial agent, and as a result of the increase in antibiotic resistance of various bacterial strains, honey began to be used in complementary therapies to combat microbial infections. The study aimed to identify the antimicrobial potential of two honey varieties (Acacia honey and polyflora honey) with different botanical and geographical origins on standardized bacterial strains or isolated from patients, some of which showed antibiotic resistance. The physicochemical parameters of the honey varieties analyzed were: water content, impurities, pH of honey, acidity, mineral content, reducing sugar content, total phenol content, and antioxidant capacity (DPPH). The antibacterial potential of the honey varieties was assessed based on tests to determine cell viability and the capacity to inhibit biofilm formation. The Gram-positive strains studied were Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923), Staphylococcus aureus MRSA (ATCC43300), Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC49619), and the Gram-negative strain was Escherichia coli (ATCC25922). In addition, bacterial strains isolated from the patients were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. The results of the microbiological tests were correlated with the physicochemical parameters, suggesting that the content of polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant activity and acidic pH may contribute to the antimicrobial potential of honey. Also, statistical analyses indicated significant differences regarding the antimicrobial potential of honey on Gram-positive versus Gram-negative bacteria, standardized versus isolated bacteria from patients, but also for antibiotic-resistant bacteria compared to the other strains studied.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with a significant proportion of patients presenting with metastatic disease (mCRC). While molecularly targeted therapies, including anti-EGFR and anti-VEGF agents, have improved survival outcomes, their efficacy is often limited by drug resistance, toxicity, and high costs. There is a growing need for sustainable strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Methods: This review explores the emerging role of plant-derived compounds as synergistic adjuvants. Specifically, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for English-language articles published between January 2004 and June 2026, using combination of terms related to colorectal cancer, metastatic disease, anti-EGFR/anti-VEGF targeted therapy, phytochemicals/natural products, and gut microbiota; both primary studies and reviews were eligible. Results: Targeted therapies such as cetuximab and bevacizumab are the standard of care but face challenges related to RAS/BRAF mutations and primary tumour location. Clinical data demonstrate that while cetuximab improves overall survival in patients with RAS wild-type, left-sided tumours (median OS 31 vs. 26 months; HR 0.76, p = 0.012), progression-free survival remains comparable to that of bevacizumab. Concurrently, natural products like Vitis vinifera, Dendrobium candidum, and quercetin demonstrate significant preclinical potential in inhibiting angiogenesis, inducing apoptosis, and modulating the tumour microenvironment. The gut microbiome, particularly Fusobacterium nucleatum (whose reported prevalence varies widely across cohorts and reaches up to ~98% of CRC tissues only in selected series), has emerged as a key factor in chemoresistance. It should be emphasised that the great majority of the phytochemical-targeted therapy combinations discussed here are currently supported primarily by preclinical (in vitro and animal) studies rather than by clinical trials. Conclusions: Integrating evidence-based phytochemicals with conventional targeted therapies is a mechanistically compelling and potentially sustainable strategy that may enhance therapeutic efficacy, help overcome resistance, and mitigate adverse effects in mCRC management. However, because current support is largely preclinical, these combinations should be regarded as hypothesis-generating and require validation in prospective, biomarker-stratified clinical trials before clinical adoption.

Escherichia coli is a highly diverse bacterial species that includes strains with significant pathogenic potential for both animals and humans. Urban pigeons (Columba livia domestica) are widely distributed and frequently interact with human environments. In contrast, exhibition pigeons are maintained under controlled conditions, providing an opportunity to compare bacterial populations across different ecological settings. Comparative data on virulence-associated gene patterns between free-living urban and exhibition pigeon populations remain limited, particularly when both populations are investigated within the same geographical setting. The present study aimed to investigate the distribution and co-occurrence patterns of selected virulence-associated genes in Escherichia coli isolates recovered from urban and exhibition pigeons. A total of 453 faecal samples (153 urban and 300 exhibition pigeons) were collected, from which 133 Escherichia coli isolates were recovered (65 from urban and 68 from exhibition pigeons), corresponding to an overall isolation rate of 29.4%. A representative subset of isolates was independently confirmed by species-specific PCR and Sanger sequencing before virulence gene profiling. Subsequently, all isolates were screened for six virulence-associated genes (fimC, ompA, tsh, hlyA, astA, and iroN) by PCR. Virulence gene prevalence, gene profiles, co-occurrence patterns, and virulence scores were analysed, and statistical comparisons between groups were performed. The most prevalent gene was ompA (88.0%), followed by fimC (66.2%) and iroN (32.3%), whereas hlyA was detected only sporadically (3.8%). The most common virulence profile was fimC + ompA (24.8%), followed by ompA alone (20.3%). Co-occurrence analysis identified fimC and ompA as the most frequently co-detected gene pair (79/133 isolates; 59.4%); however, their association was weak and not statistically significant (φ = 0.078, p = 0.371). Frequent co-detection with the iron acquisition-associated gene iroN was also observed. No statistically significant differences were observed in the distribution of the investigated virulence-associated genes between urban and exhibition pigeon isolates, although urban isolates exhibited a broader diversity of gene combinations. In conclusion, pigeon-derived E. coli isolates harboured diverse combinations of selected virulence-associated genes, with adhesion-associated genes being the most frequently detected determinants. These findings provide baseline data on the distribution of selected virulence-associated genes in pigeon-derived Escherichia coli isolates and support future studies incorporating additional virulence markers, whole-genome sequencing, and comparative analyses to understand their epidemiological relevance better.