Characterization of aflatoxigenic aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus strain isolates from animal feedstuffs in northeastern Iran

Aflatoxins are secondary toxic metabolites produced by some Aspergillus spp. particularly, Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus that contaminate food and feed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the contamination of feedstuffs with Aspergillus spp. And detect genes involved in the aflatoxin biosynthesis pathway of A. flavus and A. parasiticus isolates. A total of 110 cow feed samples [comprised of silage, concentrate, hay and total mixed ration] from 30 industrial and semi-industrial dairy farms of Khorasan Razavi province, northeastern Iran, were examined using cultural and PCR methods. 68 [61.82%] Aspergillus spp. were isolated from 110 samples of feedstuff. The predominant Aspergillus isolates were A. fumigates [21.81%], followed by A. flavus [17.27%], A. niger [10%], A. parasiticus [8.18%], and A. oryzae [4.54%]. Fungal contamination levels of industrial and semi-industrial dairy farm samples were not significantly different [P>0.05]. Using four sets of primers, a quadruplex PCR was developed to detect genes [nor1, ver1, omtA and aflR] at different loci coding enzymes in the aflatoxin biosynthesis pathway of A. flavus and A. parasiticus strains. Out of 28 strains of A. flavus and A. parasiticus, 10 isolates [35.71%] showed a quadruplet pattern indicating the important genes involved in the aflatoxin biosynthesis pathway, encoded for functional products. These isolates were confirmed to be aflatoxigenic by Thin Layer Chromatography. 18 isolates [64.29%] had three, two and single molecular patterns. The results obtained by this study show that rapid and specific detection of aflatoxigenic molds is important to ensure the microbiological safety of feedstuffs

[Association between perceived social support and quality of life in patients with heart failure]

Patient with heart failure have a low quality of life because of experiencing emotional, financial, and physical pressures. Perceived social support plays an important role in health maintenance and reducing negative effects of environmental and social related stressors. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the association between perceived social support and quality of life in patients with heart failure. It was cross- sectional, correlational study. The study sample consisted of heart failure patients admitted to Hamedan city educational heart centers from 2008. Sixty patients were recruited by purposeful sampling. Data was collected by Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire [MLHFQ] and perceived social support in heart failure questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS-PC [v.13]. The finding indicated that%46.7 of the patients have enjoyed moderate levels of quality of life and%61.7 have enjoyed low levels of perceived social support. There was a significant relationship between perceived social support and quality of life [r=0.721, p=0.00]. The results reveals the importance of health sector professionals' attention to perceived social support. Therefore nurses should pay more attention to designing supportive and effective care programs to help to promote the quality of life of these patients

Fentanyl supplement expedites the onset time of sensory and motor blocking in interscalene lidocaine anesthesia

Opioids are usually used in regional anesthesia, with or without local anesthetics to improve the regional block or postoperative pain control. Since no data are available on fentanyl's effect on the onset time of lidocaine interscalene anesthesia, the purpose of this study was to examine its effect on the onset time of sensory and motor blockade during interscalene anesthesia. In a prospective, randomized, double-blind study, ninety patients scheduled for elective shoulder, arm and forearm surgeries under an interscalene brachial plexus block .They were randomly allocated to receive either 30 ml of 1.5% lidocaine with 1.5 ml of isotonic saline [control group, n = 39] or 30 ml of 1.5% lidocaine with 1.5 ml [75 micro g] of fentanyl [fentanyl group, n = 41]. Then the onset time of sensory and motor blockades of the shoulder, arm and forearm were evaluated every 60 sec. The onset time of the sensory and motor blockades was defined as the time between the last injection and the total abolition of the pinprick response and complete paralysis. The duration of sensory blocks were considered as the time interval between the administration of the local anesthetic and the first postoperative pain sensation. Ten patients were excluded because of unsuccessful blockade or unbearable pain during the surgery. The onset time of the sensory block was significantly faster in the fentanyl group [186.54 +/- 62.71sec] compared with the control group [289.51 +/- 81.22, P < 0.01]. The onset times of the motor block up to complete paralysis in forearm flexion was significantly faster in the fentanyl group [260.61 +/- 119.91sec] than the control group [367.08 +/- 162.43sec, P < 0.01]. There was no difference in the duration of the sensory block between two groups. Results of the study showed that the combination of 75 micro g fentanyl and 1.5% lidocaine solution accelerated the onset of sensory and motor blockade during interscalene anesthesia