Effect of Carum copticum nano-essence against Saprolegnia and Fusarium, and the Use of Multiplex PCR Assay for the Detection of These Organisms in Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.

This study aimed to investigate the fungal species isolation and confirmation by the Multiplex PCR method in aquatic fish. Evaluation of the inhibitory effect of nano-essential oils of Carum copticum on isolated fungal species was also conducted in this study. The PCR results showed that 3 out of 5 samples were diagnosed with Fusarium solani, and two of them were positive for Saprolegnia. Moreover, in 0.1% of the females' nanoparticles, one peak appeared that showed a particle with an average diameter of 360 nm, and two nanoparticles showed a peak with a mean diameter of 242 nm. The results of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC) showed that 0.01% nano essential oil had 0.08 and 0.07 mg/ml MIC values against Fusarium solani and Saprolegnia, respectively. Gram/ml was on the growth of Fusarium solani species. The essential oils of female plants had an MIC of 0.07 in 0.1% essential oil and 0.03 mg/ml in 0.01% essential oil in Saprolegnia. Furthermore, in the case of 0.1% nano essential oil, the results showed the MIC values of 0.04 and 0.03 mg/ml against Fusarium solani and Saprolegnia, respectively. The MFC values of 0.1% nano essential oil were 0.1 and 0.07 mg/ml against Fusarium solani and Saprolegnia,respectively. It was not found on Fusarium and Saprolegnia. Overall, the results of this study using PCR for direct detection showed that 70% and 50% of the samples were Fusarium solani and Saprolegnia positive, respectively; therefore, the PCR was an efficient method for the detection of fungi. According to the results of nano-essential oil (0.1%) of females, this nano-essence had a strong inhibitory effect on Fusarium solani and Saprolegnia.

Effect of Four Chicken Carcass Transportation Methods at Selected Room Temperatures on the Bacterial Load of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella species, and Escherichia coli.

Pathogenic bacteria are responsible for a significant number of food poisonings in humans through infected poultries. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of transportation of chicken carcasses at 18-24, 4-5, and 10-14 oC on the bacterial loads of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella species, and Escherichia coli. This study was conducted on 180 fresh chicken carcasses (1197.0±19.88 g) randomly collected from a commercial poultry processing plant in southern Tehran, Iran, in a hot season in 2015. The sampling was performed at two stages, namely post-chilled washing and after 4 h of transportation. In the latter stage, the samples were selected from three vehicles with three types of temperatures. These vehicles included a pickup (18-24 oC), a refrigerated car (4-5 oC), and a refrigerated vehicle with switched off refrigerator (10-14 oC). According to the results, the whole body carcass samples transported at the pickup temperature had the highest mean total count (18.63×106±2.82×106 cfu.ml-1) and was greater (P<0.05) than the standard limit (5×106). On the other hand, the samples carried by the vehicle with switched off refrigerator had the lowest total count (0.65±0.04×106 cfu.ml-1). Similar results were obtained for S. aureus; accordingly, it reached the maximum (333.0±30.73 cfu.ml-1) at 18-24 oC, which was lower than the national standard limit even after 4 h of transportation. In addition, the cfu values for the total count and S. aureus sampled from the chicken carcasses were lower than the national standard level even after 4 h of carcass transportation, with the exception of Salmonella spp. at the three vehicle temperatures and E. coli at the pickup temperature. It was suggested that the transportation temperature of less than 10-14 oC could not affect the fresh chicken carcass to be contaminated with S. aureus and E. coli.

Expanding role of percutaneous cholecystostomy and interventional radiology for the management of acute cholecystitis: An analysis of 144 patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the rates of interval cholecystectomy and recurrent cholecystitis after initial percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) and identify predictors of patient outcome after PC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 144 patients with acute cholecystitis who were treated with PC were included. There were 96 men and 48 women, with a mean age of 71±13 (SD) years (range: 25-100 years). Patient characteristics, diagnostic imaging studies and results of laboratory tests at initial presentation, clinical outcomes after the initial PC treatment were reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 144 patients, 56 patients were referred for acute acalculous and 88 patients for calculus cholecystitis. Five procedure-related major complications (3.6%) were observed including bile peritonitis (n=3), hematoma (n=1) and abscess formation (n=1). Recurrent acute cholecystitis after initial clinical resolution and PC tube removal was observed in 8 patients (6.0%). The rate of interval cholecystectomy was 33.6% (47/140) with an average interval period of 100±482 (SD) days (range: 3-1017 days). PC was a definitive treatment in 85 patients (60.7%) whereas 39 patients (27.9%) had elective interval cholecystectomy without having recurrent cholecystitis. The clinical outcomes after PC did not significantly differ between patients with calculous cholecystitis and those with acalculous cholecystitis. Multiple prior abdominal operations were associated with higher rates of recurrent cholecystitis. CONCLUSION: For both acute acalculous and calculous cholecystitis, PC is an effective and definitive treatment modality for more than two thirds of our study patients over 3.5-year study period with low rates of recurrent disease and interval cholecystectomy.

Unenhanced helical CT criteria to differentiate distal ureteral calculi from pelvic phleboliths.

PURPOSE: To identify imaging features at unenhanced helical computed tomography (CT) that help differentiate distal ureteral calculi from pelvic phleboliths. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed of 184 pelvic calcifications identified at unenhanced helical CT in 113 patients. The size, shape, and attenuation of each calcification were recorded in addition to the presence of a central lucency and the appearance of the adjacent soft tissues. With profile analysis, a graphic representation was generated of attenuation in each pixel along a line drawn through each calcification. RESULTS: Geometric configuration was seen in eight (21%) calculi but not in any phleboliths. Differences were significant (P < .0001) between the mean attenuation of calculi and that of phleboliths. Among phleboliths, none had a mean attenuation greater than 278 HU, 13 (9%) had a visible central lucency, 31 (21%) had a bifid peak at profile analysis, 30 (21%) had the "comet sign" (adjacent eccentric, tapering soft-tissue mass corresponding to the noncalcified portion of a pelvic vein), and three (2%) had the soft-tissue rim sign (edema of the ureteral wall). Among calculi, none had a central lucency, bifid peak, or comet sign, but 29 (76%) had the soft-tissue rim sign. CONCLUSION: Analysis of pelvic calcifications at unenhanced helical CT can help differentiate calculi from phleboliths.

Virtual cystoscopy: early clinical experience.

Virtual cystoscopy was performed in 13 patients with hematuria and abnormal findings at conventional cystoscopy. Perspective volume-rendering algorithms were applied to helical computed tomographic data to generate interactive, intraluminal views of the bladder mucosa after insufflation of room air. At conventional cystoscopy, 29 masses appeared to arise from the bladder mucosa and two were hypertrophied median lobes of the prostate. At virtual cystoscopy, 30 masses arose from the bladder (one prostate mass was misinterpreted as an intrinsic bladder mass). Results at virtual cystoscopy were comparable to those at conventional cystoscopy but were obtained without the associated risks.