Određivanje aflatoksina, okratoksina A, fumonizina i zearalenona u žitaricama i krmivu primjenom kompetetivnoga direktnog imunoenzimatskog testa (CD-ELISA) i tankoslojne kromatografije (TLC)

Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium species frequently contaminate crops. For this reason mycotoxins such as afl atoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisins (FBs), and zearalenone (ZEA) are found in food and feed in a wide range of concentrations, depending on environmental and storage conditions. Consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed has been associated with acute and chronic poisoning and carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and co-occurrence of AFs (B1+B2+G1+G2), OTA, FBs (B1+B2+B3), and ZEA in 37 samples of cereals and feed randomly collected in 2007 from households of an endemic nephropathy (EN) area in Croatia. The mycotoxins were determined using the competitive direct ELISA test (CD-ELISA) in combination with thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The most frequent mycotoxin was ZEA (92 %, mean 318.3 μg kg-1), followed by FBs (27 %, 3690 μg kg-1), AFs (24.3 %, 4.6 μg kg-1), and OTA (16.2 %, 9.8 μg kg-1). Levels of AFs, ZEA, and FBs detected by CD-ELISA signifi cantly correlated with the TLC results. However, only one OTA-positive sample was confi rmed by TLC due to its high limit of detection. The levels of these mycotoxins were below the permissible limit for animal feed. Twenty-nine percent of cereals were contaminated with FBs, OTA, or ZEA in mass fractions above the permissible limit for humans. Co-occurrence of two toxins varied between 4.2 % and 54 % and of three between 4.2 % and 7.6 %. Prolonged co-exposure to AFs, OTA, FBs, and ZEA might increase the risk of various chronic diseases.Vrste plijesni iz rodova Aspergillus, Penicillium i Fusarium česti su kontaminanti usjeva te na takvim supstratima tvore mikotoksine. Stoga su žitarice i krmiva često kontaminirana afl atoksinima (AFs), okratoksinom A (OTA), fumonizinima (FBs) i zearalenonom (ZEA) u različitim koncentracijama ovisno o mikroklimatskim uvjetima na polju i u skladištu. Konzumiranje hrane kontaminirane mikotoksinima često je povezano s akutnim ili kroničnim trovanjima, ali i s razvojem karcinoma. Cilj ovog rada bio je odrediti istodobnu pojavnost AFs (B1+B2+G1+G2), OTA, FBs (B1+B2+B3) i ZEA u uzorcima žitarica i krme (N=37) koji su nasumično skupljeni u individualnim domaćinstvima na području endemske nefropatije (EN) u Hrvatskoj (2007). Za određivanje navedenih mikotoksina korišten je kompetitivni direktni ELISA-test (CD-ELISA) u kombinaciji s tankoslojnom kromatografi jom (TLC). Najzastupljeniji mikotoksin bio je ZEA (92 %, srednja koncentracija 318.3 μg kg-1), nakon čega slijede FBs (27 %, 3690 μg kg-1), AFs (24.3 %, 4.6 μg kg-1) te OTA (16.2 %, 9.8 μg kg-1). Koncentracije AFs, FBs i ZEA određene CD-ELISA-testom statistički značajno koreliraju s rezultatima dobivenim s TLC. OTA je potvrđen metodom TLC samo u jednom uzorku zbog visokog limita detekcije. Dokazane koncentracije su ispod razina dopuštenih za krmiva, dok je 29 % uzoraka žitarica sadržavalo FBs, OTA ili ZEA u koncentracijama iznad dopuštenih u hrani za ljude. Kokontaminacija s dvama odnosno trima toksinima varirala je između 4.2 % i 54 % odnosno između 4.2 % i 7.6 %. Dugotrajni unos AFs, OTA, FBs i ZEA putem hrane može povećati rizik od razvoja različitih kroničnih bolesti zbog njihova mogućega sinergističkog djelovanja

Effect of two remeniralizing agents on the microhardness and ultramorphology of deminaralized enamel

Objective: To study the effect of two remineralizing agents on the microhardness and ultramorphology of deminaralized enamel. Methods: Human maxillary anterior teeth were demineralized by phosphoric acid. Specimens were divided into two groups (G) according to the remineralizing agent tested: G1: Whitesmile mousse, G2: Clinpro™ White Varnish. The remineralizing agents were applied for three minutes per day for seven consecutive days. Microhardness and ultramorphological evaluation was tested for untreated enamel (control), demineralized enamel and remineralized enamel. Results: One-way ANOVA revealed statistical significant decrease on mean microhardness values after specimens' demineralization comparing to the control group. There was a significant increase on mean microhardness after the application of the remineralizing agents (p≤0.05) compared to the demineralized specimens. There was an insignificant difference between mean microhardness for specimens treated with Whitesmile mousse and Clinpro™ White Varnish at p≥0.05. SEM microphotographs of untreated enamel surface showed normal smooth enamel, while demineralized enamel showed a honeycomb like structure. Specimens treated with the remineralizing agents showed homogenous deposits filling the interprismatic spaces. Conclusion: Both remineralizing agents provided similar profit. However, Clinpro™ White varnish could be beneficial for patients who want to keep awayfrom using fluoride or for children at danger of developing fluorosis

Fiberoptic bronchoscopic guidance in percutaneous dilational tracheotomy

Objective: Blind percutaneous dilational tracheotomy (PDT) holds a lot of peri-operative complications. A lot of assisting tools have long been used to facilitate guidance during PDT, e.g., laryngeal mask airway (LMA), ultrasound (US) imaging of the neck, light wand for trans-illumination of the soft tissues of the neck, and flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The aim of this work was to compare between blind and fiberoptic bronchoscopic guided PDT as regards ease of the technique and complications of the procedure. Design: A randomized prospective comparative trial. Setting: Critical care department, main Alexandria university hospital. Patients: Thirty adult patients, requiring elective PDT, and need to maintain a secure airway. Methods: They were randomly assigned to 2 groups; blind PDT group I and fiberoptic bronchoscopic guided PDT group II. Both groups used Griggs’ forceps technique for PDT. Post-operative complications were recorded. End point was 48-h after the procedure. Results: Number of trials was 1.27 ± 0.46 and 1.00 ± 0.00 for groups I and II, respectively. Success rate was 100% in both groups. Procedural duration (in minutes) was 2.93 ± 1.10 in group I versus 3.93 ± 1.10 in group II. Bleeding was found in 3 patients and 1 patient for groups I and II. Subcutaneous emphysema occurred in one patient in each group, while tube misplacement was recorded in 2 patients in group I and none in group II. Aspiration pneumonia was found in 2 patients in group I and none in group II. Conclusion: Use of flexible bronchoscopy has succeeded in decreasing the number of trials of needle insertion and decreasing the incidence of overall complications, while blind technique was better in shortening procedural time and avoidance of hypercapnia