Effect of blue light and nanosilver on vase life, antioxidant enzymes and some other physiologic parameters of Alstroemeria ‘Napoli’ cut flowers

The effects of postharvest blue light exposure have never been studied on cut flowers, so the present study aimed to explore the effects of blue light exposure duration (6, 12, 18, and 24 h) and silver nanoparticle (SNP) application (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg l−1) on the quantitative and qualitative traits of cut Alstroemeria ‘Napoli’ flowers. The control flower received distilled water without blue light exposure. The longest vase life (22.66 days) was related to 10 mg l−1 SNP, not differing from 12 h of blue light exposure (22.00 days) and 20 mg l−1 SNP (21.66 days), significantly. The highest water uptake and total chlorophyll and the lowest ethylene were obtained from the flowers treated with 10 mg l−1 SNP or exposed to 12 h of blue light. These two treatments outperformed the control in reducing MDA accumulation too. APX activity was significantly higher in the flowers treated with 12 h of blue light exposure, 18 h of blue light exposure, or 15 mg l−1 SNP. Except for the blue light exposure for 6 h, all treatments reduced stem-end bacteria versus the control. The lowest bacterial population (57.3 Log10 CFU ml−1) belonged to the flowers treated with 15 mg l−1 SNP. Blue light outperformed SNP in stopping the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and yeast. Based on the results, blue light is introduced as a physical factor to improve the quantitative and qualitative traits of cut Alstroemeria ‘Napoli’ flowers.The effects of postharvest blue light exposure have never been studied on cut flowers, so the present study aimed to explore the effects of blue light exposure duration (6, 12, 18, and 24 h) and silver nanoparticle (SNP) application (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg l−1) on the quantitative and qualitative traits of cut Alstroemeria ‘Napoli’ flowers. The control flower received distilled water without blue light exposure. The longest vase life (22.66 days) was related to 10 mg l−1 SNP, not differing from 12 h of blue light exposure (22.00 days) and 20 mg l−1 SNP (21.66 days), significantly. The highest water uptake and total chlorophyll and the lowest ethylene were obtained from the flowers treated with 10 mg l−1 SNP or exposed to 12 h of blue light. These two treatments outperformed the control in reducing MDA accumulation too. APX activity was significantly higher in the flowers treated with 12 h of blue light exposure, 18 h of blue light exposure, or 15 mg l−1 SNP. Except for the blue light exposure for 6 h, all treatments reduced stem-end bacteria versus the control. The lowest bacterial population (57.3 Log10 CFU ml−1) belonged to the flowers treated with 15 mg l−1 SNP. Blue light outperformed SNP in stopping the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and yeast. Based on the results, blue light is introduced as a physical factor to improve the quantitative and qualitative traits of cut Alstroemeria ‘Napoli’ flowers

EFFECT OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES, SPERMINE, SALICYLIC ACID AND ESSENTIAL OILS ON VASE LIFE OF Alstroemeria

In this study, effects of different concentrations of silver nanoparticles (NS), salicylic acid (SA), spermine (SP), dill (AN), and cumin (CM) essential oils are investigated on physiological and microbiological traits of alstroemeria (Alstroemeria hybrida) cut flowers during a preharvest and postharvest application. The study was performed as a factorial experiment based on a randomized completely design with three replications. During the experiment the vase life of cut flower was evaluated in terms of chlorophylls a, b and total, SOD, MDA, stem end bacterial colonies and bacterial identification. The results showed that using high concentrations of nanosilver (NS2) increased significantly the vase life of cut Alstroemeria in preharvest and postharvest. 11 colonies of bacteria were identified in stem end of cut alstroemeria flowers

Synergistic Effect of Colistin with Selected Antibiotic on Colistin Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains Isolated from Clinical Samples

Background: The spread of antibiotic resistance and the emergence of MDR strains, especially in gram-negative bacteria, has led to combining antibiotics to treat infections caused by these bacteria. The study aimed to evaluate some antibiotics' synergistic effect on multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates isolated from clinical samples between thyroid dysfunction and asymptomatic bacteriuria in women of reproductive and postmenopausal age. Materials and Methods: P. aeruginosa was isolated from Rasht city hospitals (North of Iran) clinical specimens with multiple antibiotic resistance. The antibiotic resistance of isolates was determined by the disk diffusion method. The screening checklist evaluated the synergistic effects of ciprofloxacin, colistin, meropenem, and gentamicin. Results: The combination of meropenem and colistin in four isolates was additive, and in two isolates was indifferent. The combined effect of ciprofloxacin and colistin was also incremental in 4 isolates and indifferent in 2 isolates. The combined effect of gentamicin and colistin was indifferent in all selected strains. Conclusion: Results of this study showed that combinations of colistin with ciprofloxacin and colistin with meropenem were successful against resistant isolates, while a combination of gentamicin and colistin showed no synergistic effect. Since the characteristics of each clinical isolate differ from the other isolates, more study with more isolates is recommended to make any precise and definite recommendation

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF SAMBUCUS EBULUS AND URTICA DIOICA AGAINST CLINICAL ISOLATES OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

Background: Increase in the emergence of drug - resistant pathogens led to the development of natural antimicrobials. In this study the antimicrobial effect of methanolic extracts of Sambucus ebulus and Urtica dioica on 16 skin and wound infections isolates of methicillin resistant S. aureus have been studied. Material and Methods: Solvent extraction procedure was done using soxhlet apparatus for extracting antimicrobial agents from freeze dried plants. Antibacterial activity was measured using agar well diffusion method. Results: The MIC of Sambucus ebulus and Urtica dioica extracts against the standard strain of S. aureus ATCC 6538 were determined using the micro dilution method at 15 mg and 20 mg respectively. All the test bacteria were found sensitive to the Sambucus ebulus extract and only one isolate was resistant to Urtica dioica extract. Conclusion: Extracts of Sambucus ebulus and Urtica dioica possess antibacterial potency against MRSA isolates and may be used as a natural antiseptics and antimicrobial agents in medicine

Blood biochemical parameters of broilers fed differently thermal processed soybean meal

ABSTRACT Objective. A 42-days feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the influences of differently thermal processed soybean meal on the broilers blood biochemical parameters. Materials and methods. A total of 200 male birds of Ross strain were allocated into five different diets formulated using differently heat-treated soybean meals, with ten birds per treatment and per replicate. Diets contained: raw soybean (controls), autoclaved for a short (121°C, 20 min; Aut1 group) or medium length period (121°C, 30 min; Aut2 group) soybean meal, micro-waved soybean meal (46°C, 540 Watt, 7 min; McW group) and browned soybean meal (120°C, 20 min; Brn group). Results. Blood serum metabolites showed that all treated diets presented lower lipid metabolism makers and higher protein metabolism markers. Broilers showed increased final body weight when fed heat-treated meals compared with control. Results suggested that thermal treatments altered the lipid metabolism in broilers that might originate a decrease in abdominal fat deposition. Conclusions. Comparison of the results for all the treated groups showed the Aut2 treatment is the most suitable method for soybean thermal treatment processing; in contrast, the Aut1 treatment had the closest results to the control group

A comparison of the effects of antibiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and prebiotics on the performance and carcass characteristics of broilers

Routine use of the antibiotic flavomycin in broiler production may lead to resistance, and alternative growth promoters are used to enhance performance. Two hundred day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were allocated to five dietary supplements included from d 1-42: flavomycin, three possible alternatives, a probiotic, prebiotic and a synbiotic, as well as a control treatment. There were four replicate cages of 10 birds each in each treatment. Compared with the control and antibiotics treatments, the probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic treatments increased (p = 0.001) weight gain (64, 66, 73, 70 and 74\ua0g/d, respectively). The synbiotic treatment reduced (p = 0.004) the feed conversion ratio, compared with the control and antibiotic treatments (1.70, 1.84, 1.83, respectively). Compared with the control and antibiotic treatments, the birds fed the synbiotic treatment had greater relative gizzard (+47%) and spleen weights (+115%), and lighter kidneys (-47%). The birds fed the symbiotic treatment also had thinner walls of the caudal gut segments. The prebiotic had the most beneficial effect on cecal microbiota, stimulating aerobic and lactic acid producing bacteria and reducing Escherichia coli bacteria. Enterococci were increased in the antibiotic treatment. We conclude that there were significant performance and health benefits of using prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics for broilers, rather than antibiotics

Therapeutic effect of intratympanic injection of dexamethasone plus hyaluronic acid on patients with meniere's disease

Introduction: Intratympanic therapy, as a widely used treatment for inner ear diseases, is regarded as a therapeutic method in controlling the vertigo of the patients with Meniere’s disease. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the Intratympanic dexamethasone-hyaluronic acid combination on patients suffering from Meniere’s disease. Materials and Methods: This study was a clinical trial on patients with Meniere’s disease during 2016-2017. Patients received two Intratympanic injections of dexamethasone plus hyaluronic acid as a mixture within a month. Before and 2 weeks after the intervention, pure tone average (PTA) at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 KHz frequencies, speech discrimination score (SDS), dizziness handicap inventory (DHI), and tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) scores were evaluated for each patient. The obtained scores were statistically analyzed. Results: This study was conducted on a total number of 25 patients with Meniere's disease. The mean age of participants in this study was 44.71±4.92 years. Gender distribution among participants revealed that 36 of patients were male. The mean values of PTA, SDS, and THI were not significantly different before and after the intervention. However, the mean score of DHI decreased significantly after the intervention (P<0.001). Conclusion: Intratympanic dexamethasone/hyaluronic acid had a positive effect on the vertigo of the investigated patients without any significant improvement in hearing impairment and tinnitus in the short term. © 2019 Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved