Effect of Groundnut Pod Condition on the Microbial Content and Aflatoxin Contamination in the Groundnut Seeds

The present study was investigated the effect of groundnut pod condition on the microbial content and aflatoxin contamination in the groundnut seeds in Sudan, which collected from irrigated area (Gezira) and rain-fed area (Al-fao and Kordofan). The samples were investigated for their fungal growth using potato dextrose agar (PDA) media and for their aflatoxin contamination using thin layer chromatography (TLC) technique. High percentage of the groundnut seeds were found unshelled sound intact (53.33-63.00%), while the low percentage was unshelled shrink/damaged (10.33-19.34%). The infection by A. flavus and aflatoxins contamination were found to be high in the split samples either shelled or unshelled which collected from Gezira area (56.67%), whereas, the low percentage was (10.00%) in the unshelled shrink/damaged samples which collected from Kordofan area. Microbial content showed that the sound intact seeds either shelled or unshelled were free from A. flavus and aflatoxins, while the split and shrink/damaged samples either shelled or unshelled were infected by A. flavus and contaminated by aflatoxins. Moreover, High percentage of fungs infection other than A. flavus were obtained (40.00-43.33%) in split and shrink/damaged shelled samples, however, low percentage were obtained (10.00%) in intact samples either shelled or unshelled which collected from Gezira are

Antimicrobial Activity and Some Physiochemical Properties of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) Seed oil

Pumpkin and squash plants grow in warm, humid regions,  cannot withstand frost. Most of the pumpkin consumed in Sudan was grown in Kordufan (western sudan).The use of plants and their extracts as remedies for curing many diseases have stimulate studies for investigating the presence of effective antimicrobial substances in them The present study was investigating the physiochemical and the biological activity of the different solvent extracts of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seed oil (hexane, ethanol, methanol, and water) against two fungi  (A. niger and P. italicum) and two bacteria (E.coli and Staph. aureus).The inhibition zone method  was used for bacterial tests and the mycelia weight method was used for the fungal study. The results of the physiochemical showed that the specific gravity of the oil was between 0.997–0.908. The Refractive index was between 1.46–1.470. The average iodine value was 117.97,  the free fatty acids was between 0.2 and 0.55. The peroxide value was in the normal range (5.92–9 and the average saponification value was about 188. The biological study showed that the fresh and the dry weights of mycelia were highly reduced, although the reduction was only statistically different at the higher concentrations (75-100%).The fresh weights for the higher concentrations were 1.65 and 1.0 and for the lower concentrations were 3.1 and 3.7 for both A. niger and P. italicum, respectively. The inhibition zone of growth of both bacteria was far greater than that of the control treatment. The results indicated that the pumpkin oil extracts are more effective against bacteria compared to fungi. The hexane extract  was giving a large  inhibition zone (about 26.5 mm diameter) while, the ethanol extract was giving a less inhibition zone (about 14.2.mm diameter). On the other hand both methanol and the aqueous extracts were giving very low inhibition zones (13.5 and 13.6 mm diameter, respectively). However, more physiochemical characterizations need to be done  and the antifungal and the antibacterial properties  should verified in any further  studies on the pumpkin seed oil

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Global Incidence and Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Urinary Retention Following Elective Inguinal Hernia Repair

Importance Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a well-recognized complication of inguinal hernia repair (IHR). A variable incidence of POUR has previously been reported in this context, and contradictory evidence surrounds potential risk factors.Objective To ascertain the incidence of, explore risk factors for, and determine the health service outcomes of POUR following elective IHR.Design, Setting, and Participants The Retention of Urine After Inguinal Hernia Elective Repair (RETAINER I) study, an international, prospective cohort study, recruited participants between March 1 and October 31, 2021. This study was conducted across 209 centers in 32 countries in a consecutive sample of adult patients undergoing elective IHR.Exposure Open or minimally invasive IHR by any surgical technique, under local, neuraxial regional, or general anesthesia.Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was the incidence of POUR following elective IHR. Secondary outcomes were perioperative risk factors, management, clinical consequences, and health service outcomes of POUR. A preoperative International Prostate Symptom Score was measured in male patients.Results In total, 4151 patients (3882 male and 269 female; median [IQR] age, 56 [43-68] years) were studied. Inguinal hernia repair was commenced via an open surgical approach in 82.2% of patients (n = 3414) and minimally invasive surgery in 17.8% (n = 737). The primary form of anesthesia was general in 40.9% of patients (n = 1696), neuraxial regional in 45.8% (n = 1902), and local in 10.7% (n = 446). Postoperative urinary retention occurred in 5.8% of male patients (n = 224), 2.97% of female patients (n = 8), and 9.5% (119 of 1252) of male patients aged 65 years or older. Risk factors for POUR after adjusted analyses included increasing age, anticholinergic medication, history of urinary retention, constipation, out-of-hours surgery, involvement of urinary bladder within the hernia, temporary intraoperative urethral catheterization, and increasing operative duration. Postoperative urinary retention was the primary reason for 27.8% of unplanned day-case surgery admissions (n = 74) and 51.8% of 30-day readmissions (n = 72).Conclusions The findings of this cohort study suggest that 1 in 17 male patients, 1 in 11 male patients aged 65 years or older, and 1 in 34 female patients may develop POUR following IHR. These findings could inform preoperative patient counseling. In addition, awareness of modifiable risk factors may help to identify patients at increased risk of POUR who may benefit from perioperative risk mitigation strategies