Food safety control in poultry industry: prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolated from raw chicken and the potential use of Origanum essential oils as alternative to antibiotics.

1. The extensive use of antimicrobials in poultry production may contribute to the emergence of resistant bacteria. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and resistance of different E. coli strains isolated from raw chicken meat and to investigate the possibility to use Lebanese native oregano essential oils as alternatives.2. In total, 250 chickens from Lebanese markets were examined for the presence of E. coli. Isolates were then screened for susceptibility using 19 antibiotics and two essential oils extracted from oregano plants.3. Of the 250 chickens tested, 80% were contaminated with E. coli. Main resistance was seen against amoxycillin, ampicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, tylosin, streptomycin and erythromycin. The highest rate of sensitivity was found in 86.1% of strains to Amoxycillin/Clavulanic acid, 80.09% to Tilmicosin. Both essential oils from Origanum syriacum (98%) and O. ehrenbergii (97.3%) showed promising potential in inhibiting the growth of the tested bacteria. Oil from O. syriacum exhibited superior efficacy against 200 E. coli strains, inhibiting 46.1% at 200 mg/l and all at 400 mg/l, while O. ehrenbergii oil showed slightly lower inhibition, affecting 41.6% at 200 mg/l and all at 400 mg/l.

Current medical management of valvular heart disease.

Drug therapy plays a key role in the management of valvular heart disease, though in many cases it does not alter its course or delay the need for surgery. The importance of drug therapy lies in stabilizing the patient's condition when the disease is due to abnormal valve structure, and in treating the underlying condition when the condition is due to a functional abnormality. Drug therapy also lowers the risk of bacterial endocarditis and rheumatic fever.

Neurotransmitter release regulated by nitric oxide in PC-12 cells and brain synaptosomes.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide is a messenger molecule of the nervous system, which is produced by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase, which may regulate cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels and which has been implicated in the control of neurotransmitter release. PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells differentiate to form neuronal cells in culture when they are exposed to nerve growth factor. The levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate in the cells and their ability to release acetylcholine in response to K(+)-depolarization are both maximal after eight days of treatment with nerve growth factor. We set out to assess a possible role for nitric oxide in the processes that occur in differentiating PC-12 cells. RESULTS: Nitric oxide synthase is first evident in differentiating PC-12 cells eight days after beginning treatment with nerve growth factor, coinciding with the marked increase in K(+)-depolarization-induced release of acetylcholine. The release of both acetylcholine and dopamine in response to K(+)-depolarization is blocked by inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase and by hemoglobin, which binds nitric oxide. Providing l-arginine, a precursor required for nitric oxide synthesis, reverses the effects of the inhibitors. In synaptosomal preparations from the corpus striatum, inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase prevent the release of glutamate in response to the glutamate derivative N-methyl-d-aspartate but not in response to K(+)-depolarization. CONCLUSION: Nitric oxide may mediate the release of acetylcholine and dopamine in response to K(+)-depolarization in PC-12 cells and the release of glutamate in response to N-methyl-d-aspartate in striatal synaptosomes. Nitric oxide synthase expression is induced after eight days of treating PC-12 cells with nerve growth factor, coinciding with a marked enhancement of the release of neurotransmitters in response to K(+)-depolarization.

[Objectives of consultation in anesthesia]. / Objectifs de la consultation d'anesthésie.

Recently developed in France (1970), pre-anaesthetic consultation continues to gain in importance because of a number of considerations. Psychological considerations: Consultation provides information about the patient to be operated, wins the patient's co-operation for his/her preparation for operation, and takes some of the drama out of surgery and anaesthetic. Medical considerations: More complete pre-operative examination (discovery of hereditary defects, and current medication) carried out by means of a long and very methodical interrogation, difficult to do at the patient's bedside. The best and most accurate possible assessment of the anaesthetic risk will reduce per- and post-operative complications or at least reduce their effects by better prevention and preparation of the patient, notably in the case of patients with respiratory problems, following possible complementary examinations or other specialized consultations. Anaesthetic considerations: By means of the choice and discussion of an anaesthetic technique according to the patient's own wishes, the anaesthetic risk, the type of hospitalization, especially in ambulatory anaesthetic, when pre-anaesthetic consultation is indispensable. Care coordination: The anaesthetist doctor assumes a double role of clinician and coordinator with the surgical team, the other specialists, and especially the general practitioner whose work he will continue when the patient is hospitalized, and who will have a leading role in the pre-operative preparation of the patient, and the realization of complementary examinations often carried out at home. The consultation makes for a per-operative approach which is carried out earlier, is more complete and more humane.