Effect of polydeoxyribonucleotide injection on pes anserine bursitis: A case report.

RATIONALE: Pes anserine (PA) bursitis is an inflammatory condition of the medial knee. The PA bursa becomes more painful when infected, damaged, or irritated. Although various treatment options have been attempted to treat PA bursitis, optimal treatments are still debated. This study aims to investigate the effect of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) injection on reducing pain and inflammation in a patient presenting with PA bursitis. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 50-year-old female patient was admitted to our pain clinic with symptoms of tenderness and pain over the medial knee. Physical examination revealed the pain to be located over the proximal medial tibia at the insertion of the conjoined tendons of the PA. The knee had lost its range of movement and strength, and resisted knee flexion. DIAGNOSES: She was diagnosed as having PA bursitis. INTERVENTIONS: Ultrasound guided PA bursa injection was carried out. OUTCOMES: Follow-up for the patient was more than eight months. She showed good improvement in PA bursitis without any complications. LESSONS: This is the first successful report of successful PDRN injection for PA bursa.

Prevalence, Virulence Genes and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Salmonella Serovars from Retail Beef in Selangor, Malaysia.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella spp., Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium in retail beef from different retail markets of Selangor area, as well as, to assess their pathogenic potential and antimicrobial resistance. A total of 240 retail beef meat samples (chuck = 60; rib = 60; round = 60; sirloin = 60) were randomly collected. The multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) in combination with the most probable number (MPN) method was employed to detect Salmonella spp., S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium in the meat samples. The prevalence of Salmonella spp., S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium in 240 beef meat samples were 7.50, 1.25, and 0.83%, respectively. The microbial loads of total Salmonella was found in the range of <3 to 15 MPN/g. Eight different serovars of Salmonella were identified among the 23 isolates, and S. Agona was the predominant serovar (26.09%). Interestingly, all the Salmonella isolates were resistant to penicillin, erythromycin and vancomycin, but the sensitivity was observed for tetracycline, gentamicin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. All 23 isolates were resistant to at least three antibiotics. Two S. Typhimurium isolates (8.70%) exhibited the highest multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index value of 0.56 which shown resistance to nine antibiotics. PCR analysis of virulence genes showed that all Salmonella isolates (100%) were positive for the invA gene. Meanwhile, pefA was only identified in S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium. The findings in this study indicate that retail beef products tested were widely contaminated with multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella and various virulence genes are present among the isolated Salmonella serovars.

Management of the axilla: has Z0011 had an impact?

BACKGROUND: Management of axillary disease in breast cancer has evolved significantly over the last two decades with the introduction of SLNB and a trend towards less radical surgery. Data from the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 trial proposes that not all patients with positive axillary lymph nodes require completion axillary dissection. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine whether there has been a change in practice patterns for axillary management in Ireland since the publication of this 'practice-changing' trial. METHODS: A review of breast cancers managed in the 12 months prior to publication of Z0011 (pre-Z0011) and comparison with those managed in the following 12 months (post-Z0011) was undertaken in three tertiary referral breast cancer centres. Patients with a positive SLNB were identified, and clinicopathologic data and subsequent management was compared between the two cohorts. RESULTS: There were 708 SLNB performed during the study period; 326 pre-Z0011 and 382 post-Z0011. There was no difference in the rate of SLN positivity between the two cohorts: 29.1 % had a positive SLN pre-Z0011 and 29.3 % were positive post-Z0011. There were a significantly lower number of axillary clearances performed in SLN-positive patients in the post-Z0011 period (71.4 %) compared to the pre-Z011 period (93.7 %, p = 0.0022 Chi-square). Of the patients with tumour characteristics meeting the Z0011 inclusion criteria in the initial 12 months of the study, 92.3 % underwent ALND compared with 65.6 % in the final 12 months of the study (p = 0.0006 Chi-square). CONCLUSIONS: There has been a change in clinical practice since the publication of the Z0011 trial, illustrated by a decrease in the rate of axillary clearance in node-positive breast cancers.

Periodontopathogen levels following the use of an Er:YAG laser in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory periodontal diseases are initiated by microbial biofilms. The reduction of the biofilm is important in the management of the disease. This study compares periodontopathogen levels following the treatment of chronic periodontitis using Er:YAG laser (ERL) debridement and mechanical scaling and root planing (SRP). METHODS: Using a split-mouth design, two quadrants were randomly allocated for treatment. Two hundred and fifty-two subgingival plaque samples were collected from 21 patients, before treatment (baseline) and at 6 and 12 weeks post-therapy. Multiplex qPCR was used to determine relative levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Treponema denticola (Td), Tannerella forsythensis (Tf), and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). RESULTS: Tf and Pg were significantly reduced post-treatment for both ERL and SRP. ERL treatment resulted in a reduction of Td at 12 weeks. Following SRP treatment Aa was significantly reduced at 12 weeks. No statistically significant difference was seen when treatments were compared at 6 and 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: A comparable reduction in the level of the four periodontal pathogens assayed was achieved with Er:YAG laser debridement and mechanical scaling and root planing.

Proton pump inhibitors utilisation in older people in New Zealand from 2005 to 2013.

BACKGROUND: The prescriptions for proton pump inhibitors (PPI) to treat acid-related disorders continue to rise internationally and in New Zealand. Concerns have been raised regarding its widespread use, costs and potential adverse effects in older people. AIMS: This study aimed to characterise the utilisation of PPI by older people (aged 65 years and older) in New Zealand from 2005 to 2013. METHODS: Repeated cross-sectional analysis of population-level dispensing data was conducted from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2013. Dispensing data for all PPI prescriptions from 2005 to 2013 were obtained from the Ministry of Health, New Zealand. Utilisation was measured in defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 older people per day using the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology anatomic, therapeutic and chemical classification system. Utilisation was standardised by sex, age, ethnicity and district health board. RESULTS: Overall PPI utilisation showed a 26.7% increase from 2005 to 2013, from 273.41 to 346.53 DDD/1000/day. The greatest utilisation was observed in individuals aged between 80 and 84 years. Middle Eastern/Latin American/African utilised more PPI compared with other ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Utilisation of PPI among older people in New Zealand increased by a fifth from 2005 to 2013. Given the concerns surrounding the long-term PPI use in older people, the appropriateness of the increased utilisation needs to be continuously re-evaluated by prescribers and health policy makers.

Pathological features of witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest presenting with ventricular fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: To determine which characteristic pathological features are predictive of the presenting rhythm and survival in victims of community cardiac arrest. DESIGN: Case-controlled retrospective autopsy study. SETTING: County of Nottinghamshire with a total population of 993 914 and an area of 2183 square kilometers. SUBJECTS: Between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 1994, 1535 witnessed cardiac arrests attended by the Nottinghamshire Ambulance Service, of which 1083 had an autopsy performed. RESULTS: Ischaemic heart disease accounted for 72.3% of cases with a further 3.6% of deaths from other cardiac causes and the remainder from non-cardiac causes. Old healed myocardial infarction was present in 39.4%, and visible fresh occlusive thrombus was found in 23.8% of cases overall. Logistic regression analysis of deaths from cardiac causes revealed that younger age (odds ratio of 0.98 (95% CI 0.97-0.99)), two vessel coronary artery disease (odds ratio of 1.65 (95% CI 1.08-2.52)) and heart weight greater than 500 grams (odds ratio of 1.56 (95% CI 1.12-2.17)) were found to be independent predictors of developing ventricular fibrillation compared to other rhythms of arrest. Being male, visible occlusive thrombus and having survived a previous myocardial infarction were found not to be independent variables. There were no outstanding pathological features in the 31 patients who survived to hospital admission and subsequently died, compared with non-survivors who were considered to have died from a cardiac cause. CONCLUSIONS: Among those who had a witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest from a cardiac cause, increasing heart weight (the most likely cause of which is left ventricular hypertrophy), younger age and two vessel coronary artery disease appear to be much more important pathological features in the development of ventricular fibrillation than a previous myocardial infarction and fresh visible occlusive thrombus.

Geographical distribution of cardiac arrest in Nottinghamshire.

BACKGROUND: to analyse the incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Nottinghamshire; to ascertain its geographical distribution; and to determine whether the geography of coronary heart disease mortality and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are the same. METHODS AND RESULTS: population based, retrospective study in the County of Nottinghamshire with a total population of 993,914 in an area of 2183 km2 divided into 191 electoral areas. In the 4 years from 1 January, 1991 to 31 December, 1994, 1634 patients sustained a cardiac arrest attributed to a cardiac cause (International Classification of Diseases codes 390-414 and 420-429) and were attended by the Nottinghamshire Ambulance Service. The overall crude mean incidence rate of community cardiac arrest per electoral area was 40.2 per 100,000 population (range 0-121.2). Thirteen electoral areas, relatively deprived according to the Townsend score, had a significantly greater than expected incidence rate of cardiac arrest (median of 75.6/100,000 per electoral area; interquartile range (IQR) 65.3, 83.8). Twelve relatively affluent electoral areas had a significantly lower than expected incidence rate (median of 18.5/100,000 per area (IQR 13.0, 28.7). After adjusting for deprivation index, there were no differences in coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality and community cardiac arrest in urban and rural electoral areas. Apart from response times by ambulance crews, the events that follow the cardiac arrest such as bystander resuscitation, ventricular fibrillation found as the presenting rhythm and survival were similar in all electoral areas. CONCLUSIONS: increasing level of deprivation is associated with areas of increased incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Nottinghamshire, and the effect is apparently different from that on CHD mortality. There is scope for reducing incidence rates of community cardiac arrest and to introduce strategies to improve survival in areas identified as having high rates of community cardiac arrest.

Intraoperative stroke under epidural anesthesia for bipolar hemiarthroplasty in a patient with multiple myeloma: a case report.

A 56-yr-old, 58-kg woman with right femoral neck fracture underwent right bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Her medical problems included diabetes mellitus and multiple myeloma. Epidural anesthesia was performed uneventfully. No other drug except for local anesthetic (2% lidocaine) was administered during the procedure. Unfortunately, we "witnessed" the dramatically hemodynamic change of an intraoperative stroke, which was preceded by a hypotensive episode and followed by sustained hypertension. The stroke was presented with decreased level of consciousness initially and confirmed by the brain CT, which revealed acute infarction at the right middle cerebral artery territory, four days after the procedure. Multiple mechanisms such as intraoperative hypotensive episode and vascular atherosclerotic change due to poor controlled diabetes mellitus might be involved in the event. In the meanwhile, hyperviscosity (3.7 centipoise units of the patient v.s. 1.4-1.8 centipoise units of normal range) caused by multiple myeloma might also have contributed to the intraoperative stroke. Clinical presentation of this case will be discussed.

Optimal frequencies for magnetic acceleration of cytochrome oxidase and Na,K-ATPase reactions.

Low frequency magnetic fields increase the activity of the membrane enzymes, Na,K-ATPase and cytochrome oxidase, and the increased activity varies with frequency. Optimal frequencies for increases in the reaction rate constant of cytochrome oxidase and in the rate of splitting of ATP by Na,K-ATPase differ by an order of magnitude, and are in the ranges of the turnover numbers of the respective enzyme reactions. The two frequency dependence curves are similar in that the slope of the low frequency portion is about 10 times greater than the slope of the high frequency portion. The greater slope indicates greater ability to adjust quickly in the low frequency range, which may be significant for optimal biological control of activity.

Electromagnetic acceleration of electron transfer reactions.

The Moving Charge Interaction (MCI) model proposes that low frequency electromagnetic (EM) fields affect biochemical reactions through interaction with moving electrons. Thus, EM field activation of genes, and the synthesis of stress proteins, are initiated through EM field interaction with moving electrons in DNA. This idea is supported by studies showing that EM fields increase electron transfer rates in cytochrome oxidase. Also, in studies of the Na,K-ATPase reaction, estimates of the speed of the charges accelerated by EM fields suggest that they too are electrons. To demonstrate EM field effects on electron transfer in a simpler system, we have studied the classic oscillating Belousov--Zhabotinski (BZ) reaction. Under conditions where the BZ reaction oscillates at about 0.03 cycles/sec, a 60 Hz, 28 microT (280 mG) field accelerates the overall reaction. As observed in earlier studies, an increase in temperature accelerates the reaction and decreases the effect of EM fields on electron transfer. In all three reactions studied, EM fields accelerate electron transfer, and appear to compete with the intrinsic chemical forces driving the reactions. The MCI model provides a reasonable explanation of these observations.

Circadian variation in witnessed out of hospital cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect on circadian variation of out of hospital cardiac arrest according to the underlying aetiology and presenting rhythm of arrest, and to explore strategies that might help to improve survival outcome using circadian variation. DESIGN: Population based retrospective study. SETTING: County of Nottinghamshire with a total population of 993 914 and an area of 2183 km(2). SUBJECTS: Between 1 January 1991 and 3 December 1994, all witnessed cardiac arrests attended by the Nottinghamshire Ambulance Service, of which 1196 patients had a cardiac cause for their arrest (ICD, 9th revision, codes 390-414 and 420-429) and 339 had a non-cardiac cause. RESULTS: The circadian variation of the cardiac cases was not significantly different from that of non-cardiac cases (p = 0.587), even when adjusted for age, sex, or presenting rhythm of arrest. For cardiac cases, the circadian variation of those who presented with ventricular fibrillation was significantly different from those presenting with a rhythm other than ventricular fibrillation (p = 0.005), but was similar to the circadian variation of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (p = 0.306) and survivors (p = 0.542). Ambulance response time was also found to have a circadian variation. CONCLUSIONS: There is a common circadian variation of out of hospital cardiac arrest, irrespective of underlying aetiology, where the presenting rhythm is other than ventricular fibrillation. This is different from the circadian variation of cases of cardiac aetiology presenting with ventricular fibrillation. The circadian variation of ventricular fibrillation, and consequently survival, may be affected by the availability of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the speed of ambulance response.

Influences of tramadol on emergence characteristics from sevoflurane anesthesia in pediatric ambulatory surgery.

Sevoflurane is used for pediatric ambulatory surgery due to its low blood solubility, rapid emergence, non-pungency and low airway irritability. Nevertheless, its tendency to induce agitation during emergence may offset its benefits. The following study was designed to evaluate the effects of intravenous (i.v.) tramadol (1 mg/kg) on the emergence from sevoflurane anesthesia. Forty ASA I children, ranging from 1 to 8 years old, scheduled for inguinal surgery, were randomized into two groups (Group S--control group, Group ST--i.v. tramadol, 20 in each group). The patients were first premedicated with oral atropine (0.01 mg/kg), then anesthesia was induced with i.v. application of thiamylal (3-4 mg/kg) and maintained with mask anesthesia with sevoflurane. Topical infiltration with 2-3 ml of 1% lidocaine was applied over skin incision area. I.v. tramadol (1 mg/kg) was given before the end of operation in Group ST. The emergence agitation was recorded on a visual analog scale (VAS, 0-10) by a blinded anesthesiologist in the PACU (postoperative anesthesia care unit), as well as the length of other recovery stages and complications after anesthesia. The age, weight, gender, and duration of surgery and anesthesia were similar in the two groups. The emergence agitation score (6.3 +/- 3.5 vs. 3.2 +/- 2.8, P < 0.05), incidences of agitation (VAS > 5, 55% vs 20%, P < 0.05), and postoperative pain (65% vs 30%, P < 0.05) were higher for the control group. I.v. Tramadol (1 mg/kg) before the end of operation reduced postoperative pain and the incidence and degree of emergence agitation from sevoflurane anesthesia in pediatric ambulatory surgery.

[The so-called megaureter-megacystis syndrome: a case report].

We encountered a patient with megaureter-megacystis syndrome showing a giant bladder and dilated ureters with marked reflux, which is very rare; to our knowledge, only 2 patients have been reported in Japan. The patient was a 4-year-old boy, who showed inborn polyposia and polyuria, and proteinuria at the age of 1 year. He visited the pediatric department in our hospital complaining of cold-like symptoms, stomachache and diarrhea. Urinary infection and kidney dysfunction were observed, and the patient was hospitalized for close examination. Bilateral pyelocaliceal hydronephrosis was detected by ultrasonography, and the patient was referred to our department. CT revealed bilateral hydronephrosis (right atrophic kidney), hydroureters and megacystis. Bilateral grade V vesicoureteral reflux, an increase in the bladder volume (> 300 ml), and urination without residual urine were noted by voiding cystourethrography. Uroflowmetry revealed that maximum flow rate was 21.6 ml/sec, voided volume was 110 ml, and residual volume was 24 ml. From these examinations, the patient was diagnosed as having megaureter-megacystis syndrome, and underwent antireflux operation of the bilateral ureters using Cohen's procedures.

Influence of ambulance crew's length of experience on the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

AIMS: To investigate whether an ambulance crew's length of experience affected the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a population-based, retrospective observational study of attempted resuscitations in 1547 consecutive arrests of cardiac aetiology by Nottinghamshire Emergency Ambulance Service crew. One thousand and seventy-one patients were managed by either a paramedic or a technician crew without assistance from other trained individuals at the scene of arrest. Overall, the chances of a patient surviving to be discharged from hospital alive did not appear to be affected by the paramedic's length of experience (among survivors, 18 months experience vs non-survivors 16 months experience, P = 0.347) but there appears to be a trend in the effect of a technician's length of experience on survival (among survivors, 60 months experience vs non-survivors 28 months experience, P = 0.075). However, when a technician had 4 years of experience or more and a paramedic 1 year's experience, survival rates did improve. Logistic regression analysis, adjusted for factors known to influence outcome, revealed that chances of survival increased once technicians had over 4 years of experience after qualification (odds ratio 2.71, 95% CI 1.17 to 6.32, P = 0.02) and paramedics after just 1 year of experience (odds ratio 2.68, 95% CI 1.05 to 6.82, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest varies with the type of ambulance crew and length of experience after qualification. Experience in the field seems important as paramedics achieve better survival rates after just 1 year's experience, while technicians need to have more than 4 years' experience to improve survival.

Resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: is survival dependent on who is available at the scene?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is influenced by the on-scene availability of different grades of ambulance personnel and other health professionals. DESIGN: Population based, retrospective, observational study. SETTING: County of Nottinghamshire with a population of one million. SUBJECTS: All 2094 patients who had resuscitation attempted by Nottinghamshire Ambulance Service crew from 1991 to 1994; study of 1547 patients whose arrest were of cardiac aetiology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival to hospital admission and survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS: Overall survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest remains poor: 221 patients (14.3%) survived to reach hospital alive and only 94 (6.1%) survived to be discharged from hospital. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the chances of those resuscitated by technician crew reaching hospital alive were poor but were greater when paramedic crew were either called to assist technicians or dealt with the arrest themselves (odds ratio 6.9 (95% confidence interval 3.92 to 26.61)). Compared to technician crew, survival to hospital discharge was only significantly improved with paramedic crew (3.55 (1.62 to 7.79)) and further improved when paramedics were assisted by either a health professional (9.91 (3.12 to 26.61)) or a medical practitioner (20.88 (6.72 to 64.94)). CONCLUSIONS: Survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest remains poor despite attendance at the scene of the arrest by ambulance crew and other health professionals. Patients resuscitated by a paramedic from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by cardiac disease were more likely to survive to hospital discharge than when resuscitation was provided by an ambulance technician. Resuscitation by a paramedic assisted by a medical practitioner offers a patient the best chances of surviving the event.

The place of general practitioners in the management of out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

BACKGROUND: The involvement of general practitioners in community based resuscitation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has been found to be effective in improving survival rates. The aim of the study was to assess the potential for including general practitioners in Nottinghamshire in the resuscitation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims by first determining whether they had the skill, experience and equipment to provide cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in the community; and second to ascertain what proportion of them would be prepared to establish a 'rapid response' scheme for patients requiring resuscitation. METHODS: A postal questionnaire survey, between March and April 1997, of all 738 general practitioners in Nottinghamshire who serve, in total, a population of 1 million. RESULTS: A total of 592 general practitioners (80%) responded to our survey. The majority worked in a predominantly urban environment and carried out their own out-of-hours on-call duties. Of them 93% had previous experience in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (median of 3 years), while 72.1% had experience of advanced life support, including use of a defibrillator but not recently (median of 8 years). General practitioners in rural practices were more likely to be trained in advanced life support (ALS), had more recent experience in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (including defibrillation) and were more willing to be involved in any proposed local resuscitation scheme. Only 9% of general practitioners carried a defibrillator when on-call and only 13% had access to a defibrillator within their practice premises. Of the general practitioners surveyed 349 (59%) reported a willingness to participate in a 'rapid response cardiac arrest' scheme and general practitioners who had no formal advanced life support training were as willing to become involved in such a scheme as those who were trained in ALS. CONCLUSIONS: General practitioners may have an important role to play in improving the survival outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest as many are ALS trained and have recent experience in resuscitation. However, few have access to a defibrillator and many do not have recent experience of defibrillation. Any proposed local resuscitation scheme would be particularly applicable to rural general practitioners as many have recent training in ALS, recent experience in advanced life support and most of all, are more willing to participate in such a scheme.

Natural occurrence of mycotoxins in Fusarium infected beans.

This is the first report on the discovery of several mycotoxins in naturally infected mouldy navy beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with distinct whitish grey to pink discoloration. Species of Fusarium isolated from the mouldy beans included F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum, F. solani and two Fusarium spp. Three types of bean samples were analysed for mycotoxins: (a) health beans without any apparent discoloration, (b) beans with pink discoloration, and (c) a mixture of beans with whitish grey and pink discoloration. The results indicated that diacetoxyscripenol (DAS), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) were present in type B and C samples but not in the healthy type A samples. Quantification of DAS, DON, and T-2 and of FB1 were achieved by gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The results showed that DAS, DON, T-2 and FB1 were not evident in the healthy samples, but in type B and type C samples, DAS, DON, T-2 and FB1 in the amounts of 9.2, 6.5, 5.5 and 0.5 microgram/g, and of 3.3, 3.1, 13.5 and 1.1 micrograms/g, respectively, were detected. Further research is under way to determine which species of Fusarium is responsible for the production of specific toxins.

Comparison of the profiles of seedborne fungi and the occurrence of aflatoxins in mould-damaged beans and soybeans.

The average percentage of fungal infection in twenty bean and soybean lots was determined by visual inspection (24.5 and 16.8%, respectively), and by laboratory isolation (58.5 and 33.7%), respectively. The mycoflora were more diverse in bean than soybean. Bean was more susceptible to fungal infection than soybean under similar environmental and cultural conditions. The most frequently isolated fungal genera for bean and soybean were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Eurotium and Curvularia. Aflatoxins were not detected in the non-infected beans and soybeans, but aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1 and G2) were detected in the infected beans but not in the infected soybeans. The absence of aflatoxin in the fungal infected soybeans is discussed.

Production of fumonisin B1 and B 2 byFusarium moniliforme isolated from Korean corn kerneis for feed.

The natural occurrence of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2), a promoter for hepatocarcinogenesis, was investigated in Korean corn kernels for feed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. From the 12 corn kernel samples, FB1 was detected in 5 samples at levels ranging from 53 to 1327ng/g, while FB2 was found in 4 samples from 69 to 680ng/g. In the positive samples, the average concentrations of FB1 and FB2 were 506 and 288ng/g, respectively. One sample (No. K3) showed the highest FB1 and FB2 contents as 1327 and 680ng/g, respectively.In the micrological survey on 5 positive samples for FB1 and FB2, 6 strains ofFusarium monlliforme were isolated, and all these isolates had a producibility of FB1 and FB1, with maximum levels of 80.7 to 180.9 g/g.Thisis the first report on the natural co-contamination of FB1 and FB2 in Korean corn kernels for feed, and on the ability ofF. moniliforme isolated from corn kernels for feed in Korea to produce FB1 and FB2.