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BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to detect the presence of different mycotoxigenic Aspergillus species in major food grains from southern states of India, namely maize, paddy, groundnut and sorghum. A total of 200 isolates recovered from 320 grain samples from four southern states were tested for their toxin chemotypes using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. The diversity and distribution of the isolates were recorded in terms of their frequency, density, importance value index and diversity indices. RESULTS Among the different grain samples tested, 83% of groundnut, 69% of maize, 57% of sorghum and 29% of paddy samples had aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) levels above the allowed limit, while 82% of maize, 70% of sorghum, 42% of paddy and 17% of groundnut samples had ochratoxin A (OTA) concentrations higher than the permitted threshold (5 µg kg−1). CONCLUSION Since the southern states of India are temperate regions, environmental factors, especially temperature and relative humidity, may be responsible for the high levels of mycotoxins present in the grains studied. Therefore there is a need to generate awareness among farmers and consumers about the possible adverse health effects of high levels of mycotoxins present in different food grains. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

The aim of this study was to detect the presence of different mycotoxigenic Aspergillus species in major food grains from southern states of India, namely maize, paddy, groundnut and sorghum. A total of 200 isolates recovered from 320 grain samples from four southern states were tested for their toxin chemotypes using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. The diversity and distribution of the isolates were recorded in terms of their frequency, density, importance value index and diversity indices.Among the different grain samples tested, 83% of groundnut, 69% of maize, 57% of sorghum and 29% of paddy samples had aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) levels above the allowed limit, while 82% of maize, 70% of sorghum, 42% of paddy and 17% of groundnut samples had ochratoxin A (OTA) concentrations higher than the permitted threshold (5 µg kg⁻¹).Since the southern states of India are temperate regions, environmental factors, especially temperature and relative humidity, may be responsible for the high levels of mycotoxins present in the grains studied. Therefore there is a need to generate awareness among farmers and consumers about the possible adverse health effects of high levels of mycotoxins present in different food grains.

Catalytic iron (CI) mediates vascular injury by generating reactive oxygen species. We evaluated role of CI in predicting mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and studied association of contrast nephropathy with CI levels.We investigated 806 patients with ACS undergoing contrast exposure for a cardiac procedure who were followed up for 30 days.Overall mortality was 1.6% at 30 days. Catalytic iron at baseline predicted mortality with CI levels significantly higher in those who died, 0.45 μmol/L (0.37, 0.68) compared with survivors 0.31 μmol/L (0.21, 0.40); P = .004. Catalytic iron was associated with increased risk of death in the highest quartile compared with lower 3 quartiles (hazard ratio 7.88, P = .001) after adjustment for age, diabetes, ST deviation, Killip class, ejection fraction, baseline creatinine, hemoglobin level, and troponin. Fifty-five patients (6.8%) developed contrast nephropathy. Patients with contrast nephropathy had a 27% increase in median CI levels from baseline up to 48 hours compared with a marginal 2.9% increase in those without contrast nephropathy (0.37, 0.14 μmol/L to 0.47, 0.20 μmol/L versus 0.35, 0.12 μmol/L to 0.36, 0.14 μmol/L, P.0001). Patients with contrast nephropathy had significantly higher mortality compared with those without contrast nephropathy (9.1% vs 1.1%, P = .001).High baseline CI levels predicted mortality in patients with ACS. Occurrence of contrast nephropathy was associated with rise in CI levels and higher mortality. Therapeutic options to buffer or chelate CI may have beneficial effects on mortality in this setting.

Nel corso del 2000 è stato avviato, nell’ASL della Provincia di Varese, lo screening mammografico per tutte le donne residenti, di età compresa tra i 50 - 69 anni. In questo lavoro si valuta sinteticamente l’andamento dello screening dal 1° di gennaio 2001 fino al 31 dicembre 2002.L’avvio dello screening è stato graduale, iniziando con alcuni comuni della Provincia, fino ad arrivare al coinvolgimento di tutti i 141 comuni.La popolazione bersaglio è risultata essere di 109.607 donne. Nel primo anno sono state invitate 35.161 donne, nel secondo 49.709, con un aumento degli inviti pari al 41,4%.La popolazione rispondente, nel corso del 2001, è stata di 12.992 donne, nel 2002 di 22.590 donne, con un aumento della risposta pari al 73,9 %.L’adesione corretta al programma di screening è passatadal 41,2 % nel 2001 al 54,7 % nel 2002 e il tasso di identificazione (Detection Rate) dal 4,8 ‰ al 5,3 ‰.Sta per iniziare il secondo round del programma di screening. In previsione di questa fase, sulla base dell’esperienza maturata nel primo round, dovranno essere aggiornati le linee guida, il piano di fattibilità e implementato il sistema di controllo di qualità di tutte le componenti del programma (ruolo di gestione e di coordinamento dell’ASL, esecuzione delle prestazioni da parte degli enti erogatori, flussi informativi, comunicazione e formazione di tutto il personale dedicato).