Extruded starter compound feeds for clarid catfish

Industrial fish-breeding is a promising trend for freshwater aquaculture development. The production of clarid catfish in Kazakhstan has advantages over traditionally grown fish species (trout, sturgeon) due to their valuable edible qualities. Clarid catfish grows very quickly even at high seeding densities, is undemanding to the environment, resistant to diseases, and effectively assimilates food. When growing clarid catfish in water recycling systems it is possible to refuse using oxygen equipment, because the fish species can use atmospheric air for breathing. As a result, the construction of such plants can save up to 40% of capital investments. In the course of the research, the physiological nutritional requirements of clarid catfish juveniles were established. Based on the data obtained there have been developed two extruded starter compound feed recipes for clarid catfish juveniles containing protein/fat 53.5 : 11.4 and 61.85 : 5.82 and energy exchange energy value varying within 16.46 - 17.12 MJ/kg. There have been conducted the production tests on assessing the efficiency of the developed compound feed and their intake by larvae and clarid catfish fry in the fish farms of “Kapshagayskoye NVH-1973”, LLP and “HalykBalyk”, LLP. The feed Aller Agua (Denmark) served as a control feed for comparing the nutritional and consumer qualities of the developed feed for trout. The determined feeding ratio of the developed feed did not exceed 0.93 units, it was insignificantly inferior to the import feed. The fry survival rate made 76% when using both the control and developed feed. The compound feeds for clarid catfish juveniles were developed by extruding, which allowed to obtain increased digestibility, water resistance and extended storage life. Introducing these feeds into the fish breeding practice will help to increase the efficiency of clarid catfish fry growth and expand opportunities of aquaculture facilities.

Why is medical oxygen a challenge for people travelling by air?

There are currently 3.5 million people in Europe who require medical oxygen, and as life expectancies increase, this figure is likely to grow. At the same time, air travel is becoming more accessible to a wider range of people, as costs of flights fall, and airlines and airports make improvements to the accessibility of their services.People who need medical oxygen to fly experience a wide range of difficulties when planning to travel by plane, and sometimes during or after the flight.A European Commission Regulation (EC No 1107/2006) sets the standard for airlines when it comes to making air travel accessible, but healthcare professionals and oxygen providers can both help patients to navigate the various requirements for using medical oxygen when travelling.In this review, we discuss the journey of the patient planning to travel by air, from initial consultation and fit-to-fly test, through to planning their air travel and oxygen supply, travelling, and arriving at their destination. We also highlight some common problems at each stage and suggest points for healthcare professionals to discuss with patients.Key pointsPatients who require medical oxygen for air travel should begin planning their trip as far in advance as possible.It is very advantageous for healthcare professionals to be able to advise patients on travelling with oxygen and what they need to do.Requirements and policies can vary greatly between airlines, causing problems for patients who are trying to book their flights.Patients or their carers need to be confident operating their oxygen equipment, as the stress of travel and lack of medical assistance on an airplane can put them at risk.Careful arrangements need to be made by the patient to make sure that they have the correct oxygen therapy at their destination, and can access support if they need it.Educational aimsTo understand the process and potential challenges for a patient who requires oxygen to travel by plane.To be confident in discussing air travel with patients who are affected by lung disease.

Providing oxygen to children and newborns: a multi-faceted technical and clinical assessment of oxygen access and oxygen use in secondary-level hospitals in southwest Nigeria

Background Oxygen is an essential medical therapy that is poorly available globally. We evaluated the quality of oxygen therapy in 12 secondary-level Nigerian hospitals, including access to oxygen equipment, equipment functionality, healthcare worker knowledge and appropriateness of use. Methods We conducted a three-part evaluation of oxygen access and use involving: (1) facility assessment (including technical evaluation of oxygen equipment), (2) clinical audit (children and neonates admitted January 2014–December 2015) and (3) survey of healthcare worker training and experience on the clinical use of oxygen (November 2015). Results Oxygen access for children and newborns is compromised by faulty equipment, lack of pulse oximetry and inadequate care practices. One hospital used pulse oximetry for paediatric care. Eleven hospitals had some access to oxygen supplies. Testing of 57 oxygen concentrators revealed two (3.5%) that were ‘fit for use’. Overall, 14.4% (3708/25 677) of children and neonates received oxygen some time during their admission; 19.4% (1944/10 000) of hypoxaemic children received oxygen; 38.5% (1217/3161) of children who received oxygen therapy were not hypoxaemic. Conclusions Oxygen access for children in Nigerian hospitals is poor, and likely results in substantial excess mortality. To improve oxygen access for children globally we must focus on actual provision of oxygen to patients—not simply the presence of oxygen equipment at the facility level. This requires a systematic approach to improve both oxygen (access [including equipment, maintenance and affordability]) and oxygen use (including pulse oximetry, guidelines and continuing education).

Emergency medical services oxygen equipment: a fomite for transmission of MRSA?

ObjectivesThe primary purpose of this study was to determine if methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was present on the surface of oxygen cylinders and regulators used in the prehospital setting and secondarily to assess other surfaces for MRSA within the ambulance compartment, as a comparison.MethodsOn 17 March 2018, the surface of oxygen cylinders and regulators located in ambulances at an emergency medical services (EMS) station in North Alabama (n=9) and at an offsite oxygen cylinder storage area (n=70) were swabbed using sterile cotton-tipped applicators saturated in an 0.9% NaCl solution. These cotton-tipped applicators were then streaked across the surface of HardyCHROM MRSA plates, followed by incubation at 36°C for 24 hours. The growth of pink or magenta colonies was considered a positive indication for the presence of MRSA. The motivation for assessing oxygen cylinders at the offsite storage area was to outline the persistence of MRSA on stored oxygen cylinders.ResultsOf nine oxygen cylinders tested in the ambulances, nine had MRSA colonisation (100%). MRSA was also present on 67 of 70 oxygen cylinders (96%) tested at the offsite oxygen cylinder storage area.ConclusionOxygen cylinders appear to act as a fomite for MRSA. The development of universal disinfection protocols for oxygen equipment could help reduce the risk of patient infection due to cross-contamination.