Robert is a 22-year-old who ate some of his aunt sophie's canned tomatoes for dinner last night. this morning, his speech is slurred and he is having trouble standing or walking, so his brother rushes him to emergency room. the doctor tells robert that he probably has botulism, a type of food poisoning. the toxin produced by this bacterium prevents the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. explain how robert's symptoms are related to the effects of the toxin.

The nurse in a gynecology clinic is completing preoperative teaching for a patient scheduled for an abdominal hysterectomy next week. the patient states that she is currently taking 325 mg of aspirin daily for chronic joint pain, along with multivitamin. the patient has type 2 diabetes; she closely monitors her blood glucose levels. currently she is taking an oral hypoglycemic agent. the nurse advises her to ask the anesthesiologist whether she should take this medication the morning of surgery. q1. the nurse instructs the patient to stop taking the aspirin. what is the rationale for this action. q2. why is it important to assess the patient of use of herbal products prior to surgery. q3. the patient asks how surgery could affect her blood glucose; how should the nurse respond?