Development and characterization of sustainable active pectin films: The role of choline chloride/glycerol-based natural deep eutectic solvent and lavender extracts.

This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of choline chloride: glycerol-based natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) as a plasticizer, NADES extract (NADESext) of lavender as both plasticizer and active ingredient, as well as the lyophilized extract (LE) of lavender at different concentrations (0.5 %, 1 %, and 2 %) on the physical, mechanical, optical, thermal, barrier, morphological, and antioxidant properties of pectin films. The properties of the films were compared to those of the neat pectin film and the film plasticized with glycerol. The addition of plasticizers and LE increased thickness, water vapor permeability, and elongation at break values of the films while decreasing tensile strength and young modulus. Pectin films plasticized with glycerol, NADES, and NADESext had a similar color property but a lower opacity. The use of LE decreased lightness and increased opacity compared to the films with plasticizers. The addition of plasticizers revealed a smoother surface than neat pectin film while LE triggered the formation of agglomerates on the films. Changes in the FTIR spectra of the films showed some interactions between pectin and polyphenols in LE. The plasticizers had an insignificant effect on the antioxidant capacity of films whereas LE improved antioxidant capacity depending on the concentration. In conclusion, the results suggested that pectin films with NADES and LE could be beneficially used to improve antioxidant packaging technology along with acceptable mechanical properties.

Identification and characterization of lytic bacteriophages specific to foodborne pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7.

The objective of this study was to identify and characterize five different lytic bacteriophages specific to Escherichia coli O157:H7. vB_EcoM-P12, vB_EcoM-P13, vB_EcoM-P23, and vB_EcoM-P34 phages belonged to the Myoviridae family and vB_EcoS-P24 phage was in the Siphoviridae family. Their plaque sizes changed between 0.48 ± 0.03 and 0.90 ± 0.03 mm in diameter. stx1 and stx2 virulent gene regions were absent in the genome of five Eco-phages and their genome size was 33 kbp. The protein band profiles of the five phages were found to be different from each other. Their latent period, burst size, and burst time changed between 10-15 min, 72-144 PFU/cell and 20-35 min, respectively. Multiplicity of infection values and mutant frequency of the phages were among 0.1-0.001 and 1.14 × 10-7-3.69 × 10-8, respectively. The phages had strong lytic activity against their host bacteria (E. coli NCTC 12900, ATCC 43888, and ATCC 35150) at 5-37 ℃ and adsorbed to their host cells by 92.7-97.5% in the first five minutes of incubation. These phages are thought to be good candidates as therapeutic and biocontrol agents against E. coli O157:H7 in the veterinary science and food industry due to short latent period, high burst size, rapid development in host cells, high lytic activity, high adsorption rate, stability over a wide pH range and high temperature, and absence of stx1 and stx2 genes.

A novel diagnostic tool for the detection of bladder cancer: Measurement of urinary high mobility group box-1.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of urinary High Mobility Group Box-1 (HMGB1) level as a noninvasive tool that can be potentially used for diagnosis and during follow-up in patients with bladder cancer patients. METHOD: The study was conducted in a total of 121 participants including 61 patients diagnosed with primary bladder cancer, 30 patients with an acute urinary tract infection and 30 healthy controls. Age, gender and urinary HMGB1 levels of the study groups were evaluated. The association of clinical features (tumor diameter, number of foci, pathological grade, muscle invasion) with urinary HMGB1 levels was investigated in patients with bladder cancer. RESULTS: All 3 groups showed a normal age and gender distribution with no significant difference among them (P = 0.775 and P = 0.967, respectively). A significant difference was detected in urinary HMGB1 levels among the 3 groups (P < 0.001). When urinary HMGB1 levels were compared between patients with high grade vs. low grade tumors, the mean HMGB1 level was 44.39 pg/ml (12.1-505.2) in patients with low grade tumors and 280 pg/ml (18.7-2685.3) in patients with high grade tumors (P < 0.001). Patients with a greater number of tumor foci had higher HMGB1 levels in comparison to patients with a single tumor focus (P = 0.008). Urinary HMGB1 levels were higher in patients with a tumor diameter of ≥3 cm than in patients with a tumor diameter less than 3 cm (P = 0.001). Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer exhibited higher urinary HMGB1 levels compared to patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (P = 0.033). The cut-off values derived from the ROC analysis were 63.30 pg/ml for distinguishing bladder cancer from urinary tract infection, 30.94 pg/ml for urinary tract infection versus control group and 38.70 pg/ml for bladder cancer vs. control group, respectively. Sensitivity was 59% and specificity was found 77%. CONCLUSION: In future controlled studies involving larger patient groups, urinary HMGB1 levels can be used for diagnostic and screening purposes in bladder cancer patients.

Characterization of SE-P3, P16, P37, and P47 bacteriophages infecting Salmonella Enteritidis.

The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the SE-P3, P16, P37, and P47 phages infecting Salmonella Enteritidis. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the SE phages belonged to the Myoviridae or Siphoviridae family and had plaque sizes between 0.622 ± 0.027 and 1.630 ± 0.036 mm in diameter. sefC, pefA, spvC, sopE, and gipA virulent gene regions were absent in their genome and their calculated genome sizes were between 35.9 and 37.8 kbp. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the protein profiles of each phage were different. The SE phages had a short latent period (10-20 min), large burst size (76-356 PFU/cell), and a short burst time (25-35 min). The multiplicity of infection values and mutant frequency of the phages were 0.01-0.0001 and 10-7 , respectively. They were very infective against their host bacteria when applied at 20°C, 30°C, or 37°C and adsorbed to their host cells by 96.20-97.65% in the first 5 min of incubation, and also Ca2+ ions did not have a significant effect on their adsorption. The SE phages were resistant to wide pH ranges and high temperatures. These results indicate that the SE phages are good candidates as therapeutic and biocontrol agents against foodborne pathogenic S. Enteritidis.

Inhibitory effect of bacteriocins against Escherichia coli O157:H7.

The purpose of this study was to explore the activity of bacteriocin enterocin KP and lactococcin BZ against Escherichia coli O157:H7, a Gram-negative foodborne pathogen, in ultra-high temperature (UHT) milks with different fat ratios. Enterocin KP and lactococcin BZ were produced from two bacteriocinogenic strains, isolated in previous studies from White cheese and Boza. Full fat (3.0%), half fat (1.5%), and low fat (<0.1% fat) UHT milks inoculated with 102, 104, and 106 CFU/ml of E. coli O157:H7 were treated with different concentrations (400, 800, 1600, and 2500 AU/ml) of lactococcin BZ, enterocin KP, or a combination of both and stored at 4 or 20 ℃ for 20 days. The survival of E. coli O157:H7 was determined at both storage temperatures during the storage period of 20 days. Lactococcin BZ and enterocin KP had a bactericidal impact on E. coli O157:H7 in all UHT milk samples either separately or in combination. However, antibacterial activity of the bacteriocins decreased with increasing fat content of milk and inoculum levels of bacterium. The results of this study indicate that lactococcin BZ and enterocin KP may be useful candidates either separately or in combination as biopreservatives for use in the dairy industry to control the growth of pathogenic microorganisms.

Isolation of lytic bacteriophages infecting Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis.

The objectives of this study were to isolate, purify and determine host range of lytic bacteriophages infecting foodborne the pathogen Salmonella Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. River/stream water, sewage, raw foods, wastewater from food processing plants, slaughterhouse and fish farms and water from troughs were used for the screening of bacteriophages. The richest sources in terms of phages infecting S. Typhimurium and Enteritidis were found to be sewage, wastewaters of slaughterhouse, food processing and fisheries and streams. A total of 33 S. Typhimurium and 56 S. Enteritidis phages were isolated and purified from the samples. It was demostrated that host ranges of the isolated phages were quite wide. The numbers of bacteria types inhibited by S. Typhimurium or Enteritidis phages were changed among 1-15 and 1-19, respectively. It was found that 75.8% (25 out of 33) and 83.93% (47 out of 56) of isolated S. Typhimurium or Enteritidis phages formed clear plaques and were capable of lysing at least six or two Salmonella serovars. Beside Salmonella serovars, some S. Typhimurium (15 out of 33, 45.5%) and S. Enteritidis phages (5 out of 56, 8.93%) were also infective against E. coli strains. The host ranges of S. Typhimurium phages were wider than those of S. Enteritidis.

Inhibitory Effect of Lactococcin BZ Against Listeria innocua and Indigenous Microbiota of Fresh Beef.

In this study, the effect of lactococcin BZ on microbiological quality of fresh beef is investigated. For this purpose, the meat samples were treated with various amounts of lactococcin BZ (200-2500 AU/mL), a bacteriocin produced by Lactococcus lactis spp. lactis BZ, and kept at 4-5 °C for 12 days. During storage, the microbiological properties of the meat samples with or without lactococcin BZ were determined. Inhibitory effect of lactococcin BZ depended on its amount. The higher the amount of lactococcin BZ, the higher the inhibitory activity. Treatment with lactococcin BZ at the level of 2500 AU/mL resulted in 4.87, 3.50 and 3.94 log cycle decrease in the counts of mesophilic, psychrotrophic and lactic acid bacteria, respectively, and 1.90·104 and 1.04·102 CFU/g reduction in coliform and faecal coliform bacteria, respectively, at the end of storage as compared to their initial numbers in the control sample. However, the counts of these bacteria in control samples increased during storage. Also, lactococcin BZ at 1600 AU/mL showed very strong antilisterial effect against Listeria innocua in fresh meat and reduced the cell numbers from 6.04 log CFU/g to undetectable level on the 6th day of storage. In conclusion, lactococcin BZ has a potential use as a biopreservation agent to improve safety and shelf life of raw beef.

Bedside sonographic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter as a predictor of intracranial pressure in ED.

BACKGROUND: Ocular ultrasonography of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) to determine intracranial pressure (ICP) has become favorable in recent years. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the efficacy of ONSD measurement in determining the ICP increase due to nontraumatic events in the emergency department. METHODS: A total of 100 patients with suspected nontraumatic intracranial event were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients were divided equally into 2 groups including 50 patients as group I with pathology on cranial computed tomography (CT) and group II with normal cranial CT. Prior to CT scans, patients underwent ONSD measurement by a radiologist using 11- and 14-MHz transducers. RESULTS: The ONSD values of groups I and II were 5.4±1.1and 4.1±0.5mm, respectively. Optic nerve sheath diameter was found to be larger on the side of lesion in patients with a lesion (P<.05). The cutoff value of the difference between ONSD values of both eyes in the presence of pathology was determined as 0.45 (sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 60%; the area under the curve, 0.794; 95% confidence interval, 0.705-0.883). The between-ONSD and midline shift size was statistically significant (r=0.366, P=.009). The cutoff value of ONSD for the detection of midline shift was determined as 5.3mm (sensitivity, 70%; specificity, 74%; the area under the curve, 0.728; 95% confidence interval, 0.585-0.871). CONCLUSION: Optic nerve sheath diameter measurement via bedside ocular ultrasonography in patients with suspected intracranial event in the emergency department is a useful method to determine ICP increase and its severity.

Enterocin HZ produced by a wild Enterococcus faecium strain isolated from a traditional, starter-free pickled cheese.

Bacteriogenic Enterococcus faecium HZ was identified by using biochemical (Strep-API 20, API-50 CHL, fatty acid profile) and 16S rRNA analysis (99·99 %). Ent. faecium HZ was sensitive to clinically important antibiotics such as vancomycin, and did not have gelatinase and haemolysis activities. Enterocin HZ, a bacteriocin from Ent. faecium HZ, was sensitive to papain and tyripsin, but resistant to pepsin, lipase, catalase, α-amylase, organic solvents, detergents, ß-mercaptoethanol, and heat treatment (90 °C/30 min). It was biologically active at pH 2·0-9·0 and synthesised at the highest level in MRS or M17 broth at 32 or 37 °C with an inoculum amount of 0·1-0·5 % and an initial pH of 6·0-7·0. Enterocin HZ production reached maximum level at middle and late logarithmic phase and its molecular weight was ∼4·5 kDa. It was active against some Gram-positive foodborne bacteria. Ent. faecium HZ or its bacteriocin enterocin HZ is a good candidate to be studied as a food biopreservative since enterocin HZ showed strong bactericidal activity against Listeria monocytogenes in UHT milk and also Ent. faecium HZ grew very well in milk and produced enterocin HZ at maximum level.

[The prevention of home accidents among children aged 0-6 years]. / 0-6 yas grubu çocuklarda ev kazalarinin önlenmesi.

BACKGROUND: Research was carried out to train families with children between the ages of 0-6 years regarding home accidents and how to make their homes safer. METHODS: Five hundred and sixty-three people who exhibited potential trainer qualities and who dealt directly children aged 0-6 years and their families were trained. Trainers applied a home accident safety test to 5117 mothers. Each trainer interviewed 10 mothers with children aged 0-6 years, and a short training was provided and brochures were delivered. Home accident safety products were distributed to 500 homes with low home accident safety scores, and these homes were evaluated regarding the usage of the products. RESULTS: A significant difference was found between pretest-posttest average scores of trainers. The average score on the home accident safety test was 75.50 ± 8.22 before the distribution of home accident safety products, and this increased to 90.50 ± 7.77 after the distribution of those products, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Training the families on risk factors and ways of making their homes safer could be recommended to protect children aged 0-6 years from home accidents.

Mode of action of lactococcin R produced by Lactococcus lactis R.

We investigated the mode of action and factors affecting adsorption of lactoccocin R produced by Lactococcus lactis R. It was found that lactococcin R adsorbed to all Gram-positive but not to the Gram-negative bacteria tested and its adsorption was dependent on pH. It was observed that the binding of lactococcin R was prevented by anions of several salts (Cl-, PO4(-3)) and lipoteichoic acid. Pretreatments of sensitive cells and cell walls with detergents, organic solvents or enzymes did not reduce subsequent binding of lactococcin R. However, treatment of cell wall preparations with methanol:chloroform and hot 20% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) caused such walls to lose their ability to adsorb lactococcin R. Sensitive cells treated with lactococcin R lost high amounts of intracellular K+ ions, UV-absorbing materials and became more permeable to o-nitrophenol-beta-D-glactopyranoside (ONPG). In addition, different lactococcin R concentrations (0-2560 AU/mL) decreased the colony counts of Listeria monocytogenes by 99% and also a reduction in the absorbance values. These results show that the mode of action of lactococcin R is bactericidal rather than bacteriostatic.

Factors affecting the adsorption of buchnericin LB, a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus [correction of Lactocobacillus] buchneri.

Buchnericin-LB adsorbs to gram-positive but not to gram-negative bacteria. The tested gram-positive bacteria were species of Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, Listeria, Bacillus, Staphylococcus; gram-negative bacteria belonged to the genera Salmonella, Escherichia, Yersinia and Pseudomonas. Buchnericin-LB adsorption depended on pH but not on time and temperature. Also some anions of salts and lipoteichoic acid reduced or inhibited its adsorption. Treatment of cells and cell walls of sensitive bacteria with detergents, organic solvents or enzymes did not affect subsequent binding of buchnericin-LB. Treatment with buchnericin-LB caused sensitive cells to lose high amounts of intracellular K+ ions and UV-absorbing materials and became more permeable to o-nitrophenol-beta-D-galactopyranoside. Buchnericin-LB (640-2560 AU/ml) decreased the colony forming units (99%) and absorbance values of Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus. These results indicate that the mode of action of buchnericin-LB is bactericidal and its lethal effect is very rapid.