Measurement of Dysprosium Stark Width and the Electron Impact Width Parameter.

In this work, we suggest a methodology to determine the impact parameter for neutral dysprosium emission lines from the characterization of the plasma generated by laser ablation in a sealed chamber filled with argon. The procedure is a combination of known consistent spectroscopic methods for plasma temperature determination, electron density, and species concentration. With an electron density of 3.1 × 1018 cm-3 and temperature close to 104 K, we estimated the impact electron parameter for nine spectral lines of the neutral dysprosium atom. The gaps in the impact parameter data in the literature, mainly for heavy elements, stress the importance of the proposed method.

Is bupropion useful in the treatment of post-stroke thalamic apathy? A case report and considerations.

Post-stroke apathy is considered to be one of the clinical consequences of lesions affecting the structures of the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and limbic system. However, there is no current consensus on the treatment of post-stroke apathy, which mainly depends on the underlying etiology and comorbidities. A 62-year-old man, affected by hemorrhagic stroke in the left thalamus, presented with mood depression, anhedonia, hyporexia and marked apathy. The patient underwent clinical evaluation before and after receiving two different pharmacological therapies: escitalopram and bupropion. Only after treatment with the latter drug did the patient show changes: high motivation and willingness to pursue activities, greater interest in the external environment and social life activities, and an overall reduction of apathy. On the basis of our observations in this case, we hypothesize that the thalamic lesion resulted in disconnection of the fronto-striatal-thalamic circuits, and that loss of the dopaminergic striatal innervation caused the patient's apathetic state. The resolution of the apathetic disorder may be attributable to the action of the dopaminergic drug bupropion on the mesocortical pathway.

Triple-combination therapy in the treatment of hypertension: a review of the evidence.

Hypertension is a serious public health concern with inadequate control of blood pressure (BP) worldwide. Contributing factors include low efficacy of drugs, underuse of combination therapies, irrational combinations, physicians' therapeutic inertia and poor adherence to treatment. Current guidelines recommend the use of initial (dual) combination therapy in high-risk patients for immediate BP response, better short- and long-term BP control, and continued/improved patient adherence. This article aims to review the existing evidence of triple-combination therapies with respect to efficacy, safety and adherence to treatment. It is estimated that three drugs are required to achieve BP control in approximately one-fourth to one-third of patients. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that triple combinations of amlodipine/valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide, amlodipine/olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide and amlodipine/telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide produce greater BP reductions, with greater proportions of patients achieving BP control compared with dual therapies. Further evidence also demonstrates that triple-combination therapy is efficacious for moderate to severe hypertension, with substantial additional BP reduction over dual regimens. Both RCTs and post-marketing observational studies have shown consistent and comparable efficacy in both the general population and high-risk hypertensive subgroups. Triple therapies are generally well tolerated with adverse event profiles similar to dual regimens. In addition, fixed-dose combinations used as single pill improve patient adherence leading to better long-term BP control. Depending on regional circumstances, they may also be cost effective. Thus, single-pill triple combinations of different classes of drugs with complementary mechanisms of action help to treat patients to goal with improved efficacy and better adherence to treatment.

Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2b and 4b isolates from human clinical cases and foods show differences in tolerance to refrigeration and salt stress.

Control of Listeria monocytogenes in food processing facilities is a difficult issue because of the ability of this microorganism to form biofilms and adapt to adverse environmental conditions. Survival at high concentrations of sodium chloride and growth at refrigeration temperatures are two other important characteristics of L. monocytogenes isolates. The aim of this study was to compare the growth characteristics under stress conditions at different temperatures of L. monocytogenes serotypes responsible for the majority of clinical cases from different sources. Twenty-two L. monocytogenes isolates, 12 from clinical cases (8 serotype 4b and 4 serotype 1/2a) and 10 from food (6 serotype 4b and 4 serotype 1/2a), and an L. monocytogenes Scott A (serotype 4b) reference strain were analyzed for the ability to grow in brain heart infusion broth plus 1.9 M NaCl (11%) at 4, 10, and 25°C for 73, 42, and 15 days, respectively. The majority of L. monocytogenes strains was viable or even grew at 4°C and under the high osmotic conditions usually used to control pathogens in the food industry. At 10°C, most strains could adapt and grow; however, no significant difference (P > 0.05) was found for lag-phase duration, maximum growth rate, and maximum cell density. At 25°C, all strains were able to grow, and populations increased by up 5 log CFU/ml. Clinical strains had a significantly longer lag phase and lower maximum cell density (P < 0.05) than did food strains. Regarding virulence potential, no significant differences in hemolytic activity were found among serotypes; however, serotype 4b strains were more invasive in Caco-2 cells than were serotype 1/2a strains (P < 0.05). The global tendency of decreasing NaCl concentrations in processed foods for health reasons may facilitate L. monocytogenes survival and growth in these products. Therefore, food companies must consider additional microbial growth barriers to assure product safety.

Neutral atomic jet generation by laser ablation of copper targets.

This work aimed the obtainment of a neutral atomic jet departing from a plume generated by laser ablation of copper targets. A pair of electrodes together with a transducer pressure sensor was used to study the ablated plume charge composition and also to measure the ion extraction from the plasma plume. The neutral beam was produced with this setup and the relative abundance of neutrals in the plasma was measured, it decreases from 30% to 8% when the laser fluence is varied from 20 J/cm(2) to 32 J/cm(2). The necessary voltage to completely remove the ions from the plume varied from 10 V to 230 V in the same fluence range. TOF analysis resulted in center of mass velocities between 3.4 and 4.6 km/s, longitudinal temperature in the range from 1 × 10(4) K to 2.4 × 10(4) K and a Mach number of M = 2.36, calculated using purely hydrodynamic expansion approximation.

Contributions of σ(B) and PrfA to Listeria monocytogenes salt stress under food relevant conditions.

Listeria monocytogenes is well known to survive and grow under several stress conditions, including salt stress, which is important for growth in certain foods as well as for host infection. To characterize the contributions, to salt stress response, of transcriptional regulators important for stress response and virulence (i.e., σ(B) and PrfA), we analyzed three L. monocytogenes parent strains and isogenic mutants (ΔsigB, ΔprfA, and ΔsigBΔprfA), representing different serotypes and lineages, for their ability to grow, at 25°C, in BHI with 1.9 M NaCl. With regard to growth rate, only the lineage IV strain presented a significant difference between the parent strain and both of its respective mutants lacking prfA (ΔprfA and ΔsigBΔprfA). Conversely, the lineage I and II parent strains showed significantly shorter lag phase in comparison to their respective ΔsigB mutant strains. Intestinal epithelial cell invasion assay and hemolytic activity assays showed a significant role for σ(B) in the former and for PrfA in the latter. To explore the mechanism that may contribute to the extended lag phase in the ΔsigB mutant strain and survival and growth of the parent strain upon salt shock, whole genome transcription profiling was performed to compare transcript levels between the lineage I, serotype 1/2b, parent strain and its isogenic ΔsigB mutant after 30 min of lag phase growth at 25°C in the presence of 1.9M NaCl (salt shock) without aeration. Microarray data showed significantly higher transcript levels for 173 genes in the parent strain as compared to the ΔsigB strain. Overall, 102 of the 173 σ(B) up-regulated genes had been identified in previous studies, indicating that 71 genes were newly identified as being up-regulated by σ(B) in this study. We hypothesize that, among these genes newly identified as σ(B) up-regulated, four genes (lmo2174, lmo0530, lmo0527 and lmo0529) may play a major role in response to salt stress. Lmo2174 contains domains that facilitate sensing and producing a transduction signal in the form of cyclic di-GMP, which may activate the enzymes Lmo0527, Lmo0529 and Lmo0530, which encode proteins similar to those responsible for synthesis of exopolysaccharides that may protect the cell by changing the cell wall structure during salt stress. Overall, our data showed that σ(B), but not PrfA, contributes to growth under salt stress. Moreover, we show that the σ(B) regulon of a L. monocytogenes lineage I strain challenged with salt shock includes salt stress-specific as well as previously unidentified σ(B) up-regulated genes.

Losartan and amlodipine on myocardial structure and function: a prospective, randomized, clinical trial.

AIMS: To compare the effects of losartan and amlodipine on myocardial structure and function in hypertensive patients with Type 2 diabetes and left ventricular hypertrophy. METHODS: After a 4-week placebo period, patients were randomized to losartan 50 mg (n = 90) or amlodipine 5 mg (n = 91) for 12 months, with a doubling of the dose in patients who did not respond after 4 weeks. Blood pressure was measured in the clinic every month, while conventional echocardiography and acoustic densitometry (integrated backscatter analysis) were performed at the end of the placebo period and after 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: Both drugs reduced systolic/diastolic blood pressure to a comparable extent. Losartan significantly reduced left ventricular mass index (-19%, P < 0.001), interventricular septal thickness (-16.6%, P < 0.01) and left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole (-13.7%, P < 0.01). Amlodipine also decreased such measurements (-10%, P < 0.01 for left ventricular mass index, -9.3%, P < 0.05 for interventricular septal thickness in diastole and -10.1%, P < 0.05 for posterior wall thickness in diastole), but to a lesser extent than losartan. Both drugs significantly increased the ratio of peak filling velocity at early diastole to that at atrial contraction (E/A ratio) and decreased isovolumetric relaxation time: +13.7% and -8.5% with losartan,(both P < 0.01), and +7.9% and -4.9%, with amlopidine (both P < 0.05). Losartan, but not amlodipine, significantly reduced the relative integrated backscatter compared to baseline of the intraventricular septum (-10%, P < 0.01), and of the left ventricular posterior wall (-12%, P < 0.01), while increasing the cyclic variation of integrated backscatter of both the intraventricular septum (+35%, P < 0.001) and the left ventricular posterior wall (+32%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Losartan provided a greater attenuation of left ventricular hypertrophy than amlodipine, seemingly as a result of a greater reduction of myocardial fibrosis.

Lexicality drives audio-motor transformations in Broca's area.

Broca's area is classically associated with speech production. Recently, Broca's area has also been implicated in speech perception and non-linguistic information processing. With respect to the latter function, Broca's area is considered to be a central area in a network constituting the human mirror system, which maps observed or heard actions onto motor programs to execute analogous actions. These mechanisms share some similarities with Liberman's motor theory, where objects of speech perception correspond to listener's intended articulatory gestures. The aim of the current series of behavioral, TMS and fMRI studies was to test if Broca's area is indeed implicated in such audio-motor transformations. More specifically, using a classical phonological rhyme priming paradigm, we investigated whether the role of Broca's area could be purely phonological or rather, is lexical in nature. In the behavioral baseline study, we found a large priming effect in word prime/target pairs (W-W) and no effect for pseudo-words (PW-PW). Online TMS interference of Broca's area canceled the priming difference between W-W and PW-PW by enhancing the effects for PW-PW. Finally, the fMRI study showed activation of Broca's area for W-W pairs, but not for PW-PW pairs. Our data show that Broca's area plays a significant role in speech perception strongly linked to the lexicality of a stimulus.

The representation of tool use in humans and monkeys: common and uniquely human features.

Though other species of primates also use tools, humans appear unique in their capacity to understand the causal relationship between tools and the result of their use. In a comparative fMRI study, we scanned a large cohort of human volunteers and untrained monkeys, as well as two monkeys trained to use tools, while they observed hand actions and actions performed using simple tools. In both species, the observation of an action, regardless of how performed, activated occipitotemporal, intraparietal, and ventral premotor cortex, bilaterally. In humans, the observation of actions done with simple tools yielded an additional, specific activation of a rostral sector of the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL). This latter site was considered human-specific, as it was not observed in monkey IPL for any of the tool videos presented, even after monkeys had become proficient in using a rake or pliers through extensive training. In conclusion, while the observation of a grasping hand activated similar regions in humans and monkeys, an additional specific sector of IPL devoted to tool use has evolved in Homo sapiens, although tool-specific neurons might reside in the monkey grasping regions. These results shed new light on the changes of the hominid brain during evolution.

Listeria monocytogenes in two different poultry facilities: Manual and automatic evisceration.

Listeriosis is a serious foodborne disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes, a pathogen often found in food processing plants. Poultry meat and its derivatives may harbor L. monocytogenes even if good manufacturing practices are implanted in abattoirs. Little information exists in Brazil on the frequency of L. monocytogenes contamination, even though the country is considered the top poultry meat exporter in the world. This study attempted to compare 2 exporters poultry facilities following same the standards but differing only in manual (plant M) or automatic (plant A) evisceration. Eight hundred fifty-one samples from food, food contact and non-food contact surfaces, water, and workers' hands were collected from cage to finished products over a 1-yr period. In plant A, 20.1% of the samples were positive for L. monocytogenes, whereas in plant M, 16.4% was found. The greatest incidence of contamination with the pathogen in plant A was found in non-food contact surfaces (27.3%), while in plant M, it was found in products (19.4%). The most prevalent serovars were 1/2a or 3a (plant M) and 4b, 4d, or 4e (plant A). Despite having proper hygiene and good manufacturing practices, controlling the entry and persistence of L. monocytogenes in processing facilities remains a formidable task.

Quantitative evaluation of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh and processed surubim fish (Pseudoplatystoma sp) / Avaliação quantitativa de Listeria monocytogenes em surubim (Pseudoplatystoma sp) fresco e processado

L. monocytogenes is a foodborne psychrotrophic bacterial pathogen of special importance for minimally processed foods. In this work, it was enumerated in samples of surubim fish by MPN technique. The population of L. monocytogenes was estimated as < 0.012 MPN/cm² in fresh and < 0.03 MPN/g in minimally processed fish.

L. monocytogenes é um patógeno psicrotrófico transmitido por alimentos, de importância especial para alimentos minimamente processados. Neste trabalho, a bactéria foi enumerada em amostras de peixe surubim utilizando-se a técnica do NMP. A população de L. monocytogenes foi estimada como < 0.012 NMP/cm² do peixe fresco e < 0.03 NMP/g do peixe minimamente processado.

Epidemiological Survey of Listeria monocytogenes in a gravlax salmon processing line / Epidemiologia de Listeria monocytogenes em uma linha de processamento de salmão gravlax

Listeria monocytogenes is a cause of concern to food industries, mainly for those producing ready-to-eat (RTE) products. This microorganism can survive processing steps such as curing and cold smoking and is capable of growing under refrigeration temperatures. Its presence in RTE fish products with extended shelf life may be a risk to the susceptible population. One example of such a product is gravlax salmon; a refrigerated fish product not exposed to listericidal processes and was the subject of this study. In order to evaluate the incidence and dissemination of L. monocytogenes 415 samples were collected at different steps of a gravlax salmon processing line in São Paulo state, Brazil. L. monocytogenes was confirmed in salmon samples (41 percent), food contact surfaces (32 percent), non-food contact surfaces (43 percent) and of food handlers' samples (34 percent), but could not be detected in any ingredient. 179 L. monocytogenes isolates randomly selected were serogrouped and typed by PFGE. Most of L. monocytogenes strains belonged to serogroup 1 (73 percent). 61 combined pulsotypes were found and a dendrogram identified six clusters: most of the strains (120) belonged to cluster A. It was suggested that strains arriving into the plant via raw material could establish themselves in the processing environment contaminating the final product. The wide dissemination of L. monocytogenes in this plant indicates that a great effort has to be taken to eliminate the microorganism from these premises, even though it was not observed multiplication of the microorganism in the final product stored at 4ºC up to 90 days.

Listeria monocytogenes é um patógenode grande preocupação para as indústrias alimentícias, principalmente aquelas produtoras de alimentos prontos para consumo (RTE). Este microrganismo pode sobreviver às etapas de cura e defumação a frio, além de tolerar temperaturas de refrigeração. A presença de L. monocytogenes em pescados RTE com vida de prateleira longa representa um risco para a população susceptível, sendo o salmão gravlax deste tipo de produto. No presente estudo avaliou-se a incidência e disseminação de L. monocytogenes em 415 amostras de salmão gravlax obtidas de diferentes etapas de processamento de uma indústria localizada no Estado de São Paulo. A presença de L. monocytogenes foi confirmada em amostras de salmão (41 por cento), superfícies de contato (32 por cento) e não contato (43 por cento) e manipuladores (34 por cento), porém não se isolou o microrganismo em nenhum ingrediente. Do total de cepas isoladas, 179 destas foram escolhidas aleatoriamente e submetidas a sorologia e tipagem por PFGE. A maioria dos isolados pertenceu ao sorogrupo 1 (73 por cento), sendo identificados 61 pulsotipos quando se combinou os resultados de sorologia e PFGE e 6 clusters foram distribuídos em um dendrograma. O cluster A agrupou a maioria das cepas (120). Pode-se sugerir que as cepas foram introduzidas na linha de processamento por meio da matéria prima e contaminando o produto final. Estes resultados indicam que a eliminação de L. monocytogenes deste estabelecimento requer um grande esforço, ainda que o microrganismo não se multiplicou no produto final estocado a 4ºC por 90 dias.

Epidemiological Survey of Listeria monocytogenes in a gravlax salmon processing line.

Listeria monocytogenes is a cause of concern to food industries, mainly for those producing ready-to-eat (RTE) products. This microorganism can survive processing steps such as curing and cold smoking and is capable of growing under refrigeration temperatures. Its presence in RTE fish products with extended shelf life may be a risk to the susceptible population. One example of such a product is gravlax salmon; a refrigerated fish product not exposed to listericidal processes and was the subject of this study. In order to evaluate the incidence and dissemination of L. monocytogenes 415 samples were collected at different steps of a gravlax salmon processing line in São Paulo state, Brazil. L. monocytogenes was confirmed in salmon samples (41%), food contact surfaces (32%), non-food contact surfaces (43%) and of food handlers' samples (34%), but could not be detected in any ingredient. 179 L. monocytogenes isolates randomly selected were serogrouped and typed by PFGE. Most of L. monocytogenes strains belonged to serogroup 1 (73%). 61 combined pulsotypes were found and a dendrogram identified six clusters: most of the strains (120) belonged to cluster A. It was suggested that strains arriving into the plant via raw material could establish themselves in the processing environment contaminating the final product. The wide dissemination of L. monocytogenes in this plant indicates that a great effort has to be taken to eliminate the microorganism from these premises, even though it was not observed multiplication of the microorganism in the final product stored at 4°C up to 90 days.

Quantitative evaluation of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh and processed surubim fish (Pseudoplatystoma sp).

L. monocytogenes is a foodborne psychrotrophic bacterial pathogen of special importance for minimally processed foods. In this work, it was enumerated in samples of surubim fish by MPN technique. The population of L. monocytogenes was estimated as < 0.012 MPN/cm(2) in fresh and < 0.03 MPN/g in minimally processed fish.

Hydrochlorothiazide added to valsartan is more effective than when added to olmesartan in reducing blood pressure in moderately hypertensive patients inadequately controlled by monotherapy.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects on blood pressure of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 mg added to valsartan 160 mg or to olmesartan 20 mg in hypertensive patients. After a 2-wk placebo period, 130 patients, aged 35 to 75 y, with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >or=99 and 110 mm Hg were randomly assigned to olmesartan 20 mg once daily or to valsartan 160 mg once daily according to a prospective, parallel-arm study design. After 4 wk of monotherapy, patients whose BP was not controlled (DBP >or=90 mm Hg) were given combination treatment with HCTZ 12.5 mg for an additional 4 wk. At the end of the placebo period and at the end of each treatment period, clinical and ambulatory BP measurements were recorded. At the end of the combination therapy period, venous blood samples were drawn 2, 4, and 24 h after drug intake for evaluation of HCTZ plasma concentrations. Both combinations induced a greater ambulatory BP reduction than monotherapy. However, mean reduction from baseline in the valsartan/HCTZ-treated patients (-21.5)-14.6 mm Hg for 24 h, -21.8/-14.9 mm Hg for daytime, and -20.4/-13.7 mm Hg for nighttime systolic blood pressure [SBP]/DBP) was greater than in the olmesartan/HCTZ-treated patients )-18.8/-12.3 mm Hg for 24 h, -19.3/-12.8 mm Hg for daytime, and 17.4/-10.6 mm Hg for nighttime SBP/DBP). The difference between the effects of the 2 treatments was significant (P<.01). In particular, compared with monotherapy, the add-on effect of HCTZ 12.5 mg was significantly greater in the valsartan group than in those treated with olmesartan; the difference was more evident for nighttime BP values. Plasma concentrations of HCTZ were significantly greater with valsartan than with olmesartan at each determination time (P<.05). These findings suggest that the addition of HCTZ 12.5 mg to valsartan 160 mg monotherapy produces a greater BP reduction than the addition of the same dose of HCTZ to olmesartan 20 mg monotherapy.

Effect of telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide vs lisinopril/hydrochlorothiazide combination on ambulatory blood pressure and cognitive function in elderly hypertensive patients.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) vs lisinopril/HCTZ combination on ambulatory blood pressure and cognitive function in elderly hypertensive patients. A total of 160 patients, 76 men and 84 women, aged 61-75 years, with sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP)>90 mmHg and <110 mmHg and systolic blood pressure (SBP)>140 mmHg were randomized to receive temisartan 80 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg o.d. or lisinopril 20 mg/HCTZ 12.5 mg o.d. for 24 weeks, according to a prospective, open-label, blinded end point, parallel-group design. At the end of a 2-week wash-out period and after 12 and 24 weeks of active treatment, 24-h noninvasive ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was performed and cognitive function was evaluated through six different tests (verbal fluency, Boston naming test, word-list memory, word-list recall, word-list recognition and Trails B). Both treatments significantly reduced ambulatory BP. However, the telmisartan/HCTZ combination produced a greater reduction in 24-h, day-time and night time ABPM values. Lisinopril/HCTZ did not induce significant changes in any of the cognitive function test scores at any time of the study, whereas at both 12 and 24 weeks telmisartan/HCTZ significantly improved the word-list memory score (+17.1 and +15.7%, respectively, P<0.05 vs baseline), the word-list recall score (+13.5 and +16.9%, P<0.05) and the Trails B score (-33 and -30.5%, P<0.05). These results suggest that in elderly hypertensive patients treatment with telmisartan/HCTZ produces a slightly greater reduction in ambulatory BP than lisinopril/HCTZ combination and, unlike this latter, improves some of the components of cognitive function, particularly episodic memory and visuospatial abilities.

Aggressive behaviour of cherubism in a teenager: 4-years of clinical follow-up associated with radiographic and histological features.

Cherubism is a rare hereditary fibro-osseous childhood disease characterized by bone degradation and fibrous tissue replacement at the angles of the mandible and at the tuberosity areas of the maxilla that leads to prominence of the lower face and an appearance reminiscent of the cherub's portrayal in Renaissance art. This disease has an autosomal dominant hereditary characteristic. The purpose of this report is to analyse laboratory tests, clinicopathological and radiographic features of cherubism and its intraoral manifestations in a patient during 4-years of follow-up, correlating the features observed in this case with those of the literature. Also discussed is the atypical and aggressive behaviour of this case during puberty.

Quantificação de Listeria monocytogenes em salames fatiados embalados a vácuo / Occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes in pre-sliced vacuum-packaged

There is scarce information in Brazil and other South American countries about the occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes in food, mainly refrigerated ready-to-eat products. The consumption of sliced vacuum-packaged meat products has increased in the last few years. Nevertheless, a complete assessment of the risk associated with L. monocytogenes in these products is still necessary. Because of the production and storage characteristics of these products, they can be considered potential vehicles for L. monocytogenes to humans, mainly immunocompromised, elderly, and pregnant women. The objectives of this study was to evaluate the population of L. monocytogenes in salami, a ready-to-eat meat product with extended shelf life, acquired in retail stores in São Paulo-Brazil. The three-tube most probable number technique was used and the methodology was that from Health Canada. Strains were biochemically identified and serotyped. Among the 45 samples, 3 (6.7 per cent) harboured 9.2 MPN/g of L. monocytogenes and the others < 0.3 MPN/g. All the strains belonged to serotypes 1/2a and 1/2b, the most frequent serotypes found in food everywhere. Even being low, the population of L. monocytogenes found in this product could be a cause of concern to public health authorities as it can pose a threat to population at risk. This contamination highlights the importance of implementing systems like HACCP to assure safe products to consumers.