Occurrence of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus in goat milk from small and medium-sized farms located in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Consumption of goat milk has been increasing due to its nutritional characteristics and health benefits. Therefore, assessment of the presence of foodborne pathogens in this product is critical to ensure its safety to consumers. The present study aimed to identify common foodborne pathogens in raw goat milk. Fifty-three samples of raw goat milk from 11 farms were collected and cultured for the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes, as well as for enumeration and isolation of coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CPS and CNS, respectively). All samples tested negative for Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes. The CPS counts in raw goat milk samples were predominantly less than 2 log cfu/mL (n=39), and CNS counts were predominantly higher than 3 log cfu/mL (n=42). Based on Staphylococcus counts, 51 isolates were selected (CPS=26; CNS=25) and tested by PCR for the presence of classic enterotoxin-encoding genes (sea, seb, sec, sed, and see). Only 3 isolates (CPS=2, CNS=1) were negative for all enterotoxin-encoding genes tested, and the genotype sec and see was the most frequent (n=16), followed by sea, sec, and see (n=13) and sec (n=13); sed was not detected in any isolate. The frequencies of enterotoxin-encoding genes for CPS and CNS were similar, demonstrating the equivalence of both groups in harboring these virulent markers. These results suggest that Salmonella and L. monocytogenes are not frequent contaminants of raw goat milk, but that Staphylococcus spp. that are capable of producing enterotoxins are prevalent; therefore, consumers of raw goat milk and products made from raw milk are at risk.

Spoilage potential of Pseudomonas species isolated from goat milk.

Pseudomonas spp. are usually associated with spoilage microflora of dairy products due to their proteolytic potential. This is of particular concern for protein-based products, such as goat milk cheeses and fermented milks. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to characterize the proteolytic activity of Pseudomonas spp. isolated from goat milk. Goat milk samples (n=61) were obtained directly from bulk tanks on dairy goat farms (n=12), and subjected to a modified International Organization for Standardization (ISO) protocol to determine the number and proteolytic activity of Pseudomonas spp. Isolates (n=82) were obtained, identified by PCR, and subjected to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with XbaI macro-restriction. Then, the isolates were subjected to PCR to detect the alkaline protease gene (apr), and phenotypic tests were performed to check proteolytic activity at 7°C, 25°C, and 35°C. Mean Pseudomonas spp. counts ranged from 2.9 to 4.8 log cfu/mL, and proteolytic Pseudomonas spp. counts ranged from 1.9 to 4.6 log cfu/mL. All isolates were confirmed to be Pseudomonas spp., and 41 were identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens, which clustered into 5 groups sharing approximately 82% similarity. Thirty-six isolates (46.9%) were positive for the apr gene; and 57 (69.5%) isolates presented proteolytic activity at 7°C, 82 (100%) at 25°C, and 64 (78%) at 35°C. The isolates were distributed ubiquitously in the goat farms, and no relationship among isolates was observed when the goat farms, presence of apr, pulsotypes, and proteolytic activity were taken into account. We demonstrated proteolytic activity of Pseudomonas spp. present in goat milk by phenotypic and genotypic tests and indicated their spoilage potential at distinct temperatures. Based on these findings and the ubiquity of Pseudomonas spp. in goat farm environments, proper monitoring and control of Pseudomonas spp. during production are critical.

Trans-tracheostomic endoscopy of the larynx in the evaluation of dysphagia.

Laryngeal endoscopy plays a determinant role in clinical evaluation of dysphagia. The examination is performed by means of a trans-nasal approach with a flexible fiberoptic endoscope, able to visualize the pre- and post-deglutitory steps of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. In patients with tracheostomy, it is possible to visualize the glottic or neoglottic function during the intra-deglutitory phase, performing the examination through a trans-tracheostomic route. The procedure and indications of this endoscopic technique are described.

Surgical rehabilitation of dysphagia after partial laryngectomy.

Surgical rehabilitation of dysphagia in patients who have undergone partial laryngectomy is aimed at improving the sphincteric action of the larynx, the anatomy and physiology of which are impaired. The interventions indicated for this purpose can be performed either with an external or endoscopic approach. The Authors present early results of their experience employing injection laryngoplasty with autologous fat, bovine collagen (Zyplast, McGhan Medical Corporation, Fremont, CA, USA) and PDMS (Vox Implants, Uroplasty Inc, Minnetonka, MN, USA), performed by means of fiberendoscopy, under local anaesthesia, and microlaryngoscopy, under general anaesthesia.

Short implants (6mm) vs. vertical bone augmentation and standard-length implants (≥9mm) in atrophic posterior mandibles: a 5-year retrospective study.

This retrospective study compared the 5-year clinical and radiographic outcomes of short implants (6 mm) (short group), and standard-length implants (≥9mm) placed after a vertical augmentation with autologous bone blocks (augmentation group), supporting partial fixed prostheses in the posterior mandible. Forty-five partially edentulous patients were enrolled in the study and evaluated after 5 years: 22 (51 implants) in the augmentation group and 23 (46 implants) in the short group. Eight surgical complications occurred in the augmentation group versus none in the short group (P=0.003). One short implant failed before loading and one standard-length implant failed after 4 years because of peri-implantitis (P=1.0). Eight biological and two prosthetic complications occurred in the augmentation group vs. three biological and three prosthetic complications in the short group (P=0.09 and P=1.0, respectively). A mean marginal bone loss of 1.61±1.12mm in the augmentation group and 0.68±0.68mm in the short group was found (P=0.002). Within the limitations of this study, both techniques resulted in successful clinical results after 5 years, but short implants exhibited less surgical complications and marginal bone loss than standard-length implants placed in augmented bone.

The EnVision++ system: a new immunohistochemical method for diagnostics and research. Critical comparison with the APAAP, ChemMate, CSA, LABC, and SABC techniques.

AIM: To assess a newly developed immunohistochemical detection system, the EnVision++. METHODS: A large series of differently processed normal and pathological samples and 53 relevant monoclonal antibodies were chosen. A chessboard titration assay was used to compare the results provided by the EnVision++ system with those of the APAAP, CSA, LSAB, SABC, and ChemMate methods, when applied either manually or in a TechMate 500 immunostainer. RESULTS: With the vast majority of the antibodies, EnVision++ allowed two- to fivefold higher dilutions than the APAAP, LSAB, SABC, and ChemMate techniques, the staining intensity and percentage of expected positive cells being the same. With some critical antibodies (such as the anti-CD5), it turned out to be superior in that it achieved consistently reproducible results with differently fixed or overfixed samples. Only the CSA method, which includes tyramide based enhancement, allowed the same dilutions as the EnVision++ system, and in one instance (with the anti-cyclin D1 antibody) represented the gold standard. CONCLUSIONS: The EnVision++ is an easy to use system, which avoids the possibility of disturbing endogenous biotin and lowers the cost per test by increasing the dilutions of the primary antibodies. Being a two step procedure, it reduces both the assay time and the workload.

Piperazine derivatives of butyric acid as differentiating agents in human leukemic cells.

Butyric acid is a potent antineoplastic agent with a well-documented differentiation activity on a wide variety of tumor cells. However, its clinical development is strongly limited by its very short metabolic half-life. In this study we report on the in vitro effects of new original piperazine derivatives of butyric acid on the induction of differentiation and the growth inhibition of human erythroleukemia K562 cells and myeloid leukemia HL60 cells. 1-(2-hydroxyethyl) 4-(1-oxobutyl)-piperazine (HEPB) and [1-(2-hydroxyethyl) 4-(1-oxobutyl)-piperazine] butyrate (HEPDB) were efficient in acting on the differentiation and proliferation of both cell lines, whereas 1-phenyl 4-(1-oxobutyl)-piperazine (PPB) and 1-(3,4-methylene dioxybenzyl) 4-(1-oxobutyl)-piperazine (POB) acted only on proliferation rates. Such derivatives did not induce significant toxicity in mice. These preliminary results should enable, by the development of new series of piperazine derivatives, a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of butyric acid and its analogues on the coupling of growth and differentiation of neoplastic cells.

Immunological imbalance in uncomplicated chronic alcoholism.

The lymphocyte response to unspecific mitogenic lectins and the frequency of the lymphocytary populations and two subpopulations (DR- and Fc gamma-positive T-cells) as well as the serum immunoglobulin levels were tested. Blood samples were drawn from 15 volunteers with chronic alcoholism, an no clinical detectable correlated diseases and from 8 healthy subjects as controls. An activation of the immune system was found, characterized by an increase of T lymphocytes, DR-positive T-cells, IgA and IgG. Aspects of this activation are discussed.

Pharmacokinetic study of butyric acid administered in vivo as sodium and arginine butyrate salts.

Considering that butyrate-treated malignant cells can recover in a transitory fashion a non-cancerous phenotype, the authors carried out a pharmacokinetics study of butyric acid injected as sodium or arginine salts for possible antitumor therapies. In the case of 1-14C-labelled butyrate, the appearance of radioactivity in the blood of injected mice is rapid and some of it is maintained for relatively long periods in different organs, mainly the liver. However, no precision can be given about the structure of radioactive compounds in blood and tissues. Using gas-liquid chromatography, the authors studied the metabolism of butyrate in both animals and man. In mice and rabbits, the half-life is less than 5 min. In man, the butyric acid elimination curve can be divided into two parts corresponding to two half-lives: for the first (0.5 min), the slope suggests an accelerated excretion, while for the following (13.7 min), a slow plateau is observed. The rapid elimination of butyrate is a limiting factor for practical applications. However, the lack of toxicity supports its use in human therapy.

Comparison of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and conventional office measurement in the workers of a chemical company.

The aim of the present study was to define the different prevalence of hypertension when conventional office measurement and ambulatory monitoring are performed in a population of unselected workers. All the workers of a Florentine chemical company were invited to participate in the study. Enrolled subjects underwent blood pressure measurement using a conventional sphygmomanometer and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Of 191 workers, 145 agreed to participate in the study (76%). Six of the 145 were excluded from further analysis because they were undergoing antihypertensive therapy. Confidence limits for ambulatory monitoring were defined at 95% on normotensive workers. Thirty-five (25%) workers were found to be hypertensive according to World Health Organization parameters (diastolic pressure > 90 mmHg) but only 14 of the 35 had higher 24-h diastolic ambulatory blood pressure than the 95% confidence limits of controls.

Differential elimination of synthetic butyric triglycerides in vivo: a pharmacokinetic study.

New butyrate derivatives were synthesized to investigate the residence time of potent butyric acid in vivo. These derivatives were triglycerides in which one, two, or three butyric acid molecules were bound to glycerol or to mono- and dipalmitic esters of glycerol. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that a constant plasma level of each compound was maintained for a long time; all molecules had identical volumes of distribution, but differed about their mean residence time. Triesters in which palmitic acid was present displayed no toxicity and seemed to be even more stable in the organism; this may be due to their adsorption on the tissue. Other triglycerides constituted by butyric acid and various long fatty acids may be synthesized and useful in long-term clinical treatment.

Pharmacokinetic studies of N-butyric acid mono- and polyesters derived from monosaccharides.

The pharmacokinetics of seven butyric esters derived from monosaccharides were studied after iv administration of a bolus dose to rabbits. Results obtained showed that a constant plasma level of butyric acid is maintained due to the slow disappearance of butyric acid esters from the plasma in contrast to the case of salts, such as arginine butyrate, which are rapidly cleared. The maintenance of these covalent compounds in the body can increase concentrations of n-butyric acid in the tumor area for more efficient chemotherapy. These results seem to be directly related to the in vitro anticellular activity of butyric esters and the prolonged therapeutic protection in tumor-bearing animals.

[Scabies in a dalysis unit. Mystery and prejudice]. / La scabbia in un centro dialisi. Mistero e pregiudizio.

BACKGROUND: Pruritus is one of the most common symptoms of uremia. The etiology of uremic pruritus is steel incompletely known. Scabies may be a cause of itching in these patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of beginning and developing of a scabies outbreak in a Dialysis Unit with 160 patients. RESULTS: Sixteen cases of scabies were observed in the Dialysis Unit from April 1998 and January 1999: in 6 of them the scarification was positive. In 10 the scarification was negative, but itching disappeared after treatment with benzyl benzoate 20%. Many courses were necessary (max 6). Prophylaxis (treatment with benzyl benzoate 20% for 3 days and lingery cleaning) was applied to approximately 400 people. No cases were observed among health care workers of the Dialysis Unit. CONCLUSIONS: In a Dialysis Unit the diagnosis of scabies is difficult because the patients often have generalized itching; moreover some of them are affected by neuropathy that may make the infestation of scabies more difficult to identify. The most important factor to limitate the outbreak seems to be the prophylaxis of people who take care of patients (health-care workers, family members and car-drivers). It seems also necessary to repeat the treatments many times. The most exposed patients seemed to be those with diminished independence, diabetes and malnutrition.

A new series of antiarrhythmic procainamide derivatives: toxicity and activity-simulated passive absorption relation.

Several compounds derived from benzamidines and nicotinic pyridinic amidines with a structure similar to that of procainamide, exhibit notable antiarrhythmic properties after injection into animals. The diffusion rate of these different compounds through a solid lipidic artificial membrane was studied with Dibbern's apparatus. A statistical relation was established between the diffusion rate and the principal pharmacological parameters obtained after intraperitoneal injection (toxicity and anthiarrhythmic activity). Essential structural elements seem to determine a better bioavailability than procainamide: character of the substitution (in para) of the benzenic cycle; length of the lateral chain.

[Pharmacokinetic study of 3H-stiripentol in rats (author's transl)]. / Etude pharmacocinétique du 3H-stiripentol chez le rat.

The radioactive constituents of blood, urine, and bile specimens from Wistar Rats, following intravenous administration of 3H-stiripentol were analyzed, in parallel with samples of: liver, lung, kidneys, testis, heart, brain, cerebellum, and medulla. These investigations yielded the following results: 3H-Stiripentol was quantitatively and rapidly absorbed and metabolized by Wistar rats, due to intense metabolism in the liver. The cerebellum and medulla accumulated radioactivity, which was probably related to the pharmacological effects of this drug.

[Role fo ultrasound in the study of latero-cervical metastases]. / Ruolo dell'ecografia nello studio delle metastasi laterocervicali.

In patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) for malignant neoplasies of the head and neck the availability of a diagnostic method permitting frequent, easy checkups of the latero-cervical lymph nodes would be extremely useful. This is especially so because clinical examination is often hindered by the post-actinic fibrosis of the tissues. Among the methods presently available for this purpose (CAT, NMR, lymphoscintigraphy, xerography, ultrasound) echotomography appears to be the most indicated as it is least invasive, can easily be repeated and is not difficult to perform. The refining of ultrasound techniques would, as reported in the literature, make it possible today to evaluate the effects of RT on latero-cervical metastases both during and some time after treatment. The authors, therefore evaluated the advantages and limitations of the method examining 33 patients undergoing RT for latero-cervical metastases due to head and neck carcinoma. Each patient underwent ultrasound examination prior to, during and at the end of the RT treatment cycle. Once treatment had been terminated 18 underwent latero-cervical neck dissection. Upon termination of the radiation treatment three distinct types of ultrasound behaviour were identified: complete response; partial response; minimal or negligible response. For those patients undergoing surgery this response was compared to lymph node chain histology while, for the others, it was compared to the ultrasound findings of subsequent examinations. The results obtained appear to indicate that a systematic scheduling of ultrasound checkups offers a reliable evaluation of how metastatic adenopathies respond to RT. At times such response can only be completed several months after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Synthesis and pharmacological activity of ethyl N-acetic and N-malonic esters of heterocyclic derivatives]. / Synthèse et activité pharmacologique d'esters N-éthyl acétiques et maloniques de dérivés hétérocycliques.

The pharmacological study of heterocyclic N-ethylacetic and N-ethylmalonic esters indicate a stimulating effect on central nervous system. Some derivatives show antidepressive and psychostimulant activities.

[Spasmolytic and antinoradrenergic activities of para-hydroxybenzonitrile on the isolated duodenum and vas deferens in rats]. / Activités spasmolytique et antinoradrénergique du para-hydroxybenzonitrile sur le duodénum et le canal déférent isolés du rat.

The para-hydroxy-benzonitrile (PHB) show spasmolytic activity of the muscular of duodenum provoked by acetylcholine or barium chloride. The results obtained on the vas deferent of the rat versus the contracture effects of norepinephrine show that PHB is an antagonist of the neuromediator on the post-synaptic alpha adrenoceptors.

[Psychopharmacological study of two 3-arylsulfonyl 4-hydroxy-coumarines]. / Etude psychopharmacologique de deux 3-arylsulfonyl 4-hydroxy-coumarines.

The pharmacological study of 3-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl) 4-hydroxy-7-methoxy- coumarine and 3-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl) 4-hydroxy-7-methoxy-coumarine shows that these derivatives present low sedative effects on the central nervous system, particularly due to their actions upon temperature and motility, more accentuated for the chloro-substituted derivative.

[Effects of alpha and beta blocker properties of parahydroxybenzonitrile on the cardiovascular system of rats]. / Etudes des effets alpha et beta bloquants du parahydroxybenzonitrile sur le système cardiovasculaire du Rat.

The study of parahydroxybenzonitrile on the cardiovascular system of the Rat shows alpha blocker properties.