Influence of dietary vitamin E on behavior of Listeria monocytogenes and color stability in ground turkey meat following electron beam irradiation.

There is growing concern that the free radical scavenging effect of antioxidants added to meats might reduce the antimicrobial effectiveness of ionizing radiation. A study was conducted to determine the effect of vitamin E on the behavior (growth) of Listeria monocytogenes and color stability in turkey meat following electron beam irradiation. Raw ground turkey breast meat from birds fed diets containing 0 (control), 50, 100, and 200 IU/kg of vitamin E was inoculated with a five-strain mixture of L. monocytogenes to give approximately 10(7) CFU/g. Inoculated samples were irradiated at 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 kGy and stored aerobically (12 days) or under vacuum (42 days) at 4 degrees C. L. monocytogenes survivors were determined by plating samples on modified Oxford medium and counting colonies on modified Oxford medium plates after 48 h at 35 degrees C. Meat color was measured using a colorimeter. Irradiation at 2.0 kGy resulted in an approximately 3.5-log reduction of initial numbers of L. monocytogenes. There were no significant differences in D-values (decimal reduction times) for L. monocytogenes in meat irrespective of vitamin E treatment (P > 0.05). Also, vitamin E treatments did not affect growth of the pathogen in aerobic or vacuum-packaged samples following irradiation (P > 0.05). Compared with controls, irradiated meat from birds fed 100 or 200 IU/kg of vitamin E demonstrated significant improvement in color stability (lightness and redness values) during aerobic storage (P < 0.05). Dietary vitamin E (100 to 200 IU/kg) has good potential for improving the color stability of turkey meat without compromising the microbial safety of the irradiated product.

Psychosocial adaptation and cellular immunity in breast cancer patients in the weeks after surgery: An exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: The period just after surgery for breast cancer requires psychosocial adaptation and is associated with elevated distress. Distress states have been associated with decreased cellular immune functioning in this population, which could have negative effects on physical recovery. However, little is known about relations between psychological status [negative and positive mood states and overall quality of life (QOL)] and cellular signaling cytokines that could account for these associations in women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. METHODS: The present study examined associations between psychological adaptation indicators (mood, QOL) and T-helper cell type 1 (Th1) cytokine production from stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells in women who had recently undergone surgery for early-stage breast cancer but had not yet begun adjuvant therapy. These associations were evaluated while controlling for relevant disease/treatment, sociodemographic, and health behavior covariates. RESULTS: Lower anxiety related to greater production of the Th1 cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2), while greater positive mood (affection) related to greater production of the Th1 cytokines IL-12 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Better QOL related to greater production of the Th1 cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). CONCLUSION: Individual differences in psychosocial adaptation in women with breast cancer during the period after surgery relate to biological parameters that may be relevant for health and well-being as they move through treatment.

Disparities in vocational rehabilitation services and outcomes for Hispanic clients with traumatic brain injury: do they exist?

OBJECTIVE: Examine disparities in vocational rehabilitation (VR) services for Hispanic clients with traumatic brain injury. DESIGN: Logistic regression analysis of secondary data. PARTICIPANTS: Five thousand eight hundred thirty-one European American and Hispanic clients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Type of services and employment status. RESULTS: European Americans were 1.27 times more likely to obtain employment than were Hispanics. Hispanics with work disincentives had lower odds of returning to work and had more unmet basic needs (eg, food, shelter, and transportation) that need to be addressed in the rehabilitation process. Job placement and on-the-job support services were found to significantly improve employment outcomes. However, on-the-job support services were more likely to be provided to European Americans than to Hispanics.

Confiabilidad de un cuestionario para rastreo de trastorno de aprendizaje (CEPA) en niños en edad escolar / Reliability of a learning disabilities assessment questionnaire (CEPA) in school-aged children

The assessment questionnaires are basic tools used in research or in programs geared to the early, simple, and fast detection of a sickness in the general population, with a high level of accepted reliability and validity. Objective: to determine the reliability of an assessment cuestionnaire dealing with learning disabilities; which makes easy the detection of children who are more likely to have learning disabilities. Patients and Methods: a random sample of 681 children was chosen; they belonged to the 3rd and 4th socio-economic strata, aged 8 and 11, of primary basic schooling education, from 4 educational institutions of a neighboring village of the Metropolitan Area of Medellin and who willingly decided to participate in the study. From this population, a non-random sample of 80 individuals was taken who met the inclusion criteria to carry out a pilot test. The questionnaire comprises 39 items comprising 8 frequent areas of difficulties. It is designed to assess the cognitive and language processes.

Los cuestionarios de rastreo son herramientas básicas usadas en las investigaciones o en los programas dirigidos a la detección temprana,sencilla y rápida de una enfermedad en la población general, con un nivel de confiabilidad y de validez aceptados. Objetivo: Determinar la confiabilidad de un cuestionario de rastreo para la evaluación de las dificultades del aprendizaje que facilite la detección de los niños que tengan mayor probabilidad de tener trastornos del aprendizaje. Pacientes y métodos. Se seleccionóuna muestra aleatoria de 681 niños de estrato socio económico 3 y 4, en edades entre 8 y 11 años, de escolaridad básica primaria, de 4instituciones de un corregimiento adjunto al área metropolitana de la ciudad de Medellín y que aceptaron participar en el estudio. De este universo poblacional se retomo unamuestra no aleatoria de 80 sujetos quecumplieran los criterios de inclusión pararealizan una prueba piloto. El cuestionario comprende 39 ítemes que agrupa 8 áreas frecuentes de dificultades, está diseñado paraevaluar procesos cognoscitivos y del lenguaje.