Heat resistance of Clostridium sordellii spores.

The thermal destruction kinetics of Clostridium sordellii spores was studied in this research. Decimal reduction times (D values) for C. sordellii ATCC 9714 spores ranged between 175.60 min for D(80) (the D value for spore suspensions treated at 80 degrees C) and 11.22 min for D(95). The thermal resistance (Z) and temperature coefficient (Q(10)) values of spores were calculated to be as high as 12.59 degrees C and 6.23, respectively. At 95 degrees C, the relative thermal death rate and relative thermal death time of C. sordellii ATCC 9714 spores were found to be 0.0085/min and 118 min, respectively, indicating that the death rate of spores was 118 times lower at 95 degrees C than at 121.1 degrees C. Heat treatments at up to 85 degrees C for 120 min failed to cause a 100-fold destruction in spore populations of C. sordellii ATCC 9714. By contrast, spore counts were reduced by 2 log(10) cycles within 73 min and 23 min at 90 degrees C and 95 degrees C, respectively. This is the first published report of thermal inactivation of C. sordellii spores; however, further studies are needed to confirm these results in real food samples.

Determination of carbendazim residues in the eggs, liver and pectoral muscle of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

The effect of carbendazim, a widely applied cereal seed dressing agent, was studied in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during an overall period of eight weeks, consisting of a four-week feeding phase and a subsequent four-week excretion period. Body mass and feed consumption of the birds were monitored and residues of the active ingredient were determined by an analytical chemical method. During the eight-week study period, changes (either decrease or increase) directly attributable to the toxic effects of carbendazim were not found either in body mass or in feed consumption. Active ingredient levels exceeding the limit of detection were found in the liver (average: 0.0262 mg/kg) and pectoral muscle (average: 0.0236 mg/kg) of the birds and also in the egg (0.0338 mg/kg) samples. From the results it can be concluded that through the consumption of cereal seeds dressed with carbendazim, this active ingredient can be incorporated into the tissues of animals. Via the food chain, carbendazim can also enter the human organism, where it may cause various pathological changes in interaction with other chemicals.

Cervical cone margins as a predictor for residual dysplasia in post-cone hysterectomy specimens.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relation between dysplasia at cervical cone margins and the presence or absence of residual dysplasia in post-cone hysterectomy specimens. METHODS: We performed a 6-year retrospective, multicenter study and reviewed 250 cases in which the patient had a cold-knife cervical cone biopsy followed by a hysterectomy within 6 months. Pathology reports from 23 institutions described the margins in conization specimens and the subsequent status of residual dysplasia in the hysterectomy specimens. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of residual dysplasia in hysterectomy specimens between patients with positive margins on cone biopsy (47%) and those with negative margins (23%) (P < .01). The positive predictive value for residual dysplasia given positive cone margins was 47%, and the negative predictive value was 77%. The grade of post-cone residual dysplasia increased commensurately with the grade of dysplasia in the conization specimen. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of dysplasia at the cervical cone margin relates significantly with the presence of residual dysplasia in the post-cone hysterectomy specimen. The grade of residual dysplasia in the post-cone hysterectomy specimen increased as the grade of dysplasia in the conization specimen increased. Free margins on a cone biopsy specimen with dysplasia offer reassurance that invasive cancer is not present in the remaining uterus.

Occurrence of anaerobic bacterial, clostridial, and Clostridium perfringens spores in raw goose livers from a poultry processing plant in Hungary.

Anaerobic bacterial, clostridial, and Clostridium perfringens spores were enumerated in raw goose liver samples taken after evisceration of the birds (EB) in the slaughterhouse and after removal of blood vessels from the liver (RBVL) in the cannery. The samples taken after RBVL had significantly higher (P < 0.05) spore counts than did those taken after EB, indicating contamination of livers during processing. The number of C. perfringens spores was one log cycle higher in the samples taken after RBVL than in those taken after EB (P < 0.05). The confirmation of C. perfringens according to the profiles of Rapid ID 32 A tests was carried out by means of the ATB Plus computer program. With an identification percentage of 99.9 and a T-value of 0.65, the suspect colonies proved to be C. perfringens. Therefore, the importance of an appropriate cleaning and sanitation program and of personnel hygiene should be emphasized in the industry.

The effects of electrical and controlled atmosphere stunning methods on meat and liver quality of geese.

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of electrical and gas stunning on the meat and liver quality characteristics of liver geese. Sixty birds were slaughtered at 12 wk of age, in groups of 20 at three different times. Thirty birds each were subjected to one of the two stunning methods. Deboned breast fillets and thigh muscles were evaluated for hemorrhaging, amount of blood in the veins, and color by using a visual grading system. Livers were removed from carcasses during evisceration and were subsequently graded. Besides external color and hemorrhaging, the degree of liver weight loss due to removal of blood vessels was also determined. The use of controlled atmosphere stunning significantly reduced the incidence of muscle hemorrhages when compared to electrical stunning. However, no significant difference was found for color or amount of blood remaining in the veins of muscles between geese receiving electrical or controlled atmosphere stunning. The hemorrhaging and color scores of livers from gas-stunned birds did not differ from those of electrically stunned birds. As for the liver weight loss caused by removal of veins and capillaries, stunning treatment had no significant effect on this parameter. These results suggest that controlled atmosphere stunning produced slightly better quality goose meat but did not improve liver quality when compared to the electrical stunning method used.

Effects of electrical stunning frequency and voltage combinations on the presence of engorged blood vessels in goose liver.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of nine electrical stunning methods using various frequency and voltage combinations on the occurrence of engorged blood vessels in goose liver. Two hundred seventy Gourmaud geese (liver-type line SI 14) were slaughtered at 12 wk of age, in groups of 90 at three different times. Thirty birds each were subjected to one of the nine stunning methods. Neck cutting was performed immediately after stunning. The duration of exsanguination was 11 min. After completion of bleeding, the birds were scalded, defeathered manually, and kept refrigerated. At 1 d postmortem, the carcasses were eviscerated and cut up. From the slaughterhouse, the livers chilled in ice were transported to the cannery where they were weighed and graded at 2 d postmortem and were further processed. All of the veins and capillaries full of blood were removed from livers, because their presence was a hazard to product quality by causing discoloration of the canned liver, and the percentage of liver weight loss was then determined. The loss in liver weight due to removal of engorged blood vessels was reduced (P < 0.05) at 350 Hz, 70 to 90 V, and 80 to 85 mA when compared to the results obtained with any other stunning method tested. It was concluded that the use of high-frequency currents for electrical stunning of liver geese might have considerable commercial advantages.

Isolation of Bacillus strains from the rhizosphere of cereals and in vitro screening for antagonism against phytopathogenic, food-borne pathogenic and spoilage micro-organisms.

Bacillus strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of cereals in order to be used as natural biocontrol agents (BCAs). They were screened for antagonism in vitro against various test micro-organisms. The isolates showing antagonism were identified to species level. A combination of techniques was employed for the isolation of Bacillus species. Using the direct method, only one of the 25 isolates screened showed antagonistic properties. This strain (IFS-01) was identified by means of API test strips and the ATB Plus computer programme. It proved to be Bacillus subtilis and consequently has been designated as Bacillus subtilis IFS-01. This strain produced either a broad spectrum antimicrobial compound or several compounds with different activities. The fungi and Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive to the antagonistic isolate than the Gram-negative bacteria. A Bacillus strain producing BCAs which can be used as biopesticides or organic preservatives has been isolated and identified.

Influence of a Spirulina platensis biomass on the microflora of fermented ABT milks during storage (R1).

The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of a cyanobacterial (Spirulina platensis) biomass on the microflora of a probiotic fermented dairy product during storage at two temperatures. Spirulina-enriched and control (plain) fermented acidophilus-bifidus-thermophilus (ABT) milks were produced using a fast fermentation starter culture (ABT-4) as the source of Lactobacillus acidophilus (A), bifidobacteria (B), and Streptococcus thermophilus (T). Incubation took 6 h at 40 degrees C. As for the cyanobacterial product, the S. platensis biomass was added to the process milk during stirring at pH 4.5 to 4.6. Thereafter, the ABT-type fermented milks were cooled to 25 degrees C in ice water, filled into sterile, tightly capped centrifuge tubes, further cooled at 4 degrees C for 24 h, and then stored either at 15 degrees C for 18 d or at 4 degrees C for 42 d. Microbiological analyses and acidity measurements were performed at regular intervals. Our results showed that the counts of the starter organisms were satisfactory during the entire storage period at both temperatures applied in this research. The S. platensis biomass had a beneficial effect on the survival of ABT starter bacteria regardless of storage temperature. Postacidification was observed at 15 degrees C, whereas pH remained stable during refrigerated storage at 4 degrees C. The abundance of bioactive substances in S. platensis is of great importance from a nutritional point of view because thus the cyanobacterial biomass provides a new opportunity for the manufacture of functional dairy foods.

Nonfatal myocardial infarction of women.

Five-hundred women admitted for rehabilitation to the State Hospital for Cardiology 1 to 10 months after myocardial infarction were divided into two groups, viz. group I containing patients less than 40 years of age and group II, in which the patients were older than 41 years. Forty-nine per cent of the patients were blue-collar, whereas 22% of them were white-collar workers; 16.5% had a high qualification, 28% were housewives or retired. The leading symptom at admittance, that is in the post-infarction period, was angina pectoris (32% in group I and 73% in group II). Heart failure, rhythm disturbance and hypertension occurred less frequently. The groups considerably differed from each other in the frequency of risk factors. In group I, smoking (81%), use of anticoncipients (41%) and hyperlipoproteinaemia (32%), while in group II hypertension (49%), smoking (45%), obesity (43%) and hyperlipoproteinaemia (41%) were the main risk factors.