Psychrotrophic Clostridium spp. associated with 'blown pack' spoilage of chilled vacuum-packed red meats and dog rolls in gas-impermeable plastic casings

'Blown pack' spoilage of vacuum-packed chilled beef, lamb and venison, and of a cooked meat product, chilled dog rolls packed in an oxygen-impermeable plastic casing, was characterised by sensory, chemical and microbiological analysis. Investigation of the probable causative agents led to the isolation of eight strains of psychrotrophic clostridia. Three strains have been provisionally identified as C. difficile, C. beijerinckii and C. lituseburense; the other five remain unidentified. In inoculation studies only one isolate produced significant amount of gas on meat, causing pack 'blowing'. It is, therefore, possible that 'blown pack' spoilage involves a synergism with one or more other organisms.     

Passive and active exercises increase cerebral blood flow velocity in young, healthy individuals

Zinc levels in seminal plasma were measured. The study was done on 122, random selected males from infertile couples. The atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used. Sperm density of ejaculate was also determined. These parameters were compared in subgroups: normospermic and oligospermic and in classes of variable oligospermic severity. Semen serum zinc levels in normospermic men was significantly increased as compared to oligospermic men. There were no significant differences in zinc levels between the different classes of oligospermia.     

Photodynamic therapy using mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 (Npe6) for the treatment of cutaneous disease: a Phase I clinical study

The activity of a new photosensitizer, mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6 (Npe6), was assessed in an ascending dose Phase I study for patients with superficial tumor. Eleven patients, with a total of 14 tumor sites, were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) using Npe6. Lesions included recurrent adenocarcinoma of the breast, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. The phototherapy protocol consisted of a single i.v. injection of 0.5-3.5 mg/kg Npe6, followed 4 h later by 25-100 j/cm2 at 664 nm of light. PDT using Npe6 caused no significant toxicity with the exception of temporary generalized skin photosensitivity. In all cases, light treatment caused immediate tissue blanching, followed by a marked necrosis of the tumor mass. Regression of tumor occurred over 24-48 h after the light treatment and was followed by the formation of a heavy eschar over the tumor site. Tumor regression was short-lived at Npe6 doses of 1.65 mg/kg and below. In two of three patients, tumor regression was either incomplete or tumors recurred within the 12-week observation period. Increasing the Npe6 dose to 2.5 or 3.5 mg/kg combined with 100 J/cm2 of light energy resulted in better control of tumor regrowth with 66% (6/9) of sites remaining tumor-free through 12 weeks observation. This increased tumor response came at the expense of the tissue selectivity observed at Npe6 doses of 1.65 mg/kg and below. There was no apparent selectivity for destruction of tumor compared with normal skin at Npe6 doses of 2.5 mg/kg and above. These data demonstrate that Npe6 is both an effective and safe photosensitizer for use in PDT and provide the impetus for continued study in Phase II clinical trials.     

Results of autopsy 7 months after successful endoluminal treatment of an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm

PURPOSE: To report the results of a postmortem examination in a patient who died of unrelated causes 7 months following endoluminal treatment of an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS: As part of an FDA Phase I pilot study, a 73-year-old man underwent successful endoluminal exclusion of an infrarenal AAA using a 9-cm-long endograft (Endovascular Grafting System). Seven months later, he succumbed to complications of a spontaneous esophageal rupture. At autopsy, the aorta was dissected in situ by a vascular surgeon and pathologist before being explanted in order to examine the wound healing characteristics at the aorta-endograft interface. Particular attention was also directed to the hooks composing the attachment system at each end of the endograft. RESULTS: Macroscopic and microscopic examination revealed that the graft had completely excluded the aneurysm sac from the circulation and was incorporated into the aortic wall at the proximal neck and distal cuff. A smooth pannus of endothelial cells covered the proximal end of the endograft at the areas of contact with the aorta, while microscopic examination of the distal end of the graft revealed poorly formed, fibrinous pannus. The neointima deep to the endothelium consisted of a collagenous matrix containing myofibroblasts and histiocytes, providing evidence of healing between the endograft and aorta. Both renal arteries were clear of the proximal end of the endograft, but a previously unrecognized right lower pole renal artery with an extremely caudal origin was excluded from the aortic lumen. Each hook of the attachment system was seen protruding through the adventitia of the aorta. There was no evidence of trauma to the aortic wall or the surrounding tissues caused by these hooks. CONCLUSION: There appears to be evidence that an endoluminally placed aortic graft may be incorporated by the host aortic tissue.     

Brain volume preserved in healthy elderly through the eleventh decade

Holstein cows (n = 51) that had been diagnosed with toxic puerperal metritis were used to determine the treatment efficacy of various antibiotics. On the day of diagnosis, cows affected with toxic puerperal metritis were assigned randomly to three treatment groups. Cows in groups 1 and 2 received 22,000 IU/kg of procaine penicillin G i.m. for 5 d. In addition, cows in group 2 received an intrauterine infusion of 6 g of oxytetracycline on d 1, 3, and 5. Cows in group 3 received 2.2 mg/kg of ceftiofur sodium i.m. for 5 d. Dependent variables used to determine antibiotic efficacy included milk yield on d 1 through 12, rectal temperature on d 1 through 5, and serum haptoglobin concentration on d 1, 3, and 5. No difference was observed among groups for milk yield on d 1 and 12 or for temperature on d 1 and 5. Serum haptoglobin was elevated to > 10 mg/dl for cows in all groups; however, no difference was observed among groups on d 1 and 5. Because all groups showed a favorable response, this study suggests that there is no difference in treatment efficacy among antibiotics used to treat cows affected with toxic puerperal metritis.