Validation of Sanitation Management Standards for Vegetable Preparation with No-Cook Step Based on Microbiological Analysis

This study evaluated the sanitation management standards for vegetable preparation processes without a cooking stage. The aerobic plate counts (APC), coliform counts, and Escherichia coli of the samples at each production step were analyzed, and microbial growth of the samples stored at different temperatures was measured. The validation was judged in accordance with the microbial criteria stipulated by the British PHLS.After washing and disinfection, the APCs of the two samples decreased to 3∼4 log CFU/g in both seasons. Compared to the purchasing stage, the decrease in coliform counts was approximately 0∼3 log CFU/g in both seasons; E. coli was not detected. The initial APC and coliform levels of two vegetable samples were 4∼ 5 log CFU/g in both seasons, with an increase of 1 log CFU/g taking more than 6 h at 25°C and 2 h at 35°C. More than 10 h at 25°C and 6 h at 35°C were required to increase the E. coli O157:H7 count by 1∼2 log CFU/g for two seasoned samples. In conclusion, washing and disinfection effects and changes in microbial growth during room temperature storage were similar in the two vegetables. Despite the low sanitizing effect of the two vegetables, when cut vegetables were stored under the critical limit within 2 h at two different room temperatures, seasoned lettuce and chicory were at the ‘satisfactory’ or ‘acceptable’ levels of PHLS regardless of the storage temperatures. The validation of sanitation management standards applied to vegetable preparation with the no-cook step was approved.

Job Satisfaction of Nutritionist: Effect on Organizational Commitment and Turnover Intention in Public Health Center

This study examined the job satisfaction of nutritionists, and its effect on organizational commitment andturnover intention in public health centers. The response data of 174 nutritionists were analyzed. The overallaverage of job satisfaction was 3.94 out of 7 points, which was determined to be below ‘normal’; however, thejob suitability of sub-factors scored 5.26, which was more than ‘normal’. The variables affecting job satisfactionthat were provided by the respondents included job-related licenses (P＜0.01) and co-nutritionists (P＜0.01).Organizational commitment ranked ‘normal’ with a score of 4.35. Normative commitment (4.90) of thesub-factors was ‘normal’ or more, and differed when considering ‘age’ (P＜0.01), ‘employment status’ (P＜0.01),‘salary per year’ (P＜0.05), and ‘working area’ (P＜0.05). The turnover intention was analyzed to be below‘normal’ with 3.88 points, and the variables affecting turnover were significantly higher for subjects in their20s (P＜0.01), less than two job-related licenses (P＜0.05), and less than two co-nutritionists (P＜0.01). Thefour variables of job satisfaction, ‘business discretion’ (P＜0.05), ‘work environment’ (P＜0.01), ‘job suitability’(P＜0.01), and ‘reward’ (P＜0.01), positively affected the organizational commitment. Moreover, organizationalcommitment had a mediating effect (P＜0.01) on job satisfaction and turnover intention. Taken together, ourresults suggest that public health centers need to develop improvement plans for business discretion, workenvironment, job suitability and reward.

Mid-term Results of Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation in Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head / 대한고관절학회지

PURPOSE: This study evaluated mid-term clinical and radiological results of autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for early stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) and analyzed prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2003 to April 2008, 101 hips of 93 patients with early stage ONFH who underwent autologous BMT were followed for at least five years. For clinical results, preoperative and postoperative Harris hip scores (HHS) were evaluated and survival rate was obtained at the point of performing total hip arthroplasty or femoral head collapse progression. Radiologic results were assessed by changes in necrosis size on magnetic resonance imaging performed preoperative and postoperatively. For evaluation of prognostic factors, survival rate was analyzed according to age, gender, etiology, stage, necrosis size, and location. RESULTS: Averaged HHS at latest follow up showed no significant change in comparison with preoperative HHS. Of 101 hips, 35 hips required arthroplasty and six hips were running head collapse. Groups with use of steroid, lateral location of necrosis, large size of necrosis, or large necrotic angles showed lower survival rate. However, age, gender, and stage had no effect. CONCLUSION: In early days, autologous BMT for early ONFH can be considered as a treatment for improvement of clinical features and delay of radiologic progress. However, after some years, there was no effect compared with the natural course of ONFH.

The New Radiographic Evaluation of Hindfoot Alignment / 대한족부족관절학회지

PURPOSE: There are various methods proposed for the evaluation of the hindfoot alignment. However, due to structural calcaneus variances between patients, it is hard to assess this alignment definitively. Thus, this study proposes a new method for evaluating of the hindfoot alignment and its comparisons to the existing current methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study includes simple weight bearing hindfoot coronal view radiographs of 120 patients, taken between the time period of March 2008 to November 2009. Among the 120 patients, there was a 1:1 ratio of male to female with an average age of 40. The newly proposed method for evaluating this alignment is to draw a moment arm from the point where the sustentaculum tali meets the medial calcaneus border to the most prominent aspect of the lateral process of the calcaneal tuberosity. The angle produced via the intersection of this moment arm to the mid-longitudinal axis of the tibia is found and used to evaluate the hindfoot alignment. The inter and intra-observer reliability was evaluated using the coefficient of intraclass correlation. This study also investigates the comparisons between the newly proposed method to the traditionally used Saltzman et al hindfoot alignment evaluating technique. RESULTS: The newly proposed method has higher inter and intra-observer reliability than the existing traditional Saltzman et al technique. CONCLUSION: This new method is recommended over the traditionally used Saltzman et al technique as it has a stronger confidence level and is appropriate for assessing hindfoot alignment in simple radiographs.

The effect of PDGF-BB loaded TCP/ chitosan microgranules on new bone formation / 대한치주과학회지

The purpose of this study was to evaluate newly fabricated tricalcium phosphate(TCP)/chitosan microgranuls as bone substitutes. TCP/chitosan microgranules were fabricated by dropping TCP-chitosan suspension into the NaOH/ethanol solution. The size of microgranules could be controllable via airflow rate. PDGF-BB was loaded into the fabricated granules via freeze-drying methods(300 ng/20 mg). To evaluate cell proliferation, cultured osteoblasts cell lines(MC3T3-E1) was dropped on the BioOss(R), chitosan microgranules, TCP/chitosan microgranules and cultured for 1, 7, 14, and 28 days. Scanning electron microscopic observation was done after 7 days of culture and light microscopic examination was done after 28 days of culture. PDGF-BB release from the microgranules was tested. Rabbit calvarial defects(8 mm in diameter) were formed and chitosan, TCP/chitosan, PDGF-TCP/chitosan microgranules, and BioGran(R) were grafted to test the ability of new bone formation. At SEM view, the size of prepared microgranules was 250-1000 um and TCP powders were observed at the surface of TCP/chitosan microgranules. TCP powders gave roughness to the granules and this might help the attachment of osteoblasts. The pores formed between microgranules might be able to allow new bone ingrowth and vascularization. There were no significant differences in cell number among BioOss(R) and two microgranules at 28 day. Light and scanning electron microscopic examination showed that seeded osteoblastic cells were well attached to TCP/chitosan microgranules and proliferated in a multi-layer. PDGF-BB released from TCP/chitosan microgranules was at therapeutic concentration for at least 1 week. In rabbit calvarial defect models, PDGF-TCP/chitosan microgranules grafted sites showed thicker bone trabeculae pattern and faster bone maturation than others. These results suggested that the TCP/chitosan microgranules showed the potential as bone substitutes.

Cellular activity and guided bone regenerative effect of drug-loaded biodegradable membranes / 대한치주과학회지

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of tetracycline(TC), flurbiprofen, and PDGF-BB loaded biodegradable membranes on the cell-attachment, the activity of loaded PDGF-BB, in vivo release kinetics, and guided bone regenerative potentials. To evaluate the cell attachment to membranes, the number of gingival fibroblasts attached to each membrane(10% TC, 10% flurbiprofen, 200ng/cm2 PDGF-BB loaded membranes, drug-unloaded membrane) was counted by coulter counter and the morphologic pattern of attached cells was examined under SEM. To determine whether the activity of loaded PDGF-BB is sustained, the cellular growth and survival rate of gingival fibroblasts was used for both standard PDGF-BB and loaded PDGF-BB. For evaluation of in vivo release kinetics, drug-loaded membranes were implanted on the dorsal skin of the rats. On 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 days after implantation, the amount of remaining drugs were measured by HPLC assay for TC and flurbiprofen, and by gamma-scintillation counter for PDGF-BB(I125). For evaluation of guided regenerative potential, the amount of new bone in the calvarial defects(5mm in diameter) of the rat was measured by histomorphometry 1 and 2 weeks after implantation of membranes. The number of cells attached to the PDGF-BB loaded membrane was largest as compared with the other membranes.(p<0.05) The activity of loaded PDGF-BB was not significantly different from the activity of standard PDGF-BB.(p< 0.05) After initial burst release of drug during the first 24 hours, drugs were gradually released for 4 weeks. Especially the release rate of PDGF-BB was nearly constant during 4 weeks. PDGF-BB loaded membranes(200, 400ng/cm2) were effective in guided bone regeneration as compared with drug-unloaded membrane. These results implicate that drug-loaded biodegradable membranes might be a useful for guided bone regeneration.