Survival of pathogenic microorganisms in kefir

Kefir is a homemade fermented milk produced by adding kefir grains. The domestic handling and the use of raw materials from different standards and sources, and the lack of inspection by qualified professionals, all this classify kefir as a food which might represent potential risks to human health. This study aimed at evaluating the pathogens survival during the kefir fermentation process. Kefir grains were added into portions of UHT skimmed milk which were experimentally contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium and Enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Analyses of the microorganism isolation in these milk samples were carried out at 0, 6, 12, 48 and 72 hours of fermentation process. Salmonella Typhimurium and Enteritidis survived for a 24-hour periodin fermenting kefir. Escherichia coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes were recovered in less than 72 hours after the fermentation process was initiated. Under the conditions and the microorganisms concentrations established in the present study, the analyzed pathogenic bacteria survived for a period longer than those used for homemade kefir fermentation, and this one might be apotential hazard for human consumption.

Intrahepatic ramification of the portal vein in the human left hemiliver

A detailed knowledge of the intrahepatic ramification of the portal vein is fundamental for the examination and treatment of liver diseases. We studied the ramification of the portal vein 40 human left hemilivers. The hemiliver consisted of lateral superior (S2), lateral inferior (S3), and medial (S4) subsegments, of which the latter two were subdivided into superior and inferior regions. Four hundred and ninety-three branches were detected, 85 of them to S2, 132 to S3 and 276 to S4. The lateral superior portal branch (P2) was constant and ranged in caliber from 1.0 mm to 6.4 mm (meanñSD:3.6ñ1.2mm). In 3/40 cases (7.5per cent) and intermediate P2 branch was directed to the lower S2 region. The lateral inferior portal branches (P3) ranged in caliber from 1.0 mm to 7.5 mm (meanñSD:3.2ñ0.9mm). The medial P4 portal branches were more numerous but of smaller caliber, which ranged from 0.8 mm to 6.6 mm (meanñSD:2.5ñ0. 4mm). In 17/40 cases (42.5per cent), one or two branches, in addition to vascularizing their own subsegment, reached a region of the adjacent subsegment.

Tumores malignos de pele: estudo seccional e analítico de 83 casos / Malignanty skin tumors: sectional and analytical study of 83 cases

O câncer primário da pele é mais frequente em individuos caucasóides, sendo o melanoma maligno a princial causa de morte dentre todas as doenças originadas de pele. Foram analisados 83 casos de câncer de pele com comprovação anatomopatológica, submetios à tratamento operatório no Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica do Hospital e Maternidade Celso Pierro, PUC-Campinas entre o período de maio de 1996 a maio de 1997. Dos 83 pacientes analisados, 44 (53,0%) eram do sexo masculino, 39 (47%) do sexo feminino e 46,6% dos casos encontraram-se na faixa etária acima de 70 anos. Quanto ao diagnóstico histológico, 65 pacientes (72,2%) apresentavam carcinoma basocelular, 16 (17,7%) carcinoma espinocelular, 4 (4,3%) melanoma maligno e 5 (5,5%) constituiram outras neoplasias. Considerando o diagnóstico anatomopatológico, analisou-se a distribuição dos tumores de pele variantes: sexo, faixa etária, tipo de pele e exposição solar, localização do tumor e localização do carcinoma basocelular na face e confirmação anatomopatológico do diagnóstico pré operatório. Concluiu-se que a incidência quanto ao sexo, faixa etária, tipo histológico e topografia das lesões é coincidente com a literatura, ainda que a estatística nacional seja subestimada por perda de dados.