ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to investigate the bactericidal effect of nisin (Nisin) only, atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) only, and a combination of APP and nisin (APP+Nisin) on beef jerky and sliced ham inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7, gram-negative bacteria. The bactericidal effect against E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes was confirmed using a nisin solution at a concentration of 0-100 ppm, and APP+Nisin was tested on beef jerky and sliced ham using 100 ppm nisin. Beef jerky and sliced ham were treated with APP for 5 min and 9 min, respectively. In the bacterial solution, 100 ppm nisin out of 0-100 ppm nisin exhibited the highest bactericidal activity against L. monocytogenes (gram-positive bacteria; p<0.05); however, it did not exhibit bactericidal effects against E. coli O157:H7 (gram-negative bacteria). The APP+Nisin exhibited a 100% reduction rate in both E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes compared to the control group, and was more effective than the Nisin. The APP+Nisin decreased the number of colonies formed by 0.80 and 1.96 Log CFU/g for beef jerky and sliced ham, respectively, compared to the control, and exhibited a higher bactericidal effect compared to the Nisin (p<0.05). These results demonstrate the synergistic bactericidal effect of APP and nisin, providing a possible method to improve the limitations of nisin against gram-negative bacteria. In addition, this technology has the potential to be applied to various meats and meat products to control surface microorganisms.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify potential safety signals and adverse events following the primary Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination series among children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: Adverse events reported through the COVID-19 vaccination management system (CVMS, a web-based passive vaccine safety surveillance system) and adverse events and health conditions collected from a text message-based survey were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 14,786 adverse events among 5 to 17-year-old children and adolescents were reported in the CVMS; 14,334 (96.9%) were non-serious and 452 (3.1%) were serious, including 125 suspected cases of acute cardiovascular injury and 101 suspected cases of anaphylaxis. The overall reporting rate was lower in 5 to 11-year-old children (64.5 per 100,000 doses) than in 12 to 17-year-old adolescents (300.5 per 100,000 doses). The text message survey identified that local and systemic adverse events after either dose were reported less frequently in 5 to 11-year-old children than in 12 to 17-year-old adolescents (p<0.001). The most commonly reported adverse events were pain at the injection site, myalgia, headache, and fatigue/tiredness. CONCLUSION: The overall results are consistent with the results of controlled trials; serious adverse events were extremely rare among 5 to 17-year-old children and adolescents following Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination. Adverse events were less frequent in children aged 5 to 11 years than in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years.
ABSTRACT
The suicide rate in the United States has climbed each year for more than a decade, highlighting the need for greater understanding of, and prevention strategies for suicidal behavior. Nightmares have been shown to be associated with suicidal behavior independent of several psychiatric risk factors for suicide, such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The specific role of nightmares in contributing to suicide remains unclear due to the difficulty in delineating causal factors. However, the reporting, screening and treatment of nightmares continues to remain rare making progress difficult. Research is beginning to make some progress in uncovering the mechanisms by which nightmares increase suicide risk providing opportunities for intervention and prediction of suicidal behaviors.
