Contamination of Salmonella Schwarzengrund cells in chicken meat from traditional marketplaces in Taiwan and comparison of their antibiograms with those of the human isolates.

Salmonella Schwarzengrund is one of the infective Salmonella serotypes for humans and food animals, such as poultry and swine. Because consumption of foods containing salmonellae due to cross contamination or inadequate cooking may lead to human salmonellosis, in this report, the prevalence of Salmonella Schwarzengrund contamination in chicken meat samples purchased from different traditional marketplaces in Taiwan between 2000 and 2006 was investigated. In addition, 228 Salmonella Schwarzengrund strains isolated from these chicken meat samples and 30 human isolates obtained between 2004 and 2006 were compared for their antimicrobial susceptibility. Results showed that the prevalence of Salmonella Schwarzengrund contamination in raw chicken meat samples was 30.5%. Of all of the Salmonella isolates from chicken meat, Salmonella Schwarzengrund accounted for 39.3%. On the other hand, of the total Salmonella strains isolates from humans between 2004 and 2006, Salmonella Schwarzengrund accounted for 2.8%. All these chicken meat isolates and human isolates were multidrug-resistant and demonstrated high resistance to ampicillin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and chloramphenicol. For gentamicin and kanamycin, however, the resistance gradually declined. The antibiogram study may indicate the abuse of some antibiotics for both humans and chickens. Also, transmission of Salmonella Schwarzengrund strains between humans and food of animal origin is possible.

Immune effect of heat-killed multistrain of Lactobacillus acidophilus against Salmonella typhimurium invasion to mice.

AIMS: This study attempted to determine whether lactic acid bacteria (LAB) could have a better probiotic function when used as a multistrain mixture, i.e. Mix-LAB, than when used as a monostrain. To this end, three strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, specifically strain LAP5, LAF1 and LAH7, were heat-killed and mixed. This heat-killed Mix-LAB was used to evaluate the effectiveness of multistrain in inhibiting Salmonella invasion into cultured cells and into organs (spleen and liver) of live mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: BALB/c mice were orally administered with heat-killed Mix-LAB or sterile normal saline (control) for seven consecutive days and then challenged with orally administered Salmonella typhimurium on day 8. Results showed that, at day 6 after the challenge, the mice which had received Mix-LAB exhibited lower rates (P < 0.05) of Salmonella invasion into liver and spleen than did the control mice. Also, before the Salmonella challenge, the serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between these two groups of mice. After the challenge, however, the serum TNF-alpha level was significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in the control group, but not significantly changed in the Mix-LAB fed mice. To investigate possible factors involved in heat-killed Mix-LABs antagonistic effect on Salmonella invasion of mouse organs, heat-killed single strain and Mix-LAB were evaluated for ability to inhibit Salmonella invasion into cultured human intestinal Int-407 and Caco-2 cells. Results showed that none of the heat-killed strains were able to protect these cultured cells from Salmonella invasion, even though strains of LAP5 and Mix-LAB were adherent to them. However, study of the activation of murine macrophage Raw 264.7 cells showed that heat-killed Mix-LAB stimulated TNF-alpha production, nitric oxide release, and increased phagocytic activity in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that heat-killed Mix-LAB can inhibit Salmonella invasion of mouse organs through the immunomodulating role of activated macrophage. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The ability of heat-killed Mix-LAB to prevent bacterial infection in mice was found to be more significant than that of viable monostrain. This effect may be due to the activation of the immune system rather than to the adherence of LAB to the intestine epithelium.

Expression of a bacterial ice nucleation gene in a yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its possible application in food freezing processes.

A 3.6 kb ice nucleation gene (ina) isolated from Erwinia herbicola was placed under control of the galactose-inducible promoter (GAL1) and introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast transformants showed increased ice nucleation activity over untransformed controls. The freezing temperature of a small volume of water droplets containing yeast cells was increased from approximately -13 degrees C in the untransformed controls to -6 degrees C in ina-expressing (Ina(+)) transformants. Lower temperature growth of Ina(+) yeast at temperatures below 25 degrees C was required for the expression of ice nucleation activity. Shift of temperature to 5-20 degrees C could induce the ice nucleation activity of Ina(+) yeast when grown at 25 degrees C, and maximum ice nucleation activity was achieved after induction at 5 degrees C for approximately 12 h. The effects of Ina(+) yeast on freezing and texturization of several food materials was also demonstrated.

[A case of temporal lobe epidermoid cyst].

A case of temporal lobe epidermoid cyst was reported. More than 5 ml of cerebrospinal fluid was aspirated during the operation. This cerebrospinal fluid among the anatomical interstices of the tumor was considered to be rather responsible for the low density in the CT scan.

Preoperative diagnosis of Rathke's cleft cyst.

Two cases of Rathke's cleft cyst are presented. The cysts showed as high-density lesions on plain CT with slight enhancement with contrast medium. They appeared as a hyperintense mass in the T 1-weighted magnetic resonance images. Preoperative diagnosis is very important because different sellar cystic lesions require different treatment.

Meningeal hemangiopericytoma.

If meningeal hemangiopericytoma could be diagnosed prior to operation, the neurosurgeon might be better prepared to deal with excessive bleeding during the operation. This type of tumor should be completely excised because of the high risk of recurrence and remote metastasis. Computed tomography as well as cerebral angiography would aid in the preoperative diagnosis of hemangiopericytoma. Early detection and periodic observation by computed tomography may minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with late detection.

Single extracranial-intracranial duplication of the vertebral artery.

Duplication or fenestration of the vertebral artery is an unusual vascular variation previously described as present either at the extracranial segment (atlantoaxial level) or at the intracranial segment of the artery. This report describes such a duplication that extended from the extracranial to the intracranial segment and was revealed by angiography. The embryologic genesis and potential clinical significance of this condition are discussed.

Peritumoral oedema and lipid content.

The authors analyzed the water and lipid contents of oedematous tissues of white matter obtained during the operation, comparing with the absorption value in the CT scan. As the absorption value lowered its level, the water content increased, while the lipid decreased. However, after subtracting these two components, the content of protein also showed a significant decrement parallel to the absorption value despite the existence of extravasated protein. The decrement of lipid content was considered to be due to a dilution effect by an expanded volume of extravasated oedema fluid, as well as the decrease in protein, rather than the actual loss of tissue component; that is demyelination. It is the relative decrease in protein content which contributes to the low absorption value of oedematous tissue.

[Necrotomy of brain stem glioma and local administration of anticancer agents].

We studied 14 cases with brain stem glioma. Five cases in 7 malignant gliomas showed large central necrosis in CT scans. The central necrosis neighboring the surface of the pons or the fourth ventricle was removed with CO2-LASER and cavitron ultrasonic aspirator (necrotomy) and a few pellets were given in the residual tumor in four cases. Three cases showed remarkable improvement of clinical course. A case came back to work. Other two children resulted in high Karnofsky rating. A case did not improve and died 10 months after the surgery. CT scans showed the decompression of the fourth ventricle due to decrease in volume of central necrosis. The preoperative enhanced lesion was decreased in degree of contrast enhancement. The necrotomy of brain stem glioma and local administration of anti-tumor-agents in residual tumor showed excellent results in some cases. We should scrutinize CT scans and NMR in cases with brain stem glioma.

Cerebral gumma. Case report.

A case of focal cerebral syphilitic gumma of the right temporal lobe is reported. Angiography showed moderate focal hypervascularity with stretched vessels, and irregularity of the vessel walls. Plain computerized tomography revealed an area of low density that enhanced strongly after intravenous administration of contrast medium.

[Fenestration of the internal carotid artery in the neck].

Fenestration or duplication of the internal carotid artery is extremely rare. A review of the literature revealed only two such cases by angiography. We present two further cases of internal carotid artery fenestration, incidentally disclosed by angiography. The embryological basis and the clinical significance of this anomalous condition were discussed. Case 1. A 47-year-old woman was admitted to hospital on May 13, 1982, after the first attack of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Four-vessel angiography showed a saccular aneurysm arising at the trifurcation of the right middle cerebral artery. In addition, a fenestration of the right internal carotid artery was demonstrated at the level of the atlas: the cervical portion of the vessel distal to the level of C-2 was markedly elongated and dilated in caliber. Moreover, the right external carotid artery occupied a dorso-lateral position relative to the internal carotid artery. Case 2. A 51-year-old man was admitted to hospital on April 20, 1983, for evaluation of grand mal seizures. CT scans and four-vessel angiograms showed a malignant glioma of the right temporal lobe. Additionally, a fenestration of the right internal carotid artery was identified at the level of the atlantoaxial joint, and the vessel was dilated in caliber at the level of C-1 to C-2.

Intracranial epidermoids--concerning the low absorption value on computerized tomography.

The authors analysed the contents of two intracranial epidermoids showing low density on computerized tomography. Although both cases had approximately similar composition, 85, 83% for water, 12, 12.5% for protein, 3, 4.5% for total lipid including cholesterol, respectively, the absorption values differed from each other. Both tumours were identified to communicate with CSF, one by delayed metrizamide CT scan and the other by direct aspiration during operation. The low absorption values in both cases resembled or were slightly higher than that of CSF in each case, and not a single pixel showed negative values for lipid. These findings suggest that it is the CSF content within the anatomical interstices or structural crevice of the tumour, rather than cholesterol, which is responsible for the low absorption values which appeared in the CT scan.

Ossifying fibroma of the frontoethmoid sinus.

We report the case of a woman with ossifying fibroma of the right frontoethmoid sinus. Computed tomography and hypocycloidal tomography were useful in identifying the lesion and its extension into the intracranial and intraorbital cavity.