Inhibition of Cronobacter sakazakii by Lactobacillus acidophilus n.v. Er2 317/402.

Lactobacillus acidophilus n.v. Er2 317/402 strain Narine is known as a health beneficial functional probiotic culture and supplementary source of nutrition for newborns. In this study, in vitro antimicrobial activities of Narine-lyophilized (Narine-L), Narine-heat treated (Narine-HT), and Narine crude cell-free extract (Narine-CCFE) were evaluated against pathogen Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) in agar as well as in a reconstituted powdered infant formula (RPIF) model. Inhibition zones of 30 mg Narine-L and Narine-HT were both 150 U, whereas inhibition zone of 30 mg Narine-CCFE was 200 U. Narine-L (1 g) and Narine-HT (1 g) were added to 10 mL of artificially contaminated RPIF, respectively, containing 100 µL of C. sakazakii (1.62×108 colony forming unit (CFU)/mL). After treatment with Narine-L and Narine-HT for 3 h and 6 h at 37℃, less than ≤107 CFU/mL of C. sakazakii was detected in RPIF. Without Narine-L and Narine-HT treatment, the population of C. sakazakii increased up to 5.36×109 CFU/mL after 6 h. Examination by transmission electron microscopy confirmed C. sakazakii cells were damaged by Narine-CCFE. Thus, employing Narine culture as a natural and safe bio-preservative may protect infants from C. sakazakii.

Influence of the tooth- and implant-side marginal bone level on the interproximal papilla dimension in a single implant with a microthread, conical seal, and platform-switched design.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether bone level on the tooth side was the single dominant factor on the dimension of an interproximal papilla around single-tooth restorations made on a microthread, conical seal, and platform-switched design implant. METHODS: Periapical radiographs were taken of 17 patients, each of whom was treated with a single implant. The bone levels on the tooth (Dt) and implant (Di) sides were recorded. The dimension of the papilla (Ph) was measured as the shortest distance from the top of the papilla to the crestal bone. The marginal bone levels of the implants were also measured. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to correlate the variables, and a regression analysis was used to determine whether Di or Dt had a significant (P <0.05) influence on Ph. RESULTS: A positive correlation existed between Ph and Di (r = 0.413; P = 0.023) and between Ph and Dt (r = 0.830; P <0.0001). However, only Dt had a significant influence on Ph. CONCLUSION: Dt is the dominant factor that influences the interproximal soft tissue dimension between a natural tooth and a single implant with a microthread, conical seal, and platform-switched design.

The singer's formant and speaker's ring resonance: a long-term average spectrum analysis.

OBJECTIVES: We previously showed that a trained tenor's voice has the conventional singer's formant at the region of 3 kHz and another energy peak at 8-9 kHz. Singers in other operatic voice ranges are assumed to have the same peak in their singing and speaking voice. However, to date, no specific measurement of this has been made. METHODS: Tenors, baritones, sopranos and mezzo sopranos were chosen to participate in this study of the singer's formant and the speaker's ring resonance. Untrained males (n=15) and females (n=15) were included in the control group. Each subject was asked to produce successive /a/ vowel sounds in their singing and speaking voice. For singing, the low pitch was produced in the chest register and the high notes in the head register. We collected the data on the long-term average spectra of the speaking and singing voices of the trained singers and the control groups. RESULTS: For the sounds produced from the head register, a significant energy concentration was seen in both 2.2-3.4 kHz and 7.5-8.4 kHz regions (except for the voices of the mezzo sopranos) in the trained singer group when compared to the control groups. Also, the chest register had a significant energy concentration in the 4 trained singer groups at the 2.2-3.1 kHz and 7.8-8.4 kHz. For speaking sound, all trained singers had a significant energy concentration at 2.2-5.3 kHz and sopranos had another energy concentration at 9-10 kHz. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that opera singers have more energy concentration in the singer's formant/speaker's ring region, in both singing and speaking voices. Furthermore, another region of energy concentration was identified in opera singer's singing sound and in sopranos' speaking sound at 8-9 kHz. The authors believe that these energy concentrations may contribute to the rich voice of trained singers.