Fates of foodborne pathogens in raw hams manufactured rapidly using a new patented method.

To manufacture raw ham in an efficient manner, we recently developed a new system in which presliced pork loin was used, and the processing time was reduced to 5% of the conventional method. This study aimed to examine whether this raw ham could be as safe as ham produced by the conventional method. Pork loin spiked with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2c, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, and Staphylococcus aureus were processed using either the new or conventional method. The fate of the foodborne pathogens and behavior of hygiene indicator bacteria were examined. Whereas nitrite had disappeared during the conventional packaging process, the reduced processing time in the new system allowed for the ham to be vacuum packed with retention of the nitrite (6.9±1.2 ppm, P<0.01). This accounts for the prominent decrease in L. monocytogenes (2.3 log reduction in 35 days) and S. aureus (3.3 log reduction in 13 days) counts during storage. E. coli O157 and Salmonella Enteritidis were likely resistant to the nitrite in the ham. However, they were unable to multiply in the ham and decreased gradually as in the conventionally produced ham. The bacteriostatic nature of the raw ham was also indicated by the gradual decrease in coliforms (1.3 log reduction in 13 days) in nonspiked ham. In conclusion, the raw ham produced using presliced pork loin is practically as safe as conventionally produced raw ham. It is worth validating these results in a small-scale production setting.

Whole-brain perfusion CT performed with a prototype 256-detector row CT system: initial experience.

PURPOSE: To preliminarily evaluate the feasibility and potential diagnostic utility of whole-brain perfusion computed tomography (CT) performed with a prototype 256-detector row CT system over an extended range covering the entire brain to assess ischemic cerebrovascular disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Eleven cases in 10 subjects (six men, four women; mean age, 64.3 years) with intra- or extracranial stenosis were retrospectively evaluated with whole-brain perfusion CT. Three readers independently evaluated perfusion CT data. The diagnostic performance of perfusion CT was visually evaluated with a three-point scale used to assess three factors. Differences between four axial perfusion CT images obtained at the basal ganglia level (hereafter, four-section images) and whole-brain perfusion CT images were assessed with the paired t test. In four subjects, the interval between perfusion CT and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was 1-17 days (mean, 10.3 days). Correlation between perfusion CT findings and SPECT findings was assessed with the Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Three-dimensional perfusion CT images and axial, coronal, and sagittal whole-brain perfusion CT images were displayed, and the extent of ischemia was assessed. Mean visual evaluation scores were significantly higher for whole-brain images than for four-section images (4.27 +/- 0.76 [standard deviation] vs 2.55 +/- 0.87). The cerebral blood flow ratios of the ischemic lesions relative to normal regions scanned with perfusion CT (x) and SPECT (y) showed a significant positive correlation (R(2) = 0.76, y = 0.44 x + 0.37, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Perfusion CT performed with a 256-detector row CT system can be used to assess the entire brain with administration of one contrast medium bolus. Thus, ischemic regions can be identified with one examination, which has the potential to improve diagnostic utility.

Spoilage ability of psychrotrophic Paenibacillus spp. isolated from cooked food products.

Five spore-forming bacterial strains were isolated as the most dominant microorganisms from five products of different types of cooked food. Three strains in particular were isolated as spoilage organisms causing acidity. These belonged to the genus Paenibacillus, and one of them was identified as Paenibacillus odorifer. All five strains grew at 10 degrees C in brain heart infusion broth; furthermore, four strains grew at 4 degrees C also. These strains grew optimally at 30 to 35 degrees C. Psychrotrophic Paenibacillus spp. can easily be mistaken for lactic acid bacteria in routine analysis because of their colony characteristics. Because the measures that must be taken for bacterial control are different in the case of contamination by these two bacterial groups, psychrotrophic Paenibacillus spp. contamination must be distinguished from that caused by lactic acid bacteria.

[Three-dimensional CT angiography of central nervous system].

Three-dimensional CT angiography (3 D-CTA) has become a modality of choice for the evaluation of the lesions and diseases of central nervous system. Further enhancement of diagnostic capability has been achieved by the development and introduction of multislice CT, which enabled us to obtain true isotrophic volumetric data. Most proven application of 3 D-CTA in CNS is the diagnosis and management of cerebral aneurysms. It can be used as an alternative to conventional angiography in most of cases. Other promising applications of 3 D-CTA are, pre-surgical evaluation of arteriovenous malformations, diagnosis of ischemic diseases, and evaluation of neck artery.