Modeling the Temperature Effect on the Growth of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli in Sous-Vide Chicken Breast.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is known to cause 65-75% of human urinary tract infection (UTI) cases. Poultry meat is a reservoir of UPEC, which is suspected to cause foodborne UTIs. In the present study, we aimed to determine the growth potential of UPEC in ready-to-eat chicken breasts prepared by sous-vide processing. Four reference strains isolated from the urine of UTI patients (Bioresource Collection and Research Center [BCRC] 10,675, 15,480, 15,483, and 17,383) were tested by polymerase chain reaction assay for related genes to identify their phylogenetic type and UPEC specificity. A cocktail of these UPEC strains was inoculated into sous-vide cooked chicken breast at 103-4 colony-forming unit (CFU)/g and stored at 4°C, 10°C, 15°C, 20°C, 30°C, and 40°C. Changes in the populations of UPEC during storage were analyzed by a one-step kinetic analysis method using the U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] Integrated Pathogen Modeling Program-Global Fit [IPMP-Global Fit]. The results showed that the combination of the no lag phase primary model and the Huang square-root secondary model fitted well with the growth curves to obtain the appropriate kinetic parameters. This combination for predicting UPEC growth kinetics was further validated using it to study additional growth curves at 25°C and 37°C, which showed that the root mean square error, bias factor, and accuracy factor were 0.49-0.59 (log CFU/g), 0.941-0.984, and 1.056-1.063, respectively. In conclusion, the models developed in this study are acceptable and can be used to predict the growth of UPEC in sous-vide chicken breast.

Thermal inactivation kinetics of uropathogenic Escherichia coli in sous-vide processed chicken breast.

Chicken is a suspected reservoir of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), resulting in foodborne urinary tract infections (UTIs). Sous-vide ready-to-eat (RTE) food products may be associated with microbial hazards due to the low-temperature long-time (LTLT) process. However, little is known regarding the survival of UPEC during sous-vide cooking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the heat resistance of UPEC in chicken breast during sous-vide processing and establish predictive inactivation models. Chicken breast samples were inoculated with a four-strain cocktail of UPEC, including reference strains from UTI patients and chicken isolates. The inoculated samples, with or without 3% NaCl solution for marination, were vacuum sealed in bags, immersed in a temperature-controlled water bath, and cooked at 50 °C, 55 °C, 60 °C, and 63 °C. The change in survival of populations of UPEC was fitted with the linear and Weibull inactivation models to obtain the survival curves at different temperatures; the D- and z-values were also calculated. The goodness-of-fit was evaluated using the root mean square error (RMSE), sum of squared errors (SSE), adjusted R2, and Akaike information criterion (AIC). The results showed that the linear model with tail was better than the Weibull model in terms of fitting performance. With the addition of salt marinade, D-values at 50 °C, 55 °C, 60 °C, and 63 °C determined by the linear model with tail decreased from 299.78 to 166.93 min, 16,60 to 13.87 min, 4.06 to 3.05 min, and 1.05 to 0.87 min, respectively, compared with the controls. The z-values of control and salt-marinated samples were 6.14 °C and 5.89 °C, respectively. The model developed for predicting UPEC survival under sous-vide cooking was validated using an additional survival curve at 58 °C. The validation results showed that the RMSE was 0.122 and 0.133 log CFU/g, and the proportion of relative error was 0.875 and 0.750 in the acceptable prediction zones for the control and salt-marinated samples, respectively. In conclusion, the heat resistance of an emerging foodborne pathogen, UPEC, in sous-vide processed chicken breast was revealed for the first time. Our results showed that salt marinade (3% NaCl) increases the heat sensitivity of UPEC during the sous-vide processing. The developed survival functions based on the linear model with tail can be applied to control the thermal lethality of UPEC.

CXCL2 combined with HVJ-E suppresses tumor growth and lung metastasis in breast cancer and enhances anti-PD-1 antibody therapy.

Breast cancer has a high risk of metastasis; however, no effective treatment has been established. We developed a novel immunotherapy for breast cancer to enhance cytotoxic T lymphocytes against cancer cells using N1-type neutrophils with anti-tumor properties. For this purpose, we combined CXCL2 (CXC chemokine ligand 2) plasmid DNA with inactivated Sendai virus (hemagglutinating virus of Japan)-envelope (HVJ-E). The combination of CXCL2 DNA and HVJ-E (C/H) suppressed the growth of murine breast cancers in orthotopic syngeneic models by enhancing cytotoxic T lymphocytes and inhibited lung metastasis of breast cancer from primary lesions. N1-type neutrophils (CD11b+ Ly6G+ FAS+) increased in the tumor microenvironment with C/H treatment, and tumor suppression and cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation from C/H was blocked after administrating anti-neutrophil antibodies, which indicates the role of N1-type neutrophils in cancer immunotherapy. We also demonstrated that the anti-tumor activities of C/H treatment were enhanced by the administration of anti-PD-1 antibodies through neutrophil-mediated cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation. Thus, the triple combination of C/H and anti-PD-1 antibody C/H treatment may provide an improvement in cancer immunotherapy.

Combination of cut-log cultivated fruiting body and solid-state cultured mycelia of Taiwanofungus camphoratus ameliorates CCl4-induced liver injury in rats.

Taiwanofungus camphoratus, a medicinal mushroom indigenous to Taiwan, possesses various pharmacological functions. The most recognized ethnopharmacological relevance of T. camphoratus is hepatoprotection since it was traditionally used for treating liver disorders by Taiwan aborigines. The aim of this study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of the combination of fruiting body and solid-state cultured mycelia of T. camphoratus (LDAC) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced chronic liver damage in rats. We treated Wistar rats daily with low, medium and high [87.5, 175 and 437.5 mg/kg body weight (bw), respectively] doses of LDAC for 9 weeks. After the first week of treatment, rats were administered 20% CCl4 (0.5 mL/0.3 kg bw) twice a week to induce liver damage until the treatment ended. The results showed that administration of LDAC by oral gavage significantly reduced the absolute weight of the liver and the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in CCl4-treated rats. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRd) and catalase (CAT) were increased by LDAC treatment. Moreover, LDAC improved CCl4-induced hepatic vacuolization, necrosis and fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner, and no adverse effects were observed in the LDAC-treated groups. Based on the results, LDAC is a promising hepatoprotective agent for preventing and ameliorating CCl4-induced chronic liver injury, and this effect might be exerted through activation of the antioxidant defense system.

Strontium ranelate treatment in a postmenopausal woman with osteonecrosis of the jaw after long-term oral bisphosphonate administration: a case report.

Bisphosphonates (BPs) suppress bone resorption and increase bone strength, thus reducing the risk of fracture. Oral BPs are widely used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and osteopenia. Here, we describe the case of a postmenopausal woman who took oral alendronate for >3 years for osteoporosis. The patient presented at the clinic with sharp jaw pain and swelling on the left mandible 4 months after extraction of the third molar. Clinical examinations identified an inflamed mucosal opening with pus over an area of necrotic bone. Initial images of cone beam computed tomography revealed a sequestrum at the extracted socket. The condition did not improve after 1 week of antibiotic treatment; therefore, the alendronate treatment was terminated and the patient was prescribed strontium ranelate instead. The patient gradually recovered and, at the 2-year follow-up, the site of BP-related osteonecrosis of the jaw healed completely as determined by both clinical and cone beam computed tomography measures. The bone mineral densities in the femoral neck and lumbar spine improved after 1 year, and were maintained at the 3-year follow-up. The serum C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide values also gradually increased from the initial 130 pg/mL to 320 pg/mL at the 3-year follow-up. Taken together, this case supports the use of strontium ranelate as an alternative treatment for postmenopausal women who receive long-term oral BP treatments and are at risk for serious complications of BP-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

MART-10, a newly synthesized vitamin D analog, represses metastatic potential of head and neck squamous carcinoma cells.

Even with multidisciplinary treatment, the prognosis and quality of life of patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are still not satisfactory. Previously, 19-Nor-2α-(3-hydroxypropyl)-1α,25(OH)2D3 (MART-10), the new brand 1α,25(OH)2D3 analog, has been demonstrated to be an effective drug to inhibit HNSCC growth in vitro. Since most cancer patients die of metastasis, in this study, the antimetastatic effect of MART-10 on HNSCC was investigated. Our results reveal that both 1α,25(OH)2D3 and MART-10 effectively repressed the migration and invasion of HNSCC cells, with MART-10 being much more potent than 1α,25(OH)2D3. The antimetastatic effect of 1α,25(OH)2D3 and MART-10 was mediated by attenuation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which was supported by the finding that the expression of EMT-inducing transcriptional factors, Sail and Twist, was inhibited by 1α,25(OH)2D3 and MART-10. The upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of N-cadherin in FaDu cells induced by both drugs further confirmed the repression of EMT. In addition, 1α,25(OH)2D3 and MART-10 treatment inhibited intracellular MMP-9 expression and extracellular MMP activity in FaDu cells. Collectively, our results suggest that the less-calcemia 1α,25(OH)2D3 analog, MART-10, is a promising drug for HNSCC treatment. Further clinical studies are warranted.

1α,25(OH)2D3 Analog, MART-10, Inhibits Neuroendocrine Tumor Cell Growth Through Induction of G0/G1 Cell-cycle Arrest and Apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are the second most common digestive malignancy. For advanced NETs, survival is not satisfactory. Vitamin D has emerged as a promising anticancer drug. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell proliferation assay, western blot, flow cytometry, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assays were applied. RESULTS: We demonstrated that RIN-m cells, neuroendocrine tumor cells, expressed vitamin D receptor (VDR) and VDR expression increased with increasing exposure to 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3] or MART-10, a 1α,25(OH)2D3 analog. MART-10 had anti-growth effect on RIN-m cells comparable to those of 1α,25(OH)2D3 The growth inhibition of both drugs was mediated by induction of cell-cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and apoptosis. Western blot assay further revealed that this G0/G1 arrest was due to the up-regulation of p27 and down-regulation of cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), with MART-10 also reducing CDK6. Apoptosis induction was further supported by increased cleaved caspase-3 expression after treatment. CONCLUSION: MART-10 appears to be a promising regimen for NET treatment.

[Changes of Streptococcus mutans concentration of plaque during fixed appliance treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of Streptococcus mutans concentration of plaque during fixed appliance treatment and the effects of two materials of ligation on Streptococcus mutans concentration. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients undergoing fixed appliance treatment were observed. Ligature wire and elastomeric rings were applied on one side of arches, stochastically. The dynamic changes on the quantity and percentage of Streptococcus mutans were observed before and after fixed appliance bonding. RESULTS: Statistically significant increase of the quantity and percentage of Streptococcus mutans was found after fixed appliance bonding, and the percentage of Streptococcus mutans in the plaque around the brackets ligated with elastomeric rings was more than that of ligature wire at the beginning of fixed appliance bonding, statistically. CONCLUSIONS: The finding suggested that the caries-associated capability of the plaque increased after bonding and there was greater caries-associated capability of the plague on the teeth when elastomeric rings was used than that of the plague when ligature wire was used at treatment beginning. The ligature wire is recommended in the fixed appliance treatment.

[Effect of chewing sugar-free gum after sucrose challenge on dental plaque pH in situ].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of chewing sugar-free gum after sucrose challenge on dental plaque pH in situ. METHODS: 16 healthy volunteers aged 23 - 32 years were screened as subjects. The pH of 48-hour dental plaque was measured using a Beetrode pH microelectrode when subjects chewed Extra sugar-free gum after sucrose challenge. RESULTS: Dental plaque pH maintained at resting plaque pH when immediately chewed sugar-free gum after sucrose challenge. Chewing sugar-free gum at 5 min after sucrose challenge, dental plaque pH was raised from 5.59 (measured at 5 min after sucrose challenge) to 6.98 (measured at 10 min after sucrose challenge). CONCLUSIONS: Chewing sugar-free gum after sucrose challenge can neutralize organic acid produced by bacteria in dental plaque and rapidly rise plaque pH.