Behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes in packaged water buffalo mozzarella cheese.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to evaluate the behaviour of Listeria monocytogenes in the conditioning liquid of packaged water buffalo mozzarella cheese (WBMC). METHODS AND RESULTS: The conditioning liquid was contaminated with L. monocytogenes, and the contaminated samples were stored at four different storage temperatures: 5 and 10 °C for 22 days; 20 °C for 9 days; 20 °C for 3 days and then at 5 °C for 6 days. The results showed that L. monocytogenes concentration decreased when contaminated samples were stored at 5 °C. When WBMC was stored at 20 °C and at 10 °C, L. monocytogenes started to grow after a lag phase of 3 and 10 days, respectively. When samples were stored at variable temperature conditions, L. monocytogenes numbers showed a lag phase of 5 days. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a conditioning liquid characterized by acidity and a correct storage temperature is able to counteract pathogen replication during shelf life. A high concentration of lactic acid bacteria was associated with effective control of L. monocytogenes but the role of lactic acid bacteria in WBMC conditioning liquid requires further investigation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: According to European regulations, food producers should be able to justify decision-making on the shelf life assigned to their products, taking into account reasonable storage conditions and use by consumers. The results of the trial yielded information for producers of WBMC and similar cheeses for decision-making on product shelf life.

Reconstrucción vaginal mediante la técnica de McIndoe / Vaginal reconstruction through McIndoe's technique

Objetivo: La finalidad de este trabajo es la de analizar nuestra experiencia en la reconstrucción vaginal mediante la técnica de McIndoe.Sujetos y métodos: La agenesia vaginal es una malformación que tiene una incidencia de 1/5.000 recién nacidas.Presentamos nuestra experiencia en la reconstrucción vaginal mediante la técnica de McIndoe, en 25 casos realizados durante un período de 17 años. Evaluamos las técnicas diagnósticas empleadas, los motivos de consulta, la técnica quirúrgica, las complicaciones a corto y largo plazo, y la evolución de estas pacientes. Conclusiones: La mayoría de las pacientes (99 por ciento) tienen relaciones sexuales satisfactorias.Consideramos que se trata de la técnica quirúrgica de elección por su facilidad y buenos resultados. (AU)

[Functional problems before and after rhinoplasty]. / les problèmes fonctionnels pré-et post-rhinoplastie.

Rhinoplasties raise relatively specific esthetic problems, but less clearly defined functional problems, particularly in the presence of respiratory obstructive disorders. Nasal mucosal obstructions are essentially due to vasomotor rhinitis (allergic or nonallergic) which becomes chronic. They must be controlled medically as they often induce postoperative respiratory distress. Structural nasal obstructions (septal, turbinates, valves) essentially raise problems of operative indications, particularly for deviated septa. Various clinical, radiological, and rhinomanometric criteria allow evaluation of the structures involved in the increased nasal resistance, definition of the operative indication, selection of the most appropriate surgical technique and quantification of the preoperative and postoperative results.

[The epidemiology of central venous catheterization (CVC) in parenteral nutrition. The clinical implications and factors that determine the selection of germs]. / Epidemiología de la cateterización venosa central (CVC) en nutrición parenteral. Implicaciones clínicas y factores que determinan la selección de gérmenes.

The objective of the study is, on one hand, to determine the etiology and the clinical implications as a function of the isolated germ, of central venous catheterization in patients with parenteral nutrition in our hospital, and on the other hand, to determine which factors are associated with the selection of germs of central venous catheterization in parenteral nutrition. For this we included venous catheters, colonized for 5 years, and with a study of the different segments (connection, insertion point, and tip). As a function of the appearance of associated clinical symptoms, of the results of the blood culture, and of the clinical evolution of the patient, the variables which determine the level of pathogenicity of the different groups of germs in the central venous catheterization, are defined; for the study of the factors associated with the selection of the different groups of germs, 8 variables were chosen. The data obtained are statistically treated, and the results are considered to be significant if p < 0.05. The understanding of the different factors associated with the selection of germs, and the level of clinical pathogenesis of the different groups, allows a better level of the clinical action in the prevention of the infection associated with the catheter.

Lobular carcinoma of the breast in situ. Are we too radical in its treatment?

Twenty-four patients (average age, 46 years) with 29 instances of lobular carcinoma in situ of the breast have been treated from 1952 to 1971 at the Henry Ford Hospital (incidence, 1%). Six patients had bilateral lesions, one synchronous and 5 metachronous. The initial complaint in 23 of 24 patients was a mass in the breast. Diagnosis was based on permanent histologic section as mammorgraphy and frozen section analysis were inconclusive. Treatment consisted of radical mastectomy in six, modified radical mastectomy in five, and simple mastectomy in 20. All lymph nodes recovered showed no metastatic disease. All patients are alive and well with no evidence of disease. Based on our experience, we recommend a simple mastectomy for treatment of lobular carcinoma in situ with contraleteral bipsy examination in those instances when clinical or roentgenographic evidence suggests a pathologic process.