Chinese Consumers' Acceptance of Novel Technologies Designed To Control Foodborne Bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Chinese consumers (n = 604) were asked three times to rate their acceptance of traditional thermal processing and several newer technologies (high pressure processing, irradiation, bacteriophages, antimicrobial packaging, pulsed electric fields, and rinsing meat carcasses with antimicrobial solutions) designed to control foodborne bacteria in food (i) based on their existing knowledge, (ii) after the provision of information about L. monocytogenes, and (iii) after further reading a brief description of the technology. Thermal processing (6.00 of 7 on Likert scale) and high pressure processing (5.73 of 7) were rated the most acceptable technologies, and rinsing with antimicrobial solutions (4.43 of 7) was rated the least acceptable technology. Information outlining the benefits of a technology had a larger positive effect on acceptance of every novel technology discussed (increases of 0.14 to 0.49 units depending on the technology) than information about L. monocytogenes and a brief description of the technology. This research has shown that providing information about foodborne bacteria and a technology designed to control them will improve consumers' acceptance of the technology, with the provision of information being of most importance for technologies for which the consumers are less familiar. Chinese consumers accepted or rejected a food technology for a variety of reasons; however, consumers with a greater awareness of foodborne bacteria rated the acceptability of novel technologies designed to kill bacteria higher than those with a low awareness (0.56 to 1.71 units depending on the technology). The results of this research will be of benefit to food companies considering adopting novel technologies to control foodborne bacteria because they provide insights that will enable them to develop more effective communication and implementation strategies.

Depression in patients with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis is closely associated with the severity of liver cirrhosis.

Depression in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can affect the quality of life, disease diagnosis and case fatality rate. The aim of this study was to explore depression in patients with CHB and cirrhosis, and the effect of the severity of liver cirrhosis on the depressive emotional state. The depressive emotional state was investigated using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) in 114 patients with CHB and cirrhosis, comprising 42 cases classified as Child-Pugh grade (CPG)-A, 38 cases classified as CPG-B and 34 cases classified as CPG-C at a single hepatology center. Patients with mood disorders accounted for 33.33% of the 114 cases with CHB and liver cirrhosis and comprised 10 cases of CPG-A, 12 cases of CPG-B and 16 cases of CPG-C classification. The results shows that HAMA and HAMD scores of patients in the CPG-C group were significantly higher than those in the CPG-A group (P<0.01), but not significantly higher than those in the CPG-B group (P>0.05). The incidence rate of mood disorders in the CPG-C group was significantly higher than that in the CPG-B group (P=0.0336), and the incidence rate of mood disorders was higher in the CPG-B group compared with the CPG-A group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.4370). The incidence rate of mood disorders in patients in the CPG-A group was significantly lower than that in the CPG-C group (P=0.0078). The study shows that a considerable proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis have mood disorders, and the depression rates of CHB-infected patients with liver cirrhosis are closely associated with the severity of the cirrhosis.

Cerebellar liponeurocytoma: A case report and review of the literature.

Cerebellar liponeurocytoma is rare, and the clinical characteristics and treatment strategy remain unclear. In the present study, a case of cerebellar liponeurocytoma was retrospectively reported and a literature review was performed. A 45-year-old female presented due to occipital headaches, exhibiting a hoarse voice and a broad-based gait. Pre-operative magnetic resonance images revealed a lesion occupying the right hemisphere of the cerebellum and the inferior vermis, compressing the medulla oblongata from the right side, and extending through the foramen magnum to the C2 level. A total resection was performed, and pathological analysis of the lesion showed positivity for synaptophysin, S-100 and neuronal nuclear antigen, partial positivity for Olig-2, and negativity for glial fibrillary acidic protein and epithelial membrane antigen. In addition, the Ki-67 index was low (<5%). Thus, a diagnosis of cerebellar liponeurocytoma was determined. Total resection was successful and the patient was followed up closely. A review of the literature showed that cerebellar liponeurocytoma is mainly located in the cerebellum, with rare extra-cerebellar cases. Certain studies have suggested that the tumor may be located supratentorially and subtentorially, and should be renamed as solely liponeurocytoma. Total resection of the tumor contributes to an improved prognosis, while a subtotal resection and high Ki-67 index lead to recurrence. The tumor is similar to a tumor of low malignancy, with long-term recurrence. Radiation is recommended when there is residual tumor, recurrence or when the Ki-67 is high.

Application of renal-rotation techniques in retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy.

Retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy (RPN) is one of the standard methods for treating T1-stage renal carcinoma, which has a narrow operational space and a difficult surgical procedure. The aim of this study was to examine the safety and feasibility of renal-rotation techniques in RPN. Between April 2012 and June 2014, the renal-rotation technique in RPN was performed in 22 male and 16 female patients, aged between 31 and 75 years (mean, 52 years), with stage T1N0M0 renal-cell carcinoma. In 29 cases the tumor was located at the ventral side of the kidney, including 22 cases at the renal hilum, and in nine cases the tumor was located at the inferior pole of the kidney. The tumor size was between 1.5 and 4.6 cm (mean, 2.8 cm). The results showed that, in all 38 cases, the procedure was successfully accomplished without conversion to open surgery. There were no intraoperative complications and only three cases of postoperative complications. The surgery duration was between 45 and 116 min (mean, 59 min); blood loss was between 10 and 120 ml (mean, 40 ml) and no patients required a blood transfusion. The average kidney ischemia time was 21 min (range, 15-38 min). No patients had local recurrence or metastasis after follow-up of between one and 26 months. In conclusion, the application of the renal-rotation technique in RPN for tumors located at the ventral side, renal hilum or at the inferior pole of the kidney is safe and feasible and worth wider clinical application.

Familial chordoma: A case report and review of the literature.

Familial skull base chordoma is a rare tumor derived from the remnants of the embryonic notochord. The present study describes the clinical presentation of 4 cases of skull base chordomas in a family. A 15-year-old female received staged surgeries and was pathologically confirmed with a diagnosis of skull base chordoma. Among the patient's family, 2 members had previously undergone surgery and were pathologically confirmed with chordomas; 1 family member had also received radiation therapy. Furthermore, the patient's cousin, an 18-year-old male, was confirmed to have this condition by epipharyngoscopy. All confirmed cases within the family remained alive with the condition. A literature review of familial chordoma was undertaken and 8 chordoma pedigrees were found. Familial chordoma was rare, with an estimated rate of 0.4% in all chordomas. The skull base was the predominant location for familial chordoma. Compared with sporadic chordoma, familial chordomas were diagnosed at a younger age. The brachyury gene was strongly associated with familial chordomas, however, the exact pathogenesis and genetics mechanisms remains unclear.

Energy steering of biphasic waveforms using a transvenous three electrode system.

The optimal electrode configuration for endocardial defibrillation is still a matter of debate. Current data suggests that a two pathway configuration using the right ventricle (RV) as cathode and a common anode constituted by a superior vena cava (SVC) and a pectoral can (C) is the most effective combination. This may be related to the more uniform voltage gradient created by shocks delivered using this configuration. We hypothesized that more effective waveforms could be obtained by varying the distribution of the shock current between the two pathways of a three electrode endocardial defibrillation system. In 12 pigs, we compared the characteristics and the defibrillation efficacy of six biphasic waveforms discharged using either a two (RV-->C) or a three (RV-->SVC + C) electrode combination with the following configurations: Configuration 1 (W1): the RV apical coil was used as a cathode and the subcutaneous C as anode (RV-->C). Configuration 2 (W2): The RV was used as cathode and the combination of the atriocaval coil (SVC) and the subcutaneous C as anode (RV-->SVC + C). Configuration 3 (W3): The RV-->C was used for the first 25% of f+ and RV-->SVC + C for the remainder of the discharge including f 2 Configuration 4 (W4): The RV-->C was used for the first 50% of f+ and RV-->SVC + C for the remainder of the discharge including f 2 Configuration 5 (W5): The RV-->C was used for the first 75% of f+ and RV-->SVC + C for the remainder of the discharge including f 2. Configuration 6 (W6): The RV-->C was used for f+ and RV-->SVC + C for f 2. As an increasing fraction of the waveform was discharged using the RV-->SVC + C pathways, the impedance and the pulse width decreased while the tilt, the peak, and the average current significantly increased. The waveforms delivered using the RV-->SVC + C configuration for 100% or 75% of their duration had significantly lower stored energy DFT than the other waveform. Current distribution between three endocardial electrodes can be altered during the shock and generates waveforms with different characteristics. Shocks with 75% or more of the current flowing to the RV-->SVC + C required the lowest stored energy to defibrillate. This method of energy steering could be used to optimize current delivery in a three electrodes system.