Survivability of Salmonella cells in popcorn after microwave oven and conventional cooking.

The survivability of Salmonella cells in popcorn preparation was determined for two distinct cooking methods. The first method used a standard microwave oven. The second method used conventional cooking in a pan. Prior to thermal processing in independent experiments, 12 suspensions in a range between 1x10(3) and 8x10(6) colony-forming units (CFU) per gram of Salmonella cells were inoculated in both raw microwave popcorn and conventional corn kernels. The influence of the initial concentration of Salmonella cells in the raw products and the lethal effects on Salmonella by thermal treatments for cooking were studied. Survival of Salmonella cells was determined in the thermally processed material by pre-enrichment and enrichment in selective medium, in accordance with the legislation for expanded cereals and cereals in flakes. Viable experimental contaminants were recovered from the conventionally cooked popcorn with initial inoculation concentrations of 9x10(4)cells/g or greater. Salmonella cell viability was significantly reduced after microwave oven treatment, with recoveries only from initial concentrations of 2x10(6)cells/g or superior.

Blood bank leukocyte infusions as remission induction therapy in a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

A 15-year-old female with pre-pre B ALL in third relapse was treated with administration of eight blood bank leukocyte concentrates per day for 5 days. The total number of mononuclear cells per kilogram of weight was 4.89 x 10(8). On the fifth day of infusions the patient was in complete remission (CR), asymptomatic and with a normal CBC. No secondary effects were found. The patient remained in CR without treatment for 10 weeks before relapsing again. The possibility of reaching a short-lived, clinically relevant response, using blood bank leukocyte infusions, is a promising new approach for the treatment of leukemia.