RESUMO
Ice used for direct human consumption or to preserve foods and cool down drinks can be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms and may potentially become a vehicle for consumer's infection. To evaluate physical, chemical and microbiological quality of commercial ice and ice used for fish and seafood, 100 ice samples collected at 10 different retail points in the region of Epirus were studied. The following microbiological parameters were determined: Total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Yersinia spp., Escherichia coli, Campylobacter sp., Vibrio cholerae, Aeromonas spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Clostridium perfringens. E. coli was detected in 22% and coliforms were detected in 31% of samples. Samples in which coliforms were detected fail to meet the microbiological criteria specified by the drinking water legislation. Aeromonas spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter sp. and V. cholerae were not detected. Spore forms of C. perfringens were prevalent at 35% and the psychotropic bacterium's P. aeruginosa and Yersinia spp. were found only at three samples each. The presence of large numbers of coliforms as well as of other pathogenic strains suggested that commercial ice and ice used to make cool drinks or in preservation of fish and seafood may represent a potential hazard to the consumer. In view of the results reported herein, it is highly recommended that national regulatory guidelines should be established for the production of ice as long as regular inspections.
Assuntos
Bactérias/classificação , Bactérias/isolamento & purificação , Carga Bacteriana , Microbiologia de Alimentos , Gelo , Inocuidade dos Alimentos , Grécia , Humanos , Saúde Pública , Medição de RiscoRESUMO
The artisan production of a variety of dairy products is a historical tradition since antiquity, which is still practiced nowadays, in the area of Epirus, (northwestern Greece). The common denominator of these products, regardless of the final form of the end product, is the fermentation of raw milk by the use of dried artisan inoculants made of the dehydrated rumen of small ruminants, mainly lambs. The aim of this research project is to study the microbiological parameters as well as certain technological parameters (chymosin activity and lipolytic activity) of these inoculants. The results revealed a wide biodiversity of microorganisms such as Lactobacilli, Lactococci, Leuconostoc, Pediococci, Streptococci, Bifidobacteria, Enterococci, Clostridia and coliforms. Chymosin activity and lipolytic activity were found to be higher in artisan inoculants than in the commercial ones.
Assuntos
Bactérias/classificação , Biodiversidade , Laticínios/microbiologia , Manipulação de Alimentos/métodos , Rúmen/enzimologia , Rúmen/microbiologia , Animais , Bactérias/isolamento & purificação , Fermentação , Análise de Alimentos , Grécia , OvinosRESUMO
Food safety and shelf-life are both important microbial concerns in relation to broiler meat production. Focus is mainly placed on the absence or control of potentially pathogenic microbes such as Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. but, from the commercial point of view, other spoilage bacteria also play a role as potential threats. Regarding food safety, the primary target should be the production of pathogen-free live animals, thus allowing slaughter plants to keep the processing line free of those microorganisms. Consumers believe that quality of foods from organic production is superior to foods from conventional production. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the bacterial quality of chicken meat from organic and conventional production on the basis of traditional meat quality criteria. Fresh free grazing broiler carcasses were purchased directly from rural households (n = 80) and fresh retail chicken parts from conventional broiler carcasses from the local supermarkets in the region of Epirus (Poultry Producers Association. Arta) (n = 200). The samples were microbiologically tested for the presence of bacteria such as: Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp., and C. perfringens. Total count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria was also determined. Bacteriological tests were performed by means of standard methods of isolation and identification of individual species of bacteria according to ISO requirements. API-tests (bioMerieux) and Vitek 2 Identification System (bioMerieux) were used for biochemical determination. High levels of microbial contamination and occurrence of pathogenic bacteria at then fresh free grazing broiler carcasses reflect the poor hygienic quality of the slaughter conditions in the rural households.
Assuntos
Bactérias/classificação , Manipulação de Alimentos/métodos , Inocuidade dos Alimentos/métodos , Carne/microbiologia , Animais , Bactérias/isolamento & purificação , Carga Bacteriana , Técnicas de Tipagem Bacteriana , Grécia , Aves DomésticasRESUMO
A zinc oxide and eugenol root canal sealer (Roth 811) and sterile saline solution were injected into the dorsal thoracic midline of 70 male Wistar-Furth rats. Every day for the next 7 days, 10 animals were sacrificed by either inhalation. The liver, heart, kidneys and brain were removed from the animals and analysed for zinc, calcium and copper concentrations by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The tissue around the injection site was also surgically removed and prepared for histological evaluation under a microscope. The injection of Roth 811 significantly affected the concentrations of zinc, calcium and copper in some of the examined organs, especially on the 4th and 5th day. The inflammatory reaction adjacent to the material was severe during the first 3 days while on the 7th day the presence of connective tissue with collagen formation was observed.
Assuntos
Materiais Restauradores do Canal Radicular/farmacocinética , Cimento de Óxido de Zinco e Eugenol/farmacocinética , Animais , Química Encefálica , Cálcio/análise , Cobre/análise , Rim/química , Rim/metabolismo , Fígado/química , Fígado/metabolismo , Masculino , Miocárdio/química , Miocárdio/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Distribuição Tecidual , Zinco/análiseRESUMO
The effect of the administration of captopril on Zn (zinc), Cu (copper), Ca (calcium) and Mg (magnesium) concentrations in guinea pig tissues was studied. For nine weeks 2 mg captopril per kg b.w. were administered daily to adult male guinea pigs intraperitoneally. The concentrations of the studied metals were determined in several tissues. Captopril significantly decreased Zn concentration in liver, Cu concentration in liver, adrenals, jejunum, urine and hair and Mg concentrations in blood and urine. A significant increase was observed in testicular and epididymal Zn, in heart, epididymal and fecal Cu, in Mg concentration of lung, kidney, adrenals, jejunum, epididymis and hair and in Ca concentrations in brain, heart, lung, kidney, spleen and stomach. No significant changes were observed in the colon and the thigh bone concentrations of the various elements tested. In conclusion Captopril treatment can produce translocation and/or elimination of Zn, Cu, Mg and Ca ions in various tissues of guinea pigs.
Assuntos
Cálcio/metabolismo , Captopril/farmacologia , Cobre/metabolismo , Magnésio/metabolismo , Zinco/metabolismo , Glândulas Suprarrenais/efeitos dos fármacos , Glândulas Suprarrenais/metabolismo , Animais , Cálcio/urina , Cobre/urina , Cobaias , Cabelo/efeitos dos fármacos , Cabelo/metabolismo , Jejuno/efeitos dos fármacos , Jejuno/metabolismo , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Fígado/metabolismo , Magnésio/urina , Masculino , Especificidade de Órgãos , Valores de Referência , Zinco/urinaRESUMO
Four root canal sealers (AH-26, Roth 811, CRCS, and Sealapex) were tested for tissue biocompatibility in rat connective tissue. Each sealer was placed in Teflon tubes and implanted subcutaneously in Wistar-Furth rats. The implants were removed after 7, 14, and 21 days, fixed, and histologically prepared for microscopical evaluation. Brain, liver, kidneys, and uterus were removed from the animals killed at the first experimental period (7 days) and analyzed for zinc and calcium concentration by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In total, 100 specimens were examined. At the seventh day, the most irritant material was seen to be AH-26, but this inflammatory reaction decreased with time. Roth 811 and Sealapex caused moderate-to-severe inflammatory reaction, whereas CRCS caused mild to moderate. CRCS and Roth 811 induced redistribution of zinc, whereas AH-26 induced changes in calcium content in some organs.
Assuntos
Tecido Conjuntivo/efeitos dos fármacos , Resinas Epóxi , Materiais Restauradores do Canal Radicular/efeitos adversos , Salicilatos , Animais , Materiais Biocompatíveis/efeitos adversos , Materiais Biocompatíveis/farmacocinética , Bismuto/efeitos adversos , Bismuto/farmacocinética , Química Encefálica , Cálcio/análise , Hidróxido de Cálcio/efeitos adversos , Hidróxido de Cálcio/farmacocinética , Tecido Conjuntivo/metabolismo , Combinação de Medicamentos , Feminino , Reação a Corpo Estranho/etiologia , Rim/química , Fígado/química , Metenamina/efeitos adversos , Metenamina/farmacocinética , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Materiais Restauradores do Canal Radicular/farmacocinética , Prata/efeitos adversos , Prata/farmacocinética , Distribuição Tecidual , Titânio/efeitos adversos , Titânio/farmacocinética , Útero/química , Zinco/análise , Óxido de Zinco/efeitos adversos , Óxido de Zinco/farmacocinética , Cimento de Óxido de Zinco e Eugenol/efeitos adversos , Cimento de Óxido de Zinco e Eugenol/farmacocinéticaAssuntos
Cobre/metabolismo , Cobaias/metabolismo , Magnésio/metabolismo , Tolmetino/farmacologia , Zinco/metabolismo , Glândulas Suprarrenais/efeitos dos fármacos , Glândulas Suprarrenais/metabolismo , Animais , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Fêmur/efeitos dos fármacos , Fêmur/metabolismo , Secções Congeladas/veterinária , Coração/efeitos dos fármacos , Rim/efeitos dos fármacos , Rim/metabolismo , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Fígado/metabolismo , Pulmão/efeitos dos fármacos , Pulmão/metabolismo , Masculino , Miocárdio/metabolismo , Espectrofotometria Atômica/veterinária , Baço/efeitos dos fármacos , Baço/metabolismo , Distribuição Tecidual/efeitos dos fármacos , Tolmetino/administração & dosagem , Tolmetino/metabolismo , Tolmetino/farmacocinéticaRESUMO
The effect of the administration of chronic doses of naproxen on the zinc, copper, magnesium and calcium concentrations in guinea pig tissues was studied. One hundred mg naproxen/kg body weight/week were administered intraperitoneally to adult female guinea pigs in two doses twice a week for eight weeks. A statistically significant decrease was found of the zinc content in the brain, lung, heart, liver, kidney, spleen and adrenals, of the copper content in the liver, kidney and adrenal and of the magnesium content in the spleen and heart. A significant increase was observed of the calcium content in the adrenals, heart, spleen and uterus of the treated animals, while no significant changes were observed in the thigh bone concentrations of the various ions tested.
Assuntos
Cálcio/metabolismo , Cobaias/metabolismo , Magnésio/metabolismo , Naproxeno/toxicidade , Oligoelementos/metabolismo , Animais , Cobre/metabolismo , Feminino , Naproxeno/farmacocinética , Zinco/metabolismoRESUMO
Triton x-100, which solubilizes cell membranes, was used to expose the detergent resistant cytoskeletal systems of cultured day 4 (angulated) and a day 8 (STELLATE) NEURAL CREST cells. This procedure reveals a network of fibers which correlates structurally with the morphological state of neural crest cell differentiation.