Swab transport systems are used for a variety of specimen types and must maintain organism viability throughout the transport process. The Copan ESwab is a new nylon-flocked swab designed to optimize specimen collection and to minimize entrapment of the specimen. We used the quantitative elution method with recommended strains, as described in CLSI document M40-A, to evaluate the ESwab for main...

AIMS This work was undertaken to study the feasibility and the characteristics of a fermented product made of goat milk, using a mixed starter culture of Bifidobacterium animalis and Lactobacillus acidophilus under controlled conditions, and to determine their survival in the fermented milk during refrigerated storage. METHODS AND RESULTS Goat milk was inoculated with Lact. acidophilus and Bi...

In two separate experiments, the bacteriocin, nisin, was incorporated into a commercially available meat binding system (Fibrimex) and applied to meat surfaces as a way of inhibiting the meat spoilage organism, Brochothrix thermosphacta during extended refrigerated storage. In experiment 1, pre-rigor lean beef carcass tissue (BCT) was inoculated with B. thermosphacta, left untreated (U), treate...

BACKGROUND The accuracy of homocysteine (Hcy) results is currently compromised by the requirement to separate the plasma within 1 h of sample collection. We studied the effect of temperature on the stability of plasma Hcy over a 72-h time course in blood collected into evacuated tubes containing either EDTA alone or both EDTA and 3-deazaadenosine (3DA). METHODS We recruited 100 volunteers, in...

Background: White button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is one of the most sensitive agricultural crops after harvesting and its antioxidant properties tend to decrease during post-harvest storage with the passage of time. OBJECTIVES: The possible role of exogenous application of malic acid as dipping treatment on bioactive components and antioxidant properties of sliced white button mushroom dur...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of two preparations of vancomycin oral solution in two different storage containers, capped amber oral-dosing syringes and heat-sealed oral-dosing cups, stored under refrigerated conditions. Commercially available grape-flavored vancomycin oral preparation and compounded vancomycin for intravenous use in cherry syrup oral preparation were ...

This in vitro study evaluated the Knoop hardness of the composite resins Charisma (C) and Durafill VS (D) polymerized in 3 different conditions: at room temperature (A) (23 +/- 1 degrees C); refrigerated at 4 +/- 1 degrees C and immediately photo-activated after removal from the refrigerator (0); and, refrigerated at 4 +/- 1 degrees C and photo-activated after a bench time of 15 min at room tem...

Oral suspensions of antibiotics are mainly available as dry powders for reconstitution. Many reconstituted antibiotic suspension is to be kept refrigerated in order to get the optimal benefit from the drug. However, many patients do not keep to the specified storage conditions for different reasons like no refrigerator and irregular power supply that may result in various degrees of degradation...

The objective of this study was to investigate characteristics and functionality of yogurt applied red ginseng extract. Yogurts added with red ginseng extract (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2%) were produced using Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus and stored at refrigerated temperature. During fermentation, pH was decreased whereas titratable aicidity and viable cell counts of L. acid...

Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of plague. Although rare, pharyngeal plague in humans has been associated with consumption or handling of meat prepared from infected animals. The risks of contracting plague from consumption of deliberately contaminated food are currently unknown. Gamma radiation is a penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation, and UVC radiation is used for decontamina...