Razlike u mikoflori na ovitcima trajnih fermentiranih kobasica prije i šest mjeseci nakon skladištenja u hladnjaku

During the curing period of dry-fermented sausages, the surface mycoflora changes according to the environmental conditions and intrinsic factors, such as nutrient content, water activity, pH value and the presence of antimicrobial substances (starter cultures). In this study, 25 samples of dry-fermented sausages from Croatian family small holdings were examined, the casings peeled off and examined for mycobiota before and after six months of refrigerated storage in plastic bags, at +4 °C in darkness, at a low humidity and evaporation rate. For mycobiota identification, traditional (macroscopic and microscopic) and molecular (Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR) methods were combined. At the beginning of the study (after sausage curing), the prevalent isolated species were from the genera Penicillium (74%), Aspergillus 14% and Mucor (12%). After the six month period, a different mould structure was observed, with the dominant isolation of Aspergillus genus (64%), followed by the genera Penicillium (34%) and Mucor (2%). In comparison with the literature data, it can be concluded that the casing mycoflora on dry-fermented sausages stored in the refrigerator changed in the same way as if they not been refrigerated, though the process of mycoflora change was slower with refrigeration.Tijekom razdoblja zrenja trajnih fermentiranih kobasica mikoflora koja obrasta i prekriva njihovu površinu mijenja se u ovisnosti o uvjetima okoliša i “unutarnjim čimbenicima”, koji uključuju sadržaj hranjivih sastojaka, aktivitet vode, pH vrijednost i prisutnost antimikrobnih tvari (starter kulture). U ovom je istraživanju uzorkovano dvadeset i pet parova trajnih fermentiranih kobasica s malih hrvatskih obiteljskih poljoprivrednih gospodarstava, odljušten je njihov ovitak te je ispitivana mikoflora prije i nakon skladištenja u hladnjaku tijekom šest mjeseci, u plastičnim vrećicama, na +4 °C, u tami, pri maloj vlažnosti i brzini isparavanja. Za identifikaciju plijesni kombinirane su tradicionalne (makroskopske i mikroskopske) i molekularne (lančana reakcija polimeraze, PCR) metode. Na početku istraživanja (nakon sazrijevanja i uzimanja uzoraka kobasica) prevladavale su izolirane vrste iz roda Penicillium (74 %), Aspergillus 14 % i Mucor (12 %). Nakon razdoblja od šest mjeseci uočena je drugačija struktura plijesni, pri čemu je pretežno izoliran rod Aspergillus (64 %), a zatim Penicillium (34 %) i Mucor (2 %). Sagledavajući literaturne podatke može se zaključiti da se mikoflora na ovitcima trajnih fermentiranih kobasica pohranjenih u hladnjaku mijenjala na isti način kao što bi se i mijenjala bez pohranjene u hladnjaku, jedino što bi proces promjena mikoflore vremenski trajao kraće

Expression of Endothelial Selectin Ligands on Leukocytes Following Repeated Dives in SCUBA Divers

Background and Purpose: Leukocyte cell surface adhesion molecule CD11b, decorated with CD15s, plays a critical role in the regulation of b2 integrin function during neutrophile endothelial transmigration. Hyperbaric oxygenation reduces neutrophil-endothelial cell adhesion, which is mediated by Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) B2-integrin. Materials and Methods: This study investigated the expression of CD15 and CD15s, on leukocytes following repeated trimix dives in two series: in the first series 7 divers performed 6 consecutive dives from 55-80 m, while in the second series 7 divers performed 3 consecutive dives from 63-65 m. A more intense dive profile was used in the second series, as can be seen from the longer total dive time. Five divers took part in each of the two series. CD15 and CD15s were determined before and after the 1st and the last dive. Results and Conclusions: Leukocyte subpopulations were not elevated after either the first or last dives in series I. Only CD15+CD15s+ granulocytes were significantly decreased after the 1st dive. In the second series the monocyte proportion was increased and lymphocytes decreased within the total leukocyte population, while CD15s+ monocytes and CD14+CD15s+ granulocytes were elevated after the 1st dive. CD15+CD14+ granulocytes were decreased after the 1st and the last dive in the second series, while CD15s+ granulocytes were decreased only after the last dive in the second series. The current findings of decreased endothelial selectin ligand CD15s expression on CD15+ granulocytes after certain dives point to the role of this subpopulation in the endothelial damage prevention

Conversion from calcineurin inhibitors to sirolimus of recipients with chronic kidney graft disease grade iii for a period 2003-2011

Background/Aim. Tremendous breakthrough in solid organ transplantation was made with the introduction of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI). At the same time, they are potentially nephrotoxic drugs with influence on onset and progression of renal graft failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of a conversion from CNIbased immunosuppressive protocol to sirolimus (SRL) in recipients with graft in chronic kidney disease (CKD) grade III and proteinuria below 500 mg/day. Methods. In the period 2003-2011 24 patients (6 famale and 18 male), mean age 41 ± 12.2 years, on triple immunosuppressive therapy: steroids, antiproliferative drug [mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathiopirine (AZA)] and CNI were switched from CNI to SRL and followe-up for 76 ± 13 months. Nine patients (the group I) had early postransplant conversion after 4 ± 3 months and 15 patients (the group II) late conversion after 46 ± 29 months. During the regular outpatient controls we followed graft function through the serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), proteinuria, lipidemia and side effects. Results. Thirty days after conversion, in all the patients GFR, proteinuria and lipidemia were insignificantly increased. In the first two post-conversion months all the patients had at least one urinary or respiratory infection, and 10 patients reactivated cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or disease, and they were successfully treated with standard therapy. After 21 ± 11 months 15 patients from both groups discontinued SRL therapy due to reconversion to CNI (10 patients) and double immunosuppressive therapy (3 patients), return to hemodialysis (1 patient) and death (1 patient). Nine patients were still on SRL therapy. By the end of the follow-up they significantly improved GFR (from 53.2 ± 12.7 to 69 ± 15 mL/min), while the increase in proteinuria (from 265 ± 239 to 530.6 ± 416.7 mg/day) and lipidemia (cholesterol from 4.71 ± 0.98 to 5.61 ± 1.6 mmol/L and triglycerides from 2.04 ± 1.18 to 2.1 ± 0.72 mmol/L) were not significant. They were stable during the whole follow-up period. Ten patients were reconverted from SRL to CNI due to the abrupt increase of proteinuria (from 298 ± 232 to 1639 ± 1641/mg day in 7 patients), rapid growth of multiple ovarian cysts (2 patients) and operative treatment of persisted hematoma (1 patient). Thirty days after reconversion they were stable with an insignificant decrease in GFR (from 56.10 ± 28.09 to 47 ± 21 mL/min) and significantly improved proteinuria (from 1639 ± 1641 to 529 ± 688 mg/day). By the end of the follow-up these patients showed nonsignificant increase in the serum creatinine (from 172 ± 88 to 202 ± 91 mmol/L), decrease in GFR (from 56.10 ± 28.09 to 47 ± 21 mL/day) and increased proteinuria (from 528.9 ± 688 to 850 ± 1083 mg/min). Conclusion. In this small descriptive study, conversion from CNI to SRL was followed by an increased incidence of infections and consecutive 25-50% dose reduction in the second antiproliferative agent (AZA, MMF), with a possible influence on the development of glomerulopathy in some patients, which was the major reason for discontinuation of SRL therapy in the 7 (29%) patients. Nine (37.5%) of the patients experienced the greatest benefit of CIN to SRL conversion without serious post-conversion complications

Impaired dynamic cerebral autoregulation in trained breath-hold divers

Breath-hold divers (BHD) experience repeated bouts of severe hypoxia and hypercapnia with large increases in blood pressure. However, the impact of long-term breath-hold diving on cerebrovascular control remains poorly understood. The ability of cerebral blood vessels to respond rapidly to changes in blood pressure represents the property of dynamic autoregulation. The current investigation tested the hypothesis that breathhold diving impairs dynamic autoregulation to a transient hypotensive stimulus. Seventeen BHD (3 women, 11 ± 9 yr of diving) and 15 healthy controls (2 women) completed two or three repeated sit-tostand trials during spontaneous breathing and poikilocapnic conditions. Heart rate (HR), finger arterial blood pressure (BP), and cerebral blood flow velocity (BFV) from the right middle cerebral artery were measured continuously with three-lead electrocardiography, finger photoplethysmography, and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, respectively. End-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure was measured with a gas analyzer. Offline, an index of cerebrovascular resistance (CVRi) was calculated as the quotient of mean BP and BFV. The rate of the drop in CVRi relative to the change in BP provided the rate of regulation [RoR; (δCVRi/δT)/δBP]. The BHD demonstrated slower RoR than controls (P ≤ 0.001, d = 1.4). Underlying the reduced RoR in BHD was a longer time to reach nadir CVRi compared with controls (P = 0.004, d = 1.1). In concert with the longer CVRi response, the time to reach peak BFV following standing was longer in BHD than controls (P = 0.01, d = 0.9). The data suggest impaired dynamic autoregulatory mechanisms to hypotension in BHD. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Impairments in dynamic cerebral autoregulation to hypotension are associated with breath-hold diving. Although weakened autoregulation was observed acutely in this group during apneic stress, we are the first to report on chronic adaptations in cerebral autoregulation. Impaired vasomotor responses underlie the reduced rate of regulation, wherein breath-hold divers demonstrate a prolonged dilatory response to transient hypotension. The slower cerebral vasodilation produces a longer perturbation in cerebral blood flow velocity, increasing the risk of cerebral ischemia

Dry diving as a human model of pulmonary microembolization

Aim The human model of pulmonary embolism is currently unavailable.The objective of this study was to evaluate whether venousinert gas lung embolization after diving simulation is a modelof pulmonary embolism.Methods Twelve recreational divers underwent two single aircompressions, each in different post-compression posture, in thechamber to 30 m/40 min bottom time with standard decompressionand ascent rates. Cardiopulmonary variables and precordialbubble grade were measured in sitting or lying supine before and40, 70 and 100 min after the respective compression.Results The volume of airways decreased post-compression in supine(24%, p<0.01), as well as in sitting posture (28%, p<0.05).As a sign of lung embolization, the alveolar dead space increasedsignificantly only in supine posture (from 27 to 65 mL, p<0.05).Transcutaneous arterial oxygen tension decreased post-compressionfrom 11,8 to 9,5 kPa in supine posture (p<0.01) and from 11,3to 9,72 kPa in sitting posture (p<0.005). Minute ventilation andbreathing frequency increased significantly only in sitting posture.Cardiovascular depression was suggested from reductions in systolicblood pressure (both postures), heart rate and pulse pressure(sitting posture) and from apparent, but not significant decreasesin cardiac output (both postures). Most of the signs were most pronouncedat 40 minutes post-compression and persisted at 100 minpost-compression.Conclusion Small, transient post-compression lung embolizationby inert gas bubbles induces some of the cardiopulmonary signsof pulmonary embolism, especially if the diver is lying after thecompression

Role of cerebral blood flow in extreme breath holding

The role of cerebral blood flow (CBF) on a maximal breath-hold (BH) in ultra-elite divers was examined. Divers (n = 7) performed one control BH, and one BH following oral administration of the non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (1.2 mg/kg). Arterial blood gases and CBF were measured prior to (baseline), and at BH termination. Compared to control, indomethacin reduced baseline CBF and cerebral delivery of oxygen (CDO2) by about 26% (p < 0.01). Indomethacin reduced maximal BH time from 339 ± 51 to 319 ± 57 seconds (p = 0.04). In both conditions, the CDO2 remained unchanged from baseline to the termination of apnea. At BH termination, arterial oxygen tension was higher following oral administration of indomethacin compared to control (4.05 ± 0.45 vs. 3.44 ± 0.32 kPa). The absolute increase in CBF from baseline to the termination of apnea was lower with indomethacin (p = 0.01). These findings indicate that the impact of CBF on maximal BH time is likely attributable to its influence on cerebral H+ washout, and therefore central chemoreceptive drive to breathe, rather than to CDO2