Evaluation of the relative sensitivity of carcase swabbing against belly strip excision for TVC, E. coli and Salmonella isolation

The standard US method of swabbmg p1g carcases (3x 100cm2) for determination of E. coli and Salmonella contamination was compared with a belly strip excision method (approx. 120cm2). Swabbing for Salmonella and E. coli detection was found to have a relative sensitivity equal to 1/ 7 and 1/ 2 respecl1vely, of the belly strip technique. Furthermore, swab sampling isolated 2 Salmonella serovars compared with 9 serovars by the belly strip technique. For studies on the effectiveness of carcass decontamination interventions or undertaking abattoir flow-through studies it is recommended that belly strip excision sampling be employed. This study also compared the use of a semisolid culture medium (MSRV) for Salmonella isolation developed for faecal samples with standard media. MSRV gave a result 24 hours faster but was not as sensitive as the standard medium (RV). Therefore, MSRV medium is not recommended for the isolation of Salmonella from carcases for regulatory purposes

Longitudinal study of an Australian pig farm infected with monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium-like PT193 (1,4,[5],12:i:- PT193) using MLVA

An Australian weaner-to-finish pig herd with a history of entrenched Salmonella infection (\u3e10 months in duration) was sampled on 5 occasions over a 15 month period commencing in 2011. On each occasion, either 12 or 18 individual pen faecal samples were collected from pigs between 6 weeks and 22 weeks of age (n=71). From the Salmonella positive samples (n=42), a total of 346 isolates were further processed (up to 10 colony picks per sample). All of the 123 isolates typed were identified as monophasic S. Typhimuriumlike PT193 (mSTm193). Results of antibiotic sensitivity testing found 336 of 346 isolates were resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulphathiozole and tetracycline (ASSuT). In addition, all 346 isolates were examined by MLVA and 13 different closely-related MLVA profiles were identified. Only 2 MLVA profiles persisted throughout the 15 month study. This study is the first report of monophasic S. Typhimurium-like PT193, its persistence and associated clinical disease in an Australian pig herd

National baseline surveys to characterise processing hygiene and microbial hazards of Australian culled sow meat, retail pork sausages and retail pork mince

Pork products were sampled at retail to determine the impact of further processing on hazard levels to which consumers may be exposed, compared to carcases. Surveys of 116 fresh pork sausages and 148 fresh pork mince samples were purchased from supermarkets (n=87, n=105) and butcher shops (n=29, n=43), respectively. For sausages, concentrations of TVC averaged 4.6 log10 cfu/g

Decontamination of pork carcases with hot water or acidified sodium chlorite- a comparison in two Australian abattoirs

A decontamination trial on the effectiveness of hot water and acidified sodium chlorite (SANOVA™) treatment on TVC, E. coli and Salmonella spp. was undertaken on a total of 852 pork carcases prior to primary chilling in two pork abattoirs in Australia using belly-strip excision sampling. Test pigs were selected from herds with a known high level of on-fam1 Salmonella infection. For control carcases at Abattoirs A and B, mean log10 Total Viable Count was 4.06 and 3.00 cfu/gram compared with 1.81 and 2. 09 cfu/gram, for hot water and 2. 76 and 2.53 cfu/gram for SAN OVA ™ treated carcases, respectively

Unilateral versus bilateral thyroarytenoid Botulinum toxin injections in adductor spasmodic dysphonia: a prospective study

OBJECTIVES: In this preliminary prospective study, we compared unilateral and bilateral thyroarytenoid muscle injections of Botulinum toxin (Dysport) in 31 patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia, who had undergone more than 5 consecutive Dysport injections (either unilateral or bilateral) and had completed 5 concomitant self-rated efficacy and complication scores questionnaires related to the previous injections. We also developed a Neurophysiological Scoring (NPS) system which has utility in the treatment administration. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Data were gathered prospectively on voice improvement (self-rated 6 point scale), length of response and duration of complications (breathiness, cough, dysphagia and total voice loss). Injections were performed under electromyography (EMG) guidance. NPS scale was used to describe the EMG response. Dose and unilateral/bilateral injections were determined by clinical judgment based on previous response. Time intervals between injections were patient driven. RESULTS: Low dose unilateral Dysport injection was associated with no significant difference in the patient's outcome in terms of duration of action, voice score (VS) and complication rate when compared to bilateral injections. Unilateral injections were not associated with any post treatment total voice loss unlike the bilateral injections. CONCLUSION: Unilateral low dose Dysport injections are recommended in the treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia

Recovery of mouse neuromuscular junctions from single and repeated injections of botulinum neurotoxin A

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) paralyses muscles by blocking acetylcholine (ACh) release from motor nerve terminals. Although highly toxic, it is used clinically to weaken muscles whose contraction is undesirable, as in dystonias. The effects of an injection of BoNT/A wear off after 3–4 months so repeated injections are often used. Recovery of neuromuscular transmission is accompanied by the formation of motor axon sprouts, some of which form new synaptic contacts. However, the functional importance of these new contacts is unknown. Using intracellular and focal extracellular recording we show that in the mouse epitrochleoanconeus (ETA), quantal release from the region of the original neuromuscular junction (NMJ) can be detected as soon as from new synaptic contacts, and generally accounts for > 80% of total release. During recovery the synaptic delay and the rise and decay times of endplate potentials (EPPs) become prolonged approximately 3-fold, but return to normal after 2–3 months. When studied after 3–4 months, the response to repetitive stimulation at frequencies up to 100 Hz is normal. When two or three injections of BoNT/A are given at intervals of 3–4 months, quantal release returns to normal values more slowly than after a single injection (11 and 15 weeks to reach 50% of control values versus 6 weeks after a single injection). In addition, branching of the intramuscular muscular motor axons, the distribution of the NMJs and the structure of many individual NMJs remain abnormal. These findings highlight the plasticity of the mammalian NMJ but also suggest important limits to it

Aeronautical applications of holographic interferometry.

The advent of holography and the laser as an extremely intense, coherent light source has opened new dimensions in interferometric techniques. Precision optics are not required, alignment is not a critical factor, and three-dimensional interferograms of a flow field are obtainable. These are only a few of the advantages that stand out over present day interferometers. A brief outline of the holographic interferometric process and its capabilities is presented here. A detailed exposition of the continuous reconstruction beam technique is given from experience gained with such a device in the Department of Aeronautics of the Naval Postgraduate School.http://www.archive.org/details/aeronauticalappl00holdLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Drexler's Engines of Creation Probes Consequences of Design at the Nano Level

(Editor's Note: Eric Drexler's book on nanotechnology, which he defines as "technology based on the manipulation of individualatoms and molecules to build structures to complex, atomic specif ications, " has raised a number of rssues of potential concern to the CAMD community. This month, CDA News features a review of Drexler's book and of the course it inspired last spring at Stanford University, where Drexler is a Visiting Scholar. The course is reviewed by a participating graduate student. Readers should note that nanotechnology has some serious followers besides Drexler. The Massachusetts lnstitute of Technology'

Judiciary-Executive relations in Policy Making: the Case of Drug Distribution in the State of São Paulo

This paper aims to demonstrate how the responses of public health officials to judicial decisions have shaped drug distribution policies in the state of São Paulo. Data was collected and structured interviews were conducted at the state of São Paulo Department for Health in order to show how different strategies of response to judicial decisions affected the policy of medication distribution by the public sector. We also analysed recent Supreme Federal Court jurisprudence to show how the Court reformed its earlier views on the subject as a result of the demands made by public health officials. It is our understanding that the current literature has failed to produce a more comprehensive view of this phenomenon because of its focus solely on judicial decisions, without taking a step further to analyse how public health officials reacted to them, which would have addressed the compliance problem inherent to positive rights enforcement. Finally, we see this process not as merely positive or negative, but as one that goes beyond the different normative biases present in the literature on the subject, and focus on the mechanisms behind the impact of the judicialization of the right to healthcare on policies of medication distribution