The quality of Minas Frescal cheese produced by different technological processes

The present work evaluated the influence of three different cheesemaking processes on the physicochemical characteristics and the microbiological quality of the Brazilian Minas Frescal cheese. A survey was conducted with 93 samples of Minas Frescal cheese collected from supermarkets located in the city of Campinas-Sao Paulo, 31 samples being Processed by the addition of a lactic culture (LC), 31 by direct acidification (DA) with lactic acid and 31 by ultrafiltration (UF). The analyses of the physicochemical characteristics involved the determination of water activity, pH, titratable acidity and moisture content. All the samples were analysed for the presence of fecal coliforms, coagulase positive staphylococci, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. The results showed that the UF processed cheese presented the best microbiological quality among the technological processes considered in this survey, despite of the more favourable conditions for the growth of pathogenic microorganisms provided by its physicochemical characteristics, when compared to the LC and DA ones. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.18326226

Parâmetros eletrocardiográficos e valores séricos e urinários de sódio e potássio em cães tratados com furosemida

The serum and urine Na+ and K+ levels and their relationship with electrocardiography characteristics,were studied in 15 male adult mongrel dogs, treated twice-a-day,with 2, 4, 8mg/kg of live weight doses of furosemide and furosemide associated with KCl during 35 days. Urine samples were analyzed weekly in order to determine the Na+ and K+ concentrations and to evaluate the urinary excretion of both cations. Electrocardiography was performed simultaneously, using limb derivations, speed 50mm/sec and calibration of 1 cm corresponding to 1mV. Data showed decreased seric concentrations of Na+ and Ki, increase in Na+ fractional excretion between days 7 and 21 of the treatment, slower heart rate and longer PR, QRS and QT intervals in the ECG. Briefly 2mg/kg furosemide associated with KCl was the most suitable treatment since it induced lesser side effects