Controlling Listeria monocytogenes on ready-to-eat poultry products using carboxymethylcellulose film coatings containing green tea extract (GTE) combined with nisin and malic acid

The ability to control Listeria monocytogenes on ready-to-eat poultry products using carboxymethyl-cellulose film coatings containing green tea extract (GTE), malic acid (M), nisin (N), and their combinations was evaluated. The antimicrobials (GTE: 1.0%, nisin: 10,000 IU/g, malic acid: 1.0%) were incorporated alone or in combination into a carboxymethyl cellulose film coating. Pre-inoculated, fully cooked chicken pieces (~1g, 1cm x 1cm x 1cm) were coated with the film solution. The coated chicken pieces were stored at 4°C and the inhibitory activity against Listeria monocytogenes was evaluated at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The highest inhibitory activity was found in the sample containing GTE, nisin, and malic acid in combination with a reduction of 3.3 log CFU/mL. These data demonstrate that GTE—combined with nisin and malic acid and incorporated into a carboxymethyl-cellulose film coating, multiple-hurdle technology—is effective in inhibiting L. monocytogenes growth on fully cooked chicken pieces at 4°C. Research in the area of finding natural antimicrobials to aid in the prevention of food-borne illnesses is necessary to improve safety and shelf life of products such as ready-to-eat meats. This project provides an effective combination of natural anti-microbials to control L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat chicken pieces

How long does depression at cancer diagnosis affect a patient’s health?

Social and Behavioral Sciences; Social Work; Law: 2nd Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum)PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Many breast cancer patients report depressive symptoms at diagnosis. Although depressive symptoms improve, it is unknown whether women fully recover into the survivorship years, as previous studies have been cross-sectional or only short-term. RESEARCH METHOD: Breast cancer patients were accrued following surgery and prior to adjuvant therapy (baseline) and then followed for 5 years. Measures of psychological and physical functioning (both patient and nurse-rated) were used. Baseline CES-D scores (11-item version) were used to classify patients as clinically depressed (scores > 10; n = 45; DEP) or non-depressed (scores .12). The psychological trajectories--depressive symptoms (CES-D), stress (IES), and quality of life (SF-36 mental and physical components)--were of similar form. Across outcomes, the DEP group had poorer functioning at baseline (ps .39). IMPLICATIONS: Significant depressive symptomatology at cancer diagnosis portends impaired functioning for years. For such individuals, physical symptoms remain significantly elevated through 12 months, and poorer quality of life and high levels of cancer-specific stress extend for another year. Only after 2 years do women depressed at diagnosis appear to attain a level of recovery similar to that of those not depressed at diagnosis. Thus, interventions are needed for patients vulnerable to slowed physical and psychological recovery from cancer.A five-year embargo was granted for this item