Proteolysis in soft cheese, studied on Meshanger cheese and cheese models

Enzymes predominantly responsible for the primary degradation of protein in soft cheese and for the related changes in consistency were studied. Reconstructed Noordhollandse Meshanger cheese and preserved simulated soft cheeses of different composition were used as models in the investigation. Results for proteolysis in the simulated cheeses were comparable and also comparable to those observed with normal Meshanger cheese. Protein breakdown was studied by estimating the amount of nitrogen soluble in the moisture of cheese and by quantitative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results of the two methods were well correlated. Proteolysis, which is primarily responsible for changes in consistency of soft cheeses, was caused mainly by calf rennet enzymes. The activity of rennet at different pH and concentrations of NaCl in the moisture of cheese also revealed a major role of rennet enzymes in protein breakdown in soft cheeses with an initially very low pH, ripening under the influence of a surface flora. The role of the surface flora is merely to regulate pH and so to soften the cheese body, and to give the cheese a specific flavour.Milk protease activity in soft cheese was studied in relation to pH, concentration of NaCl in moisture, ripening time and ripening temperature of the cheese. Its contribution to soft cheese ripening is minor, perhaps except for certain cheeses with a surface flora. Milk protease showed considerable activity in milk at favourable temperatures, proteolysis increased when cheese milk was subjected to low-temperature pasteurization.<p/

Kyste hydatique de la surrénale: à propos d’un cas

Le kyste hydatique de la surrénale reste une affection exceptionnelle et une localisation inhabituelle du kyste hydatique, même dans les pays où l'hydatidose sévit à l'état endémique. Nous rapportons un cas de kyste hydatique surrénalien révélé par des douleurs de l'hypochondre droit. Le diagnostic a été évoqué en préopératoire sur les données de la tomodensitométrie abdominale qui avait objectivé une masse kystique surrénalienne droite. La sérologie hydatique était positive. Le traitement chirurgical avait consisté en une résection du dôme saillant et avait permis de conserver la glande. Le kyste était univésiculaire contenant un liquide eau de roche avec une membrane proligère. Les suites opératoires étaient simples. La surveillance à distance, échographique et immunologique, n'avait pas décelé de récidive avec un recul de deux an

Cardiac tamponade and paroxysmal third-degree atrioventricular block revealing a primary cardiac non-Hodgkin large B-cell lymphoma of the right ventricle: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Primary cardiac lymphoma is rare.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 64-year-old non-immunodeficient Caucasian man, with cardiac tamponade and paroxysmal third-degree atrioventricular block. Echocardiography revealed the presence of a large pericardial effusion with signs of tamponade and a right ventricular mass was suspected. Scanner investigations clarified the sites, extension and anatomic details of myocardial and pericardial infiltration. Surgical resection was performed due to the rapid impairment of his cardiac function. Analysis of the pericardial fluid and histology confirmed the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin large B-cell lymphoma. He was treated with chemotherapy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prognosis remains poor for this type of tumor due to delays in diagnosis and the importance of the site of disease.</p

A Multifactorial Approach for Surveillance of Shigella spp. and Entero-Invasive Escherichia coli Is Important for Detecting (Inter)national Clusters

Shigella spp. and entero-invasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) can cause mild diarrhea to dysentery. In Netherlands, although shigellosis is a notifiable disease, there is no laboratory surveillance for Shigella spp. and EIEC in place. Consequently, the population structure for circulating Shigella spp. and EIEC isolates is not known. This study describes the phenotypic and serological characteristics, the phenotypic and genetic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles, the virulence gene profiles, the classic multi-locus sequence types (MLST) and core genome (cg)MLST types, and the epidemiology of 414 Shigella spp. and EIEC isolates collected during a cross-sectional study in Netherlands in 2016 and 2017. S. sonnei (56%), S. flexneri (25%), and EIEC (15%) were detected predominantly in Netherlands, of which the EIEC isolates were most diverse according to their phenotypical profile, O-types, MLST types, and cgMLST clades. Virulence gene profiling showed that none of the isolates harbored Shiga toxin genes. Most S. flexneri and EIEC isolates possessed nearly all virulence genes examined, while these genes were only detected in approximately half of the S. sonnei isolates, probably due to loss of the large invasion plasmid upon subculturing. Phenotypical resistance correlated well with the resistant genotype, except for the genes involved in resistance to aminoglycosides. A substantial part of the characterized isolates was resistant to antimicrobials advised for treatment, i.e., 73% was phenotypically resistant to co-trimoxazole and 19% to ciprofloxacin. AMR was particularly observed in isolates from male patients who had sex with men (MSM) or from patients that had traveled to Asia. Furthermore, isolates related to international clusters were also circulating in Netherlands. Travel-related isolates formed clusters with isolates from patients without travel history, indicating their emergence into the Dutch population. In conclusion, laboratory surveillance using whole genome sequencing as high-resolution typing technique and for genetic characterization of isolates complements the current epidemiological surveillance, as the latter is not sufficient to detect all (inter)national clusters, emphasizing the importance of multifactorial public health approaches

Performance of irradiated CVD diamond micro-strip sensors

CVD diamond detectors are of interest for charged particle detection and tracking due to their high radiation tolerance. In this article we present, for the first time, beam test results from recently manufactured CVD diamond strip detectors and their behavior under low doses of electrons from a $\beta$-source and the performance before and after intense ($>10^{15}/{\rm cm^2}$) proton- and pion-irradiations. We find that low dose irradiations increase the signal-to-noise ratio (pumping of the signal) and slightly deteriorate the spatial resolution. Intense irradiations with protons ($2.2\times 10^{15}~p/{\rm cm^2}$) lowers the signal-to-noise ratio slightly. Intense irradiation with pions ($2.9\times 10^{15}~\pi/{\rm cm^2}$) lowers the signal-to-noise ratio more. The spatial resolution of the diamond sensors improves after irradiations