Evaluation of microbial culture techniques for the isolation of Pythium insidiosum from equine tissues.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of sample handling, storage, and culture techniques on the isolation of Pythium insidiosum from infected equine tissues. Tissue and kunker samples obtained immediately posteuthanasia from a horse with subcutaneous pythiosis were used to assess the effects of sample type (kunkers vs. tissues), media type (selective vs. nonselective), storage technique, and storage time on P. insidiosum isolation rate. Overall, isolation rates were higher from fresh kunkers (94.6%) and stored kunkers (76.4%) than from fresh tissues (8.3%) or stored tissues (4.6%). Isolation of P. insidiosum also occurred more often on antibiotic-containing media than on nonselective media for both fresh and stored samples. For samples that were stored for 1-3 days prior to culture, P. insidiosum isolation rates were highest for the following techniques: kunkers stored at room temperature and plated on selective media (100%), kunkers stored at 4 C and then plated on either nonselective (91.7%) or selective (95.8%) media, kunkers stored on cold packs and then plated on either nonselective (93.8%) or selective (100%) media, kunkers stored in ampicillin solution and plated on selective media (100%), and kunkers stored in ampicillin/gentocin solution and plated on selective media (87.5%). For samples stored for 4-5 days, P. insidiosum isolation rates were highest for kunkers stored at 4 C and then plated on either nonselective (81.3%) or selective (87.5%) media, kunkers stored in ampicillin solution and then plated on selective media (87.5%), and kunkers stored in ampicillin/gentocin solution and plated on selective media (87.5%). Results of this study suggest that optimal isolation rates of P. insidiosum from infected equine tissues are achieved by culturing fresh kunkers on selective media. For samples that cannot be processed immediately, acceptable handling techniques include storage at room temperature for up to 3 days, refrigeration for up to 5 days, shipping on cold packs, and storage in antibiotic solution, each combined with subsequent inoculation on selective media.     

The suitability of selected humic acid batches as culture media additives for isolating thermophilic Campylobacter species

Using freshly poured respectively five days under light and air stored Campylobacter media blood or lignite humic acids containing Mueller-Hinton-Agar proved to be better for isolation of a Campylobacter field strain than unsupplemented or peat humic acids containing media. The observed differences between the used media are probably caused by three different ability to prevent the accumulation of a photochemically induced toxicity by storing of media under light and air. The storage of blood respectively lignite humic acids containing media over fourteen days under dark and air leads to a time and trend dependent decrease of the colony counts of the Campylobacter field strain. By means of equations of spline functions the observed decrease in ability of media to support the growth of thermophilic Campylobacter can be described mathematically. By using the mathematical model the theoretical extend of growth of Campylobacter on the media can be determinate with respect to the applied inoculum and to the time of storage of media. The cause of decrease in the isolations rate with respect to the time of storage and the cause of different effectiveness of the used humic acids in the media are discussed.     

紫花苜蓿茎秆和叶片的解吸等温线模型及参数优化

为掌握苜蓿(Medicago sativa)收获干燥过程中的解吸等温线,控制干燥过程和贮藏稳定性。文章采用镜面冷凝露点法研究了20℃,30℃,40℃条件下苜蓿顶部茎秆、中部茎秆、根部茎秆以及叶片的解吸等温线。依据5种常用等温线模型对试验数据进行了拟合,并对各拟合模型的适用性进行了分析评价,在此基础上对模型的表达式及参数进行了优化和修正,以确定最佳拟合模型及其参数。结果表明:苜蓿叶片属于Ⅱ型解吸等温线,苜蓿顶部茎秆、中部茎秆、根部茎秆都属于Ⅲ型等温线。在同一水活度条件下,苜蓿茎秆和叶片的储藏温度不同对安全含水率的要求也不同,且它们的安全含水率存在较大差异,环境温度越低对应的安全含水率越高。在20℃,30℃和40℃条件下,苜蓿叶片采用修正GAB模型拟合效果最好,顶部茎秆的最佳解吸等温线方程为GAB和Henderson模型,中部茎秆和根部茎秆适用于GAB和Oswin模型。     

Very-High-Resolution Panoramic Photography to Improve Conventional Rangeland Monitoring

Rangeland monitoring often includes repeat photographs as a basis for documentation. Whereas photographic equipment and electronics have been evolving rapidly, photographic monitoring methods for rangelands have changed little over time because each picture is a compromise between resolution and area covered. Advances in image sensors, storage media, and image-processing software allow enormous amounts of information to be collected efficiently and inexpensively, so multiple pictures taken at full zoom can be combined into a single high-resolution panoramic image. This project was initiated to integrate very-high-resolution panoramic images with conventional rangeland monitoring methods addressing three resource management categories: riparian areas, wildlife, and invasive species.     

Image dissemination and archiving

Images generated as part of the sonographic examination are an integral part of the medical record and must be retained according to local regulations. The standard medical image format, known as DICOM (Digital Imaging and COmmunications in Medicine) makes it possible for images from many different imaging modalities, including ultrasound, to be distributed via a standard internet network to distant viewing workstations and a central archive in an almost seamless fashion. The DICOM standard is a truly universal standard for the dissemination of medical images. When purchasing an ultrasound unit, the consumer should research the unit's capacity to generate images in a DICOM format, especially if one wishes interconnectivity with viewing workstations and an image archive that stores other medical images. PACS, an acronym for Picture Archive and Communication System refers to the infrastructure that links modalities, workstations, the image archive, and the medical record information system into an integrated system, allowing for efficient electronic distribution and storage of medical images and access to medical record data.     

Bacteriocin production of probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri LA39 isolated from human feces in milk-based media

The use of bacteriocins from Lactobacillus gasseri , a probiotic lactic acid bacterium, as bio-preservatives in the food industry and animal formulations has been limited because few strains of Lb. gasseri are cultivated and produce a bacteriocin in natural media such as milk and milk-based media. By the determination of the growth-supplements to milk among the 47 nutrients, Lb. gasseri JCM1131^T, LA39 and LA158 isolated from human feces were successfully cultured in reconstituted skim milk and cheese whey using proteose peptone as a nutrient supplement, where Lb. gasseri LA39 produced a useful bacteriocin, gassericin A, with effective growth-inhibiting activity against Gram-positive food-borne pathogens. The data suggest these developed low-cost safe media supporting enough production of bacteriocins by the probiotic Lb. gasseri LA39 could be used to improve the safe bio-preservation of foods and therapy of bovine mastitis, and extra cheese whey produced by cheese making industry is reused in the cultivation for probiotics effectively.     

Optimization of a culture technique for the isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from faecal samples

A culture technique employing cold enrichment at 4 degrees C followed by selective enrichment and plating at higher temperatures (30 degrees C) was used to isolate Listeria monocytogenes from faecal samples. The samples were held at 4 degrees C for 15 weeks and cultured weekly to assess the sensitivity of the culture after cold storage for different lengths of time. No media, Listeria selective enrichment broth (LSEB), nutrient broth (NB) and saline were used as cold storage medium. Cold storage increased the frequency of Listeria positive samples. The sensitivity of the culture for Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes was 72 and 94%, and 56 and 61% after third and seventh week of cold storage, respectively. When the results of third and seventh week of cold storage were combined, the sensitivity was 100% for Listeria spp. and 94% for L. monocytogenes. LSEB and NB as storage medium increased Listeria positive samples after the first week of cold storage but did not maintain the increase thereafter while saline had an adverse effect on the growth of the bacteria. However, samples held in no media in a pilot study involving monthly sampling of a herd revealed better results. Detection limit of the culture media was also investigated. The lowest concentration detected by culture media was 3.17 organisms/ml. This was seven organisms/g for known Listeria positive sample. The faecal samples spiked with 10-fold dilutions of L. monocytogenes and held at 4 degrees C revealed that the sample spiked with 3.17 x 10-1 cfu/ml organisms resulted in growth after the second week of cold storage. The results suggest that the culture technique employing cold enrichment followed by selective enrichment and plating is more sensitive, the storage of faecal samples in no media when compared with the samples in storage medium, LSEB, NB and saline, during cold enrichment is a better application and culture of faeces, immediately after collection, at third and seventh week of cold enrichment produce more satisfactory results.     

Stability of glutathione peroxidase in swine plasma samples under various storage conditions.

The stability of plasma glutathione peroxidase under different temperatures (4 degrees C vs. -15 degrees C), various durations of storage (0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 d), and storage under inert gas (nitrogen (N2)) vs air is described. The glutathione peroxidase activity of swine plasma decreased consistently with storage at either 4 degrees C or -15 degrees C 1-56 d after collection, and differed (P less than or equal to 0.01) from the initial values. Storage under N2 at -15 degrees C slowed the rate of enzyme activity decrease but did not maintain the initial activity. For absolute measurements, it is suggested that swine plasma glutathione peroxidase activity be measured immediately after separation from the blood cells or be assayed within 24 h in plasma samples stored at -15 degrees C with air space displaced by N2. If relative treatment differences in enzyme activity are satisfactory, then assays can be conducted after controlled periods of storage.     

Myelography in the dog with non-ionic contrast media at different iodine concentrations

image quality and side effects were evaluated retrospectively In a series of 183 myelographic studies performed with two non-ionic contrast media (iohexoi and iopamidoi) at different concentrations. Side effects during and following the procedure were recorded. image quallty was assessed uslng an arbitrary scoring system and statistical analysis was performed with the cross-tabulation test (4 times 2 table) by comparing two groups receiving contrast medium at higher and lower concentrations. No slgnlflcant differences On side effects were observed between the two groups but the ratings for image quality were significantly higher in the group receiving contrast medlum at the higher concentration than in the group recelvlng the lower concentration. The results suggest that a high concentration of non-ionic contrast media can safely be used In dogs and may improve image quality.     

HOSPITAL, RADIOLOGY, AND PICTURE ARCHIVING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

Images generated during the course of patient evaluation and management are an integral part of the medical record and must be retained according to local regulations. Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) makes it possible for images from many different imaging modalities to be distributed via a standard internet network to distant viewing workstations and a central archive in an almost seamless fashion. The DICOM standard is a truly universal standard for the dissemination of medical images. Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) refers to the infrastructure that links modalities, workstations, the image archive, and the medical record information system into an integrated system, allowing for efficient electronic distribution and storage of medical images and access to medical record data. This paper discusses the important elements to a successful PACS implementation in a practice, including how it interacts with other practice computing systems.