Purpose: To investigate the effect of time of day on tear evaporation rate (TER) and tear break-up time, and its possible relationship with the concentration of inflammatory tear molecules (cytokines) in healthy subjects.
Methods: Participants with healthy ocular surfaces attended 3 visits, including the screening visit (V0), the 2nd visit (V1) and the 3rd visit (V2). There were 7-day intervals between visits.
For nearly a century the use of antibiotics to treat infectious diseases has benefited human and animal health. In recent years there has been an increase in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, in part attributed to the overuse of compounds in clinical and farming settings. The genus currently comprises 17 recognized species found throughout the environment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study focused on the utilisation of High Intensity Light Pulses (HILP) treatment to preserve mozzarella cheese. First, the susceptibility of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Enterobacteriaceae to HILP (fluences from 0·39 to 28·0 J/cm2) in a transparent liquid was evaluated (in-vitro tests). Afterwards, the effects on inoculated mozzarella cheese were also assessed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study evaluates the potential of continuous wave Ultraviolet C light (UV-C) and broad-spectrum intense pulsed light (in this study referred to as High Intensity Light Pulses, HILP) for the inactivation of pathogens of public concern in powdered infant formula (PIF) producers. To achieve this goal a sequential set of experiments were performed, firstly in clear liquid media, secondly on the surface of spherical beads under agitation and, finally in PIF. L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPulsed electric fields (PEF) is a novel nonthermal technology that has the potential to cause physical disruption to muscle tissue which in turn could alter the sensorial aspects of meat in both a positive (e.g., enhanced tenderization) and a negative way (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To develop an in vitro method to determine the protective effect of UV-blocking contact lenses (CLs) in human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells exposed to UV-B radiation.
Materials And Methods: SV-40-transformed HCE cells were covered with non-UV-blocking CL, UV-blocking CL or not covered, and exposed to UV-B radiation. As control, HCE cells were covered with both types of CLs or not covered, but not exposed to UV-B radiation.
Beef longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle was used to evaluate the effect of PEF treatments (1.4 kV/cm, 10 Hz, 20 μs, 300 and 600 pulses) on meat quality attributes (weight loss, colour, cook loss and texture) and its evolution at various stages during ageing (2, 10, 18 and 26 days post-mortem). The length of meat ageing before and after PEF application exerted no influence on weight loss, colour and cook loss.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To analyze in vitro the influence of different environmental conditions on the dehydration pattern of seven currently marketed hydrogel (Hy) and silicone hydrogel (Si-Hy) contact lenses (CL).
Methods: Three Hy and four Si-Hy CLs were evaluated. CLs were exposed to four different relative humidity (RH) conditions (5%, 30%, 50%, and 70%) and two air flow (AF) rates (0 and 2.
The purpose of this research was to study the effect of different factors on the resistance of Cronobacter sakazakii NCTC 9238 to UV-C light (which includes germicidal ultraviolet light at 254 nm) and to determine whether a combined treatment with heat would produce a synergistic effect for its inactivation. Growth temperature between 10°C and 37°C did not change the UV-C resistance of C. sakazakii.
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