Improved recovery of Listeria monocytogenes from stainless steel and polytetrafluoroethylene surfaces using air/water ablation.

Aims: To develop a gentle ablation technique to recover Listeria monocytogenes biofilms from stainless steel (SS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surfaces by using compressed air and water injection.

Methods And Results: Biofilms were grown for 4, 24 and 48 h or 7 days and a compressed air and water flow at 2, 3 and 4 bars was applied for cell removal. Collected cells were quantified for total/dead by staining with SYTO 9/PI double staining and cultivable populations were determined by plating onto brain heart infusion (BHI) agar, while coupon surfaces also were stained with DAPI to quantify in situ the remaining cells.

Indirect competitive immunoassay for the detection of fungicide Thiabendazole in whole orange samples by Surface Plasmon Resonance.

A highly sensitive and specific SPR-based competitive immunoassay for the detection of Thiabendazole (TBZ) has been developed. An indirect format where a TBZ-protein conjugate is immobilized onto gold surfaces has been selected. Under the optimal conditions, a LOD of 0.

Airway responsiveness to acetaldehyde in patients with asthma: relationship to methacholine responsiveness and peak expiratory flow variation.

Background: Although airway hyperresponsiveness to inhaled acetaldehyde has been documented in Japanese patients with asthma, the response to this bronchoconstrictor agent has never been studied in Caucasians.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine differences in airway responsiveness to acetaldehyde between asthmatic and healthy subjects, and to examine the relationship between acetaldehyde responsiveness and the variability of peak expiratory flow (PEF).

Methods: The response to methacholine and acetaldehyde challenges was measured in 81 non-smoking adults (61 asthmatics and 20 normal controls).

[The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. A cross-sectional study].

Four hundred sixty-seven patients between 35 and 65 years of age were studied, all taken from a random sample of the population of Health Area 5 of the Valencian Community. Figures for respiratory symptoms, smoking, previous lung disease, professional activity and lung function were obtained through questionnaires and spirometry. The prevalence of asthma found was 2.