[Wide support for oocyte donation and banking in the Netherlands].

Objective: To assess the general consensus on the cryopreservation of oocytes and the introduction of oocyte banking facilities in the Netherlands.

Design: Poll investigation

Method: A poll with the use of an online questionnaire was conducted among nearly 19,000 participants of the Dutch EenVandaag opinion panel in May 2011. The poll results were adjusted to the Dutch population based on data from the Dutch Central Office for Statistics for age, gender, education, marital status, geographical area and political preference (measured according to the lower house elections of 2010).

Estimation of the non-isothermal inactivation patterns of Bacillus sporothermodurans IC4 spores in soups from their isothermal survival data.

The isothermal survival curves of the heat resistant spores of Bacillus sporothermodurans IC4, in the range of 117-125 degrees C, were determined in chicken, mushroom and pea soups by the capillary method. They were all non-linear with a noticeable upper concavity and could be described by the equation log(10) [N(t)/N(0)]=-b(T)t(n) with a fixed power, n, of the order of 0.7-0.

Microbiological risk assessment in Europe: the next decade.

Under the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures that came into force in 1995, it was stipulated that all World Trade Organisation (WTO) members are required to ensure that their sanitary and phytosanitary measures are based on assessment of the risks to human, animal or plant life or health. In doing so, they must take into account risk assessment techniques developed by relevant international organisations. WHO and FAO are two such international organisations that are of very high standard and influence.

Detection of Listeria monocytogenes in cheese with the magnetic immuno-polymerase chain reaction assay.

A new detection system, the magnetic immuno-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay (MIPA) has been developed to detect Listeria monocytogenes in food. This method separates Listeria cells from PCR-inhibitory factors present in enrichment broths containing food samples by using magnetic beads coated with specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The separated bacteria were lysed, and the supernatant containing the bacterial DNA was subjected to the PCR.

Metabolic activation of selected aromatic amines and polycyclic hydrocarbons by isolated subcellular fractions of Drosophila melanogaster.

The applicability of microsomal preparations from Drosophila melanogaster as the metabolic factor in the Salmonella mutagenicity assay with strains TA98 and TA100 was evaluated. Isolated cellular fractions (S27) from PB-pretreated flies activated N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (2-AAF), N-hydroxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (N-OH-AAF), benzo[a]pyrene (BP), 9,10-dimethylanthracene (DA) and 2-naphthylamine (NA) into mutagenic metabolites. 7,-12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) was ineffective under the conditions of the test.