Enumeration of Total Aerobic Microorganisms in Foods by SimPlate® Total Plate Count–Color Indicator Methods and Conventional Culture Methods: Collaborative Study

The relative efficacy of the SimPlate® Total Plate Count–Color Indicator (TPC–CI) method (SimPlate 35°C) was compared with the AOAC Official Method 966.23 (AOAC 35°C) for enumeration of total aerobic microorganisms in foods. The SimPlate TPC–CI method, incubated at 30°C (SimPlate 30°C), was also compared with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4833 method (ISO 30°C). Six food types were analyzed: ground black pepper, flour, nut meats, frozen hamburger patties, frozen fruits, and fresh vegetables. All foods tested were naturally contaminated. Nineteen laboratories throughout North America and Europe participated in the study. Three method comparisons were conducted. In general, there was <0.3 mean log count difference in recovery among the SimPlate methods and their corresponding reference methods. Mean log counts between the 2 reference methods were also very similar. Repeatability (sr) and reproducibility (sR) standard deviations were similar among the 3 method comparisons. The SimPlate method (35°C) and the AOAC method were comparable for enumerating total aerobic microorganisms in foods. Similarly, the SimPlate method (30°C) was comparable to the ISO method when samples were prepared and incubated according to the ISO method.

The meteoric stone seen to fall in the Mangwendi native reserve, Southern Rhodesia, on March 7, 1934

This is the first meteorite to be recorded from either Southern or Northern Rhodesia. It fell at about 12.45 p.m. on March 7, 1934, on the right bank of the Shawanoya river in the Mangwendi native reserve, about forty miles east of Salisbury. The latitude and longitude of the spot are 17° 39ʹ S., 31° 36ʹ E.

The recovery of the meteorite was made through the efforts of the Rev. F. J. Gits, S.J., who is in charge of St. Paul's Mission. Three loud detonations were heard from a direction north-east of the Mission Station followed by a loud rushing sound. Father Gits, who was out in the open at the time, involuntarily ducked his head. His inquiries failed at first to elucidate the cause of the explosions, which were also heard at Arcturus, Macheke, and Mtoko, that is, over a radius of at least fifty miles.

How government policy decisions affect seniors' quality of life: findings from a participatory policy study carried out in Toronto, Canada

Toronto seniors explored how government policy decisions were influencing their health and well-being. In this participatory policy study, emphasis was upon the lay and critical knowledge of highly informed seniors. Focus groups and interviews revealed that all three levels of governments were seen as not listening to seniors' voices. In nine key policy areas identified as influencing seniors' quality of life--hearing seniors' voices, housing, acute illness care, long-term care, income supports, transportation and mobility, promoting healthy lifestyles, access to information, and hearing voices from cultural communities--many concerns were raised. The gap between government rhetoric and government action on seniors' issues merits public health attention.

Combined ambulatory electroencephalographic and electrocardiographic recordings for evaluation of syncope

Evaluation of patients with syncope often includes a battery of noninvasive tests. In this study, 45 patients (26 with suspected neurologic and 19 with suspected cardiac syncope) were evaluated with simultaneous 24-hour electroencephalographic (EEG) and 2-channel electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings. Isolated cardiac rhythm abnormalities were noted in 21 patients, but none of these was symptomatic and no definitive arrhythmias occurred. Isolated EEG abnormalities were noted in 11 patients, 5 of whom had EEG abnormalities consistent with seizure disorders. Simultaneous EEG and ECG abnormalities were seen in 4 patients. In 2 cases, a previously unsuspected etiology for syncope was found: seizures in 1 patient with heart disease, and sinus pauses in another thought to have a seizure disorder. Thus, combined ambulatory EEG/ECG monitoring may prove useful in the evaluation of some patients with syncope.

Effect of arteriovenous shunting on plasma vasopressin levels in the anesthetized dog

Studies were performed in dogs anesthetized with chloralose to establish the plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) response to 30-minute periods of femoral arteriovenous (AV) shunting at levels of either 10%, 30%, or 50% of control cardiac output. Significant increases in cardiac output, heart rate, and total body peripheral resistance (shunt resistance excluded), suggesting decreased sinoaortic baroreceptor activity, occurred at shunt fractions greater than 10%. There were no significant changes in plasma concentrations of AVP at any level of AV shunting. In separate studies, significant elevations in plasma AVP levels were observed in vagotomized dogs during AV shunting of 50% of control cardiac output. These results indicate that AV shunting less than or equal to 50% of cardiac output does not acutely alter plasma AVP levels in the intact dog and that cardiopulmonary receptors with vagal afferents suppress AVP release that might otherwise occur in this canine model of AV shunting.

Role of renal nerves in mediating the increased renin secretion during continuous positive-pressure ventilation

The effect of renal denervation on the increase in plasma renin levels during continuous positive-pressure ventilation (CPPV) was studied in anesthetized dogs. Renin secretion was measured in a group of dogs with intact renal nerves and a group which had previously undergone bilateral renal denervation. Renal perfusion pressure was maintained constant throughout the experiment. Renin secretion increased significantly during application of CPPV with a positive and expiratory pressure of 10 cm water in the dogs of the intact group but was not altered in dogs of the denervated group. These results support the conclusion that CPPV increases renin secretion by reflexly altering renal nerve activity.

Bleeding disorder due to an isolated platelet factor 3 deficiency

To determine the clinical and functional characteristics of isolated platelet factor 3 (PF-3) deficiency, platelet function studies were carried out in 316 patients who were suspected of having a bleeding tendency. Although PF-3 abnormality was observed in 69 patients (22%), an isolated PF-3 abnormality was noted in only three patients. The abnormality was congenital in one patient and secondary to Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and chronic myelocytic leukemia in the other two. Further investigations in the patient with congenital abnormality disclosed that PF-3 activity failed to respond to any of the stimuli tested, and there was a clear dissociation between PF-3 availability and platelet aggregation. The abnormality was due to an intrinsic platelet defect caused by a true deficiency of the membrane phospholipid clotting activity. The findings clearly establish that isolated PF-3 deficiency is an entity of qualitative platelet disorders that may be associated with a severe bleeding tendency.