| 1. |
- Martinez-Majander, N., et al.
(author)
-
Markers of early vascular aging are not associated with cryptogenic ischemic stroke in the young: A case-control study
- 2022
-
In: Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases. - : Elsevier BV. - 1052-3057. ; 31:9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and Purpose: We aimed to assess the association between covert atherosclerosis, arterial stiffness, and early-onset cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) in a prospective case-control study. Methods: We enrolled 123 young CIS patients (median age 41 years; 42% women) and 123 age- and sex-matched controls. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), Augmentation Index (AIx), central pulse wave velocity (PWV), and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) were compared between patients and controls. Conditional logistic regression was used adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, current smoking, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Total-C/HDL-C) ratio, and glycated albumin to assess the independent association between CIMT, arterial stiffness and CIS. Results: Patients with higher CIMT and PWV were older, more often men and they had more frequently well-documented risk factors, lower HDL and higher Total-C/HDL-C ratio compared to other tertiles. In univariate comparisons, we found no differences between patients and controls regarding CIMT, AIx, or PWV. In the entire cohort, patients had a significantly lower SEVR compared to controls (146.3%, interquartile range [IQR] 125.7-170.3 vs. 158.0%, IQR 141.3-181.0, P=0.010). SEVR was lower also in women compared to their controls (132.0%, IQR 119.4-156.1 vs. 158.7%, IQR 142.0-182.8, P=0.001) but no significant difference appeared between male patients and male controls. However, after adjusting for comorbidities and laboratory values these significant differences were lost (odds ratio [OR] 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-4.91) in the entire cohort and OR 3.89, 95% CI 0.30-50.80 in women). Conclusions: Higher CIMT and PWV were associated to higher age, male sex, and several well-documented cardiovascular risk factors. However, in this study we could not prove that either covert atherosclerosis or arterial stiffness contribute to pathogenesis of early-onset CIS. © 2022 The Author(s)
|
|
| 2. |
- Suihko, M.-L., et al.
(author)
-
Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from the meat, poultry and seafood industries by automated ribotyping
- 2002
-
In: International Journal of Food Microbiology. - 0168-1605 .- 1879-3460. ; 72:42006, s. 137-146
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A total of 564 Listeria monocytogenes isolates were characterized by automated ribotyping. The samples were taken from equipment, personnel and the environment after cleaning procedures and during food processing, as well as from raw materials and products from six meat, two poultry and five seafood processing plants located in the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Altogether, 25 different ribotypes (RTs) were generated. Two RTs occurred in the samples from all three food sectors-meat, poultry and seafood. Four RTs occurred in meat and poultry plant samples and other four RTs occurred in meat and seafood plant samples. Five RTs occurred only in meat plant samples, five only in poultry plant samples and five only in seafood plant samples. Eight of the thirteen plants had their own in-house L. monocytogenes ribotype. There was geographical differences between the RTs, but no correlation between RTs and food sectors was detected. The discrimination power of automated ribotyping was satisfactory to trace the contamination sources in the food processing plants clearly indicating the sites at which improved cleaning procedures were necessary. In addition, it was possible to screen a large number of isolates with two instruments located at different institutes and to make a reliable combination of the results. Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.
|
|
| 3. |
- Gudbjornsdottir, B., et al.
(author)
-
The incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in meat, poultry and seafood plants in the Nordic countries
- 2004
-
In: Food microbiology (Print). - 0740-0020 .- 1095-9998. ; 21:2, s. 217-225
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- During 1998/1999 a total of 36 surveys were carried out in six meat, five seafood and two poultry processing plants. A total of 2522 samples, including processing lines and environment, personnel, raw materials and products (raw or ready-to-eat, RTE), were analysed for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. The environmental and personnel samples were taken after cleaning and after the process had been running for 2 h. Samples of food products were taken after every important step during processing and samples of poultry carcasses were taken immediately after production and after storage for 21 days. The overall incidence of L. monocytogenes in meat processing plants varied from 0% to 15.1%, in poultry plants from 20.6% to 24.1% and in seafood plants from 5.9% to 22.1%. In raw products the average incidence was 15.6% for meat, 22.2% for poultry and 39.0% for seafood products. The heating steps during the production of RTE products eliminated Listeria. On average, 2.3% of RTE meat and 4.8% of RTE seafood products were recontaminated with L. monocytogenes. In the seafood sector almost all Listeria positive samples also included L. monocytogenes (91.1% of the positive samples), whereas in the meat and poultry sectors other Listeria species (mainly L. innocua) dominated. In most plants, the implemented cleaning procedures were insufficient to eliminate Listeria. The results clearly indicated the problematic sites, which in most plants were conveyer belts and other transporting equipment, floors and drains, but also raw material in the meat industry, cutting boards in the poultry industry and cooking equipment in the seafood industry. In order to solve the problems observed in this study, there is a need for close co-operation between the suppliers of equipment and cleaning agents, the staff of cleaning companies and hygiene specialists from the food industry. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
|
|
