Vacuum-Packed Foods Aren’t Bacteria-Free
I think this is bad news for those who like eating cold cuts. Food being kept in sealed plastic bag containers or even vacuum-packed and stored in refrigerators does not mean that it is free from bacteria, like Listeria monocytogenes. Worst, even depriving them of oxygen by storing in vacuum-packed containers does not deter bacteria growth. Researchers of Technical University of Denmark, through experiments with guinea pigs, even discovered that these bacteria can be up to 100 times more invasive if grown oxygen-deprived.
Read the LiveScience article here.
Listeriae are aerobic (oxygen-loving) or facultatively anaerobic (can survive without oxygen). They are gram-positive, non-spore producing bacilli that grow at 1 degree – 45 degrees Celsius. It also has a predilection for causing severe illness in persons with weak immune systems (diabetics, hemolytic disorders, malignant diseases, etcetera), though it can also be found as part of the gastrointestinal flora in healthy persons, which could lead to an acute episode of febrile gastroenteritis. Lack of gastric acidity and abnormal gastrointestinal functioning may increase risk of invasive disease. Due to this, persons taking H2-Receptor blockers like Ranitidine (Brand names: Raxide and Zantac) or Proton Pump Inhibitors like Esomeprazole (Brand name: Nexium) or Omeprazole (Brand names: Losec, Mepracid, OMZ 20) are advised to refrain from eating raw foods.
Pregnant women are also at increased risk of listeriosis due to local immunosuppression at the maternal-fetal interface of placenta which facilitates intrauterine infection following spread of infection through the mother’s circulation (transient maternal bacteremia). Women with perinatal listeriosis experience mild illness characterized by fever, myalgias, malaise, and backaches which are sometimes accompanied by diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and or vomiting. Intrauterine infection can lead to premature labor, intrauterine fetal demise (stillbirth), or early-onset disease of newborn.
Survey!!!
I’m doing a survey, the results of which I’ll post in my blog in an entry I’ve been toying around for a while. It’s non-commercial and non-academic. Just questions being truly asked. Please indulge me.
The Question/s:
If you are somebody else would write a book about your life, what part of your life do you want to be highlighted in that book? Do you think it would be a bestseller? Why?
I do hope you would answer this in earnest. And I hope it would be okay if I post your answers verbatim. Just tell me under which name you want your answers to be acknowledged.
Important: Do not put your answers to the survey on the comment form. I’d rather receive them via email. So, if you’re ready with your answers, just click here.
Thanks so much!
PBS on Manila Bulletin
Grab a copy of Manila Bulletin today! PinoyBlogoSphere.com was featured in their Technews /Blog-O-Rama section. Thanks to Annalyn Jusay.
I can’t find the online version, so I took a photo and thought maybe it’s a good idea to upload it here.
note: click the photo for a high resolution version, the high-res version is good enough for reading
Yes B is for beyolet, beyotiful and BRATYFLY.
Top 10 Signs That Your Boyfriend is Gay
***I have posted this in my blog last year. But I haven’t posted it here in PBS yet and I think it’s a fun post. So here it is!
Use MyBlogLog to Raise Political and Social Awareness
Recently, I’ve posted an article about the death of Musa Dimasidsing and others who died because of corrupt political agenda. Writing that post made me realize that I’ve shown apathy for most of the recent social issues, which I shouldn’t be doing because after all, I’m Filipino and I do care for the people (Although, some may not quite believe it because of the harshness of what I’ve written in M.D.’s on Strike. But believe me, sometimes the people will also have to be protected from doing more harm to itself by making them realize that the pain they are mostly complaining of is self-inflicted). I think it is rather high time that I shed my apathetic facade and show my sensitivity to these issues.
The Pedestrian Observer started a rather curious cyber-rally to raise awareness in the blogosphere the need to stop senseless political violence. And I agree. In addition, I think this is should also be rally that, even if our happiness should always be our top priority, we should always keep our eyes open for those who are much absorbed in the pursuit of their unjust “happiness” and are trampling over the rights of others.
If you believe in sending the message of ending senseless political violence and at the same time reach a wide range of bloggers, join the Raising Awareness through MyBlogLog Community Exchange. The rules are very simple:
I Suck When It Comes To Karaoke
Yes, I do. I don’t know why but probably because I am more preoccupied on following the lyrics closely than singing the song naturally. By the way, I am done with the exams and now I am on summer vacay. But I still don’t know if I will travel around or just stay in Bergen since I do have tons of stuff to attend to.
Speaking about karaoke, I just discovered this online karaoke called SingShot. Just make an account there and you’re all set (make sure you have a mic attached to your PC!). The site has a vast collection of songs from different artists and genres. At the same time people can grade your performance and also you can post it on your blog. Sounds wonderful right?
Kalayaan2007 Update
Submission of entries is now closed. You may start voting NOW at Pintig.PinoyBlogoSphere.Net under the Kalayaan2007 category.
http://pintig.pinoyblogosphere.net/index.php?category=Kalayaan2007
Tara na’t pulsohan ang Kalayaan2007.
