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Usefulness of Tuberculin Skin Test by Tuberculin PPD RT23 2 TU (Tuberculin PPD RT23 2 TU를 이용한 투베르쿨린 피부반응 검사의 의의)

  • Yang, Jong-Wuk;Jeon, Man-Jo;Kim, Sung-Jung;Lee, Hyang-Lim;Lee, Seung-Jun;Lee, Myoung-Goo;Kim, Dong-Gyu;Park, Myoung-Jae;Kang, Min-Jong;Hyoen, In-Gyu;Jung, Ki-Suck
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.53 no.4
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    • pp.401-408
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    • 2002
  • Background : Tuberculin skin test is a method to examine M. tuberculosis infection and has been used all over the world. But various factors make it difficult to understand testing results. In 2000, the American Thoracic Society recommended that skin test results should be decided by considering risk factors of the tested. In Korea, high tuberculosis infection rate and BCG vaccination rate make it difficult to differentiate current infection, past infection, and no infection by the skin test. This study was attempted to examine a negative predictive value of the skin test to understand how the skin test acts on deciding administration of anti-tuberculosis drug. Methods : From Mar. 1 to Jul. 31 in 2001, the test was performed for patients hospitalized in Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chunchon, Korea by administering Tuberculin PPD RT23 2 TU (0.1 ml)to them that has been currently used in Korea based on Mantoux method. They were decided to be infected with tuberculosis bacilli by following diagnostic standard: 1) tuberculosis bacilli was cultured in sputum by microbiological diagnostic standard or Acid-fast bacilli was proven on a microscopic examination or 2) tuberculosis bacilli was not proven in the aforesaid microbiological test by clinical diagnostic standard, while there was opinion or symptom suitable for tuberculosis by radiographic or histological standard so the doctor decided to apply the tuberculosis treatment. Results : In this study, total 210 patients except 20 patients (8.7%) among 230 hospitalized patients were evaluated. Their average age was 60±16.8 years, and male-female rate was 1.28 : 1 (male: 118, female: 92). Number of patient, who was diagnosed and decided as tuberculosis, was 53(25.2%). Pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 45 patients (84.9%); 22 patients were decided to be positive in the Acid-fast bacilli smear test by microbiological examination (culture positive: 13, culture negative: 9), and 23 patients were decided to be tuberculosis patients by clinical diagnosis standard. Tuberculosis pleuritis was found in 8 patients (15.1%); 4 patients were diagnosed and decided by histological standard, and 4 patients were decided and treated by clinical standard. In differentiating patients into 'Negative' and 'Positive' by the skin test standard of the American Thoracic Society, negative predictive value 92.3%, positive predictive value 47.3%, sensitivity and specificity were 83%, 68.8%, respectively. Conclusion : In hospitalized respiratory patients, there was high negative predictive vlaue 92.3% by tuberculin skin test, therefore skin test would be a important factor for deciding administration of anti-tuberculosis drug on negative skin test patient.

The Findings of Pulmonary Function Test in Patients with Inhalation Injury (흡입화상 환자에서의 폐기능검사 소견)

  • Kim, Jong Yeop;Kim, Cheol Hong;Shin, Hyun Won;Chae, Young Je;Choi, Chul Young;Shin, Tae Rim;Park, Yong Bum;Lee, Jae Young;Bahn, Joon-Woo;Park, Sang Myeon;Kim, Dong-Gyu;Lee, Myung Goo;Hyun, In-Gyu;Jung, Ki-Suck
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.60 no.6
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    • pp.653-662
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    • 2006
  • Background: The changes in the pulmonary function observed in burn patients with an inhalation injury are probably the result of a combination of airway inflammation, chest wall and muscular abnormalities, and scar formation. In addition, it appears that prolonged ventilatory support and an episode of pneumonia contribute to the findings. This study investigated the changes in the pulmonary function in patients with inhalation injury at the early and late post-burn periods. Methods: From August 1, 2002, to August 30, 2005, surviving burn patients who had an inhalation injury were enrolled prospectively. An inhalation injury was identified by bronchoscopy within 48hours after admission. Spirometry was performed at the early phase during admission and the recovery phase after discharge, and the changes in the pulmonary function were compared. Results: 37 patients (M=28, F=9) with a total burn surface area (% TBSA), ranging from 0 to 18%, were included. The initial $PaO_2/$FiO_2$ratio and COHb were $286.4{\pm}129.6mmHg$ and $7.8{\pm}6.6%$. Nine cases (24.3%) underwent endotracheal intubation and 3 cases (8.1%) underwent mechanical ventilation. The initial X-ray findings revealed abnormalities in, 18 cases (48.6%) with 15 (83.3%) of these being completely resolved. However, 3 (16.7%) of these had residual sequela. The initial pulmonary function test, showed an obstructive pattern in 9 (24.3%) with 4 (44.4%) of these showing a positive bronchodilator response, A restrictive pattern was also observed in 9 (24.3%) patients. A lower DLco was observed in only 4 (17.4%) patients of which 23 had undergone DLco. In the follow-up study, an obstructive and restrictive pattern was observed in only one (2.7%) case each. All the decreased DLco returned to mormal. Conclusions: Most surviving burn patients with an inhalation injury but with a small burn size showed initial derangements in the pulmonary function test that was restored to a normal lung function during the follow up period.

Usefulness of Troponin-I, Lactate, C-reactive protein as a Prognostic Markers in Critically Ill Non-cardiac Patients (비 순환기계 중환자의 예후 인자로서의 Troponin-I, Lactate, C-reactive protein의 유용성)

  • Cho, Yu Ji;Ham, Hyeon Seok;Kim, Hwi Jong;Kim, Ho Cheol;Lee, Jong Deok;Hwang, Young Sil
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.58 no.6
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    • pp.562-569
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    • 2005
  • Background : The severity scoring system is useful for predicting the outcome of critically ill patients. However, the system is quite complicated and cost-ineffective. Simple serologic markers have been proposed to predict the outcome, which include troponin-I, lactate and C-reactive protein(CRP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic values of troponin-I, lactate and CRP in critically ill non-cardiac patients. Methods : From September 2003 to June 2004, 139 patients(Age: $63.3{\pm}14.7$, M:F = 88:51), who were admitted to the MICU with non-cardiac critical illness at Gyeongsang National University Hospital, were enrolled in this study. This study evaluated the severity of the illness and the multi-organ failure score (Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health EvaluationII, Simplified Acute Physiologic ScoreII and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) and measured the troponin-I, lactate and CRP within 24 hours after admission in the MICU. Each value in the survivors and non-survivors was compared at the 10th and 30th day after ICU admission. The mortality rate was compared at 10th and 30th day in normal and abnormal group. In addition, the correlations between each value and the severity score were assessed. Results : There were significantly higher troponin-I and CRP levels, not lactate, in the non-survivors than in the survivors at 10th day($1.018{\pm}2.58ng/ml$, $98.48{\pm}69.24mg/L$ vs. $4.208{\pm}10.23ng/ml$, $137.69{\pm}70.18mg/L$) (p<0.05). There were significantly higher troponin-I, lactate and CRP levels in the non-survivors than in the survivors on the 30th day ($0.99{\pm}2.66ng/ml$, $8.02{\pm}9.54ng/dl$, $96.87{\pm}68.83mg/L$ vs. $3.36{\pm}8.74ng/ml$, $15.42{\pm}20.57ng/dl$, $131.28{\pm}71.23mg/L$) (p<0.05). The mortality rate was significantly higher in the abnormal group of troponin-I, lactate and CRP than in the normal group of troponin-I, lactate and CRP at 10th day(28.1%, 31.6%, 18.9% vs. 11.0%, 15.8 %, 0%) and 30th day(38.6%, 47.4%, 25.8% vs. 15.9%, 21.7%, 14.3%) (p<0.05). Troponin-I and lactate were significantly correlated with the SAPS II score($r^2=0.254$, 0.365, p<0.05). Conclusion : Measuring the troponin-I, lactate and CRP levels upon admission may be useful for predicting the outcome of critically ill non-cardiac patients.

Development and Validation of the Analytical Method for Oxytetracycline in Agricultural Products using QuEChERS and LC-MS/MS (QuEChERS법 및 LC-MS/MS를 이용한 농산물 중 Oxytetracycline의 잔류시험법 개발 및 검증)

  • Cho, Sung Min;Do, Jung-Ah;Lee, Han Sol;Park, Ji-Su;Shin, Hye-Sun;Jang, Dong Eun;Cho, Myong-Shik;Jung, ong-hyun;Lee, Kangbong
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.34 no.3
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    • pp.227-234
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    • 2019
  • An analytical method was developed for the determination of oxytetracycline in agricultural products using the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) method by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). After the samples were extracted with methanol, the extracts were adjusted to pH 4 by formic acid and sodium chloride was added to remove water. Dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) cleanup was carried out using $MgSO_4$ (anhydrous magnesium sulfate), PSA (primary secondary amine), $C_{18}$ (octadecyl) and GCB (graphitized carbon black). The analytes were quantified and confirmed with LC-MS/MS using ESI (electrospray ionization) in positive ion MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) mode. The matrix-matched calibration curves were constructed using six levels ($0.001{\sim}0.25{\mu}g/mL$) and coefficient of determination ($r^2$) was above 0.99. Recovery results at three concentrations (LOQ, $10{\times}LOQ$, and $50{\times}LOQ$, n=5) were from 80.0 to 108.2% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than of 11.4%. For inter-laboratory validation, the average recovery was in the range of 83.5~103.2% and the coefficient of variation (CV) was below 14.1%. All results satisfied the criteria ranges requested in the Codex guidelines (CAC/GL 40-1993, 2003) and the Food Safety Evaluation Department guidelines (2016). The proposed analytical method was accurate, effective and sensitive for oxytetracycline determination in agricultural commodities. This study could be useful for safety management of oxytetracycline residues in agricultural products.

A Study on the Evaluation of Fertilizer Loss in the Drainage(Waste) Water of Hydroponic Cultivation, Korea (수경재배 유출 배액(폐양액)의 비료 손실량 평가 연구)

  • Jinkwan Son;Sungwook Yun;Jinkyung Kwon;Jihoon Shin;Donghyeon Kang;Minjung Park;Ryugap Lim
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.35-47
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    • 2023
  • Korean facility horticulture and hydroponic cultivation methods increase, requiring the management of waste water generated. In this study, the amount of fertilizer contained in the discharged waste liquid was determined. By evaluating this as a price, it was suggested to reduce water treatment costs and recycle fertilizer components. It was evaluated based on the results of major water quality analysis of waste liquid by crop, such as tomatoes, paprika, cucumbers, and strawberries, and in the case of P component, it was analyzed by converting it to the amount of phosphoric acid (P2O5). The amount of nitrogen (N) can be calculated by discharging 1,145.90kg·ha-1 of tomatoes, 920.43kg·ha-1 of paprika, 804.16kg·ha-1 of cucumbers, 405.83kg·ha-1 of strawberries, and the fertilizer content of P2O5 is 830.65kg·ha-1 of paprika, 622.32kg·ha-1 of tomatoes, 477.67kg·ha-1 of cucumbers. In addition, trace elements such as potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) were also analyzed to be emitted. The price per kg of each item calculated by averaging the price of fertilizer sold on the market can be evaluated as KRW, N 860.7, P 2,378.2, K 2,121.7, Ca 981.2, Mg 1,036.3, Fe 126,076.9, Mn 62,322.1, Zn 15,825.0, Cu 31,362.0, B 4,238.0, Mo 149,041.7. The annual fertilizer loss amount for each crop was calculated by comprehensively considering the price per kg calculated based on the market price of fertilizer, the concentration of waste by crop analyzed earlier, and the average annual emission of hydroponic cultivation. As a result of the analysis, the average of the four hydroponic crops was 5,475,361.1 won in fertilizer ingredients, with tomatoes valued at 6,995,622.3 won, paprika valued at 7,384,923.8 won, cucumbers valued at 5,091,607.9 won, and strawberries valued at 2,429,290.6 won. It was expected that if hydroponic drainage is managed through self-treatment or threshing before discharge rather than by leaking it into a river and treating it as a pollutant, it can be a valuable reusable fertilizer ingredient along with reducing water treatment costs.

Clinical Findings of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia under 3 Year-Old Children (3세 이하 Mycoplasma pneumoniae 폐렴환자의 임상적 고찰)

  • Lee, Sung-Soo;Youn, Kyung-Lim;Kang, Hyeon-Ho;Cho, Byoung-Soo;Cha, Sung-Ho
    • Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.78-85
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    • 1999
  • Purpose : Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia has been to be developed frequently in school age children and adolescence and hard to see under 3 year-old children. But it seems to be increased in number of patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia under 3-year old in clinical practice in these days. We have aimed to examine the characteristics of clinical findings of Mycoplasma pneumonia under 3 year-old children. Methods : We had performed retrospective review of medical records of 30 patients with Mycoplasmal pneumonia under 3-year old children who admitted to Department of Pediatrics, Kyunghee University Hospital from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1997. The diagnostic criteriae was Cold agglutinin titer>1:64 or Mycoplasma antibody titer>1:80. Results : Mycoplasmal pneumonia was 30 out of 235 cases(12.7%) of total pneumonia under 3 year old children. Male female ratio was 1.3 : 1 and age distributions were 0~1y : 0, 1~2y : 8, 2~3y : 22 cases. Clinical symptoms and signs were cough(100.0%), sputum(83.3%), fever(80.0%) rhinorrhea(33.3%), vomiting(33.3%), moist rale(86.7%), decreased breathing sound(26.7%), wheezing(20.0%), and pharyngeal injection(30.0%). Thirteen out of 30 cases(43.3%) had unilateral infiltration, 10 cases(33.4%) had bilateral infiltration, 1 case(3.3%) had pleural effusion, and 6 cases(20.0%) had negative findings on chest radiography and there was no cases of atelectasis. On laboratory findings, 6 out of 30 cases(20.0%) had leukocytosis, 1 case(3.3%) had neutrophilia, 10 cases(30.0%) had eosinophilia, 17 cases(56.7%) had increased ESR, and 18 cases(60.6%) had positive CRP. Positive cold agglutinin titers(>1 : 64) were 19 cases(63.3%), and positive mycoplasma antibody(M-ab) titers(>1 : 80) were 27 cases(93.3%). Mycoplasma antibody test was more valuable than cold agglutinin test for the diagnosis of Mycoplasmal pneumonia and there was no correlation between cold agglutinin titer and mycoplasma antibody titer. Mycoplasma-polymerase chain reaction(M-PCR) was done with 13 cases, 12 out of 13 cases(92.3%) were positive. M-PCR test was valuable to the diagnosis of Mycoplasmal pneumonia but it will be needed to further study for their clinical application. Among 30 cases, 5 cases(16.7%) had complications, 3 cases(10.0%) had skin rash, 1 case(3.3%) had pleural effusion, 1 case(3.3%) had arthralgia, but all complications were mild and recovered without residual sequelae. Conclusion : The occurrence of Mycoplasmal pneumonia under 3 year-old children was not rare from this study. Clinical characteristics of Mycoplasmal pneumonia under 3-year old were normal radiologic findings in many cases, low complication rate, mild clinical course, and tend to rapid recovery compared with general manifestations of Mycoplasmal infectionsin children and adolescence. There were likely to be missed patients with Mycoplasmal pneumonia which did not diagnose by conventional serologic tests that had low sensitivity and specificity. We have to pay attention to the Mycoplasmal infection of the young children with pneumonia during epidemic periods of Mycoplasmal infection.

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A Study on Serum Lipid Levels in Elderly People in Wando Area - Based on Age, BMI, WHR - (완도지역 성인 및 노인의 혈청지질 수준에 관한 연구(I) - 연령, 신체 계측치를 중심으로 -)

  • Cha, Bok-Kyeong
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.35 no.1
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    • pp.68-77
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    • 2006
  • This study was peformed to document the association between nutrient intakes, body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), and a major risk factor for chronic diseases. A three-day dietary intake survey, using a 24 hour recall method, was obtained from 187 subjects aged 46 to 84 (mean age 65.3) living in Wando island area. The average daily mean energy intakes were 1869.0 kcal for male and 1943.9 kcal for female, respectively. Daily intakes of protein for male and female were 28.0 and 30.4 g, and those of fat were 31.5 and 28.51 g, respectively Carbohydrate dependency was decreased with age. Protein dependency was increased with age. The mean intakes of energy, protein, Vit. A, Vit. D, Vit. E, Ca, Zn did not meet Korean RDA for elderly. The level of serum triglyceride was higher in males than in females and showed the tendency to increase with age in both sexes, whereas HDL-cholesterol tended to decrease with age in both sexes. The levels of serum total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were significantly higher in males than in females, particularly in the age of $46\~59$ (p<0.05). The level of atherogenic index (AI) was significantly higher in females than in males, particularly in the age of 80 and over (p<0.05) Based on these results, it is evident that people in island area did not consume enough nutrient. Specially, dietary intake of protein was not adequate. This study implies that triglyceride, total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, AI were increased with increasing age, BMI and WHR.

CComparative evaluation of the methods of producing planar image results by using Q-Metrix method of SPECT/CT in Lung Perfusion Scan (Lung Perfusion scan에서 SPECT-CT의 Q-Metrix방법과 평면영상 결과 산출방법에 대한 비교평가)

  • Ha, Tae Hwan;Lim, Jung Jin;Do, Yong Ho;Cho, Sung Wook;Noh, Gyeong Woon
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.90-97
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    • 2018
  • Purpose The lung segment ratio which is obtained through quantitative analyses of lung perfusion scan images is calculated to evaluate the lung function pre and post surgery. In this Study, the planar image production methods by using Q-Metrix (GE Healthcare, USA) program capable of not only quantitative analysis but also computation of the segment ratio after having performed SPECT/CT are comparatively evaluated. Materials and Methods Lung perfusion scan and SPECT/CT were performed on 50 lung cancer patients prior to surgery who visited our hospital from May 1, 2015 to September 13, 2016 by using Discovery 670(GE Healthcare, USA) equipment. AP(Anterior Posterior)method that uses planar image divided the frontal and rear images into three rectangular portions by means of ROI tool while PO(Posterior Oblique)method computed the segment ratio by dividing the right lobe into three parts and the left lobe into two parts on the oblique image. Segment ratio was computed by setting the ROI and VOI in the CT image by using Q-Metrix program and statistically analysis was performed with SPSS Ver. 23. Results Regarding the correlation concordance rate of Q-Metrix and AP methods, RUL(Right upper lobe), RML(Right middle lobe) and RLL(Right lower lobe) were 0.224, 0.035 and 0.447. LUL(Left upper lobe) and LLL(Left lower lobe) were found to be 0.643 and 0.456, respectively. In the PO method, the right lobe were 0.663, 0.623 and 0.702, respectively, while the left lobe were 0.754 and 0.823. When comparison was made by using the Paired sample T-test, Right lobe were $11.6{\pm}4.5$, $26.9{\pm}6.2$ and $17.8{\pm}4.2$, respectively in the AP method. Left lobe were $28.4{\pm}4.8$ and $15.4{\pm}5.6$. The right lobe of PO had values of $17.4{\pm}5.0$, $10.5{\pm}3.6$ and $27.3{\pm}6.0$, while the left lobe had values of $21.6{\pm}4.8$ and $23.1{\pm}6.6$, thereby having statistically significant difference in comparison to the Q-Metrix method for each of the lobes (P<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in Right middle lobe (P>0.05). Conclusion The AP method showed low concordance rate in correlation with the Q-Metrix method. However, PO method displayed high concordance rate overall. although AP method had significant differences in all lobes, there was no significant difference in Right middle lobe of PO method. Therefore, at the time of production of lung perfusion scan results, utilization of Q-Metrix method of SPECT/CT would be useful in computation of accurate resultant values. Moreover, it is deemed possible to expect obtain more practical sectional computation result values by using PO method at the time of planar image acquisition.

A Case Study on Application of the Menu Engineering Technique in Government Offices Contract Foodservice (관공서급식소의 메뉴엔지니어링기법을 적용한 메뉴분석 사례연구)

  • Rho, Sung-Yoon
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.42 no.1
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    • pp.78-96
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    • 2009
  • The purpose of this study was to analyze and evaluate the menu served in government offices foodservice by using Kasavana & Smith's Menu-Engineering. Sales and food costs were collected from the daily sales reports for a year from Jan 2 to Dec 31 in 2007. Calculation for menu analysis and customer's data were done by computer using the MS 2003 Excel spreadsheet program and SPSS 12.0 package program. Menu mix% (MM%) and unit contribution margin were used as variables by Kasavana & Smith. Four possible classifications by Menu-Engineering technique were turned out as 'STAR', 'PLOWHORSE', 'PUZZLE', 'DOG'. The main menus served during a year were 128 dishes and about 141 peoples visited this restaurant daily. The mean age of the men was $44.1\;{\pm}\;6.3$, women were $32.7\;{\pm}\;6.4$ and showed that was statistically higher than that of women (p < .0001). The rates of STAR menus were 'Western style (75.0%)', 'guk/tang-ryu (48.1%)', 'jjigae/ jeongol-ryu (23.1%)', 'bap-ryu (17.2%)' in sequence. There were no STAR menus in gui/jorim/jjim-ryu. PLOWHORSE menus were 'gui-ryu (75.0%)', 'guk/tang-ryu (29.6%)', 'bap-ryu (27.6%)' in sequence. There were no PUZZLE or DOG menus in 'jjigae/jeongol-ryu'. PUZZLE menus were 'jorim/jjim-ryu and Myeonryu (each 33.3%)', 'bap-ryu (31.0%)' in sequence. PUZZLE menus were a lots of 'Chinese food (75.0%)' and 'myeonryu (55.6%)'. This study provides the basic data based on regularly menu analysis method applied the scientific menu analysis techniques in government offices food services, I'd like to suggest that the menu management must be done based on the necessity and result of menu analysis according to the seasonal and middle, long-term plans.

Processing of Water Activity Controlled Fish Meat Paste by Dielectric Heating 1. Formulation and Processing Conditions (내부가열을 이용한 보장성어육(고등어) 연제품의 가공 및 제품개발에 관한 연구 1. 원료${\cdot}$첨가물의 배합 및 가공조건)

  • LEE Kang-Ho;LEE Byeong-Ho;You Byeong-Jin;SUH Jae-Soo;JO Jin-Ho;JEONG In-Hak;JEA Yoi-Guan
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.17 no.5
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    • pp.353-360
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    • 1984
  • As an effort to expand the utilization of mackerel which has been thought disadvantageous to processors due to the defects in bloody dark color of meat, high content of lipid, and low stability of protein, and to develope a new type of product, so called, preservative fish meat paste, the processing method was studied in which dielectric heating was applied by means of cooking, pasteurization, dehydration, and control of water activity. The principle of this method is based on that dielectric heating can initiate a rapid dispersion or displacement of moisture in the meat tissue so that the level of water acivity can be controlled by dehydration with hot air meanwhile the product is cooked, pasteurized, and texturized. And the product is finally heated with electric heaters and vacuum sealed to stabilize water activity and storage stability. In present paper, a formula for preparing the fish meat-stach paste, the conditions of dielectric heating and dehydration, shape and size of the product, and other parameters were tested to optimize the process operation. A formula of the fish meat-starch paste to provide proper textural properties and water activity was $10\%$ starch, $1.5\%$ salt, $3\%$ soybean, $0.6\%$ MSG, $2\%$ sucrose, and $3\%$ sorbitol against the weight of fish meat. A proper shape and size of the product to avoid foaming and case hardening during heating was sliced disc of 8 cm $diameter{\times}0.8$ cm thickness or $10{\times}10$ cm square plate with 1.0 cm thickness. The disc shape was recommended because it resulted more uniform heating, minimum foaming and case hardening. And it was also advantageous that disc was simply provided when the fish meat disc was stuffed in the same, solidified in boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes, and sliced. Condition of dielectric heating was critical to decide the levels of sterility, water activity, and textural property of the product. The temperature at the center of the meat disc slices was raised up to $95^{\circ}C$ in 1.5 minutes so that continuous exposure to microwave caused expanded tissue and hardening ending up with a higher water content. Heating for 5 to 6 minutes was adequate to yield the final water activity of 0.86 to 0.83(35 to $40\%$ moisture). It is important, however, that heating had to be done periodically, for instance, in the manner of 2.0, 1.5, 1.5, and 1.0 minute to give enough time to displace or evaporate moisture from the meat tissue. The product was dehydrated for 2 to 3 minutes by hot air of $60^{\circ}C$, 3 to 5m/sec and finally exposed to electric heaters for 5 to 6 minutes until the surface was roasted deep brown. These conditions of heating and dehydration resulted in a complete reduction of total plate count from an initial count of $5.3{\times}10^6/g$ to less than $3{\times}10^2/g$. General composition of the product was $40.1\%$ moisture, $20.8\%$ protein, $17.4\%$ lipid, $16.2\%$ carbohydrate, and $5.5\%$ ash. Textural properties revealed folding test AA, hardness 42, cohesiveness 0.53, toughness 4.6, and elasticity 0.8.

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