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Development of fluorescence caused by pseudomonads proliferating on packaged chicken was determined by examination of the poultry under ultraviolet light and by measurements of absorption spectra. Asparagine broth inoculated with organisms from chicken showed absorption maxima at 270 mμ and 410 mμ; these peaks are characteristic of the fluorescent pigment, pyoverdine. Absorbance calculated as the ratio ( A 270mμ + A 410mμ )/ A 350mμ provided a convenient measure of amount of pigment produced; this ratio was related to numbers of fluorescing organisms recovered from chicken. Absorption peaks generally increased during the first few days the poultry was stored at 5 C and then declined during the latter part of the 7-day holding period. Production of fluorescence was influenced by packaging materials. Fluorescence was not visible on poultry until counts of fluorescing bacteria were as great as 100,000 to 1,000,000 per cm 2 . Growth of fluorescent pigment-producing pseudomonads on chicken was stimulated during storage after the poultry was dipped in solutions containing iron.

Summary1) The excretion pattern of radioactive substance following parenteral administration of 0.25 μg of Cobalt60-labelled Vit. B12 to the young rat has been studied. 2) Urinary excretion of radioactivity reaches a maximum during the first 8 hours after labelled Vit. B12 administration, then rapidly declines; fecal excretion rises progressively through the 3rd day. Moreover, administration of a large dose of unlabelled Vit. B12 subsequent to radioactive B12 significantly increases urinary but not fecal excretion of radioactivity. From this differential excretion pattern, it is inferred that labelled vitamin is altered prior to its excretion into the intestinal tract. 3) The fecal route is the major excretory pathway for radioactivity resultant from parenteral introduction of Co60-labelled Vit. B12; after the 1st 8 hours, the ratio of radioactivity excreted for a 10-day period via fecal and urinary pathway is 7:1, respectively. 4) Sex does not appear to influence excretion of Co60-tagged products. Simila...

A tabulation of official or officially inspired restrictions on tobacco advertising and of rules governing health warnings in 74 countries, based on data compiled by the National Clearinghouse for Smoking and Health, shows that restrictions are widespread in many advanced countries but less prevalent elsewhere. 37 countries, primarily in developing areas but including Bulgaria, Greece, and Portugal, had no present or pending restrictions on advertising or requirements for health warnings. In addition, advertising restrictions were absent but pending in Brazil, Israel, and Mexico, and daytime advertising restrictions on television and radio were in effect in Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Peru. 20 developed countries plus Burma, Iraq, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, and Zambia ban television and radio advertising of cigarettes; 11 countries ban cigarette advertising in the press; 14 countries ban television and radio advertising of other tobacco products; and 8 countries ban advertising of other tobacco products in the press. Health warnings are required on cigarette packs only in Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ireland, New Zealand, Japan, Panama, Peru, the UK, the US, and some areas of Australia. No countries require health warning labels on other tobacco products, and only Australia, Canada, Panama, Peru, and the UK require health warnings in advertisements.

Background information is presented on the development of specifications for 75% DDT water-dispersible powder for use in malaria control programmes supported by the International Cooperation Administration (ICA) of the United States Government. Early difficulties with DDT powders used in these programmes were investigated and it was found that the most critical requirements involved packaging, suspensibility and storage stability. ICA specifications were evolved to meet these requirements. The suspensibility test developed is described, and the importance of inspection of the material procured is discussed.

Packages for irradiated foods must be compatible with the radiation treatment, the food and the production line. In the case of foods treated by radiation doses of 1 Mrad, or less, common commercial packages appear satisfactory. Radiation doses of more than 1 Mrad have an adverse effect on packages and care must be taken in selecting packages for foods to be treated by radiation doses in excess of 1 Mrad.

Pharmacological differences exist between some types of oral contraceptives, and a specific pill may prove most satisfactory for an individual woman. However, all over the world doctors find that a single type of pill can fulfill the needs of a very large number of users. Today a great many brands of pill are made; many contain similar weights of hormones, and sometimes exactly similar tablets are distributed by different manufacturers under different trade names, in different packages, containing tablets that differ in size, shape and colour. Experience shows that changing the package - with or without minor variations in pharmacological activity - can disturb users. When oral contraceptives are purchased on behalf of the If, a great effort is made to obtain the most advantageous contracts possible. Contracts usually run for one year and a new manufacturere may obtain the contract at the end of that time. Previously unfamiliar packs may then reach family planning clinics and these changes have caused, and are causing, some confusion. It is hoped that if the reason for the change is explained, and if the woman is reassured, there will be little trouble. Efforts are now being made to draw up contracts for a common pack which will carry the name and be the same shape and contain similar white tablets, and perhaps have an unusual but standard symbol, whichever manufacturer obtains a bulk order contract. The chemical formulation of the tablet and the manufacturer's name would be printed on the pack in small letters, mainly for the information of the doctor. It is hoped that such a system will begin to used in the course of 1972.