Effect of Integration of Linseed and Vitamin E in Charolaise × Podolica Bulls’ Diet on Fatty Acids Profile, Beef Color and Lipid Stability

Dietary supplementation with oilseeds improves the fatty acid profiles of meat, but results are often inconsistent. This study aimed to assess the effects of dietary linseed and vitamin E supplementation on fatty acid profile, cholesterol content and color stability of beef samples. Dorsal subcutaneous fat samples were subjected to lipid stability assessment. Eighteen young bulls (385 ± 15 kg BW, age 8–9 months) were allocated into three homogeneous groups, each receiving ad libitum wheat straw and concentrate only (CON = 5.5 kg/day), concentrate with linseed (LIN = 80 g/kg, i.e., 440 g/head/day), and concentrate with linseed plus vitamin E (L + E = 80 g/kg, i.e., 440 g/head/day + 2500 IU/head/day of Vitamin E). Group L+E showed significantly lower cholesterol content, lower n-6/n-3 ratio and a higher PUFA percentage compared to the CON group. Meat color was affected by feeding LIN with a decrease in a*, b*, and C* compared to the CON group. The experimental diets increased H◦ values compared to the CON group. A positive effect of vitamin E in protecting lipids of dorsal subcutaneous depots from oxidation was detected in group L+E compared to group LIN. The supplementation with extruded linseeds in the diet had positive effects on the nutritional profile of the meat. When vitamin E was included, linseed did not alter the color of meat, and the lipid stability of the subcutaneous fat improved

Effect of Pegbovigrastim on Hematological Profile of Simmental Dairy Cows during the Transition Period

Pegbovigrastim is a long-acting analog of recombinant bovine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, that promotes and increases the count and functionality of polymorphonuclear cells in dairy cows. The present study aimed to explore, for the first time in Simmental cows, the clinical and hematological effect of pegbovigrastim during the transition period (TP). Cows were randomly assigned into two groups: treated group (PEG; n = 16) received pegbovigrastim at approximately 7 days before expected parturition and within 6 h after calving, and control group (CTR; n = 16) received saline solution. Blood samples were obtained at −7, 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 30 days relative to calving. PEG group showed white blood cells (WBC) count consistently higher compared with CTR group (p < 0.001) until to 3 weeks after calving. Neutrophils remained higher in PEG group (p < 0.001) up to three weeks after calving, compared with CTR group, with slight increment of band cells. Moreover, PEG group displayed a lower index of myeloperoxidase at 1, 3, and 7 days after calving (p < 0.01) compared with CTR. Basophils and lymphocytes showed a similar trend to those observed for neutrophils at 1 day after calving in PEG group. Finally, monocytes remained markedly elevated until 3 days after calving in PEG compared to CTR group (p < 0.001), whereas in PEG group, eosinophils population showed lower percentage values at 1 and 3 days after calving but higher values at 30 days compared with CTR group. PEG group was characterized by lower red blood cells (RBCs) count compared with CTR group (p < 0.05) and higher % of red cell volume distribution width (RDW) from week 2 and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) at 30 days after calving. In addition, the mean platelet volume (MPV) was significantly higher in PEG group at calving, 1, 3, and 7 days after calving compared with CTR group (p < 0.05). For the first time, we described the effect of pegbovigrastim in a breed not specialized exclusively in milk production as Holstein, but with dual purpose (meat and milk), evaluating the complete hematological profile in cows during the transition period. These results provide evidence on the proliferative effect of pegbovigrastim on WBC in Simmental breed highlighting its possible side effect on RBCs

Unraveling the adipose tissue proteome of transition cows through severe negative energy balance

Fat mobilization in high-yielding dairy cows during early lactation occurs to overcome negative energy balance (NEB), caused by insufficient feed intake and the concomitant increased nutritional requirements. For this reason, adipose tissue represents an essential organ for healthy and performant lactation. However, only a few data are known about adipose tissue proteome and its metabolic status during peripartum. The aim of this study was to analyze the differential proteomics profiles of subcutaneous adipose tissue belonging to cows with different NEB scores (low NEB and severe NEB). Both groups were analyzed at three different time points (one month before calving, one and sixteen weeks after calving) that were related to different levels and rates of adipose tissue mobilization. The dataset highlighted the differential expression of the same four key proteins (annexin A2, actin-related protein 10, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and fatty acid-binding protein) involved in lipid metabolism during all time points and of other 22 proteins typical of the other comparisons among remaining time points. The obtained dataset suggested that the individual variability in adipose tissue metabolism/mobilization/energy availability could be linked to the different outcomes in levels of energy balance and related physical complications among dairy cows during peripartum

The Quality of Five Natural, Historical Italian Cheeses Produced in Different Months: Gross Composition, Fat-Soluble Vitamins, Fatty Acids, Total Phenols, Antioxidant Capacity, and Health Index

Five natural historic cheeses of Southern Italy were investigated-Caciocavallo Palermitano (CP), Casizolu del Montiferru (CdM), Vastedda della Valle del Belìce (VVB), Pecorino Siciliano (PS), and Caprino Nicastrese (CN)-which are produced with raw milk and with traditional techniques and tools, from autochthonous breeds reared under an extensive system. The effects of the month of production on gross composition, MUFA, PUFA, PUFA-ω6, PUFA-ω3, α-tocopherol, retinol, cholesterol, TPC, TEAC, and GHIC were evaluated. In CP, CLA, TPC, and GHIC were higher in April than in February. CdM showed higher values in terms of fat, saturated fatty acids, PUFA-ω3, α-tocopherol, TEAC, and GHIC in May than in February and September, while low values in terms of protein, moisture, and CLA were found. In VVB, MUFA, PUFA-ω6, and α-tocopherol increased in June compared with April; conversely, protein, FRAP, and TEAC were higher in April. In PS, protein, CLA, PUFA, PUFA-ω3, α-tocopherol, and GHIC increased in May compared with January; on the contrary, moisture, NaCl, and TEAC showed high values in January. CN showed higher values in terms of PUFA, PUFA-ω6, PUFA-ω3, TPC, TEAC, and GHIC in April and June compared with January. It is shown that each cheese is unique and closely linked to the production area. Cheeses produced in the spring months showed a high nutritional quality due to the greatest presence of healthy compounds originating from an extensive feeding system

Endothelin-1 receptor blockade as new possible therapeutic approach in multiple myeloma.

New effective treatments are needed to improve outcomes for multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Receptors with restricted expression on plasmacells (PCs) represent attractive new therapeutic targets. The endothelin-1(EDN1) axis, consisting of EDN1 acting through EDN-receptor A(EDNRA) and B (EDNRB), was previously shown to be overexpressed inseveral tumours, including MM. However, there is incomplete understand-ing of how EDN1 axis regulates MM growth and response to therapy.Besides EDNRA, the majority of MM cell lines and primary malignant PCsexpress high levels of EDNRB and release EDN1. Similarly, bone-marrowmicroenvironment cells also secrete EDN1. Investigating the extent of epi-genetic dysregulation of EDNRB gene in MM, we found that hypermethyla-tion of EDNRB promoter and subsequent down-regulation of EDNRB genewas observed in PCs or B lymphocytes from healthy donors compared toEDNRB-expressing malignant PCs. Pharm acological blockade with the dualEDN1 receptor antagonist bosentan decreased cell viability and MAPK acti-vation of U266 and RPMI-8226 cells. Interestingly, the combination ofbosentan and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, currently approved forMM treatment, resulted in synergistic cytotoxic effects. Overall, our datahas uncovered EDN1-mediated autocrine and paracrine mechanisms thatregulate malignant PCs growth and drug response, and support EDN1receptors as new therapeutic targets in MM

Il mese di produzione influenza la qualit\ue0 di formaggi tipici?

Il settore lattiero-caseario mediterraneo rappresenta una delle pi\uf9 importanti attivit\ue0 legate al lavoro delle terre montane e marginali e alla produzione di prodotti tipici e di qualit\ue0. Un prodotto \u201ctipico\u201d \ue8 il risultato di diversi fattori strettamente legati all\u2019origine geografica e alle tradizioni sociali e culturali dell\u2019area di produzione. Tali prodotti sono da sempre uno strumento per valorizzare la biodiversit\ue0, la cultura e l\u2019economia di definite aree mediterranee. L\u2019Unione Europea riconosce ufficialmente questa diversificazione di prodotto attraverso l\u2019attribuzione di marchi di qualit\ue0 a denominazione di origine protetta (DOP) e a indicazione geografica protetta (IGP). Nella politica agroalimentare italiana \ue8 presente anche il marchio di prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale (TAP). Recentemente, 15 formaggi storici naturali del Sud Italia, identificati come la \u201cselezione AGER (Agroalimentare e ricerca)\u201d, hanno ricevuto attenzione nel progetto dal titolo \u201cCanestrum casei- Sviluppo di un modello sinergico finalizzato alla qualificazione e valorizzazione dei formaggi storici naturali del Sud Italia nelle regioni Sicilia, Sardegna, Calabria, Basilicata e Campania\u201c. Il progetto mira a qualificare e valorizzare questi formaggi storici e a ridare dignit\ue0 agli allevatori e ai produttori di questi formaggi, meno conosciuti dai consumatori e spesso a rischio di estinzione per oggettive difficolt\ue0 di qualificazione e valorizzazione sul mercato. In questo lavoro vengono studiati 5 dei 15 formaggi della selezione AGER. Il Caciocavallo Palermitano TAP (CP) \ue8 un formaggio a pasta dura, prodotto nella regione Sicilia in provincia di Palermo a 700-1000 m s.l.m. \ue8 un formaggio a pasta filata ottenuto dal latte bovino crudo delle razze Cinisara, Pezzata Rossa, Bruna e meticci, ed \ue8 ancora prodotto con tecniche tradizionali utilizzando tipici strumenti in legno. La Vastedda della Valle del Bel\uecce DOP (VVB), un formaggio a pasta molle e filata, prodotto nella zona collinare (300 m s.l.m.) della Sicilia occidentale. \uc8 prodotto con latte ovino crudo della razza ovina autoctona Valle del Bel\uecce. Questo formaggio viene prodotto utilizzando attrezzature tradizionali in legno e applicando la tecnologia della filatura, che gli conferisce unicit\ue0. Il Pecorino Siciliano DOP (PS) \ue8 un prodotto caseario a pasta dura proveniente dalla zona montana (700 m s.l.m.) della Sicilia centrale e dalla zona collinare (400 m s.l.m.) della Sicilia occidentale. Il Casizolu del Montiferru TAP(CdM) \ue8 un formaggio a pasta dura prodotto nella regione Sardegna nella zona montana (1050 m s.l.m.) del Montiferru e nella zona collinare (500 m s.l.m.) del Montiferru/Guilcer. Si tratta di un formaggio a pasta filata ottenuto da latte bovino crudo delle razze Sardo-Modicana e Bruno-Sarda, allevate in regime estensivo durante l\u2019anno, utilizzando tecniche tradizionali con attrezzature in rame e legno. Il Caprino Nicastrese (CN) \ue8 un formaggio a pasta semidura prodotto nella regione Calabria nelle zone collinari (300-600 m s.l.m.) e montane (601-1200 m s.l.m.) circostanti Nicastro-Lamezia Terme, in provincia di Catanzaro. Si ottiene dal latte crudo della razza caprina autoctona Nicastrese, utilizzando una tecnica tradizionale con attrezzature in legno e acciaio. Questi cinque formaggi sono prodotti in aree ristrette, condizioni pedoclimatiche e attivit\ue0 antropiche (definite come uniche e non riproducibili altrove) che, cos\uec come il territorio e le abitudini, sono conformi alla storia e alla tradizione. Uno degli obiettivi specifici del progetto \u201cCanestrum Casei\u201d \ue8 stato quello di realizzare un\u2019indagine conoscitiva sulla qualit\ue0 di questi formaggi per adempiere alla caratterizzazione della selezione dei formaggi AGER uniformando le informazioni di maggior interesse per i consumatori rispetto alle specificit\ue0 produttive regionali. In particolare, nel presente lavoro, \ue8 stata valutata l\u2019influenza del periodo di produzione sulla composizione chimica, le caratteristiche nutrizionali, il contenuto di polifenoli, la capacit\ue0 antiossidante totale e l\u2019indice di salute dei cinque formaggi tradizionali citati. Pertanto i cinque foraggi tipici del meridione italiano, sopra descritti, sono stati studiati per valutare gli effetti del mese di produzione sulla composizione lorda, MUFA, PUFA, PUFA-\u3c96, PUFA-\u3c93, \u3b1-tocoferolo, retinolo, colesterolo, TPC, TEAC e GHIC. In CP, CLA, TPC e GHIC erano pi\uf9 alti in aprile che in febbraio. Il CdM ha mostrato valori pi\uf9 alti in termini di grassi, acidi grassi saturi, PUFA-\u3c93, \u3b1-tocoferolo, TEAC e GHIC in maggio rispetto a febbraio e settembre, mentre sono stati trovati valori bassi in termini di proteine, umidit\ue0 e CLA. In VVB, MUFA, PUFA-\u3c96, e \u3b1-tocoferolo sono aumentati in giugno rispetto ad aprile; al contrario, proteine, FRAP, e TEAC erano pi\uf9 alti in aprile. In PS, proteine, CLA, PUFA, PUFA-\u3c93, \u3b1-tocoferolo e GHIC sono aumentati in maggio rispetto a gennaio; al contrario, umidit\ue0, NaCl e TEAC hanno mostrato valori elevati in gennaio. CN ha mostrato valori pi\uf9 alti in termini di PUFA, PUFA-\u3c96, PUFA-\u3c93, TPC, TEAC e GHIC in aprile e giugno rispetto a gennaio. \uc8 dimostrato che ogni formaggio \ue8 unico e strettamente legato alla zona di produzione. I formaggi prodotti nei mesi primaverili hanno mostrato un\u2019alta qualit\ue0 nutrizionale dovuta alla maggiore presenza di composti salutari provenienti da un sistema di alimentazione estensiva. I risultati ottenuti da questo studio hanno mostrato che le caratteristiche nutrizionali dei formaggi tradizionali valutati, cio\ue8 il contenuto di acidi grassi, il contenuto di vitamine liposolubili e polifenoli, la capacit\ue0 antiossidante totale e l\u2019indice di salute, erano influenzati dal mese di produzione. In generale, la pi\uf9 alta qualit\ue0 nutrizionale era legata alla maggiore presenza di composti salutari, che provenivano dal pascolo nei mesi primaverili di produzione del formaggio. Ogni formaggio \ue8 unico e strettamente legato alla zona di produzione, anche se un\u2019alta variabilit\ue0, dovuta a numerosi fattori \u2013 tra cui specie, razza, alimentazione, tipo di suolo, posizione geografica, clima e tecnologia di produzione \u2013 caratterizza i parametri analizzati in ogni formaggio

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat