Novel insights on pink discoloration in cheese: The case of Pecorino Toscano

Pink discoloration in cheese has been the subject of wide research, but the basis for this phenomenon remains elusive. This defect impacts a wide range of ripened cheeses, resulting in the rejection of cheese and a consequent economic loss for dairy industries. As multiple causes for pink discoloration have been reported for different cheeses in the literature, the aim of this research was to investigate the cause of a pink discoloration found on Pecorino Toscano cheese rind. The results of microbiological analysis revealed the presence of high microbial counts associated to the rind and the nearest inner part. Strains isolated from the coloured part were mainly identified as Serratia liquefaciens, suggesting that an environmental contamination of the cheese rind by this species could be the cause of the observed defect and expanding the knowledge related to pink discoloration in cheeses

In-stent restenosis of superficial femoral artery: use all arrows in the quiver.

In-stent restenosis (ISR) is a common superficial femoral artery (SFA) stenting complication, occurring in more than one third of patients within 2-3 years after the index procedure. Moreover, there is no standard treatment for ISR, and although many options are available, there is still limited data regarding its optimal management. We report a paradigmatic case report of a patient complaining of symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, underwent multiple endovascular revascularizations for recurrent femoro-popliteal ISR. A step-by-step approach was followed. At the time of the first presentation, the ISR was treated by drug-eluting balloon (DEB) angioplasty. The repeated ISR was treated by laser debulking, achieving a good angiographic result. Finally, after the third repeated restenosis, a combined approach with laser debulking and DEB angioplasty guaranteed a good acute angiographic result. Long-term duplex-scan follow-up demonstrated the good patency of the femoro-popliteal target lesion

Hydration water and ionic aggregation in aqueous solutions of imidazolium-based protic ionic liquids

Water molecules, present as additive or as contaminant of Protic Ionic Liquids (PILs), can compete for the hydrogen bond sites leading to important modifications of the local order of these liquids and to the modulation of their physical–chemical properties. In this work, aqueous solutions of a set of N-methylimidazolium-based PILs [MIM][X] (X = NO3-- , TfO-- , HSO4-- , and Cl-- ) were investigated by deep UV Resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy in the water-rich domain where ionic aggregates and bulk-like water coexist. A differential method was used to analyze the OH stretching profile to extract the so-called solute-correlated (SC) spectrum, which is particular informative of the hydration features of the PILs. Moreover, specific bands of the cation, sensitive to the hydrogen bonding, were comparatively investigated. The progressive evolution from solvent-separated ion pairs (SIP) and/or solvent-shared ion pairs (SSIP) to contact ion pairs (CIP) and/or larger ionic aggregates can be monitored as a function of the hydration level, in the water-rich domain. Our approach showed that, in the highly diluted regime, the hydration environment around the [MIM] cation does not depend on the type of anion. Moreover, [MIM][NO3] and [MIM][TfO] showed cation-water (ionic) H-bonds at the NH site stronger than the cation–anion (double-ionic) ones. The analysis of SC Raman spectra points out the formation of cation–anion Hbonds (through the CH ring groups), stronger than cation-water ones, upon PILs concentration increase, especially evident in the case of [MIM][Cl]. The H-bond strength between the anion and hydration water is found to decrease following the order: [Cl] ~ [HSO4] > [NO3] > [TfO]. Chloride ions tend to perturb a larger number of water molecules than the other anions. The number of perturbed water molecules decreases at increasing PIL concentration, showing a larger dependence for [MIM][Cl], consistently with its larger propensity to form ionic aggregates. The unique response of [MIM][Cl] to hydration found by analyzing SC-UVRR data is related to the synergy of different factors such as the anion reduced size (higher charge density), spherical symmetry, and high H-bond basicity

Stimuli-responsive poly(ampholyte)s containing L-histidine residues: synthesis and protonation thermodynamics of methacrylic polymers in the free and in the cross-linked gel forms

Methacrylate-structured poly(ampholyte)s were synthesized in the homopolymer and copolymer forms starting from the N-methacryloyl-L-histidine (MHist) and the N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm). They were also obtained in the cross-linked (hydrogel) form, showing a close thermodynamic behaviour as that shown by the corresponding soluble free polymer analogues. Viscometric data revealed that the minimum hydrodynamic volume of the polymer at its isoelectric point (pH 5) shifted to lower pHs as the NIPAAm content increased, and beyond a critical low MHist content the reduced viscosity decreased, even at low pHs. The phenomenon was attributed to hydrophobic forces between the isopropyl groups outweighing the repulsive electrostatic interactions of the polymer in the positively charged form. A similar behaviour was shown by the corresponding hydrogel. The latter also revealed a different phase transition phenomenon induced by external stimuli (temperature, pH, ionic strength, electric current) when compared to the acrylate-structured analogues. The polyMHist, as well as the corresponding monomer, was found for two days to be non toxic against the mouse osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1)

Modelling aspects of terrestrial ecology in an italian endemic salamander, Salamandrina perspicillata

Density and other aspects of terrestrial activity were studied in a population of Salamandrina perspicillata from central Italy (Vejo Natural Park, province of Rome). Salamander density was studied by line-transect methodology with Distance modelling procedures. Linear distance of each salamander from water was also measured, as well as the correlations between population density, distance of salamanders from water, and some habitat variables. In total, a sample of 227 captures was collected and analysed. The distance of salamanders from water increased significantly with time (number of days after the beginning of the study, i.e. 13 April), considering either as dependent variable the mean distance of salamanders on each day of survey or the individual distances recorded for all the salamanders captured during the present investigation. After subdividing the stream into various sectors classifi ed on the basis of their morphological and habitat variables, a General Linear Model (full factorial design) showed that the salamander distance from water varied significantly among sectors of the stream, with also an effect of time elapsed since the first day of survey and an effect of stream sector*time. Estimated density varied remarkably with day-of-survey, ranging from 0 to over 55 individuals/ha. The mean density of salamanders was 24.6 ± 14.7 individuals/ha, similar to that of many other salamander species studied so far. According to both multivariate analyses and logistic regression models, two habitat variables (inclination of the slopes surrounding the stream and type of stream banks) significantly affected the population densityModélisation d'aspects de l'écologie terrestre d'une salamandre endémique italienne, Salamandrina perspicillata.- La densité et d'autres aspects de l'activité terrestre ont été étudiés dans une population de Salamandrina perspicillata du centre de l'Italie (parc naturel de Vejo, province de Rome). La densité des salamandres a été établie par la méthode des line-transects avec le logiciel Distance. La distance à l'eau de chaque individu a également été mesurée ainsi que les corrélations entre densité de population, distance à l'eau et diverses variables de l'habitat. Au total, un échantillon de 227 captures a été obtenu et analysé. La distance à l'eau s'est avérée croître significativement avec le temps (nombre de jours à partir du début de l'étude, c-à-d. le 13 avril), que l'on prenne tant comme variable indépendante la distance moyenne des individus établie chaque jour du suivi que les distances individuelles de toutes les salamandres enregistrées durant l'étude. Après subdivision du cours d'eau en secteurs classés en fonction de leur morphologie et de leurs variables d'habitat, un modèle général linéaire a montré que la distance à l'eau variait de manière significative entre les secteurs, avec aussi un effet temps écoulé depuis le premier jour de suivi et un effet secteur x temps. La densité estimée variait de manière remarquable de 0 à plus de 55 individus/ha selon le jour de suivi. La densité moyenne était de 24,6 ± 14,7 individus/ha, similaire à celle de beaucoup d'autres espèces de salamandres étudiées jusqu'à présent. Tant des analyses multivariées que des modèles de régression logistique ont montré que deux variables d'habitat (l'inclinaison des pentes entourant le cours d'eau et le type de bord du cours d'eau) affectaient de manière significative la densité de population

Adding diphenyl diselenide in the diets of quails improves the quality of meat.

Abstract: Diphenyl diselenide (Ph2Se2) is an organic selenium compound that is known for its antioxidant characteristics. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether Ph2Se2 in quail (Coturnix japonica) diets influences the oxidative/antioxidant status and meat quality. Materials and methods. Four diets (0; 0.3; 0.6; 0.9 ppm Ph2Se2) were provided to 56 male quails (Coturnix japonica) distributed in a completely randomized design with 14 repetitions in order to check whether (PhSe)2 would change their blood and tissue oxidative/antioxidant status, which would lead to an improvement in the meat quality. Results. Adding Ph2Se2 in diets led to increased antioxidant activity of enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, which consequently reduced oxidative levels in blood and tissues. Besides that, we observed an improvement in the quail meat quality; in other words, we observed an increased ability to hold water, a reduction in water loss from cooking, and reduced intensity of the yellow color in the breasts of birds that were fed with Ph2Se2. Conclusions. Therefore, we concluded that the antioxidant defense improvement in tissues that was provided by Ph2Se2 has a beneficial effect on meat quality. Resumen: El diseleniuro de difenilo (Ph2Se2) es un compuesto de selenio orgánico que es conocido por sus características antioxidantes. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar si Ph2Se2 en las dietas de codorniz (Coturnix japonica) influye en el estado oxidativo/antioxidante y la calidad de la carne. Materiales y métodos. Se proporcionaron cuatro dietas (0; 0.3; 0.6; 0.9 ppm Ph2Se2) a 56 codornices machos (Coturnix japonica) distribuidas en un diseño completamente aleatorizado con 14 repeticiones para verificar si Ph2Se2 cambiaría su sangre y tejido oxidativo/antioxidante, estado, lo que llevaría a una mejora en la calidad de la carne. Resultados. La adición de Ph2Se2 en las dietas provocó un aumento de la actividad antioxidante de enzimas como la catalasa, la superóxido dismutasa y la glutatión peroxidasa, lo que redujo los niveles de oxidación en la sangre y los tejidos. Además de eso, observamos una mejora en la calidad de la carne de codorniz; en otras palabras, observamos una mayor capacidad para retener agua, una reducción en la pérdida de agua debido a la cocción y una menor intensidad del color amarillo en las mamas de las aves que fueron alimentadas con Ph2Se2. Conclusiones. Por lo tanto, concluimos que la mejora de la defensa antioxidante en los tejidos proporcionada por Ph2Se2 tiene un efecto beneficioso sobre la calidad de la carne

Dual-Layer Spectral CT as Innovative Imaging Guidance in Lung Biopsies: Could Color-Coded Z-Effective Images Allow More Diagnostic Samplings and Biomarkers Information?

The aim of the study was to try to obtain more information on diagnostic samplings and biomarkers using dual-layer spectral CT in lung biopsies. Lung biopsies were performed by merging images obtained with CBCT with those from spectral CT to use them as functional guidance, experimenting with double sampling to determine the difference between the area with a higher Z-effective number and that with a lower Z-effective number. Ten patients with large lung lesions on spectral CT were selected and underwent percutaneous transthoracic lung mass biopsy. Technical success was calculated. The percentage of neoplastic, inflammatory, fibrotic, necrotic cells, or non-neoplastic lung parenchyma was reported. The possibility of carrying out immunohistochemical or molecular biology investigations was analyzed. All lesions were results malignant in 10/10 samples in the Zmax areas; in the Zmin areas, malignant cells were found in 7/10 samples. Technical success was achieved in 100% of cases for Zmax sampling and in 70% for Zmin sampling (p-value: 0.2105). The biomolecular profile was detected in 9/10 (90%) cases in Zmax areas, while in 4/10 (40%) cases in Zmin areas (p-value: 0.0573). The advantage of Z-effective imaging would be to identify a region of the lesion that is highly vascularized and probably richer in neoplastic cells, thus decreasing the risk of obtaining a non-diagnostic biopsy sample