EFFECTIVENESS OF VACUUM DEVICES FOR HOME STORAGE OF RAINBOW TROUTS FROM GAME FISHING LAKES

The aim of this work was to study the effectiveness of vacuum devices for home storage of rainbow trouts from sport fishing lakes located near Avellino, in the South of Italy. The trout were divided in two groups: one was vacuum-packaged by using a "Food Vacuum System", while the other was stored in plastic trays covered with plastic wrap. Both the fish samples were stored at 4°C for 6 days. Rainbow trout purchased in a local supermarket were used as control. The trout quality was evaluated by microbiological, chemical and sensory analyses. Fatty acids and volatile compounds were characterized by GC and SPME-GC/MS. Results proved the efficiency of the vacuum system in preserving the quality characteristics of the trout, limiting the formation of off-odors and off-flavors related to spoilage and oxidative processes

The Impact of Tumor Boards on Breast Cancer Care: Evidence from a Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, with a complex clinical path that involves several professionals and that requires a multidisciplinary approach. However, the effectiveness of breast cancer multidisciplinary care and the processes that contribute to its effectiveness have not yet been firmly determined. This study aims to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary tumor boards on breast cancer care outcomes. A systematic literature review was carried out through Scopus, Web of Science and Pubmed databases. The search was restricted to articles assessing the impact of MTB implementation on breast cancer care. Fourteen studies were included in the review. The most analyzed outcomes were diagnosis, therapy and survival. Four out of four studies showed that, with implementation of an MTB, there was a change in diagnosis, and all reported changes in the treatment plan after MTB implementation. A pooled analysis of three studies reporting results on the outcome "mortality" showed a statistically significant 14% reduction in mortality relative risk for patients enrolled versus not enrolled in an MTB. This study shows that MTB implementation is a valuable approach to deliver appropriate and effective care to patients affected by breast cancer and to improve their outcomes

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exploits Lipid A and Muropeptides Modification as a Strategy to Lower Innate Immunity during Cystic Fibrosis Lung Infection

Pseudomonas aeruginosa can establish life-long airways chronic infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with pathogenic variants distinguished from initially acquired strain. Here, we analysed chemical and biological activity of P. aeruginosa Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) in clonal strains, including mucoid and non-mucoid phenotypes, isolated during a period of up to 7.5 years from a CF patient. Chemical structure by MS spectrometry defined lipopolysaccharide (LPS) lipid A and peptidoglycan (PGN) muropeptides with specific structural modifications temporally associated with CF lung infection. Gene sequence analysis revealed novel mutation in pagL, which supported lipid A changes. Both LPS and PGN had different potencies when activating host innate immunity via binding TLR4 and Nod1. Significantly higher NF-kB activation, IL-8 expression and production were detected in HEK293hTLR4/MD2-CD14 and HEK293hNod1 after stimulation with LPS and PGN respectively, purified from early P. aeruginosa strain as compared to late strains. Similar results were obtained in macrophages-like cells THP-1, epithelial cells of CF origin IB3-1 and their isogenic cells C38, corrected by insertion of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). In murine model, altered LPS structure of P. aeruginosa late strains induces lower leukocyte recruitment in bronchoalveolar lavage and MIP-2, KC and IL-1β cytokine levels in lung homogenates when compared with early strain. Histopathological analysis of lung tissue sections confirmed differences between LPS from early and late P. aeruginosa. Finally, in this study for the first time we unveil how P. aeruginosa has evolved the capacity to evade immune system detection, thus promoting survival and establishing favourable conditions for chronic persistence. Our findings provide relevant information with respect to chronic infections in CF

Evaluation of quantitative fFn test in predicting the risk of preterm birth

To evaluate diagnostic accuracy of quantitative fetal fibronectin (qfFN) test in predicting preterm birth (PTB) risk <34 weeks' gestation or within 14 days from testing. We explored the predictive potential of the test in five-predefined PTB risk categories based on predefined qfFN thresholds (<10, 10-49, 50-199, 200-499 and ≥500 ng/mL)

The effect of seasonality on developmental stages of anthetic ovule integuments in Mediterranean orchids

Orchids, differently from most flowering plants, have under-differentiated ovules at anthesis that require pollination to complete differentiation. This ovule developmental stage has been often observed in tropical species in which the absence of an evident seasonality may allow plants to extend their phenology beneficiating of a long time for post-pollination events. Here, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to detect ovule integument developmental stages in 21 species of Mediterranean Orchidoideae and Epidendroideae and in 11 tropical Epidendroideae with the aim of understanding whether species with a seasonal constraint and shorter time for post-pollination ovule maturation are characterized by different stages of ovule development at anthesis. We found that Mediterranean orchids (both Orchidoideae and Epidendroideae) have more developed ovule integuments than tropical orchids. Most species show partially to fully developed ovules at anthesis with the exception of Cephalanthera where ovules are arrested in a very early developmental stage. Despite the phylogenetic signal, anthetic ovule integument development differs between related species (with different pollination strategies or blooming times), suggesting the presence of some ecological constraints. The synchronization between ovule integuments and megagametophyte development, as found in tropical orchids, is also confirmed in Mediterranean orchids. Our data show that Mediterranean and tropical orchids clearly differ in anthetic ovule developmental stages, likely depending on seasonality

Low pollination success of hybrids between nectar-rewarding and food-deceptive orchids

Natural hybridization is widespread among food-deceptive orchids, whereas hybridization between deceptive and rewarding species is less common among Mediterranean species and its evolutionary consequences remain under-investigated. Here, we examine the morphological variation in floral traits, pollination success and demographic dynamics of natural hybrids between the widespread nectar-rewarding Anacamptis fragrans and the Mallorca endemic, food-deceptive A. robusta. We confirmed the status of hybrids using ribosomal DNA and assessed their maternal contribution using length polymorphism in the plastid tRNALEU intron. Genetic analyses confirmed that hybridization occurred in both directions, but the hybrids were morphologically closer in floral metric characters to A. fragrans and exhibited reduced among-individual variation in floral traits. No obvious secreting papillae were present in the hybrid spur, which more closely resembled the spur of non-rewarding A. robusta, reinforcing field observations that hybrids were probably nectarless. Compared with both rewarding and deceptive parents, the hybrids were less attractive for pollinators, most likely because of the absence of significant reward and of their combination of contrasting parental floral advertisements. In spite of its low pollination success, the hybrid population is presently expanding alongside the endemic A. robusta, suggesting that it follows the demographic dynamics of the parental species

Exine micromorphology and ultrastructure in Neottieae (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae)

The diverse epidendroid orchid tribe Neottieae is characterized by multiple transitions between autotrophy and mycoheterotrophy, allogamous and autogamous mating systems, pollen released as tetrads or monads, and pollen exine tectate or semitectate. We use transmission and scanning electron microscopy on pollen of ten species of Neottieae to investigate whether the differences in pollen aggregation and exine micromorphology and ultrastructure reflect phylogenetic relationships, or whether this variation is subject to ecological constraints. Our results showed that differences in exine micromorphology are mostly concordant with phylogenetic relationships in Neottieae, i.e. an ascending tendency of pollen ornamentation from tectate (Cephalanthera) to semitectate (e.g. Neottia). In contrast, pollen aggregation, when plotted on the most recent phylogeny, shows repeated transitions between monads and tetrads that could be related to ecological constraints. Tetrads are present in species that are nectar rewarding, whereas monads are common in deceptive species. Cephalanthera is characterized by recalcitrant pollen, including the frequent occurrence of collapsed pollen. In this genus, the observed shifts from allogamous to autogamous or cleistogamous mating systems could help to reduce pollen damage caused by exposure to dry habitats. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Wien