Aggregation of minced hake during frozen storage

Aggregation in minced hake muscle (Merluccius merluccius) during storage at -20 °C was studied in conditions where there is progressive deterioration of functionality and texture as measured by apparent viscosity and shear resistance. Natural actomyosin was extracted with 0.6 M NaCl over a period of 49 weeks. Insoluble residue was extracted successively with 2% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and 2% SDS plus 5% β-mercaptoethanol (ME) solutions. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed on the extracted fractions. The results showed a 75% decrease in 0.6 M NaCl extractability by the end of the storage period. Initially the remaining precipitate was all extracted in 2% SDS and although the amount extracted in this solution increased as storage time progressed, its proportion decreased, accounting for as little as 40-50% of the protein aggregate by the end of storage. The proteins most involved in formation of the aggregate not extracted in 0.6 M NaCl were myosin and actin. Neither of these proteins was fully recovered in the fractions extracted with 0.6 M NaCl, 2% SDS, or 2% SDS plus 5% ME, and therefore it was inferred that they were forming part of the aggregates, bound by covalent bonds. © Springer-Verlag 1999.Peer Reviewe

Composição centesimal, perdas de peso e maciez de lombo (longissimus dorsi) suíno submetido a diferentes tratamentos de congelamento e descongelamento Proximate analysis, weight losses and tenderness of pork loin (longissimus dorsi) submitted to different freezing and thawing treatments

Foram avaliadas a composição centesimal, as perdas de peso e a maciez de porções de carne suína (Longissimus dorsi) grelhadas, submetidas a dois períodos de estocagem (15 e 60 dias) e descongeladas a 7ºC e 25ºC. Constatou-se que os bifes contendo teores mais elevados de umidade correspondem aos tratamentos com 15 dias de estocagem congelada e descongelamento a 7ºC (59,54%) e com 60 dias de estocagem congelada combinada com descongelamento a 25ºC (60,51%). Amostras armazenadas durante 60 dias apresentaram maior teor de minerais (5,58%) em relação àquelas estocadas por 15 dias (4,51%) (análise realizada em amostras grelhadas e pré-salgadas). Os teores de proteína e lipídios e a maciez não foram afetados por quaisquer dos procedimentos. A utilização de 25ºC para o descongelamento ocasionou maiores perdas de peso (40,19%) que 7ºC (33,17%). Os resultados do presente estudo sugerem a aplicação de períodos curtos de estocagem congelada e descongelamento sob resfriamento.<br>This paper evaluated the proximate analysis, the weight losses and the tenderness of grilled pork loin (Longissimus dorsi) chops, submitted to two periods of storage (15 and 60 days) and thawed at 7ºC or 25ºC. The higher contents of moisture were found in the pork loin samples kept frozen for 15 days and thawed at 7ºC (59.54%) and in the ones kept frozen for 60 days with thawing at 25ºC (60.51%). Samples stored for 60 days presented higher minerals contents (5.58%) in relation to those stored for 15 days (4.51%) (the analysis was carried out with grilled and pre-salted portions). The different treatments did not influence the lipids and protein contents and the tenderness of the pork loin chops. The use of 25ºC for the thawing caused greater weight losses (40.19%) than 7ºC (33.17%). The results of the present study suggest the application of short periods of frozen storage and thawing in the refrigerator

Development and validation of a score to predict postoperative respiratory failure in a multicentre European cohort : A prospective, observational study

BACKGROUND Postoperative respiratory failure (PRF) is the most frequent respiratory complication following surgery. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to build a clinically useful predictive model for the development of PRF. DESIGN A prospective observational study of a multicentre cohort. SETTING Sixty-three hospitals across Europe. PATIENTS Patients undergoing any surgical procedure under general or regional anaesthesia during 7-day recruitment periods. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Development of PRF within 5 days of surgery. PRF was defined by a partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) less than 8 kPa or new onset oxyhaemoglobin saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO(2)) less than 90% whilst breathing room air that required conventional oxygen therapy, noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation. RESULTS PRF developed in 224 patients (4.2% of the 5384 patients studied). In-hospital mortality [95% confidence interval (95% CI)] was higher in patients who developed PRF [10.3% (6.3 to 14.3) vs. 0.4% (0.2 to 0.6)]. Regression modelling identified a predictive PRF score that includes seven independent risk factors: low preoperative SpO(2); at least one preoperative respiratory symptom; preoperative chronic liver disease; history of congestive heart failure; open intrathoracic or upper abdominal surgery; surgical procedure lasting at least 2 h; and emergency surgery. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (c-statistic) was 0.82 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.85) and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit statistic was 7.08 (P = 0.253). CONCLUSION A risk score based on seven objective, easily assessed factors was able to predict which patients would develop PRF. The score could potentially facilitate preoperative risk assessment and management and provide a basis for testing interventions to improve outcomes. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT01346709)