Biofilm formation by persistent and non-persistent Listeria monocytogenes strains on abiotic surfaces

Contaminated food with Listeria monocytogenes is the predominant route of transmission of listeriosis to humans, a severe illness with a high mortality rate. Food processing environments can be colonized by persistent strains, repeatedly isolated for months or years. This study aimed to investigate the biofilm formation capacity of six strains of L. monocytogenes that persisted for long periods in two cheese processing plants in comparison to seven strains isolated sporadically from the same plants. Persistent strains produced more biofilm than non-persistent strains on stainless steel and silicon rubber surfaces; no significant differences were observed on polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In a polystyrene microtiter plate assay with crystal violet staining, no evidence was found that persistent strains have higher ability to form biofilm than non-persistent strains, and no correlation was identified between biofilm formation in the microtiter plate and on the three other surfaces tested

FT-NIR spectroscopy to study beef storage in master bag low-oxygen packaging system

In order to face high levels of meat wastage, occurring especially at the distribution and consumption stages, food industry envisions new shelf life extension strategies, together with reliable, non-destructive and fast methodologies for product decay monitoring. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess the reliability of NIR spectroscopy in discriminating storage times of meat packed in low-oxygen systems, recognised as case-ready methods for the shelf life extension of red meat. To the aim, 48 beef meat slices, distributed in 24 trays wrapped in stretched PVC, were individually inserted inside barrier master bags containing O2 scavengers and low-O2 modified atmosphere (MA). Each master bag was stored in darkness at 0\ub11 \ub0C for different times (6, 8, 13 and 15 days). After master bag opening, trays were displayed at 4 \ub1 2\ub0C under light exposure up to 48 h. Wrapped beef slices were analysed by a fibre optic connected to a FT-NIR spectrometer (MPA, Bruker Optics) immediately after master bag opening and during display life. The obtained dataset (288 spectra), after spectral pre-treatments, was subjected to PCA and LDA by means of MatLab 2016a and V-PARVUS. PCA permitted to distinguish fresh meat from samples exposed to low-O2 MA, no matter the time spent in the master bags. Moreover, the explorative approach unearthed differences ascribable to anoxic environment storage. Thus, after variable selection by SELECT algorithm, LDA was applied in order to classify samples according to storage times in master bags. Correct classification rates in prediction higher than 87.5% were obtained when considering two classes (1=6 and 8 days; 2= 13 and 15 days). Concerning meat display under light, LDA classification models were separately calculated for the two considered classes of anoxic storage time, showing global correct classification rates in calibration, cross-validation and prediction higher than 81%, 72% and 68%, respectively. In conclusion, the use of FT-NIR spectroscopy looks promising to estimate simultaneously the anoxic storage time and the deterioration of meat quality attributes throughout display life, thus providing the food industry with an effective packaging system together with a reliable monitoring approach intended for meat wastage reduction

How do cardiologists select patients for dual antiplatelet therapy continuation beyond 1 year after a myocardial infarction? Insights from the EYESHOT Post-MI Study

Background: Current guidelines suggest to consider dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) continuation for longer than 12 months in selected patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Hypothesis: We sought to assess the criteria used by cardiologists in daily practice to select patients with a history of MI eligible for DAPT continuation beyond 1 year. Methods: We analyzed data from the EYESHOT Post-MI, a prospective, observational, nationwide study aimed to evaluate the management of patients presenting to cardiologists 1 to 3 years from the last MI event. Results: Out of the 1633 post-MI patients enrolled in the study between March and December 2017, 557 (34.1%) were on DAPT at the time of enrolment, and 450 (27.6%) were prescribed DAPT after cardiologist assessment. At multivariate analyses, a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with multiple stents and the presence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) resulted as independent predictors of DAPT continuation, while atrial fibrillation was the only independent predictor of DAPT interruption for patients both at the second and the third year from MI at enrolment and the time of discharge/end of the visit. Conclusions: Risk scores recommended by current guidelines for guiding decisions on DAPT duration are underused and misused in clinical practice. A PCI with multiple stents and a history of PAD resulted as the clinical variables more frequently associated with DAPT continuation beyond 1 year from the index MI

La scultura in cartapesta. Sansovino, Bernini e i maestri leccesi tra tecnica e artificio

Profilo storico dell'uso della cartapesta nella scultura italiana tra Quattrocento e Novecento, con saggi, schede, schede tecniche e bibliografia

Factors that influence achievment of complete remission and its duration after polychemotherapy in follicular non Hodgikin's lymphoma.

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