Fatty acid composition of salami made by meat from different commercial categories of indigenous dairy cattle

In autochthonous dairy cattle farms, the production of salami could represent an alternative commercial opportunity. Therefore, a study was carried out to investigate the fatty acid (FA) composition of salami made using the meat from grazing (GB) or housed (HB) young bulls and grazing adult cows (AC) of Cinisara breed. The products were manufactured by adding 20% of pork lard. Animal category influenced the FA composition, although the addition of lard mitigated the differences found in fresh meat. The salami from GB showed higher polyunsaturated FA content (p ≤0.01) and, in particular, a higher level of linoleic acid (p ≤0.05), than from other animal categories. Salami made from AC meat showed lower polyunsaturated/saturated FA ratio (p ≤0.05), but a better n-6/n-3 ratio compared to HB (p ≤0.05), due to the lower content of linoleic acid. Multivariate analysis showed an important influence of animal category on FA composition due to age, feeding system and meat fat content of animals, despite the addition of lard

Fatty acids as biomarkers of the production season of caciocavallo palermitano cheese

This experiment aims to evaluate the potential of fatty acids (FA) of Caciocavallo Palermitano cheese as biomarkers of production season and pasture-based diet. A total of 48 cheeses were made in the four seasons with milk from two farms that raised cows of Cinisara breed. The animals were fed on pasture with supplementation of wheat bran and wheat straw in the barn, and in summer also with Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes. The chemical composition and FA profile of cheese were influenced by the season and not by the farm. In particular, cheeses produced in spring were characterized by higher protein and lower fat, and showed higher contents in trans-vaccenic acid, α-linolenic acid, rumenic acid, n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), and total PUFA. In winter, the lower availability of grazing forage, requiring a higher level of feeding integration, was responsible for an increase of saturated FA (SFA). The multivariate analysis distinguished clearly the cheeses made in winter and spring, while those produced in autumn and summer showed some overlapping points. Further investigations should be carried out to evaluate the effects of type and level of feeding integration on the presence of FA more suitable to be used as biomarkers of period and diet

Bresaola made from Cinisara cattle: effect of muscle type and animal category on physicochemical and sensory traits

The physicochemical characteristics and sensory traits of Cinisara bresaola were investigated, to explore a new commercial opportunity for autochthonous dairy cattle farms. Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus and Biceps brachii muscles, from adult cows (AC) and grazing (GB) or housed (HB) young bulls of Cinisara breed, were processed to made bresaola. Differences due to animal category and muscle type were observed. Bresaola from AC was richer in fat and volatile organic compounds. The bresaola from Semitendinosus showed higher colorimetric parameters, fat and, when from grazing animals, Warner-Bratzler shear force than those made from other muscles. In general, all bresaola were well appreciated. The principal component analysis performed using selected physicochemical and sensory traits was able to discriminate bresaola produced from different animal categories, effect of muscle type was relevant only for AC. These results evidenced the possibility to obtain bresaola from the meat of different animal categories, comparable for sensory properties and appreciable by consumers.El presente estudio se propuso investigar las características fisicoquímicas y los rasgos sensoriales de la bresaola de ganado Cinisara, con el propósito de explorar nuevas oportunidades comerciales para las granjas autóctonas de ganado lechero. Con el fin de elaborar la carne bresaola se procesaron los músculos Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus y Biceps brachii de vacas adultas (AC), de toros jóvenes que pastan (GB) y de toros jóvenes confinados (HB) de la raza Cinisara. El estudio constató la existencia de diferencias atribuibles a la categoría de los animales, así como al tipo de músculo empleado. La bresaola de AC resultó ser más rica en grasa y compuestos orgánicos volátiles. La bresaola de Semitendinosus mostró parámetros colorimétricos más intensos, mayor contenido de grasa y, cuando provenía de animales de pastoreo, [mayor] fuerza de cizallamiento de WarnerBratzler que las bresaolas elaboradas con otros músculos. En general, todas las bresaolas fueron bastante apreciadas. El análisis de los componentes principales, realizado utilizando rasgos fisicoquímicos y sensoriales seleccionados, fue capaz de discriminar la bresaola producida a partir de diferentes categorías de animales; el efecto del tipo de músculo sólo fue evidente en el caso de las AC. Estos resultados ponen de manifiesto la posibilidad de obtener varias bresaolas a partir de carne de diferentes categorías de animales, las cuales son comparables por sus propiedades sensoriales. Todas ellas son apreciadas por los consumidores

Good for the heart, good for the Earth: proposal of a dietary pattern able to optimize cardiovascular disease prevention and mitigate climate change

Background and aims: Human and planetary health are inextricably interconnected through food systems. Food choices account for 50% of all deaths for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) - the leading cause of death in Europe - and food systems generate up to 37% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Methods and results: Based on a systematic revision of meta-analyses of prospective studies exploring the association between individual foods/food groups and the incidence of CVD, we identified a dietary pattern able to optimize CVD prevention.. This dietary pattern was compared to the current diet of the European population. The nutritional adequacy of both diets was evaluated according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommended nutrient intake for the adult population, and their environmental impact was evaluated in terms of carbon footprint (CF). As compared to the current diet, the desirable diet includes higher intakes of fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, low glycemic index (GI) cereals, nuts, legumes and fish, and lower amounts of beef, butter, high GI cereals or potatoes and sugar. The diet here identified provides appropriate intakes of all nutrients and matches better than the current Europeans' one the EFSA requirements. Furthermore, the CF of the proposed diet is 48.6% lower than that of the current Europeans' diet. Conclusion: The transition toward a dietary pattern designed to optimize CVD prevention would improve the nutritional profile of the habitual diet in Europe and, at the same time, contribute to mitigate climate change by reducing the GHG emissions linked to food consumption almost by half

PDGFRα up-regulation mediated by sonic hedgehog pathway activation leads to BRAF inhibitor resistance in melanoma cells with BRAF mutation

Control of BRAF(V600E) metastatic melanoma by BRAF inhibitor (BRAF-I) is limited by intrinsic and acquired resistance. Growth factor receptor up-regulation is among the mechanisms underlying BRAF-I resistance of melanoma cells. Here we demonstrate for the first time that PDGFRα up-regulation causes BRAF-I resistance. PDGFRα inhibition by PDGFRα-specific short hairpin (sh)RNA and by PDGFRα inhibitors restores and increases melanoma cells' sensitivity to BRAF-I in vitro and in vivo. This effect reflects the inhibition of ERK and AKT activation which is associated with BRAF-I resistance of melanoma cells. PDGFRα up-regulation is mediated by Sonic Hedgehog Homolog (Shh) pathway activation which is induced by BRAF-I treatment. Similarly to PDGFRα inhibition, Shh inhibition by LDE225 restores and increases melanoma cells' sensitivity to BRAF-I. These effects are mediated by PDGFRα down-regulation and by ERK and AKT inhibition. The clinical relevance of these data is indicated by the association of PDGFRα up-regulation in melanoma matched biopsies of BRAF-I +/- MEK inhibitor treated patients with shorter time to disease progression and less tumor regression. These findings suggest that monitoring patients for early PDGFRα up-regulation will facilitate the identification of those who may benefit from the treatment with BRAF-I in combination with clinically approved PDGFRα or Shh inhibitors

New Materials and Technologies for Durability and Conservation of Building Heritage

The increase in concrete structures’ durability is a milestone to improve the sustainability of buildings and infrastructures. In order to ensure a prolonged service life, it is necessary to detect the deterioration of materials by means of monitoring systems aimed at evaluating not only the penetration of aggressive substances into concrete but also the corrosion of carbon-steel reinforcement. Therefore, proper data collection makes it possible to plan suitable restoration works which can be carried out with traditional or innovative techniques and materials. This work focuses on building heritage and it highlights the most recent findings for the conservation and restoration of reinforced concrete structures and masonry buildings

Global Outcome Assessment Life-long after stroke in young adults initiative-the GOAL initiative : study protocol and rationale of a multicentre retrospective individual patient data meta-analysis

Introduction Worldwide, 2 million patients aged 18-50 years suffer a stroke each year, and this number is increasing. Knowledge about global distribution of risk factors and aetiologies, and information about prognosis and optimal secondary prevention in young stroke patients are limited. This limits evidence-based treatment and hampers the provision of appropriate information regarding the causes of stroke, risk factors and prognosis of young stroke patients. Methods and analysis The Global Outcome Assessment Life-long after stroke in young adults (GOAL) initiative aims to perform a global individual patient data meta-analysis with existing data from young stroke cohorts worldwide. All patients aged 18-50 years with ischaemic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage will be included. Outcomes will be the distribution of stroke aetiology and (vascular) risk factors, functional outcome after stroke, risk of recurrent vascular events and death and finally the use of secondary prevention. Subgroup analyses will be made based on age, gender, aetiology, ethnicity and climate of residence.Peer reviewe

NOD2, RIP2 and IRF5 Play a Critical Role in the Type I Interferon Response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis

While the recognition of microbial infection often occurs at the cell surface via Toll-like receptors, the cytosol of the cell is also under surveillance for microbial products that breach the cell membrane. An important outcome of cytosolic recognition is the induction of IFNα and IFNβ, which are critical mediators of immunity against both bacteria and viruses. Like many intracellular pathogens, a significant fraction of the transcriptional response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection depends on these type I interferons, but the recognition pathways responsible remain elusive. In this work, we demonstrate that intraphagosomal M. tuberculosis stimulates the cytosolic Nod2 pathway that responds to bacterial peptidoglycan, and this event requires membrane damage that is actively inflicted by the bacterium. Unexpectedly, this recognition triggers the expression of type I interferons in a Tbk1- and Irf5-dependent manner. This response is only partially impaired by the loss of Irf3 and therefore, differs fundamentally from those stimulated by bacterial DNA, which depend entirely on this transcription factor. This difference appears to result from the unusual peptidoglycan produced by mycobacteria, which we show is a uniquely potent agonist of the Nod2/Rip2/Irf5 pathway. Thus, the Nod2 system is specialized to recognize bacteria that actively perturb host membranes and is remarkably sensitive to mycobacteria, perhaps reflecting the strong evolutionary pressure exerted by these pathogens on the mammalian immune system

Impact of delay in early swallow screening on pneumonia, length of stay in hospital, disability and mortality in acute stroke patients

Background/Objectives: Early swallow screening, within 4 h of admission, is required for all acute stroke patients to commence nutritional support, as recommended. We evaluated the impact of delay in early swallow screening on outcomes in patients admitted with acute stroke. Subjects/Methods: Prospective cohort study of 1656 men (mean ± SD age = 73.1y ± 13.2) and 1653 women (79.3y ± 13.0) admitted with stroke to hyperacute stroke units (HASUs) in Surrey. Logistic regression was used to assess the risk (adjusted for age, stroke severity and co-morbidities) of delay in swallow screening on pneumonia, length of stay (LOS) > 3 weeks in HASU or hospital, moderately severe to severe disability on discharge (modified Rankin scale score = 4–5) and mortality during admission. Results: Compared with those who received swallow screening within 4 h of admission, a delay between 4 and 72 h was associated with greater risks of pneumonia: OR = 1.4 (95%CI:1.1–1.9, P = 0.022), moderately severe to severe disability on discharge: OR = 1.4 (1.1–1.7, P = 0.007) and a delay beyond 72 h was associated with even greater risks of pneumonia: OR = 2.3 (1.4–3.6, P < 0.001), prolonged LOS in HASU: OR = 1.7 (1.0–3.0, P = 0.047, median LOS = 6.2 vs. 14.7 days) and hospital: OR = 2.1-fold (1.3–3.4, P = 0.007, median LOS = 6.8 vs. 14.9 days), moderately severe to severe disability on discharge: OR = 2.5 (1.7–3.7, P < 0.001) and mortality: OR = 3.8 (2.5–5.6, P < 0.001). These risks persisted after excluding 103 patients who died within 72 h. Conclusions: Delay in early screening for swallow capacity in acute stroke patients is detrimental to outcomes, possibly due to delaying nutritional provision or through inappropriate feeding leading to aspiration. Routine early screening needs greater attention in HASUs