A Survey on the characteristics of sausage made from Sicilian and Sardinian native pigs

Four different mixtures were prepared using meat from native pigs. Mixtures 1 and 2 were made in Sardinia using meat from pigs of Sarda breed, mixtures 3 and 4 in Sicily, using meat from the Nera Siciliana breed. The manufacturing were different not only for the typology of the meat but also for the meat cuts used and the ingredients. Batches 1 and 3 were made in non conditioned natural environments, while batches 2 and 4 in conditioned environments. Chemical-physical and microbiological analyses were carried out on the fresh mixture, after 7 days of ripening (end of drying in conditioned environment and at the end of seasoning (28 days). The thermoigrometric environmental parameters and the variation in the weight of the production were measured during ripening. Regarding the Lactic Acid Bacteria and the Micrococcaceae, microorganisms of normal maturation, a rapid development, except for batch 1, was observed for all batches at 7 days of ripening. In batches 2 and 4 an increase of Enterobacteriaceae in the drying phase and a their decrease in the seasoning phase were noticed. In batch 3 their inactivation resulted slow. Such occurrences were probably due to the hygienic conditions and non inhibiting technological parameters. The initial humidity was less than 60% with the exception of batch 3; the quantity of NaCl ranged between 2 and 2.8%. The amount of fat varied between 14 and 24% at the beginning of the ripening, then reached values ranging between of 20 and 38% at the end of the seasoning phase. All the batches showed a decrease of aw included between 0.97 (mixture) and 0.87 (final product); the highest value of aw recorded in test 1 was attributable to the lower T recorded both during the drying and seasoning phase. The pH reached the lowest values at the end of the 7 days and then increased, with the exception of batch 3, which decreased during the whole seasoning phase

Two cases of monomicrobial intraabdominal abscesses due to KPC - 3 Klebsiella pneumoniae ST258 clone

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Knowledge of the etiology of pyogenic liver and pancreatic abscesses is an important factor in determining the success of combined surgical and antibiotic treatment. Literature shows geographical variations in the prevalence and distribution of causative organisms, and the spread of <it>Klebsiella pneumoniae </it>carbapenemase-producing bacteria is an emerging cause of abdominal infections.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We herein describe two cases of intra-abdominal abscesses due to monomicrobial infection by <it>Klebsiella pneumoniae </it>Sequence Type 258 producing <it>K. pneumoniae </it>carbapenemase 3 (KPC-Kp). In case 1, a 50-year-old HIV-negative Italian woman with chronic pancreatitis showed infection of a pancreatic pseudocystic lesion caused by KPC-Kp. In case 2, a 64-year-old HIV- negative Italian woman with pancreatic neoplasm and liver metastases developed a liver abscess due to KPC after surgery. Both women were admitted to our hospital but to different surgical units. The clonal relationship between the two isolates was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). In case 2, the patient was already colonized at admission and inter-hospital transmission of the pathogen was presumed. A long-term combination regimen of colistin with tigecycline and percutaneous drainage resulted in full recovery and clearance of the multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Timely microbiological diagnosis, the combined use of new and old antibiotics and radiological intervention appeared to be valuable in managing these serious conditions. The emergence and dissemination of MDR organisms is posing an increasing challenge for physicians to develop new therapeutic strategies and control and prevention frameworks.</p

Tidal and hydrological periodicities of seismicity reveal new risk scenarios at Campi Flegrei caldera

The volcano-tectonic seismicity occurring at Campi Flegrei caldera during its present unrest phase, started in 2005, is distributed into time-clustered events emerging from a background composed of earthquakes with higher inter-arrival times. Here, we show that clustered seismicity is cyclically recurrent at time scales from semidiurnal to annual, matching tidal and hydrological periodicities. These results suggest that volcano-tectonic seismicity at Campi Flegrei caldera is driven by both variations in the deep magmatic feeding system and exogenous phenomena, as rainfall or global inflation/deflation cycles of the Earth's crust, controlled by the lunisolar interaction. Consequently, the role of exogenous triggers in the evolution of the present unrest phase should be properly considered in the elaboration of volcanic risk scenarios, presently limited to the study of surface indicators of deep phenomena.Published138086V. Pericolosità vulcanica e contributi alla stima del rischioJCR Journa

Tidal and hydrological periodicities of volcano-tectonic seismicity at Campi Flegrei caldera

We analyse and compare volcano-tectonic seismicity, rainfall, atmospheric pressure, ground deformation and Earth tide time series at the Campi Flegrei caldera (CFc) in the time interval 2005-2016, looking for possible tidal and hydrological triggers of hydrothermal and seismic activity. By applying statistical analysis, we show that the occurrence of clustered seismicity at the CFc has a cyclic behaviour on several time scales, from semidiurnal and diurnal to longer periods, such as fortnightly, monthly, semiannual and annual. The medium and long-period time scales match those of the main lunar and solar tidal constituents, while the exactly 24-h and 12-h periodicities can be ascribed not only to the Earth tides but also to other effects such as atmospheric pressure and temperature variations. In addition, a clear dependence on rainfall arises from the analysis of the hydrological parameters, indicating a strong seasonal periodicity along the entire observational interval, with the most numerous and energetic seismic swarm occurring in the wet season. We interpreted these observations in terms of a model linking magmatic degassing, ground deformation and seismicity. The proposed model considers the magmatic-hydrothermal fluid circulation system as a cascade hydraulic circuit, where in/out fluid flow and pressure condition of each segment are regulated by those of the contiguous ones. Our results suggest that volcano-tectonic seismicity at CFc is driven by both variations in the deep magmatic feeding system and exogenous phenomena, as rainfall or global inflation/deflation cycles of the Earth’ s crust, controlled by the lunisolar interaction. Consequently, the role of exogenous triggers (combined with endogenous processes) in the evolution of the recent dynamics should be properly considered in the elaboration of volcanic risk scenarios.PublishedVienna4V. Processi pre-eruttiv

Groundwater geochemistry of the Mt. Vesuvius area: implications for volcano surveillance and relationship with hydrological and seismic signals

Geochemical data obtained between 1998 and 2011 at the Mt. Vesuvius aquifer are discussed, focusing on the effects of both the hydrological regime and the temporal pattern of local seismicity. Water samples were collected in a permanent network of wells and springs located in the areas that are mostly affected by the ascent of magmatic volatiles, and their chemical composition and dissolved gas content were analyzed. As well as the geochemical parameters that describe the behavior of groundwater at Mt. Vesuvius, we discuss the temporal distribution of volcano-tectonic earthquakes. The seismological data set was collected by the stations forming the permanent and mobile network of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia - Osservatorio Vesuviano (INGV-OV). Our analysis of seismic data collected during 1998-2011 identified statistically significant variations in the seismicity rate, marked by phases of decreasing activity from October 1999 to May 2001 and increasing activity from August 2004 to mid-2006. The water chemistry shows peculiar patterns, characterized by a changeable input of CO2-rich and saline water, which must be related to either a changing stress field or an increased input of CO2-rich vapor. The water chemistry data from 1999 to 2003 account for both higher fluid pressure (which induced the seismic crisis of 1999 that peaked with a 3.6-magnitude earthquake in October 1999) and the increased input of CO2-rich fluids. The highest emission of CO2 from the crater fumaroles and the corresponding increase in dissolved carbon in groundwater characterize the phase of low seismicity. The termination of the phase of intense deep degassing is associated with a change in water chemistry and a peculiar seismic event that was recorded in July 2003. All these seismic and geochemical patterns are interpreted according to temporal variations in the regional and local stress field

Candida glabrata meningitis and endocarditis: a late severe complication of candidemia

We report an unusual case of Candida glabrata meningitis and endocarditis in a young Caucasian woman with a prosthetic aortic valve and suffering from a dissecting thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm. C. glabrata was isolated from culture of the cerebrospinal fluid. Candida infection of the central nervous system is an uncommon manifestation of disseminated infection due to Candida species. Our case report also highlights the intrinsic resistance of C. glabrata to azoles