Traits of Mortadella from Meat of Different Commercial Categories of Indigenous Dairy Cattle

The rising interest in healthier meat options prompted the exploration of alternatives to traditional pork-based products, incorporating meat from different livestock species, feeding regimens, and functional ingredients. This study investigates the production of healthier meat products by examining the physicochemical traits, fatty acid profile, and sensory properties of mortadella made with Cinisara meat of four young bulls and four adult cows, and four females of the Nebrodi Black Pig. All the animals were fed principally on natural resources. Nutritional analysis revealed different levels of moisture, protein, fat, and ash in raw materials, with pistachios contributing to a healthy fatty acid profile rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Formulations using cow meat exhibited higher fat content and caloric value, resulting in sensory attributes such as more intense color, improved fat cube adhesion, and pronounced odors compared to young bull and control mortadella. Fatty acid analysis demonstrated distinctive profiles influenced by the meat type used and, as expected, bovine products showed higher contents of rumenic and other conjugated linoleic acids. Pork mortadella displayed greater ω6 and ω3 values, with a healthier ω6/ω3 ratio comparable to those found in cow products. Young bull mortadella showed the worse atherogenic and thrombogenic indices. The findings underscore the impact of raw materials on the nutritional and sensory attributes of mortadella, emphasizing the necessity for interventions to enhance fatty acid composition in processed meat products

Cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) as source of bioactive compounds in dairy products

Recently, the interest on improving livestock products' nutraceutical profiles by sustainable feeding systems has increased. In this context, the overall quality and, in particular, the nutraceutical profile of dairy products obtained by 16 lactating Cinisara cows fed integrated in dry season with Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes, were investigated. Two homogeneous groups of cows (milk yield: 6.3 ± 1.5 kg; body weight: 213 ± 55 kg) were in succession fed with 2 different diets (CON: pasture and wheat bran; OFI: pasture, wheat bran and cladodes), according to a 2 × 2 Latin square design. The bulk milk was used to make Caciotta cheeses, analyzed at 0, 15 and 30 storage days. Milk and cheeses samples were analyzed for chemical, physical and microbiological traits. On the final products, the nutraceutical and sensorial profiles, together with the antioxidant's capacity were also determined. On milk, only the urea content in individual samples was reduced in OFI. Considering the cheeses, the integration with cladodes did not influence the starter cultures development acted with 2 strains of S. thermophilus, but caused a higher content of polyphenols and a consequent greater antioxidant capacity, together with a change in the fatty acids profile. In particular, the caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic, and palmitic fatty acids were higher, as well as the petroselinic, vaccenic, rumenic, and α-linolenic fatty acids. Differently, the oleic and the γ-linolenic fatty acids were lower. The cheeses of OFI showed better overall acceptability, and a higher yellow color, odor intensities, and butter flavor. The multivariate analysis well distinguished the cheeses belonging to the 2 groups. Further investigations should be conducted to formulate well balanced diets including cladodes for Cinisara lactating cows, but also to determine the content of other important bioactive compounds in fresh and in treated cladodes, as well as their effects on animals' welfare and their productions

Bilateral Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Prefrontal Cortex Reduces Cocaine Intake: A Pilot Study

Background: Chronic cocaine consumption is associated with a decrease in mesolim- bic dopamine transmission that maintains drug intake. transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is gaining reliability, a useful therapeutic tool in drug addiction, since it can modu- late cortico-limbic activity resulting in reduction of drug craving. Aims: In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of bilateral TMS of prefrontal cortex (PFC) in reducing cocaine intake, in a sample of treatment-seeking patients with current cocaine use disorder (DSM-V). Methods: Ten cocaine addicts (DSM-V) were randomly assigned to the active or sham stimulation protocol in a double-blind experimental design. Twelve repetitive TMS (rTMS) sessions were administered three times a week for 4 weeks at 100% of motor threshold, over bilateral PFC. Cocaine intake (ng/mg) was assessed by hair analysis at baseline (before treatment, T0), after 1 month (end of treatment, T1), 3 (T2), and 6 (T3) months later. All subjects received psychological support weekly. Results: The two-way ANOVA for repeated measures did not show a signi cant effect of the interaction between time and treatment (F4,32 = 0.35; p = 0.87). Despite that result indicated no difference in the effect of the two conditions (active vs. sham) along time, a decreasing trend in cocaine consumption in active TMS group (F3,23 = 3.42; p = 0.04) vs. sham (F3,15 = 1.88; p = 0.20) was observed when we performed exploratory analysis with time as factor. Indeed, Post hoc comparisons showed a signi cant reduction in the amount of cocaine detected from the onset to 3 months later (T0–T2; p = 0.02) and to the end of treatment (T0–T3; p = 0.01) in addicts from the active group. Conclusion: Bilateral rTMS of PFC at 10 Hz did not show a signi cant effect on cocaine intake compared to sham. However, a long-term reduction on cocaine intake in active TMS-treated patients was observed when we considered the time as factor. Further studies are required to con rm these encouraging but preliminary ndings, in order to consolidate rTMS as a valid tool to treat cocaine addiction

Children and Families' mental health during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Italy

Background: This study aimed to screen a wide range of emotional and behavioural variables emerging during the first COVID-19 pandemic-lockdown in a sample of parents and children, residents in the southern part of Italy, and explore which variables could predict children's wellbeing. We hypothesised that difficulties in adapting routines to pandemic restrictions, parents' emotional wellbeing, and attitude towards the pandemic could influence the children's behavioural attitudes. Methods: 221 parents completed the survey and gave information about 246 children. Ad hoc questionnaires were created and then exploratory reduced in factors. Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for parents assessed positive and negative behavioural attitudes in children. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Italian DASS-21) scored depression, anxiety and stress in parents. Results: Children presented higher emotional distress (Mean difference (Mdiff)=0.6, 95% C.I. 0.2, 0.9, p=0.013) and better prosocial behaviour (Mdiff=0.5, 95% C.I. 0.1, 0.9, p=0.011) than the Italian normative sample. Parents were more depressed than expected in the general population (Mdiff=1.0, 95% C.I. 0.3, 1.6, p=0.005). Having developed a morbid attachment to an adult (B=0.37, 95% CI 0.05, 0.69, p=0.024), a higher parental depression (B=0.1, 95% CI 0.02, 0.18, p=0.014), and children's suffering from nightmares (B=0.35, 95% CI 0.03, 0.67, p=0.032) explained the 31.9% of the total variance in children's emotional distress. Children's anxiety was related to parents' fear of the pandemic effects (r=0.32, p=0.001) and avoiding communicative approach (r=0.24, p=0.011). Conclusion: The first lockdown determined emotional distress and regressive mechanisms in children in the contest of higher parental discomfort, fear of the infection and avoidant communication. Following parents' indications, it could be helpful to provide families with informative and age-appropriate support

Valorization of indigenous dairy cattle breed through salami production

The aim of the research was to produce salami manufactured with meat of three different commercial categories of bovine breed: cow on retirement, beef and young bull. A total of six experimental productions, at small-scale plant, were carried out with and without starter culture inoculums. The evolution of physico-chemical parameters in all trials followed the trend already registered for other fermented meat products. Several LAB species were found during process with different levels of species diversity and frequency of isolation among inoculated (mainly Pediococcus pentosaceus and Staphylococcus xylosus) and uninoculated (mainly Enterococcus devriesei, Lactobacillus curvatus and Lactobacillus sakei) trials. Enterobacteriaceae were found at very low levels during the entire ripening period and no pathogenic bacteria were found in any samples. The multivariate analysis showed that starter inoculums and meat affected significantly the physico-chemical and the microbiological composition of salami. The sensory analysis evidenced the highest overall acceptability was displayed by salami produced with meat from cow on retirement

Long‐term subjective outcomes of barbed reposition pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome treatment

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate long‐term subjective outcomes of barbed reposition pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) treatment using a specific questionnaire, the Palate Postoperative Problem Score (PPOPS). Methods: 140 patients who underwent barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) surgery in the Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital of Forlì, Italy were enrolled in the study. Postoperative outcomes were evaluated in a short‐ and long‐term follow‐up using the PPOPS questionnaire. The average period of follow‐up was 26 months. All patients received the PPOPS questionnaire by telephone in a period between April and August 2019. Results: 51% of patients complained of swallowing problems after surgery. In 91% of cases, the problem cleared up spontaneously. At the time of the interview, only 9% of patients had a residual swallowing difficult. At the time of PPOPS evaluation, rhinolalia was observed in 8% of patients, whereas nose regurgitation was present in 2% of patients. In 20% of patients, the foreign body sensation was present during follow‐up. The value of apnea−hypopnea index (AHI) reduced from the preoperative value of 31.5 to the postoperative value of 11.4. Conclusions: BRP surgery proved to be an effective technique, appreciated by the majority of patients. Use of the PPOPS questionnaire has demonstrated that the BRP technique seems to ensure efficacy and lower morbidity, with few complications after surgery

Characterization of street food consumption in palermo: possible effects on health

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Street Food (SF) consists of out-of-home food consumption and has old, historical roots with complex social-economic and cultural implications. Despite the emergence of modern fast food, traditional SF persists worldwide, but the relationship of SF consumption with overall health, well-being, and obesity is unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This is an observational, cross-sectional study. The study was performed in Palermo, the largest town of Sicily, Italy. Two groups were identified: consumers of SF (n = 687) and conventional restaurant food (RES) consumers (n = 315). Study subjects answered a questionnaire concerning their health conditions, nutritional preferences, frequency of consumption of SF and a score relative to SF consumption ranging from 0 to 20 was calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) was significantly and independently correlated with the score of street food consumption (r = 0,103; p < 0.002). The prevalence of different diseases, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes, and the use of medications did not differ between the two groups. Milza (a sandwich stuffed with thin slice of bovine spleen and lung) consumers had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (12.2% vs 6.2% in non consumers; p < 0.005) and in this subgroup the use of anti-hypertensive drugs was inversely correlated with the frequency of milza consumption (r = 0.11; P = 0.010).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study suggests that SF consumption in Palermo is associated with a higher BMI and higher prevalence of hypertension in milza consumers. Further studies should evaluate whether frequent SF consumers have unfavourable metabolic and cardiovascular profile.</p