The Impact of Gluten Friendly Flour on the Functionality of an Active Drink: Viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus in a Fermented Milk

The Gluten FriendlyTM Technology is an innovative method that induces structural changes in gluten proteins. In this paper a synbiotic fermented milk, containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and Gluten Friendly Flour (GFF), was proposed. A mixture design was used to combine flour, temperature and probiotic to study the effects of these variables on the acidification. The experiments were done on both GFF and control flour (CF). Thus, the following conditions were chosen to produce the fermented milk: L. acidophilus at 6.5 log cfu/ml; flour at 2.5 g/l; temperature at 37°C. Then, the fermented milk was produced and stored at 4°C for 90 days. The most important result was the positive effect of GFF on the viability of the probiotic, with a prolongation of the shoulder length to 20 days (12–13 days in the control). Moreover, GFF did not act on the sensory scores and on the physico-chemical parameters

Cardiac Rotation Assessed by Gyroscopic Sensors: Experimental Animal Trials.

During the cardiac cycle, contraction of the helically oriented myocardial fibres results in torsion, a wringing motion as the cardiac apex rotates with respect to the base about the Left Ventricle (LV) long axis. LV twist has been shown to provide a sensitive index of cardiac function. Recently, non-invasive echocardiographic and magnetic resonance imaging techniques have been proposed to quantify cardiac rotation; however, they are not suitable for chronic monitoring of LV twist dynamics. We propose the use of gyroscopic sensors to quantify cardiac rotation. Results from in vivo experiments on four sheep are presented herein. A catheter was placed in the LV to assess LV pressure (LVP) and its first derivative (LVdP/dt). Three gyroscopes were epicardially glued at different levels along the LV long axis (apex, middle, base) to assess LV twist dynamics: Angular Velocity (Ang V) and Angle of cardiac rotation (Angle) were measured and evaluated against hemodynamic measurements (LVP, LVdP/dt), at baseline and after induction of acute alterations of cardiac status (dobutamine infusion and coronary artery ligation). Cardiac rotation assessed at apical level showed the most significant results: compared with baseline values, improvement of contractility (+145% in LVdP/dtMAX) after dobutamine infusion increased both Angle (+11%) and the maximum value of Ang V during systole \u2013 defined as Ang VMAX (+155%). After acute impairment of cardiac function caused by coronary ligation, both Ang VMAX and Angle decreased (-31% and -65%, respectively) and a concomitant reduction of LVdP/dtMAX (-35%) was observed. The study demonstrated the feasibility of assessing cardiac rotation and LV twist alterations by means of gyroscopic sensors. A miniaturized gyroscope could be utilized for the chronic monitoring of cardiac function if adequately integrated into a pacemaker or other implantable medical devices

The new central sterile supply department of university hospital authority St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic

The new centrol sterile supply Deportment (CSSD) of the University Hospital Authority St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic was inaugurated in September 2010. The CSSD collects functions of diagnosis and treatment of high technological impact, such as emergency room, diagnostic imaging, operating blocks and intensive care. The intervention was executed by a service contract for the design, construction, management, operation and maintenance of the unique CSSD