Evaluation of Aflatoxin M1 Enrichment Factor in Semihard Cow's Milk Cheese and Correlation with Cheese Yield.

ABSTRACT The fate of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in cow's milk cheese produced from naturally contaminated raw milk was evaluated. Cow's milk, naturally contaminated by AFM1 at levels ranging from 0.020 to..

Microbial, physicochemical and sensory characteristics of salami produced from Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) population in central Italy has strongly increased in the last decades. The meat of the game is characterized by high-quality value and the manufacture of food products from game meat could represent a remarkable added value for the local market promoting local gastronomic specialties and traditions. Adult animals were hunted with the waiting method and the carcasses were processed into the game processing center. Five batches of salami were produced with different amounts of wild boar meat and pork meat. The microbiological, physicochemical, rheological, and sensory evaluations were performed. The microbiological analyses indicated that the salami is safe to consume as Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. were undetectable in the end products. The Enterobacteriaceae count was below 3 log CFU.g-1 attesting to the adequacy of hygienic characteristics of the process. The chemical composition analyses showed lower lipid content in comparison to pork salami, while the rheological characteristics were equivalent among products. The sensory evaluation highlighted that the consumers' appreciation of wild boar salami is comparable to that of traditional pork salami

Contribution of vegetables and cured meat to dietary nitrate and nitrite intake in Italian population: Safe level for cured meat and controversial role of vegetables

Nitrate and nitrite content was determined on a total of 900 samples of vegetables and cured meat and the nitrite and nitrate exposure assessment was evaluated for central Italy population based on the food consumption data reported by the national dietary surveys. The highest average content of nitrate was detected in rocket salad (4415 mg/kg) and radish (3817 mg/kg) and for cured meat in “Bresaola” (188 mg/kg) and in Bacon (178 mg/kg). The nitrite content was negligible both in vegetables than in cured meat. The average consumption among population resulted 3.45 g/kg bw/die and 0.62 g/kg bw/die for vegetables and cured meat respectively. The obtained data confirm that nitrate ADI was higher than the limits of 3.7 mg/kg bw/die for infants and was the highest exposure level for people of all ages. Cured meat consumption did not contribute to nitrate ADI exceedance neither as a mean nor as 99th percentile of exposure

Olive mill wastewater phenolic concentrate as natural antioxidant against lipid-protein oxidative deterioration in chicken meat during storage

Considering that many plant-derived substances show antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, natural antioxidant administered through feed in livestock animals could increase the shelf life of meat and meat products. The aim of this work was to study the effect of olive oil by-products on chicken meat lipid and protein oxidation and oxidative stability during storage. Two hundred and ninety-seven 22-day-old fast growing (Ross 308) female chicks were randomly assigned to three experimental grower-finisher diets: i) a basal control diet (CTR), ii) CTR diet supplemented with a low dosage (4.8%) of olive mill wastewater extract (L-OW) and iii) CTR diet supplemented with a high dosage (9.9%) of olive mill wastewater extract (H-OW). Breast meat of animals belonging to each experimental group was sliced, overwrapped with oxygen-permeable packaging and analysed at three different storage times (zero, three and seven days). At the three sampling times considered, for all samples, colour coordinates (a*), saturation index, Hue angle, peroxide value, thiobarbituric reactive substance, carbonyl assay and the oxygen radical absorbance capacity determinations were performed. No differences in colour were detected among the groups in all the sampling times considered. In conclusion, the supplementation of chicken diet with olive mill wastewater extract (OW) affected oxidation of meat, retarding lipid and protein oxidation and improving antioxidant activity during storage

Does hunted wild boar meat meet modern consumer nutritional expectations?

The present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of hunted wild boar (WB) meat and compare them with those of meat from analogous domestic animals (pigs) reared in two different rearing systems: indoor-intensive (PI) and outdoor-extensive (PO). WB meat showed a lower amount of lipid content compared to pork and a higher antioxidant activity compared to PI and PO. The comparison of the fatty acid composition of WB and domestic pig reveals significant differences in saturated fatty acids (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), with WB having the highest PUFA level and the lowest SFA. The omega 6/omega 3 (n-6/n-3) PUFA ratio, PUFA/SFA, atherogenic and thrombogenic indices (AI and TI), as well as the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic index (h/H), were calculated. The n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was higher in pork independently of the rearing system. The PUFA/SFA ratio of WB meat was above the minimum ratio of 0.40 recommended to contribute to a reduction in the risk of coronary diseases in pork from both rearing systems. AI and TI were lower in meat from hunted wild boars compared to commercially reared pigs, while h/H was higher in WB in comparison with pork meat. WB meat shows good nutritional quality; therefore, the use of game meat as a food source could be appropriate and could benefit contemporary consumers looking for “green” and high-nutritional products

Targeted therapy for advanced cutaneous melanoma

Drugs targeting the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway with BRAF and MEK inhibitors have significantly improved survival outcomes of patients with melanoma harboring BRAF V600 mutations. To date, three combination targeted therapies have been approved, based on the results of four randomized phase-III trials (COMBI-D, COMBI-V, CoBRIM, and COLUMBUS). In these trials, combined BRAF and MEK inhibitors demonstrated superiority as compared with BRAF inhibitor monotherapy and showed quite homogeneous data in terms of response rate (63%-70%), OS (median > 24 months), and PFS (median values ranging from 11 to 14 months). Consequently, different toxicity profiles of each combination therapy presently help with the decision-making process. Despite these successful results, treatment resistance represents an issue during both immunotherapy and targeted therapy, and there is presently no consensus on the therapeutic journey of patients with BRAF mutant melanoma to optimize their survival results. Several strategies to further increase therapeutic results of targeted therapy have been investigated, by combining and/or sequencing different treatment approaches. In this review, we will present the molecular features of cutaneous melanoma, focusing on BRAF mutation, the therapeutic rationale of targeted therapies, their efficacy, and toxicity, and give an overview of future perspectives in the treatment of this disease

Microbiological Safety and Quality of Meals and Work Surfaces in Collective Catering Systems in Central Italy: A Five-Year Monitoring Study

Ready-to-eat (RTE) meals produced and served by the catering system still represent one of the major causes of foodborne outbreaks, especially for susceptible consumers. Despite the great progress in food hygiene and safety, the systematic monitoring of microbial contamination of foodstuff is the most effective tool to ensure food safety and protect consumers’ health. The aim of this study was to perform a thorough assessment of the microbial safety and quality of meals and work surfaces of collective catering systems in central Italy, over a five-year period (2014–2018). In total 11,012 microbiological analytical determinations were performed in food matrices (80.1%) and environmental samples (19.9%). The results obtained show a low level of non-conformities ranging from 2.2% to 6.3% of total samples, concerning both hygiene and safety parameters. A decreasing trend of non-conformities during the years was also highlighted (p-value < 0.05), especially for environmental samples. This study suggests that the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and the proper definition of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, combined with a thorough evaluation of microbiological monitoring, are able to ensure high levels of food safety and hygiene

Leczenie ukierunkowane molekularnie chorych na zaawansowanego czerniaka skóry

Drugs targeting the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway with BRAF and MEK inhibitors have significantly improved survival outcomes of patients with melanoma harboring BRAF V600 mutations. To date, three combination targeted therapies have been approved, based on the results of four randomized phase-III trials (COMBI-D, COMBI-V, CoBRIM, and COLUMBUS). In these trials, combined BRAF and MEK inhibitors demonstrated superiority as compared with BRAF inhibitor monotherapy and showed quite homogeneous data in terms of response rate (63%-70%), OS (median > 24 months), and PFS (median values ranging from 11 to 14 months). Consequently, different toxicity profiles of each combination therapy presently help with the decision-making process. Despite these successful results, treatment resistance represents an issue during both immunotherapy and targeted therapy, and there is presently no consensus on the therapeutic journey of patients with BRAF mutant melanoma to optimize their survival results. Several strategies to further increase therapeutic results of targeted therapy have been investigated, by combining and/or sequencing different treatment approaches. In this review, we will present the molecular features of cutaneous melanoma, focusing on BRAF mutation, the therapeutic rationale of targeted therapies, their efficacy, and toxicity, and give an overview of future perspectives in the treatment of this disease.Leki ukierunkowane na szlak kinazy białkowej aktywowanej mitogenami (MAPK), inhibitory BRAF i MEK, istotnie poprawiły przeżywalność pacjentów z czerniakiem z mutacją BRAF V600. Dotychczas zarejestrowano trzy skojarzone terapie celowane na podstawie wyników czterech badań klinicznych III fazy z randomizacją (COMBI-D, COMBI-V, CoBRIM i COLUMBUS). W badaniach tych leczenie skojarzone inhibitorami BRAF i MEK wykazało przewagę nad monoterapią inhibitorem BRAF, z dość podobnymi wynikami we wszystkich badaniach w zakresie odsetka odpowiedzi (63–70%), OS (mediana &gt; 24 miesięcy) i PFS (wartości mediany 11–14 mies.). W związku z tym decyzje dotyczące zastosowania określonej terapii skojarzonej podejmowane w praktyce klinicznej opierają się głównie o różnice w zakresie profili toksyczności. Pomimo skuteczność tych leków, problemem jest oporność na leczenie, która rozwija się zarówno w trakcie immunoterapii jak i terapii ukierunkowanej molekularnie. W związku z tym dotychczas nie uzgodniono najlepszej sekwencji terapii u pacjentów z czerniakiem z mutacją BRAF umożliwiającej uzyskanie optymalnych wyników dotyczących przeżycia. Podjęto badania nad kilkoma strategiami dalszej poprawy wyników leczenia ukierunkowanego molekularnie poprzez skojarzenie i/lub sekwencyjne stosowanie różnych terapii. W niniejszym przeglądzie przedstawiono charakterystykę molekularną czerniaka skóry, zwłaszcza mutacji BRAF oraz dowody uzasadniające zastosowanie terapii ukierunkowanych molekularnie, ich skuteczność i toksyczność oraz perspektywy leczenia pacjentów z tym nowotworem w przyszłości

Preventing Microbial Growth in Game Meat by Applying Polyphenolic Extracts from Olive Mill Vegetation Water

We studied the efficacy of different formulations of polyphenol extracts (mainly containing hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol) from olive mill vegetation water on the microflora on the surfaces of game meat cuts with high or low initial bacterial loads. Meat with a high microbial load (>5 Log cfu/g; mean value = 6.83 ± 0.45 standard deviation) was immersed for 10 or 60 sec into 25% and 10% solutions of microencapsulated freeze-dried and non-encapsulated polyphenolic extracts. Aerobic colony, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp., and lactic acid bacteria counts were determined on treated samples compared to controls after 7 days of storage (in vacuum-packed conditions at +3 °C). Significant differences were registered only for aerobic colony count for a 10% liquid extract treatment (0.64 log reduction). In contrast, the dipping or immersion of game meat with low initial microbial loads (p < 0.002) at 7 and 14 days of storage for different extracts, independently from the application methods. The use of the extracts to inhibit bacterial growth in game meat should only be considered if a good hygienic baseline is guaranteed