Fatty Acid Composition and Hedonic Ratings of Meat from Light Lambs of Leccese Breed in Relation to Slaughter Age

Twenty lambs from Leccese local breed were used to investigate the effect of two slaughter ages (45 vs 60 d) on fatty acid composition and hedonic ratings of meat. The lambs, born as singles in spring, were subdivided into two groups (n. 10) corresponding to the slaughter ages of 45 and 60 d. The animals received their mother’s milk and a supplementation of hay and concentrate from 30 d to slaughter. The increase to 60 d of slaughter age resulted in higher proportion of lauric acid (C12:0; P<0.05), pentadecanoic acid (C15:0; P<0.01) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; P<0.05), and lower proportion of stearic acid (C18:0; P<0.05) and linoleic acid (C20:3 n-6; P<0.05). Using a none-point hedonic scale, consumer test showed that meat from lambs slaughtered at 60 d received a higher hedonic scores (P < 0.01) as well as higher scores for tenderness (P < 0.05), flavour (P < 0.05), and juiciness (P < 0.001) than meat from lambs slaughtered at 45 d. These findings might be useful to characterise lamb meat of local origin in relation to its nutritional traits and market perspectives connected to consumer acceptability

Analysis of a sequence nucleotide polymorphism of STAT5A gene in Garganica goat breed

STATs (signal transducer and activator of transcription) are a group of transcription factors that mediate actions of a variety of peptide hormones and cytokines within target cells (for example prolactin and growth hormone). In particular, STAT5A gene is a candidate marker for quantitative traits in farm animals. In this study, the STAT5A/Eco81I polymorphism was investigated with PCR-RFLP in a sample of Garganica goats. Garganica breed is an Italian goat breed that originates in the Gargano promontory, in Apulia region, by crossing the autochthonous population of goat with west European goats. Garganica breed show an exceptional ability to adapt to particularly difficult environments, as well as an extraordinary capacity to utilize poor pasture that would not otherwise be used. The investigated polymorphism is a substitution C→T at position 6852 within the exon 7 of the STAT5A gene. Only two out of three possible genotypes were identified in the population. The allelic frequencies of alleles C and T were 0.863 and 0.137 respectively and the population was kept in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Moreover, some population genetic indices were also reported

From laser scanning to finite element analysis of complex buildings by using a semi-automatic procedure

In this paper a new semi-automatic procedure to transform three-dimensional point clouds of complex objects to three-dimensional finite element models is presented and validated. The procedure (CLOUD2FEM) conceives the point cloud as a stacking of point sections. The complexity of the clouds is arbitrary since the procedure is designed for terrestrial laser scanner surveys applied to buildings with irregular geometry, such as historical buildings. The proposed method allows to always produce a filled three-dimensional model ready to use for structural analysis purpose. A comparison analysis with a CAD based model is carried out on a historical building damaged by a seismic event

A novel frameshift mutation in exon 12 of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene in an Italian family with familial adenomatous polyposis and desmoid tumour

[This corrects the article on p. 235 in vol. 4, PMID: 20589194.]

Fatty Acid Composition and Hedonic Ratings of Meat from Light Lambs of Leccese Breed in Relation to Slaughter Age

Twenty lambs from Leccese local breed were used to investigate the effect of two slaughter ages (45 vs 60 d) on fatty acid composition and hedonic ratings of meat. The lambs, born as singles in spring, were subdivided into two groups (n. 10) corresponding to the slaughter ages of 45 and 60 d. The animals received their mother's milk and a supplementation of hay and concentrate from 30 d to slaughter. The increase to 60 d of slaughter age resulted in higher proportion of lauric acid (C12:0; P<0.05), pentadecanoic acid (C15:0; P<0.01) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; P<0.05), and lower proportion of stearic acid (C18:0; P<0.05) and linoleic acid (C20:3 n-6; P<0.05). Using a none-point hedonic scale, consumer test showed that meat from lambs slaughtered at 60 d received a higher hedonic scores (P < 0.01) as well as higher scores for tenderness (P < 0.05), flavour (P < 0.05), and juiciness (P < 0.001) than meat from lambs slaughtered at 45 d. These findings might be useful to characterise lamb meat of local origin in relation to its nutritional traits and market perspectives connected to consumer acceptability

ATP Sensitive Potassium Channels in the Skeletal Muscle Function: Involvement of the KCNJ11(Kir6.2) Gene in the Determination of Mechanical Warner Bratzer Shear Force

The ATP-sensitive K-channels (KATP) are distributed in the tissues coupling metabolism with K ions efflux. KATP subunits are encoded by KCNJ8 (Kir6.1), KCNJ11 (Kir6.2), ABCC8 (SUR1), and ABCC9 (SUR2) genes, alternative RNA splicing give rise to SUR variants that confer distinct physiological properties on the channel. An high expression/activity of the sarco-KATP channel is observed in various rat fast-twitch muscles, characterized by elevated muscle strength, while a low expression/activity is observed in the slow twitch muscles characterized by reduced strength and frailty. Down-regulation of the KATP subunits of fast-twitch fibers is found in conditions characterized by weakness and frailty. KCNJ11 gene knockout mice have reduced glycogen, lean phenotype, lower body fat, and weakness. KATP channel is also a sensor of muscle atrophy. The KCNJ11 gene is located on BTA15, close to a QTL for meat tenderness, it has also a role in glycogen storage, a key mechanism of the postmortem transformation of muscle into meat. The role of KCNJ11 gene in muscle function may underlie an effect of KCNJ11 genotypes on meat tenderness, as recently reported. The fiber phenotype and genotype are important in livestock production science. Quantitative traits including meat production and quality are influenced both by environment and genes. Molecular markers can play an important role in the genetic improvement of animals through breeding strategies. Many factors influence the muscle Warner-Bratzler shear force including breed, age, feeding, the biochemical, and functional parameters. The role of KCNJ11gene and related genes on muscle tenderness will be discussed in the present review

phenotypic study of egg production curve in commercial broiler breeders using compartmental function

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of environmental factors on egg production curve traits in broiler breeders. The weekly egg production records of birds collected from four different flocks were used to estimate the egg production curve parameters using the Compartmental function (y = A(1 − exp−b(t − d))exp−ct). The coefficient of determination (R2) obtained by the model was 0.98. Least squares analysis of variance indicated that the environmental factors such as hatchability and flock had significant effects on egg production curve traits. The highest correlation was observed between the weekly potential maximum yield and yield at the beginning of laying, whereas the lowest correlation was found between the weekly potential maximum production and production after peak yield. Associated factors with the increasing slope of egg production curves had a negative correlation with the decrease after peak. The correlation analysis showed that peak production had a negative and significant relationship with production towards peak and time to reach peak production, while there was a positive and significant correlation with the slope decrease after peak yield. The Compartmental function can be used as an alternative model to predict egg production traits in broiler breeders

INSPECT: A Retrospective Study to Evaluate Long-term Effectiveness and Safety of Darvadstrocel in Patients With Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease Treated in the ADMIRE-CD Trial

Background: The efficacy of a single administration of darvadstrocel (expanded allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells) for treating complex perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease was demonstrated in a randomized, double-blind trial (ADMIRE-CD [Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Induction of Remission in Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease] trial). The current chart review study (INSPECT [A retrospectIve chart review study evaluatINg the longer-term effectiveneSs of darvadstrocel in PatiEnts who CompleTed ADMIRE-CD]) evaluated the longer-term effectiveness and safety of darvadstrocel. Methods: Eligible patients had completed at least 52 weeks in the ADMIRE-CD trial. Data on clinical remission and fistula relapse outcomes were collected retrospectively at 104 and 156 weeks after treatment. Adverse events of special interest (tumorigenicity and ectopic tissue formation) were collected up to 208 weeks after treatment. Results: Eighty-nine patients were included (43 darvadstrocel patients, 46 control subjects). At 52, 104, and 156 weeks posttreatment, clinical remission was observed in 29 (67.4%) of 43, 23 (53.5%) of 43, and 23 (53.5%) of 43 darvadstrocel-treated patients, compared with 24 (52.2%) of 46, 20 (43.5%) of 46, and 21 (45.7%) of 46 control subjects, respectively. In patients with clinical remission at week 52, this remission was sustained at 104 and 156 weeks after treatment in 19 (65.5%) of 29 and 16 (55.2%) of 29 darvadstrocel-treated patients and in 17 (70.8%) of 24 and 13 (54.2%) of 24 control subjects, respectively. Time to fistula relapse and incidence of fistula relapse or new fistula occurrence were not significantly different between groups. Tumorigenicity was reported for 1 (2.2%) patient in the control group (malignant epidermoid carcinoma). No ectopic tissue formation was reported. Conclusions: Real-world follow-up of patients from the ADMIRE-CD trial indicates that clinical remission of complex perianal fistulas can be sustained in the long term irrespective of whether it is achieved through darvadstrocel administration or maintenance treatment regimens and confirms a favorable long-term safety profile of darvadstrocel