Effect of milk feeding system on carcass and meat quality of Frisa Valtellinese kids.

Sedici capretti di razza Frisa Valtellinese sono stati allattati naturalmente (N) ocon sostituto del latte (A) e macellati a circa 17 kg di peso. L’alimentazione artificiale ha prodotto un aumentodella resa lorda di macellazione (45,6 vs.. 48,6% per N e A), a causa soprattutto del minor contenuto dell’apparatodigerente. Il sistema di allattamento ha avuto una scarsa influenza sulla resa in tagli, mentre la carcassadei capretti A ha mostrato un maggior rivestimento adiposo (stato d’ingrassamento: 3,5 vs.. 2,2 punti). I principaliparametri di qualità della carne (pH finale, colore, perdite alla cottura, resistenza al taglio, analisi tipo)non sono stati modificati dalla dieta; tuttavia la carne dei capretti allattati naturalmente è risultata più riccadi C18:3 e C20:5, con un più favorevole rapporto n-3/n-6 (0,77 vs. 0,45)

Quality differences in cheeses produced by lowland and highland units of the Alpine transhumant system

The characteristics of ripened cheeses depend on a large number of factors, of which animal feeding plays an important role. Several researches showed influences of factors linked to forage, such as quality or method of conservation (Verdier-Metz et al., 1998)

Meat quality of Italian Simmental young bulls as affected by the genes frequency of Montbéliarde origin

The aim of the research was the evaluation of carcass and meat quality traits of Italian Simmental young bulls, and their relationship with the degree of inclusion of genes of Montbéliarde origin

effect of dietary inclusion of flaxseed on milk yield and composition of dairy cows

The aim of the experiment was to study the effects of flaxseed inclusion on milk yield (MY), milk fat and protein contents and milk fatty acids (FA) composition in dairy cows diets. Eight Italian Friesian primiparous cows were divided into two homogeneous groups and fed a control diet (based on corn silage, fescue hay and a concentrate) or the same diet having 0.9 Kg DM concentrate replaced by coarsely grounded flaxseed for a 21 d experimental period. The groups were inverted in respect to the dietary treatments in a subsequent experimental period according to a change-over design. The flaxseed inclusion (4-5% DM) had a positive effect on dry matter intake (DMI, 22.2 vs. 21.3Kg/d) and significantly (P<0.01) increased the MY (26.9 vs. 26.1Kg/d) and milk fat corrected yield (FCM, 27.7 vs. 26.7Kg/d). Milk fat and protein percentages (4.18 and 3.46%, respectively on average) were not affected by flaxseed treatment. Results also indicated a significant (P<0.01) reduction of saturated fatty acid/unsaturated fatty acid ratio (SFA/UFA) and an increase of n-3/n-6FA, monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). Moreover a higher proportion of total C18:1 and conjugated linoleic acid isomers (CLA) was also observed for treated group

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Surgical Site Infection after Cardiac Surgery in the COVID-19 Era: A Case Report

Infection of surgical wounds with acid-fast bacilli, including tubercle bacilli, is rare, and is poorly described in the literature. We present the case of a 74-year-old male who developed a sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, diagnosed post-mortem. SARS-CoV-2 infection contributed to worsened clinical conditions and surgical site infection. A high degree of suspicion to avoid unnecessary treatments and progression to severe disease with dismal prognosis is necessary in these types of infections

Characteristics of carcass, meat and subcutaneous fat of Mangalica pigs reared outdoors

Importance of the work: Mangalica pig meat has a reputation for superior quality. Little information is available on this breed reared for heavy pig production. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of sex on the carcass, loin and lard characteristics (inner and outer layers) of Blonde Mangalica pigs. Materials & Methods: In total, 15 Blonde Mangalica pigs were considered (10 castrated males and 5 females) that were reared together outdoors. The pigs had ad libitum access to the same diet and were slaughtered at age 22.9 mth, with an average carcass weight of 141.4 kg. Results: Sex did not affect the carcass, meat or lard characteristics. In general, the Mangalica pigs had an average fat thickness of 70 mm and a loin cholesterol content of 0.674 mg/g. The loin had 39.0%, 52.5% and 8.5% saturated (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), respectively. Significant differences were found in the characteristics of the two lard layers. In particular, the inner layer was brighter and had a higher dry matter content than the outer layer. Regarding the fatty acids content, the inner layer had a lower PUFA but higher SFA content. Main finding: Sex did not influence the carcass, meat or lard characteristics of the Mangalica pigs. The results improved the characterization and filled knowledge gaps regarding meat and lard quality parameters of heavy Mangalica pigs reared outdoors

Radiomics for the detection of diffusely impaired myocardial perfusion: A proof-of-concept study using 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography

AIM The current proof-of-concept study investigates the value of radiomic features from normal 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) myocardial retention images to identify patients with reduced global myocardial flow reserve (MFR). METHODS Data from 100 patients with normal retention 13N-ammonia PET scans were divided into two groups, according to global MFR (i.e., < 2 and ≥ 2), as derived from quantitative PET analysis. We extracted radiomic features from retention images at each of five different gray-level (GL) discretization (8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 bins). Outcome independent and dependent feature selection and subsequent univariate and multivariate analyses was performed to identify image features predicting reduced global MFR. RESULTS A total of 475 radiomic features were extracted per patient. Outcome independent and dependent feature selection resulted in a remainder of 35 features. Discretization at 16 bins (GL16) yielded the highest number of significant predictors of reduced MFR and was chosen for the final analysis. GLRLM_GLNU was the most robust parameter and at a cut-off of 948 yielded an accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value of 67%, 74%, 58%, 64%, and 69%, respectively, to detect diffusely impaired myocardial perfusion. CONCLUSION A single radiomic feature (GLRLM_GLNU) extracted from visually normal 13N-ammonia PET retention images independently predicts reduced global MFR with moderate accuracy. This concept could potentially be applied to other myocardial perfusion imaging modalities based purely on relative distribution patterns to allow for better detection of diffuse disease

Clinical Experience with Ceftazidime-Avibactam for the Treatment of Infections due to Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria Other than Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales

Experience in real clinical practice with ceftazidime-avibactam for the treatment of serious infections due to gram-negative bacteria (GNB) other than carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) is very limited