Quality Index Method for fish quality control: Understanding the applications, the appointed limits and the upcoming trends

Background: The Quality Index Method (QIM) is a widely used approach for fish sensory grading, based on a structured scaling for freshness measurements, providing information concerning the fish freshness status, as a prediction of the remaining shelf-life for specific species or products. However, its tendency to be used in an oversimplified way and other common misapplications could lead to discredit of a methodology with great potential. Scope and approach: Review the principles of QIM methodology, discussing its concept, applications, and un derstand their limits, as a useful strategy to propose improvements, reinforce its predictive power and consequent acceptability. Key findings and conclusions: QIM methodology is based on a compromise between the number of fish samples necessary and the number of attributes, with sensory relevance in fish spoilage, that allows verifying if quality requirements are fulfilled. However, the assumptions inherent to the method, undermine the reliability of the shelf-life predictions. Determination of the variability associated with assessors, product, and correct structure of datasets for statistical analysis, will improve the predictive power of the method. However, it could lead to an increase in the method complexity that would drive it away from the industry’s needs for fast and easily implemented methods.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Freshness assessment and shelf-life prediction for Seriola dumerili from aquaculture based on the quality index method

Fish and fish-based products are easily perishable foods due to different factors, including fragile organization, abundant endo-enzymes, psychrophilic bacteria, and impact of pre-harvest operations, that contribute to reducing its value. Therefore, a timely effective method for fish freshness and shelf-life evaluation is important. In this context, this study aimed to develop a sensory scheme based on the Quality Index Method (QIM) (sensory table and point system) for freshness monitorization and shelf-life prediction for Seriola dumerili from aquaculture in Madeira Island. Evaluation of appearance, texture, eyes, and gills was performed during 20 days of storage on ice (0 ± 1 ◦C). The shelf-life prediction was supported by the analysis of microorganisms (total viable colonies, TVC, counts), texture (Torrymeter), and production of trimethylamine (TMA), evaluated by HS-SPME–GC–MS and validated according to Association of Official Analytical Chemists AOAC guidelines. The result is a QIM scheme with 25 demerit points, where zero indicates total freshness. From the integration of sensory analysis, microbial growth at the time of rejection (TVC, 108 cfu/cm2 and H2S producers, 107 cfu/cm2 ), texture (Torrymeter value 12.5 mg/100 g), shelf-life was estimated as 12 days (±0.5 days). The obtained results show the high-throughput potential of the developed method for fish freshness assessment and shelf-life prediction. This QIM scheme is a secure way to measure quality and provide users with a reliable standardized fish freshness measure.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

From aquaculture production to consumption: freshness, safety, traceability and authentication, the four pillars of quality

Farmed aquatic products are among the most widely traded commodities and one of the sectors with the fastest growth in the last years. However, aquaculture is still affected by negative connotations in comparison with other agroindustry sectors. Markets, consumer preferences and concerns about food safety and sustainability are influencing the growth of the sector and are forcing the implementation of quality management systems. Modern management systems help to minimize the environmental impacts and the distribution of unsafe or poor-quality products, thereby reducing the potential for bad image, liability and recalls. This article presents a compre hensive overview of the status, relevance, and impact of the quality management systems in the development of marine aquaculture, with the focus on four of the most important criteria associated with these systems: freshness, safety, traceability, and authenticity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A systematic AQbD approach for optimization of the most influential experimental parameters on analysis of fish spoilage-related volatile amines

The volatile amines trimethylamine (TMA) and dimethylamine (DMA) could be used as important spoilage indices for seafood products, assisting in the determination of the rejection period. In the present study, a systematic analytical duality-by-design (AQbD) approach was used as a powerful strategy to optimize the most important experimental parameters of headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) conditions for the quantification of TMA and DMA in Sparus aurata. This optimization enabled the selection of the best points in the method operable design region for HS-SPME extraction (30 min; 35 ◦C; NaOH 15 M and NaCl 35%, w/v) and GC-MS analysis (80 ◦C; gradient 50 ◦C/min; flow rate 1 mL/min and splitless mode). The rejection day, estimated through the TMA concentration (>12 mg/100 g, at days 9–10), was compared with sensory (quality index method: day 7–8), physical (Torrymeter: day 8–9), and microbial (day 9–10) analysis, corroborating the suitability of the proposed approach for estimating the period for which they will retain an acceptable level of eating quality from a safety and sensory perspective.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Improved approach based on MALDI-TOF MS for establishment of the fish mucus protein pattern for geographic discrimination of Sparus aurata

Food fraud is still a recurrent practice throughout food supply chains. In the case of seafood, misidentification of species and products repackaging constitute the most common frauds. Therefore, the development of appropriate analytical approaches to be used against food fraud is necessary. The present study goal is to explore for the first time, the possibility to differentiate between Sparus aurata from two different mariculture farms located in Madeira Island (Caniçal and Ribeira Brava), using the mass fingerprint of fish mucus obtained from MALDI-TOF MS and analyzed using Mass-UP software for multivariate statistical analysis and biomarker identification. It was possible to establish, from the mucus protein fraction, a set of potential biomarkers for each location in a total of 35 peaks, being 17 peaks specific to Caniçal located farm and 18 to Ribeira Brava. The proposed analytical approach revealed a useful strategy providing accurate and fast results for fish geographical origin discrimination.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Acurácia da ressonância magnética para identificar lesões traumáticas intra-articulares do joelho

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging of the knee in identifying traumatic intraarticular knee lesions. METHOD: 300 patients with a clinical diagnosis of traumatic intraarticular knee lesions underwent prearthoscopic magnetic resonance imaging. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, likelihood ratio for a positive test, likelihood ratio for a negative test, and accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging were calculated relative to the findings during arthroscopy in the studied structures of the knee (medial meniscus, lateral meniscus, anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, and articular cartilage). RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging produced the following results regarding detection of lesions: medial meniscus: sensitivity 97.5%, specificity 92.9%, positive predictive value 93.9%, positive negative value 97%, likelihood positive ratio 13.7, likelihood negative ratio 0.02, and accuracy 95.3%; lateral meniscus: sensitivity 91.9%, specificity 93.6%, positive predictive value 92.7%, positive negative value 92.9%, likelihood positive ratio 14.3, likelihood negative ratio 0.08, and accuracy 93.6%; anterior cruciate ligament: sensitivity 99.0%, specificity 95.9%, positive predictive value 91.9%, positive negative value 99.5%, likelihood positive ratio 21.5, likelihood negative ratio 0.01, and accuracy 96.6%; posterior cruciate ligament: sensitivity 100%, specificity 99%, positive predictive value 80.0%, positive negative value 100%, likelihood positive ratio 100, likelihood negative ratio 0.01, and accuracy 99.6%; articular cartilage: sensitivity 76.1%, specificity 94.9%, positive predictive value 94.7%, positive negative value 76.9%, likelihood positive ratio 14.9, likelihood negative ratio 0.25, and accuracy 84.6%. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging is a satisfactory diagnostic tool for evaluating meniscal and ligamentous lesions of the knee, but it is unable to clearly identify articular cartilage lesions.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a validade da ressonância magnética do joelho no diagnóstico das lesões intra-articulares traumáticas do joelho. MÉTODO: População de 300 pacientes, com quadro clínico sugestivo de lesões intra-articulares traumáticas do joelho, que tiveram seus laudos de ressonância magnética comparados com os resultados obtidos nas artroscopias realizadas posteriormente. Foram calculados a sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo, valor preditivo negativo, razão de verossimilhança positiva, razão de verossimilhança negativa e acurácia da ressonância magnética do joelho para o diagnóstico de lesões em cada estrutura intra-articular estudada do joelho (menisco medial, menisco lateral, ligamento cruzado anterior, ligamento cruzado posterior e cartilagem articular). RESULTADOS: Em relação às lesões do menisco medial, a sensibilidade da ressonância magnética foi de 97.5%, a especificidade de 92.9% o valor preditivo positivo de 93.9%, o valor preditivo negativo de 97%, a razão de verossimilhança positiva de 13.7, a razão de verossimilhança negativa de 0.02 e a acurácia de 95.3%. Para o menisco lateral, a sensibilidade da ressonância magnética foi de 91.9%, a especificidade de 93.6%, o valor preditivo positivo de 92.7%, o valor preditivo negativo de 92.9%, a razão de verossimilhança positiva de 14.3, a razão de verossimilhança negativa de 0.08 e a acurácia de 93.6%. Para o ligamento cruzado anterior, a sensibilidade da ressonância magnética foi de 99.0%, a especificidade de 95.4%, o valor preditivo positivo de 91.9%, o valor preditivo negativo de 99.5%, a razão de verossimilhança positiva de 21.5, a razão de verossimilhança negativa de 0.01 e a acurácia de 96.6%. Para o ligamento cruzado posterior, a sensibilidade da ressonância magnética foi de 100%, a especificidade de 99%, o valor preditivo positivo de 80%, o valor preditivo negativo de 100%, a razão de verossimilhança positiva de 100, a razão de verossimilhança negativa de 0.01 e a acurácia de 99.6%. Para as lesões condrais a sensibilidade da ressonância magnética foi de 76.1%, a especificidade de 94.9%, o valor preditivo positivo de 94.7%, o valor preditivo negativo de 76.9%, a razão de verossimilhança positiva de 14.9, a razão de verossimilhança negativa de 0.25 e a acurácia de 84.6%. CONCLUSÃO: A ressonância magnética apresenta alta acurácia para identificar as lesões meniscais e ligamentares do joelho, mas é insatisfatória para diagnosticar as lesões da cartilagem articular

Sensory, microbiological, physical and chemical properties of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and broadtail shortfin squid (Illex coindetii) stored in ice

The objective of this study was to characterize whole raw cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and shortfin squid (Illex coindetii) during storage in ice through sensory, microbiological, chemical and physical analyses. The recently developed Quality Index Method (QIM) tables for these species were used for sensory analysis. Shelf-life of whole cuttlefish and shortfin squid were estimated as around 10 and 9 days, respectively, according to QIM, which is shorter than for most species, especially fish. The numbers of microorganisms found in cuttlefish and shortfin squid surfaces until rejection were lower than in fish, which suggest predominance of enzymatic (autolytic) degradation. H2S-producing bacteria constituted a significant proportion of the spoilage flora. Physical analysis performed using the RT-Freshmeter and the Torrymeter showed these instruments can be applied to cuttlefish and shortfin squid, providing useful complementary information on the rates of change of electrical properties. Free tryptophan and VBN contents significantly changed during the first storage week indicating that low levels of these compounds could be used as indicators of fresh and high quality cuttlefish and broadtail shortfin squid. Urea can be useful as spoilage indicator for cuttlefish, as well as agmatine for broadtail shortfin squid. An overall look into data obtained shows, as expected, that spoilage of these cephalopod species can be considered a different phenomena when compared to fish and is not yet completely clarified

Effects of enramycin and sodium monensin on dry matter intake, ruminal fermentation and alimentary behavior in bovine fed high-concentrate diets

Estudaram-se os efeitos da administração de enramicina e monensina sódica no consumo de matéria seca (MS), na fermentação ruminal e no comportamento alimentar de bovinos. Doze fêmeas bovinas não-gestantes e não-lactantes (675 ± 63 kg PC) foram distribuídas inteiramente ao acaso em três tratamentos, formados por um grupo controle, um grupo tratado com enramicina e outro tratado com monensina. Os animais foram alimentados com dieta contendo 60% de concentrado (milho, farelo de soja e minerais) e 40% de volumoso (cana-de-açúcar). A enramicina foi administrada na dose de 20 mg/animal/dia e a monensina na dose de 300 mg/animal/dia. O experimento teve duração total de 21 dias, de modo que o 21º dia foi utilizado para coleta de líquido ruminal, realizada às 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 e 12 horas após a primeira refeição. A monensina aumentou a concentração total de AGV 12 horas após a alimentação, em relação aos demais tratamentos, e diminuiu a relação acético:propiônico nos tempo 0 e 6 horas, em relação à enramicina, mas não em relação ao controle. Nenhum dos antibióticos testados alterou a proporção molar dos ácidos acético, propiônico ou butírico nem o pH e a concentração ruminal de nitrogênio amoniacal. Os antibióticos também não alteraram o consumo de MS ou o comportamento ingestivo, avaliado nas atividades de alimentação, ruminação e ócio.The objective of this research was to study the effects of enramycin and sodium monensin administration on dry matter intake, ruminal fermentation and alimentary behavior in bovine. Twelve non-pregnant and non-lactating cows (675 kg ± 63 of BW) were randomly assigned to three treatments: control group, enramycin treated group or monensin treated group. Animals received a diet containing 60% of concentrates (corn, soybean meal and minerals) and 40% of forage (sugarcane). Treatments were 20 mg/animal/day of enramycin and 300 mg/animal/day of monensin. Trial lasted 21 days, and at the 21st was used for ruminal fluid sampling at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours after 1st meal. Monensin increased total VFA concentration 12 h after feeding in relation to others treatments and decreased the acetic:propionic ratio at times 0 and 6 h, in relation to enramycin, but not when compared to control. The two ionophores tested did not influence the molar proportion of acetic, propionic or butyric acids, pH, ammoniacal-N concentration, or DM intake and intake behavior, evaluated during activities of feeding, rumination and idleness

Gluconeogenic supplements do not affect production, reproductive traits and blood metabolite of holstein cows during the transition period

The use of gluconeogenic supplements for dairy cows during the transition period has produced contradictory responses in the literature, making it difficult to recommend them. The objective of this trial was to evaluate supplementation with propylene glycol (PG), calcium propionate (CP), and "Dairy Power Drench®" (DR) on the transitional period of Holstein cows. Parameters studied were variation of body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), milk production (MP), reproductive efficiency and nonesterified fatty acid concentration (NEFA). One hundred and sixty five animals from two commercial herds were used. Treatments consisted of: C- Control; DR- administration of "Dairy Power Drench®" (3 applications) during postpartum; CP- daily administration of calcium propionate (500 g); PG- daily administration of propylene glycol (500 mL). Variation sources studied were the effect of treatments and blocks as function of farm and parity. No interaction between time (weeks) and treatments, or treatment effects, were found for BCS. However, there was a quadratic effect of time. Body weight and its variation were not affected by treatment nor by the time × treatment interaction. However, a quadratic effect of time was observed. An interaction time × treatment was observed on MP, but possible differences within each week were not detected. Treatments also did not affect reproductive efficiency parameters. On average, the number of days to first detected postpartum estrus was 69.5, with 2.23 services per conception and 172.6 days open. The mean concentration of nonesterified fatty acids was 376.6 mmol L-1 and no effect of the interaction time × treatment, or of treatment, was observed. However, a linear effect was observed with time, with a decrease of 48.2 mmol L-1 per week.O uso de produtos gliconeogênicos para vacas leiteiras no período de transição tem gerado respostas contraditórias na literatura, dificultando a sua recomendação. O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar a suplementação de propileno glicol (PG), propionato de cálcio (PC) e "Dairy Power Drench®" (DR) no período de transição de vacas leiteiras sobre a variação do escore da condição corporal (ECC), peso vivo (PV), produção de leite (PL), eficiência reprodutiva e concentração plasmática dos ácidos graxos livres (AGL). Foram utilizadas 165 fêmeas de dois rebanhos comerciais. Os tratamentos foram: C- Controle; DR- 3 aplicações de "Dairy Power Drench®" no pós-parto; PC- 500 g diários de PC e PG- 500 mL diários de PG, até o 50º dia pós-parto, em média. As causas de variação estudadas foram efeito de tratamento e efeito dos blocos formados em função da fazenda e do número de partos. Não foi observado efeito de interação de tempo (semanas) × tratamento ou de tratamento sobre ECC. Entretanto, houve efeito quadrático de tempo. Para o PV e variação diária de PV não foi observado efeito dos tratamentos, nem interação entre tempo × tratamento. Entretanto, apresentaram efeito quadrático de tempo. Para PL, houve efeito de interação tempo × tratamento. Porém, dentro de cada semana, as possíveis diferenças não foram detectadas. Os tratamentos não afetaram os parâmetros de eficiência reprodutiva. Encontraram-se, em média, 69,5 dias para o aparecimento do primeiro cio, 2,23 serviços por concepção e 172,6 dias para o período de serviço. As concentrações médias dos AGL foram de 376,6 mmol L-1, não se observando efeitos de tempo × tratamento ou de tratamento. Porém, apresentaram efeito linear de tempo, decrescendo 48,2 mmol L-1 por semana

Early immune modulation in European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labra) juveniles in response to Betanodavirus infection

The early host–pathogen interaction between European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and Betanodavirus was examined by using juvenile fish infected intramuscularly with RGNNV (red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus). The time course selected for sampling (0–144 h post-infection (hpi)) covered the early stages of infection, with hematological, antioxidant and immunological responses examined. Early activation of the host’s immune system was seen in the first few hours post-infection (6 to 9 hpi), as evidenced by an increase in tnfa, cd28 and c3 expression in the head kidney of infected fish. Most hematological parameters that were examined showed significant differences between sampling times, including differences in the number of thrombocytes and various leukocyte populations. The plasma lysozyme concentration decreased significantly over the course of the trial, and most antioxidant parameters examined in the liver showed significant differences over the infection period. At 144 hpi, peak expression of tnfa and il-1b coincided with the appearance of disease symptoms, peak levels of virus in the brain and high levels of fish mortality. The results of the study show the importance of analyzing the early interactions between European seabass and Betanodavirus to establish early indicators of infection to prevent more severe outcomes of the infection from occurring.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio