Influence of loading method and stocking density during transport on meat and dry-cured ham quality in pigs with different halothane genotypes

The effect of loading method and stocking density in transit on meat and dry-cured ham quality was investigated in pigs with different halothane genotypes. A total of 507 Italian heavy pigs, supplied by two farms, were loaded by ramp or lift and transported unmixed for 35-55 min to the abattoir at a stocking density of either <0.4 or >0.6m(2) per 100 kg pigs. After overnight lairage in separate pens with free access to water, the pigs were slaughtered. Halothane genotype was assessed post mortem. Four hundred and thirty-nine pigs had a homozygous dominant (NN) genotype and 68 pigs were heterozygous (Nn). Carcass skin damage, meat quality traits and ham curing parameters were evaluated. Loading method and stocking density showed a negligible effect on meat and dry-cured ham quality while the predominant factor affecting these was the halothane genotype. Nn pigs produced meat with a faster rate of pH fall and lower water holding capacity as well as ham with higher weight losses in salting and greater incidence of defects in the dry-cured product. There were insignificant interactions between halothane genotype and loading method or stocking density. Overall, irrespective of pre-slaughter treatment, the Nn pigs were less suitable for the production of high quality products such as dry-cured ham.

Botulinum toxin treatment in glaucomatous patients: a pilot study

PURPOSE

The purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment of iatrogenic entropion (IE), in patients affected by primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), by botulinum toxin injections (BTI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

20 patients of the "Glaucoma Center" of the Hospital "Umberto I" (Rome) were examined. These patients had POAG and used prostaglandin analogues (PA). Mean age was 75.5 years old (range 68-83); they had been suffering from PAOG since 10 years and were not affected by other relevant systemic diseases. One to three BTI were made into the lower orbicularis muscle using a 0.3 G needle (0.025 to 0.05 units for each injection site).

RESULTS

The results were particularly significant in 18 out of 20 patients. Two patients showed slight improvements. A rating scale ranging from 0 to 6 points (0 corresponded to 'no effect' and 6 to the 'complete' resolution of the entropion) was used to evaluate the goals of the treatment. The average rating was 5.37 points.

CONCLUSIONS

The entropion due to glaucoma therapy with PA can be successfully treated with BTI in the orbicularis muscle, despite offering temporary therapeutic effects.

Focus on data available from the RIETE Registry (Regístro Informatizado de la Enfermidad TromboEmbólica): an editorial comment

Not available

Techniques for the isolation of high-quality RNA from cells encapsulated in chitosan hydrogels

Extracting high-quality RNA from hydrogels containing polysaccharide components is challenging, as traditional RNA isolation techniques designed for cells and tissues can have limited yields and purity due to physiochemical interactions between the nucleic acids and the biomaterials. In this study, a comparative analysis of several different RNA isolation methods was performed on human adipose-derived stem cells photo-encapsulated within methacrylated glycol chitosan hydrogels. The results demonstrated that RNA isolation methods with cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) buffer followed by purification with an RNeasy® mini kit resulted in low yields of RNA, except when the samples were preminced directly within the buffer. In addition, genomic DNA contamination during reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was observed in the hydrogels processed with the CTAB-based methods. Isolation methods using TRIzol® in combination with one of a Qiaex® gel extraction kit, an RNeasy® mini kit, or an extended solvent purification method extracted RNA suitable for gene amplification, with no evidence of genomic contamination. The latter two methods yielded the best results in terms of yield and amplification efficiency. Predigestion of the scaffolds with lysozyme was investigated as a possible means of enhancing RNA extraction from the polysaccharide gels, with no improvements observed in terms of the purity, yield, or amplification efficiency. Overall, this work highlights the application of a TRIzol®+extended solvent purification method for optimizing RNA extraction that can be applied to obtain reliable and accurate gene expression data in studies investigating cells seeded in chitosan-based scaffolds.

[Stabilometric analysis in patients affected by maculopathy]

OBJECTIVES

The walk is strictly influenced by vision, that's essential for the position of the body in the space during the walk cycle and the postural control. The quality of life related to the vision is widely highlighted in literature: for example Brown et al. in 2005 underlined the comparison from DMLE and chronic ills, like HIV, angina, dialysis, advanced prostate tumor, stroke, and heart attack. Peripheral low vision appeared the most crippling aspect to the walk, but in recent years a lot of studies stressed the walk difficulty in patients with central low vision.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our study has been carried out in partnership between Ophtalmic Department and Physiatrist Department. Its aim was to evaluate static posture in patients affected by maculopathy. We picked out subjects affected by maculopathy with central low vision due to a variety of causes but with preserved peripheral vision.

RESULTS

Test trials had the purpose to investigate different aspects of static posture, in subjects affected by central low vision. It was related to risk of falling and faulty postures, that are pathologically in a long term.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study claimed that in stabilometric analysis the differences between patients affected by maculopathy and control group aren't statistically significant.

[Clinical indications for the use of cardiac MRI. By the SIRM Study Group on Cardiac Imaging]

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is considered an useful method in the evaluation of many cardiac disorders. Based on our experience and available literature, we wrote a document as a guiding tool in the clinical use of CMR. Synthetically we describe different cardiac disorders and express for each one a classification, I to IV, depending on the significance of diagnostic information expected.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR evaluation of prostate cancer before and after endorectal high-intensity focused ultrasound

PURPOSE

The authors sought to determine the diagnostic performance of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DCE-MR) imaging in the evaluation of prostate cancer before and after transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analysed 25 patients with prostate cancer. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value was evaluated 1, 4 and 6 months after treatment. DCE-MR imaging was performed the day prior to and 1, 4 and 6 months after HIFU treatment. Transrectal prostate biopsies were obtained at the time of diagnosis and 6 months after treatment.

RESULTS

Before treatment, intraglandular lesions were considered to be potential sites of neoplasm and subsequently confirmed as sites of prostate adenocarcinoma in all 25 patients based on prostatespecific antigen (PSA) values and histological examinations (rho=1; p<0.001). Using histology as the gold standard, DCE-MR imaging displayed 100% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 100% negative predictive value before treatment. After HIFU treatment, DCE-MR imaging showed 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

DCE-MR imaging can be used to visualise prostate adenocarcinoma. Several morphological and postgadolinium modifications in the follow-up DCE-MR images after HIFU treatment were also observed.

Structure-dependent optical and electrical transport properties of nanostructured Al-doped ZnO

The structure-property relation of nanostructured Al-doped ZnO thin films has been investigated in detail through a systematic variation of structure and morphology, with particular emphasis on how they affect optical and electrical properties. A variety of structures, ranging from compact polycrystalline films to mesoporous, hierarchically organized cluster assemblies, are grown by pulsed laser deposition at room temperature at different oxygen pressures. We investigate the dependence of functional properties on structure and morphology and show how the correlation between electrical and optical properties can be studied to evaluate energy gap, conduction band effective mass and transport mechanisms. Understanding these properties opens up opportunities for specific applications in photovoltaic devices, where optimized combinations of conductivity, transparency and light scattering are required.

Ovine amniotic epithelial cells: in vitro characterization and transplantation into equine superficial digital flexor tendon spontaneous defects

In vitro expanded and frosted ovine amniotic epithelial cells (oAECs) were evaluated for their phenotype, stemness and attitude to differentiate into tenocytes. Fifteen horses with acute tendon lesions were treated with one intralesional injection of oAECs. Tendon recovery under controlled training was monitored. In vitro expanded oAECs showed a constant proliferative ability, a conserved phenotype and stable expression profile of stemness markers. Differentiation into tenocytes was also regularly documented. US controls showed the infilling of the defect and early good alignment of the fibers and 12 horses resumed their previous activity. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations in an explanted tendon demonstrated the low immunogenicity of oAECs that were able to survive in the healing site. In addition, oAECs supported the regenerative process producing ovine collagen type I amongst the equine collagen fibers. Considering our results, oAECs can be proposed as a new approach for the treatment of spontaneous equine tendon injuries.

Characterization, GFP gene Nucleofection, and allotransplantation in injured tendons of ovine amniotic fluid-derived stem cells

Amniotic fluid has drawn increasing attention in the recent past as a cost-effective and accessible source of fetal stem cells. Amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AFMSCs) that display high proliferation rate, large spectrum of differentiation potential, and immunosuppressive features are considered optimal candidates for allogeneic repair of mesenchymal damaged tissues. In this study, ovine AFMSCs (oAFMSCs) isolated from 3-month-old sheep fetuses were characterized for their proliferation rate, specific surface antigen and pluripotency marker expression, genomic stability, and mesenchymal lineage differentiation during their in vitro expansion (12 passages) and after nucleofection. The high proliferation rate of oAFMSCs gradually decreased during the first six subculture passages while the expression of surface molecules (CD29, CD58, CD166) and of pluripotency-associated markers (OCT4, TERT, NANOG, SOX2), the in vitro osteogenic differentiation potential, and a normal karyotype were maintained. Afterwards, oAFMSCs were nucleofected with a selectable plasmid coding for green fluorescent protein (GFP) using two different programs, U23 and C17, previously optimized for human mesenchymal stem cells. Transfection efficiencies were ∼63% and ∼37%, while cell recoveries were ∼10% and ∼22%, respectively. Nucleofected oAFMSCs expressing the GFP transgene conserved their pluripotency marker profile and retained a normal karyotype and the osteogenic differentiation ability. Seven single clones with a GFP expression ranging from 80% to 97% were then isolated and expanded over 1 month, thus providing stably transfected cells with long-term therapeutic potential. The in vivo behavior of GFP-labeled oAFMSCs was tested on a previously validated preclinical model of experimentally induced Achille's tendon defect. The allotransplanted oAFMSCs were able to survive within the host tissue for 1 month enhancing the early phase of tendon healing as indicated by morphological and biomechanical results. Altogether these data suggest that genetically modified oAFMSCs might represent a valuable tool for in vivo preclinical studies in a highly valid translational model.

Achilles tendon regeneration can be improved by amniotic epithelial cell allotransplantation

Amniotic epithelial cells (AECs) are ideal seed cells for tissue regeneration, but no research has yet been reported on their tendon regeneration potential. This study investigated the efficiency of AEC allotransplantation for tendon healing, as well as the mechanism involved. To this aim ovine AECs, characterized by specific surface and stemness markers (CD14(-), CD31(-), CD45(-), CD49f, CD29, CD166, OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, TERT), were allotransplanted into experimentally induced tissue defects in sheep Achilles tendon. In situ tissue repair revealed that AEC-treated tendons had much better structural and mechanical recoveries than control ones during the early phase of healing. Immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses indicated that extracellular matrix remodeling was more rapid and that immature collagen fibers were completely replaced by mature ones in 28 days. Moreover, spatial-temporal analysis of cellularity, proliferation index, vascular area, and leukocyte infiltration revealed that AECs induced a specific centripetal healing process that first started in the tissue closer to the healthy portion of the tendons, where AECs rapidly migrated to then progress through the core of the lesion. This peculiar healing evolution could have been induced by the growth factor stimulatory influence (TGF-β1 and VEGF) and/or by the host progenitor cells recruitment, but also as the consequence of a direct tenogenic AEC differentiation resulting in the regeneration of new tendon matrix. These findings demonstrate that AECs can support tendon regeneration, and their effects may be used to develop future strategies to treat tendon disease characterized by a poor clinical outcome in veterinary medicine.