The effect of natural cheddar cheese ripening on the functional and textural properties of the processed cheese manufactured therefrom

Cheddar cheese ripened at 8 degrees C was sampled at 7, 14, 28, 56, 112, and 168 d and subsequently used for the manufacture of processed cheese. The cheddar cheese samples were analyzed throughout ripening for proteolysis while the textural and rheological properties of the processed cheeses (PCs) were studied. The rate of proteolysis was the greatest in the first 28 d of cheddar cheese ripening but began to slow down as ripening progressed from 28 to 168 d. A similar trend was observed in changes to the texture of the PC samples, with the greatest decrease in hardness and increase in flowability being in the first 28 d of ripening. Confocal scanning laser microscopy showed that the degree of emulsification in the PC samples increased as the maturity of the cheddar cheese ingredient increased from 7 to 168 d. This increased emulsification resulted in a reduction in the rate of softening in the PC in samples manufactured from cheddar cheese bases at later ripening times. Multivariate data analysis was performed to summarize the relationships between proteolysis in the cheddar cheese bases and textural properties of the PC made therefrom. The proportion of alpha(s)(1)-casein (CN) in the cheddar cheese base was strongly correlated with hardness, adhesiveness, fracturability, springiness, and storage modulus values for the corresponding PC. Degradation of alpha(s) (1)-CN was the proteolytic event with the strongest correlation to the softening of PC samples, particularly those manufactured from cheddar cheese in the first 28 d of ripening.

Use of unsupervised and supervised artificial neural networks for the identification of lactic acid bacteria on the basis of SDS-PAGE patterns of whole cell proteins

Conventional multivariate statistical techniques (hierarchical cluster analysis, linear discriminant analysis) and unsupervised (Kohonen Self Organizing Map) and supervised (Bayesian network) artificial neural networks were compared for as tools for the classification and identification of 352 SDS-PAGE patterns of whole cell proteins of lactic acid bacteria belonging to 22 species of the genera Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Enterococcus, Lactococcus and Streptococcus including 47 reference strains. Electrophoretic data were pre-treated using the logistic weighting function described by Piraino et al. [Piraino, P., Ricciardi, A., Lanorte, M. T., Malkhazova, I., Parente, E., 2002. A new procedure for data reduction in electrophoretic fingerprints of whole-cell proteins. Biotechnol. Lett. 24, 1477-1482]. Hierarchical cluster analysis provided a satisfactory classification of the patterns but was unable to discriminate some species (Leuconostoc, Lb. sakei/Lb. curvatus, Lb. acidophilus/Lb. helveticus, Lb. plantarum/Lb. paraplantarum, Lc. lactis/Lc. raffinolactis). A 7x7 Kohonen self-organizing map (KSOM), trained with the patterns of the reference strains, provided a satisfactory classification of the patterns and was able to discriminate more species than hierarchical cluster analysis. The map was used in predictive mode to identify unknown strains and provided results which in 85.5% of cases matched the classification obtained by hierarchical cluster analysis. Two supervised tools, linear discriminant analysis and a 23:5:2 Bayesian network were proven to be highly effective in the discrimination of SDS-PAGE patterns of Lc. lactis from those of other species. We conclude that data reduction by logistic weighting coupled to traditional multivariate statistical analysis or artificial neural networks provide an effective tool for the classification and identification of lactic acid bacteria on the basis of SDS-PAGE patterns of whole cell proteins.

Proteolysis in miniature cheddar-type cheeses manufactured using extracts from the crustacean Munida as coagulant

Miniature (20 g) Cheddar-type cheeses were manufactured using enzymes extracted from the crustacean Munida or chymosin as coagulant. Cheeses were ripened at 8 degrees C and samples were collected for analysis after 2, 6 and 12 weeks. Proteolysis was assessed by urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which showed that cheeses manufactured with the Munida extracts had a higher extent of degradation of beta-casein than cheeses made using chymosin as coagulant. Patterns of proteolysis were also obtained by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry. In general, the products of proteolysis were more complex in cheese made using the Munida extracts than in cheese made by chymosin as coagulant. Statistical analysis of results clearly discriminated the cheeses on the basis of coagulant used. Molecular mass of peptides found in cheese made using Munida extracts were similar to those of peptides commonly detected in cheeses made using chymosin as coagulant.

Conservation studies on ornamental and building stones of north-eastern Sicily. Geomineralogical and porosimetric investigations

The effectiveness, as preserving agents, of a series of chemical compounds (silanes, siloxanes, epoxides, perfluoropolyethers, acrylates, acrylsilicones) has been tested on lithic materials mainly used in artistic stoneworks of north-eastern Sicily. The selection and classification of the stone types, based on geomineralogical criteria follows a brief excursus about their use as artistic materials. The results of the porosimetric investigations, before and after conservation treatments, are reported. In addition, polarizing mineralogical microscope photos of the studied lithoid materials are presented.

Conservation studies on ornamental and building stones of north-eastern Sicily. Hydric and colorimetric investigations

In this paper we report on the results regarding the hydric properties of lithic materials widely used in north-eastern Sicily. We report also on the hydrophobic properties of these stones treated with some preserving products (silanes, siloxanes, epoxides, perfluoropolyethers, acrylates, acrylsilicones). In addition, the quantitative colour readings of the untreated and treated stones are presented, together with their chromatic alterations after artificial UV weathering. Final considerations on the selection of the best regime treatment are also reported.

[Thyroid cancer. Report of 85 cases]

BACKGROUND

Thyroid cancer is the most frequent endocrine cancer with important implications in terms of diagnosis and treatment.

AIM

To report a population of patients with thyroid cancer diagnosed by pathological studies of the surgical piece.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eighty five patients (68 female) with the definitive diagnosis of thyroid cancer were studied. Clinical, imaginological, cytological and pathological findings were analyzed.

RESULTS

The age range of patients was 10 to 77 years old. Sixty nine patients had ultrasonographic studies which showed a solid nodule in 84%, mixed solid-cystic area in 14.5% and a purely cystic nodule in 1.5% of the cases. Nineteen patients had non specific calcifications. Fine needle aspiration cytology was negative for malignancy in eight patients (false negative rate of 9.9%). The average size of the nodules was of 2.8 +/- 1.6 cm). Six nodules measured less than one cm (microcarcinoma). In the initial surgical procedure, 13 patients had lymph node metastases, 2 of them had a primary tumor of 1 cm and 5 patients had Graves's Disease. Frozen biopsies during operation had 9 false negative results for cancer (10.6%). Pathology showed 64 cases of papillary cancer (75%), 14 of follicular (16.5%), two were Hurthle cell cancer (2.4%), three were medullary (3.5%), and two anaplastic (2.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, thyroid cancer is more common in women, solid lesions predominate in the ultrasonography and calcifications are frequently found. The tumor size is variable and the most frequent pathological type corresponds to differentiated cancers. Using the definitive pathological study as the standard, the diagnostic sensitivity of fine needle cytology was 90.1%, and of frozen section 89.4%.

[Thyroid nodule in Basedow-Graves disease and thyroid cancer: experience in 6 patients]

Traditionally, Basedow-Graves disease was considered a protection against thyroid cancer. However, recent reports suggest that cancer occurs with a higher frequency than expected and is more aggressive in this disease. We report six patients with hyperthyroidism due to a Basedow Graves disease that presented a palpable thyroid nodule, which was cold in the scintiscan and solid in the ultrasound examination. Fine needle cytology disclosed cancer in five cases (two with cytological features of greater aggressiveness) and a nodular hyperplasia in one. The diagnosis was confirmed in the surgical piece in all patients. We conclude that Basedow-Graves disease and thyroid cancer, which can have an increased aggressiveness, may coexist.

Antitumor effect of the new rhodium (II) complex: Rh2 (form)2 (O2 CCF3)2 (H2O)2 (form = N,N'-di-p-tolyl formamidinate)

The new rhodium(II) complex Rh2(Form) (O2CCF3)2(H2O)2 (Form = N,N'-di-p-tolyl formamidinate) was evaluated for its toxicity on the rat and for its efficacy against two tumors of this animal: the Yoshida ascites sarcoma and the T8 sarcoma of Guérin. The rhodium(II) formamidinate shows very low toxicity: in fact 150 mg/kg (the highest quantity of drug soluble in 4 ml of dimenthyl sulfoxide) is not toxic for rats. We were unable to establish the lethal dose or the highest nontoxic dose since larger mounts of complex require a dose of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) that is itself toxic and the compound is insoluble in other solvents such as water or Tween. Doses of rhodium(II) formamidinate, varying from 3 to 30 mg/kg, were administered once by i.p., i.v., i.m. and intratumor (i.t.) route from 1 to 7 days after i.p. injection of 10(6) Yoshida ascites sarcoma cells and subcutaneous (s.c.) implantation of approximately 300 mg (corresponding to 2-3 x 10(7) living tumor cells) of T8 sarcoma of Guérin. The compound is active when administered i.p. 24 hours after Yoshida ascites sarcoma at the smallest dose tested (3 mg/Kg), increasing the average life span of 62.3% and allowing the survival of 50% of the rats. It is also active when administered i.p. at the highest dose tested (30 mg/Kg) 7 days after tumor cell challenge, increasing the average life span in 43.8% and allowing survival in 20% of the rats; it is not active after i.v. or i.m administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Mitral valve prolapse associated with Basedow's disease and active hyperthyroidism. Preliminary report]

We performed 2 dimensional echocardiograms to investigate the presence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in 21 patients with Graves disease and active hyperthyroidism. 22 healthy subjects were used as a control group. The incidence of MVP was 24% (n = 5) in hyperthyroid patients compared to 5% (n = 1) in normals (NS by Fisher's exact test). Age, T3 and T4 levels were similar in hyperthyroid patients with and without MVP, but the clinical course was longer in the former. A study in a larger group of patients may help establish the increased incidence of MVP in hyperthyroidism.