Does hunted wild boar meat meet modern consumer nutritional expectations?

The present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of hunted wild boar (WB) meat and compare them with those of meat from analogous domestic animals (pigs) reared in two different rearing systems: indoor-intensive (PI) and outdoor-extensive (PO). WB meat showed a lower amount of lipid content compared to pork and a higher antioxidant activity compared to PI and PO. The comparison of the fatty acid composition of WB and domestic pig reveals significant differences in saturated fatty acids (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), with WB having the highest PUFA level and the lowest SFA level. The omega 6/omega 3 (n-6/n-3) PUFA ratio, PUFA/SFA, atherogenic and thrombogenic indices (AI and TI), as well as the hypocholesterolemic/ hypercholesterolemic index (h/H), were calculated. The n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was higher in pork independently of the rearing system. The PUFA/SFA ratio of WB meat was above the minimum ratio of 0.40 recommended to contribute to a reduction in the risk of coronary diseases in pork from both rearing systems. AI and TI were lower in WB meat compared to commercially reared pigs, while h/H was higher in WB in comparison with pork meat. WB meat shows good nutritional quality; therefore, the use of game meat as a food source could be appropriate and could benefit contemporary consumers looking for "green" and high-nutritional products.

Unravelling microbial populations and volatile organic compounds of artisan fermented liver sausages manufactured in Central Italy.

The aim of the present study was to obtain information on the occurrence of bacteria and eumycetes in ready-to-eat fermented liver sausages manufactured by 20 artisan producers located in the Marche Region (Italy). To this end, culture-dependent analyses and metataxonomic sequencing were carried out. Physico-chemical parameters and volatilome of the fermented liver sausages were also studied. Finally, the presence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) was also assessed via real-time-RT-(q)PCR assays. Active microbial populations mainly represented by lactic acid bacteria, enterococci, coagulase-negative cocci, and eumycetes were detected. Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and sulfite-reducing anaerobes were not detected in most of the samples. Latilactobacillus sakei dominated in all the analyzed samples, reaching abundances up to 80%. Staphylococcus xylosus and Staphylococcus equorum were also detected. Among minority bacterial taxa, Weissella spp., Leuconostoc spp., Macrococcus caseolyticus, Brochothrix thermosphacta, Staphylococcus succinus, Lactobacillus coryniformis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactococcus garviae, Psychrobacter spp., and Carnobacterium viridans were detected. The mycobiota was mainly composed by Debaryomyces hansenii that was present in all samples at the highest frequency. Among minority fungal taxa, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Kurtzmaniella zeylanoides, Candida spp., Yamadazyma spp., Scopulariopsis spp., Yarrowia spp., and Starmerella spp. were detected. Interestingly, associations between some taxa and some physico-chemical parameters were also discovered. The absence of HEV in all the samples attested a high level of safety. Finally, most of the VOCs detected in the analyzed fermented liver sausages belonged to six classes as: terpenoids, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, esters, and acids. Nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, phenols, hydrocarbons, lactones, furans, and aromatic hydrocarbons were also identified. Several significant relationships were observed between mycobiota and VOCs.

The analytical determination of polyphosphates in food: A point-to-point comparison between direct ion chromatography and indirect photometry.

Being an indirect approach, the standard method for the determination of polyphosphates (PPs) in food maybe characterized by high variability which can lead to significant errors in the final measurement. In this study, this method was validated and then compared to the ion chromatography-based approach. Method trueness and measurement uncertainty resulted comparable, while the precision of ion chromatography approach was higher. No "false positive" responses were obtained from ion chromatography analysis, while indirect photometry may cause "false positive" results (5% of analyzed samples). Regarding "false negative" results, this possibility maybe verified for all food types tested and for seafood when using indirect photometry and ion chromatography, respectively. The percentages of "false negative" samples were equal to 23.3% for indirect photometry and 10% for ion chromatography. In conclusion, the indirect photometry is a reliable method especially as "screening technique", while ion chromatography maybe used as a confirmatory technique, successfully.

Lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) powder as a novel baking ingredient for manufacturing high-protein, mineral-dense snacks.

Increasing interest in consuming foods that are high in protein, vitamin, amino acid, and mineral contents is steering growth in the market for fortified snacks. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) powder (LP) (at 10 or 30% substitution for wheat flour) for the protein and mineral fortification of crunchy snacks (rusks). Hence, the technological, microbiological, nutritional, and sensory characteristics of the fortified rusks were evaluated. The protein content was enriched up to 99.3% in rusks with 30% substitution; moreover, a notable increase in the essential amino acids content was observed, with histidine fortification reaching up to 129.1% in rusks with 30% substitution. The incorporation of LP has led to an enrichment of almost all the minerals considered here, and especially Fe, P and Zn, with Zn showing fortification percentages of up to 300% in rusks with 30% substitution for LP. The experimental rusks showed pleasant sensory traits and low aw values. In view of the potential industrial manufacturing of insect-based rusks, the proposed product can be assigned to level 4 (validation in a laboratory environment) of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale, and it is thus ready to be tested in a simulated production environment.

Pooled Analysis of Clinical Outcome of Patients with Chemorefractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treated within Phase I/II Clinical Studies Based on Individual Biomarkers of Susceptibility: A Single-Institution Experience.

BACKGROUND: Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) refractory to standard therapies have a poor prognosis. In this setting, recruitment into clinical trials is warranted, and studies driven by selection according to individual tumor molecular characteristics are expected to provide added value. OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients with mCRC refractory to or following failure of standard therapies who were enrolled into phase I/II clinical studies at the Niguarda Cancer Center based on the presence of a specific molecular profile expected to represent the target of susceptibility to the experimental drug(s). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 2011 to May 2016, 2044 patients with mCRC underwent molecular screening. Eighty patients (3.9%) were enrolled in ad hoc studies; the median age was 60 years (range 36-86) and the median number of previous treatment lines was five (range 2-8). Molecular characteristics exploited within these studies were MGMT promoter hypermethylation (48.7%), HER2 amplification (28.8%), BRAF V600E mutation (20%), and novel gene fusions involving ALK or NTRK (2.5%). RESULTS: One patient (1%) had RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors) complete response (CR), 13 patients (16.5%) experienced a partial response (PR), and 28 (35%) stable disease (SD). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.8 months (range 2.63-3.83), with 24% of patients displaying PFS >5 months. Median growth modulation index (GMI) was 0.85 (range 0-15.61) and 32.5% of patients had GMI >1.33. KRAS exon 2 mutations were found in 38.5% of patients, and among the 78 patients with known KRAS status, those with wild-type tumors had longer PFS than those with mutated tumors (3.80 [95% CI 2.80-5.03] vs. 2.13 months [95% CI 1.77-2.87], respectively, p = 0.001). Median overall survival (OS) was 7.83 months (range 7.17-9.33) for all patients, and patients with KRAS wild-type tumors had longer OS than those with mutated tumors (7.83 [95% CI 7.33-10.80] vs. 7.18 months [95% CI 5.63-9.33], respectively, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: This single-institution retrospective study indicates that in a heavily pretreated population approximately 4% of mCRC tumors display a potential actionable molecular context suitable for therapeutic intervention. Application of molecular selection is challenging but improves clinical outcome even in later lines of treatment.

Effects of Cancer Therapy Targeting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor on Central Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular System.

BACKGROUND: In the last 2 decades, new drugs that oppose the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), and thus angiogenesis, have considerably improved treatment of solid tumors. These anti-VEGFR drugs, however, are burdened by several side effects, particularly relevant on heart and vessels. The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in cardiovascular structure and function associated with use of anti-VEGFR drugs. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients (27 affected by renal and 2 by thyroid cancer), received treatment with anti-VEGFR drugs. Brachial blood pressure (BP), central BP, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), augmentation index (Aix), and several echocardiographic markers of systolic and diastolic left ventricular functions including global longitudinal strain were measured before starting treatment (T0), after 2 (T1), and 6 weeks (T2) of treatment. RESULTS: Anti-VEGFR treatment was accompanied by a significant increase of both peripheral (systolic BP +13±15.5mm Hg, diastolic BP +7.1±9.3mm Hg, P < 0.001) and central BP (systolic BP +14±14.2mm Hg, diastolic BP +7.3±10.4mm Hg, P < 0.001) and a significant raise of cfPWV (+1.3±1.8 m/sec, P = 0.003). There was also a significant alteration of markers of diastolic and subclinical left ventricular systolic function, including global longitudinal strain (-19.9±3.8% at T0, -17.8±2.6% at T2, P < 0.05). All the changes were already evident at T1, worsened at T2 in patients who maintained oncological treatment, but disappeared at T2 in patients in whom treatment was stopped. CONCLUSIONS: All the changes regarding BP and cfPWV appear early after treatment initiation and seem to be reversible if treatment is stopped, instead diastolic and systolic left ventricular function are persistently altered by anti-VEGFR drugs.

Outcomes of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with pazopanib in daily clinical practice: a single institution experience.

In the last few years, many targeted agents have been introduced for the treatment of advanced and/or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Such agents have demonstrated a prolongation of progression-free survival, but the optimal treatment strategy is still unclear. Many decisions of clinicians are based on pivotal trial results that are not always transferable to a real-world setting. We report a retrospective monoinstitutional experience of first-line treatment with pazopanib in a series of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The aim of the present experience was to evaluate the activity and safety of pazopanib in an unselected patient population extracted from clinical practice. Our findings suggest that efficacy and toxicity profiles of pazopanib in the real-world population appear consistent with trial-based expectations. The preliminary results need to be confirmed on a larger cohort, due to the small number of patients evaluated.

Magnetic resonance imaging as an early indicator of clinical outcome in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma treated with cetuximab or panitumumab.

UNLABELLED: We show that detection, by week-2 magnetic resonance imaging, of tumor shrinkage >10% in response to therapy with cetuximab or panitumumab for metastatic colorectal carcinoma represents an early indicator of clinical outcome because it is predictive of the prolongation of progression-free survival and overall survival. PURPOSE: The early identification of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma who are likely to benefit from treatment with panitumumab or cetuximab remains of paramount importance. We evaluated whether the early tumor shrinkage assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is predictive of long-term outcome to these epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with chemorefractory metastatic colorectal carcinoma were treated with cetuximab or panitumumab. The patients were evaluated by unenhanced MRI at baseline, week 2, and week 8 after the beginning of the treatment and by contrast-enhanced computed tomography within 3 months. Early response was defined as a tumor shrinkage ≥ 10% at week-2 MRI, whereas response by contrast-enhanced computed tomography was defined according to standard Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1. RESULTS: At week-2 MRI, 15 (38.5%) of 39 patients had an early response. Eleven (73.3%) of these 15 early responders then presented a partial response by contrast-enhanced computed tomography, whereas none of the 24 early nonresponders obtained a partial response (P < .0005, Fisher exact test). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 29.7 and 8 weeks in patients with or without early response, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] 0.156 [95% CI, 0.069-0.355]; P < .0001)]. The median overall survival (OS) was 80 weeks in patients with early response and 23.3 weeks in those without early response, respectively (HR 0.154 [95% CI, 0.057-0.420]; P < .00005]). CONCLUSIONS: Early detection of tumor response by week-2 MRI without contrast medium is associated with a prediction of clinical outcome in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma treated with cetuximab or panitumumab.