SPME-GC-MS and Multivariate Analysis of Sensory Properties of Cheese in a Sack Matured with Probiotic Starter Cultures.

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: Cheese in a sack is a traditional cheese produced in Croatia. Types of cheese with similar production technology are made in other countries but chemical and microbiological composition varies between regions. Traditionally, cheese in a sack is produced without the addition of starter cultures. Addition of beneficial probiotic cultures to numerous dairy products has documented advantages. Effects that the addition of probiotic bacteria to traditional cheese have on aroma compounds and sensory properties have not been fully investigated. The aim of this study is to determine the sensory properties and differences in the aromatic profiles between cheese samples ripened in a lambskin sack, produced traditionally without the addition of any starter culture, or with the addition of probiotic bacteria. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In this study, cheese in a sack was produced with the addition of probiotic cultures Lactobacillus plantarum B and L. lactis ssp. lactis S1. During ripening volatile aroma compounds were analysed with a solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sensory properties were evaluated by trained tasters who are familiar with the traditional taste of the cheese from a sack. The results of aroma composition and taste scores were then compared using factorial and principal component analyses. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Chromatography showed differences in the composition of aroma compounds and the sensory properties between the cheese produced with Lactobacillus starter cultures and the control cheese, traditionally produced without a starter culture. The addition of probiotic cultures L. plantarum B and L. lactis ssp. lactis S1 resulted in products with better sensory properties and chemical profile of volatile aromatic compounds. NOVELTY AND SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTION: This study investigates the usage of naturally present probiotic cultures as starter cultures in cheese in a sack production. Their effects on aroma profiles and sensory characteristics have been compared for the first time using factorial and principal component analyses.

Methodological and Reporting Quality of Systematic Reviews Published in the Highest Ranking Journals in the Field of Pain.

BACKGROUND: Systematic reviews (SRs) are important for making clinical recommendations and guidelines. We analyzed methodological and reporting quality of pain-related SRs published in the top-ranking anesthesiology journals. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional meta-epidemiological study. SRs published from 2005 to 2015 in the first quartile journals within the Journal Citation Reports category Anesthesiology were analyzed based on the Journal Citation Reports impact factor for year 2014. Each SR was assessed by 2 independent authors using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) and Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) tools. Total score (median and interquartile range, IQR) on checklists, temporal trends in total score, correlation in total scores between the 2 checklists, and variability of those results between journals were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 446 SRs were included. Median total score of AMSTAR was 6/11 (IQR: 4-7) and of PRISMA 18.5/27 (IQR: 15-22). High compliance (reported in over 90% SRs) was found in only 1 of 11 AMSTAR and 5 of 27 PRISMA items. Low compliance was found for the majority of AMSTAR and PRISMA individual items. Linear regression indicated that there was no improvement in the methodological and reporting quality of SRs before and after the publication of the 2 checklists (AMSTAR: F(1,8) = 0.22; P = .65, PRISMA: F(1,7) = 0.22; P = .47). Total scores of AMSTAR and PRISMA had positive association (R = 0.71; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Endorsement of PRISMA in instructions for authors was not a guarantee of compliance. Methodological and reporting quality of pain-related SRs should be improved using relevant checklists. This can be remedied by a joint effort of authors, editors, and peer reviewers.

Microbiological Quality and Variability of Natural Microbiota in Croatian Cheese Maturing in Lambskin Sacks.

As in the traditional production of cheese in lambskin sacks raw cow's or sheep's milk is mostly used, the purpose of this study is to see how the production affects the microbiological quality of the cheese. To do that, we tested 39 samples of raw cow's and sheep's milk, curd, ripened cheese (15, 30 and 45 days) and lambskin sacks for native microbial population. Two-thirds of the milk, curd and cheese samples had higher counts of staphylococci and enterobacteria than permitted by regulations. Not a single sample had Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes, but we did find Escherichia coli in sheep's milk and cheese, and yeast and mould in both types of milk and cheese. Staphylococcus xylosus prevailed in lambskin sacks. Despite the high incidence of S. aureus, even in the final product, staphylococcal enterotoxin was detected in only two sheep's cheese samples. Among the lactic acid bacteria, Lactococcus lactis and Lactobacillus paracasei prevailed in cow's cheese, whereas Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus plantarum prevailed in sheep's cheese. In the lambskin sacks Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus plantarum were predominant. Our findings give an important insight into the fermentation and microbial ecology of the cheese in lambskin sacks.

Reporting and analyses of sex/gender and race/ethnicity in randomized controlled trials of interventions published in the highest-ranking anesthesiology journals.

Aim: We assessed reporting of data on sex/gender and race/ethnicity in randomized controlled trials of interventions published in the highest-ranking anesthesiology journals from 2014 to 2017. Methods: We extracted data regarding terminology for sex/gender, proportion of participants according to the race/gender and race/ethnicity, and results shown for the race/gender and race/ethnicity. Results: Among the analyzed 732 trials, few stratified allocation of participants on the basis of sex/gender and race/ethnicity, few reported results for sex/gender or race/ethnicity and the outcomes reported may be influenced by one or both. Conclusion: In conclusion, outcomes of anesthesiology trials could be vulnerable to an important and avoidable source of bias; trialists need to pay more attention to sex and race/ethnicity when designing and reporting their studies.

Effects of isoflurane postconditioning on chronic phase of ischemia-reperfusion heart injury in rats.

INTRODUCTION: The application of isoflurane in a postconditioning manner, during early reperfusion of ischemic myocardium, reduces the infarct size. Its favorable effect on highly vascularized granulation tissue formation is very important considering the fact that increased genesis of blood vessels in peri-infarct zone reduces the infarct size and improves cardiac function. Taking into consideration the influence of isoflurane on the subacute phase of infarct healing, by using different immunohistochemical markers, we wanted to explore whether isoflurane postconditioning influences the chronic phase of healing. METHODS: The size of infarcted region was measured, and comparisons between isoflurane-treated and control animals were made. Quality of infarcted area was assessed by detecting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31) as a marker of angiogenesis, and nestin as a marker of immature progenitor cells, and de novo formed blood vessels (vasculogenesis). RESULTS: There was no difference between the control and isoflurane-treated groups in VEGF and PECAM-1/CD31 expression. However, a large reduction in infarct size was found (68.1% of control). Also, a marked decrease of nestin expression in immature progenitor cells, along with a marked increase of the same marker in cardiomyocytes, (signs of myocardium regeneration), was found in experimental animals when compared to control animals that did not receive isoflurane treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, we can emphasize two morphologically detectable benefits of isoflurane postconditioning: a marked reduction in infarct size along with a more mature-looking infarct area in the chronic phase of infarct healing.

Expression of PTHrP and PTH/PTHrP receptor 1 in the superior cervical ganglia of rats.

PTHrP and its receptor PTHR1 are found in the CNS and peripheral nervous system. The presence of PTHrP mRNA has been detected in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG), but there are no data on the cellular distribution of PTHrP and PTHR1 in the SCG. Although it is known that ovarian activity and reproductive status influence sympathetic activity, and the PTHrP/PTHR1 system is influenced by estrogens in different tissues, it is not known whether these factors have a similar effect on expression of PTHrP and PTHR1 in the nervous system. Hence, we investigated the presence and distribution of PTHrP and PTHR1 in neurons and glia of the SCG of rats, as well as the influence of ovariectomy on their expression, by using immunohistochemistry. PTHrP and PTHR1 immunoreactivity was observed in cytoplasm as well as in nuclei of almost all neurons in the SCG. In male rats, intensity of PTHrP fluorescence was significantly higher in cytoplasm of NPY-, in comparison to NPY+ neurons (p < 0.05). In female rats, 2 months post-ovariectomy, significantly lower intensity of PTHrP fluorescence in cytoplasm of the SCG neurons was observed in comparison to sham operated animals (p < 0.05). In addition to neurons, PTHrP and PTHR1 immunoreactivity was observed in most of the glia and was not influenced by ovariectomy. Results show the expression of PTHrP and its receptor, PTHR1, in the majority of neurons and glial cells in the SCG of rats. Expression of PTHrP, but not PTHR1 in the cytoplasm of SCG neurons is influenced by ovarian activity.