Diagnosis of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS): The Salerno Experts' Criteria.

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) is a syndrome characterized by intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms related to the ingestion of gluten-containing food, in subjects that are not affected by either celiac disease or wheat allergy. Given the lack of a NCGS biomarker, there is the need for standardizing the procedure leading to the diagnosis confirmation. In this paper we report experts' recommendations on how the diagnostic protocol should be performed for the confirmation of NCGS. A full diagnostic procedure should assess the clinical response to the gluten-free diet (GFD) and measure the effect of a gluten challenge after a period of treatment with the GFD. The clinical evaluation is performed using a self-administered instrument incorporating a modified version of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale. The patient identifies one to three main symptoms that are quantitatively assessed using a Numerical Rating Scale with a score ranging from 1 to 10. The double-blind placebo-controlled gluten challenge (8 g/day) includes a one-week challenge followed by a one-week washout of strict GFD and by the crossover to the second one-week challenge. The vehicle should contain cooked, homogeneously distributed gluten. At least a variation of 30% of one to three main symptoms between the gluten and the placebo challenge should be detected to discriminate a positive from a negative result. The guidelines provided in this paper will help the clinician to reach a firm and positive diagnosis of NCGS and facilitate the comparisons of different studies, if adopted internationally.

Semiquantitative detection of male pork tissue in meat and meat products by PCR.

Consumer awareness has increased concerning castration of piglets without analgesia or anaesthesia. On the other hand the occurrence of boar taint is not tolerated by consumers. Currently no reliable methods exist for the on-line detection of boar taint in the slaughterhouse or for genetic sexing of pigs. Therefore, as an alternative the detection of male pork meat was sought. Based on detection of a length polymorphism of the sex chromosomal amelogenin gene a reliable, specific and highly sensitive PCR method for qualitative and semi-quantitative determination of male pork tissue in meat and meat products was determined. A set of 25 male and 25 female meat samples could be correctly identified and mixtures with as little as 0.1% male meat content could be detected. Therefore the method can be used for production and control of specific meat products containing low amounts of male pork meat and thus avoiding boar taint.