How prospective trial registration can prevent selective outcome reporting and salami slicing?

BACKGROUND: Pre-registration of a clinical trial before the first participant is recruited can help to prevent selective outcome reporting and salami-slicing that can distort the evidence base for an intervention and result in people being offered care or treatment that is not effective. Rates of clinical trial registration in nursing and midwifery are low. AIM: To use a hypothetical example from midwifery practice to illustrate how selective outcome reporting and salami-slicing can distort the evidence base. FINDINGS: A trial of immersion in water during labour and birth is used to consider issues in outcome selection and how researchers may be drawn to switch primary outcomes or report different outcomes across multiple papers. DISCUSSION: In nursing and midwifery science, selective outcome and salami reporting are seemingly common. Prospective trial registration is intended to prevent these practices, enhancing the quality and integrity of the work. CONCLUSION: Clinical trials are a robust form of primary research evidence and directly impact clinical practice. Researchers must ensure their trials are correctly registered and editors need to reconcile submitted papers and registration entries as part of the review process.

Synergistic effect of polysaccharides, betalain pigment and phenolic compounds of red prickly pear (Opuntia stricta) in the stabilization of salami.

The aim of this work is to try to substitute some synthetic additives by a natural extract from red prickly pear (Opuntia stricta) which known by its richness on bioactive polysaccharides mainly consisting of galactose, rhamnose and galacturonic acid. This natural fruit has a high content of carbohydrates above 18.81% FM. It contains also a high level of polyphenols 152.25 ±â€¯0.26 µg QE/mg PPE and flavonoids about 370.60 ±â€¯0.12 µg GAE/mg of PPE. In addition, prickly pear extract (PPE) displayed a strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. These activities are likely due to its phenolic, flavonoid and carbohydrate contents. Moreover, the addition of 2.5% of PPE, as a natural colorant and antimicrobial agent in salami formulation, causes a decrease in hardness and chewiness of the formulated salami. Interestingly, PPE inhibited bacterial growth in salami stored at 4 °C over 30 days. Sensorial analysis shows that the color, taste and texture of salami prepared with 2.5% of PPE are markedly more appreciated by panelists. Our results suggest that the betalain pigment, carbohydrate and phenolic compounds present in PPE could be used as a natural colorant, antioxidant and antimicrobial agent without change of the sensory characteristics.

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Lipid Oxidation in Rape (Brassica campestris L.) Bee Pollen Added to Salami during Processing.

The present research investigated the antioxidant effect of rape (Brassica campestris L.) bee pollen (RBP) on salami during processing. Eight flavonoids in RBP ethanol extract were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis, and quercetin, rutin, and kaempferol were the major bioactive compounds. The RBP ethanol extract exhibited higher total antioxidant capacity than 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tertramethylchromancarboxylic acid (trolox) at the same concentration. The salami with 0.05% RBP extract had higher catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities than that of the control throughout the processing time (p < 0.05). Significant decreases in peroxide value (POV) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were obtained in the final salami product with 0.05% RBP ethanol extract or 1% RBP (p < 0.05). These results suggested that RBP could improve oxidative stability and had a good potential as a natural antioxidant for retarding lipid oxidation.

Nutritional properties and consumer evaluation of donkey bresaola and salami: comparison with conventional products.

Nutritional properties and consumer evaluation were performed in bresaola and salami from donkey meat compared with respective conventional products. Donkey bresaola and salami showed higher content of protein and lower content of fat than beef bresaola and pork salami. Significant differences in the unsaturation level of fatty acids were found. Particularly, donkey meat products showed lower saturated fatty acids, higher polyunsatured fatty acid content and better nutritional indices than conventional beef bresaola and pork salami. Furthermore, donkey meat products, especially bresaola, showed the highest content of essential amino acids. Both donkey meat products resulted to be more tender than conventional products, in addition donkey bresaola showed also higher consumer acceptability. Our investigation demonstrates the possibility of processing donkey meat into products comparable to traditional ones with a high nutritional value.