ABSTRACT
The effects of sex and weight on instrumental meat quality characteristics of Rubia de El Molar autochthonous ovine breed were studied. Four weight groups (10, 15, 20 and 25 kg, each of the groups with seven males and seven females) were assessed. A decrease of longissimus thoracis muscle (LT) lightness from 43.39 for 10 kg lambs to 38.84 for 25 kg group was observed. LT redness and yellowness indices and chromaticity values increased as weight increased. The percentage of juice expelled increased from 11.52 (10 kg) to 17.15 (15 kg). The percentage of intramuscular fat in biceps femoris (BF) and supraespinatus (SE) muscles increased as weight increased. Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) in raw meat and hardness in cooked meat increased as liveweight increased. However, a decrease in the amount of soluble collagen in quadriceps femoris (QF), biceps femoris (BF) and infraespinatus (IE) muscles was observed as weight increased. Sex effect was only observed for intramuscular fat content in QF and BF muscles (2.4% in males and 2.9 in females) and WBSF in raw meat (26.12 N for males and 21.25 N for females). Weight had a greater effect than sex on Rubia de El Molar meat quality characteristics.
ABSTRACT
Fifty-six Rubia de El Molar ovine breed lamb carcasses were divided into 8 groups (n = 7 per group) according to weight (10, 15, 20 and 25 kg) and sex (male and female) to study the effect of these factors on meat sensory characteristics, assessed by means of a trained panel. Heavier animals showed a more-springy meat and also received lower scores for pleasantness. Assessors gave lower scores for flavour and pleasantness in female meat. A high correlation was detected between hardness and springiness, number of chews, and pleasantness. Juiciness, greasiness, and flavour were also sensory variates highly correlated. Pleasantness was only correlated to hardness. Changes from 10 to 25 kg did not affect juiciness, greasiness, flavour, and number of chews. There are no significant differences in the sensory quality of lambs slaughtered at 10 and 15 kg live weight, and also between 20 and 25 kg groups. Heavy carcasses (20 and 25 kg) showed a more hard and springy meat than light carcasses (10 and 15 kg). Besides, the 10 and 15 kg animals group received higher scores for pleasantness. This work showed differences in suckling lambs' meat sensory parameters between Rubia de El Molar and other ovine breeds.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Magnetic technologies have been introduced to reduce invasiveness of surgical procedures. This study was aimed to analyse the performance of a novel combined magnetic-robotic controller as an enhanced accessory to the Magnetic Surgical System in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: This was a prospective study of 10 consecutive patients undergoing LC with this novel surgical system. RESULTS: Ten patients were included, nine were female. The mean age was 30.3 ± 9 years. All patients had chronic cholecystitis. Procedures were completed successfully. The median operative time was 50 ± 11 min. The system performed effectively in all cases with no need of additional interventions. There were no device-related complications or side effects. All patients were discharged the same day. Recovery was uneventful during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the first in-human successful performance of surgeries utilizing a novel combination of magnetic and robotic technologies in one integrated system.
