Use of Carnobacterium spp protective culture in MAP packed Ricotta fresca cheese to control Pseudomonas spp.

Ricotta fresca is a whey cheese susceptible of secondary contamination, mainly from Pseudomonas spp. The extension of the shelf life of refrigerated ricotta fresca could be obtained using protective cultures inhibiting the growth of this spoilage microorganism. A commercial biopreservative, Lyofast CNBAL, comprising Carnobacterium spp was tested against Pseudomonas spp. The surface of ricotta fresca samples were inoculated either with Pseudomonas spp or Pseudomonas and Carnobacterium spp. Samples were MAP packed, stored at 4 °C and analyzed the day of the inoculum and 7, 14 and 21 days after the contamination. Microbiological analyses included total bacterial count, mesophilic lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp, Listeria monocytogenes, moulds and yeasts. Pseudomonas mean initial contamination level was comparable in blank and artificially inoculated samples, respectively with values of 2.15 ±â€¯0.21 and 2.34 ±â€¯0.26 log cfu g-1. Carnobacterium spp. significantly reduced the growth of Pseudomonas spp respectively of 1.28 log and 0.83 log after 14 and 21 days of refrigerated storage. Intrinsic properties and physico-chemical composition were also investigated. Limited variation of pH was observed in samples inoculated with the protective cultures, indicating low acidification properties of Carnobacterium spp. Instead, no significant differences were observed for aW, moisture, fat and proteins during storage and between inoculated and control samples.

Poly-L-lactic acid - hydroxyapatite (PLLA-HA) bioabsorbable interference screws for tibial graft fixation in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery: MR evaluation of osteointegration and degradation features.

PURPOSE: We evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the degradation and osteointegration features of a new type of bioabsorbable interference (BioRCI) screw composed of poly-L-lactic acid and hydroxyapatite (PLLA-HA) used for tibial graft fixation in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients underwent arthroscopic surgery for ACL reconstruction using doubled gracilis and semitendinosus tendons fixed to the tibial tunnel with PLLA-HA (BioRCI-HA) screws. Two groups of patients were evaluated, one group 10-13 months after surgery and the other after 30-40 months. The standard knee ligament evaluation form of the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) was used for clinical assessment and MRI for the radiological assessment. RESULTS: MRI after 10-13 months revealed findings referable to healing and integration of the bone-graft-screw system, findings that disappeared at later follow-up examinations. The BioRCI-HA screw remained constantly visible in all patients, although with changes in signal intensity over time. CONCLUSIONS: BioRCI-HA screws allow adequate primary stability and superior osteoconduction and biocompatibility in comparison with plain PLLA screws. The absence of ferromagnetic artefacts allows accurate MRI follow-up and adequate evaluation of ligament synovialisation, screw degradation and graft osteointegration.

[Echography of the supraspinatus tendon: forced passive adduction maneuver]. / Ecografia del tendine sopraspinoso: manovra di adduzione passiva forzata.

INTRODUCTION: Imaging methods are essential for a correct diagnostic approach and treatment planning in patients with a painful shoulder. More than any other, the supraspinatus tendon is often involved in impingement syndrome and sonography (US) is now the procedure of choice for the first assessment of rotator cuff tears. We suggest a supraspinatus tendon passive stress maneuver drawing the tendon out from underneath the acromion and showing a longer portion of the tendon that would otherwise be masked by the acromion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty normal subjects (10 men and 10 women, aged 20 to 46 years, mean age: 32 years) and two patients with shoulder pain underwent shoulder US with real time equipment and a 7.5 MHz linear array transducer. US images were acquired with the subjects allowed to rest with their arm in neutral position and during supraspinatus tendon passive adduction stress maneuver (with the arm first abducted by placing a plastic cylinder device under the armpit, then submitted to passive forced adduction). All US scans were performed along the longitudinal axis of the tendon. The length of the supraspinatus tendon was measured from its insertion on the greater tuberosity of the humerus to the lateral edge of the acromion. Measurements were made in neutral position and during the stress maneuver and, for each subject, the increased length of the displayed portion was obtained as the difference between the two measurements. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In neutral position at rest, the displayed portion of the supraspinatus tendon was 21 mm long on the average (range: 11 to 31 mm). The average increase, namely the tendon portion recovered from the acromial acoustic shadow, was 4.5 mm (range: 2 to 10 mm). In two patients the stress maneuver permitted better visualization of tendon tear, which finding was confirmed at MRI. The results of our study so far seem to suggest that the passive adduction stress maneuver permits to visualize a longer portion of the supraspinatus tendon without affecting its anatomical alignment and could thus be useful in US studies of the rotator cuff.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. A comparison of 2 techniques.

This work compares the results of 2 different techniques of anterior cruciate reconstruction performed by 2 surgeons with the same rehabilitation program and same criteria of results evaluation. Forty-five patients were operated on using semitendinous tendon autograft, (average followup, 8 years 4 months), and 30 patients using bone patellar tendon bone autograft (average followup, 7 years 5 months). Functional results were evaluated using the Lysholm and Tegner rating systems, and clinical laxity or stability were evaluated using the Lachmann and Jerk tests. Articular stability and function were significantly better in the patients operated on using bone patellar tendon bone autograft.