Psychrotrophs in raw milk: effect on texture, proteolysis index, and sensory evaluation of smoked provolone cheese.

BACKGROUND: Provolone can be fresh or ripened, with its taste varying from sweet to spicy. The high psychrotrophic density of raw milk is associated with thermoresistant enzymes that can change cheese characteristics such as texture, promote sensory defects and decrease industrial yield. Two batches of provolone-type smoked cheese were produced from chilled raw milk with 3 log cfu mL-1 (Treatment 1) and 7 log cfu mL-1 (Treatment 2) of psychrotrophs. The psychrotrophic (21 °C for 25 h) and physical-chemical profile of the raw milk were determined. Cheeses were evaluated by fat level, primary and secondary proteolysis index, yield, protein profile (Urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), and texture (hardness, cohesiveness, elasticity, and chewiness) at 14, 30, and 60 days of storage time. Sensorially, the cheeses were evaluated (100 tasters/period) using the triangular test. RESULTS: The treatments did not influence proteolysis index, although maturation influenced the proteolytic depth index after 60 days. The psychrotrophic population influenced αs 1- and ß-casein fractions, while maturation time influenced αs 1- and γ-casein fractions. Treatment 2 induced a 3% reduction in cheese yield. Hardness and chewiness showed a linear and positive relationship with the milk's psychrotrophic load. There was a significant difference in the fat content of the cheeses, with Treatment 2 having a lower level. The triangular test showed no difference between the cheeses. CONCLUSION: Although the larger psychrotrophic population in raw milk was associated with superior values of hardness and chewiness, as well as an increase in protein fractions indicating that proteolysis was observed, the tasters did not identify sensorial differences between the cheeses. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Probiotic Product Enhances Susceptibility of Mice to Cryptosporidiosis.

Cryptosporidiosis, a leading cause of diarrhea among infants, is caused by apicomplexan parasites classified in the genus Cryptosporidium The lack of effective drugs is motivating research to develop alternative treatments. With this aim, the impact of probiotics on the course of cryptosporidiosis was investigated. The native intestinal microbiota of specific pathogen-free immunosuppressed mice was initially depleted with orally administered antibiotics. A commercially available probiotic product intended for human consumption was subsequently added to the drinking water. Mice were infected with Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. On average, mice treated with the probiotic product developed more severe infections. The probiotics significantly altered the fecal microbiota, but no direct association between ingestion of probiotic bacteria and their abundance in fecal microbiota was observed. These results suggest that probiotics indirectly altered the intestinal microenvironment or the intestinal epithelium in a way that favored proliferation of C. parvumIMPORTANCE The results of our study show that C. parvum responded to changes in the intestinal microenvironment induced by a nutritional supplement. This outcome paves the way for research to identify nutritional interventions aimed at limiting the impact of cryptosporidiosis.

Multivariate Relationships among Morphology, Fitness and Motor Coordination in Prepubertal Girls.

Motor coordination and physical fitness are multidimensional concepts which cannot be reduced to a single variable. This study evaluated multivariate relationships among morphology, physical fitness and motor coordination in 74 pre-pubertal girls 8.0-8.9 years of age. Data included body dimensions, eight fitness items and four motor coordination tasks (KTK battery). Maturity status was estimated as percentage of predicted mature stature attained at the time of observation. Canonical correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between multivariate domains. Significant pairs of linear functions between indicators of morphology and fitness (rc = 0.778, Wilks' Lambda = 0.175), and between fitness and motor coordination (rc = 0.765, Wilks' Lambda = 0.289) were identified. Girls who were lighter and had a lower waist-to-stature ratio and % fat mass attained better scores in the endurance run, sit-ups and standing long jump tests, but poorer performances in hand grip strength and 2-kg ball throw. Better fitness test scores were also associated with better motor coordination scores. Relationships between body size and estimated fatness with motor fitness suggested an inverse relationship that was particularly evident in performance items that required the displacement of the body through space, while motor coordination was more closely related with fitness than with somatic variables.

Waist circumference as a mediator of biological maturation effect on the motor coordination in children / Perímetro de cintura como mediador da influência da maturação biológica no desempenho de coordenação motora em crianças

Abstract Objective: The present study aimed to: 1) examine the association of biological maturation effect on performance at a motor coordination battery and 2) to assess whether the association between biological maturation and scores obtained in motor coordination tests is mediated by some anthropometric measurement. Methods: The convenience sample consisted of 73 male children aged 8 years old. Anthropometric data considered the height, body mass, sitting height, waist circumference, body mass index, fat mass and fat-free mass estimates. Biological maturation was assessed by the percentage of the predicted mature stature. Motor coordination was tested by the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder. A partial correlation between anthropometric measurements, z-score of maturation and the motor coordination tests were performed, controlling for chronological age. Finally, causal mediation analysis was performed. Results: Height, body mass, waist circumference and fat mass showed a slight to moderate inverse correlation with motor coordination. Biological maturation was significantly associated with the balance test with backward walking (r=-0.34). Total mediation of the waist circumference was identified in the association between biological maturation and balance test with backward walking (77%). Conclusions: We identified an association between biological maturation and KTK test performance in male children and also verified that there is mediation of waist circumference. It is recommended that studies be carried out with female individuals and at other age ranges.

Resumo Objetivo: O presente estudo teve como objetivos: 1) analisar a associação do estado maturacional com o desempenho nas provas de coordenação motora em crianças e 2) examinar se a relação entre o estado maturacional e o desempenho no KTK é mediada por alguma medida antropométrica. Métodos: A amostra de conveniência foi composta por 73 crianças do sexo masculino com 8 anos. A antropometria considerou a estatura, massa corporal, altura sentado, o perímetro de cintura, índice de massa corporal, as estimativas de massa gorda e massa livre de gordura. A maturação biológica foi avaliada pelo percentual da estatura matura predita. A coordenação motora foi testada pela bateria Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder. Foi feita a correlação parcial entre as medidas antropométricas, z-escore da maturação e as provas de coordenação motora, com controle para idade cronológica. Por último, a análise de mediação causal foi feita. Resultados: Estatura, massa corporal, perímetro de cintura e massa gorda apresentaram correlação inversa de magnitude pequena a moderada com as provas de coordenação motora. A maturação biológica associou-se significativamente à prova de equilíbrio em marcha à retaguarda (r=-0,34). Foi identificada mediação total do perímetro de cintura na relação do estado maturacional com o equilíbrio em marcha à retaguarda (77%). Conclusões: Foi possível identificar a associação entre o estado físico maturacional e o desempenho em uma prova de bateria de coordenação motora em crianças do sexo masculino e, ainda, afirmar que há mediação do perímetro de cintura. Recomenda-se que estudos sejam feitos com indivíduos de outras idades e do sexo feminino.

Waist circumference as a mediator of biological maturation effect on the motor coordination in children. / Perímetro de cintura como mediador da influência da maturação biológica no desempenho de coordenação motora em crianças.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to: 1) examine the association of biological maturation effect on children's performance at a motor coordination battery and 2) to assess whether the association between biological maturation and scores obtained in motor coordination tests is mediated by some anthropometric measurement. METHODS: The convenience sample consisted of 73 male children aged 8 years old. Anthropometric data considered the height, body mass, sitting height, waist circumference, body mass index, fat mass and fat-free mass estimates. Biological maturation was assessed by the percentage of the predicted mature stature. Motor coordination was tested by the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder. A partial correlation between anthropometric measurements, z-score of maturation and the motor coordination tests were performed, controlling for chronological age. Finally, causal mediation analysis was performed. RESULTS: Height, body mass, waist circumference and fat mass showed a slight to moderate inverse correlation with motor coordination. Biological maturation was significantly associated with the balance test with backward walking (r=-0.34). Total mediation of the waist circumference was identified in the association between biological maturation and balance test with backward walking (77%). CONCLUSIONS: We identified an association between biological maturation and KTK test performance in male children and also verified that there is mediation of waist circumference. It is recommended that studies be carried out with female individuals and at other age ranges.