Effect of Sicilian pasture feeding management on content of α-tocopherol and ß-carotene in cow milk.

This study was performed to evaluate α-tocopherol and ß-carotene contents of pasture milk under ordinary Sicilian farming conditions. Fourteen dairy farms were allocated into 2 balanced groups on the basis of cultivated (CULT) or spontaneous (SPO) pasture type feeding. Bulk milk per farm was collected 4 times from February through April at 3-wk intervals. Pasture botanical and diet composition, diet nutritional quality, milk yield and composition were estimated each time. Pasture intake levels were calculated based on feed analyses, hay and concentrate amounts fed, and milk yield and chemical composition. According to pasture intake, the farms were split into low pasture intake (LPI; <29.5% of dry matter) and high pasture intake (HPI; >29.5% of dry matter) groups. Milk samples per farm were analyzed for α-tocopherol and ß-carotene contents by HPLC. The SPO group had higher levels of α-tocopherol and ß-carotene in milk (0.7 and 0.3 mg/L, respectively) and milk fat (19.0 and 7.5 mg/kg fat, respectively) compared with the CULT group in milk (0.5 and 0.2 mg/L, respectively) and milk fat (14.6 and 4.9 mg/kg, respectively). High pasture intake compared with LPI increased α-tocopherol in milk fat (18.0 and 16.0 mg/kg of fat, respectively). However, only in the SPO (not in CULT), HPI compared with LPI increased milk α-tocopherol (0.8 vs. 0.6 mg/L, respectively), milk ß-carotene (0.3 vs. 0.2 mg/L, respectively), and milk fat ß-carotene (8.4 vs. 6.6 mg/kg, respectively). Results may be related to the different botanical composition of the respective pasture types and pasture intake. Spontaneous pasture compared with CULT contained a higher mass proportion of Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Cruciferae, Euphorbiaceae, and Malvaceae plants. Milk and milk fat α-tocopherol levels were higher on test-days (TD)-1, TD-2, and TD-4 compared with TD-3. For HPI farms, milk fat ß-carotene content was higher on the first 2 TD compared with the last 2 TD. These differences could be related to plant biological stage. On Sicilian dairy farms, the highest milk α-tocopherol and ß-carotene contents may be obtained feeding high levels of SPO pasture in the spring.

Effect of brine composition and brining temperature on cheese physical properties in Ragusano cheese.

Composition and physical properties of cheeses are influenced by temperature, salt, and calcium concentration of brine. This work aimed to examine conditions of brine under which the cheese matrix contracts or expands in absence of restrictions imposed by surface rind development during overnight block formation. Three experimental 4-kg blocks of Ragusano cheese were produced at 3 different stretching temperatures (70, 80, and 90°C) and cut into pieces weighing approximately 40 to 50 g. One piece from each was chemically analyzed at time 0. All other pieces were measured for weight and volume and placed in plastic bags containing 300 mL of different brine solutions (2% NaCl with 0.1% Ca; 10% NaCl with 0, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4% Ca; 18% NaCl with 0.1% Ca; and 26% NaCl with 0.1% Ca) at 3 different temperatures (4, 12, and 20°C). After 24h of brining, the cheeses were analyzed for weight, volume, chemical, and microstructural changes. Salt concentration in brine significantly influenced composition, weight, and volume of the cheeses after brining. Salt concentration was inversely related to cheese volume and weight. Changes in weight caused by altering the brining temperature were sufficient to reach statistical significance, and statistically significant volume changes were induced by brining temperature and its interaction with salt content. The highest volume increase (30%) occurred in the cheese stored in the 2% NaCl brine at the coldest temperature, whereas the greatest volume decrease was recorded in cheeses brined in the 26% NaCl brine. Composition was not affected by brining temperature. Calcium concentration did influence weight, volume, and composition, except on a fat-on-dry-basis. When cheeses were brined without added calcium, cheese volume and weight increased at all temperatures. At high calcium levels (0.4%), syneresis occurred and volume decreased, especially at 20°C (-16.5%). Microstructural investigation with porosity measurement confirmed weight and volume changes.

Composition and aroma compounds of Ragusano cheese: native pasture and total mixed rations.

Raw milk from 13 cows fed TMR supplemented with native pasture and from 13 cows fed only TMR on one farm was collected separately 4 times with an interval of 15 d between collections. Two blocks (14 kg each) of cheese were made from each milk. The objective was to determine the influence of consumption of native plants in Sicilian pastures on the aroma compounds present in Ragusano cheese. Milk from cows that consumed native pasture plants produced cheeses with more odor-active compounds. In 4-mo-old cheese made from milk of pasture-fed cows, 27 odor-active compounds were identified, whereas only 13 were detected in cheese made from milk of total mixed ration-fed cows. The pasture cheeses were much more rich in odor-active aldehyde, ester, and terpenoid compounds than cheeses from cows fed only total mixed ration. A total of 8 unique aroma-active compounds (i.e., not reported in other cheeses evaluated by gas chromatography olfactory) were detected in Ragusano cheese made from milk from cows consuming native Sicilian pasture plants. These compounds were 2 aldehydes ([E,E]-2,4-octadienal and dodecanal), 2 esters (geranyl acetate and [E]-methyl jasmonate), 1 sulfur compound (methionol), and 3 terpenoid compounds (1-carvone, L(-) carvone, and citronellol). Geranyl acetate and (E)-methyl jasmonate were particularly interesting because these compounds are released from fresh plants as they are being damaged and are part of a possible plant defense mechanism against damage from insects. Most of the odor-active compounds that were unique in Ragusano cheese from pasture-fed cows appeared to be compounds created by oxidation processes in the plants that may have occurred during foraging and ingestion by the cow. Some odor-active compounds were consistently present in pasture cheeses that were not detected in the total mixed ration cheeses or in the 14 species of pasture plants analyzed. Either these compounds were present in other plants not analyzed, created in the rumen or in cheese after the pasture-plant material had been consumed, or the compounds were lost in the method of sample extraction used for the plant analysis (i.e., steam distillation) versus the solid-phase microextraction method used for the cheeses. This research has demonstrated clearly that some unique odor-active compounds found in pasture plants can be transferred to the cheese.

[Experimental research on the use of deferoxamine in the prevention of renal damage from acute ischemia]. / Ricerche sperimentali sull'impiego della deferoxamina nella prevenzione del danno renale da ischemia acuta.

Oxygen free-radical reperfusion products play a critical role in postischemic tissues injury. In this study we used deferoxamine, an iron ligand that seems to inhibit hydroxyl radicals production, in renal normothermic acute ischemia in the rat. Our results demonstrated a significant protective effect of deferoxamine on kidneys subjected to normothermic acute ischemia.

[A facilitated technique for donor hepatectomy: experimental study in the pig]. / Proposta di una tecnica facilitata per il prelievo di fegato: studio sperimentale nel suino.

A facilitated technique of porcine donor hepatectomy is reported underlying the possibility to make an easy procedure without in situ portal perfusion, so other abdominal organs supplied by superior mesenteric system can be harvested at the same time. The viability of those grafts procured without in situ portal perfusion has been compared with an other group of livers harvested with in situ aortic and portal flushing. The evaluation of the histology and early graft function two hours after riperfusion has shown no differences between both groups.

[Renal angiomyolipoma]. / L'angiomiolipoma renale.

Renal angiomyolipoma is a benign tumor that can be observed in two distinct types: the solitary type and the tuberous sclerosis associated type. It is now diagnosed, even if asymptomatic, with increasing frequency by means of ultrasonography and computerized tomography owing to its particular features. The possibility of preoperative diagnosis and the biological characteristics of this benign lesion should induce a more conservative management.