Proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty with silicone implants (NeuFlex) by a lateral approach: a series of 51 cases

The aim of this study is to assess outcomes of a lateral surgical approach for proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty with NeuFlex(®) silicone implants for primary degenerative osteoarthritis. We reviewed 51 arthroplasties performed on 43 patients. The mean follow up period was 36 months (range 18-42). The average preoperative range of motion (ROM) was 38°. The average postoperative ROM was 63°. In 21/51 (41%) cases, there was an average axial deviation of 17° (range 10-30°). VAS and Quick DASH scores improved. In 5/51 (10%) cases, further surgery was required. Our lateral approach seems to be effective and minimally invasive, providing adequate exposure. Contralateral incision and contralateral ligament reinforcement should be performed, whenever necessary, to improve lateral stability.

Shelf life prediction of fresh Italian pork sausage modified atmosphere packed

The shelf life of fresh Italian pork sausages packed in modified atmosphere was studied. Samples were packed using different levels of oxygen (high and low) with different levels of carbon dioxide (high-low) in the atmospheres headspace and were stored at 4 °C for 9 days. Microbial, physiochemical and sensory parameters were analyzed during storage. A consumer test was performed to determine the critical acceptability levels. Sensory data were mathematically modelled to estimate product shelf life. A first-order kinetic model and a Weibull-type model aptly described, respectively, the changes in fresh pork sausage odor and color over storage time. These models may be used to predict the sensory shelf life of fresh pork sausage. Results showed that 20% O(2) and 70% CO(2) extend fresh pork sausage shelf life to 9 days at 4 °C. The microbial quality of the samples at the critical sensory level of acceptability was within the range of microbial acceptability.

Isolation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains from different food matrices and their preliminary selection for a potential use as probiotics

AIMS

To isolate acid- and bile-resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains directly from food samples and to preliminarily select them on the basis of fundamental probiotic properties.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A rapid screening method allowed the isolation and selection of 20 acid- and bile-resistant yeasts from foods, avoiding time-consuming isolation steps. The strains were characterized for their specific survival in simulated gastric juice and in intestinal fluid after pre-exposure at low pH. Ten isolates demonstrated a satisfactory survival percentage in intestinal fluid after pre-exposure to gastric juice and appreciable lipolytic and proteolytic properties, as demonstrated by the API-ZYM test. By using molecular methods five strains were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, three as Candida spp., one as Candida pararugosa and one as Pichia spp. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains showed considerable probiotic properties, achieving a 80< % <90 survival through the simulated gastrointestinal tract, as well as interesting glucosidase activities.

CONCLUSIONS

The research represents an efficient strategy to select and identify Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with desirable acid and bile resistances.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This paper reports the direct selection of potentially probiotic yeasts from foods and provides indications about the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains to survive conditions simulating the human gastrointestinal tract.

Engagement of the medial temporal lobe in verbal and nonverbal memory: assessment with functional MR imaging in healthy subjects

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus have a central role in the acquisition of new memories. Although functional MR imaging (fMRI) can provide information on the functional status of these brain regions, it has not reached widespread use in the presurgical assessment of patients undergoing temporal lobectomy. We aimed to evaluate whether simple memory-encoding paradigms could be used to elicit robust activations in the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus and to determine the lateralization of verbal and nonverbal memory. We also studied the relative contribution of the anterior and posterior portions of these structures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted this study on 16 healthy subjects by performing event-related fMRI using 3 memory encoding tasks with words, objects, and faces. In addition to a second-level group analysis, region-of-interest (ROI)-based measurements of the signal intensity percent change and of the percentage of activated voxels, determined at 2 thresholds, were performed. ROIs were drawn on the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus, divided into anterior and posterior segments.

RESULTS

We found overall left-lateralized activation with words, bilateral activation with objects, and right-lateralized activation with faces. In particular, significant hippocampal activations were observed with all 3 categories of stimuli, and the head of the hippocampus was generally more engaged than its body and tail. Data on the signal intensity percent change and percentage of activated voxels are provided for each ROI and task.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of these 3 undemanding memory tasks could be considered, following appropriate validation, as a tool to assess the functional status of the medial temporal lobe in clinical settings.

Cardiopulmonary response to exercise in patients with different degrees of lung toxicity after radio-chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease

The combination of mediastinal radiotherapy (RT) and polychemotherapy (CT) regimens can produce late toxic pulmonary and cardiac effects which often remain at the subclinical level. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cardiopulmonary response to exercise in this kind of patient. Therefore, 126 patients suffering from Hodgkin's disease were investigated after a follow-up of at least 5 years from the completion of the combined treatment. Sixty-two patients had been submitted to ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine)-RT, 40 to ABVD-MOPP (mechloretamine, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone)-RT and 24 to VEBEP (vincristine, epidoxorubicin, bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, prednisone)-RT. The patients were divided into three groups on the basis of respiratory function: group 1 (67 patients), normal spirometry and lung transfer function for carbon monoxide (DLCO); group 2 (52 patients), normal spirometry and DLCO less than 80% of predicted; and group 3 (7 patients), total lung capacity and DLCO less than 80% of predicted. The patients were submitted to respiratory function evaluation and 2D-echocardiography before exercise, and to the determination of cardiac output by the acetylene rebreathing method before and during symptom-limited exercise on a cycloergometer using an incremental protocol. The patients of group 3 and to a lesser extent the patients of group 2 showed, in comparison to patients of group 1, a lower tolerance to exercise, a lower oxygen consumption, a higher respiratory rate, a lower O2 pulse and a lower cardiac output per oxygen uptake. These data indicated an abnormal exercise physiology in the patients with persistent pulmonary impairment, especially when the reduction of DLCO was associated with a decrease of total lung capacity. The lower exercise capacity seems to be due to a combination of decreased cardiac performance and an impairment of gas diffusion capacity.

Correlation between complication rate and perioperative risk-factors in superior pedicle reduction mammaplasty: our experience in 127 patients

Reduction mammaplasty, one of the most common plastic surgery procedures, has been shown to confer significant sustained health benefits for patients with symptomatic breast enlargement providing a remedy for back, neck, and shoulder pain. Unfortunately, operations of breast reduction may lead to patient dissatisfaction for poor aesthetic outcome due to complications. Complications, including infection, hematoma, seroma, dehiscence, fat necrosis, and skin loss, may occur in as many as 50% of patients. Unacceptable scarring has also been reported. Complication data revealed several significant features, although there isn't much objective evidence to support that. Over the period 2004-2008, 127 consecutive patients were admitted for breast reduction surgery, data have been analyzed retrospectively to determine whether any correlation could be found between complication rate and perioperative risk-factors using a multifactorial ANOVA F-test. Analysis of variables associated with complications showed that, after adjusting for age and smoking status, only BMI was associated with any complication (p < 0.05). By power analysis, based on a comparison of three proportions, a power of 92% with a significance level of 0.05 was found for the hypothesis that the outcomes of the procedures depends on BMI.

Correction of cicatricial ectropion by autologous fat graft

BACKGROUND

Over the past few years, treatment of burn scars with lipofilling has shown encouraging clinical results in terms of texture, color, softness, and quality of skin patterns. This clinical application has been widened to include treatment for scars resulting from surgical correction of cicatricial ectropion. In fact, although standard surgery with flaps and skin grafts can grant significant functional and cosmetic improvements, these often are not complete because of secondary surgical scars.

METHODS

The case of a 43-year-old man with cicatricial outcomes from chemical burns and subsequent surgical repair of medial ectropion in the lower eyelid is reported. The scar area was treated with injection of adipose tissue harvested from abdominal subcutaneous fat and processed according to Coleman's technique.

RESULTS

At the 1-year follow-up assessment after lipostructure, the patient no longer reported xeroftalmia and epiphora. He had experienced complete functional recovery with excellent cosmetic results.

CONCLUSIONS

Lipostructure of cicatricial ectropion seems to complete and improve the results of the standard surgical approach, and its long-lasting benefits are in keeping with the theoretical basis of this procedure.

Behaviour of Brochothrix thermosphacta in presence of other meat spoilage microbial groups

The microbial flora of fresh meat stored aerobically at 5 degrees C up to spoilage was enumerated and collected in order to have mixed spoilage bacterial groups to be used in competition tests against Brochothrix thermosphacta. The bacterial groups collected as bulk colonies were identified by PCR-DGGE followed by partial 16S rDNA sequencing. The predominant bacteria associated with the spoilage of the refrigerated beef were B. thermosphacta, Pseudomonas spp, Enterobacteriaceae and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The interactions between B. thermosphacta and the other spoilage microbial groups were studied in vitro at 5 degrees C. The results showed that a decrease of the growth of B. thermosphacta was evidenced in presence of LAB at 5 degrees C while the bacterium is the dominant organism when inoculated with mixtures of Pseudomonas spp., LAB and Enterobacteriaceae. A better understanding of bacterial meat spoilage interactions may lead to improved quality of fresh meat stored in refrigerated conditions.

Effect of a bacteriocin-activated polythene film on Listeria monocytogenes as evaluated by viable staining and epifluorescence microscopy

AIMS

To evaluate the effect of a bacteriocin-activated polythene film on resting and growing populations of Listeria monocytogenes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The active polythene films were industrially obtained by coating a solution of bacteriocin 32Y from Lactobacillus curvatus upon the surface of the film to be in contact with the packaged material. The behaviour of live Listeria populations was examined in liquid suspensions directly in contact with the bacteriocin-activated film, packed in antimicrobial film, and in a challenge test of storage of frankfurters superficially contaminated by L. monocytogenes and packed in antimicrobial film. In all the experiments, live and dead cells of L. monocytogenes were counted in epifluorescence microscopy after viable staining, which proved to be a suitable method to evaluate the action of bacteriocins on populations of L. monocytogenes. The results showed that the direct contact between active film surface and L. monocytogenes cells is effective for a fast and irreversible inactivation of the population by determining a direct cell disruption. This was confirmed by the results of the challenge test indicating that the antimicrobial package was effective in inhibiting the growth and survival of the pathogen on the surface of frankfurters during storage.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the antimicrobial film is encouraged especially for solid food products where the superficial contaminants come immediately in contact with the antimicrobial film.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

A fast inactivation of the bacterial population, coupled with appropriate conditions of storage, can improve the quality and safety and prolong the shelf-life of the food products packed in antimicrobial films.

Antimicrobial activity of a nisin-activated plastic film for food packaging

AIMS

To determine the effectiveness of a packaging film coated with nisin to inhibit Micrococcus luteus ATCC 10240 in tryptone soya broth (TSB) and the microbiota of raw milk during storage. A further aim was to examine the release of nisin from the activated film.

METHODS AND RESULTS

An active package, obtained from nisin-treated film, was filled with 1 l of M. luteus ATCC 10240 (ML) suspension in TSB and stored at 4 and 25 degrees C for 2 days. After 24 h at 25 degrees C there was a remarkable reduction of M. luteus ATCC 10240 compared with the control, while at 4 degrees C a slight reduction was observed. Moreover, microbial growth was controlled when 1 l of three different kinds of milk was poured into the active package and stored at 4 degrees C for 7 days. The most significant results were observed in raw milk and pasteurized milk with a reduction of 0.9 log and 1.3 log, respectively. The release experiments showed that nisin release from the film was unpredictable, but it was favoured by low pH and high temperature.

CONCLUSIONS

It appears that nisin-coated films were effective in inhibiting M. luteus ATCC 10240 in TSB and the bacterial flora in milk, and the release of nisin was pH and temperature dependent.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Nisin-activated film may control bacterial growth, maintaining food quality, safety and extending the shelf-life of food products.