Hay or silage? How the forage preservation method changes the volatile compounds and sensory properties of Caciocavallo cheese.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the forage preservation method (silage vs. hay) on volatile compounds and sensory properties of a traditional Caciocavallo cheese during ripening. A brown-midrib sudangrass hybrid was cultivated on a 7-ha field and at harvesting it was half ensiled in plastic silo bags and half dried to hay. Forty-four lactating cows were equally allotted into 2 groups fed a isonitrogenous and isoenergetic total mixed ration containing as the sole forage either sorghum hay (H group) or sorghum silage (S group). Milk from the 2 groups was used to produce 3 batches/diet of Caciocavallo ripened for 30, 60, and 90 d. Milk yield and composition as well as cheese chemical and fatty acid composition were not markedly affected by the diet treatment and ripening time. By contrast, ripening induced increased levels of the appearance attribute "yellowness," along with the "overall flavor," the odor/flavor attributes "butter" and "hay," the "salty," "bitter," and "umami" tastes, and the texture attribute "oiliness," whereas the appearance attribute "uniformity" and the texture attribute "elasticity" were reduced. The silage-based diet induced higher perceived intensities of several attributes such as "yellowness"; "overall flavor"; "butter"; "grass" and "hay" odor/flavors; "salty," "bitter," and "umami" tastes; and "tenderness" and "oiliness" textures. In S cheese we also observed higher amounts of ketones and fatty acids. Conversely, H cheese showed the terpene α-pinene, which was not detected in S cheese, and a higher intensity of the appearance attribute "uniformity." These differences allowed the trained panel to discriminate the products, determined an increased consumer liking for 90-d ripened cheese, and tended to increase consumer liking for hay cheese.

Effect of group size and maize silage dietary levels on behaviour, health, carcass and meat quality of Mediterranean buffaloes.

The effects of different dietary levels of maize silage (10% v. 36% DM) and group size (7 v. 14 animals) were assessed on growth performance and in vivo digestibility of 28 male fattening buffaloes. In addition, the effects of diet on meat quality and group size on behaviour and immune response were separately evaluated. Animals were weighed and assigned to three groups. The high silage - low size group (HL) was fed a total mixed ration (TMR) containing 36% DM of maize silage and consisted of seven animals (age 12.7±2.6 months; BW 382.2±67.7 kg at the start of the study). The low silage - low size group (LL) was fed a TMR containing 10% DM of maize silage and consisted of seven animals (age 13.0±2.7 months; BW 389.4±72.3 kg). The high silage - high size group (HH) was fed the 36% maize silage DM diet and consisted of 14 animals (age 13.9±3.25 months; BW 416.5±73.9 kg). Total space allowance (3.2 indoor+3.2 outdoor m2/animal) was kept constant in the three groups, as well as the ratio of animals to drinkers (seven animals per water bowl) and the manger space (70 cm per animal). Growth performance, carcass characteristics and digestibility were influenced neither by dietary treatment nor by group size, even if the group fed 36% maize silage diet showed a higher fibre digestibility. No effect of diet was found on meat quality. Group size did not affect the behavioural activities with the exception of drinking (1.04±0.35% v. 2.60±0.35%; P<0.01 for groups HL and HH, respectively) and vigilance (2.58±0.46% v. 1.20±0.46%; P<0.05 for groups HL and HH, respectively). Immune responses were not affected by group size.

Chemical composition of pig meat from the genetic type 'Casertana' and its crossbreeds.

The meat quality of the autochthonous genetic type Casertana (Ca) and its crossbreeds was evaluated for the production of pork for fresh consumption and/or processing. The chemical composition of the fresh meat was determined on eight muscles of 143 pigs of six genetic types, of both sexes and slaughtered at three different live weights. The most important results of fixed analysis of variance showed that the first order interactions are statistically important in determining most of the analytical data considered; muscle is an important factor for ash content. On average, the dry matter percentage is higher in the Casertana; the opposite is observed in the Ca × [Landrace (L) × Large White (LW)]. The protein content, in relation to dry matter, is lower in the Casertana and higher in Ca × (L × LW) and L × (L × LW). The opposite results were observed for lipid contents and energy value. The ash content ranges from 4.8% in Ca to 5.3% in Ca × Duroc (Du). However, the above trends vary in relation to sex, live weight at slaughter and muscle. Females, compared with males, supply meat with high lipid contents and energy values. The protein content, by contrast, is higher in males. As the live weight at slaughter increases from 80-90 to 120-130 kg, the protein content rises, while the ash value decreases. In meat obtained from females no significant differences are observed in the analytical data from 80-90 to 120-130 kg, while in that from males the protein content increases, and the lipid content and energy value decrease. The Longissimus dorsi muscle (both at thoracic and lumbar level) has the highest content of dry matter, while the Supraspinatus and the Rectus femoris have the lowest. The Rectus femoris has the highest protein content and Semitendinosus the lowest. The opposite holds for lipid content and energy value; such results confirm the histochemical individuality of the muscle. The dry matter content of the 'bacon' cut is higher in the Casertana pigs and lower in L × (L × LW), which is due, in part, to the higher lipid content and lower protein content found in the former.

Effect of dietary energy content on the intramuscular fat depots and triglyceride composition of river buffalo meat.

The production of river buffalo meat in Italy has long been under discussion due to poor acceptance by consumers. In order to understand whether dietary energy content may affect the organoleptic characteristics of buffalo meat, two groups of river buffalo calves were fed on two diets, with high (H) and low (L) energy contents. The animals were slaughtered at 4-monthly intervals starting from 6 months old (10, 14 and 18 months) and five muscles were dissected on the half-carcass: Caput longum tricipitis brachii (CloTB), Gluteobiceps (Gb), Semitendinosus (St), Semimembranosus (Sm) and Longissimus dorsi (LD). The results showed that from 6 to 10 months of age the meat lipid content decreases and protein content increases for both diets. The lipid content increases slowly with both diets from 10 to 14 months. In the last experimental period (from 14 to 18 months) an increase in the percentage of lipids with diet H and a decrease with diet L was observed. At all slaughtering ages the meat from the animals fed on diet H had a higher energy content. The different energy content of the two diets did not significantly influence the composition of triglycerides only formed by SFA and triglycerides with a higher degree of unsaturation. The triglycerides with an unsaturated fatty acid in position sn 2 did not show the same behaviour in relation to age and diet. The energy content of the feed did influence the unsaturated fatty acid composition: MUFA increased with an increased energy level of the diet, while PUFA increased with a reduction in the energy level of the diet. The muscle LD showed a significantly higher (P<0.05) content of SFA and lower (P<0.05) of MUFA and PUFA than the other muscles. On the basis of our results, the better TAG's composition is found in the meat of animals fed on diet H and slaughtered at 4 months of age.

Establishment of normative data for orbital and nasal soft-tissue measurements among Filipino children.

This article establishes the soft-tissue norms among Filipino children from ages birth to 17 years of age. Specific measurements were made at the inner canthal region, the outer canthal region, and the nasal length. This was to help establish normative graphs among this population of children.

Venous air embolism during endoscopic strip craniectomy for repair of craniosynostosis in infants.

BACKGROUND: Various studies have reported an incidence of venous air embolism (VAE) as high as 82.6% during surgical procedures for craniosynostosis. There has been an increase in the use of minimally invasive, endoseopie surgical procedures, including applications for endoscopic strip craniectomy. The current study prospectively evaluated the incidence of VAF during endoscopic strip craniectomy. METHODS: Continuous, intraoperative monitoring for VAE was performed using precordial Doppler monitoring. A recording was made of the Doppler tones and later reviewed to verify its accuracy. RESULTS: The cohort for the study included 50 consecutive neonates and infants ranging in age from 3.5 to 36 weeks and ranging in weight from 3 to 9 kg. Surgical time varied from 31 to 95 min for a total of 2,701 mm of operating time, during which precordial Doppler tones were auscultated. In 46 patients, there was no evidence of VAE. In four patients, there was a single episode of VAE. Two of the episodes of VAE were grade I (change in Doppler tones), and two were grade H (change in Doppler tones and decrease in end-tidal carbon dioxide). No grade III (decrease in systolic blood pressure by 20% from baseline) VAF was noted. CONCLUSION: In addition to previously reported benefits of decreased blood loss, decreased surgical time, and improved postoperative recovery time, the authors noted a low incidence of VAF during endoscopic strip craniectomy in neonates and infants.

Effects of synthetic craniofacial materials on cerebral microcirculation.

Four groups were studied to look at effects of synthetic materials on the pial vasculature. Using Sprague-Dawley rats, an open pial window approach was used in which there was a control group, a hydroxyapatite cement group mixed with sodium phosphate, a methylmethacrylate slow-set, and a methylmethacrylate fast-set group. There were 10 animals with 20 vessels studied within each group. The permeability leakage outside the vessel was evaluated to determine the vascular albumin leakage, and the number of rolling and adherent leukocytes was studied within each group. It was seen that the control group was significantly different compared with the fast-set methylmethacrylate group during a 2-hour period in regard to the percentage leakage, as well as a number of rolling and adherent leukocytes. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate the effects of synthetic craniofacial materials on the underlying pial vasculature.

Temporalis muscle resuspension using titanium miniplates and screws: technical note.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the technique for and results of using titanium miniplates and screws for resuspension of the temporalis muscle after osseous detachment during cranial procedures requiring exposure of and access to the frontotemporoparietal region. METHODS: Thirty-four patients, who were being treated with various cranial procedures, underwent resuspension of the dissected temporalis muscle, using 1.5-mm or 1.3-mm titanium plates and screws, after bone flap replacement. RESULTS: The temporalis muscle was successfully and securely resuspended in all cases, using the plates and screws. There were no infections, muscle tears, dislodgement, fractures, or temporal hollowing in any of the cases. In four cases that required re-exploration, the muscle was observed to be rigidly fixated and scarred to the bone. CONCLUSION: The use of titanium plates and screws is a safe, simple, successful alternative for reattachment of temporalis muscles for patients undergoing cranial procedures.

In vivo visualization of cerebral microcirculation in systemic thermal injury.

We present a model used to describe the effects of systemic thermal injury in cerebral permeability with the use of an open, acute pial window technique. Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized, and an open pial window was constructed. The area was then bathed with artificial cerebrospinal fluid with a pH adjusted to 7.4 that was heated to a constant temperature of 37 degrees C, which was allowed to circulate into a reservoir at a rate of 2 cc/min. The fluid was infused with a gas mixture of 5% carbon dioxide and 95% nitrogen. A warming blanket was placed under the animal's ventral surface, and the animal's temperature was maintained at 37 degrees C and monitored with a rectal thermal probe. Experimental animals were submerged to the xiphoid process in 100 degrees C water bath for a total of 6 seconds, which produced a 70% total body surface area third degree burn. Control animals were submerged in 37 degrees C water for 6 seconds. The animals were then injected with a constant infusion of bovine albumin coupled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Recordings were taken every 15 minutes for 6 hours. The vascular albumin leakage was determined from the ratio of interstitium to vascular fluorescence and expressed as a percentage. The percent albumin leakage in the control group was found to be significantly different from that in the experimental group at all periods measured. The mean increase in permeability ranged from 20% at 15 minutes to 104% at 6 hours. These changes were found to be statistically significant with the use of unpaired t test at a P value of .0001. The model presented is the first to demonstrate changes in cerebral permeability after acute severe systemic thermal injury.

Endoscopy-assisted wide-vertex craniectomy, "barrel-stave" osteotomies, and postoperative helmet molding therapy in the early management of sagittal suture craniosynostosis.

OBJECT: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy, safety, associated complications, and outcome in patients with sagittal suture craniosynostosis in whom endoscopy-assisted wide-vertex craniotomy and "barrel-stave" osteotomy were performed. METHODS: During a 4-year period, 59 patients with sagittal suture synostosis underwent endoscopy-assisted wide-vertex craniectomies, barrel stave-like osteotomies, and postoperatively were fitted with custom-made molding helmets. Data on operative time, blood loss, transfusion rates, hospital length of stay, complications, and hospital charges were collected prospectively. The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 3.7 months. The average blood loss was 31.8 ml; and only one patient required an intraoperative blood transfusion. Nine patients received transfusions of donor blood postoperatively. The mean operative time was 50 minutes, and all but three patients were discharged from the hospital the morning following surgery. There were no intraoperative complications. Normocephaly as well as normal cephalic indices were observed at latest follow up. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that early treatment of infants with sagittal suture craniosynostosis by using minimally invasive, endoscopy-assisted wide-vertex craniectomies provides excellent results and a significantly lower morbidity rate than traditional calvarial vault reconstructive procedures.

BoneSource solidification: a comparison between water and sodium phosphate as the solvent.

The purpose of this study was to determine the solidification rates for BoneSource (hydroxyapatite cement) mixed with sterile water versus BoneSource mixed with 0.25 ml of sodium phosphate. The average time for cure for BoneSource mixed with sterile water was 99 minutes, with a SD of 5.3 minutes. The average time for cure for BoneSource and sodium phosphate was 43 minutes, with a SD of 3.6 minutes (P < 0.0003). The average temperature for BoneSource in sterile water was 19.1 degrees C with a SD of 0.082, and the average temperature of BoneSource in sodium phosphate was 20.1 degrees C, with a SD of 0.1. Therefore, sodium phosphate shows that there is a significantly decreased amount of time required to solidify BoneSource and it remains isothermic throughout this reaction.

Endoscopic craniectomy for early correction of craniosynostosis.

Twelve patients between 0.4 and 7.8 months of age were treated by an endoscopic approach to strip craniectomy. Nine patients had sagittal suture involvement. Two patients had a single unilateral lambdoid suture synostosis, and one patient had a combination of a right coronal synostosis and a metopic synostosis. Postoperatively, all patients were placed in cranial remodeling helmets and the results showed that the estimated blood loss ranged from 5 cc to 150 cc, with blood transfusion required in only one patient. All patients were discharged from the hospital by day 2, and all patients had an improvement in their cranial head shape. The specific technique of using the endoscope to aid in performing a strip craniectomy will be discussed. Nine endoscopically treated patients with the diagnosis of sagittal suture synostosis were compared with nine patients treated by using the Marchac remodeling techniques. The mean operative time (1.6 hours versus 3.5 hours), estimated blood loss (43 cc versus 168 cc), hospital costs ($11,671 versus $36,685), and length of stay (1.16 days versus 5.1 days) were less by using the endoscopic technique. All nine patients treated by using the Marchac technique required a blood transfusion, whereas only one patient was transfused in the endoscopically treated group.

Modification of Playtex nurser for cleft palate patients.

To facilitate the passive feeding requirements of children with cleft lip and palate deformities, as well as children with neurological deformities, a modification has been adapted to the Playtex nurser (Playtex, Dover, DE). It consists of removing the lower plastic portion of the bottle to allow passive delivery via a squeeze bag technique. This modification has been quite successful with these patients. We have found this bottle to be less expensive as well as easy to purchase compared with other available bottles. This bottle also has the capability of having multiple nipple variety types that can be adapted to it

Endoscopic craniectomy for early surgical correction of sagittal craniosynostosis.

OBJECT: The authors sought to minimize scalp incisions, blood loss, and operative time by using endoscopically assisted strip craniectomies and barrel-stave osteotomies to treat infants with sagittal suture synostosis. METHODS: Four patients, aged 2, 4, 9, and 12 weeks, who presented with scaphocephaly underwent endoscopic midline craniectomies through small midline scalp incisions. The mean operative time for the procedure was 1.68 hours (range 1.15-2.8 hours); the mean blood loss was 54.2 ml (range 12-150 ml). Three patients did not require blood transfusions and were discharged within 24 hours. Postoperatively, all patients were fitted with custom cranial molding helmets. Follow-up evaluation ranged between 8 and 15 months. All patients had successful correction of their scaphocephaly with no mortalities, morbidities, or complications. CONCLUSIONS: The use of endoscopic techniques for early correction of sagittal synostosis is safe; decreases blood loss, operative time, and hospitalization costs; and provides excellent early surgical results.

Usefulness of endoscopy in craniofacial trauma.

To determine the extent of endoscopy utilized in craniofacial trauma, a questionnaire was mailed to 400 surgeons in the United States. A 40% response was obtained; 21.3% of the surgeons stated that they had used endoscopy to treat facial fractures; 33% of them had been in practice for 6 to 10 years, and 47% of those who had used endoscopy in craniofacial trauma were in full-time private practice. In facial fractures, endoscopes were used primarily to treat Le Fort fractures (55.9%), followed by zygomatic arch fractures (52.9%). Lack of accompanying instrumentation, such as appropriate drills, to use with the endoscope via small openings was cited as a significant problem; 46% of the respondents were unable to resolve it. Most respondents (55.6%) felt that if proper accompanying instrumentation were to be developed, endoscopes would become an integral component in the management of craniofacial trauma.

Endoscopic repair of posttraumatic enophthalmos using medial transconjunctival approach: a case report.

A blowout fracture of the medial orbital wall should be suspected when periorbital trauma results in epistaxis, orbital hemorrhage, horizontal dysmotility or dystopia of the globe, and/or orbital emphysema. Large medial orbital wall blowout fractures are frequently complicated by posttraumatic enophthalmos. Clinicians should consider a medial transconjunctival approach for repair of these fractures when surgical repair is indicated by a comprehensive clinical and radiologic orbital evaluation. Excellent cosmetic and functional results can be achieved through the use of an extended transcaruncular incision, rigid endoscope, and high-density porous polyethylene implant placement. The technique can be used in the early, delayed, and late stages of medial orbital wall blowout fracture repair. The technique can be used alone in isolated medial orbital wall fractures or combined with other craniofacial approaches.

Intrathecal morphine for postoperative analgesia following repair of frontal encephaloceles in children: comparison with intermittent, on-demand dosing of nalbuphine.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of lumbar intrathecal (i.t.) morphine in a dose of 0.02 mg/kg in providing analgesia following repair of frontal encephaloceles. DESIGN: Prospective, open-label investigation of i.t. morphine with secondary comparison to a retrospective cohort. SETTING: Metropolitan hospital in the Philippines. PATIENTS: 24 ASA physical status I and II children undergoing frontal encephalocele repair. INTERVENTIONS: Following induction of general anesthesia. I.t. morphine (Group 1) was administered via single-shot technique or through a lumbar i.t. drain placed for cerebrospinal fluid drainage during the surgical procedure. Postoperative analgesia was assessed by visual analog score in patients greater than 5 years of age or a behavioral score in patients less than 5 years of age. The retrospective cohort received postoperative analgesia with intermittent doses of intravenous nalbuphine (Group 2). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Group 1 had decreased postoperative analgesic requirements, decreased intraoperative inhalational anesthetic requirements, and a longer time to the first request for postoperative analgesia than Group 2. The time to the first request for postoperative analgesia was 16.0 +/- 9.1 hours in Group 1 and 1.6 +/- 1.2 hours in Group 2 (p < 0.0001). Six of 12 patients in Group 1 required no analgesic drugs during the first 24 postoperative hours while all 12 patients in Group 2 (p = 0.02) did require analgesic drugs during this period. The patients in Group 1 who did not require supplemental analgesic drugs maintained pain scores of 2 or less throughout the first 24 postoperative hours. CONCLUSION: Lumbar IT morphine provides effective analgesia following repair of frontal encephaloceles in children and adolescents.

Posttraumatic anosmia in craniofacial trauma.

Although the clinical implications of anosmia can be significant, posttraumatic anosmia is generally given relatively little attention in the clinical setting. Patients who sustain craniofacial trauma are most at risk. The incidence of posttraumatic anosmia varies according to the severity of injury and has an overall estimated incidence of 7%. Factors that increase the risk of developing anosmia include anterior skull base fractures, bilateral subfrontal lobe injury, dural lacerations, and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Recovery of function has been estimated to be approximately 10%. Time of recovery, if it occurs, varies between 8 weeks and 2 years. Presented herein are the clinical, radiographic, pathophysiologic, and anatomic substrata of posttraumatic anosmia.