Publications by authors named "Maria Meloni"

This study aimed to conduct a preliminary investigation in eight Sardinian fermented sausage (SFS) production plants to acquire knowledge about the differences in the applied technological process and their influence on the safety and sensory characteristics of the finished product. Two audits were conducted in each plant to evaluate structural characteristics and process technologies; 72 samples of SFS at the end of seasoning and 48 environmental samples were analyzed. , spp.

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  • Ultrasound (US) is essential for evaluating the spleen in patients with chronic liver disease and can indicate systemic issues through splenomegaly, commonly associated with portal hypertension.
  • Distinct ultrasound findings for specific splenic conditions are often lacking, making clinical diagnosis challenging, but techniques like elastography and Doppler significantly improve assessment accuracy.
  • Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) enhances the ability to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions in the spleen and is crucial in managing splenic trauma, reducing the need for invasive methods.
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It is known that in African countries the health condition is problematic, both from a diagnostic and therapeutic point of view. Patients have to travel long distances to access medical care. Many cannot afford the cost of transportation to a medical facility.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of E. coli in hunted wild boars in Sardinia (Italy) and to further characterize the isolates with Whole Genome Sequencing to assess the genetic relatedness and the presence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Samples were taken from 66 wild boars between 2020 and 2022 slaughtered in five hunting houses.

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  • The American College of Radiology developed LI-RADS to standardize imaging and management for patients at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), focusing on various imaging techniques such as US, CT, and MRI.
  • The recent update, LI-RADS CEUS Nonradiation TRA v2024, introduces criteria for assessing tumor viability after treatment using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), accounting for the differences in imaging appearances post-treatment.
  • The new TRA algorithm combines evaluations of both the treated lesion and surrounding areas, allowing for better categorization of treatment response into categories such as nonviable, equivocal, or viable tumors.
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  • Cryptic species are fungi that can cause human diseases and are resilient in diverse environments, often developing resistance to antifungal treatments used in agriculture.
  • Advances in molecular techniques have improved the identification of these pathogens, but their full significance in clinical settings remains understudied.
  • A multidisciplinary approach, known as the One Health initiative, is essential for understanding and managing these fungi, as their impact spans human, animal, and environmental health, highlighting the need for enhanced awareness and research in this area.
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Background: Solitary fibrous tumors of the liver (SFTL) are rare neoplasms, whose identification and definition of malignant potential are challenging.

Case Presentation: A 62-year-old patient underwent conventional imaging and CEUS to characterize an indeterminate liver lesion after other imaging techniques were inconclusive. In fact, all diagnostic techniques concluded that it was a partially fibrotic lesion, while CEUS determined its extra-hepatocellular origin and malignant potential, initially hypothesized to be a cholangiocarcinoma.

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  • A new prognostic model for COVID-19 progression was developed to include vaccination status and early treatment, which were missing from previous scores.
  • The study analyzed data from 1,145 patients in Sassari, revealing that older age, comorbidities, and lack of vaccination were linked to disease progression, where 29.3% of patients required supplemental oxygen.
  • Multivariate analysis identified key risk factors for progression and created an easy-to-use scoring system based on various clinical and demographic variables, enhancing the ability to predict patient outcomes.
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Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) are a group of zinc-binding enzymes belonging to the medium-length dehydrogenase/reductase (MDR) protein superfamily. In plants, these enzymes fulfill important functions involving the reduction of toxic aldehydes to the corresponding alcohols (as well as catalyzing the reverse reaction, i.e.

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The objective of this investigation was to evaluate and prevalence in wild boars hunted in Sardinia and further characterize the isolates and analyse antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns. In order to assess slaughtering hygiene, an evaluation of carcasses microbial contamination was also carried out. Between 2020 and 2022, samples were collected from 66 wild boars hunted during two hunting seasons from the area of two provinces in northern and central Sardinia (Italy).

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Carbon fixation relies on Rubisco and 10 additional enzymes in the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. Epimerization of xylulose-5-phosphate (Xu5P) into ribulose-5-phosphate (Ru5P) contributes to the regeneration of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, the substrate of Rubisco. Ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase (RPE, EC 5.

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The composition and physicochemical characteristics of short-aged Pecorino Sardo PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) cheese makes it permissive to growth. The PDO product specification stipulates that this cheese is produced with whole sheep's milk inoculated with cultures from the area of origin. Therefore, the use of bioprotective cultures for the inhibition of pathogens in PDO cheeses is allowed only if autochthonous microorganisms are used.

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Improving photosynthetic efficiency in plants and microalgae is of utmost importance to support the growing world population and to enable the bioproduction of energy and chemicals. Limitations in photosynthetic light conversion efficiency can be directly attributed to kinetic bottlenecks within the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle (CBBC) responsible for carbon fixation. A better understanding of these bottlenecks is crucial to overcome these limiting factors through bio-engineering.

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or Sardinian fermented sausage is a traditional dry-fermented sausage included in the list of traditional food products of Sardinia (Italy). At the request of some producing plants, the possibility of extending the shelf life of the vacuum-packed product up to 120 days was evaluated. Manufacturing of 90 samples, representing 3 different batches of Sardinian fermented sausage was carried out in two producing plants (A and B).

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This study aimed to evaluate the influence of dry and wet aging on microbial profile and physicochemical characteristics of bovine loins obtained from four animals of two different breeds, namely two Friesian cull cows and two Sardo-Bruna bovines. During dry and wet aging aerobic colony count, , mesophilic lactic acid bacteria, , molds and yeasts, , and , pH and water activity (a) were determined in meat samples collected from the internal part of the loins. Moreover, the microbial profile was determined with sponge samples taken from the surface of the meat cuts.

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Grape pomace is the main by-product generated during the winemaking process; since it is still rich in bioactive molecules, especially phenolic compounds with high antioxidant power, its transformation in beneficial and health-promoting foods is an innovative challenge to extend the grape life cycle. Hence, in this work, the phytochemicals still contained in the grape pomace were recovered by an enhanced ultrasound assisted extraction. The extract was incorporated in liposomes prepared with soy lecithin and in nutriosomes obtained combining soy lecithin and Nutriose FM06, which were further enriched with gelatin (gelatin-liposomes and gelatin-nutriosomes) to increase the samples' stability in modulated pH values, as they were designed for yogurt fortification.

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In this series of papers on comments and illustrations of the World Federation for Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) guidelines on contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) the topics of non-infectious and non-neoplastic focal liver lesions (FLL) are discussed. Improved detection and characterization of common FLL are the main topics of these guidelines but detailed and illustrating information is missing. The focus in this paper is on non-infectious and non-neoplastic FLL and their appearance on B-mode, Doppler ultrasound and CEUS features.

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  • The study investigated the presence of Yersinia enterocolitica in 309 environmental and food samples from two industrial cheese-making plants in Sardinia between 2018 and 2019, finding a detection rate of 7.4%.
  • The highest prevalence was found in non-food contact surfaces, particularly flooring (13.5%), suggesting these areas may contribute significantly to contamination risk.
  • The isolates showed various genetic characteristics, including resistance to certain antibiotics and potential pathogenicity, highlighting the need for improved hygiene practices in cheese production processes to safeguard human health.
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The main objective of this study was to innovate soft and semi-cooked sheep milk cheese production processes with the use of a commercial protective culture able to control growth. A freeze-dried commercial culture of was tested in DS cheese and PS cheese, two types of pasteurized sheep milk, raw-paste cheeses aged for no less than 20 and 30 days respectively. In the first step, tests were conducted to identify the most suitable matrix for the growth of in order to create a subculture that could be used at industrial cheese-making plants.

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  • The paper series reviews the WFUMB guidelines on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), particularly focusing on identifying bacterial infections.
  • While the guidelines aim to improve the detection of common focal liver lesions (FLL), they lack detailed information, which this paper seeks to address.
  • The study emphasizes understanding ultrasound characteristics of infectious FLL to enhance awareness, interpretation, and timely intervention in clinical settings.
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contamination that occurs during and post-processing of dairy products is a serious concern for consumers, and bioprotective cultures can be applied to control the growth of the pathogen in sheep milk cheeses. However, to respect specifications provided for protected designation of origin (PDO) cheeses, only autochthonous microorganisms can be used as bioprotective cultures in these products. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate thermophilic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from sheep milk as bio-preservative agents to control growth in PDO cheese.

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The Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle comprises the metabolic phase of photosynthesis and is responsible for carbon fixation and the production of sugar phosphates. The first step of the cycle involves the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) which catalyzes the incorporation of inorganic carbon into 3-phosphoglyceric acid (3PGA). The following steps include ten enzymes that catalyze the regeneration of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP), the substrate of Rubisco.

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Since the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, several treatments have been proposed to prevent the progression of the disease. Currently, three antiviral (molnupiravir, nirmaltrevir/r, remdesivir) and two monoclonal antibodies (casirivimab/imdevimab and sotrovimab) are available in Italy. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the presence of risk factors associated with disease progression.

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Since the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, several scores have been proposed to identify infected individuals at a higher risk of progression and death. The most famous is the 4C score. However, it was developed in early 2020.

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