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Background: Cinta Senese (CS) is an autochthonous Tuscan breed, which risked extinction since the '60s. Results: Monitoring the genetic variability of the actual population by use of DNA molecular markers is essential to address a correct breeding policy, finalized to obtain the race preservation and its fitness in the future. 17 SSRs autosomal markers and 1 associated to the X chromosome were used to genotype 86 individuals belonging to the CS and 12 belonging to two main white races Landrace (L), Large White (LW) and crosses between LW and L and L and CS widespread in Tuscany and used in the recent past to obtain hybrids with the CS. Conclusions: A dendrogram of similarity measures the relative genetic distance between individuals in the population. Data show that CS pigs have a distinct genotype from L, LW, LW x L and L x CS.

Increased mechanosensitivity of the median nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been demonstrated during upper limb tension test 1 (ULTT1) when the nerve is passively elongated. However, the neurophysiological changes of the sensory axons during stressing activities are unknown. The aim of present study was to verify possible changes in the excitability of median nerve afferent axons following nerve stress in elongation, in subjects with and without CTS. Eight CTS hands and eight controls were selected. Recruitment properties of the median nerve were studied by analyzing the relationship between the intensity of electrical stimulation and the size of motor response, before and after intermittent-repetitive neural mobilization. Only in CTS hands, after the intervention, the stimulus-response curve was strikingly abnormal: both plateau and slope values were significantly lower. During anatomical stress across the median nerve in elongation, compressive forces may exert mechanical traction on the median nerve, since it is 'tethered' at the carpal tunnel, resulting inactivation of Na(+) channels at the wrist, or impairment of energy-dependent processes which affect axonal conduction block. We conclude that in entrapment neuropathies, neural mobilization during nerve elongation may generate conduction failure in peripheral nerve. Our study supports specific considerations for patient education and therapeutic approaches.

The definition of the genetic profile of Vernaccia di San Gimignano (VSG) in the areas of production is an essential step for both the implementation of a plan of analytical traceability and the evaluation of the biological future potential of the same grape variety in relation to any environmental change. The genetic variability of the VSG was monitored by use of SSRs genotyping of a representative portion of individuals belonging to both the productive vineyards and the germplasm collections that represent the "mother plants" reservoir for future vineyards. 74% of the individuals have been shown to be identical to the grapevine genotype reported in databases as VSG truetype. In order to determine the wine varietal composition by DNA analysis, four wine types commercialized as VSG were DNA-tested at 14 loci SSRs. The molecular data obtained demonstrate the presence as prevalent component of the VSG in the four wine types. All the wines revealed the presence of minor varieties, whose presence/absence was estimated by extrapolating the allele configuration that best matched to a standard genotype. Molecular data allow us to exclude the presence of three aromatic white grapevines that are not allowed by the actual production rules (Disciplinare di Produzione).

The definition of the genetic profile of Vernaccia di San Gimignano (VSG) in the areas of production is an essential step for both the implementation of a plan of analytical traceability and the evaluation of the biological future potential of the same grape variety in relation to any environmental change. The genetic variability of the VSG was monitored by use of SSRs genotyping of a representative portion of individuals belonging to both the productive vineyards and the germplasm collections that represent the "mother plants" reservoir for future vineyards. 74% of the individuals have been shown to be identical to the grapevine genotype reported in databases as VSG truetype. In order to determine the wine varietal composition by DNA analysis, four wine types commercialized as VSG were DNA-tested at 14 loci SSRs. The molecular data obtained demonstrate the presence as prevalent component of the VSG in the four wine types. All the wines revealed the presence of minor varieties, whose presence/absence was estimated by extrapolating the allele configuration that best matched to a standard genotype. Molecular data allow us to exclude the presence of three aromatic white grapevines that are not allowed by the actual production rules (Disciplinare di Produzione).

How to cite this paper: Scali, M., Vignani, R., Quintetti, M., Bigliazzi, J., Paolucci, E. and Cresti, M. (2015) AbstractTraceability based on DNA analysis is attracting increasing interest due to the crisis of confidence that consumers show towards the products of animal origin. The present work discusses a genetic traceability system of meat and processed products from an historical Tuscan native pig breed, the Cinta Senese. The study is based on a panel of 8 ISAG (International Society for Animal Genetics) DNA microsatellite markers usage done both on pigs and derived products. The SSRs panel allowed us to obtain a unique fingerprint of the individuals to be used as a tracer "downstream" in the processed products. The molecular method used proved that the hams, analyzed just before commercialization, were obtained from Cinta Senese pigs and that the analyzed meat products derived from the Cinta Senese were produced at least with 95% of Cinta Senese meat. In perspective, the molecular testing could be introduced as a voluntarily adopted method for proving intrinsic quality of many regional food products.

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