Biogenic amines (BAs) are involved in physiological processes. Foods where typically high levels of BAs occur are fermented food and beverage. This work set out to evaluate the occurrence of BAs in red and white wines, and to also ascertain the dietary exposure to BAs among consumers. Besides, a case report of a probable histamine intoxication upon ingestion of contaminated wine was described. The samples were analyzed through derivatization with dansyl chloride and HPLC-UV detection. Red wines showed higher levels of BAs, especially putrescine (PUT) and histamine (HIS), than white wines (median concentrations of 7.30 and 2.45 mg/L, respectively). However, results of our investigation showed that the dietary exposure to BAs through the consumption of wine (red and white) were lower than the recommended maximum levels for the acute exposure to HIS and tyramine (TYR). In contrast, the levels of BAs in wine on tap were much higher than in bottled wine and close to recommended values. The levels of HIS, TYR, and PUT in tap wine of 9.97, 8.23, and 13.01 mg/L, respectively, were associated with histamine-mediated symptoms in six young individuals after consumption of about three glasses of wine. The overall results and multivariate analysis confirm that red wine shows a higher concentration of BAs than white wine, especially putrescine and histamine. This finding is attributable to the malolactic fermentation that is common for most red wine production. It is also evident that incorrect preservation processes can lead to an increase in BA levels, probably due to the action of bacteria with high decarboxylase activity. The exposure values, although below the toxicity thresholds, could lead to histamine-mediated symptoms in susceptible individuals, also according to the case report discussed in this study.

Acrylamide (AA) is a neo-formed toxic compound that develops in foods during cooking at temperatures above 120 °C. AA shows in vivo neurotoxic and carcinogenic effects, and it is potentially carcinogenic for humans. Its occurrence is common in baked food, such as bread and similar products. This study set out to analyze bread and sweets from the Italian market to evaluate the effects of the benchmark thresholds set by EU Regulation 2017/2158 and to ascertain the exposure of the Italian population to AA, across three age groups, through the consumption of baked products, according to the margin of exposure (MOE) approach. Two hundred samples were tested, and the content of AA ranged from 31 to 454 µg/kg for bread and products thereof and from 204 to 400 µg/kg for the sweets category. The exposure data did not show any neurotoxic health concern, whereas the MOE related to the carcinogenic endpoint is well below the minimum safety value of 10,000.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of age and sex on histochemical and morphometric characteristics of muscle fibres (myocytes) in lambs born by single or twin birth. Forty lambs were fed mother's milk and slaughtered at 60 days; 40 weaned at 60 days and fed until 120 days with flakes (60%) and hay (40%) and then slaughtered. Muscle tissues were obtained from two muscles, namely m. psoas major and caput longum m. tricipitis brachii of all lambs. The muscles were stained for myosin ATPase, and succinic dehydrogenase. For each fibre type, area, perimeter, maximum and minimum diameter were measured and slow-twitch oxidative fibres, fast-twitch glycolytic fibres, fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic fibres were histochemically differentiated. An image-analysing system was used. At 60 days, females had fibres larger than males while the opposite was observed at 120 days. Moreover, at 60 days, the lambs born by single birth had fibres larger than those born by twin birth, while the opposite was observed at 120 days. The fast-twitch glycolytic fibres had the largest size, followed by the slow-twitch oxidative and the fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic fibres. The dimensions of fibre types in caput longum tricipitis brachii muscle were larger than in the psoas major muscle (P < 0.001). This study provides important data on basic characteristics of lamb muscles that, as intrinsic factors, may influence some aspects of meat production and quality. Postnatal development, single birth, twin birth, myosin ATPase, succinic dehydrogenase, meat qualityThe Gentile of Puglia, also known by Apulian Merino, Merino di Puglia, Improved Apulian, Italian Merino, Merina Gentile, is a fine-wooled breed from southern Italy. Development of this breed began in the 15 th century but the first improvement started from the 18th century. The breed was obtained from Spanish Merino crossed with the local breeds. Saxony and Rambouillet breed was introduced during the 19 th century. In the second half of the century the number of head has dramatically decreased. Presently, there are about 15 000 sheep mainly in the Basilicata, Molise, and Puglia Regions. The breed is traditionally reared in the hilly pastures from late spring to early fall and in the fold or in the lowland pasture in the remaining seasons. In the last years researchers have focused on the potential of this breed with the purpose to produce meat. Meat quality is affected by age, sex, breed, diet, and animal husbandry practices as well as by factors that affect growth and differentiation of skeletal muscle fibre types. The muscle fibres represent the basic unit for the muscle activity. They contain enzymes which transform chemical into mechanical energy, and specific proteins that form myofibrils. During the neonatal period, the muscle fibres acquire metabolic and functional characteristics related to the locomotor or postural function of the muscle. The fibres are usually classified into three main groups with different names. The terminology used in this study for the three...

Little is known about the Casertana pig. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sex on histochemical and morphometrical characteristics of muscle fibres (myocytes) in this pure breed and to verify the presence of giant fibres as well as vascularity of the muscle. Finally, maximum shortening velocity and isometric tension were measured in single muscle fibres.Sixteen Casertana pigs (8 males, 8 females) from a farm in Campania (Italy) were slaughtered at one year of age. Muscle tissues were obtained from psoas minor, rhomboideus and longissimus dorsi. Myofibres were stained for myosin adenosine triphosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, and α-amylase-periodic acid schiff. For all fibre types, the area and perimeter were measured. Slowtwitch oxidative fibres, fast-twitch glycolytic fibres and fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic fibres were histochemically differentiated; an image-analyzing system was used. The results showed significant differences between the sexes in the size of all three fibre types. The psoas minor muscle had a high percentage of slow-twitch oxidative fibres and contained more capillaries per fibre and per mm 2 than rhomboideus and longissimus dorsi, in which fast-twitch glycolytic fibres dominated. The cross-sectional area of all fibre types was larger in longissimus dorsi than in rhomboideus and psoas minor muscles; the giant fibres were present in the longissimus dorsi muscle only. Besides, isometric tension values were higher in fast-twitch glycolytic fibres than in the other ones. Variations in fibre type composition may contribute to meat quality. Giant fibres, myosin adenosine triphosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, capillaries, shortening velocity, isometric tensionThe Casertana breed is an autochthonous pig breed of ancient origin, now threatened with extinction. In the past it was considered a very fine breed, raised in the Campania region and the surrounding area in South Italy. It was valued for its productive performance particularly regarding the fattening tendency. It is characterized by slow growth and massive accumulation of backfat; its coat is bright black and hairless. The purpose of this study was to complete the knowledge regarding the Casertana pig in order to valorise this breed and to study its meat quality characteristics. Porcine meat quality can be affected by variation in muscle fibre type composition (Depreux 2000). Muscle fibre types may be classified based on enzymatic activity; in this study the following nomenclature was used for myofibre types: FG (fast-contracting with glycolytic metabolism), FOG (fast contracting with glycolytic-oxidative metabolism) and SO (slow-contracting with oxidative metabolism). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sex on the histochemical and morphometric characteristics of muscle fibres on the basis of myosin adenosine triphosphatase (myosin ATPase), succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), to analyse the contractile properties of pig muscle fibres and to determine the presence of giant fibres in the muscles consi...

Acrylamide (also known as 2-propenamide) (AA) is a toxicant that develops in food during high-temperature cooking, and its occurrence is common in biscuits and baked snacks. AA is known for its in vivo neurotoxic and carcinogenic effects, and it is considered a potential carcinogen for humans. Infants may be exposed to AA as early as during weaning through baked food such as biscuits. This study set out to ascertain the concentration of AA in food products intended for infants to assess the dietary exposure to this food contaminant. AA levels were determined through GC/MS and bromination, and dietary exposure was evaluated by a probabilistic method based on Monte Carlo simulation. The results showed that the probability of a carcinogenic exposure is 94%, 92%, and 87%, respectively, for 6-, 12-, and 18-months infants, suggesting the need to delay the introduction of baked products in the diet of weaned infants. It should be noted, however, that these conclusions were drawn considering the biscuits as the primary source of exposure.

The objective of this study was to verify the presence of giant fibres in the Black Sicilian pig skeletal muscle and to evaluate the effect of sex on histochemical and morphometric characteristics of the myocytes (myofibres) as well as vascularity of the muscle. Twenty Black Sicilian pigs (10 males, 10 females) from a farm in Sicily (Italy) were slaughtered at two years of age. Muscle tissues were obtained from three muscles: psoas major, longissimus dorsi, and trapezius. Myofibres were stained for myosin ATPase, succinic dehydrogenase, and α-amylase-PAS. For all fibre types, area and perimeter were measured. Slow-twitch oxidative fibres, fast-twitch glycolytic fibres and fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic fibres were histochemically differentiated; an image-analyzing system was used. The results showed no differences between males and females in percentage of the fibre types, but there were significant differences between sexes in size of all the three fibre types. Psoas major muscle had a high percentage of slow-twitch oxidative fibres and contained more capillaries per fibre and per mm 2 than trapezius and longissimus dorsi, in which fast-twitch glycolytic fibres dominated. The cross-sectional area of all fibres types was larger in longissimus dorsi than in trapezius and psoas major muscles; the giant fibres were absent in all the muscles studied. Fibre type composition may contribute to the variation of meat quality.

The aim of the present experiment was to determine the effect of sex and age on histochemical and morphometric characteristics of muscle fibres (myocytes) in lambs born by single, twin, triplet and quadruplet birth.Thirty lambs were slaughtered at 60 days of age; thirty were weaned at 60 days and fed until 120 days with flakes (60%) and food supplements, and then slaughtered. Muscle tissues were obtained from two muscles, namely m. semitendinosus and m. longissimus dorsi of all lambs. For each fibre type, area perimeter and diameter (maximum and minimum) were measured and slow-twitch oxidative fibres, fast-twitch glycolytic fibres, fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic fibres were histochemically differentiated. The muscles were stained for myosin ATPase, and succinic dehydrogenase. At 60 days, females had fibres larger than males, whereas the opposite was observed at 120 days. Besides, at 60 days, the lambs born by single birth had fibres larger than those born by multiple birth, whereas the opposite was observed at 120 days. Single lambs were heavier than twin lambs and multiple lambs. Fast-twitch glycolytic fibres had the largest size, followed by slow-twitch oxidative and fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic fibres. The dimensions of fibre types in m. longissimus dorsi were larger than in m. semitendinosus (P < 0.001).These muscle fibre characteristics are thought to be important factors influencing meat quality, which is often related to metabolic and contractile properties as determined by the muscle fibre type distribution. Birth type, postnatal development, lamb, histochemistry, nutrition, muscle fibresThe Laticauda originated probably from the Northern African sheep, Berbera or Barbaresca, and it got the present characteristics thanks to subsequent crossbreeds with the sheep from the Apennines, the typical one from Southern Italy. Particularly, Laticauda is bred in the country of Benevento and Avellino and during the last years the head number has increased. This breed is traditionally reared in hilly farm pasture predominantly in sedentary breeding groups and the most common farming system is the "family farm type". Laticauda is a dual-purpose breed with the ability to produce good amount of milk and meat. Meat quality is affected by numerous factors including the growth stage and differentiation of skeletal muscle fibre types. The physiological differentiation of muscle fibres is a dynamic equilibrium which can vary during growth or as a response to the muscle work rate. Guth and Yellin (1971) noticed that muscle fibres continuously change during the animal's life as a functional demand adaptation and that the fibre type only reflects the fibre constitution at a certain moment. Henkel (1991) suggested muscle histochemistry as a tool for quantifying the effect of different treatments on the size of muscle fibres. In this study we have defined the skeletal muscle fibre populations of lambs by using different methods of m-ATPase and we have analyzed the postnatal development of these fibre populations bet...

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