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Biomedical subjects

G Tumino

Publications and source records attributed to G Tumino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Composition, microstructure, and surface barrier layer development during brine salting.

The goal of this study was to characterize the changes in chemical composition, porosity, and structure that occur at the surface of a block of brine-salted cheese and their relationship to the rate at which salt is taken up from the brine. To create a difference in composition, salt uptake, and barrier layer properties, identical blocks of Ragusano cheese were placed in saturated and 18% salt brine at 18 degrees C for 12 d. The overall moisture content and porosity decreased, whereas salt and salt in moisture content increased near the surface of blocks of brine-salted Ragusano cheese for all treatments. The general appearance of the microstructure of the surface of the blocks of brine-salted cheese was much more compact than the microstructure 1 mm inside the block at both brine concentrations. Large differences in porosity of the barrier layer were produced by brine-salting cheese in 18% vs. saturated brine, with cheese in saturated brine having much lower porosity at the surface and taking up much less salt during brining. The macro network of water channels within the microstructure of the cheese was less open near the surface of the block for cheese in both saturated and 18% brine after 4 d. However, no large differences in the size of the macro channels in the cheese structure due to the difference in brine concentration were observed by scanning electron microscopy. It is possible that the shrinkage of the much smaller pore structure within the casein matrix of the cheese is more important and will become more limiting to the rate of salt diffusion. Further microstructure work at higher resolution is needed to answer this question. The calculated decrease in porosity at the exterior 1-mm portion of the block was 50.8 and 29.2% for cheeses that had been in saturated vs. 18% brine for 12 d, respectively. The difference in brine concentration had a very large impact on the salt in moisture content of the cheese. The exterior of the cheese in 18% brine reached a salt in moisture content almost identical to that of the brine very quickly (17.3% at 4 d), whereas the salt in moisture content at the surface of the cheese block in saturated brine was only 11.9% at 4 d. There appears to be some critical concentration of salt in brine above which there is a large negative impact on salt uptake due to the creation of a barrier layer at the surface of the block of cheese.

Cheese↗
PubMed2003

Influence of presalting and brine concentration on salt uptake by Ragusano cheese.

The impact of presalting and nonsaturated brine on salt uptake by Ragusano cheese was determined. The study included four treatments: 1) the traditional method using no presalting and saturated brine, 2) presalting and saturated brine, 3) no presalting and 18% brine for 8 d followed by 16 d in saturated brine, and 4) presalting and 18% brine for 8 d followed by 16 d in saturated brine. Cheese blocks were weighed and sampled before brine salting (time 0) and after 1, 4, 8, 16, and 24 d of brining for each treatment. Presalting delivered 60% of the normal level of salt in the center of the block prior to brine salting without decreasing the rate of uptake of salt from either saturated or 18% brine. Use of 18% salt brine for the first 8 d of 24 d of brine salting increased the rate of salt uptake, compared with 24 d in saturated brine. The increased rate of salt uptake with 18% brine compared with saturated brine was related to the impact of salt brine on the moisture content and porosity of the cheese near the surface of the block. Brine with higher salt content causes a rapid loss of moisture from cheese near the surface of the block. Moisture loss causes shrinkage of the cheese structure and decreases porosity, which impedes moisture movement out and salt movement into the block. The use of 18% salt brine for the first 8 d delayed the moisture loss and cheese shrinkage at the exterior of the block and allowed more salt penetration.

Cheese↗
PubMed1996

[A case of myofibroblastoma].

The Authors report a case of myofibroblastoma, a rare primitive mesenchymal tumor of the lymph node. Differential diagnosis with Kaposi sarcoma, neurilemmoma and metastatic neoplasm is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Computerized tridimensional reconstruction of vegetable structures.

By means of a "Personal Computer", a technique has been worked out for the acquisition and processing of data, for the tridimensional reconstruction of vegetable structures starting out from information, in the form of photographic images, obtained by optical or electronic microscope. Examples of the application of this program to vegetable drugs (corolla of Lavandula angustifolia Mill flowers) are given.

Image Processing, Computer-Assisted↗
PubMed1984

A drug used in traditional medicine. Harpagophytum procumbens DC. I. Scanning electron microscope observations.

Histological characteristics, as observed by scanning electron microscope, of the secondary roots of Harpagophytum procumbens DC. (Pedaliaceae), a drug widely used in South African traditional medicine, specially by Bushmen, Hottentots and Bantu, are described in detail. It has been possible to reveal some morphological elements that, together with superficial granular material containing harpagoside and harpagide, allow drug identification.

Microscopy, Electron, Scanning↗
PubMed1984

A drug used in traditional medicine: Harpagophytum procumbens DC. II. Cardiovascular activity.

In conscious normotensive rats the dried crude methanolic extract of Harpagophytum procumbens secondary roots caused a significant dose-dependent reduction of arterial blood pressure. The decrease was significant only at higher doses given by gavage (dried extract = 400 mg/kg). At the same time a decrease of heart rate was observed. In the same experimental conditions, harpagoside presented an activity lower than doses of Harpagophytum procumbens extract containing corresponding quantities of harpagoside. In spontaneously beating Langendorff preparations of rabbit heart, the Harpagophytum procumbens methanolic extract caused a mild decrease in the heart rate with a concomitant mild positive inotropic effect at lower doses but a marked negative inotropic effect at higher doses. The coronary flow decreased at higher doses only. The negative chronotropic and positive inotropic effects of harpagoside were comparatively higher with respect to that of the extract, whereas harpagide had only a slight negative chronotropic effect and a considerable negative inotropic one. Both in experiments on intact rats and on isolated rabbit heart, the Harpagophytum procumbens extract also demonstrated a protective action with regard to arrhythmias induced by aconitine, and particularly to those provoked by calcium chloride and epinephrine--chloroform.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Human fetal insulin secretion in response to maternal glucose and leucine administration.

Maternal and fetal serum insulin response to glucose, leucine and leucine plus glucose was examined by infusions to normal pregnant women at term immediately before cesarean section. The maternal infusion of glucose (50 g) for 30 or 60 minutes was associated with a marked hyperglycemia and with a rise in serum insulin in mother and fetus. The fetal insulin response to the administration of glucose for 60 minutes was higher (p less than 0.01) than when the same dose was given for 30 minutes, while the blood glucose was lower (p less than 0.01). The maternal infusion of a smaller dose of glucose (25 g) or leucine (15 g) for 60 minutes produced an increase in serum insulin only in the mothers. However the simultaneous administration of these substances stimulated maternal and fetal insulin secretion. The fetal insulin level produced was similar to that seen after the maternal infusion of 50 g of glucose for 60 minutes, while the cord blood glucose was slightly higher but significantly different (p less than 0.01) than that seen in the saline infused group.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗