Pig Trotters Research Articles

Textural modification of Chinese traditional stewed pig trotter: Effect of acid or alkaline-induced degradation of collagen fibers.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of acid or alkaline treatments on the textural properties of Chinese traditional stewed pig trotter in relation to the degradation of collagen fibers. Pig trotters were subjected to different pHs of 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and then stewed at 95°C for 60 min. Textural parameters (springiness, chewiness, hardness, and gumminess) of pig trotters and Raman spectroscopy, cross-links, decorin, and glycosaminoglycans contents of collagen fibers were assessed. The acid or alkaline treatments at pH 4, 5, 6, and 8 improved the textural properties evidenced by lower chewiness, hardness, and gumminess, and promoted the unfolding of the secondary structure evidenced by a loss of α-helix paralleled with an increase of random coil, as well as induced a breakage to the covalent cross-links evidenced by the reduction of cross-links, decorin, and glycosaminoglycans. This study thus concluded positive effects of acid or alkaline treatments on the textural modification of Chinese traditional stewed pig trotter in relation to the induced degradation of the collagen fibers.

Effect of High Pressure/Heating Combination on the Structure and Texture of Chinese Traditional Pig Trotter Stewed with Soy Sauce

In order to clarify the effect of a high pressure/heating combination on the texture of Chinese traditional pig trotter with soy sauce, textural parameters (springiness, chewiness, hardness, and gumminess), the secondary structures, cross-links, decorin (DCN), glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) levels, and the histochemical morphology of collagen fibers under different treatments (0.1 MPa, 150 MPa, 300 MPa, 0.1 MPa + 50 °C, 150 MPa + 50 °C, and 300 MPa + 50 °C) were assessed. At room temperature, the 150 and 300 MPa treatments increased the hardness and chewiness of the pig trotter with weak denaturation of collagen proteins compared with the control group. Textural parameters were improved at 300 MPa + 50 °C, accompanied by an ultrastructural collapse of collagen fibers, the reduction in cross-links, DCN and GAGs levels, and unfolded triple-helix structure. We concluded that the positive effects on the textural parameters of pig trotters by a combination of treatments could be attributed to the collapse of collagen structure.

384 Use of A Dry Swab During ACL Hamstring Tendon Graft Preparation May Lead to Decreased Graft Diameter at Implantation with Subsequent Rebound in Graft Diameter When Exposed to Haemarthrosis – A Porcine Tendon Study

Abstract Introduction ACL reconstruction surgery commonly utilises a hamstring tendon graft. Grafts are normally covered with a wet swab prior to implantation. The aim of this study was to determine the variance in graft diameter when comparing the traditional wet swab to a dry swab. Method Flexor tendons from a selection of fresh pig trotters were isolated and prepared with a standard ACL graft preparation technique. Half of the grafts were covered with a wet swab; the other half were covered with a dry swab. Graft diameters were measured at 10-minute intervals. After 30 minutes the grafts were submerged in Hartmann’s solution to simulate the post-operative haemarthrosis, diameters were checked again after 1 hour in the solution. Results Use of a dry swab resulted in a 0.5mm greater reduction in diameter than the wet swab group. The dry swab group also showed an increase in diameter by 0.5mm when soaked in Hartmann’s solution, this was not seen in the wet swab group. Conclusions Using a dry swab produces a smaller graft diameter, this would allow smaller bone tunnels, retaining bone stock. The subsequent rebound in diameter when in solution may increase the press fit mechanism and facilitate improved integration into the bone tunnel.

Establishing a Lymphatic Venous Anastomotic Training Model in Pig Trotters.

Lymphatic venous anastomosis (LVA) is a widely accepted surgical procedure for lymphedema. To obtain the best outcomes, surgeons should be well trained. A recent study introduced an LVA training model using pig trotters for their utility and structural similarity to human tissues. However, details regarding the utilization of anastomosis models, such as feasible points for training based on vessel anatomy, have not been clarified. Therefore, we assessed the anatomical details of lymphatic vessels and veins of trotters to establish a practical training model of LVA. Ten frozen trotters were used. After thawing at room temperature, indocyanine green fluorescent lymphography was used to visualize the lymphatic course. To dissect the lymphatic vessels and veins from the distal to the proximal end, whole skins were detached thoroughly from the plantar side. Data from the lymphatic vessels and veins were collected based on their courses, diameters, and layouts to clarify adjacent points feasible for LVA training. Both lymphatic vessels and veins were classified into four major courses: dorsal, medial, lateral, and plantar. The majority were dorsal vessels, both lymphatic vessels and veins. The adjacent points were always found in the distal dorsum center and were especially concentrated between the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint and central interphalangeal crease, followed by the medial and lateral sides. The most relevant point for LVA surgical training in the trotter was the dorsal center distal to the MP joint, where parallel vessels of similar sizes were found in all cases. This practical LVA surgical model would improve surgeon skills in not only anastomosis but also preoperative fluorescent lymphography.

Erratum to: Description of Kinetic Behavior of Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Cooked Pig Trotters under Dynamic Storage Conditions Using Mathematical Equations

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.5851/kosfa.2020.e64.].

Description of Kinetic Behavior of Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Cooked Pig Trotters under Dynamic Storage Conditions Using Mathematical Equations.

A dynamic model was developed to predict the Escherichia coli cell counts in pig trotters at changing temperatures. Five-strain mixture of pathogenic E. coli at 4 Log CFU/g were inoculated to cooked pig trotter samples. The samples were stored at 10°C, 20°C, and 25°C. The cell count data was analyzed with the Baranyi model to compute the maximum specific growth rate (μmax) (Log CFU/g/h) and lag phase duration (LPD) (h). The kinetic parameters were analyzed using a polynomial equation, and a dynamic model was developed using the kinetic models. The model performance was evaluated using the accuracy factor (Af), bias factor (Bf), and root mean square error (RMSE). E. coli cell counts increased (p<0.05) in pig trotter samples at all storage temperatures (10°C–25°C). LPD decreased (p<0.05) and μmax increased (p<0.05) as storage temperature increased. In addition, the value of h0 was similar at 10°C and 20°C, implying that the physiological state was similar between 10°C and 20°C. The secondary models used were appropriate to evaluate the effect of storage temperature on LPD and μmax. The developed kinetic models showed good performance with RMSE of 0.618, Bf of 1.02, and Af of 1.08. Also, performance of the dynamic model was appropriate. Thus, the developed dynamic model in this study can be applied to describe the kinetic behavior of E. coli in cooked pig trotters during storage.

Scavenging Activity of Dermestes maculatus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Burned Cadaveric Tissue.

The aim of this work was to study the effect that fire exposure in tissues may have on Dermestes maculatus DeGeer (Dermestidae: Dermestini) taphonomic behaviour under controlled conditions. Two different times of fire exposure (treatments) were evaluated, 15min and 30min, after spraying pig trotters with gasoil. The pig trotters were provided to adult hide beetles and both were maintained at 24 ± 0.1°C, 55.4% ± 2% relative humidity, and a 12:12hday/night cycle. An unburned pig trotter was used as a control for each treatment. Observations were made and photographs were taken every 4-5days for 4months. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. Dermestes maculatus was able to feed and reproduce on burned tissues. Beetles in adult and larvae stages produced different types of marks in several kinds of tissues such as integumental, connective, and muscular, in the controls and treatments. Apparently, 15min of burning the pig trotters were not sufficient enough to cause differences in the taphonomic marks with respect to the control, but post mortem burning for 30min may have implicated changes (lesser insect damage represented by lesser number and surface of both depressions and holes were found with respect to the control; greater surfaces and diameters were noticed compared to those found in the unburned pig trotters). The shape of the marks was equal in the controls and treatments.

Decomposition of human remains in acid; pig trotters in various concentrations of hydrochloric acid

Decomposition of human remains in acid; pig trotters in various concentrations of hydrochloric acid

Marks caused by the scavenging activity of Necrobia rufipes (Coleoptera: Cleridae) under laboratory conditions

Insects are an important group involved in carrion consumption and are thus of forensic interest. In the laboratory we studied the taphonomic marks that Necrobia rufipes (Cleridae) can produce. Pig trotters were exposed to adult beetles at 21 ± 3 °C and 12:12 h day/night cycle. We made observations and took photographs every 4–5 days for 12 months. Marks were noted after a month. We found scratches, pits, holes, and tunnels in several kinds of tissue such as integumental, connective and muscular. This work contributes preliminary data of significant application in biology, ecology, anthropology and forensics. Until now, no study has provided taphonomic information with N. rufipes.

Investigating the Postmortem Molecular Biology of Cartilage and its Potential Forensic Applications.

This study investigated the postmortem molecular changes that articular cartilage undergoes following burial. Fresh pig trotters were interred in 30-cm-deep graves at two distinct locations exhibiting dissimilar soil environments for up to 42days. Extracts of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint cartilage from trotters disinterred weekly over 6weeks were analyzed by Western blot against the monoclonal antibody 2-B-6 to assess aggrecan degradation. In both soil conditions, aggrecan degradation by-products of decreasing molecular size and complexity were observed up to 21days postmortem. Degradation products were undetected after this time and coincided with MCP/MTP joint exposure to the soil environment. These results show that cartilage proteoglycans undergo an ordered molecular breakdown, the analysis of which may have forensic applications. This model may prove useful for use as a human model and for forensic investigations concerning crimes against animals and the mortality of endangered species.

Effect of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) on growth control of Clostridium perfringens and lipid oxidation of ready-to-eat Jokbal (pig's trotters).

This study investigated the antimicrobial effects of rooibos (tea extract), potassium lactate (PL) and sodium diacetate (SDA) mixture alone or in combinations on the growth of Clostridium perfringens vegetative cell and spore in ready-to-eat (RTE) Jokbal (pig's trotters). Addition of a combination of 10% rooibos and 4% PL + SDA inhibit growth of C. perfringens vegetative cell in Jokbal at 24 °C and 36 °C. The significant inhibition on germination and growth of C. perfringens spores was also observed in Jokbal with a combination of 10% rooibos and 4% PL + SDA (PL: 2.24%, SDA: 0.16%) at 24 °C. The Jokbal treated with 10% rooibos and 4% PL + SDA mixture had significantly (P < 0.05) lower TBARS values than the control at 10 and 24 °C. The lipid oxidation inhibition effect was the highest (P < 0.05) in anaerobic packed Jokbal with 10% rooibos. The addition of a combination of 10% rooibos and 4% PL + SDA during the processing of Jokbal prevented the growth of C. perfringens and the germination and growth of C. perfringens spores at room temperature. This study shows rooibos tea as a valuable natural food preservative in meat products.

Effects of Temperature and Packaging on the Growth Kinetics of Clostridium perfringens in Ready-to-eat Jokbal (Pig's Trotters).

Ready-to-eat (RTE) Jokbal (Pig's trotter), which consists of pig's feet cooked in soy sauce and various spices, is a very popular and widely sold in Korean retail markets. Commercially, the anaerobically packed Jokbal have also become a popular RTE food in several convenience stores. This study evaluates the effects of storage temperature and packaging methods for the growth of C. perfringens in Jokbal. Growth kinetic parameters of C. perfringens in aerobically and anaerobically packed Jokbals are determined at each temperature by the modified Gompertz equation. The lag time, specific growth rate, and maximum population density of C. perfringens are being analyzed as a function of temperature and packaging method. The minimum growth temperature of C. perfringens in aerobically and anaerobically packed Jokbal is 24℃ and 18℃, respectively. The C. perfringens in Jokbal did not grow under conditions of over 50℃ regardless of the packaging methods, indicating that the holding temperature of Jokbal in markets must be maintained at above 50℃ or below 18℃. Growth of C. perfringens in anaerobically packed Jokbal is faster than in aerobically packed Jokbal when stored under the same conditions. This indicates that there are a higher risks associated with C. perfringens for anaerobically packed meat products.

Taphonomic Marks on Pig Tissue Due to Cadaveric Coleoptera Activity Under Controlled Conditions

The aim of this work was to study taphonomic marks that cadaveric coleopteran can produce under controlled conditions. To evaluate this, pig trotters were initially exposed to adults of Dermestes maculatus De Geer at 21 ± 5°C and a 12:12-h day/night cycle. Observations were made and photographs taken every 4-5 days for 9 months. When feeding and reproducing, D. maculatus produced, in both adult and larvae stages, different types of marks such as holes, striations, scratches, and pits in several kinds of tissue such as integumental, connective, and muscular, in both their fresh and dried stages. Bite marks were also evident. The results in this study provide not only taphonomic but also biological and forensic information. This is the first time that this kind of experiment has been performed.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Tool for Pork Pie Development.

The traditional British pork pie consists of roughly chopped pork cooked in a hot water pastry crust. Due to shrinkage of the meat during cooking, the gap formed around the meat is usually sealed using a gelatin based jelly to exclude air and thus help to preserve the pie. The properties of the jelly are such that it will ingress into the pastry crust causing undesirable softening. The jelly is traditionally produced by simmering pig trotters with seasoning for several hours. In this work we demonstrate the potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a tool for investigating the conditions required for producing jellies with different properties and present two examples of this use. Firstly we demonstrate that MRI can determine the ability of water to diffuse through the jelly which is critical in minimizing the amount of moisture moving from the jelly to the crust. Secondly, the impact of jelly temperature on the penetration length into the crust is investigated. These examples highlight the power of MRI as a tool for food assessment.

Use of porcine trotters as models for flexor tendon repair—the pulley system

Porcine trotters have been reported to be useful models for practicing tendon repair surgery. It is difficult to assess the approach of the trainees to pulleys in the in vitro models e.g. pig trotters as the number and the nature of the pulleys is different to that of humans. In this study, we explored the feasibility of fabricating the human pulley system in pig trotter to help provide a better model reflecting human hand. Twenty fresh porcine trotters were dissected. Thick fibro-osseous tunnel covering the flexor tendons was exposed. A template of human pulley system was made and five annular pulleys carved out in the fibro-osseous tunnel. The fabricated pulleys prevented bow stringing, allowing full excursion of the flexor tendons. Thus, a human annular pulley system can be fabricated in a pig trotter model to make it more effective and efficient training model.

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence: Feral pigs as vectors of soil‐borne pathogens

AbstractInvasive soil‐borne pathogens are a major threat to forest ecosystems worldwide. The newly discovered soil pathogen, Phytophthora ‘taxon Agathis’ (PTA), is a serious threat to endemic kauri (Agathis australis: Araucariaceae) in New Zealand. This study examined the potential for feral pigs to act as vectors of PTA. We investigated whether snouts and trotters of feral pigs carry soil contaminated with PTA, and using these results determined the probability that feral pigs act as a vector. We screened the soil on trotters and snouts from 457 pigs for PTA using various baiting techniques and molecular testing. This study detected 19 species of plant pathogens in the soil on pig trotters and snouts, including a different Phytophthora species (Phytophthora cinnamomi). However, no PTA was isolated from the samples. A positive control experiment showed a test sensitivity of 0–3% for the baiting methods and the data obtained were used in a Bayesian probability modelling approach. This showed a posterior probability of 35–90% (dependent on test sensitivity scores and design prevalence) that pigs do vector PTA and estimated that a sample size of over 1000 trotters would be required to prove a negative result. We conclude that feral pigs cannot be ruled out as a vector of soil‐based plant pathogens and that there is still a high probability that feral pigs do vector PTA, despite our negative results. We also highlight the need to develop a more sensitive test for PTA in small soil samples associated with pigs due to unreliable detection rates using the current method.

A study of the anatomy and repair strengths of porcine flexor and extensor tendons: are they appropriate experimental models?

Although both porcine flexor and extensor tendons have been used in tendon repair research, no studies have specifically studied the anatomical differences and repair strengths in both types of tendons. We used 12 pig trotters to observe the anatomy of these tendons and compared the 2mm gap and ultimate strengths of flexor and extensor tendons. There were four annular (A1, A2, A3, and A4) pulleys and one oblique pulley, which form a fibro-osseous tunnel for the flexor tendons, but the anatomy of the porcine extensor tendons was markedly different from the human flexor or extensor tendons. The diameter of flexor tendons was significantly greater than that of the extensors. The 2mm gap and ultimate strengths of the flexor tendon with either two-strand or four-strand repairs were significantly greater than those of the extensor tendon. We conclude that the porcine flexor tendon systems are similar to those in the human, but the extensor tendons are not similar to either the flexor or extensor tendons in humans. Flexor and extensor tendons have different repair strengths which should be taken into account when interpreting findings from investigations using these tendons.

A new surgical approach to remove subscapular exostoses in children

Trainees must seek simulated practice to maximise their surgical training. Existing tendon repair models have significant limitations. The dental roll lacks the translucency of the drinking straw. Silicon rods and pig trotters are excellent models; however, both are inconvenient, expensive and offer no feedback on handling technique. Furthermore, these models are easier to repair than human tendon through their size and handling characteristics. On drinking straws, tendon repair was picked up well by novices but impeccable stitch-handling is required for a ‘perfect’ repair. It is offered as an adjunct to existing models, offering specific technical benefits and the convenience to be used at any time, at home or at work.

Pig trotters lung - novel domestic transmission of Pasteurella multocida

Pasteurella multocida is a non-motile, faculatively-anaerobic, gram-negative bacillus associated with a spectrum of human disease. Direct and indirect zoonotic transmission is recognised with animal bites being most frequently encountered as a result of salivary colonisation in farm and domestic animals. Despite the prevalence of P. multocida in swine herds, the relationship between porcine colonisation and human disease is poorly established. This lesson reports a previously unrecognised mode of zoonotic transmission in respiratory pasteurellosis; domestic cooking of pig trotters.

Special postpartum dietary practices of Hong Kong Chinese women.

A 'ginger vinegar soup' and other special dietary practices have been traditionally recommended for postpartum Chinese women. This paper describes these practices in the first 6 weeks postpartum, and details of the calcium and iron content of the 'ginger vinegar soup'. Results of this paper were generated from a longitudinal study on the nutritional status of Hong Kong Chinese postpartum women. 'Ginger vinegar soup' samples were collected at the 2 week home visits. Calcium and iron content were measured by the combination of dry ashing method and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results were compared with other types of soup and food sources. A food frequency questionnaire was completed at the 6 week interview to assess the special dietary practices during this period. Fifty-one subjects completed the food frequency questionnaires. Twenty-two ginger vinegar soup samples and six other soup samples were collected. Consumption of special food items such as ginger, pig's trotters, egg and chicken varied greatly among subjects. More poultry and similar amounts of egg were consumed by our subjects as compared with the Hong Kong general population. Chicken soup and ginger vinegar soup were commonly consumed. Median calcium and iron contents of the ginger vinegar soup were 4.65 and 0.84 mg/dl, respectively. This calcium content was higher than that of the other six soup samples, but was low as compared with other calcium-rich foods. Iron content of ginger vinegar soup was higher than that of the other six samples and was comparable to some iron-rich foods. Hong Kong Chinese postpartum women followed traditional dietary practices to different degrees. These practices were characterized by an increased poultry consumption. Iron content of ginger vinegar soup was comparable to some iron-rich foods.