scholarly journals Outbreak of S. Weltevreden linked to fermented cashew nut cheese in Victoria, BC

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 74-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Schmitt ◽  
Gloria Yu ◽  
Richard Greve ◽  
Lorraine McIntyre
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Temperature Control ◽  
Starter Culture ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Natural Food ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Cashew Nut ◽  
Risk Practices ◽  
Food Processes ◽  
Single Batch

Twenty-three Salmonella enterica serovar Weltevreden (S. Weltevreden) illnesses occurred in a Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, restaurant following consumption of fermented vegan cheese. Three clusters of illness over 2 days were traced to a single batch of fermented cashew cheese spread. S. Weltevreden was detected in 11 clinical samples and in the cashew cheese spread. An inspection of the restaurant and review of the food processes revealed high-risk practices, such as use of rejuvelac as a starter culture for fermentation and poor temperature control. Three of five vegan and natural food restaurants in the Victoria area were using similar methods, indicating this type of product was common. Procedures to safely ferment vegan cheese spreads are presented. We also discuss higher-risk food items and practises noted in this event that inspectors should be aware of during inspections.

Pooling Raw Shell Eggs: Salmonella Contamination and High Risk Practices in the United Kingdom Food Service Sector

2010 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 574-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. GORMLEY ◽  
C. L. LITTLE ◽  
N. MURPHY ◽  
E. de PINNA ◽  
J. MCLAUCHLIN
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Food Service ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Risk Practices ◽  
Handling Practices

Salmonella contamination of pooled raw shelled egg mix (RSEM) used as an ingredient in lightly cooked or uncooked foods and high-risk kitchen hygiene practices in United Kingdom food service establishments using RSEM were investigated. Samples were collected from 934 premises. Salmonella was found in 1 (0.13%) of 764 RSEM samples, 2 (0.3%) of 726 samples from surfaces where ready-to-eat foods were prepared, and 7 (1.3%) of 550 cleaning cloths. Poor RSEM storage and handling practices were highlighted. Workers in 40% of the premises sampled failed to use designated utensils when RSEM was added to other ingredients, workers in 17% of the premises did not clean surfaces and utensils thoroughly after use with RSEM and before preparing other foods, only 42% of workers washed and dried their hands after handling eggs or RSEM, workers in 41% of the premises did not store RSEM at refrigeration temperature before use, and workers in 8% of the premises added RSEM to cooked rice at the end of cooking when preparing egg fried rice. Take-away premises, especially those serving Chinese cuisine, were least likely to have a documented food safety management system and awareness of the key food safety points concerning the use of RSEM compared with other food service premises (P < 0.0001). Food service businesses using RSEM must be aware of the continuing hazard from Salmonella, must adopt appropriate control measures, and must follow advice provided by national food agencies to reduce the risk of Salmonella infection.

Drug Use, Drug Trafficking, and Weapon Carrying Among Low-Income, African-American, Early Adolescent Boys

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 1065-1072
Author(s):  
Maureen M. Black ◽  
Izabel B. Ricardo
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Drug Trafficking ◽  
Early Adolescent ◽  
Weapon Carrying ◽  
Risk Practices ◽  
Drug Involvement ◽  
Drug Activities

Objective. To examine relationships involving three extremely high-risk behaviors (drug use, drug trafficking, and weapon carrying) among low-income, urban, African-American early adolescent boys using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Method. The quantitative phase included 192 African-American boys from 9 through 15 years of age recruited from recreation centers located in low-income communities. Youth completed a survey addressing personal risk practices; intentions to engage in risk practices; risk taking among family, friends and community; and values toward risk practices. They also completed standardized assessments of sensation seeking, perceived peer pressure, and parent-child communication. All questionnaires were self-administered through MacIntosh computers programmed to present questions aurally and visually. The qualitative phase included 12 African-American youth from low-income, urban families. The youth participated in 60- to 90-minute interviews regarding drug activities and violence. Results. Most boys (73%) were not involved in either drug activities or weapon carrying. Boys who were involved in drug activities or weapon carrying were often involved in other high-risk activities (cigarette and alcohol use, school failure and expulsion) and had low rates of adaptive communication with their parents. The boys reported high rates of drug involvement by their family, friends, and community. However, psychological and interpersonal factors were better predictors of individual risk activities than community or family variables. Personal values regarding economics predicted drug trafficking. More than 56% of the boys who reported past involvement in drug activities did not anticipate future involvement. Conclusions. Multilevel strategies are necessary to prevent involvement in drug activities and weapon carrying. Intervention programs should begin early and should promote communication between parents and children, adaptive behavior in school, and avoidance of cigarette and alcohol use. Community-level interventions are needed to alter the myth that drug involvement and weapon carrying are normative and to promote images that are less materialistic and more supportive of education and future-oriented activities.

scholarly journals Comparison of Body Composition and Fatty Acid Profiles between Wild and Cultured Rio Grande Silvery Minnows

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 487-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madison S. Powell ◽  
Ronald W. Hardy ◽  
Alison M. Hutson ◽  
Louie A. Toya ◽  
Douglas Tave
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Artificial Diet ◽  
Condition Factor ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Wild Fish ◽  
Natural Food ◽  
Fatty Acid Profiles ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Supplementary Feed

Abstract Federally endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnows (RGSM; Hybognathus amarus) were raised in one of three culture regimes: intensively, with only a hatchery diet; semi-intensively with access to natural food and hatchery diet supplementation; and with only natural food available at the Los Lunas Silvery Minnow Refugium (Los Lunas, New Mexico), a naturalized conservation refugium designed to mimic the natural environment of the RGSM in the Rio Grande. The project compared each culture regime and assessed differences and similarities in lipid and fatty acid content between feeding an artificial diet and consumption of natural food items in this species. After 117 d, whole-body lipid levels and fatty acid profiles were measured in each group and compared with values for wild RGSM. Fish fed the hatchery diet exclusively or as supplementary feed had significantly higher percent lipid (15.5% ± 0.5% and 10.6% ± 0.1%, respectively) than fish raised without access to the diet. Both groups had significantly higher percent lipid than fish raised in the refugium or wild fish (8.3% ± 0.1% and 7.8% ± 0.2%, respectively). Condition factor differed among groups and was highest in fish fed the hatchery diet (1.00) followed by fish supplemented with the hatchery diet (0.93), refugium fish (0.91), and wild fish (0.90). In this respect, refugium fish appeared more similar to wild fish than fish fed the hatchery diet or offered the diet as a supplement. Comparison of fatty acid profiles among groups showed marked differences among wild fish, refugium fish, and those fed the hatchery diet, either exclusively or as supplementary feed. Total omega-3 fatty acids, expressed as percentage of total fatty acids, were highest in wild fish but similar among other groups. Total omega-6 fatty acids showed an opposite trend, with five to nine times higher percentages of linoleic acid observed among fish from the three culture regimes compared with wild fish. Significant differences in lipid content and fatty acid composition between wild RGSM and cultured silvery minnows reflected their respective diets and culture regimes. Given similarities in fat content and condition factor with wild RGSM, we conclude that fish in the refugium do not require supplemental feeding with an artificial diet for this type of naturalized conservation management. Results from this study show that RGSM readily forage on natural food items present and also artificial feed when available, indicating dietary plasticity, which is advantageous for fish culture and future recovery.

Constructing a Defined Starter for Multispecies Vinegar Fermentation via Evaluating the Vitality and Dominance of Functional Microbes in Autochthonous Starter

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Huang ◽  
Zhen-Ming Lu ◽  
Ming-Ye Peng ◽  
Li-Juan Chai ◽  
Xiao-Juan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Starter Culture ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Natural Food ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
Acid Fermentation ◽  
Operational Taxonomic Units ◽  
Core Species ◽  
Efficient Fermentation

Mature vinegar culture has usually been used as a type of autochthonous starter for rapidly initiate initiating the next batch of acetic acid fermentation (AAF) and maintaining the batch-to-batch uniformity of AAF in the production of traditional cereal vinegar. However, the vitality and dominance of functional microbes in autochthonous starters remain unclear, which hinders further improvement of fermentation yield and production. Here, based on metagenomic (MG), metatranscriptomic (MT), and 16S rRNA gene sequencings, 11 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with significant metabolic activity (MT/MG ratio >1) and dominance (relative abundance >1%) were targeted in the autochthonous vinegar starter, all of which were assigned to 4 species ( Acetobacter pasteurianus , Lactobacillus acetotolerans , L. helveticus , Acetilactobacillus jinshanensis ). Then, we evaluated the successions and interactions of these 11 bacterial OTUs at different AAF stages. Last, a defined starter was constructed with 4 core species isolated from the autochthonous starter ( A. pasteurianus , L. acetotolerans , L. helveticus , Ac. jinshanensis ). The defined starter culture could rapidly initiate the AAF in a sterile or unsterilized environment and similar dynamics of metabolites (ethanol, titratable acidity, acetic acid, lactic acid, and volatile compounds) and environmental indexes (temperature, pH) of fermentation were observed as compared with that of autochthonous starter ( P > 0.05). This work provides a method to construct a defined microbiota from a complex system while preserving its metabolic function. IMPORTANCE Complex microorganisms are beneficial to the flavor formation in natural food fermentation, but they also pose challenges to the mass production of standardized products. It is attractive to construct a defined starter to rapidly initiate fermentation process and significantly improve fermentation yield. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of vital and dominant species in the autochthonous vinegar starter via multi-omics, and designs a defined microbial community for the efficient fermentation of cereal vinegar.

scholarly journals 1756. Prediction of Bloodstream Infection Prior to Onset of Symptoms by Plasma Metagenomic Sequencing in Pediatric Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Malignancy (PREDSEQ)

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S60-S60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Goggin ◽  
Yuki Inaba ◽  
Veronica Gonzalez-Pena ◽  
Kim J Allison ◽  
Ka Lok Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Bloodstream Infection ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Metagenomic Sequencing ◽  
Research Support ◽  
Documented Infection ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi ◽  
Refractory Malignancy

Abstract Background Patients undergoing treatment for relapsed or refractory malignancies are at high risk of life-threatening bloodstream infection (BSI). A predictive screening test for BSI might allow pre-emptive therapy, but no validated test is currently available. We tested the hypothesis that plasma metagenomic next generation pathogen sequencing (NGS) would predict BSI before the onset of attributable symptoms. Methods We enrolled 31 pediatric patients receiving for treatment relapsed or refractory malignancy in an IRB-approved prospective cohort study (PREDSEQ) of predictive sequencing. Episodes of febrile neutropenia or documented infection were collected prospectively from the medical record. BSI was defined according to NHSN criteria. Control Samples were defined as samples collected ≥7 clear days before or after any fever or documented infection. Residual clinical samples were stored for NGS; after filtering human sequences, reads were aligned to a curated pathogen database, and organisms above a predefined threshold were reported (Karius Inc., Redwood City, CA). Only bacteria and fungi were included in this analysis. Results A total of 11 BSI episodes occurred in 9 participants (Table 1) during the study period. Predictive sensitivity of NGS in the 2 days before onset of infection (n = 9) was 78% (95% CI 45–94%), and diagnostic sensitivity on the day of infection (n = 11) was 82% (95% CI 52–95%). Specificity of NGS for development of fever or infection within 7 days (n = 16) was 81% (95% CI 57–93%). NGS was positive up to 6 days prior to onset of BSI. In samples collected before or during documented infections, NGS also identified additional bacteria and fungi that were not detected by standard clinical testing. Conclusion Plasma NGS shows promise for the detection of BSI prior to onset of symptoms in high-risk patients. Disclosures K. Goggin, Karius Inc.: Investigator, Research support. K. L. Chan, Karius Inc.: Employee, Salary. D. Hollemon, Karius Inc.: Employee, Salary. A. Ahmed, Karius, Inc.: Employee, Salary. D. Hong, Karius, Inc.: Employee, Salary. R. Hayden, Roche Molecular: Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee. Abbott Molecular: Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee. Quidel: Scientific Advisor, Consulting fee. C. Gawad, Karius Inc.: Investigator, Research support. J. Wolf, Karius Inc.: Investigator, Research support.

scholarly journals Comparison of culture methodology for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in clinical specimens collected from dogs

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew E. Saab ◽  
C. Anne Muckle ◽  
Henrik Stryhn ◽  
J. Trenton McClure
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Traditional Culture ◽  
Culture Method ◽  
Confirmatory Test ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius ◽  
Mannitol Salt Agar ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Oxacillin Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) has emerged as a major pathogen in dogs and has been implicated as a hospital-acquired pathogen in veterinary hospitals. We attempted to determine if selective culture methods will detect more MRSP when compared to the traditional culture methods in clinical samples from dogs in Atlantic Canada with a high risk for MRSP infection. Each sample was tested using 4 culture methods: traditional culture; mannitol salt agar with 2 μg/mL of oxacillin (MSAox); enrichment broth (EB) with MSAox; and EB with traditional culture. Detection of penicillin-binding protein 2’, via latex agglutination, was used as a confirmatory test for oxacillin resistance. We analyzed 741 samples from 556 dogs between February 2013 and April 2014. The prevalence of MRSP in samples detected by any method was estimated at 13.4% (95% CI: 11.1–16.0%). When the prevalence of MRSP was determined according to culture method, EB with MSAox detected the highest prevalence (11.2% [9.1–13.7%]), followed by EB with traditional (10.8% [8.8–13.2%]), traditional (10.1% [8.1–12.5%]), and MSAox (8.9% [7.1–11.2%]). The prevalence using the traditional culture method did not differ significantly from any of the 3 selective culture methods. Culture with MSAox detected significantly fewer MRSP than either of the EB methods. The addition of EB to current methodology is recommended, particularly for patients considered at high risk for MRSP infection.

scholarly journals Immunoautophagy-Related Long Noncoding RNA (IAR-lncRNA) Signature Predicts Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1301
Author(s):  
Yulu Wang ◽  
Fangfang Ge ◽  
Amit Sharma ◽  
Oliver Rudan ◽  
Maria F. Setiawan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Non Coding Rna ◽  
Long Non Coding Rna

Background: The dysregulation of autophagy and immunological processes has been linked to various pathophysiological conditions, including cancer. Most notably, their particular involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is becoming increasingly evident. This has led to the possibility of developing a prognostic signature based on immuno-autophagy-related (IAR) genes. Given that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) also play a special role in HCC, a combined signature utilizing IAR genes and HCC-associated long noncoding RNAs (as IARlncRNA) may potentially help in the clinical scenario. Method: We used Pearson correlation analysis, Kaplan–Meier survival curves, univariate and multivariate Cox regression, and ROC curves to generate and validate a prognostic immuno-autophagy-related long non-coding RNA (IARlncRNA) signature. The Chi-squared test was utilized to investigate the correlation between the obtained signature and the clinical characteristics. CIBERSORT algorithms and the Wilcoxon rank sum test were applied to investigate the correlation between signature and infiltrating immune cells. GO and KEGG analyses were performed to derived signature-dependent pathways. Results: Herein, we build an IAR-lncRNA signature (as first in the literature) and demonstrate its prognostic ability in hepatocellular carcinoma. Primarily, we identified three IARlncRNAs (MIR210HG, AC099850.3 and CYTOR) as unfavorable prognostic determinants. The obtained signature predicted the high-risk HCC group with shorter overall survival, and was further associated with clinical characteristics such as tumor grade (t = 10.918, p = 0.001). Additionally, several infiltrating immune cells showed varied fractions between the low-risk group and the high-risk HCC groups in association with the obtained signature. In addition, pathways analysis described by the signature clearly distinguishes both risk groups in HCC. Conclusions: The immuno-autophagy-related long non-coding RNA (IARlncRNA) signature we established exhibits a prognostic ability in hepatocellular carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt in the literature to combine three determinants (immune, autophagy and LnRNAs), thus requiring molecular validation of this obtained signature in clinical samples.

High Risk Human Papillomavirus Genotyping in Clinical Samples: Evaluation of Different Commercial Tests

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Paolini ◽  
F. Rollo ◽  
R. Brandi ◽  
M. Benevolo ◽  
L. Mariani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Papillomavirus ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Clinical Samples

scholarly journals Food and Feeding Habits of Black Spot Cat Fish (Auchenoglanis biscutatus) from Lower River Benue, Makurdi

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Edem, Edem Thomas ◽  
Patience B. Opeh
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Black Spot ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Stomach Content Analysis ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Natural Food ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Food And Feeding

The present study is aimed to provide information on the food and feeding habit of adult Auchenoglanis biscutatus in Lower River Benue. The natural food of A. biscutatus in the Lower River Benue was studied from stomach contents of the fish. The stomach contents were analyzed using two methods; the frequency of occurrence and point methods. A total of 100 stomachs were randomly examined. Eleven major items constituted the diet of A. biscutatus. The stomach content analysis of A. biscutatus have shown that they fed on the various food items ranging from plant parts, detritus, seeds, digested food particles, fish parts, mollusc, sand/mud, insect parts and algae. This indicates that A. biscutatus is an omnivorous bottom feeder since; bottom dwelling immature insects dominated most of the food items of animal origin, digested food and detritus. A. biscutatus in Lower Benue River feeds on a wide range of food items which could make it to be regarded as an omnivore. Future attempts to culture this species must take cognizance of its food habits in the wild.

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