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2022 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Kirstie Canene-Adams ◽  
Ieva Laurie ◽  
Kavita Karnik ◽  
Brian Flynn ◽  
William Goodwin ◽  
...  

Abstract For improving human health, reformulation can be a tool as it allows individuals to consume products of choice while reducing intake of less desirable nutrients, such as sugars and fats, and potentially increasing intake of beneficial nutrients such as fibre. The potential effects of reformulating foods with increased fibre on diet and on health needs to be better understood. The objective of this statistical modelling study was to understand how fibre enrichment can affect the diet and health of consumers. The UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) datasets from 2014 - 2015 and 2015 - 2016 were utilised to evaluate intakes of fibre and Kilocalories with a dietary intake model. Foods and beverages eligible for fibre enrichment were identified (n = 915) based on EU legislation for fibre content claims. Those people who meet Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) and fibre enrichment health outcomes such as weight, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes risk reductions were quantified pre and post fibre reformulation via Reynolds et al, D’Agostino et al, and QDiabetes algorithms, respectively. The fibre enrichment intervention showed a mean fibre intake in the UK of 19.9 g/day, signifying a 2.2 g/day increase from baseline. Modelling suggested that 5.9% of subjects could achieve a weight reduction, 72.2% a reduction in cardiovascular risk, and 71.7% a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes risk with fibre fortification (all p ≤ 0.05). This study gave a good overview of the potential public health benefits of reformulating food products using a straightforward enrichment scenario.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Aristu ◽  
Taylor Pollak

Methylmercury is a highly toxic organic compound that bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in the human body when absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract after ingestion.1 Thus, monitoring methylmercury levels in fish is crucial for protecting public health and preventing dramatic scenarios such as the Minamata disease crisis in Japan. In this study, three different species of wild caught fish – Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) from Alaska, USA; tuna imported from Vietnam; and swordfish (Xiphias gladius) imported from Indonesia – were collected from a Harris Teeter grocery store in Washington D.C. Total mercury concentration was measured by ICP-MS and the analyzed samples’ concentrations were 19.8 ± 2.9 ppb, 2.67 ± 0.01 ppm, and 380 ± 9 ppb for Sockeye Salmon, swordfish, and tuna, respectively.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Aristu ◽  
Taylor Pollak

Methylmercury is a highly toxic organic compound that bioaccumulates and biomagnifies in the human body when absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract after ingestion.1 Thus, monitoring methylmercury levels in fish is crucial for protecting public health and preventing dramatic scenarios such as the Minamata disease crisis in Japan. In this study, three different species of wild caught fish – Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) from Alaska, USA; tuna imported from Vietnam; and swordfish (Xiphias gladius) imported from Indonesia – were collected from a Harris Teeter grocery store in Washington D.C. Total mercury concentration was measured by ICP-MS and the analyzed samples’ concentrations were 19.8 ± 2.9 ppb, 2.67 ± 0.01 ppm, and 380 ± 9 ppb for Sockeye Salmon, swordfish, and tuna, respectively.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vettakkara Kandy Muhammed Niyas ◽  
Afra Shamnath ◽  
Roshni KJ ◽  
Rahul C. Bhoyar ◽  
Vimalraj A N ◽  
...  

The SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern, Delta (B.1.617.2) was first reported in December 2020 in India and has spread colossally throughout the globe. Owing to factors like increased transmissibility, immune escape, and virulence, the delta variant has been considered as a potential public health threat apart from other variants of concern like alpha, beta and gamma. Kerala was one of the first states in India to enroll in the systematic genomic surveillance. In the present report, vaccine breakthrough infections were followed up in 147 patients including 55 healthcare workers who had been vaccinated with ChAdOx1 nCoV- 19/BBV152 across eleven districts from the state of Kerala. The timeline of samples analysed were from April 2021 till June 2021. Severity of the infections reported in the enrolled patients found to be mildly symptomatic, majorly with only 0.7% (n=1) of the cohort to be asymptomatic. Genomic analysis of the samples revealed the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) to constitute about 81.6% (n=120) in the studied cohort. This was followed by the Kappa variant B.1.617.1 (8.35%, n=9), AY.1 (0.6%, n= 1), AY.12 (0.6%, n= 1), AY.4 (1.2%, n= 2), AY.9 (1.2%, n= 2) and Eta variant, B.1.525 (0.6%, n= 1). 11 samples were not assigned any lineage. Evidence from this study suggests the preponderance of the Delta variant in the samples analysed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 117 (11/12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey Duvenage ◽  
Werner Rossouw ◽  
Germán Villamizar-Rodríguez ◽  
Erika M. du Plessis ◽  
Lise Korsten

The presence of Staphylococcus spp. has increasingly been reported in food products and poses a public health threat. The aim of this study was to determine the diversity of Staphylococcus spp. and the antibiotic resistance profiles of isolates obtained from freshly harvested and packed ready-to-eat mushrooms (n=432) and handlers’ hands (n=150). A total of 56 Staphylococcus isolates [46.4% (n=26) from hands and 53.6% (n=30) from mushrooms] were recovered belonging to 10 species. Staphylococcus succinus isolates (n=21) were the most prevalent, of which 52.4% came from mushrooms and 47.6% from hands. This was followed by S. equorum isolates [n=12; 91.7% (n=11) from mushrooms and 8.3% (n=1) from hands] and S. saprophyticus [n=9; 66.7% (n=6) from mushrooms and 33.3% (n=3) from hands]. Six isolates that were characterised as multidrug resistant were isolated from hands of handlers. Most (83.9%; n=47) of the 56 isolates were resistant to penicillin [53.2% (n=25) from mushrooms and 46.8% (n=22) from hands] and 14.3% (n=8) were resistant to cephalosporin classes [25% (n=2) from mushrooms and 75% (n=6) from hands], both of which are used to treat staphylococcal infections. Antibiotic resistance genes blaZ [25.0% (n=14) of all isolates of which 71.4% (n=10) were from hands and 28.57% (n=4) from mushrooms], tetL and tetK [both 1.8% (n=1) from hands], mecA [5.4% (n=3) from hands] and ermA [1.8% (n=1) from mushrooms] were detected from the 56 isolates. Only two (25.0%) of the eight methicillin-resistant staphylococci harboured the mecA gene, while only 11 (23%) of the 47 penicillin-resistant isolates harboured the blaZ gene [36.4% (n=4) from mushrooms and 63.6% (n=7) from hands]. Our results demonstrate that food handlers and harvested and packed ready-to-eat mushrooms could be a source of diverse Staphylococcus spp. that exhibit antimicrobial resistance. Clinically relevant S. aureus was only detected on one handler’s hand; however, the isolate was not multidrug resistant. The presence of diverse Staphylococcus spp. on mushrooms and the hands of handlers is a potential public health concern due to their potential to cause opportunistic infections.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0260033
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Borges ◽  
Ryan Holliday ◽  
Sean M. Barnes ◽  
Nazanin H. Bahraini ◽  
Adam Kinney ◽  
...  

Medical leaders have warned of the potential public health burden of a “parallel pandemic” faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. These individuals may have experienced scenarios in which their moral code was violated resulting in potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs). In the present study, hierarchical linear modeling was utilized to examine the role of PMIEs on COVID-19 pandemic-related difficulties in psychosocial functioning among 211 healthcare providers (83% female, 89% White, and an average of 11.30 years in their healthcare profession [9.31]) over a 10-month span (May 2020 –March 2021). Reported exposure to PMIEs was associated with statistically significant poorer self-reported psychosocial functioning at baseline and over the course of 10-months of data collection. Within exploratory examinations of PMIE type, perceptions of transgressions by self or others (e.g., “I acted in ways that violated my own moral code or values”), but not perceived betrayal (e.g., “I feel betrayed by leaders who I once trusted”), was associated with poorer COVID-19 related psychosocial functioning (e.g., feeling connected to others, relationship with spouse or partner). Findings from this study speak to the importance of investing in intervention and prevention efforts to mitigate the consequences of exposure to PMIEs among healthcare providers. Interventions for healthcare providers targeting psychosocial functioning in the context of moral injury is an important area for future research.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Michael S. Bank ◽  
Sophia V. Hansson

AbstractThe microplastic cycle was originally and formally introduced and defined as a novel concept and paradigm for understanding plastic pollution and its fluxes across ecosystem reservoirs. This concept has now been expanded to include macroplastic particles and links all aspects of the fate, transport, and effects of plastic pollution, including source-receptor models in the environment, and expanded on previously established perspectives that viewed the plastic pollution issue in a less integrated manner. The value of this paradigm is that this perspective integrates three basic scientific spheres: environmental chemistry, biology (i.e., trophic transfer), and human health. The goal of this chapter is to introduce readers to the microplastic pollution problem and to outline the microplastic cycle as a concept and holistic paradigm for addressing this ubiquitous environmental and potential public health problem. The specific objectives of this chapter were to (1) introduce this volume and its chapters by outlining the microplastic pollution issue in the context of the entire plastic cycle; (2) evaluate fluxes of microplastics across different ecosystem compartments, including the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere. and biosphere, including humans; and (3) provide insights on public policy and potential solutions to the microplastic pollution problem.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Erkihun Aklilu ◽  
Azian Harun ◽  
Kirnpal Kaur Banga Singh ◽  
Shamsaldeen Ibrahim ◽  
Nor Fadhilah Kamaruzzaman

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has been a public health risk in several countries, and recent reports indicate the emergence of CRE in food animals. This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence, resistance patterns, and phylogenetic diversity of carbapenem-resistant E. coli (CREC) from chicken. Routine bacteriology, PCR detection of E. coli species, multiplex PCR to detect carbapenemase-encoding genes, and phylogeny of CRE E. coli were conducted. The results show that 24.36% (19/78) were identified as CREC based on the phenotypic identifications of which 17 were positive for the tested carbapenemases genes. The majority, 57.99% (11/19), of the isolates harbored multiple carbapenemase genes. Four isolates harbored all blaNDM, blaOXA, and blaIMP, and five and two different isolates harbored blaNDM and blaOXA and blaOXA and blaIMP, respectively. The meropenem, imipenem, and ertapenem MIC values for the isolates ranged from 2 μg/mL to ≥256 μg/mL. Phylogenetic grouping showed that the CREC isolates belonged to five different groups: groups A, B1, C, D, and unknown. The detection of CREC in this study shows that it has become an emerging problem in farm animals, particularly, in poultry farms. This also implies the potential public health risks posed by CRE from chicken to the consumers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhary Alewy Almashhadany

Although antibiotics are valuable drugs for treatment of certain infections, their presence in foodstuff derived from animals is a potential public health hazard. They pose a serious threat as they are implicated in direct toxicity; allergic reactions; disturbance of the normal gut microbiota, carcinogenesis, and emergence of antibioticresistant bacteria. This study investigated the occurrence of antibiotic residues in raw milk samples derived from cows and buffaloes. Samples were collected randomly from different retail outlets in Erbil city (Iraq) from January 1st to June 30th, 2019. The residues were detected by two diffusion assays against Bacillus subtilis bacteria on agar plates. The total occurrence of residues ranged from 11.9% to 13.4% of screened milk samples. No significant differences were found between milk type or location of animal rearing (urban or suburban). Regarding the seasonal variations, spring was found to be associated with gradual decrease in antibiotic residues levels in milk. Such occurrence rate of residues is alarming and require authorities to observe the quality of raw milk introduced to markets for consumption. Further evaluation of antibiotic stability period in raw milk is also necessary.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 3153
Author(s):  
Peter Anderson ◽  
Daša Kokole ◽  
Eva Jane Llopis

Switching from higher strength to low- and no-alcohol products could result in consumers buying and drinking fewer grams of ethanol. We undertook a scoping review with systematic searches of English language publications between 1 January 2010 and 17 January 2021 using PubMed and Web of Science, covering production, consumption, and policy drivers related to low- and no-alcohol products. Seventy publications were included in our review. We found no publications comparing a life cycle assessment of health and environmental impacts between alcohol-free and regular-strength products. Three publications of low- and no-alcohol beers found only limited penetration of sales compared with higher strength beers. Two publications from only one jurisdiction (Great Britain) suggested that sales of no- and low-alcohol beers replaced rather than added to sales of higher strength beers. Eight publications indicated that taste, prior experiences, brand, health and wellbeing issues, price differentials, and overall decreases in the social stigma associated with drinking alcohol-free beverages were drivers of the purchase and consumption of low- and no-alcohol beers and wines. Three papers indicated confusion amongst consumers with respect to the labelling of low- and no-alcohol products. One paper indicated that the introduction of a minimum unit price in both Scotland and Wales favoured shifts in purchases from higher- to lower-strength beers. The evidence base for the potential beneficial health impact of low- and no-alcohol products is very limited and needs considerable expansion. At present, the evidence base could be considered inadequate to inform policy.


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