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Reviews on Environmental Health Mar 2023Food additives contain synthetic and natural chemical compounds and are one of the causes of food allergies. In this regard, it is necessary to recognize the food... (Review)
Review
Food additives contain synthetic and natural chemical compounds and are one of the causes of food allergies. In this regard, it is necessary to recognize the food additives that are of special interest for children. In this survey, the relation between food additives and allergic reactions and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders in children was studied. The research studies with keywords "allergic reactions", "hypersensitivity", "food additives" and "children" were searched in PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and SID databases, from 1984 to 2020. Three hundred twenty-seven studies were obtained and only seven articles were finally selected according to exclusion and inclusion criteria. In the final review, seven articles were selected to investigate the relationship between food additives and hypersensitivity reactions. Some clinical factors such as urticaria, eczema, rhinitis and gastrointestinal symptoms and the prevalence of laboratory evidence in atopic children are due to increased exposure to food additives including artificial colors and sweeteners, preservatives, and monosodium glutamate. Clinical signs and laboratory evidence prove a significant association between some food additives and allergenic adverse reactions. It was also found that food additives such as artificial colors and sweeteners, preservatives, and monosodium glutamate are responsible for most cases of hypersensitivity in children, and the prevalence of hypersensitivity to food additives was estimated to be about 1.2% based on data extracted from studies.
Topics: Humans; Food Additives; Sodium Glutamate; Prevalence; Food Hypersensitivity; Sweetening Agents
PubMed: 35106984
DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2021-0158 -
Contact Dermatitis Apr 2023Vulvar allergic contact dermatitis (vACD) and irritant contact dermatitis (vICD) are common and accompanied by a great burden on the patient's life. We aimed to review... (Review)
Review
Vulvar allergic contact dermatitis (vACD) and irritant contact dermatitis (vICD) are common and accompanied by a great burden on the patient's life. We aimed to review the existing literature on vACD and vICD in order to provide a comprehensive reference list of potential vulvar allergens and irritants, as well as to establish the role of patch testing therein. A systematic search was performed in Medline, Embase and Web of Science using a search string based on the PICO-format. The study protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42021239527). Multiple allergens were identified and included metals, topical drugs, fragrances, preservatives, cosmetic constituents and rubber components. Not all positive reactions were, however, considered to be relevant. Patch testing is the primary tool for the identification of the causal allergens. Testing with standard series alone was proven to be insufficient. Little information about irritants was found. In the future, additional series and late readings should be considered in standard practice. Studies on vICD are scarce and further research is necessary. More population-based research should be performed.
Topics: Female; Humans; Allergens; Irritants; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Patch Tests; Dermatitis, Irritant; Vulva
PubMed: 36458568
DOI: 10.1111/cod.14258 -
Archives of Razi Institute Nov 2021Substance P binds to the Neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptors found in the emetic center of the central nervous system (CNS) to induce emesis. Maropitant is a selective NK-1... (Review)
Review
Substance P binds to the Neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptors found in the emetic center of the central nervous system (CNS) to induce emesis. Maropitant is a selective NK-1 receptor antagonist that inhibits the binding of substance P to NK-1 receptors and is commonly used to prevent and treat vomiting in dogs. This review study aimed to discuss and analyze the therapeutic potential of substance P (Neurokinin-1 receptor) antagonist with a particular focus on the drug maropitant in canine medicine. A systematic literature review was performed to identify the existing literature on the subject during the past 20 years (2001-2021) using such databases as ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The initial search identified 173 articles; however, 41 articles were selected for further analysis, based on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies have already confirmed the role of substance P and NK-1 receptors in central pain processing, intestinal smooth muscle contraction, vasodilation, and neurogenic inflammation. Maropitant is one of the most effective veterinary antiemetic drugs that work well against peripheral and central stimuli that trigger the vomiting center. It has been already demonstrated that the therapeutic efficacy of maropitant for managing acute vomiting in dogs is associated with pancreatitis, gastritis, and parvoviral enteritis. It can also prevent and treat chemotherapy-induced emesis and delay the signs of nausea and adverse gastrointestinal effects. Regarding the broad-spectrum antiemetic activity of maropitant, it can be recommended for managing uremic vomiting in dogs. In addition, it has also exhibited an anesthetic sparing effect since the dogs treated with maropitant require a slightly lower percentage of isoflurane as an inhalational anesthetic. The NK-1 receptors are also identified in different areas of the pain pathways. Therefore, NK-1 receptor antagonists might be effective for managing visceral pain. However, further studies are required to establish the broad therapeutic potential of NK-1 receptor antagonist drugs, such as maropitant in canine medicine. It has been shown that the pain associated with the subcutaneous administration of maropitant is due to metacresol, a preservative used in some formulations. Therefore, the side effects can be eliminated by developing novel maropitant formulations specifically for dogs.
Topics: Animals; Antiemetics; Dogs; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; Receptors, Neurokinin-1; Substance P; Vomiting
PubMed: 35355772
DOI: 10.22092/ari.2021.356171.1797 -
The British Journal of Ophthalmology Nov 2020This systematic review compared the efficacy and safety of benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-preserved eye-drops with alternatively preserved (AP) and preservative-free (PF)... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis
Efficacy and safety evaluation of benzalkonium chloride preserved eye-drops compared with alternatively preserved and preservative-free eye-drops in the treatment of glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND/AIMS
This systematic review compared the efficacy and safety of benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-preserved eye-drops with alternatively preserved (AP) and preservative-free (PF) eye-drops.
METHODS
PubMed, EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched for randomised controlled trials in June and October 2019. Study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were made by two independent reviewers using the Cochrane Handbook. Studies on prostaglandin analogue or beta-blocker eye-drops and patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension were included. Primary outcome was change in intraocular pressure (IOP). Secondary outcomes were safety measures as assessed in original study.
RESULTS
Of 433 articles screened, 16 studies were included. IOP meta-analysis was conducted on 13 studies (4201 patients) ranging from 15 days to 6 months. No significant differences between BAK versus PF and AP were identified (95% CI -0.00 to 0.30 mm Hg, p=0.05). Meta-analyses revealed no differences between BAK versus AP and PF with regards to conjunctival hyperaemia (risk ratio (RR) 1.05, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.22, 3800 patients, 9 studies), ocular hyperaemia (RR 1.31, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.78, 2268 patients, 5 studies), total ocular adverse events (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.20, 1906 patients, 5 studies) or tear break-up time (mean difference 0.89, 95% CI -0.03 to 1.81, 130 patients, 3 studies). Diverse reporting on safety measures made comparison challenging. Risk of bias was assessed as high or unclear in many relevant domains, suggesting potential selective reporting or under-reporting.
CONCLUSION
No clinically significant differences on efficacy or safety could be determined between BAK versus AP and PF. However, there were substantial uncertainties on safety.CRD42019139692.
Topics: Administration, Ophthalmic; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Antihypertensive Agents; Benzalkonium Compounds; Databases, Factual; Glaucoma, Open-Angle; Humans; Intraocular Pressure; Ocular Hypertension; Ophthalmic Solutions; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; Prostaglandins, Synthetic; Tonometry, Ocular; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32051133
DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2019-315623 -
Current Environmental Health Reports Dec 2022Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals through personal care products (PCPs) is widespread and may disrupt hormone-sensitive endpoints, such as timing of puberty.... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals through personal care products (PCPs) is widespread and may disrupt hormone-sensitive endpoints, such as timing of puberty. Given the well-documented (and ongoing) decline in age at menarche in many populations, we conducted a systematic review of the epidemiological literature on exposure to chemicals commonly found in PCPs (including certain phthalates, phenols, and parabens) in relation to girls' pubertal development.
RECENT FINDINGS
The preponderance of research on this topic has examined phthalate exposures with the strongest evidence indicating that prenatal monoethyl phthalate (MEP) concentrations may be associated with slightly earlier timing of puberty, including age at menarche. Findings examining peri-pubertal phthalate exposures and pubertal outcomes were less consistent as were studies of prenatal and peri-pubertal phenol exposures. Very few studies had examined parabens in relation to girls' pubertal development. Common study limitations included potential exposure misclassification related to use of spot samples and/or mistimed biomarker assessment with respect to the outcomes. The role of body size as a mediator in these relationships remains unresolved. Overall, evidence of associations between chemical exposures in PCPs and girls' pubertal development was conflicting. When associations were observed, effect sizes were small. Nevertheless, given the many environmental, social, and behavioral factors in the modern environment that may act synergistically to accelerate timing of puberty, even marginal changes may be cause for concern, with implications for cancer risk, mental health, and cardiometabolic disease in later life.
Topics: Humans; Parabens; Phenols; Cosmetics
PubMed: 35867279
DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00366-4 -
Critical Reviews in Food Science and... Sep 2023Metabolic by-products are part of the so-called postbiotics of probiotics and other beneficial microorganisms, particularly lactic acid bacteria, which have gained... (Review)
Review
Metabolic by-products are part of the so-called postbiotics of probiotics and other beneficial microorganisms, particularly lactic acid bacteria, which have gained popularity as a feasible alternative to improving food quality and safety. Postbiotics in dry and liquid forms can be easily integrated into food formulations and packaging materials, exhibiting antimicrobial and antioxidant effects owing to the presence of multiple antimicrobials, such as organic acids, bacteriocins, exopolysaccharides and bioactive peptides. Postbiotics can thus control the growth of pathogens and spoilage microorganisms, thereby extending the shelf life of food products. Because of their ability to be easily manufactured without requiring extensive processing, postbiotics are regarded as a safer and more sustainable alternative to synthetic preservatives, which can have negative environmental consequences. Additionally, food manufacturers can readily adopt postbiotics in food formulations without significant modifications. This systematic review provides an in-depth analysis of studies on the use of postbiotics in the biopreservation and packaging of a wide range of food products. The review evaluates and discusses the types of microorganisms, postbiotics preparation and modification techniques, methods of usage in dairy products, meat, poultry, seafood, fruits, vegetables, bread, and egg, and their effects on food quality and safety.
PubMed: 37667831
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2253909 -
Heliyon Nov 2023Essential oils (EOs) are natural products called volatile oils or aromatic and ethereal oils derived from various parts of plants. They possess antioxidant and... (Review)
Review
Essential oils (EOs) are natural products called volatile oils or aromatic and ethereal oils derived from various parts of plants. They possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, which offer natural protection against a variety of pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. Studies conducted in the last decade have demonstrated the unique applications of these compounds in the fields of the food industry, agriculture, and skin health. This systematic article provides a summary of recent data pertaining to the effectiveness of EOs and their constituents in combating fungal pathogens through diverse mechanisms. Antifungal investigations involving EOs were conducted on multiple academic platforms, including Google Scholar, Science Direct, Elsevier, Springer, Scopus, and PubMed, spanning from April 2000 to October 2023. Various combinations of keywords, such as "essential oil," "volatile oils," "antifungal," and " species," were used in the search. Numerous essential oils have demonstrated both and antifungal activity against different species of , including , , A. , A. , and A. ochraceus. They have also exhibited efficacy against other fungal species, such as species, , and Alternaria. The findings of this study offer novel insights into inhibitory pathways and suggest the potential of essential oils as promising agents with antifungal and anti-mycotoxigenic properties. These properties could make them viable alternatives to conventional preservatives, thereby enhancing the shelf life of various food products.
PubMed: 37954273
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21386 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jul 2018Ear wax (cerumen) is a normal bodily secretion that can become a problem when it obstructs the ear canal. Symptoms attributed to wax (such as deafness and pain) are... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Ear wax (cerumen) is a normal bodily secretion that can become a problem when it obstructs the ear canal. Symptoms attributed to wax (such as deafness and pain) are among the commonest reasons for patients to present to primary care with ear trouble.Wax is part of the ear's self-cleaning mechanism and is usually naturally expelled from the ear canal without causing problems. When this mechanism fails, wax is retained in the canal and may become impacted; interventions to encourage its removal may then be needed. Application of ear drops is one of these methods. Liquids used to remove and soften wax are of several kinds: oil-based compounds (e.g. olive or almond oil); water-based compounds (e.g. sodium bicarbonate or water itself); a combination of the above or non-water, non-oil-based solutions, such as carbamide peroxide (a hydrogen peroxide-urea compound) and glycerol.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of ear drops (or sprays) to remove or aid the removal of ear wax in adults and children.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane ENT Trials Register; Cochrane Register of Studies; PubMed; Ovid Embase; CINAHL; Web of Science; ClinicalTrials.gov; ICTRP and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 23 March 2018.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in which a 'cerumenolytic' was compared with no treatment, water or saline, an alternative liquid treatment (oil or almond oil) or another 'cerumenolytic' in adults or children with obstructing or impacted ear wax.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. The primary outcomes were 1) the proportion of patients (or ears) with complete clearance of ear wax and 2) adverse effects (discomfort, irritation or pain). Secondary outcomes were: extent of wax clearance; proportion of people (or ears) with relief of symptoms due to wax; proportion of people (or ears) requiring further intervention to remove wax; success of mechanical removal of residual wax following treatment; any other adverse effects recorded and cost. We used GRADE to assess the quality of the evidence for each outcome; this is indicated in italics.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 10 studies, with 623 participants (900 ears). Interventions included: oil-based treatments (triethanolamine polypeptide, almond oil, benzocaine, chlorobutanol), water-based treatments (docusate sodium, carbamide peroxide, phenazone, choline salicylate, urea peroxide, potassium carbonate), other active comparators (e.g. saline or water alone) and no treatment. Nine of the studies were more than 15 years old.The overall risk of bias across the 10 included studies was low or unclear.
PRIMARY OUTCOME
proportion of patients (or ears) with complete clearance of ear waxSix studies (360 participants; 491 ears) contributed quantitative data and were included in our meta-analyses.Active treatment versus no treatmentOnly one study addressed this comparison. The proportion of ears with complete clearance of ear wax was higher in the active treatment group (22%) compared with the no treatment group (5%) after five days of treatment (risk ratio (RR) 4.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00 to 16.80); one study; 117 ears; NNTB = 8) (low-quality evidence).Active treatment versus water or salineWe found no evidence of a difference in the proportion of patients (or ears) with complete clearance of ear wax when the active treatment group was compared to the water or saline group (RR 1.47, 95% CI 0.79 to 2.75; three studies; 213 participants; 257 ears) (low-quality evidence). Two studies applied drops for five days, but one study only applied the drops for 15 minutes. When we excluded this study in a sensitivity analysis it did not change the result.Water or saline versus no treatmentThis comparison was only addressed in the single study cited above (active versus no treatment) and there was no evidence of a difference in the proportion of ears with complete wax clearance when comparing water or saline with no treatment after five days of treatment (RR 4.00, 95% CI 0.91 to 17.62; one study; 76 ears) (low-quality evidence).Active treatment A versus active treatment BSeveral single studies evaluated 'head-to-head' comparisons between two active treatments. We found no evidence to show that one was superior to any other.Subgroup analysis of oil-based active treatments versus non-oil based active treatmentsWe found no evidence of a difference in this outcome when oil-based treatments were compared with non-oil-based active treatments.
PRIMARY OUTCOME
adverse effects: discomfort, irritation or painOnly seven studies planned to measure and did report this outcome. Only two (141 participants;176 ears) provided useable data. There was no evidence of a significant difference in the number of adverse effects between the types of ear drops in these two studies. We summarised the remaining five studies narratively. All events were mild and reported in fewer than 30 participants across the seven studies (low-quality evidence).Secondary outcomesThree studies reported 'other' adverse effects (how many studies planned to report these is unclear). The available information was limited and included occasional reports of dizziness, unpleasant smell, tinnitus and hearing loss. No significant differences between groups were reported. There were no emergencies or serious adverse effects reported in any of the 10 studies.There was very limited or no information available on our remaining secondary outcomes.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Although a number of studies aimed to evaluate whether or not one type of cerumenolytic is more effective than another, there is no high-quality evidence to allow a firm conclusion to be drawn and the answer remains uncertain.A single study suggests that applying ear drops for five days may result in a greater likelihood of complete wax clearance than no treatment at all. However, we cannot conclude whether one type of active treatment is more effective than another and there was no evidence of a difference in efficacy between oil-based and water-based active treatments.There is no evidence to show that using saline or water alone is better or worse than commercially produced cerumenolytics. Equally, there is also no evidence to show that using saline or water alone is better than no treatment.
Topics: Adult; Antipyrine; Benzocaine; Carbamide Peroxide; Carbonates; Cerumen; Child; Chlorobutanol; Choline; Dioctyl Sulfosuccinic Acid; Drug Combinations; Ear Canal; Ethanolamines; Humans; Hygiene; Peroxides; Pharmaceutical Solutions; Plant Oils; Potassium; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Salicylates; Sodium Chloride; Surface-Active Agents; Urea; Water
PubMed: 30043448
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012171.pub2 -
The Medical Journal of Malaysia Jan 2023Since constant long-term exposure to formaldehyde endangers the health of laboratory personnel, sugar-based natural products have become interesting alternative...
INTRODUCTION
Since constant long-term exposure to formaldehyde endangers the health of laboratory personnel, sugar-based natural products have become interesting alternative fixatives to formaldehyde because of their preservative and antibacterial properties. However, there are controversial findings on the fixative effects of natural fixatives. This study systematically reviews the evidence comparing natural fixatives' types, dilutions, fixative properties and staining quality in normal tissues and histopathological specimens.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A comprehensive search was performed for studies comparing the natural fixatives- and formaldehyde-fixed tissues using databases from inception to January 2022: PubMed, Ovid Medline and Google Scholar. Two independent reviewers did data extraction. The data were pooled for the type of natural fixatives, their concentrations and fixative qualities compared to formaldehyde.
RESULTS
Fifteen studies were included in this systematic review. Nine studies used one natural fixative with different dilutions, while six used several natural fixatives to compare their fixative properties with formaldehyde. The most used natural fixative was honey (n = 12) followed by jaggery (n = 8), sugar (n = 3) and others (n = 1). Honey showed the most promising results in fixation and staining, which are compatible with formalin. Jaggery and sugar also showed the possibility of replacing formaldehyde in tissue fixation and staining in smaller tissue samples.
CONCLUSION
Natural fixatives showed promising results in tissue fixation. However, optimising the concentrations and conditions of natural fixatives is difficult because of the different chemical constituents and production steps. More comprehensive studies are necessary for application.
Topics: Humans; Fixatives; Formaldehyde; Tissue Fixation; Sugars
PubMed: 36715199
DOI: No ID Found -
Food Research International (Ottawa,... Dec 2021The meat industry is continuously facing challenges with food safety, and quality losses caused by thermal processing. This systematic review reports recent clean label... (Review)
Review
The meat industry is continuously facing challenges with food safety, and quality losses caused by thermal processing. This systematic review reports recent clean label approaches in high-pressure production of meat. A literature search was performed using Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Springer databases for studies published in 2018-2021. In this regard, 69 articles were assessed out of 386 explored research articles in the identified stage. The findings indicate that most of the earlier work on high-pressure processing (HPP) focused on physicochemical and sensorial meat quality rather than providing nutritional aspects and clean-label solutions. However, few advanced studies report effective and innovative solutions to develop low salt/fat, and reduced nitrite for raw and cured meat products. HPP could help on increasing the shell life by five times in meat products; however, it depends on the formulation and packaging, etc. HPP can also preserve nutrients by using this non-thermal technology and reduce food waste as once the shelf life of products is known, it easily reduces the shrinkage in the marketplace. This review explores the latest trend of experimental research in high-pressure processing alone, or multi-hurdle techniques employed to increase the effect of clean-label ingredients for enhanced meat safety/quality.
Topics: Food Handling; Food Preservation; Meat; Meat Products; Refuse Disposal
PubMed: 34865807
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110792