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Toxins Feb 2022The study presents a systematic review of published scientific articles investigating the effects of interventions aiming at aflatoxin reduction at the feed production...
The study presents a systematic review of published scientific articles investigating the effects of interventions aiming at aflatoxin reduction at the feed production and animal feeding phases of the milk value chain in order to identify the recent scientific trends and summarize the main findings available in the literature. The review strategy was designed based on the guidance of the systematic review and knowledge synthesis methodology that is applicable in the field of food safety. The Web of Science and EBSCOhost online databases were searched with predefined algorithms. After title and abstract relevance screening and relevance confirmation with full-text screening, 67 studies remained for data extraction, which were included in the review. The most important identified groups of interventions based on their mode of action and place in the technological process are as follows: low-moisture production using preservatives, acidity regulators, adsorbents and various microbiological additives. The results of the listed publications are summarized and compared for all the identified intervention groups. The paper aimed to help feed producers, farmers and relevant stakeholders to get an overview of the most suitable aflatoxin mitigation options, which is extremely important in the near future as climate change will likely be accompanied by elevated mycotoxin levels.
Topics: Aflatoxins; Animal Feed; Animals; Dairying; Food Contamination; Zea mays
PubMed: 35202142
DOI: 10.3390/toxins14020115 -
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment Dec 2018Cosmetic products are commonly marketed using dermatologic terms such as 'hypoallergenic', 'non-comedogenic', 'fragrance-free', etc. The clinical relevance of these...
BACKGROUND
Cosmetic products are commonly marketed using dermatologic terms such as 'hypoallergenic', 'non-comedogenic', 'fragrance-free', etc. The clinical relevance of these claims can be confusing to both patients and clinicians.
METHODS
A systematic review was performed via a PubMed search of published articles from January 1985 to October 2017 to further describe and elucidate the clinical utility of a predefined list of common dermatologic terms used by pharmaceutical companies to market over-the-counter products.
RESULTS
The terms 'fragrance-free', 'hypoallergenic', 'non-comedogenic', and 'oil-free' on cosmetic product labels are not regulated by any governing body and provide varied clinical utility. Products labeled as having 'natural ingredients' are not necessarily safer or less irritating to patients with atopy or a history of allergic contact dermatitis. Despite the increasing popularity of 'paraben-free' cosmetics, parabens are safe for patients in the quantities used in cosmetic products and can be safely used in patients who do not exhibit contact dermatitis to this preservative.
CONCLUSION
A working knowledge of common cosmetic ingredients may help dermatologists to counsel patients on which products to avoid for their specific dermatologic conditions.
Topics: Consumer Product Safety; Cosmetics; Humans; Marketing
PubMed: 29671667
DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2018.1467540 -
Acta Ophthalmologica Dec 2023Glaucoma is a leading cause of the global prevalence of irreversible blindness. The pathogenesis of glaucoma is not entirely known, but the major risk factors include... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The use of benzalkonium chloride in topical glaucoma treatment: An investigation of the efficacy and safety of benzalkonium chloride-preserved intraocular pressure-lowering eye drops and their effect on conjunctival goblet cells.
Glaucoma is a leading cause of the global prevalence of irreversible blindness. The pathogenesis of glaucoma is not entirely known, but the major risk factors include advancing age, genetic predisposition, and increased intraocular pressure (IOP). The only evidence-based treatment is a lowering of IOP through the use of eye drops, laser procedures, or surgical interventions. Although laser treatment is gaining recognition as a first-choice treatment option, the most common approach for managing glaucoma is IOP-lowering eye drops. A major challenge in the treatment is the occurrence of adverse events and poor adherence. In this context, the ocular surface is an area of great concern, as most glaucoma patients have dry eye disease (DED), which is largely caused by eye drops. Preservation with benzalkonium chloride (BAK) is a controversial topic due to its potential role as a significant cause of DED. A systematic review and meta-analyses investigate potential differences in efficacy and safety between BAK-preserved and BAK-free anti-glaucomatous eye drops (I). Many of the included studies report on ocular surface damage caused by the application of BAK-preserved eye drops. However, the meta-analyses addressing hyperemia, number of ocular adverse events, and tear break-up time did not identify any significant differences. The latter is likely due to varying measurement methods, different endpoints, and study durations. It is, therefore, possible that the large variations between the studies conceal differences in the safety profiles. The efficacy meta-analysis finds that there are no differences in the IOP-lowering effect between BAK-preserved and BAK-free eye drops, indicating that BAK is not necessary for the effectiveness of eye drops. To promote more homogeneous choices of endpoints and methods when evaluating BAK-preserved and BAK-free glaucoma treatments, a Delphi consensus statement was performed. In this study, glaucoma experts and ocular surface disease experts reached consensus on the key factors to consider when designing such studies (II). The hope is to have more studies with comparable endpoints that can systematically show the potentially adverse effects of BAK. The preclinical studies in the current Ph.D. research focus on conjunctival goblet cells (GCs). GCs are important for the ocular surface because they release the mucin MUC5AC, which is an essential component of the inner layer of the tear film. BAK preservation may damage the GCs and result in a low GC density, leading to an unstable tear film and DED. The most commonly used IOP-lowering drugs are prostaglandin analogs (PGAs). Thus, the conducted studies investigate the effect of PGAs preserved in different ways on GCs. BAK-preserved latanoprost is cytotoxic to primary cultured human conjunctival GCs and results in a scattered expression of MUC5AC, in contrast to negative controls, where MUC5AC is localized around the cell nucleus (III). Preservative-free (PF) latanoprost is not cytotoxic and does not affect the MUC5AC expression pattern. Furthermore, BAK-preserved travoprost is found to be cytotoxic in a time-dependent manner, while Polyquad®-preserved travoprost does not affect GC survival at any measured time point (IV). Both Polyquad and BAK induce scattered expression of MUC5AC. The cytotoxicity of BAK-preserved PGA eye drops is higher compared to the safer profile of PF and Polyquad-preserved PGA eye drops (V). Additionally, PF latanoprost does not increase the release of the inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, unlike BAK-preserved latanoprost. A review highlights the active and inactive components of IOP-lowering eye drops (VI). Several preclinical and clinical studies have identified adverse effects of BAK. Although other components, such as the active drug and phosphates, can also cause adverse events, the review clearly states that BAK alone is a major source of decreased tolerability. The conclusion of this thesis is that BAK preservation is unnecessary and harmful to the ocular surface. The preclinical studies demonstrate that GCs die when exposed to BAK. Furthermore, they find that BAK induces a pro-inflammatory response. The review included in the thesis concludes that BAK should be phased out of eye drops for chronic use. Overall, the inclusion of BAK poses a risk of developing DED and poor adherence, which can ultimately lead to disease progression and blindness.
Topics: Humans; Benzalkonium Compounds; Intraocular Pressure; Travoprost; Latanoprost; Ophthalmic Solutions; Goblet Cells; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Antihypertensive Agents; Glaucoma; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; Conjunctiva; Prostaglandins, Synthetic; Blindness
PubMed: 38037546
DOI: 10.1111/aos.15808 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2021Natural antimicrobials (NA) have stood out in the last decade due to the growing demand for reducing chemical preservatives in food. Once solubility, stability, and...
A Systematic Review on Nanoencapsulation Natural Antimicrobials in Foods: In Vitro versus In Situ Evaluation, Mechanisms of Action and Implications on Physical-Chemical Quality.
Natural antimicrobials (NA) have stood out in the last decade due to the growing demand for reducing chemical preservatives in food. Once solubility, stability, and changes in sensory attributes could limit their applications in foods, several studies were published suggesting micro-/nanoencapsulation to overcome such challenges. Thus, for our systematic review the Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, and Pub Med databases were chosen to recover papers published from 2010 to 2020. After reviewing all titles/abstracts and keywords for the full-text papers, key data were extracted and synthesized. The systematic review proposed to compare the antimicrobial efficacy between nanoencapsulated NA (nNA) and its free form in vitro and in situ studies, since although in vitro studies are often used in studies, they present characteristics and properties that are different from those found in foods; providing a comprehensive understanding of primary mechanisms of action of the nNA in foods; and analyzing the effects on quality parameters of foods. Essential oils and nanoemulsions (10.9-100 nm) have received significant attention and showed higher antimicrobial efficacy without sensory impairments compared to free NA. Regarding nNA mechanisms: (i) nanoencapsulation provides a slow-prolonged release to promote antimicrobial action over time, and (ii) prevents interactions with food constituents that in turn impair antimicrobial action. Besides in vitro antifungal and antibacterial, nNA also demonstrated antioxidant activity-potential to shelf life extension in food. However, of the studies involving nanoencapsulated natural antimicrobials used in this review, little attention was placed on proximate composition, sensory, and rheological evaluation. We encourage further in situ studies once data differ from in vitro assay, suggesting food matrix greatly influences NA mechanisms.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antifungal Agents; Food Microbiology; Food Preservatives; In Vitro Techniques; Liposomes; Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System; Oils, Volatile
PubMed: 34769485
DOI: 10.3390/ijms222112055 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Jan 2016Urinary tract infection (UTI) in the United States is the most common bacterial infection, and urine cultures often make up the largest portion of workload for a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Effectiveness of Preanalytic Practices on Contamination and Diagnostic Accuracy of Urine Cultures: a Laboratory Medicine Best Practices Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Urinary tract infection (UTI) in the United States is the most common bacterial infection, and urine cultures often make up the largest portion of workload for a hospital-based microbiology laboratory. Appropriately managing the factors affecting the preanalytic phase of urine culture contributes significantly to the generation of meaningful culture results that ultimately affect patient diagnosis and management. Urine culture contamination can be reduced with proper techniques for urine collection, preservation, storage, and transport, the major factors affecting the preanalytic phase of urine culture.
OBJECTIVES
The purposes of this review were to identify and evaluate preanalytic practices associated with urine specimens and to assess their impact on the accuracy of urine culture microbiology. Specific practices included collection methods for men, women, and children; preservation of urine samples in boric acid solutions; and the effect of refrigeration on stored urine. Practice efficacy and effectiveness were measured by two parameters: reduction of urine culture contamination and increased accuracy of patient diagnosis. The CDC Laboratory Medicine Best Practices (LMBP) initiative's systematic review method for assessment of quality improvement (QI) practices was employed. Results were then translated into evidence-based practice guidelines.
SEARCH STRATEGY
A search of three electronic bibliographic databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, and CINAHL), as well as hand searching of bibliographies from relevant information sources, for English-language articles published between 1965 and 2014 was conducted.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The search contained the following medical subject headings and key text words: urinary tract infections, UTI, urine/analysis, urine/microbiology, urinalysis, specimen handling, preservation, biological, preservation, boric acid, boric acid/borate, refrigeration, storage, time factors, transportation, transport time, time delay, time factor, timing, urine specimen collection, catheters, indwelling, urinary reservoirs, continent, urinary catheterization, intermittent urethral catheterization, clean voided, midstream, Foley, suprapubic, bacteriological techniques, and microbiological techniques.
MAIN RESULTS
Both boric acid and refrigeration adequately preserved urine specimens prior to their processing for up to 24 h. Urine held at room temperature for more than 4 h showed overgrowth of both clinically significant and contaminating microorganisms. The overall strength of this body of evidence, however, was rated as low. For urine specimens collected from women, there was no difference in rates of contamination for midstream urine specimens collected with or without cleansing. The overall strength of this evidence was rated as high. The levels of diagnostic accuracy of midstream urine collection with or without cleansing were similar, although the overall strength of this evidence was rated as low. For urine specimens collected from men, there was a reduction in contamination in favor of midstream clean-catch over first-void specimen collection. The strength of this evidence was rated as high. Only one study compared midstream collection with cleansing to midstream collection without cleansing. Results showed no difference in contamination between the two methods of collection. However, imprecision was due largely to the small event size. The diagnostic accuracy of midstream urine collection from men compared to straight catheterization or suprapubic aspiration was high. However, the overall strength of this body of evidence was rated as low. For urine specimens collected from children and infants, the evidence comparing contamination rates for midstream urine collection with cleansing, midstream collection without cleansing, sterile urine bag collection, and diaper collection pointed to larger reductions in the odds of contamination in favor of midstream collection with cleansing over the other methods of collection. This body of evidence was rated as high. The accuracy of diagnosis of urinary tract infection from midstream clean-catch urine specimens, sterile urine bag specimens, or diaper specimens compared to straight catheterization or suprapubic aspiration was varied.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
No recommendation for or against is made for delayed processing of urine stored at room temperature, refrigerated, or preserved in boric acid. This does not preclude the use of refrigeration or chemical preservatives in clinical practice. It does indicate, however, that more systematic studies evaluating the utility of these measures are needed. If noninvasive collection is being considered for women, midstream collection with cleansing is recommended, but no recommendation for or against is made for midstream collection without cleansing. If noninvasive collection is being considered for men, midstream collection with cleansing is recommended and collection of first-void urine is not recommended. No recommendation for or against is made for collection of midstream urine without cleansing. If noninvasive collection is being considered for children, midstream collection with cleansing is recommended and collection in sterile urine bags, from diapers, or midstream without cleansing is not recommended. Whether midstream collection with cleansing can be routinely used in place of catheterization or suprapubic aspiration is unclear. The data suggest that midstream collection with cleansing is accurate for the diagnosis of urinary tract infections in infants and children and has higher average accuracy than sterile urine bag collection (data for diaper collection were lacking); however, the overall strength of evidence was low, as multivariate modeling could not be performed, and thus no recommendation for or against can be made.
Topics: Bacterial Infections; Bacteriological Techniques; Humans; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Specimen Handling; United States; Urinary Tract Infections; Urine
PubMed: 26598386
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00030-15 -
Food Science & Nutrition May 2024Recently, the use of D-amino acids as food preservatives has attracted considerable attention because these natural compounds do not have adverse effects on human... (Review)
Review
Recently, the use of D-amino acids as food preservatives has attracted considerable attention because these natural compounds do not have adverse effects on human health. In addition, D-amino acids such as D-tryptophan can reduce the harmful effects of other treatments. For instance, the use of D-tryptophan in food reduces the requirement for high temperatures and their damaging effects on nutrients such as proteins and vitamins. The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of D-tryptophan on food-borne pathogens in vitro and in food models. To identify related studies, scientific digital databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched from January 2000 to February 2023. The results of the studies showed that when D-tryptophan was used with other stresses such as using different salt concentrations, refrigeration, or high temperatures, it showed significant antimicrobial effects on Gram-positive and Gram-negative food-borne pathogens, and antibiofilm impacts were also observed with D-tryptophan. Since studies have shown that the antimicrobial activity of D-tryptophan depends on several factors, including the pathogen strain, the type of stress, and the concentration of D-tryptophan, and every article has focused on one of these factors, there is a need for a systematic review that summarizes and concludes the effect of all these factors on the antimicrobial activity of D-tryptophan against food-borne pathogens.
PubMed: 38726420
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3987 -
Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science... Sep 2017Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are extremely useful agents for food and beverage preservation, yet concerns remain over their complete safety. Benzoate can react...
Benzoate and Sorbate Salts: A Systematic Review of the Potential Hazards of These Invaluable Preservatives and the Expanding Spectrum of Clinical Uses for Sodium Benzoate.
Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are extremely useful agents for food and beverage preservation, yet concerns remain over their complete safety. Benzoate can react with the ascorbic acid in drinks to produce the carcinogen benzene. A few children develop allergy to this additive while, as a competitive inhibitor of D-amino acid oxidase, benzoate can also influence neurotransmission and cognitive functioning. Model organism and cell culture studies have raised some issues. Benzoate has been found to exert teratogenic and neurotoxic effects on zebrafish embryos. In addition, benzoate and sorbate are reported to cause chromosome aberrations in cultured human lymphocytes; also to be potently mutagenic toward the mitochondrial DNA in aerobic yeast cells. Whether the substantial human consumption of these compounds could significantly increase levels of such damages in man is still unclear. There is no firm evidence that it is a risk factor in type 2 diabetes. The clinical administration of sodium benzoate is of proven benefit for many patients with urea cycle disorders, while recent studies indicate it may also be advantageous in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, early-stage Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Nevertheless, exposure to high amounts of this agent should be approached with caution, especially since it has the potential to generate a shortage of glycine which, in turn, can negatively influence brain neurochemistry. We discuss here how a small fraction of the population might be rendered-either through their genes or a chronic medical condition-particularly susceptible to any adverse effects of sodium benzoate.
PubMed: 33371618
DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12284 -
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology :... Nov 2018Pyroligneous extract is applied in diverse areas as an antioxidant, an antimicrobial, and an anti-inflammatory agent. The discovery of new cost-effective antimicrobial...
Pyroligneous extract is applied in diverse areas as an antioxidant, an antimicrobial, and an anti-inflammatory agent. The discovery of new cost-effective antimicrobial agents of natural origin remains a challenge for the scientific community. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and a technological forecasting of the existent evidence regarding the use of pyroligneous extract as a potential antimicrobial agent. Studies were identified through an investigation of various electronic databases: PubMed, SciFinder, Web of Science, Scopus, Scielo, Google scholar, and ProQuest. Patents were searched through INPI, Google patents, Espacenet, Patents online, USPTO, and WIPO. The literature on antimicrobial activity of pyroligneous extract are limited given the short duration of studies and variability in study design, use of pyroligneous preparations, and reports on results. However, evidence suggests the potential of pyroligneous extract as a natural antimicrobial agent. The most studied activity was the role of PE as a food preservative. However, pyroligneous extracts are also effective against pathogenic bacteria in the oral microflora and treatment of candidal infections. Further research is needed using standardized preparations of pyroligneous extracts to determine their long-term effectiveness and ability as antimicrobial agents.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Bacteria; Food Preservatives; Fungi; Humans; Plant Extracts; Wood
PubMed: 30150086
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjm.2018.07.001 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024L. (Lamiaceae), known in English as 'wild thyme', is primarily found in the Palearctic realm (Eurasia, North Africa) and has been utilized traditionally for culinary,...
L. (Lamiaceae), known in English as 'wild thyme', is primarily found in the Palearctic realm (Eurasia, North Africa) and has been utilized traditionally for culinary, nutritional, medicinal, and aromatic purposes. The essential oil extracted from wild thyme is particularly noteworthy, being used extensively in the food industry as a flavoring agent and preservative. The plant's aerial parts are commonly employed as an element of the diet (e.g., tea)/for culinary uses and in local/traditional medicine (primarily for managing respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions), similar to the use of common thyme. There is practically no information available on the species' nutritional benefits. Pharmacological studies, including and research, alongside a limited number of clinical trials, have investigated extracts of , although these extracts are often phytochemically poorly characterized in different experimental protocols and models. These studies have demonstrated a range of therapeutic effects, such as antimicrobial (notably the essential oil) and anti-inflammatory, as well as its preventative health benefits and nutritional value of wild thyme. Preclinical studies have corroborated the plant's anti-inflammatory potential, particularly in conditions like inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and irritable bowel syndromes (IBS). Additionally, evidence of hepatoprotective activities and benefits in managing metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular health issues, such as lipid metabolism regulation, cholesterol reduction, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and immunomodulatory effects, have been observed predominantly in rodent models. Phytochemical analysis of wild thyme reveals an essential oil fraction below 1%, along with non-volatile compounds predominantly comprising phenolic acids (such as rosmarinic, salvianolic, and caffeic acids) and flavonoids (mainly glucosides of luteolin, apigenin, and their derivatives). These components are believed to contribute significantly to the plant's medicinal, nutritional, and preventive health properties. Despite promising findings, there is a need for more rigorously designed controlled clinical trials using phytochemically characterized wild thyme. The plant has an excellent safety and tolerability record. This review at the interface of nutritional/preventive health properties and as pharmacological activities highlights the current role of wild thyme in nutrition and general healthcare as well as its future potential, and also points to important gaps in the literature.
PubMed: 38846542
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1380962 -
The Clinical Journal of Pain Mar 2018Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) are widely and increasingly used for better acute perioperative pain control for a variety of procedures. Clinically preservative-free... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) are widely and increasingly used for better acute perioperative pain control for a variety of procedures. Clinically preservative-free dexamethasone is arguably the most commonly used adjuvant and offers the most optimization effects on PNBs yet with the least side-effects noted. Our aim was to compare the effectiveness of intravenous versus perineural dexamethasone on the effectiveness and safety of PNBs.
METHODS
Major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, ISI Web of Science, Google Scholar) were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials comparing the effectiveness of intravenous versus perineural dexamethasone on PNBs. Study characteristics, intraoperative events, and postoperative outcomes including duration of analgesia, duration of sensory block, duration of motor block, pain score at 24 hours, opioid consumption, and postoperative nausea and vomiting, were extracted from the articles. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect models.
RESULTS
Thirteen randomized controlled trials comprising a total of 937 patients (intravenous: 464 patients; perineural: 473 patients) were included in this meta-analysis. Perineural dexamethasone significantly prolonged the duration of analgesia (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.48 h; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18-0.79) and sensory block (SMD, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.53-0.94). In subgroup of studies that used 4 to 5 mg we found that perineural dexamethasone was universally more effective to prolong analgesia as compared with intravenous dexamethasone (SMD, 0.48 h; 95% CI, 0.24-0.72), but there was no significant difference between intravenous versus perineural dexamethasone when using a dose of dexamethasone ≥8 mg (SMD, 0.33 h; 95% CI, -0.11 to 0.77). Perineural dexamethasone had similarly more benefits in terms of prolongation of motor block duration, decreasing pain score, reducing opioid consumption, and less postoperative nausea and vomiting.
CONCLUSIONS
This investigation not only confirmed the better analgesic effects of perineurally administered dexamethasone as compared with its intravenous injection, but also implicitly supported the hypothesis of local interaction between dexamethasone and the nerve as one of the pain modulation mechanisms of dexamethasone, because systemic absorption alone could not explain the superior quality of PNBs.
Topics: Administration, Intravenous; Anesthetics; Dexamethasone; Humans; Nerve Block; Pain, Postoperative; Pain, Procedural; Peripheral Nerves; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 28591086
DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000519