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Thermal processing reduces PFAS concentrations in blue food - A systematic review and meta-analysis.Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jul 2022Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment and often ingested with food. PFAS exposure in people can have detrimental health... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment and often ingested with food. PFAS exposure in people can have detrimental health consequences. Therefore, reducing PFAS burdens in food items is of great importance to public health. Here, we investigated whether cooking reduces PFAS concentrations in animal-derived food products by synthesizing experimental studies. Further, we examined the moderating effects of the following five variables: cooking time, liquid/animal tissue ratio, cooking temperature, carbon chain length of PFAS and the cooking category (oil-based, water-based & no-liquid cooking). In our systematic review searches, we obtained 512 effect sizes (relative differences in PFAS concentration between raw and cooked samples) from 10 relevant studies. These studies exclusively explored changes in PFAS concentrations in cooked seafood and freshwater fish. Our multilevel-meta-analysis has revealed that, on average, cooking reduced PFAS concentrations by 29%, although heterogeneity among effect sizes was very high (I = 94.65%). Our five moderators cumulatively explained 49% of the observed heterogeneity. Specifically, an increase in cooking time and liquid/animal tissue ratio, as well as shorter carbon chain length of PFAS (when cooked with oil) were associated with significant reductions in PFAS concentrations. The effects of different ways of cooking depended on the other moderators, while the effect of cooking temperature itself was not significant. Overall, cooking can reduce PFAS concentrations in blue food (seafood and freshwater fish). However, it is important to note that complete PFAS elimination requires unrealistically long cooking times and large liquid/animal tissue ratios. Currently, literature on the impact of cooking of terrestrial animal produce on PFAS concentrations is lacking, which limits the inference and generalisation of our meta-analysis. However, our work represents the first step towards developing guidelines to reduce PFAS in food via cooking exclusively with common kitchen items and techniques.
Topics: Alkanesulfonic Acids; Animals; Carbon; Cooking; Fishes; Fluorocarbons; Humans; Seafood
PubMed: 35367104
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119081 -
Medicine Nov 2022To prove that serum vitamin D (VD) levels are strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) disease activity, the association between serum VD levels and key... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
To prove that serum vitamin D (VD) levels are strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) disease activity, the association between serum VD levels and key monitoring indicators of AS disease activity has been analyzed, such as the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP).
METHODS
Studies published in PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure by August 30, 2022 were searched, and 6 studies finally met the selection criteria. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), ESR, CRP levels, and correlation coefficients between serum VD and BASDAI, ESR, CRP in AS, and control in these studies were extracted for the meta-analysis.
RESULTS
When compared to controls, patients with AS had considerably lower blood 25(OH)D levels (MD = -7.53 ng/mL, 95% CI, -9.78 to -5.28, P < .001) and significantly higher ESR and CRP levels (ESR: MD = 11.75 mm/h, 95% CI, 4.20 to 19.31, P = .002; CRP: MD = 15.36 mg/L, 95% CI, 4.95 to 25.77, P = .004). Additionally, a negative correlation was discovered between serum VD levels and BASDAI, ESR, and CRP (Fisher' Z = -0.34, -0.38, -0.35, respectively).
CONCLUSION
The findings of our meta-analysis demonstrated a negative correlation between serum VD levels and the main monitoring indices of disease activity in patients with AS and verified that the differences in the continent and ethnicity may be one of the major contributors to this finding.
Topics: Humans; Spondylitis, Ankylosing; Blood Sedimentation; C-Reactive Protein; Vitamin D; Calcifediol
PubMed: 36401455
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000031764 -
The Science of the Total Environment Dec 2023Ultrafine particles (< 100 nm) are of increasing concern because of their toxicological potential. Emission processes suggest their presence in all environments,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Ultrafine particles (< 100 nm) are of increasing concern because of their toxicological potential. Emission processes suggest their presence in all environments, including at home, where particularly at-risk populations may be exposed. However, knowledge of their impact on health is still limited, due to difficulties in properly assessing exposure in epidemiological studies. In this context, the objective of this study was to provide a complete summary of indoor exposure to ultrafine particles in highly industrialised countries by examining the domestic activities that influence such exposure. We conducted a systematic review, according to PRISMA guidelines using PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus up to and including 2021. We carried out a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the selected studies with a standardised template. Exposure circumstances, measurement methods, and results were analysed. Finally, a meta-analysis of the measured concentrations was performed to study exposure levels during domestic activities. The review included 69 studies resulting in the analysis of 346 exposure situations. Nine main groups of activities were identified: cooking, which was the most studied, smoking, the use of air-fresheners, cleaning, heating, personal care, printing, do-it-yourself activities, and others. Over 50 different processes were involved in these activities. Based on available particle number concentrations, the highest average of mean concentrations was associated with grilling (14,400 × 10 cm), and the lowest with wood stove (18 × 10 cm). The highest average of peak concentrations was that for the use of hair dryers (695 × 10 cm), and the lowest for the use of air cleaners (11 × 10 cm). A hierarchy of domestic activities and related processes leading to ultrafine particle exposure is provided, along with average exposure concentrations at home. However, more extensive measurement campaigns are needed under real-life conditions to improve assessments of indoor exposure to ultrafine particles.
Topics: Particulate Matter; Air Pollutants; Environmental Monitoring; Air Pollution, Indoor; Particle Size
PubMed: 37690752
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166947 -
International Journal of Environmental... Feb 2023Although previous studies have presented that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) regulates liver enzyme levels in the development of liver diseases, the evidence regarding... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Although previous studies have presented that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) regulates liver enzyme levels in the development of liver diseases, the evidence regarding the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and liver enzyme is not robust. We further aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to summarize the recent evidence on the effects of PM2.5 on liver enzyme in humans. In the meta-analysis, we retrieved online databases including PubMed and Web of Science database from 1982 up to 2022. A random-effects model was applied to evaluate the correlation between PM2.5 and liver enzyme level. A total of 10 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, including five prospective cohort studies, two cross-sectional studies, two longitudinal studies, and one time-series analysis. Each 10 μg/m increase in PM2.5 concentration was significantly correlated with a 4.45% increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (95% CI: 0.51-8.38%, = 0.03), a 3.99% increase in aspartate transferase (AST) level (95% CI: 0.88-7.10%, = 0.01), and a 2.91% increase in gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) level (95% CI: 1.18-4.64%, < 0.001), but this significant association was not observed in alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Subgroup analysis revealed that PM2.5 has a significant correlation with ALT (5.07%, 95% CI: 0.81-9.33%), AST (4.11%, 95% CI: 0.74-7.48%), and GGT (2.74%, 95% CI: 1.09-4.38%) in Asia. Our meta-analysis showed that increments in PM2.5 exposure were significantly associated with a higher level of ALT, AST, and GGT. In addition, investigations into liver enzyme subtypes and specific chemical components of PM2.5 are important directions for future research.
Topics: Humans; Particulate Matter; Cross-Sectional Studies; Prospective Studies; Transferases; Alanine Transaminase; Liver
PubMed: 36833499
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042803 -
Food Chemistry Dec 2023The intricate balance between the beneficial and harmful effects of selenium (Se) intake means that its quantification in food needs to be done correctly. Therefore, in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The intricate balance between the beneficial and harmful effects of selenium (Se) intake means that its quantification in food needs to be done correctly. Therefore, in this review, we systematized 105 articles to identify the most studied methodologies, analytical techniques, and food matrices. Among the analytical techniques employed, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (n = 29) emerged as the most commonly used method. The most prevalent hydrolysis methodology to digest Se in food matrices involved the use of nitric acid combined with ultrasound, which improved both the yield and digestion time. Optimal recovery values were achieved when total Se quantification accounted for the sum of Se(IV) and Se(VI) (94.4-99.4%) and for SeCys (88-96.5%). These findings are relevant for advancing methodological approaches, and their results emphasize the importance of developing alternative, faster, and lower-cost protocols for Se quantification in foods and beverages.
Topics: Selenium; Beverages; Food Analysis; Limit of Detection
PubMed: 37499504
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.136974 -
Environmental Research Mar 2022To control the drug residues in foods, the national Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) have been determined by the international organizations; however, no regulation has... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
To control the drug residues in foods, the national Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) have been determined by the international organizations; however, no regulation has been complied for MRL in food animals in Iran. This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis about studies of antibiotic residues in slaughtered poultry carcasses, in Iran. The information was first collected and analyzed throughout six international databases, and four Iranian national databases. According to the data, the total prevalence of antibiotic residues was obtained as 39.41%, 5.40%, and 0.30% using four-plate test (FPT), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and Enzyme-linked immuno_sorbent assay (ELISA) methods, respectively. The highest prevalence of the residues was shown in the liver by both methods of HPLC (47.75%) and ELISA (14.35%). Moreover, the total mean of antibiotics was recorded as 71.03 ppb and 65.86 ppb in different tissues using the HPLC and ELISA method, respectively. Based on this study, we can conclude that the prevalence of antibiotic residue in poultry meat in Iran is high and that this level does not cause health problems for consumers. It is highly recommended to execute tight surveillance strategies from the government in antibiotic monitoring.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Food Contamination; Iran; Meat; Poultry
PubMed: 34509477
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112038 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Nov 2022Exposure measurement error is an important source of bias in epidemiological studies. We assessed the validity of employing ambient (outdoor) measurements as proxies of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Exposure measurement error is an important source of bias in epidemiological studies. We assessed the validity of employing ambient (outdoor) measurements as proxies of personal exposures at individual levels focusing on fine particles (PM) and black carbon (BC)/elemental carbon (EC) on a global scale. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis and searched databases (ISI Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE®, Ovid Embase, and Ovid BIOSIS) to retrieve observational studies in English language published from 1 January 2006 until 5 May 2021. Correlation coefficients (r) between paired ambient (outdoor) concentration and personal exposure for PM or BC/EC were standardized as effect size. We used random-effects meta-analyses to pool the correlation coefficients and investigated the causes of heterogeneity and publication bias. Furthermore, we employed subgroup and meta-regression analyses to evaluate the modification of pooled estimates by potential mediators. This systematic review identified thirty-two observational studies involving 1744 subjects from ten countries, with 28 studies for PM and 11 studies for BC/EC. Personal PM exposure is more strongly correlated with ambient (outdoor) concentrations (0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-0.68) than personal BC/EC exposure (0.49, 95% CI: 0.38-0.59), with significant differences in ṝ (0.14, 95% CI: 0.03-0.25; p < 0.05). The results demonstrated that the health status of participants was a significant modifier of pooled correlations. In addition, the personal to ambient (P/A) ratio for PM and average ambient BC/EC levels were potential effect moderators of the pooled ṝ. The funnel plots and Egger's regression test indicated inevident publication bias. The pooled estimates were robust through sensitivity analyses. The results support the growing consensus that the validity coefficient of proxy measures should be addressed when interpreting results from epidemiological studies to better understand how strong health outcomes are affected by different levels of PM and their components.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Carbon; Databases, Factual; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Particulate Matter; Regression Analysis; Soot
PubMed: 36037851
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120030 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jan 2023The presence of heavy metals (HMs) in the soil can pose risks to human health via ingestion and dermal absorption. This systematic review and meta-analysis study focused... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The presence of heavy metals (HMs) in the soil can pose risks to human health via ingestion and dermal absorption. This systematic review and meta-analysis study focused on both of health and ecological risks attributed to the six HMs (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) in the soil of different Provinces of Iran. Articles were selected in the Web of Science and Scopus from 2000 to August 2021. The study was carried out according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, finally 32 studies were reviewed which the ranking of mean concentrations of the studied metals followed as: As > Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Cd. Mean concentration of Cd and As calculated via meta-analysis in the studied Provinces was found to be more than Iran's environment protection agency (EPA) guideline values. Other HMs met guideline values. A significant non-carcinogenic risk attributed to the As found in Kurdistan Province (hazard index, HI > 1). Furthermore, a significant carcinogenic health risk was found in Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan associated to As and in Fars, Khozestan and Khorasan-e-Razavi Provinces associated to Cd (ELCR >10). Concerning the impact on the ecosystem, Cd, As and Pb caused ecological risks in some areas of Iran (ecological risk, ER > 40 and potential ecological risk, PER >150). Hence, we can conclude that Cd and As are important heavy metals from the health aspect. Moreover, Cd, As and Pb must be considered from an ecological point of view. Therefore, control of the Cd, As and Pb release in the environment and remediation of polluted sites through novel approaches is recommended.
Topics: Humans; Soil; Soil Pollutants; Ecosystem; Iran; Cadmium; Lead; Environmental Monitoring; Risk Assessment; Metals, Heavy; China
PubMed: 36174699
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158925 -
Academic Emergency Medicine : Official... Nov 2013Acute mesenteric ischemia is an infrequent cause of abdominal pain in emergency department (ED) patients; however, mortality for this condition is high. Rapid diagnosis... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
Acute mesenteric ischemia is an infrequent cause of abdominal pain in emergency department (ED) patients; however, mortality for this condition is high. Rapid diagnosis and surgery are key to survival, but presenting signs are often vague or variable, and there is no pathognomonic laboratory screening test. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature was performed to determine diagnostic test characteristics of patient symptoms, objective signs, laboratory studies, and diagnostic modalities to help rule in or out the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia in the ED.
METHODS
In concordance with published guidelines for systematic reviews, the medical literature was searched for relevant articles. The Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) for systematic reviews was used to evaluate the overall quality of the trials included. Summary estimates of diagnostic accuracy were computed by using a random-effects model to combine studies. Those studies without data to fully complete a two-by-two table were not included in the meta-analysis portion of the project.
RESULTS
The literature search identified 1,149 potentially relevant studies, of which 23 were included in the final analysis. The quality of the diagnostic studies was highly variable. A total of 1,970 patients were included in the combined population of all included studies. The prevalence of acute mesenteric ischemia ranged from 8% to 60%. There was a pooled sensitivity for l-lactate of 86% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 73% to 94%) and a pooled specificity of 44% (95% CI = 32% to 55%). There was a pooled sensitivity for D-dimer of 96% (95% CI = 89% to 99%) and a pooled specificity of 40% (95% CI = 33% to 47%). For computed tomography (CT), we found a pooled sensitivity of 94% (95% CI = 90% to 97%) and specificity of 95% (95% CI = 93% to 97%). The positive likelihood ratio (+LR) for a positive CT was 17.5 (95% CI = 5.99 to 51.29), and the negative likelihood ratio (-LR) was 0.09 (95% CI = 0.05 to 0.17). The pooled operative mortality rate for mesenteric ischemia was 47% (95% CI = 40% to 54%). Given these findings, the test threshold of 2.1% (below this pretest probability, do not test further) and a treatment threshold of 74% (above this pretest probability, proceed to surgical management) were calculated.
CONCLUSIONS
The quality of the overall literature base for mesenteric ischemia is varied. Signs, symptoms, and laboratory testing are insufficiently diagnostic for the condition. Only CT angiography had adequate accuracy to establish the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia in lieu of laparotomy.
Topics: Acute Disease; Biomarkers; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; Humans; Ischemia; Lactates; Mesenteric Ischemia; Physical Examination; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vascular Diseases
PubMed: 24238311
DOI: 10.1111/acem.12254 -
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Jun 2023In this study, the average level of aflatoxin M1 in various types of milk from 107 articles (297 studies with 16,274 milk samples) were meta-analyzed using random-effect... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
In this study, the average level of aflatoxin M1 in various types of milk from 107 articles (297 studies with 16,274 milk samples) were meta-analyzed using random-effect model based on the milk varieties (animal species and heating processes), geographical regions, seasons, detection techniques and dairy farming subgroups. Studies on milk contamination with aflatoxin M1 in Iran were collected using universal and Persian databanks from January 1974 to the end of November 2021. The overall aflatoxin M1 mean concentration and prevalence in milk samples of Iran were 39.65 ng/l (95% CI: 36.00-43.30) and 80% (95% CI: 76-85%), respectively. The rank order of importance of various variables in mean levels of aflatoxin M1 in milk samples included milk type (animal species) > geographical regions > detection techniques > dairy farming types > milk types (heating processes) > seasons. Findings revealed that the overall content of aflatoxin M1 in milk samples of Iran was lower than that allowed by the European Union, Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran, and the USA, possibly due to the milk monitoring by the Iranian regulatory systems.
Topics: Animals; Iran; Milk; Aflatoxin M1; Food Contamination; Environmental Monitoring
PubMed: 37261597
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11373-9