Medical Food Research Articles

Paleomicrobiology: Tracking the past microbial life from single species to entire microbial communities.

By deciphering information encoded in degraded ancient DNA extracted from up to million-years-old samples, molecular paleomicrobiology enables to objectively retrace the temporal evolution of microbial species and communities. Assembly of full-length genomes of ancient pathogen lineages allows not only to follow historical epidemics in space and time but also to identify the acquisition of genetic features that represent landmarks in the evolution of the host-microbe interaction. Analysis of microbial community DNA extracted from essentially human paleo-artefacts (paleofeces, dental calculi) evaluates the relative contribution of diet, lifestyle and geography on the taxonomic and functional diversity of these guilds in which have been identified species that may have gone extinct in today's human microbiome. As for non-host-associated environmental samples, such as stratified sediment cores, analysis of their DNA illustrates how and at which pace microbial communities are affected by local or widespread environmental disturbance. Description of pre-disturbance microbial diversity patterns can aid in evaluating the relevance and effectiveness of remediation policies. We finally discuss how recent achievements in paleomicrobiology could contribute to microbial biotechnology in the fields of medical microbiology and food science to trace the domestication of microorganisms used in food processing or to illustrate the historic evolution of food processing microbial consortia.

Principle and Application of Biophotonic Chips

Contemporarily, biophotonic chips have garnered significant attention from researchers due to their strong immunity to electromagnetic interference, high sensitivity, rapid response rate, and relatively simple structural design. They have found extensive applications in fields such as medical diagnosis, food quality and safety testing, environmental monitoring, and national security. This article provides an overview of the development history, fundamental principles, applications, and fabrication processes of biophotonic chips. The earliest development of biophotonic chips can be traced back to the end of the 20th century. The basic principle involves the interaction of light, utilizing technologies like photonic crystals, surface plasmon resonance, and fluorescence spectroscopy to achieve the detection and analysis of biological molecules. The article briefly describes the fabrication process of biophotonic chips, which involves intricate techniques such as photolithography and electron beam exposure. Furthermore, it analyzes and discusses their widespread applications in medical diagnosis, drug development, and environmental monitoring, among other fields. Lastly, the study evaluates the key challenges present in biophotonic chips and provides an analysis of their future development prospects.

Investigation Of the Biodegradable Plastic and The Application by Cornstarch and Kappa-Carrageenan

By comparing the manufacturing of conventional plastic with biodegradable plastic, a brief investigation of plastic and future developing trend was done. It is essential to investigate a biodegradable polymer which is produced with low cost and recyclable resources. An experiment was carried with cornstarch and kappa-carrageenan, which aim to produce a natural polymer can be biodegradable and has similar properties to conventional plastic. This experiment focuses on the mechanical properties and solubility of different amount ratio of the dry components to find out whether it has any functions that can be use in daily life. The results show the membrane with higher ratio carrageenan represents lower solubility, better mechanical properties and water resistance, but these properties become weaker in dry environment. The results provide a theoretical basis of the application of this polymer in medical region and food packaging.

Evaluating change in diet with pegvaliase treatment in adults with phenylketonuria: Analysis of phase 3 clinical trial data

Phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic disorder characterized by phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency and phenylalanine (Phe) accumulation, is primarily managed with a protein-restricted diet and PKU-specific medical foods. Pegvaliase is an enzyme substitution therapy approved for individuals with PKU and uncontrolled blood Phe concentrations (>600 μmol/L) despite prior management. This analysis assessed the effect of pegvaliase on dietary intake using data from the Phase 3 PRISM-1 (NCT01819727), PRISM-2 (NCT01889862), and 165–304 (NCT03694353) clinical trials. Participants (N = 250) had a baseline diet assessment, blood Phe ≥600 μmol/L, and had discontinued sapropterin; they were not required to follow a Phe-restricted diet. Outcomes were analyzed by baseline dietary group, categorized as >75%, some (>0% but ≤75%), or no protein intake from medical food. At baseline, mean age was 29.1 years, 49.2% were female, mean body mass index was 28.4 kg/m2, and mean blood Phe was 1237.0 μmol/L. Total protein intake was stable up to 48 months for all 3 baseline dietary groups. Over this time, intact protein intake increased in all groups, and medical protein intake decreased in those who consumed any medical protein at baseline. Of participants consuming some or >75% medical protein at baseline, 49.1% and 34.1% were consuming no medical protein at last assessment, respectively. Following a first hypophenylalaninemia (HypoPhe; 2 consecutive blood Phe measurements <30 μmol/L) event, consumption of medical protein decreased and consumption of intact protein increased. Substantial and sustained Phe reductions were achieved in all 3 baseline dietary groups. The probability of achieving sustained Phe response (SPR) at ≤600 μmol/L was significantly greater for participants consuming medical protein versus no medical protein in an unadjusted analysis, but no statistically significant difference between groups was observed for probability of achieving SPR ≤360 or SPR ≤120 μmol/L. Participants with alopecia (n = 49) had longer pegvaliase treatment durations, reached HypoPhe sooner, and spent longer in HypoPhe than those who did not have alopecia. Most (87.8%) had an identifiable blood Phe drop before their first alopecia episode, and 51.0% (n = 21/41) of first alopecia episodes with known duration resolved before the end of the HypoPhe episode. In conclusion, pegvaliase treatment allowed adults with PKU to lower their blood Phe, reduce their reliance on medical protein, and increase their intact and total protein intake. Results also suggest that HypoPhe does not increase the risk of protein malnutrition in adults with PKU receiving pegvaliase.

Improved Structural Stability of CuO Via Bi Doping for Glucose Sensing

Glucose sensing is of great importance in fields such as medical diagnostics, food industry, and environmental monitoring. Copper oxide (CuO) has shown promising results as an electrochemical sensor for glucose detection due to its high sensitivity and selectivity towards glucose molecules[1]. However, one of the key challenges is to maintain the morphology and crystal structure of CuO during long-term glucose electrooxidation. CuO is prone to phase transformation, which can lead to changes in its crystal structure and affect its electrochemical performance. Moreover, the stability of CuO can be affected by external factors such as applied potential and pH, which can induce corrosion and degradation of the CuO layer over time.In this contribution, we propose a novel approach to improve the structural stability of CuO via surface bismuth doping. The Bi-doped CuO was prepared via an ultrasonic method, generating homogenously distributed Bi atoms on the surface of CuO thin flakes. At Bi doping level between 5% to 10%, the structure of CuO retains, indicating the replacement of Cu by Bi atoms other than phase separation. The long-term electrochemical test showed <1% current loss with the 10% Bi-doped CuO while >30% current loss with the CuO (Figure 1), suggesting that Bi atoms can act as the structural stabilizer for CuO electrocatalyst. Moreover, no significant sensitivity loss (~650 mA mM−1 cm−2) was observed after Bi doping.Our results demonstrate significant improvements in the CuO sensor's stability and accuracy, which can pave the way for its practical applications in various fields. Figure 1 Amperometric response of CuO and Bi-doped CuO (percentage shows the Bi/Cu ratio) during long-term glucose electrolysis. Reference: W. Zheng, Y. Li, L. Hu, L.Y.S. Lee, Sensors & Actuators: B. Chemical 2019, 282, 187-196 Figure 1

Medical food therapy for the long-term management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Medical food therapy for the long-term management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Sea-Pix-GAN: Underwater image enhancement using adversarial neural network

In the last decade, the exploration of deep-sea ecosystems has surged, offering exciting prospects for discovering untapped resources such as medical drugs, food and energy sources, and renewable energy products. Consequently, research in underwater image processing has witnessed substantial growth. However, underwater imaging poses significant challenges, particularly without sophisticated, specialized cameras. Traditional cameras are impacted by absorption and scattering in the aquatic environment, producing hazy images with a blue–green tint. This phenomenon holds implications for marine research and other disciplines that rely on underwater imaging. While hardware advancements have been made over the years, image processing remains a valuable, cost-effective, and practical approach for underwater enhancement. Despite the existence of state-of-the-art techniques for underwater enhancement and restoration, their performance is often inconsistent. While some methods excel in contrast restoration, color restoration remains a pervasive challenge. In this paper, we introduce Sea-Pix-GAN, a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN)-based model that addresses these issues in underwater image enhancement. We redefine the problem as an image-to-image translation task and tailor the objective and loss functions to achieve color, content, and style transfer. The model is trained on a large dataset of underwater scenes, encompassing the diverse color dynamics of underwater subjects. Sea-Pix-GAN demonstrates promising results in restoring color, contrast, texture, and saturation. To validate its effectiveness, we compare the performance of Sea-Pix-GAN quantitatively based on metrics like PSNR, SSIM, and UIQM and qualitatively against several existing techniques.

High Prevalence of Adverse Social Determinants of Health in Dialysis Access Creation Patients in a Safety-Net Setting

Patients receiving dialysis access surgery are often exposed to adverse social determinants of health (SDH) that negatively impact their care. Our goal was to characterize these factors experienced by our arteriovenous dialysis access patients and identify differences in health outcomes based on their SDH. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent dialysis access creation (2017-2021) and were screened for SDH at a clinical visit (using THRIVE survey) implemented at an urban, safety-net hospital institution within one year of access creation. Demographics, procedural details, early postoperative outcomes, survey responses, and referral to our hospital's preventive food pantry were recorded. Univariable analysis and multivariable analyses were performed to assess for associations with key health outcomes. There were 190 patients who responded to the survey within one year of their operation. At least one adverse SDH was identified in 42 (22%) patients. Normalized to number of respondents for each question, adverse SDH identified were difficulty obtaining transportation to medical appointments (18%), food insecurity (16%), difficulty affording utilities (13%), difficulty affording medication (12%), unemployed and seeking employment (9%), unstable housing (7%), difficulty caring for family/friends (6%), and desiring more education (5%). There were 71 (37%) patients who received food pantry referrals. Mean age was 60 years and 38% of patients were female and 64% were Black. More than half of patients (57%) had a tunneled dialysis catheter (TDC) at the time of access creation. Dialysis accesses created were brachiocephalic (39%), brachiobasilic (25%), radiocephalic fistulas (16%), and arteriovenous grafts (14%). Thirty-day emergency department visits, 30-day readmissions, and 90-day mortality occurred in 23%, 21%, and 2%, respectively. On univariable and multivariable analyses, any adverse SDH determined on survey and food pantry referral were not associated with preoperative dialysis through TDCs, receiving non-autogenous dialysis access, 30-day emergency department visits and readmissions, or 90-day mortality. Nearly a quarter of dialysis access surgery patients at a safety-net hospital experienced adverse SDH and more than one-third received a food pantry referral. Most common difficulties experienced include difficulty obtaining transportation to medical appointments, food insecurity, and difficulty paying for utilities and medication. Although there were no differences in postoperative outcomes, the high prevalence of these adverse SDH warrants prioritization of resources in this population to ensure healthy equity and further investigation into their effects on health outcomes.

Research on rapid quality identification method of Panax notoginseng powder based on artificial intelligence sensory technology and multi-source information fusion technology

Panax notoginseng powder (PNP) has high medicinal value and is widely used in the medical and health food industries. However, the adulteration of PNP in the market has dramatically reduced its efficacy. Therefore, this study intends to use artificial intelligence sensory (AIS) and multi-source information fusion (MIF) technology to try to establish a quality evaluation system for different grades of PNP and adulterated Panax notoginseng powder (AD-PNP). The highest accuracy rate reached 100% in identifying PNP grade and adulteration. In the prediction of adulteration ratio and total saponin content, the optimal determination coefficients of the test set were 0.9965 and 0.9948, respectively, and the root mean square errors were 0.0109 and 0.0123, respectively. Therefore, the grade identification method of PNP and the evaluation system of AD-PNP based on AIS and MIF technology can rapidly and accurately evaluate the quality of PNP.

التدخل الدولي لتقديم المساعدة الدولية

The international intervention to assistance is to save humanity and provide the basic needs such as medical equipment and food urgently for those who are involved in conflicts. The international assistance could turn into humanitarian intervention if the international will is represented by the agreement of the security council. So there must be an international treaty as to organize the process of assistance so as to prevent the great nations from intervening the states under the excuse of Humanitarian assistance.

The analysis of unused medications and other products returned by patients to selected public pharmacies in Poland

The issue of expired and unused medications is a significant matter worthy of analysis. The study focused on the analysis of pharmaceutical products returned to public pharmacies, with particular emphasis on expired drugs and those returned within their expiration date, along with an economic assessment of the returned products. The research methodology relied on the analysis of products returned by patients to public pharmacies in the Mazovian voivodeship. The analysis encompassed the content of containers containing expired medications in terms of their expiration date, pharmaceutical form, active ingredient, ATC classification, drug availability category, and monetary value. The analyzed products belonged to various categories, including: medicines, dietary supplements, medical devices, specialized medical foods, cosmetics, biocidal products, and hygiene items. The study revealed that 75.75% of the returned products were drugs. Among the most frequently returned active ingredients was paracetamol, and prescription medications were the predominant category among the returned products. The most commonly returned therapeutic products belonged to the groups related to the Gastrointestinal and Metabolism, Respiratory System, and Nervous System. The economic evaluation showed that the value of returned products was significantly lower for expired items compared to those within their expiration date. The total value of the returned products amounted to 42 218.07 PLN. In summary, the issue of medication waste presents a challenge that requires a comprehensive approach, such as public education and the proposal of efficient solutions. Keywords: unused drugs, drug wastage, expired drugs.

Effectiveness of an amino acid beverage formulation in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A pragmatic real-world study.

Amino-acid based medical foods have shown promise in alleviating symptoms of drug induced gastrointestinal side effects; particularly, diarrhea-predominant symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder that affects up to 9% of people globally, with diarrhea predominant IBS (IBS-D) being the most prevalent subtype. Further trials are needed to explore potential added benefits when integrated into standard care for IBS-D. To assess the effectiveness of an amino acid-based medical food as an adjunct to standard of care for adults with IBS-D. This is a pragmatic, real world, open label, single arm study comparing a 2-week baseline assessment to a 2-week intervention period. One hundred adults, aged 18 to 65 years, with IBS-D, according to Rome IV criteria, were enrolled after completing a 2-week baseline assessment period and received a 2-week supply of an amino acid based medical food which was consumed at home twice daily on top of their standard of care. The primary outcome was an assessment of tolerability after 2-weeks of consumption, while secondary outcomes included changes in stool consistency (Bristol Stool Form Scale), severity of abdominal pain & discomfort, symptoms of urgency, Global Improvement Survey (GIS), and the IBS severity scoring system (IBS-SSS). The test product was well-tolerated as each participant successfully completed the full 14-day trial, and there were no instances of dropouts or discontinuation of the study product reported. Forty percent of participants achieved a 50% or more reduction in the number of days with type 6-7 bowel movements (IBS-D stool consistency responders). Fifty-three percent of participants achieved a clinically meaningful reduction of 30% in mean weekly pain scores, and 55% experienced the same for mean weekly discomfort scores (IBS-D pain and discomfort responders). Participants experienced a mean -109.4 (95% confidence interval: -130.1, -88.8) point reduction on the IBS-SSS and 52% experienced a minimally clinically important difference of > 95 points. An IBS-SSS category shift from severe to moderate or mild occurred in 69% of participants. For functional symptoms, 76% of participants reported symptom relief on the GIS. The amino acid-based medical food was well-tolerated, when added to the standard of care, and demonstrated improvements in both overall IBS symptom severity and IBS-D symptoms within just 2 wk.

Role of nutrition and metabolic regulation in multidomain trials for dementia risk reduction: findings from FINGER and FINGER 2.0 studies

AbstractBackgroundThe successful FINGER multidomain intervention model combined dietary intervention (healthy Nordic diet) with exercise, cognitive training, social activities, and cardiovascular risk monitoring. The FINGER model is being tested and optimized in the World‐Wide FINGERS network of multidomain dementia prevention trials (45+ countries). Advanced FINGER 2.0 models combine lifestyle interventions with multi‐nutrients and/or putative disease‐modifying drugs.MethodThe 11‐year extended follow‐up of FINGER trial participants (N:1260, at‐risk general population) was completed in Q1‐2023. The MIND‐AD pilot‐trial (N:93, prodromal Alzheimer’s disease (AD)) included medical food (Fortasyn Connect), tested alone or in combination with multidomain lifestyle intervention for 6 months. The MET‐FINGER trial (N:600, at‐risk general population enriched with APOE4‐carriers, 2‐year intervention) includes different dosages of metformin (in combination with upgraded FINGER lifestyle intervention).ResultNew nutrition/metabolic related data will be presented from FINGER where eg. adherence to healthier diet was still relatively high in the multidomain arm after the extended follow‐up. Higher adherence was also related to better cognition. Several dietary and metabolic biomarkers have been analyzed revealing underlying mechanisms and responders (eg persons with insulin resistance, higher HOMA, responded less). In the MIND‐AD trial, participants from 4 European countries were randomized to the multidomain lifestyle intervention alone (N:32), or in combination with medical food (N:31), and 30 to the control group. Adherence was high for all intervention domains (78‐87%). Compared with the control group, the group with lifestyle+medical food showed a decrease in vascular risk burden (P = 0.027) and an increase in healthy diet patterns (P = 0.045), and better cognition after the intervention (CDR‐SOB). There were no significant differences between the lifestyle only and control group. MET‐FINGER trial recruitment started in January 2023 (preliminary data presented).ConclusionLonger‐term dietary and lifestyle changes are feasible and effective in older adults in the at‐risk spectrum of AD/dementia. Beneficial effects (adherence to and effects of interventions) seemed to improve with the inclusion of medical food in prodromal AD. The unique long follow‐up of FINGER provides important information about long‐term effects and methodological aspects. The MET‐FINGER trial will provide data on synergistic effects between FINGER intervention and a drug targeting both glucose metabolism and AD pathology.

Safety of lacto-N-fucopentaose I/2'-fucosyllactose (LNFP-I/2'-FL) mixture as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on lacto-N-fucopentaose I (LNFP-I)/2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) mixture as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF is mainly composed of the human-identical milk oligosaccharides (HiMO) LNFP-I and 2'-FL, but it also contains d-lactose, lacto-N-tetraose, difucosyllactose, 3-fucosyllactose, LNFP-I fructose isomer, 2'-fucosyl-d-lactulose, l-fucose and 2'-fucosyl-d-lactitol, and a small fraction of other related saccharides. The NF is produced by fermentation by a genetically modified strain (Escherichia coli K-12 DH1 MDO MP2173b) of E. coli K-12 DH1 (DSM 4235). The information provided on the identity, manufacturing process, composition and specifications of the NF does not raise safety concerns. The applicant intends to add the NF in a variety of foods, including infant formula (IF) and follow-on formula, foods for infants and toddlers, foods for special medical purposes and food supplements (FS). The target population is the general population. The anticipated daily intake of LNFP-I from use in IF is similar to the estimated natural mean highest daily intake in breastfed infants. Overall, the anticipated daily intake of LNFP-I from the NF as a food ingredient at the maximum proposed use levels is unlikely to exceed the intake level of breastfed infants on a body weight basis. The intake in breastfed infants on a body weight basis is expected to be safe also for other population groups. The anticipated 2'-FL intake is generally rather low. The use of the NF in FS is not intended if other foods with added NF components or human milk (for infants and young children) are consumed on the same day. The Panel concludes that the NF, a mixture of LNFP-I and 2'-FL, is safe under the proposed conditions of use.

Nutritional intake and adherence to dietary recommendation for patients with prodromal Alzheimers disease within a multimodal lifestyle trial

AbstractBackgroundMultimodal lifestyle interventions have proven successful with at‐risk populations; however, little is known of the interventions effect on patients with prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. Even less is known of feasibility and adherence to dietary recommendations within the population.MethodA 6‐month pilot trial was conducted with 93 participants randomized into three intervention arms. Two groups received physical exercise, cognitive training, nutritional guidance, monitoring and management of vascular and metabolic risk factors, and social stimulation, with one group receiving a medical food product. The third group was a self‐guided control group. Intake of individual macro‐ and micronutrients were analyzed from 3‐day food records. Adherence to recommendations assessed from food frequency questionnaires and by using a healthy diet index.ResultFor macro‐ and micronutrient intake there were no differences at the end of the intervention and intake was in line with other national food surveys. The group who received intervention and medical food product has significantly better healthy diet index score compared to the other groups.ConclusionThere were few longitudinal significant differences on macro‐ and micronutrient intake, however, dietary intake improved significantly in itself when the intervention was complemented with a medical food product.

CFD Analysis of Pure Waterjet Nozzle for Fruit Peeling and Cutting Process

Waterjet Technology has been used vastly in our world nowadays due to its advantages and it can be implemented in many industrial sectors or even in the medical sector and food industry sector. Nozzle is a component that has been utilized in waterjet which is employed in a wide range of engineering applications to control the rate of flow, velocity, and the jet pressure of the water. This paper discusses the CFD analysis on a pure waterjet nozzle to obtain the output of the water that jets out from three different diameters of nozzle and select the effective nozzle diameter to be used for the fruit peeling and cutting process. The pressure used for the analysis are 200MPa, 300MPa and 400MPa, which was analysed for three different nozzle diameter 0.76mm, 1.02mm and 1.27mm. From CFD analysis, it is established that as the pressure loss of the water jet increases, the outlet velocity of the jet increases. Furthermore, for fruit peeling and cutting process the impact angle of the nozzle should be prioritised as the peeling of the fruit should be smooth and even before cutting the fruit. Thus, the most suitable parameters were found to be 400MPa and 1.02mm of pressure and nozzle diameter respectively. This will allow for the intended fruit cutting process with a stand-off distance that can be ranged from 1mm to 9mm.

Traceability and Characteristic Investigation of Burkholderia Gladioli Bloodstream Infection in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

*Drs. Mei Hong and Qiuling Wu are co-corresponding authors Background and aims: Bone marrow suppression and mucosal damage caused by high-dose chemotherapy, and the application of immunosuppressive agents after transplantation lead to immune deficiency of patients with hematologic malignancies, who are susceptibility to opportunistic pathogen infections . Burkholderia gladioli, widely known as B. cocovenenans in the public eye, is an extraordinary Burkholderia specie causing acute lethal food poisoning by producing toxoflavin (TF) and lethal bongkrekic acid (BA). It is also an opportunistic pathogen causing clinical infections in newborn infants and patients with cystic fibrosis, chronic granulomatous disease, mechanical ventilation and other immunocompromising conditions, but its source of infection and pathogenic mechanism are still not clear. This study investigated the source of B. gladioli bloodstream infection in patients with hematologic malignancies and demonstrated the antibiotic sensitivity, biological characteristics, and genetic characteristics of B. gladioli strains, providing guidance for clinical treatment and improving patient prognosis. Methods: Nanopore-targeted sequencing (NTS) was used to rapidly detect pathogens in the peripheral blood of patients, and MALDI-TOF MS was used to identify blood culture pathogens. Samples were taken from locations and things associated with patients including medical equipment, inpatient environment, food, and biological specimens. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis was used to detect the genotypes of B. gladioliDNA. The K-B assay was used to detect bacterial antibiotic sensitivity. The dilution-coated plate method was used in the in vitro phenotyping experiments. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used for the identification and comparation of B. gladioli strains. Results: In this study, NTS and culture of peripheral blood were routinely carried out in patients with hematological malignancies when they gone through febrile neutropenia due to immune deficiency. When patients confirmed positive for B. gladioli bloodstream infection, traceability sampling and PCR verification were conducted from locations and things associated with patients including medical equipments, inpatient environments, food, and biological specimens. Results showed strong B. gladioli abundance in foods (rice, corn flour), but medical equipment and inpatient environment showed no B. gladioliexistence. Furthermore, MLST sequencing confirmed that B. gladiolibloodstream infections was originated from contaminated foods. More important, WGS analysis found that clinical B. gladioli strains isolated in this study were totally lacked of lethal bongkrekic acid (BA) gene clusters and partially lacked of the toxoflavin gene clusters. Antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that the clinical strains were susceptible to cefazoxime, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, cefalexin, cefoperazone/sulbactam, meropenem, imipenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, amikacin, tobramycin, minocycline hydrochloride, tigecycline and resistant to polymyxinB, ampicillin, cefazolin, cefuroxime, aztreonam, and cefoxitin. Phenotyping experiments found that B. gladioli strains didn't induce hemolysis but exhibited stronger thermal stability and ultraviolet (UV) stability compared with the standard B gladioli strain and lethal B gladioli strain. Conclusions: Foodborne B. gladioli strains in this study exhibited low toxicity and high thermal stability and caused opportunistic bloodstream infections of hematologic malignant patients in immunodeficient states, which deserves our attention. Its special biological characteristic might be attributed to whole and partial loss of toxigenic gene clusters. Clinical B gladioli strains are resistant to polymyxinB, but the standard B gladioli strain and lethal B gladioli strain are susceptible to it, indicating acquired resistance during colonization and empirical antibiotic therapy. Clinicians should strengthen the dietary management of inpatients to avoid the occurrence of foodborne infections.

Preparation and property evaluation of poly(ε-caprolactone)/polylactic acid/perlite biodegradable composite film

Abstract The feasibility of perlite particles used in poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composite films by melt blending is explored to improve their mechanical property and analyze their antibacterial effect. The effect of perlite content on the mechanical, thermal, hydrophilic, and antibacterial properties of composite films is investigated. Results show that incorporation of 10 wt% perlite in PCL/PLA film improves the tensile strength and hydrophilicity by 1.2 times and 25 %, respectively. After perlite addition, the melting crystallization and glass transition temperature of PCL/PLA film are improved. The presence of perlite also confers antibacterial benefits to the composite film. PLA-based materials are used in the fields of medical materials and food packaging, and their ability to degrade in seawater has been a long-standing goal. In this study, the addition of PCL and perlite not only increases various properties and antibacterial effects, but the blending of inorganic materials and organic materials can destroy the link strength of polymer chain segments of organic materials and help them degrade in seawater. The prepared composite film features broad prospects for the development and application of various fields, such as food packaging and medical materials, reduce white pollution in the ocean.

A spatial analysis of urban gulls contribution to the potential spread of zoonotic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Wildlife human interactions within cities are becoming more common with consequences for pathogen transmission and human health. Large gulls are opportunistic feeders, adapted to coexist with humans in urban environments, and are potential vectors for spread and transmission of pathogens, including antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. We investigated the potential role that urban gulls play in the spread and dispersal of these bacteria. We analysed 129 faecal swabs from yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) of different ages (56 adults and 73 immatures) during the breeding period from three years in the highly populated city of Barcelona (northeastern Spain). Thirteen individuals tested positive for the pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni), including antibiotic-resistant strains. We modelled the potential spatial spread of pathogens using the GPS trajectories of 58 yellow-legged gulls (23 adults, 35 immature individuals), which included the thirteen individuals that tested positive for pathogenic bacteria. By overlapping the spatially explicit pathogen dispersal maps with the distribution of urban installations sensitive at risk of possible pathogen spillover (e.g. elder and medical centres, markets, food industries, kindergartens, or public water sources), we identified potential areas at risk of pathogen spillover. Pathogens may be potentially spread to municipalities beyond Barcelona city borders. The results revealed that immature gulls dispersed pathogens over larger areas than adults (maximum dispersal distances of 167 km versus 53.2 km, respectively). Recreational urban water sources were the most sensitive habitats visited by GPS-tagged gulls that tested positive, followed by schools. Combining GPS movement data with pathogen analytics allows spatially explicit maps to be generated using a One Health approach that can help urban and public health management within large cities, such as Barcelona, and identify areas used by humans that are sensitive to pathogen spillover from gulls.

Effects of two alternative plasticizers on the growth hormone-related endocrine system, neurodevelopment, and oxidative stress of zebrafish larvae

In response to the restriction of phthalate plasticizers, acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) and acetyl triethyl citrate (ATEC) have been used in medical devices and food packaging. In the present study, the effects of ATBC and ATEC on the development, behavior, growth hormone (GH)-related endocrine system, neurotransmitters, and oxidative stress of zebrafish embryo or larvae were investigated. After exposure of zebrafish to ATBC and ATEC (0, 0.03, 0.3, 3, 30, and 300 μg/L) for 96 h, developmental toxicity, behavioral changes under light/dark condition, changes in hormones and genes involved in GH/insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) axis, changes in hormone, enzyme, and genes related to neurodevelopment, antioxidant enzymes activities were determined. Larvae exposed to 30 or 300 μg/L ATBC showed significant reductions in body length and moving distance and speed, whereas no significant effects on development and locomotor behavior were observed in larvae exposed to ATEC. The contents of GH and IGF-I were significantly reduced in larvae exposed to 3, 30, and 300 μg/L ATBC. Hormonal changes in fish exposed to ATBC are well supported by regulation of genes related to GH (gh1) and the activity of IGF-I (igf1). In fish exposed to ATBC, reduced acetylcholinesterase activity and down-regulation of genes related to the central nervous system development (ache, gap43, mbpa, and syn21) were observed. ATBC increased the production of reactive oxygen species and the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Notably, pre-treatment with the classic antioxidant N-acetylcysteine alleviated ATBC-induced GH-related endocrine disruption and neurotoxicity. Our observations showed that exposure to low levels of ATBC could disturb the regulatory systems of GH/IGFs axis and neurobehavior, ultimately leading to developmental inhibition and hypoactivity, and that increased oxidative stress plays a major role in these toxicities.