Product Safety Research Articles

Evaluating the Efficacy of Cosmetic Product Safety Regulations in Malaysia: The Role of the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) and Industry Compliance

Various legislative measures, such as the Sale of Drugs Act 1952, Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984, Poison Act 1952, Guidelines for Control of Cosmetic Products 2022, and other directives introduced by the NPRA in Malaysia, are intended to control the safety of cosmetic products. Despite these existing laws and directives, cosmetic products containing hazardous ingredients persist in the Malaysian market. NPRA reportedly received 1,041 complaints about cosmetic products in 2022, while its website also displays an annual increase in cases involving cosmetic products that contain hazardous ingredients. The persistent presence of harmful cosmetic products in the market highlights significant gaps in efforts to control hazardous cosmetic products. This study examined the efficacy of cosmetic product safety regulations in Malaysia, focusing on the role of the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) and industry compliance. This qualitative study gathered data from library databases and conducted semi-structured interviews with NPRA officers, cosmetic manufacturers, and cosmetic industry experts. Findings suggest that despite the extensive nature of the regulatory framework, its implementation, which heavily relies on self-regulation and post-market surveillance, requires serious improvement. While some cosmetic producers adhere to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, there are still persistent issues related to product notification, misuse of self-regulation, and inadequate penalties for non-compliance. Therefore, an intensive awareness campaign aimed at cosmetic manufacturers is necessary to ensure the production of safe cosmetic products. Consumers must play their role in helping the NPRA control the sale of hazardous cosmetic products by performing safety checks before purchasing them.

Increasing the Recycling of PVC Flooring Requires Phthalate Removal for Ensuring Consumers' Safety: A Cross-Checked Substance Flow Analysis of Plasticizers for Switzerland.

As our planet grapples with the severe repercussions of plastic pollution, mechanical recycling has been proposed as a potential remedy. However, increasing mechanical recycling may have unintended negative consequences. For example, recycling of PVC flooring containing hazardous plasticizers that were used in the past may lead to continued exposure. Here we propose measures to increase recycling while circumventing adverse health impacts caused by legacy additives. For this, we conduct a dynamic substance flow analysis for Switzerland and the time period from 1950 to 2100, focusing on three plasticizers: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisononyl phthalate (DiNP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHT). We quantify the uncertainty of results, check their plausibility against measured concentrations in samples representative for the Swiss market, and compare them with modeled substance flows in Germany. Based on the cross-checked model, future average concentrations of DEHP in PVC flooring on the Swiss market are expected to be above the legal limit of 0.1 wt % for several decades if increased recycling rates are implemented without additional measures. Phasing out the potentially concerning DiNP, too, and preventing phthalates from entering recycling would lower their average market concentrations to values below 0.1 wt % and enable increasing recycling rates without compromising product safety. Analogous measures could help achieve this goal across other European countries and product groups.

Insight into Pelargonium odoratissimum Essential Oil Preservative Properties Effect on Ground Beef.

Pelargonium plants are very popular and well-known for their essential oils (EOs), which are used for medicinal purposes and in food. This study focused on the EO of Pelargonium odoratissimum. First, its composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were evaluated, and finally, its efficacy as a natural preservative in ground beef was tested. The main EO constituents were citronellol (40.0%), nerol (15.3%), and citronellyl formate (12.6%). The antibacterial activity of POEO showed that Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 was the most susceptible strain compared to the other eight strains tested. The antioxidant activity, as measured by the DPPH assay, showed a dose-dependent effect with an IC50 comparable to the standard used, gallic acid. Aerobic plate count, psychotropic bacteria, and Enterobacteriaceae, including Salmonella, were reduced by the addition of Pelargonium odoratissimum essential oils. The oxidative stability was significantly improved compared to the untreated sample. Additionally, the results for metmyoglobin demonstrated a notable preservative effect on sensory properties, including appearance, odor, color, and overall acceptability. The ability to discriminate between all samples and correlate protein and lipid oxidation processes, microbiological characteristics, and sensory measurements was made possible by principal component analysis and heat maps. This research shows the potential benefits of using POEO in the preservation of ground beef by effectively extending shelf life and improving product safety.

СУЧАСНІ ПРОБЛЕМИ ВИРОБНИЧОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ НАФТОГАЗОВОГО КОМПЛЕКСУ УКРАЇНИ

Production in the oil and gas sector, causing the existence of an increased risk of hazards both for the internal and external environment of operation, requires increased attention to the problems of ensuring industrial safety. The issue of ensuring the production safety of the enterprises of the oil and gas complex of Ukraine is particularly relevant in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has been ongoing since 2014 and is in full-scale phase for the second year in a row, accompanied by significant destruction throughout the country. The problems of improving the functioning of enterprises of the oil and gas complex of Ukraine are constantly in the field of view of researchers, each of whom focuses attention on a certain set of problems and possible ways to solve them. At the same time, more attention is paid to the problem of production safety of oil and gas enterprises from the point of view of its individual components. Thus, the modern domestic scientific discourse does not focus on the problems of production safety of the enterprises of the oil and gas complex, which actualizes the need for research on the specified issues. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the components of industrial safety of enterprises of the oil and gas complex of Ukraine and to determine the problems of its provision in the context of the Ukrainian-Russian war. Methods. The methodological basis of the research was made up of general scientific and special methods of economic science, in particular methods of theoretical generalization and logical abstraction. Analytical materials of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the State Labor Service of Ukraine, the State Statistics Service, the World Bank, the Government of Ukraine and the European Commission were used in the research process and processed using methods of statistical analysis: comparison, grouping, calculation of growth rates etc. The results. The essence of the categories "safety" and "industrial safety" of the enterprise was studied. Existing domestic and foreign approaches to identifying the key components of industrial safety of oil and gas complex enterprises are analyzed. The author's approach to the formation of the composition of industrial safety elements is proposed and the characteristics of each of them are given. The situation with industrial injuries in the industry in the pre-war period was studied and the losses of the sector and ecology as a result of hostilities were analyzed. The peculiarities of modern processes of ensuring industrial safety at the enterprises of the oil and gas complex of Ukraine are substantiated

Design and implementation of AEM10941 based solar energy system harvester for domestic lighting as a sustainable lighting solution for rural areas

Lack of access to reliable and affordable electricity in Mbo’o community and the reliance on kerosene lamps for lighting has impacted various aspects of daily life in the area such as education, health, safety and economic productivity. Yields rural exodus and poverty. The aim of this research is to address the challenge of inadequate lighting in the Mbo’o community by developing a sustainable and affordable solution using the AEM10941 solar lamp and thus improving the quality of life for community members and reducing environmental impacts. The methodology involved utilizing the AEM10941 and connecting it with an ATMEGA328pu, switch and LED to construct the lamp. This included configuring the AEM10941, designing the printed circuit board for the lighting and control circuits, and then crafting the lamp casing. The lamp was designed to operate in two modes including indoor and outdoor/security modes. Performance evaluation tests revealed that the AEM10941 effectively charges the battery to full capacity within three hours. Additionally, in indoor mode, a single charge can sustain up to 10 h of lighting, demonstrating the lamp’s efficiency and reliability in providing prolonged illumination. At full brightness, the lamp produced an illuminance of 1436 lx. the AEM10941 based solar lamps performance characteristics including illumination intensity, runtime and charging time are in accordance with the standards values and even above. This sustainable way of lighting is the convenient solution to improve the general living standard of the Mbo’o community. The key contribution of this work is the development of a sustainable, affordable and versatile solar lamp tailored to the specific needs of the Mbo’o community. This work provides an innovative solution to address the community’s reliance on kerosene lamps, thereby potentially reducing emissions while improving safety and quality of life.

A self-supervised assisted label-efficient method for online remaining useful life prediction

Remaining Useful Life (RUL) prediction is crucial for safe and efficient production in industrial equipment. Conventional methods struggle in online environments, facing challenges like data distribution differences across working conditions, model cold start problem under new equipment, and lack of labels in online scenarios. To address these challenges, we propose a novel framework for online RUL prediction that leverages knowledge from self-supervised tasks via metric learning. First, a label-efficient self-supervised learning method incorporating soft triplet loss is proposed to transfer degradation knowledge. Second, we develop a two-stage method to distinguish different degradation stages of the equipment for better alignment of data distribution. Third, we introduce a pseudo-label dynamic self-updating strategy and a sample entropy-based data replay strategy, fine-tuning the offline model with newly acquired data. Our method outperforms state-of-the-art unsupervised approaches, reducing RMSE and MAPE by 16.02% and 8.40%, respectively, and achieves performance comparable to supervised methods.

A novel method of computation for anchorage length based on the propagation characteristics of anchor excitation stress wave

ABSTRACT Detecting the anchoring length is an integral part of the quality inspection of the bolt anchoring, which is crucial to the safety of the roadway support. This paper studies the influence of the anchoring length on the propagation characteristics of the exciting stress wave of the bolt. The research finds that the change in the anchoring length affects the attenuation rate and frequency distribution of the stress wave signal amplitude. Under the same test conditions, the anchoring length negatively correlates with the consolidation wave velocity. The VMD analysis and processing method decomposes the original detection signal once or the characteristic mode function twice. The bottom reflection time is obtained from the bottom reflection signal identified according to the decomposed mode function. Based on the propagation characteristics of the exciting stress wave in the anchor rod, a method of calculating the anchoring length using the bottom reflection time is proposed. Experimental verification of anchoring models for different anchoring lengths is carried out. The calculated results are consistent with the actual anchoring length; the longer the length, the smaller the relative error. The error rate meets the accuracy requirements of on-site engineering tests and guarantees safe production.

Resilience assessment of FPSO leakage emergency response based on quantitative FRAM

FPSO production process is prone to leakage, and failure to respond promptly and effectively will lead to accident escalation and serious consequences. However, traditional safety assessment methods cannot handle the nonlinear relationships between human, technology, and organization in emergency response process. This study proposes a quantitative FRAM to evaluate the emergency response resilience of FPSO leakage. This method establishes a resilience evaluation framework including three tiers: function, ability, and system, which can quantify system resilience based on the variability of function. First, identify basic functions according to the four stages of monitoring, response, learning and anticipation in the emergency response process, and establish the FRAM model of FPSO leakage emergency response. Then, the quantitative FRAM and Monte Carlo simulation are combined to calculate the variabilities of functions under different operating conditions. Finally, based on the simulation results, the variabilities of basic functions are aggregated and statistically analyzed to quantify system resilience. The implementation process of this method is illustrated by a case study. The influence of different factors on the system resilience is analyzed by setting various operation scenarios, and critical functions are identified by sensitivity analysis, which can provide reference for improving system resilience and ensuring FPSO safety production.

Improving the Quality and Safety of Fish Products with Edible Coatings Incorporating Piscicolin CM22 from a Psychrotolerant Carnobacterium maltaromaticum Strain.

The consumption of raw or smoked fish entails significant microbiological risks, including contamination by pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause severe foodborne illnesses. This study explores the preservative use of piscicolin CM22, a novel bacteriocin derived from the psychrotolerant strain Carnobacterium maltaromaticum CM22, in two types of edible coatings (EC): chitosan-based and fish gelatin-based. An initial in vitro characterization of the technological and antimicrobial properties of these ECs with and without bacteriocin was conducted. The efficacy of the edible coatings was subsequently evaluated through shelf life and challenge tests against L. monocytogenes in raw and smoked fish products. The results demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, with the chitosan-based coating containing piscicolin CM22 being the most effective in reducing microbial counts and maintaining pH and color stability. Furthermore, in the challenge test studies, both ECs effectively controlled L. monocytogenes, showing significant reductions in bacterial counts compared to the controls in fresh tuna, salmon, and smoked salmon. The ECs containing piscicolin CM22 reduced Listeria counts by up to 4 log CFU/g in raw and smoked fish samples, with effective control in smoked salmon for up to 15 days at refrigeration temperature. While further research is required to fully assess their preservation potential, these findings strongly indicate that piscicolin CM22-functionalized edible coatings hold significant potential for improving the quality and safety of fish products.

Chemiresistive triethylamine detection based on the novel Ti3C2Tx/Co-BDC gas sensor

Triethylamine (TEA), a representative volatile organic environmental pollutant, poses significant environmental pollution risks and can adversely affect the liver and nervous system, potentially leading to fatal outcomes. However, existing gas sensors for TEA detection have pressing drawbacks, such as safety hazards associated with high-temperature operation and poor timeliness due to time-consuming testing. Herein, the Ti3C2Tx/Co-BDC sensor demonstrates ultra-sensitive detection of TEA at a low temperature of 100 °C. This temperature is below the threshold for explosion-proof operation, ensuring safe application in flammable and explosive environments. Meanwhile, the introduction of the metal-like MXene with ultra-high conductivity accelerates the response and recovery process (11 s/20 s), facilitating highly efficient TEA detection within a sub-minute timeframe. The Ti-O-Co interfacial bonds between Ti3C2Tx and Co-BDC, confirmed by both XPS analysis and theoretical calculations, enhance carrier mobility across the two materials, significantly boosting gas-sensing performance. The rapid detection of TEA at low temperatures makes the Ti3C2Tx/Co-BDC sensor more suitable for practical environmental monitoring in flammable and explosive areas, further contributing to human health and production safety.

Tinjauan Sistem Informasi Akuntansi Persediaan Barang Dagang Pada PT DAYA HIDUP SEMESTA

PT Daya Hidup Semesta is a trade company whose main activity is to buy, store as stock and sell health and safety products under the 4Life brand. The supply of goods is a very important factor for a trading company because the main activity of the trading company is to sell the supply of Goods to the customer in his business to make a profit or profit. Therefore, the supervision of the management of goods and services should be carried out in accordance with the procedures of registration, the procedure of demand and the procedure for the production of the goods have been applied according to the theory of which there has been adequate separation of tasks, the process of authorization of documents and the system of recording of the application of computerized supplies and there is internal verification independently. Keywords: accounting system, and merchandise supplies

Enhancing Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Strategies for Navigating Innovative Technologies and Regulatory Approvals in the Cosmetic Industry

Abstract: The cosmetic industry, driven by innovation, constantly seeks safer, more effective, and sustainable products. However, regulatory hurdles often impede the introduction of innovative cosmetics. This paper explores the convergence of advanced technologies and regulatory conformity, emphasizing the need for collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches. Through an extensive review of literature and case studies, we reveal the multifaceted challenges within the industry. These encompass shifting consumer expectations, ingredient safety concerns, and intricate global regulations. Cross-functional collaborations, uniting researchers, regulators, industry experts, and consumers, are pivotal, driving innovation while ensuring product safety and compliance. Our research stresses the importance of a proactive, all-encompassing approach to product development. This approach should integrate cutting-edge technologies, rigorous safety assessments, and smart regulatory strategies from project inception. Additionally, it emphasizes engaging stakeholders, sharing knowledge, and practicing transparency to earn trust from consumers and regulators. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the balance between innovation and regulation in the cosmetic industry, advocating for a paradigm shift characterized by collaboration and interdisciplinary efforts. By aligning innovation with regulatory compliance, the industry can effectively navigate the complex landscape of modern cosmetics, fostering the creation of safer, more sustainable, and consumer-centric products.

Design and Optimization of LPG Safety Cap using Finite Element Method

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the design and optimization of LPG safety caps, aimed at enhancing safety, reducing material consumption, and optimizing performance. The project employs SolidWorks simulation tools to conduct research and concept design phases. The primary objective is to ensure product safety while minimizing costs through Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The final product undergoes rigorous evaluation for performance and consumer safety. Three main goals guide this investigation: to scrutinize existing LPG safety cap designs, minimize material usage, and simulate the optimal design for enhanced safety. Analysis of the current design reveals vulnerabilities, including theft of LPG gas from sealed cylinders and escalating HDPE prices. Proposed designs simplify the current model and economize material consumption, successfully addressing the second objective. Through simulation, an optimal design (Design 8) emerges with superior characteristics compared to the existing model. Design 8 demonstrates a reduced total weight, higher safety factor, and lower maximum von Mises stress value. Notably, it exhibits enhanced safety and resilience, mitigating failure risks under stress conditions. The findings highlight the potential for creating stronger and safer designs while minimizing material requirements. In conclusion, Design 8 emerges as a superior alternative to the current design, boasting advantages in weight reduction, stress tolerance, safety factor, and optimization potential. This study underscores the significance of utilizing advanced computational methods to refine engineering designs for improved safety and efficiency in LPG safety caps.

Research on methane Hazard interval prediction method based on hybrid “model-data”driven strategy

Safe mining of coal has an important impact on energy security, while effective control of methane hazard is the key to ensuring safe coal mining. Methane concentration is the main factor determining the hazard of methane in coal mines, and in order to limit the impact of methane on coal mine safety, this study proposes a methane concentration interval prediction method based on a hybrid “model-data” driven idea. Firstly, by analyzing the data and constructing a methane concentration prediction method based on model-driven, which reduces the influence of multicollinearity in the methane concentration series on the prediction effect, and then, in combination with the deep learning technique, a method based on the Wasserstein distance to improve the Informer model is proposed, and finally a hybrid-driven methane concentration interval prediction model is established by introducing the IOWGA operator and the statistical method. After an example analysis of a coal mine in Guizhou Province, China, the hybrid-driven model proposed in this study has better applicability and prediction accuracy in the methane concentration prediction task, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of coal mine accidents and is more in line with the needs of coal mine safety production.

The environmental microbial retrieving assessment of cell-processing facilities for cell therapy in a hospital laboratory.

Cell therapy represents a promising treatment modality. A critical component in the production of cell therapy products is maintaining the sterility of cell therapy clean rooms (CTCRs). This study aimed to evaluate the environmental microbial load within CTCRs. We systematically monitored microbial load in CTCRs, following established guidelines. Cultured microbial samples underwent metagenomic sequencing, and alpha and beta diversity analyses, functional annotation, and resistance gene profiling were performed using various bioinformatics tools to assess microbial diversity and function. From November 2023 to January 2024, we collected 42 environmental microbial colony samples from various sources within the CTCR and performed metagenomic sequencing on 39 samples. Alpha diversity analysis revealed no significant differences among surface, settle_plate, and airborne categories, but significant disparities within surface subgroups were revealed. Beta diversity analysis showed notable differences between surface and airborne categories and among surface subgroups. Species distribution analysis identified Bacillus as the predominant genus on surfaces. Functional annotation and resistance gene analysis indicated distinct resistance patterns, with significant variations between subgroups, such as microscopes and transfer windows, and hands and other Grade_B environments. Resistance to hydrogen peroxide was notably higher in the transfer window group. These findings highlight the importance of stringent disinfection protocols and enhanced hand hygiene to maintain sterility in CTCRs. These findings provide valuable insights for implementing effective measures to maintain cleanliness throughout CTCRs. The annotation and study of resistance genes can help rapidly identify methods to control cellular contamination under circumstances of environmental microbial pollution.IMPORTANCEMaintaining the sterility of cell therapy clean rooms (CTCRs) is crucial for the production of safe and effective cell therapy products. Our study systematically evaluated the environmental microbial load within CTCRs, revealing significant microbial diversity and distinct resistance patterns to disinfection methods. These findings underscore the need for stringent disinfection protocols and enhanced hand hygiene practices to ensure CTCR sterility. By identifying key microbial species and their resistance genes, our research provides essential insights into controlling contamination and safeguarding the production environment, ultimately contributing to the reliability and success of cell therapy treatments.

Evaluation and Application of Wellbore Stability of Deep Oil Wells in the Southern Margin of Junggar Basin

The stability of the oil well wellbore is a prerequisite for selecting the optimal completion method. In this paper, based on experimental testing and theoretical models of rock mechanics parameters in deep oil reservoirs, the in situ stress parameters of deep oil wells are accurately predicted. On this basis, a full life cycle assessment model for wellbore and perforation casing stability was established, and the effects of pressure depletion and changes in the production pressure differential on wellbore stability and casing stability were analyzed. The research results indicate that as the formation pressure decreases, the critical collapse pressure difference around the wellbore significantly decreases. The greater the production pressure difference, the more likely the wellbore is to become unstable. Under the original formation pressure coefficient, if there is no casing, the critical failure pressure difference of the wellbore wall is 55 MPa. After cementing and perforation, when the casing is uniformly stressed and the formation pressure drops to a coefficient of 0.83, the casing will not be damaged even when the wellbore is completely emptied. At this time, there is still a certain safety production pressure difference in the perforated formation. This study can effectively guide the optimization of well completion and safe development in deep oil reservoirs.

Thermal Inactivation of Cells of Salmonella spp. in Pot Pies Prepared With a Beef, Chicken, or Meat Alternative Filling, With and Without Gravy, During Cooking in a Convection Oven

Cooking parameters elaborated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service Cooking Guideline for Meat and Poultry Products (Appendix A) were evaluated for inactivation of Salmonella spp. in pot pies. To prepare dough for pot pies, flour, butter, sugar, salt, and water were mixed, portioned into balls (65 or 85 g each), flattened (ca. 13 or 15 cm diameter, ca. 0.5 cm thick), and hand-pressed into pans (ca. 19.4 cm diameter). Next, a 100-g portion of beef, chicken, or a meat alternative, with or without added gravy (55 g of protein and 45 g of gravy), was inoculated with a cocktail of Salmonella spp. (ca. 6.5 or 7.9 log CFU/g of filling) and distributed onto the pie crust. After covering with a 65-g sheet of dough, pies were heat sealed in nylon polyethylene bags and stored at −20 °C for up to 72 h. Frozen pot pies containing a beef or meat alternative filling were cooked in a convection oven to an internal temperature of 57.8 °C (136°F) instantaneous, 62.8 °C (145°F) and held for 4 min, 67.2 °C (153°F) and held for 34 sec, or 71.1 °C (160°F) instantaneous; whereas chicken pot pies were cooked to an internal temperature of 57.8 °C (136°F) instantaneous, 62.8 °C (145°F) and held for 13 min, 67.2 °C (153°F) and held for 96 sec, or 73.9 °C (165°F) instantaneous. Cells of Salmonella spp. were recovered from uncooked or cooked pot pies by stomaching each pie in peptone water and enumerating pathogen levels via direct plating. Cooking delivered Salmonella spp. reductions of ca. 3.6 to ≥6.3 log CFU/g of pot pie. With few exceptions, when pathogen levels decreased to below detection by direct plating (0.5 log CFU/g of pot pie), cells of Salmonella were not recovered by enrichment. In addition, there were minimal differences in the aw and moisture content of the protein filling before and after cooking, suggesting that enclosing the meat, poultry, or meat alternative filling within a dough wrapping maintains moisture in the filling during the cooking process.

Current Updates on Lactic Acid Production and Control during Baijiu Brewing

Lactic acid is closely linked to the safety and quality of baijiu, the traditional Chinese fermented alcoholic beverage. Produced by lactic acid bacteria during fermentation, it creates an acidic environment that inhibits the growth of spoilage organisms and harmful microbes, thereby enhancing the safety and stability of the final product. Additionally, lactic acid is a key contributor to baijiu’s flavor profile, providing a smooth and rounded taste. Its levels can significantly impact consumer experience. An excess of lactic acid can result in a sour, undesirable flavor, while insufficient levels may lead to a flat and less appealing taste. Maintaining balanced lactic acid levels is crucial for ensuring that baijiu is both safe and enjoyable to drink, ultimately contributing to the product’s success and marketability. This paper reviews the mechanisms of lactic acid production in baijiu, examines its effects on flavor and the potential causes of imbalances, explores regulatory measures for controlling lactic acid during brewing, and discusses the impact of these measures on baijiu’s quality, taste, and yield, along with practical applications by various distilleries. The goal of this paper is to provide a reference for regulating lactic acid in the baijiu production processes.

Enhancing Ultra-High Temperature Milk Quality: A Novel Approach to Microbial Contamination Detection Using the BD BACTEC™ FX System

The demand for effective detection methods to ensure the safety and quality of Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) milk remains crucial in the food industry. Traditional techniques for detecting microorganisms are time-consuming and labor-intensive, leading to a need for a rapid and sensitive method for detecting microbial growth in UHT milk. This study evaluates the efficacy of the BD BACTEC™ FX system for microbial detection in UHT milk samples. The system utilizes internal fluorescent CO2 sensors to detect the metabolic activity of bacteria growing in the culture broth. The investigation comprises two stages: a controlled laboratory experiment with UHT milk samples spiked with Bacillus spizizenii inoculated at different population levels (from 0 to 4.0 log10 CFU/mL), and an industrial-scale assessment of commercial UHT milk. The microbial detection system detected the lowest B. spizizenii count (0 log CFU/mL) inoculated into UHT milk after 13 hours of incubation. The 13-hour incubation period was also sufficient to detect microbial contamination in commercial UHT milk samples. Results indicate that this system offers heightened sensitivity compared to conventional methods, detecting microbial contamination in a significantly shorter time frame (6-13 h). Taxonomic identification of contaminants revealed the presence of Cellulomonas spp. and Enterococcus spp. in UHT commercial samples. The findings emphasize the critical importance of robust detection techniques in ensuring the safety and quality of UHT milk products.

Clinical Benefits and Safety of Medical Cannabis Products: A Narrative Review on Natural Extracts.

Interest in medical cannabis and cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) has increased greatly in recent years. Two cannabinoids are of principal importance; delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC), the primary psychoactive component, and also cannabidiol (CBD), considered non-intoxicating. Each has distinct mechanisms of action and different therapeutic potentials. CBMPs differ in their ∆9-THC and CBD components; predominantly ∆9-THC, balanced formulations with equivalent ∆9-THC and CBD elements, and CBD-predominant products. In this narrative review, we evaluate the published evidence for the clinical benefits of CBMPs and overall benefits in well-being. We also review the overall safety profile and discuss the potential for dependence with CBMPs. Evidence can be drawn from a wide range of randomized and other controlled studies and from observational real-world studies. Most data from observational registry studies are supportive of ∆9-THC-based products (∆9-THC-predominant or balanced CBMPs) in the management of chronic neuropathic pain. Balanced products are also effective in reducing spasticity in multiple sclerosis. Most CBMPs show benefit in providing symptomatic benefits in reducing anxiety, nausea, and in improving sleep, but the place of specific products is more subtle, and choice guided by specific circumstances. Symptomatic improvements are accompanied by improved quality of life and well-being. Safety data indicate that CBMPs are generally well tolerated in most patients without specific contraindications. The majority of adverse effects are non-serious, and transient; most are principally associated with ∆9-THC and are dose-dependent. In contrast to recreational cannabis use, there is little evidence from clinical studies that CBMPs have any potential for dependence.