How do food safety technical working groups within a One Health framework work? Experiences from Vietnam and Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Persistent challenges of fragmented, food safety management in low- and middle-income countries underscore the need for more robustly coordinated mechanisms. National food safety technical working groups, operating under a One Health framework, offer potential in streamlining coordination efforts to effectively address these challenges. However, more clarity regarding their formation and functioning is important for understanding how to best establish and support such groups. The aim of this study is to systematically document the development process of established groups in Vietnam and Ethiopia. METHODS: We assess the process used to establish and support the technical working groups against six critical success factors for multisectoral collaboration: drive change, define, design, realise, relate, and capture success. To do so, we review meeting minutes, Terms of Reference, and other related publications. RESULTS: The analysis underscores the importance of financial and technical support by development partners in initiating working groups while also highlighting the challenge posed by the absence of legal frameworks to secure government commitment. Embedding the technical working groups within existing government structures - such as One Health platforms - from the outset could help to ensure the active participation and sustainability of such groups. CONCLUSION: Both Vietnam and Ethiopia have established operational and institutionalized technical working groups to bolster national food safety efforts under a One Health framework. The approaches employed in these countries could serve as valuable models for others seeking to establish comparable multisectoral collaborative mechanisms to address emerging health risks.

Processing speed mediates the relationship between DDR1 and psychosocial functioning in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder presenting psychotic symptoms.

The DDR1 locus is associated with the diagnosis of schizophrenia and with processing speed in patients with schizophrenia and first-episode psychosis. Here, we investigated whether DDR1 variants are associated with bipolar disorder (BD) features. First, we performed a case‒control association study comparing DDR1 variants between patients with BD and healthy controls. Second, we performed linear regression analyses to assess the associations of DDR1 variants with neurocognitive domains and psychosocial functioning. Third, we conducted a mediation analysis to explore whether neurocognitive impairment mediated the association between DDR1 variants and psychosocial functioning in patients with BD. Finally, we studied the association between DDR1 variants and white matter microstructure. We did not find any statistically significant associations in the case‒control association study; however, we found that the combined genotypes rs1264323AA-rs2267641AC/CC were associated with worse neurocognitive performance in patients with BD with psychotic symptoms. In addition, the combined genotypes rs1264323AA-rs2267641AC/CC were associated with worse psychosocial functioning through processing speed. We did not find correlations between white matter microstructure abnormalities and the neurocognitive domains associated with the combined genotypes rs1264323AA-rs2267641AC/CC. Overall, the results suggest that DDR1 may be a marker of worse neurocognitive performance and psychosocial functioning in patients with BD, specifically those with psychotic symptoms.

Rheological and Viscoelastic Analysis of Hybrid Formulations for Topical Application.

The rheological and viscoelastic properties of hybrid formulations composed of vehicles designed for cutaneous topical application and loaded with ultradeformable liposomes (UDL) were assessed. UDL were selected for their established ability to transport both lipophilic and hydrophilic compounds through the skin, and are applicable in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Formulations underwent flow analysis and were fitted to the Herschel-Bulkley model due to their prevalent non-Newtonian behavior in most cases. Linear viscoelastic regions (LVR) were identified, and G' and G″ moduli were determined via frequency sweep steps, considering the impact of temperature and aging. The formulations exhibited non-Newtonian behavior with pseudoplastic traits in most cases, with UDL incorporation inducing rheological changes. LVR and frequency sweep tests indicated predominantly elastic solid behavior, with G' higher than G″, at different temperatures and post-production times. Tan δ values also illustrated a predominant solid-like behavior over liquid. This study provides pivotal insights into the rheological and viscoelastic features of topical formulations, emphasizing the crucial role of meticulous vehicle and formulation selection when incorporating UDL or analogous liposomal drug delivery systems.

Exploring the role of osteoglycin in type 2 diabetes: implications for insulin resistance and vascular pathophysiology.

Osteoglycin, a fundamental proteoglycan within the vascular extracellular matrix, is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) but the role of osteoglycin in the development of CVD is controversial to date. Therefore, our aims are to determine and compare the level of osteoglycin in T2D patients with/without CVD versus control subjects both at serum and vascular tissue and to analyze in vitro role of osteoglycin in VSMCs under calcified conditions. For this, serum osteoglycin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 117 controls and 129 patients with T2D (46 with CVD and 83 without CVD), revealing a significant increase in patients with T2D compared with controls. Osteoglycin level was not an estimator of CVD but correlated with markers of insulin resistance (triglycerides and triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol index) in patients with T2D. At the vascular level, osteoglycin expression was assessed by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry, and no significant differences were observed between calcified arteries from patients with T2D and noncalcified arteries from controls. In vitro experiments using VSMCs (mock and overexpressing osteoglycin) under calcifying conditions were performed to analyze the osteoglycin function. The overexpression of osteoglycin in VMSCs under calcifying conditions revealed an increase of cell proliferation without effect on apoptosis and an upregulation of the expression of autotaxin (ATX) involved in inflammatory processes. In conclusion, osteoglycin could play a role in glycemic homeostasis, being a potential biomarker of insulin resistance in patients with T2D. Furthermore, osteoglycin could indirectly participate in the development of atherosclerosis through its regulatory effect on ATX and by proliferating VSMCs.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study uncovers an increase of serum osteoglycin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, which does not appear to be associated with the development of atherosclerosis, but rather with insulin resistance in this population. Overexpression of osteoglycin increased proliferation and upregulated the expression of autotaxin in vascular smooth muscle cells within calcified environments. Osteoglycin could be a biomarker of insulin resistance for type 2 diabetes and could be indirectly involved in the development of atherosclerosis.

Systematic influenza screening in cardiac intensive care units during the influenza season: A prospective study in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the incidence of influenza among admissions to the cardiac intensive care unit (C-ICU), accuracy of clinical suspicion, and influenza vaccination uptake. We evaluated the incidence of influenza at C-ICU admission during the influenza season, potential underdiagnosis, and vaccination uptake. METHODS: Prospective study at five C-ICUs during the 2017-2020 influenza seasons. A nasopharyngeal swab was collected at admission from patients who consented (n = 788). Testing was with Xpert®XpressFlu/RSV. RESULTS: Influenza was detected in 43 patients (5.5%) (40 FluA; 3 FluB) and clinically suspected in 27 (62.8%). Compared to patients without influenza, patients with influenza more frequently had heart failure (37.2% vs 22.8%, P = 0.031), previous contact with relatives with influenza-like illnesses (23.3% vs 12.5%, P = 0.042), antimicrobial use (67.4% vs 23.2%, P <0.01), and need for mechanical ventilation (25.6% vs 14.5%, P = 0.048). Patients received oseltamivir promptly. We found no differences in mortality (11.6% vs 5.2%, P = 0.076). Patients with influenza more frequently had myocarditis (9.3% vs 0.9%, P <0.01) and pericarditis (7.0% vs 0.8%, P = 0.01). Overall, 43.0% of patients (339/788) were vaccinated (51.9% of those with a clear indication [303/584]). CONCLUSION: Influenza seems to be a frequently underdiagnosed underlying condition in admissions to the C-ICU. Influenza should be screened for at C-ICU admission during influenza epidemics.

Fifty years of biophysics in Argentina.

In 1972, a group of young Argentinean scientists nucleated in the so-called Membrane Club constituted the Biophysical Society of Argentina (SAB). Over the years, this Society has grown and embraced new areas of research and emerging technologies. In this commentary, we provide an overview of the early stages of biophysics development in Argentina and highlight some of the notable achievements made during the past five decades. The SAB Annual Meetings have been a platform for intense scientific discussions, and the Society has fostered numerous international connections, becoming a hallmark of SAB activities over these 50 years. Initially centered on membrane biophysics, SAB focus has since expanded to encompass diverse fields such as molecular, cellular, and systems biophysics.

The Latin American Federation of Biophysical Societies (LAFeBS).

The Latin American Federation of Biophysical Societies (LAFeBS) was constituted in 2007 in Montevideo, Uruguay, as a collaborative effort among the Biophysical Societies of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. This visionary collaboration foresees the future of Biophysics in Latin America. In this commentary, we will briefly review the history of LAFeBS, the remarkable path undertaken since its foundation 16 years ago, and its key initiative, the Latin American Postgraduate Program in Biophysics (POSLATAM).

Rheological, Physical, and Spectroscopical Characterization of Gamma-Irradiated Albumin Nanoparticles Loaded with Anthocyanin.

Anthocyanins are the main active compounds in blueberry. However, they have poor oxidation stability. If anthocyanins are encapsulated in protein nanoparticles, their oxidation resistance could be increased as a result of the slowing down of the oxidation process. This work describes the advantages of using a γ-irradiated bovine serum albumin nanoparticle bound to anthocyanins. The interaction was characterized biophysically, mainly by rheology. By computational calculation and simulation based on model nanoparticles, we estimated the number of molecules forming the albumin nanoparticles, which allowed us to infer the ratio of anthocyanin/nanoparticles. Measurements by UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ potential, electron transmission microscopy, and rheology at room (25 °C) and physiological (37 °C) temperatures were performed. The spectroscopy measurements allowed identifying additional hydrophobic sites created during the irradiation process of the nanoparticle. On the basis of the rheological studies, it was observed that the BSA-NP trend is a Newtonian flow behavior type for all the temperatures selected, and there is a direct correlation between dynamic viscosity and temperature values. Furthermore, when anthocyanins are added, the system increases its resistance to the flow as reflected in the morphological changes observed by TEM, thus confirming the relationship between viscosity values and aggregate formation.

Consumer Demand for Milk and the Informal Dairy Sector Amidst COVID-19 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had large negative effects on countries' economies and individual well-being throughout the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Pandemic-related changes in behavior and government restrictions in Kenya may have negatively affected food supply chains and household food access; however, the empirical evidence is currently limited. Objectives: The study explored changes in informal milk markets, dairy consumption, and food insecurity among low-income households in urban and periurban Nairobi, Kenya, following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Methods: Baseline data on milk sales and consumption were collected in late 2019 from dairy vendors operating in the informal sector and their dairy customers. We conducted 2 longitudinal telephone surveys with the same study participants in July and September-October 2020, respectively. Results: At the first follow-up, the volume of milk sold by informal vendors had dropped by 30% compared with their baseline level, and the volume of milk from informal markets consumed by households decreased by 23%. By the second follow-up, the volume of milk sold and consumed had recovered somewhat but remained lower than the volume observed 1 y prior in the same season. Large reductions in the consumption of other animal-sourced products were also observed. The rate of food insecurity increased by 16 and 11 percentage points in the first and second follow-up periods, respectively, compared with baseline. Conclusions: The evidence, therefore, suggests that the timing of the pandemic and the related restrictions were associated with a decrease in the supply and consumption of milk from informal markets in Nairobi and a decrease in the food security of periurban consumers.

Biophysical Reviews special issue call: LAFeBS-highlighting biophysics in Latin America.

This Commentary describes a call for contributions to an upcoming Special Issue (SI) of Biophysical Reviews on the Latin American Federation of Biophysical Societies (LAFeBS). It details the reason for the SI, the SI Editors contact information and the relevant submission details for those wishing to contribute.

Are Patients Sufficiently Informed about Contact Lens Wear and Care?

SIGNIFICANCE: Frequent and effective patient-practitioner communication is essential to ensure that instructions regarding contact lens use, care, and maintenance are understood and followed. Given the relevance of good patient compliance, the responsibility of practitioners to provide adequate information may not be neglected. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the content and type of information licensed optometrists in Spain provide their patients during the first contact lens fitting and at follow-up visits. METHODS: A self-reported ad hoc survey was distributed to licensed optometrists in Spain to investigate, among other factors, whether practitioners provided information on several aspects of contact lens use and maintenance, how was this information provided, and whether in-office practical demonstrations were conducted at all contact lens appointments. RESULTS: Respondents of 321 surveys had a median of 20 years of contact lens fitting experience and worked on independent practices (67.6%), and national (29.0%) and regional chains (3.4%). Type of practice influenced continuous education habits ( P = .03). Overall, 28.0% of participants did not always instruct patients on the need to rub contact lenses, 34.3% did not always address contact lens replacement, and 6.8% did not always explain storage case hygiene and replacement. At the follow-up visit, only 8.4% of respondents asked their patients to demonstrate their care routines. Information was mostly oral (48.6%) or oral and written (43.0%). Contact lens-related complications were reported more frequently by participants with less continuous education training ( P = .01), by those not always recommending rubbing ( P = .002), and by those not providing written information about storage case hygiene and replacement ( P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Patient-practitioner communication was good, albeit several areas were identified where information was insufficient or not provided in a correct and timely format. Precise, written information on rubbing and storage case hygiene and replacement may improve compliance and assist in avoiding complications and dropout.

Kenya's informal milk markets and the regulation-reality gap.

Motivation: Around 80% of milk in Kenya is marketed informally, providing livelihoods and contributing to the food security and nutrition of low-income consumers. Government policy, however, is focused on formalization-primarily through licensing and pasteurization-with enforcement via fines, confiscation of milk, or closing the premises of informal actors. Purpose: This article seeks to better understand if, and why, Kenya's informal milk sector and regulatory system are disconnected from one another and how the policy-reality gap might be better bridged. Methods and approach: To understand the nature and performance of Kenya's informal milk markets and their governance, we used a mix of research methods and data sources, including surveys with informal market players, and key informant interviews with key sector stakeholders. Fieldwork was carried out in Nairobi in late 2018. Findings: Milk safety and quality matters to all actors in informal milk value chains. The trust-based system used is effective in moderating behaviours and assessing and prioritizing quality and safety. Government policy is not accomplishing the stated goal of formalization: licensing levels remain low among informal actors. Pasteurization is not rewarded in the market. There is some evidence of suboptimal pasteurization processes being undertaken to satisfy regulators. There is a gap between the reality of Kenya's informal milk sector and its regulatory system. Policy implications: The regulation-reality gap manifests itself as adversarial relationships between regulators and informal actors, and unnecessary transaction costs, missing opportunities for enhancing livelihoods, food safety, and food security. New approaches should build on and consider existing approaches taken by actors in informal food markets to ensure food safety and quality. Policy-makers should seek to communicate more effectively with informal actors and engage in more constructive dialogue on inclusive ways forward.

Selenium Concentration in Cattle Serum and Fodder from Two Areas in Ethiopia with Contrasting Human Selenium Concentration.

INTRODUCTION: Selenium (Se) is an essential mineral for livestock health and productivity. In cattle, Se deficiency is associated with delayed conception, growth retardation, and increased morbidity and mortality. METHODS: We conducted a survey of cattle serum (n = 224) and feed (n = 81) samples from two areas with contrasting human and cereal grain Se concentration in Ethiopia. The fodder samples include stover, straw, hay and pasture grass. Se concentration of the samples were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Serum Se concentration ranged from 14.9 to 167.8 µg L-1 (median, 41.4 µg L-1). Cattle from East Amhara had significantly greater serum Se concentration compared to cattle from West Amhara (median: 68.4 µg L-1 vs 25.7 µg L-1; p < 0.001). Overall, 79.8% of cattle had Se deficiency (<81 µg L-1). All of the cattle from West Amhara were Se deficient compared with 62.5% of those from East Amhara. State of lactation of cows or age of cattle was not associated with serum Se concentration. The Se concentrations of feed samples ranged from 0.05 to 269.3 µg kg-1. Feed samples from East Amhara had greater Se concentration than samples from West Amhara. Cow serum and cattle feed Se concentrations showed strong spatially correlated variation, with a strong trend from East to West Amhara. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that cattle Se deficiency is likely to be highly prevalent in Ethiopia, which will negatively affect the health and productivity of livestock. The deficiency appears to be geographical dependent. More extensive surveys to map Se concentration in soil-feed-livestock-human cycle are required in Ethiopia and elsewhere.

Aflatoxin exposure among children of age 12-59 Months in Butajira District, South-Central Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The continued provision of safe food, free of aflatoxin remains a huge challenge in developing countries. Despite several favourable climatic conditions that facilitate aflatoxin contamination in Ethiopia, there is little information showing aflatoxin exposure in children. Therefore, this study assessed aflatoxin exposure among young children in Butajira district, South-Central Ethiopia. METHODS: Community based cross-sectional study stratified by agro-ecology was employed in Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS) of Butajira. The study included 332 children aged 12-59 months and were selected by simple random sampling technique using the HDSS registration number as a sampling frame. We collected data on dietary practice and aflatoxin exposure. Aflatoxin M1 concentration in urine was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data analysis was carried out using STATA. RESULTS: Detectable urinary Aflatoxin M1 was found in 62.4% (95% CI: 56.9 - 67.5%) of the children at a level ranging from 0.15 to 0.4 ng/ml. Children living in lowland agro-ecological zone had [AOR = 2.11 (95% CI; 1.15, 3.88] odds of being exposed to aflatoxin as compared to children living in highland agro-ecological zone. Children at lower socio-economic status [AOR = 0.27 (95% CI; 0.14, 0.50] and medium socio-economic status [AOR = 0.47 (95% CI; 0.25, 0.87] had 73% and 53% lower odds of being exposed to aflatoxin as compared to children in the higher socio-economic status, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Aflatoxin exposure among young children was very high in South-Central Ethiopia. This high aflatoxin exposure might emphasize the need for aflatoxin exposure mitigation strategies in Ethiopia. Especially, raising awareness of the community towards aflatoxin exposure is very crucial. In addition, further research is required to assess long-term aflatoxin exposure and its association with child growth and development.

Strengthening causal inference from randomised controlled trials of complex interventions.

Researchers conducting randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of complex interventions face design and analytical challenges that are not fully addressed in existing guidelines. Further guidance is needed to help ensure that these trials of complex interventions are conducted to the highest scientific standards while maximising the evidence that can be extracted from each trial. The key challenge is how to manage the multiplicity of outcomes required for the trial while minimising false positive and false negative findings. To address this challenge, we formulate three principles to conduct RCTs: (1) outcomes chosen should be driven by the intent and programme theory of the intervention and should thus be linked to testable hypotheses; (2) outcomes should be adequately powered and (3) researchers must be explicit and fully transparent about all outcomes and hypotheses before the trial is started and when the results are reported. Multiplicity in trials of complex interventions should be managed through careful planning and interpretation rather than through post hoc analytical adjustment. For trials of complex interventions, the distinction between primary and secondary outcomes as defined in current guidelines does not adequately protect against false positive and negative findings. Primary outcomes should be defined as outcomes that are relevant based on the intervention intent and programme theory, declared (ie, registered), and adequately powered. The possibility of confirmatory causal inference is limited to these outcomes. All other outcomes (either undeclared and/or inadequately powered) are secondary and inference relative to these outcomes will be exploratory.

Prevalence, Antibiogram, and Multidrug-Resistant Profile of E. coli O157: H7 in Retail Raw Beef in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is an emerging foodborne pathogen of public health importance. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and multidrug-resistant profile of E. coli O157:H7 isolated from raw beef sold in butcher shops in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 384 raw beef samples were collected from randomly selected butcher shops across the 10 sub-cities of Addis Ababa. E. coli O157:H7 was isolated following ISO-16654:2001 standard, and isolates were tested for resistance to 13 antimicrobial agents using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Out of the 384 retail raw beef samples examined, 14 (3.64%) (95% CI = 1.77-5.51%) carried E. coli O157:H7 serotype. Of the 14 E. coli O157:H7 isolates, 8 (57.14%) were found to be resistant to three or more antimicrobial categories. The frequency of resistant phenotype was more common for ampicillin (92.8%), nitrofurantoin (92.8%), and tetracycline (50%). Multidrug-resistant E. coli O157:H7 were present in raw beef sold in butcher shops in Addis Ababa. Thus, more stringent monitoring of antimicrobial use in both human and animal populations should be implemented. In addition, further studies should be conducted to understand the E. coli O157:H7 points of contamination and define appropriate risk mitigation strategies.