Electrospun Fibers Loaded with Probiotics: Fundamentals, Characterization, and Applications.

Increasing demand for safe, efficient, and eco-friendly solutions for pharmaceutical and food industries has led researchers to explore new approaches to bacterial storage. Several advantages make electrospinning (ES) a promising technique for food systems, including simple manufacturing equipment, a relatively low spinning cost, a wide variety of spinnable materials, and a mild process that is easily controlled, which allows continuous fabrication of ultrafine polymeric fibers at submicron or nanoscales without high temperatures or high pressures. This review briefly describes recent advances in the development of electrospun fibers for loading probiotics (PRB) by focusing on ES technology, its efficiency for loading PRB into fibers (viability, digestive stability, growth rate, release, thermal stability, and interactions of fibers with PRB), and the application of PRB-loaded fibers as active packaging (spoilage/microbial control, antioxidant effect, shelf life). Based on the literature reviewed, the incorporation of PRB into electrospun fibers is both feasible and functional. However, several studies have been limited to proof-of-principle experiments and the use of model biological products. It is necessary to conduct further research to establish the industrial applicability of PRB-loaded fibers, particularly in the fields of food and medicine.

A worldwide systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of nitrate and nitrite in vegetables and fruits.

This study aimed to conduct on the concentration of nitrate/nitrite (mg kg-1) in vegetables and fruits with a special emphasize on the effect of climate condition. The highest concentration (mean and 95%CI) of nitrate/nitrite was determined in Rocket (4825.15; 3044.14-6606.16), Mizuna (3500; 2702.48-4297.52), and Bok choy (3407.40; 2841.39-3973.42) in vegetable group and in wolfberry (2395.83; 1611.89-3179.77), Jack fruit (237.8; 202.88-272.71) and Cantaloupe (220.32; -224.53 to 665.19) in fruits group. Brazil (2816.77), Estonia (2133.76), Republic of China, Taiwan (2118.28) were the nations with the highest average concentration of nitrate/nitrite in all samples taken from these nations across the globe. Furthermore, Chinese fruits contain the highest concentrations of nitrates/nitrites of other countries (500.57; 416.74-584.41). Nitrate is present in greater quantities in fruits (44.02; 42.12-45.93) and vegetables (438.31; 422.51-454.11) than nitrite; however, the quantity of nitrite has a relatively similar content in both. Our findings revealed that increase in humidity (> 60%), annual rainfall (> 1500 mm), average temperature (> 10 °C) and application of fertilizers lead to significant increase in accumulation of nitrate/nitrite composition of vegetables and fruits (p < 0.05). According to the results of rating countries using the Food Security Index (GFSI), countries with high scores-like Poland and Portugal, which have GFSI scores of 75.5 and 78.7 and average contamination levels of 8.26 and 11.08, respectively-have a trend of average nitrate/nitrite levels of fruit and vegetable products that is significantly decreasing (p = 0.00). Although GFSI levels and other environmental variables can influence nitrate/nitrite levels, fertilizer usage (kg ha-1) is one of the most significant controllable and impactful factors in contaminants residue, which should be manage. The result of our study, will serve as a basis to estimate the dietary exposure to nitrates and nitrites from fruits and vegetables among populations around the world based on climatology and monitor the related health outcomes.

Malachite green and leucomalachite green in fish: a global systematic review and meta-analysis.

Malachite green (MG), an antibiotic with antifungal activity, is illegally used in aquaculture. Given that this chemical is teratogenic and mutagenic, abstinence from intake seems to be a need for public safety. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the global contamination of fishes by MG and its reduced metabolite, leucomalachite green (LMG), in a number of marine and farmed fish species. For literature published prior to January 2022, several databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus) were investigated. In total, 20 publications (10 countries, 724 samples) achieved the criteria for inclusion. The overall average MG and LMG concentrations were 0.48 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.49 µg kg-1) and 0.59 (95% CI: 0.39, 0.79 µg/kg-1), respectively. Eel (M. albus) 15.50 (95% CI: (14.39, 45.39 µg kg-1) and eel (A. anguilla) 4.46 (95% CI: 1.23, 7.69 µg kg-1) had the greatest contamination of MG and LMG, according to the effect size, respectively. Warm-water fish had a concentration of 2.591 (95% CI: 2.25, 2.93 µg kg-1) while cold-water fish had a concentration of 1.55 (95% CI: 0.25, 2.84 µg kg-1). Fish containing medium-fat level of 1.86 (95% CI: 1.27, 2.44 µg kg-1) and high-fat content of 1.10 (95% CI: 0.93, 1.26 µg kg-1) had accumulate MG and LMG in their tissues, respectively. As a result, total MG observed in countries including China, Iran, and the Netherlands was higher than authorized (2 µg kg-1). The toxicity of MG and LMG demands more monitoring, especially in countries where these chemicals' residues are significant.