Carnobacterium as a bioprotective and potential probiotic culture to improve food quality, food safety, and human health - a scoping review.

It is well-known that some bacteria can promote human and animal health. Bacteria of the genus Carnobacterium, while underexplored, have demonstrated significant probiotic and bioprotective potential. In this review, the recent scientific advances in this area are discussed. There are several requirements for a strain to be considered a probiotic or bioprotective agent, including the absence of antimicrobial resistance and the ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract. Several researchers have reported such features in Carnobacterium bacteria, especially with regard to the production of antimicrobial substances. Research into animal production has advanced, especially in the aquaculture field, wherein inhibitory activity has been demonstrated against several important pathogens (for example Vibrio), and improvement in zootechnical indexes is evident. With respect to human health-related applications, research is still in the early stages. However, excellent in vitro results against pathogens, such as Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been reported. Carnobacterium bacteria have been assessed for a variety of applications in food, including direct application to the matrix and application to smart packaging, with proven effectiveness against Listeria monocytogenes. However, there is a lack of in vivo studies on Carnobacterium applications, which hinders its applications in various industries despite its high potential.

Bioprotective potential of lactic acid bacteria and their metabolites against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli is one of the main pathogens that impacts swine production. Given the need for methods for its control, the in vitro effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their metabolites against E. coli F4 was evaluated through cell culture and microbiological analysis. The strains Limosilactobacillus fermentum 5.2, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 6.2, and L. plantarum 7.1 were selected. To evaluate the action of their metabolites, lyophilized cell-free supernatants (CFS) were used. The effect of CFS was evaluated in HT-29 intestinal lineage cells; in inhibiting the growth of the pathogen in agar; and in inhibiting the formation of biofilms. The bioprotective activity of LAB was evaluated via their potential for autoaggregation and coaggregation with E. coli. The CFS did not show cytotoxicity at lower concentrations, except for L. fermentum 5.2 CFS, which is responsible for cell proliferation at doses lower than 10 mg ml-1. The CFS were also not able to inhibit the growth of E. coli F4 in agar; however, the CFS of L. plantarum 7.1 resulted in a significant decrease in biofilm formation at a dose of 40 mg ml-1. Regarding LAB, their direct use showed great potential for autoaggregation and coaggregation in vitro, thus suggesting possible effectiveness in animal organisms, preventing E. coli fixation and proliferation. New in vitro tests are needed to evaluate lower doses of CFS to control biofilms and confirm the bioprotective potential of LAB, and in vivo tests to assess the effect of LAB and their metabolites interacting with animal physiology.

Non-conventional cultures and metabolism-derived compounds for bioprotection of meat and meat products: a review.

Meat and meat products are important nutritional sources for humans; however, they are highly susceptible to pathogenic or spoilage bacteria, which leads to economic losses for the industry and has become a public health threat. Several biological methods have been developed to promote meat safety and to increase shelf life, mostly focusing on lactic acid bacteria from the genera Lactobacillus and Pediococcus. However, little attention has been paid to other groups of microorganisms with potential use as bioprotective cultures. This review aims to discuss the potential use of non-conventional microorganisms and biometabolites for bioprotection in meat and meat products. This review covers recent research involving the use of non-conventional microorganisms to improve the quality and safety of meat products. Bacteria that are often overlooked also have the potential for use in the food industry, either by direct application or by using their metabolites in the product itself or the development of intelligent packaging systems. Hopefully, this review will instigate new studies on emerging biological methods to ensure the safety of food and protect the health of consumers.

The impact of essential oils on antibiotic use in animal production regarding antimicrobial resistance - a review.

Population growth directly affects the global food supply, demanding a higher production efficiency without farmland expansion - in view of limited land resources and biodiversity loss worldwide. In such scenario, intensive agriculture practices have been widely used. A commonly applied method to maximize yield in animal production is the use of subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics as growth promoters. Because of the strong antibiotic selection pressure generated, the intense use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) has been associated to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Also, cross-resistance can occur, leading to the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens and limiting treatment options in both human and animal health. Thereon, alternatives have been studied to replace AGP in animal production. Among such alternatives, essential oils and essential oil components (EOC) stand out positively from others due to, besides antimicrobial effectiveness, improving zootechnical indexes and modulating genes involved in resistance mechanisms. This review summarizes recent studies in essential oils and EOC for zoonotic bacteria control, providing detailed information about the molecular-level effects of their use in regard to AMR, and identifying important gaps to be filled within the animal production area.

Cell-free supernatants produced by lactic acid bacteria reduce Salmonella population in vitro.

The genus Salmonella is closely associated with foodborne outbreaks and animal diseases, and reports of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella species are frequent. Several alternatives have been developed to control this pathogen, such as cell-free supernatants (CFS). Our objective here was to evaluate the use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) CFS against Salmonella in vitro. Seventeen strains of LAB were used to produce CFS, and their antimicrobial activity was screened towards six strains of Salmonella. In addition, CFS were also pH-neutralized and/or boiled. Those with the best results were lyophilized. MICs of lyophilized CFS were 11.25-22.5 g l-1. Freeze-dried CFS were also used to supplement swine and poultry feed (11.25 g kg-1) and in vitro simulated digestion of both species was performed, with Salmonella contamination of 5×106 and 2×105 c.f.u. g-1 of swine and poultry feed, respectively. In the antimicrobial screening, all acidic CFS were able to inhibit the growth of Salmonella. After pH neutralization, Lactobacillus acidophilus Llorente, Limosilactobacillus fermentum CCT 1629, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PUCPR44, Limosilactobacillus reuteri BioGaia, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469 and Pediococcus pentosaceus UM116 CFS were the only strains that partially maintained their antimicrobial activity and, therefore, were chosen for lyophilization. In the simulated swine digestion, Salmonella counts were reduced ≥1.78 log c.f.u. g-1 in the digesta containing either of the CFS. In the chicken simulation, a significant reduction was obtained with all CFS used (average reduction of 0.59±0.01 log c.f.u. ml-1). In general, the lyophilized CFS of L. fermentum CCT 1629, L. rhamnosus ATCC 7469 and L. acidophilus Llorente presented better antimicrobial activity. In conclusion, CFS show potential as feed additives to control Salmonella in animal production and may be an alternative to the use of antibiotics, minimizing problems related to antimicrobial resistance.

The Probiotic Potential and Metabolite Characterization of Bioprotective Bacillus and Streptomyces for Applications in Animal Production.

Probiotics are increasingly recognized for their potential in managing bacterial challenges in animal production. This study aimed to evaluate the probiotic potential of Bacillus and Streptomyces strains, specifically their bioprotective ability against Salmonella. In agar inhibition assays, these bacteria supported Salmonella-inhibition zones, ranging from 2.5 ± 0.5 to 6.3 ± 2.0 mm. Analyses of antimicrobial metabolites revealed their capacity to produce compounds with anti-Salmonella properties, except for Bacillus subtilis MLB2. When Salmonella was exposed to lyophilized metabolites, inhibition occurred in both liquid (at concentrations between 250 and 500 g/L) and solid cultures (at 500 g/L). To confirm their probiotic potential, the S. griseus and Bacillus strains underwent evaluations for antimicrobial resistance, bile salt tolerance, auto- and co-aggregation, pH resistance, and their ability to adhere to and inhibit Salmonella in Caco-2 cells. These assessments confirmed their probiotic potential. The probiotic strains were further encapsulated and subjected to simulated swine and poultry digestion. They demonstrated survival potential through the gastrointestinal tract and significantly reduced the Salmonella population. Thus, these strains exhibit considerable promise for producing biotechnological products aimed at controlling Salmonella in animal production. This approach ensures the health and hygiene of farming facilities, mitigates the spread of zoonotic bacteria, and contributes positively to public health.

Essential oils and essential oil compounds in animal production as antimicrobials and anthelmintics: an updated review.

Several countries have shown an increased prevalence of drug resistance in animal production due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and antiparasitics in human and veterinary medicine. This article aims to review existing methods using naturally occurring essential oils (EOs) and their isolated compounds (EOCs) as alternatives to antimicrobials and antiparasitic compounds in animal production and, consequently, to avoid resistance. The most-reported mechanism of action of EOs and EOCs was cell membrane damage, which leads to the leakage of cytoplasmic content, increased membrane permeability, inhibition of metabolic and genetic pathways, morphologic changes, antibiofilm effects, and damage to the genetic material of infections. In parasites, anticoccidial effects, reduced motility, growth inhibition, and morphologic changes have been reported. Although these compounds regularly show a similar effect to those promoted by traditional drugs, the elucidation of their mechanisms of action is still scarce. The use of EOs and EOCs can also positively influence crucial parameters in animal production, such as body weight gain, feed conversion rate, and cholesterol reduction, which also positively impact meat quality. The application of EOs and EOCs is enhanced by their association with other natural compounds or even by the association with synthetic chemicals, which has been found to cause synergism in their antimicrobial effect. By reducing the effective therapeutical/prophylactic dose, the chances of off-flavors ­ the most common issue in EO and EOC application ­ is greatly mitigated. However, there is very little work on the combination of EOs and EOCs in large in vivo studies. In addition, research must apply the correct methodology to properly understand the observed effects; for example, the use of only high concentrations may mask potential results obtained at lower dosages. Such corrections will also allow the elucidation of finer mechanisms and promote better biotechnologic use of EOs and EOCs. This manuscript presents several information gaps to be filled before the use of EOs and EOCs are fully applicable in animal production.

Recent advances in the use of bacterial probiotics in animal production.

Animal husbandry is increasingly under pressure to meet world food demand. Thus, strategies are sought to ensure this productivity increment. The objective of this review was to gather advances in the use of bacterial probiotics in animal production. Lactobacilli correspond to the most used bacterial group, with several beneficial effects already reported and described, as well as the Enterococcus and Pediococcus genera - being the latter expressively used in aquaculture. Research on the Bifidobacterium genus is mostly focused on human health, which demonstrates great effects on blood biochemical parameters. Such results sustain the possibility of expanding its use in veterinary medicine. Other groups commonly assessed for human medicine but with prospective expansion to animal health are the genera Leuconostoc and Streptococcus, which have been demonstrating interesting effects on the prevention of viral diseases, and in dentistry, respectively. Although bacteria from the genera Bacillus and Lactococcus also have great potential for use in animal production, a complete characterization of the candidate strain must be previously made, due to the existence of pathogenic and/or spoilage variants. It is noteworthy that a growing number of studies have investigated the genus Propionibacterium, but still in very early stages. However, the hitherto excellent results endorse its application. In this way, in addition to the fact that bacterial probiotics represent a promising approach to promote productivity increase in animal production, the application of other strains than the traditionally employed genera may allow the exploitation of novel mechanisms and enlighten unexplored possibilities.

Bioprotective potential of lactic acid bacteria for Salmonella biocontrol in vitro.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are an important option for Salmonella control in animal production, resulting in lower antibiotic use. The objective of this research was to isolate LAB from meat products and from commercial probiotics sold as nutritional supplements for in vitro verification of their bioprotective potential. Eleven bacteria were identified as Pediococcus acidilactici, two as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, one as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei paracasei, one as Limosilactobacillus fermentum, and one as a consortium of Lactobacillus delbrueckii bulgaricus and L. fermentum. All bacteria showed inhibitory activity against Salmonella, with emphasis on the inhibition of P. acidilactici PUCPR 011 against Salmonella Enteritidis 33SUSUP, S. Enteritidis 9SUSP, S. Enteritidis 56301, S. Enteritidis CRIFS 1016, Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC™ 14,028®, and Salmonella Gallinarum AL 1138, with inhibition halos of 7.3 ± 0.5 mm, 7.7 ± 1.0 mm, 9.0 ± 1.8 mm, 7.3 ± 0.5 mm, 7.7 ± 1.0 mm, and 7.3 ± 0.5, respectively. The isolates P. acidilactici PUCPR 011, P. acidilactici PUCPR 012, P. acidilactici PUCPR 014, L. fermentum PUCPR 005, L. paracasei paracasei PUCPR 013, and L. rhamnosus PUCPR 010 showed inhibition greater than 2 mm against at least 3 Salmonella and were used for encapsulation and in vitro digestion. The encapsulation efficiency ranged from 76.89 ± 1.54 to 116.48 ± 2.23%, and the population after 12 months of storage was from 5.31 ± 0.17 to 9.46 ± 0.09 log CFU/g. When simulating swine and chicken digestion, there was a large reduction in bacterial viability, stabilizing at concentrations close to 2.5 log CFU/mL after the analyses. The analyzed bacteria showed strong in vitro bioprotective potential; further analyses are required to determine in vivo effectiveness.

Influence of red wine polysaccharides on cytochrome P450 enzymes and inflammatory parameters in tumor models.

The soluble fraction of polysaccharides from cabernet franc red wine (SFP) previously showed antitumoral effects by modulating the immune system. The present study tested the hypothesis that the SFP can regulate CYPs in vitro in HepG2 cells and in vivo in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats. The SFP was used in the following protocols: (i) solid tumor, (ii) liquid tumor, and (iii) chemopreventive solid tumor. The SFP reduced solid tumor growth in both solid tumor protocols but did not inhibit liquid tumor development. The SFP reduced total CYP levels in the solid and liquid tumor protocols and reduced the gene expression of Cyp1a1 and Cyp2e1 in rats and CYP1A2 in HepG2 cells. An increase of N-acetylglucosaminidase activity was observed in all SFP-treated rats, and TNF-α levels increased in the solid tumor protocol in the vehicle, SFP, and vincristine (positive control) groups. The chemopreventive solid tumor protocol did not modify CYP levels in the liver or intestine or N-acetylglucosaminidase and myeloperoxidase activity in the liver. The in vitro digestion and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses suggested that SFP was minimally modified in the gastrointestinal system. In conclusion, SFP inhibited CYPs both in vivo and in vitro, likely as a result of its immunoinflammatory actions.

Deoxynivalenol: Toxicology, Degradation by Bacteria, and Phylogenetic Analysis.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by fungi that contaminates many crops, mainly wheat, maize, and barley. It affects animal health, causing intestinal barrier impairment and immunostimulatory effect in low doses and emesis, reduction in feed conversion rate, and immunosuppression in high doses. As it is very hard to completely avoid DON's production in the field, mitigatory methods have been developed. Biodegradation has become a promising method as new microorganisms are studied and new enzymatic routes are described. Understanding the common root of bacteria with DON degradation capability and the relationship with their place of isolation may bring insights for more effective ways to find DON-degrading microorganisms. The purpose of this review is to bring an overview of the occurrence, regulation, metabolism, and toxicology of DON as addressed in recent publications focusing on animal production, as well as to explore the enzymatic routes described for DON's degradation by microorganisms and the phylogenetic relationship among them.

Sex hormone levels, breast cancer risk, and cancer receptor status in postmenopausal women: the ORDET cohort.

BACKGROUND: Endogenous sex hormone levels have been associated with increased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women in several prospective studies. However, it remains unclear to what extent serum hormone-breast cancer associations differ with receptor status. METHODS: Associations between serum sex hormone levels and breast cancer risk were assessed in a nested case-control study on postmenopausal women of the ORDET cohort. After a median follow-up of 13.5 years, 165 women developed breast cancer. Relative risks of developing breast cancer were estimated by conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Total and free testosterone levels were directly associated with breast cancer risk [relative risk, 3.28 (95% confidence interval, 1.93-5.55) and 2.86 (95% confidence interval, 1.66-4.94), respectively, for highest versus lowest quartile]. When relations between hormone level and risk of breast cancer expressing various receptor combinations were assessed, high total testosterone was significantly associated with increased risk of estrogen receptor-positive cancers, irrespective of progesterone receptor status. High total testosterone was also associated with increased risk of both human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (HER2(-)) and HER2(+) cancers. High estradiol tended to be associated with increased risk of HER2(-) cancer and inversely associated with HER2(+) cancer, with significant (P = 0.027) heterogeneity between HER2(+) and HER2(-) cancers. However, there were relatively few HER2(+) cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence that high levels of circulating testosterone increase the risk of developing breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The cancers that develop are mainly estrogen receptor positive. Although HER2(+) and HER2(-) breast cancers were both associated with high total testosterone, they showed opposing associations with estrogen.

Dietary glycemic index, glycemic load, and the risk of breast cancer in an Italian prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Interest in the roles of glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) in breast cancer etiology has been stimulated by indications that disease risk is linked to insulinemia, sex hormone bioavailability, and insulin-like growth factor 1. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether GI and GL were associated with the risk of breast cancer in a cohort of Italian women volunteers from Northern Italy, who enrolled between 1987-1992 in the Hormones and Diet in the Etiology of Breast Tumors Study (ORDET Study). DESIGN: Volunteers completed a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire, and anthropometric and lifestyle data were collected. Dietary GI and GL in relation to breast cancer risk were examined in 8926 cohort women, including 289 with breast cancer identified after a mean follow-up of 11.5 y. RESULTS: The relative risk (RR) of breast cancer in the highest (versus lowest) quintiles of GI and GL was 1.57 (95% CI: 1.04, 2.36; P for trend = 0.040) and 2.53 (95% CI: 1.54, 4.16; P for trend = 0.001), respectively. Total carbohydrate intake was not associated with greater breast cancer risk, but high carbohydrate from high-GI foods was. When women were categorized by baseline menopausal status and body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)), the increased risk of dietary GL was confined to those who were premenopausal (RR = 3.89; 95% CI: 1.81, 8.34) and who had normal BMI (ie, <25) (RR = 5.79; 95% CI: 2.60, 12.90) (P for trend = 0.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: A high-GL diet may increase the risk of breast cancer in Italian women. The effect is particularly evident in premenopausal women and those with BMI < 25.

Presença de Salmonella spp. na produção animal e o uso de fermentados bacterianos para mitigação dos riscos ­ revisão de literatura / Presence of Salmonella spp. in animal production and the use of bacterial fermentations to mitigate risks ­ a literature review / Presencia de Salmonella spp. en la producción animal y uso de fermentaciones bacterianas para mitigar riesgos - revisión de la literatura

As bactérias do gênero Salmonella são um dos principais problemas na produção animal e, consequentemente, na produção de alimentos. Elas são causadoras principalmente de gastroenterites, com alguns serovares podendo resultar na morte do animal ou indivíduo afetado. Órgãos governamentais em todo o mundo determinam condições mínimas de segurança alimentar, exigindo a ausência de Salmonella nos alimentos, sendo exigida análise de no mínimo 25 gramas de amostragem a cada lote. Dessa forma, seu controle na produção animal também é necessário, devido à grande prevalência existente. Dentre as várias estratégias de controle apresentadas, destaca-se o uso de sobrenadantes livres de células (SLC) produzidos por bactérias lácticas, com grande número de pesquisas in vitro. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste artigo é revisar os avanços recentes no uso de SLC contra Salmonella. Ao final do trabalho, pode-se observar que os SLC têm grande potencial para utilização na produção animal, embora ainda seja necessária uma completa caracterização da sua ação in vivo.(AU)

Bacteria of the Salmonella genus are one of the main problems in animal production and, consequently, in food production. They mainly cause gastroenteritis, with some serovars that can result in the death of the affected animal or individual. Government agencies around the world determine minimum conditions for food safety, requiring the absence of Salmonella in foods, requiring analysis of at least 25 grams of sampling for each batch. Thus, its control in animal production is also necessary, due to the high prevalence that exists. Among the various control strategies presented, the use of cell-free supernatants (CFS) produced by lactic acid bacteria stands out, with a large number of in vitro research. In this context, the purpose of this article is to review recent advances in the use of CFS against Salmonella. At the end of the research, it can be seen that CFS have great potential for use in animal production, although a complete characterization of their in vivo action is still needed.(AU)

Las bacterias del género Salmonella son uno de los principales problemas en la producción animal y, en consecuencia, en la producción de alimentos. Son principalmente la causa de gastroenteritis, con algunos serovares que pueden resultar en la muerte del animal o individuo afectado. Las agencias gubernamentales de todo el mundo determinan las condiciones mínimas para la seguridad alimentaria, lo que requiere la ausencia de Salmonella en los alimentos, lo que requiere el análisis de al menos 25 gramos de muestreo para cada lote. Por tanto, su control en la producción animal también es necesario, debido a la alta prevalencia que existe. Entre las diversas estrategias de control presentadas, destaca el uso de sobrenadantes libres de células (SLC) producidos por bacterias del ácido láctico, con un gran número de investigaciones in vitro. En este contexto, el propósito de este artículo es revisar los avances recientes en el uso de SLC contra Salmonella. Al final del trabajo, se puede ver que los SLC tienen un gran potencial para su uso en la producción animal, aunque aún se necesita una caracterización completa de su acción in vivo.(AU)

Changes in composition, ecology and structure of high-mountain vegetation: a re-visitation study over 42 years.

High-mountain ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change, causing biodiversity loss, habitat degradation and landscape modifications. However, very few detailed studies have focussed on plant biodiversity in the high mountains of the Mediterranean. In this study, we investigated the long-term changes that have occurred in the composition, structure and ecology of high-mountain vegetation in the central Apennines (Majella) over the last 42 years. We performed a re-visitation study, using historical and newly collected vegetation data to explore which ecological and structural features have been the most successful in coping with climatic changes. Vegetation changes were analysed by comparing geo-referenced phytosociological relevés collected in high-mountain habitats (dolines, gentle slopes and ridges) on the Majella massif in 1972 and in 2014. Composition analysis was performed by detrended correspondence analysis, followed by an analysis of similarities for statistical significance assessment and by similarity percentage procedure (SIMPER) for identifying which species indicate temporal changes. Changes in ecological and structural indicators were analysed by a permutational multivariate analysis of variance, followed by a post hoc comparison. Over the last 42 years, clear floristic changes and significant ecological and structural variations occurred. We observed a significant increase in the thermophilic and mesonitrophilic plant species and an increment in the frequencies of hemicryptophytes. This re-visitation study in the Apennines agrees with observations in other alpine ecosystems, providing new insights for a better understanding of the effects of global change on Mediterranean high-mountain biodiversity. The observed changes in floristic composition, the thermophilization process and the shift towards a more nutrient-demanding vegetation are likely attributable to the combined effect of higher temperatures and the increase in soil nutrients triggered by global change. The re-visitation approach adopted herein represents a powerful tool for studying climate-related changes in sensitive high-mountain habitats.

Dietary patterns and risk of breast cancer in the ORDET cohort.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dietary patterns and risk of developing breast cancer in an Italian cohort. Women volunteers were recruited from 1987 to 1992 from residents in Varese province, northern Italy, an area covered by a cancer registry. Participants completed a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and anthropometric and other data were collected systematically. Using nutritional data from 8984 women with an average follow up of 9.5 years and 207 incident cases of breast cancer, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis to identify major dietary patterns. Four dietary patterns, which explained 30% of the variance, emerged: salad vegetables (mainly consisting of raw vegetables and olive oil); western (mainly consisting of potatoes, red meat, eggs and butter); canteen (pasta and tomato sauce); and prudent (cooked vegetables, pulses, and fish, with negative loading on wines and spirits). After adjustment for potential confounders, only the salad vegetables pattern was associated with significantly lower (34-35%) breast cancer incidence (RR = 0.66, CI(95%) = 0.47+/-0.95 comparing highest with lowest tertile) with a significant linear trend (P = 0.016). Women with body mass index <25 had an even greater risk reduction in the highest tertile of the salad vegetables pattern (>50% less risk than the lowest tertile, RR = 0.39, CI(95%) = 0.22-0.69) with a significant trend (P = 0.001); whereas women with body mass index > or =25 had no protective effect for the consumption of salad vegetables. These findings suggest that a diet rich in raw vegetables and olive oil protects against breast cancer.

Cancer incidence in EPIC-ITALY at first follow-up.

A descriptive analysis was performed in order to evaluate the completeness of follow-up and to explore the occurrence of malignancy in the Italian section of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Italy) at the first follow-up for cancer incidence. The EPIC-Italy cohort consisted of 47,749 subjects, aged 35-65 years, who voluntarily accepted to participate in the project from 1992-1997. Tabulations of the enrolled subjects are presented by sex, age groups, population at risk and person-years as calculated at the first follow-up in 1998; alive, lost to follow-up and dead subjects were tabulated by sex and centers. Cancer occurrence is described by quality indexes of data collected and the lapse of time between the date of recruitment and date of diagnosis. External comparisons for each center and pooled data were carried out by calculation of standard incidence ratios (SIRs) using the rates of the population-based cancer registries covering the areas of EPIC Italian centers. Similarly, an internal comparison was also performed using as the reference population the EPIC-Italy center with the lowest crude cancer incidence rates. A total of 148,968 person-years (43,568 men and 105,400 women) was calculated as the denominator; the percentages of lost to follow-up were 1.34% for men and 0.9% for women. We found 781 malignancies (216 in males and 565 in females), 17 in situ breast cancers and 8 in situ cervical cancers. In men 65 malignant cases (30.1%) and in women 186 malignancies (32.9%) occurred in the first year following enrollment. The proportion of microscopically verified cancers was 93.1%. In pooled data for men, statistically significant SIRs of less than 1 were calculated for all cancer sites combined (SIR = 0.81), lung (SIR = 0.49) and bladder (SIR = 0.62), whereas statistically significant excesses of observed cases were found for melanoma and cancers of ill-defined sites within respiratory system and intrathoracic organs (ICD-0-2 = C39). In pooled data for women, none of the SIRs were statistically significant. For men, SIRs disaggregated by center showed statistically significant excesses of cases only in Florence for the thyroid (SIR = 5.01). For women, statistically significant excesses of observed cases were computed in Florence and Varese for breast cancer (SIRs, 1.36 and 1.27, respectively), Florence for uterine cancer NOS (SIR = 20.3) and Varese for kidney (SIR 2.24). Internal comparisons showed some evidence of an excess of cases in northern compared to southern centers. In conclusion, after an average follow-up of 3 years, nearly 99% of the enrolled individuals were traced and checked for their vital status. Cancer occurrence in women was not far from that expected in comparison to the local general population, whereas in men significantly fewer cases than expected were observed. This preliminary descriptive analysis will be used as a starting point for monitoring the validity of EPIC-Italy over time.

Fraudes em peixes na região central da cidade de Joinville, SC / Fish fraud in the central region of the city of Joinville, SC

Joinville é a maior cidade do estado de Santa Catarina em termos populacionais e, estando próxima a uma região litorânea, o consumo de peixes pelos seus habitantes faz parte dos costumes locais, sejam eles frescos ou congelados. Dentre as variedades de espécies e produtos de peixes congelados, destaca-se o filé de pescada, pelo seu preço acessível e versatilidade no preparo. Na produção, é necessária a prática de glaciamento, que consiste em envolver o filé em uma camada de gelo limitada a 20% do seu peso total. Esse processo servirá para proteger o produto contra oxidação e rancificação, porém muitos produtores extrapolam o limite de 20% para aumentar os ganhos com o produto, o que caracteriza uma fraude. Diante disso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi mensurar o nível de glaciamento nos filés de pescada congelados, comercializados na região central da cidade de Joinville/SC. A metodologia utilizada foi a preconizada pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento na Instrução Normativa nº 25, de 2 de junho de 2011, em 14 amostras triplicadas. Foram constatadas 5 fraudes nas 14 amostras, totalizando 35,72%. Juntamente a isso, observou- se que havia diferença entre o peso líquido anunciado e o peso real de pescado em 100% das amostras, o que é considerado uma fraude de rotulagem pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. Por meio dos resultados, pode-se observar a necessidade do aumento de medidas oficiais de controle pelos órgãos reguladores.(AU)

Joinville is the largest city in the state of Santa Catarina in population terms and, being close to a coastal region, the consumption of fish by its inhabitants is part of local customs, be they fresh or frozen. Among the varieties of frozen fish species and products, we highlight hake fillet, for its affordable price and versatility in preparation. In production, it is common practice to glaze, which involves wrapping the fillet in a layer of ice limited to 20% of its total weight. This process will protect the product against oxidation and rancification, but many producers extrapolate the 20% limit to increase product gains, which is a fraud. Therefore, the objective of this work is to measure the level of glaciation in frozen hake fillets marketed in the central region of the city of Joinville/SC. The methodology used was that recommended by the Ministério de Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento in Normative Instruction nº. 25, dated June 2, 2011, in 14 triplicate samples. Four frauds were detected in the 14 samples, totaling 35,72%. Together with this, it was observed that there was a difference between the announced net weight and the actual weight of fish in 100% of the samples, which is considered a labeling fraud by Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. Through the results, it is possible to observe the need for an increase in official control measures by regulatory agencies.

MicroRNA 218 mediates the effects of Tbx5a over-expression on zebrafish heart development.

tbx5, a member of the T-box gene family, encodes one of the key transcription factors mediating vertebrate heart development. Tbx5 function in heart development appears to be exquisitely sensitive to gene dosage, since both haploinsufficiency and gene duplication generate the cardiac abnormalities associated with Holt-Oram syndrome (HOS), a highly penetrant autosomal dominant disease characterized by congenital heart defects of varying severity and upper limb malformation. It is suggested that tight integration of microRNAs and transcription factors into the cardiac genetic circuitry provides a rich and robust array of regulatory interactions to control cardiac gene expression. Based on these considerations, we performed an in silico screening to identify microRNAs embedded in genes highly sensitive to Tbx5 dosage. Among the identified microRNAs, we focused our attention on miR-218-1 that, together with its host gene, slit2, is involved in heart development. We found correlated expression of tbx5 and miR-218 during cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse P19CL6 cells. In zebrafish embryos, we show that both Tbx5 and miR-218 dysregulation have a severe impact on heart development, affecting early heart morphogenesis. Interestingly, down-regulation of miR-218 is able to rescue the heart defects generated by tbx5 over-expression supporting the notion that miR-218 is a crucial mediator of Tbx5 in heart development and suggesting its possible involvement in the onset of heart malformations.

Anthropometry, physical activity and hip fractures in the elderly.

INTRODUCTION: Hip fractures constitute a major and growing public health problem amongst the elderly worldwide. We examined the association of anthropometry and physical activity with hip fracture incidence in a cohort of elderly Europeans, participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition (EPIC) study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 27 982 volunteers (10 553 men and 17 429 women) aged 60 years and above from five European countries. Information on anthropometry, physical activity, medical history and other characteristics was collected at baseline. During a median follow-up of 8 years, 261 incident hip fractures (203 women and 58 men) were recorded. Data were analysed through Cox proportional hazard regression with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: A higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with lower hip fracture risk (hazard ratio (HR)per increasing sex-specific-quintile: 0.85, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.77­0.94). Body height was associated with increased hip fracture risk (HR per 5 cm: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01­1.25). Waist-to-hip ratio was not related to hip fracture risk. Increasing levels of leisure-time physical activity were related to lower risk (HR per increasing tertile: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.70­0.99, p for trend: 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: In a prospective cohort study of elderly Europeans, we found evidence that high body stature increased and high BMI decreased the incidence of hip fractures. After adjustment for BMI,waist to-hip ratio was not associated with hip fracture risk. Leisure-time physical activity appears to play a beneficial role in the prevention of hip fractures.