Factors affecting consumer choice of novel non-thermally processed fruit and vegetables products: Evidence from a 4-country study in Europe.

A wide variety of novel non-thermal processing technologies (NTPTs) are under development to meet the increasing consumer demand for high-quality fruit and vegetable (F&V) products. Understanding consumers' needs and possible barriers to acceptance of these technologies is however essential to assess the commercial feasibility of mildly processed F&Vs. Situated within this context, and extending previous work on the topic, in this paper we present results from a large-scale choice-based conjoint analysis consumer survey to investigate consumers' choice behavior towards NTPT-processed F&V products in four European countries - Denmark, Italy, Serbia, and Spain, using three model products - orange juice, iceberg salad, and cherry tomatoes respectively processed via three NTPT - mild processing, novel washing, and active packaging, compared to three conventional processing techniques - pasteurization, conventional washing, and conventional packaging, respectively. Images of the three product categories were developed to systematically vary in three key attributes: stated benefits (health and nutrition, natural taste, shelf-life), information on processing (conventional, NTPT), and price point (reference, premium price). The results showed that, out of the three attributes considered, "stated benefit" was the most important driver of consumer choice - in all countries and across product categories. Benefits relevant to health and nutrition, and to natural taste were more positively received, compared to extension of shelf-life. Information on processing and price levels had a similar influence on consumer choice of iceberg salad and cherry tomatoes, whilst for orange juice processing had a larger effect than price, suggesting that information on processing may be more impactful for F&V-derived products than for fresh produce. Individual differences among consumers according to country, age, gender, and dietary status, appeared small and transient. The most consequential individual characteristic was consumers' level of food technology neophobia (FTN), with results showing that high FTN consumers (17% of the sample) were less likely to choose F&V treated with NTPT, compared to consumers with medium or low FTN. Overall, this research suggests that products treated with NTPT may have a broad appeal across European consumers, and that targeted communication explicitly and efficiently focusing on health and taste benefits has the greatest chance to meet consumer preferences.

European Consumers' Perceptions and Attitudes towards Non-Thermally Processed Fruit and Vegetable Products.

In order to meet the demand for high-quality fruit and vegetable (F&V) products, a wide variety of novel non-thermal processing (NTP) technologies are under development. This study used a qualitative focus group approach to investigate consumers' perception and attitudes towards non-thermally processed F&V products among young (18-30 years old) and middle-aged (45-60 y.o.) consumers across six European countries: Denmark, Germany, Italy, Serbia, Spain, and the Netherlands. Findings show that the expected benefits and social concerns are important factors which affect consumers' attitudes toward non-thermally processed F&V. Extending shelf-life, being healthier and more nutritious, and better hygiene and safety were important benefits, whilst impacts on product quality, safety risks, higher price and environmental costs were the concerns most often mentioned by participants. However, due to a lack of knowledge and trustworthy information sources, consumers have difficulties in assessing relevant benefits and risks. Targeted communication that could explicitly and efficiently reveal benefits and risks is highly recommended to enhance consumer awareness and trust. This may especially be needed to reach middle-aged consumers who showed less confidence in NTP, compared to young consumers. Consumers from Spain, Denmark, and the Netherlands appeared more interested in consuming NTP F&V, compared to Italy, Serbia, and Germany. These findings are expected to provide recommendations to better communicate non-thermally processed F&V with consumers in the EU.

Evaluación del tratamiento de la lipoatrofia facial con gel de poliacrilamida / Evaluation of the facial lipoatrophy treatment with polyacrylamide gel

Antecedentes y Objetivo. La lipoatrofia facial es una complicación frecuente de los pacientes con VIH/SIDA, y se asocia al tratamiento antirretroviral. Consiste en una pérdida anómala de la grasa facial, lo que supone un grave problema personal, laboral y social para estos pacientes, pudiendo provocar falta de adherencia al tratamiento. Para corregirla, cuando está establecida, es preciso el tratamiento mediante infiltración de materiales de relleno. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es evaluar la efectividad y seguridad del tratamiento de la lipoatrofia facial con relleno de gel de poliacrilamida. Material y Método. Realizamos un estudio de seguimiento prospectivo de 1 año en 15 pacientes con lipoatrofia facial grados II-III. Recogemos los efectos secundarios presentados. Analizamos la permanencia del relleno facial medido mediante tomografía axial computarizada y la evolución en el grado de lipoatrofia facial, en el grado de afectación del paciente y en la satisfacción de este tras la intervención. Resultados. En el 100% de los pacientes de la muestra no observamos efectos adversos al año de seguimiento. No encontramos un descenso significativo del espesor del relleno facial ni en la satisfacción de los pacientes al mes y al año del tratamiento. Existió una reducción estadísticamente significativa en el grado de afectación de los pacientes y en su grado de lipoatrofia facial tras el tratamiento, al mes y al año de seguimiento con p < 0.0001. Conclusiones. Según nuestros resultados, el gel de poliacrilamida es un material de relleno seguro y efectivo para el tratamiento de la lipoatrofia facial en pacientes VIH+ en situación clínica estable (AU)

Background and Objective. Facial lipoatrophy is a frequent complication of patients with HIV/AIDS associated with antiretroviral therapy. It consists of an abnormal facial fat loss, which poses a serious personal, occupational and social problem for these patients resulting in a lack of adherence to the treatment. Treatment by infiltration of filling materials is required to correct the established facial lipoatrophy. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of the facial lipoatrophy treatment filled with polyacrylamide gel. Methods. A one-year prospective follow-up study is carried out in 15 patients with facial lipoatrophy grades II-III. Side effects are measured. The permanence of the facial filler is analyzed by TAC and the evolution in facial lipoatrophy grades, in the degree of involvement of the patient and its satisfaction after surgery. Results. A 100% of the sample did not portray any side effects in the year of monitoring. A significant decrease in the thickness of the facial filler or in the satisfaction of the patients could not be found a month and a year after the treatment. There is a statistically significant decline in the degree of involvement of the patient and the extent of facial lipoatrophy after treatment with p < 0.0001. Conclusions. Polyacrylamide gel is a safe and effective filling material for the facial lipoatrophy treatment of in HIV+ patients in stable clinical situation (AU)

Fiebre, lesiones vesículo-ampollosas y oligoartritis en una paciente joven / Fever, palmoplantar pustules and oligoarthritis in a young woman

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Osteoma osteoide pélvico simulando sacroileitis / Pelvic osteoid osteoma simulating sacroiliitis

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