Early exposure to agricultural pesticides and the occurrence of autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review / Exposição precoce a agrotóxicos de uso agrícola e ocorrência do transtorno do espectro autista: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of early exposure to agricultural pesticides and their relationship with autism spectrum disorder. Data source: This systematic review was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42020204842. The subject was systematically analyzed on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases until April 2021. Only studies with humans with early exposure to agricultural pesticides and diagnosis of autism were included. Exclusion criteria were studies on pesticides for domestic or veterinary use and late exposure. There were no language and time restriction. The quality analysis of the studies used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data synthesis: Six case-control studies were included; three of them measured the route of exposure by maternal biomarkers and the others by the residence address. The studies had scores between moderate and high in the quality assessment tool. It was found high rates of association between early exposure to agricultural pesticides and autism and detection limit above the quantification for a sample of polychlorinated biphenyls, hexachlorobenzene, and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene. Conclusions: There is evidence concerning the exposure to agricultural pesticides in early life and the development of the autism spectrum disorder; however, more studies are required to better understand their possible association.

RESUMO Objetivo: Compreender a influência da exposição precoce a agrotóxicos de uso agrícola e sua relação com o transtorno do espectro autista. Fontes de dados: Esta revisão sistemática foi registrada no banco de dados PROSPERO sob número CRD42020204842. Por meio das bases de dados PubMed, Scopus e Web of Science, o assunto foi analisado sistematicamente até abril de 2021. Foram incluídos somente estudos com humanos, sendo critérios de inclusão a exposição precoce a agrotóxicos de uso agrícola e o diagnóstico de autismo e critérios de exclusão agrotóxicos de uso doméstico ou veterinário e exposição tardia. Todos os estudos foram analisados sem restrição de linguagem e tempo. A qualidade dos estudos foi avaliada pela NewCastle Ottawa Scale. Síntese dos dados: No total, seis estudos caso-controle foram incluídos. Três deles mensuraram a exposição pelos biomarcadores maternos e os demais (50%) pelo endereço de moradia. Os trabalhos apresentaram qualidade entre moderada e alta. Encontrou-se alta taxa de associação entre a exposição precoce à agrotóxicos e o autismo e detecção acima do limite de quantificação para amostras de bifenilas policloradas, hexaclorobenzeno e diclorodifenildicloroetileno. Conclusões: Existem evidências sobre a exposição a agrotóxicos de uso agrícola precocemente e o desenvolvimento do transtorno do espectro autista, porém mais pesquisas são necessárias para melhor compreensão da associação.

Oral administration of oleuropein and olive leaf extract has cardioprotective effects in rodents: A systematic review.

Oleuropein is a polyphenol found in olive trees that has shown beneficial effects in animal studies and potentially in human health, although few studies have been performed to confirm this hypothesis in the latter population. Previous studies related its antioxidant activity to cardioprotective effects and showed a positive correlation between dose and response. We thus aimed to assess the cardioprotective effect of oleuropein and olive leaf extract in animal experiments. A literature search was conducted in June 2020 in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. The descriptors "oleuropein" and "oleuropein aglycone" identified 12 articles for qualitative synthesis. Risk of bias was assessed by SYRCLE's RoB tool for animal studies. The results demonstrate evidence of a positive association between the administration of oleuropein and olive leaf extract and improvement in outcomes in hypertension, heart failure, myocardial infarction. renal hypertension and diabetes. This review presents a positive effect of oleuropein and olive leaf extract administration on cardiovascular parameters in animal studies.

Early exposure to agricultural pesticides and the occurrence of autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of early exposure to agricultural pesticides and their relationship with autism spectrum disorder. DATA SOURCE: This systematic review was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42020204842. The subject was systematically analyzed on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases until April 2021. Only studies with humans with early exposure to agricultural pesticides and diagnosis of autism were included. Exclusion criteria were studies on pesticides for domestic or veterinary use and late exposure. There were no language and time restriction. The quality analysis of the studies used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. DATA SYNTHESIS: Six case-control studies were included; three of them measured the route of exposure by maternal biomarkers and the others by the residence address. The studies had scores between moderate and high in the quality assessment tool. It was found high rates of association between early exposure to agricultural pesticides and autism and detection limit above the quantification for a sample of polychlorinated biphenyls, hexachlorobenzene, and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence concerning the exposure to agricultural pesticides in early life and the development of the autism spectrum disorder; however, more studies are required to better understand their possible association.

Benefits of turmeric supplementation for skin health in chronic diseases: a systematic review.

The skin is a physical barrier that protects the body from the external environment. Through its immune system, it limits the attack of environmental threats. Unregulated immune reactions, however, can cause chronic inflammatory skin diseases, requiring that effective treatment routes be sought. Turmeric, a root originated from Southeast Asia, has a number of therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effects of turmeric oral supplementation in the treatment of chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Through PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, clinical studies examining the relationship between turmeric, curcumin, and skin health in humans until September 2019 were systematically searched. Evidence analysis were performed using robust tools to evaluate the risk of bias (RoB 2.0), (ROBINS-I) and methodological quality (GRADE) of the included studies. A total of eleven studies were included. The skin conditions examined include psoriasis, pruritus, oral lichen planus, facial redness, as well as types of skin cancers. Overall, therapeutic benefits for skin health have been observed through oral turmeric supplementation. The current published studies, nevertheless, are limited, requiring continuity and improvement in the intervention methodology employed.

Hygienic-Sanitary conditions of Hospital Nutrition Services in Southern Brazil / Condições higienicossanitárias dos serviços de nutrição e dietética em hospitais do Sul do Brasil

This study evaluated the good handling practices in the ten Hospital Nutrition Services of the respective hospitals in the South of Brazil, classified as general hospitals. For data collection, there was used a Checklist for Good Handling Practices for Food Services based on current legislation. Among the results, the average of adequacy of the hospitals stand out, showing that the items related to responsibilities and edifications had the lowest adequacies, 67% and 73%, respectively, followed by the food handler block, with 76% of adequacies. The block referring to food handlers showed that few of them sanitize the hands during the change of activity. The classification of hospitals in relation to Good Handling Practices was satisfactory, however, greater failure was observed related to the practices of the food handlers, which are crucial for the safety of food produced in Hospital Nutrition Services.

Este estudo avaliou as boas práticas de manipulação em 10 serviços de nutrição e dietética de hospitais do Sul do Brasil, classificados como hospital geral. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se uma Lista de Verificação em Boas Práticas para Serviços de Alimentação baseada na legislação vigente. Dentre os resultados destacam-se a média de adequação dos hospitais, mostrando que os itens relacionados a responsabilidades e edificações apresentaram as menores adequações, 67% e 73%, respectivamente, seguidos com o bloco de manipuladores, com 76% de adequações. O bloco referente aos manipuladores de alimentos mostrou que poucos deles higienizam as mãos durante a troca de atividade. A classificação dos hospitais em relação à Boas Práticas de Manipulação foi satisfatória, no entanto, observou-se que falta o cumprimento de alguns itens, relacionados com as práticas dos manipuladores, que são cruciais para a segurança dos alimentos produzidos nos serviços de alimentação.

Hygienic-Sanitary Conditions of Hospital Nutrition Services in Southern Brazil

This study evaluated the good handling practices in the ten Hospital Nutrition Services of the respective hospitals in the South of Brazil, classified as general hospitals. For data collection, there was used a Checklist for Good Handling Practices for Food Services based on current legislation. Among the results, the average of adequacy of the hospitals stand out, showing that the items related to responsibilities and edifications had the lowest adequacies, 67% and 73%, respectively, followed by the food handler block, with 76% of adequacies. The block referring to food handlers showed that few of them sanitize the hands during the change of activity. The classification of hospitals in relation to Good Handling Practices was satisfactory, however, greater failure was observed related to the practices of the food handlers, which are crucial for the safety of food produced in Hospital Nutrition Services. (AU)

Este estudo avaliou as boas práticas de manipulação em 10 serviços de nutrição e dietética de hospitais do Sul do Brasil, classificados como hospital geral. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se uma Lista de Verificação em Boas Práticas para Serviços de Alimentação baseada na legislação vigente. Dentre os resultados destacam-se a média de adequação dos hospitais, mostrando que os itens relacionados a responsabilidades e edificações apresentaram as menores adequações, 67% e 73%, respectivamente, seguidos com o bloco de manipuladores, com 76% de adequações. O bloco referente aos manipuladores de alimentos mostrou que poucos deles higienizam as mãos durante a troca de atividade. A classificação dos hospitais em relação à Boas Práticas de Manipulação foi satisfatória, no entanto, observou-se que falta o cumprimento de alguns itens, relacionados com as práticas dos manipuladores, que são cruciais para a segurança dos alimentos produzidos nos serviços de alimentação. (AU)

Feeding behavior and dietary intake of male children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A case-control study.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with restrictive or repetitive behaviors and difficulties with verbal and interpersonal communication, in which some problems involving nutrition may be present. This study aims to evaluate dietary intake and identify feeding behavioral problems in male children and adolescents with ASD when compared to matched controls, as well as parents or caregivers' feelings about strategies for dealing with eating problems. A 3-day food record was performed and nutrient intake was compared to the Dietary Reference Intake according to age. To evaluate children feeding behavior and parents or caregivers' feelings, the Behavior Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFA) was used. ASD patients consumed in average more calories than controls (though with a high patient's frequency above and below calorie range references), had a limited food repertoire, high prevalence of children with inadequate calcium, sodium, iron vitamin B5, folate, and vitamin C intake. BPFA scores were also higher in the ASD group when compared to controls for all frequencies (child behavior, parents and total). These findings lead us to endorse the importance of evaluating feeding problems in the clinical routine, considering also the singular features of the patients.