Recent advances in characterizing the physical and functional properties of active packaging films containing pomegranate peel.

In recent years, food and packaging industries have worked together to minimize food wastes. Fruit and vegetable by-products, which are known to be among the most abundant food wastes and a great source of bioactive compounds, have the potential to improve food product packaging properties. The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of pomegranate peel in food active packaging have been the subject of numerous studies. Pomegranate peel has an impact on the films' microstructure and physical properties, such as thickness, water vapor permeability, mechanical properties, optical properties, and thermal properties. Moreover, pomegranate peel incorporated films demonstrate great antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Reviewing current advancements in the physical and functional properties of active packaging films containing pomegranate peel is the goal of this study.

Gut-Lung Microbiota Characterization in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma and COVID-19 Coinfection.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with COVID-19 have an excessive chance of morbidity and mortality. The fecal-nasopharyngeal microbiota compositions of NSCLC patients were assessed in this study. METHODS: In total, 234 samples were collected from 17 NSCLC patients infected with COVID-19, 20 NSCLC patients without confirmed COVID-19, 40 non NSCLC patients with COVID-19, and 40 healthy individuals. RESULTS: In lung microbiota, the abundance of Streptococcus spp. in NSCLC patients with confirmed COVID-19 was significantly higher than the two control groups. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were listed as the most frequent pulmonary bacterial groups that colonized COVID-19 patients. In fecal specimens, the numbers of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria phyla were significantly higher amongst NSCLC patients with COVID-19. NSCLC patients infected with COVID-19 showed lower levels of Lactobacillus spp., Akkermansia muciniphila, and Bifidobacterium spp. The counts of Streptococcus spp., in NSCLC patients with COVID-19 were significantly higher than those of healthy individuals (8.49±0.70 log CFU/g wet feces vs 8.49±0.70 log CFU/g wet feces). Prevotella spp. were enriched in the gut and respiratory tracts of COVID-19 patient groups. The unbiased analysis showed an increment in Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Prevotella spp. CONCLUSION: Eventually, it was found that compared to control groups, COVID-19 patients with NSCLC showed diminished gut bacteria diversity and increase in Lactobacillus spp., A. muciniphila, and Bifidobacterium spp. The overgrowth of Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Prevotella spp. could be potential predictive biomarkers in the gut-lung axis of NSCLC patients with COVID-19.

The concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in honey: Global systematic review and meta-analysis and risk assessment.

The papers were searched in databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, Embase, Science Direct until 21 September 2023 and meta-analysis of concentration of PTEs in honey was performed using random effects model based on country subgroups. The non-carcinogenic risk and carcinogenic risk were calculated by Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Cancer Risk (CR), respectively. The sort of PTEs in honey based on pooled concentration was Cu (1.10E + 02 µg/kg) > Ni (1.80E + 01 µg/kg) > Pb (2.60E + 00 µg/kg) > Hg (1.50E + 00 µg/kg) > Cd (5.10E-01 µg/kg) > As (4.80E-01 µg/kg). The concentration of PTEs in the countries of Ethiopia (As), Jordan (Cd and Pb), Thailand (Ni), Brazil (Cu and MeHg) was observed to be higher than other countries. The non-carcinogenic risk was less than 1, hence, the consumption of honey does not have non-carcinogenic risk. Except children in Nigeria, CR due to iAs in honey was acceptable for the both adults and children in the other countries, Therefore, the consumption of honey does not have carcinogenic risk.

Concentration of potentially toxic elements in fillet shrimps of Mediterranean Sea: Systematic review, meta-analysis and health risk assessment.

In this study, an attempt was made to meta-analyzed the concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in shrimps tissue of Mediterranean Sea and health risk of consumers was estimated. Search was conducted in international databases includes Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Science Direct and Web of Science from 1 January 2010 to 20 July 2023. The random effects model used to meta-analysis of concentration of PTEs in shrimp in subgroups. In addition, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for adults and children were calculated using target hazard quotient (THQ) and cancer risk (CR). Meta-analysis concentration of PTEs in shrimps was conducted using random effects model based on country subgroups. The rank order of PTEs based on mean (pooled) level in fillet of shrimps was Fe (15.395 mg/kg-ww) > Zn (10.428 mg/kg-ww) > Cu (6.941 mg/kg-ww) Pb (5.7 mg/kg-ww) > Ni (1.115 mg/kg-ww) > As (0.681 mg/kg-ww) > Cd (0.412 mg/kg-ww) > Hg (0.300 mg/kg-ww). THQ level in adults and children due to Cd and Pb in Italy was higher than 1 value. THQ level in adults and children due to Cu, Ni, Fe, Zn and inorganic As was lower than 1 value. CR due to inorganic As in Greece and Türkiye for adults and children was higher than 1E-6 value. Therefore, it was recommended to continuously monitor and reduce the concentration of PTEs in shrimps in Italy, Greece and Türkiye, especially.

Measurement of Iron in Flour and Commonly-Used Breads Baked in Isfahan, Iran: A Risk Assessment Study with Monte Carlo Simulation.

Fortification of highly-consumed foods such as bread is an easy and cheap strategy to combat the iron deficiency anemia. However, there have sometimes been some side effects such as iron overload and digestive problems. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the amount of iron as well as its non-carcinogenic risks in commonly-used types of Iranian flour and breads (Barbary, Lavash, and Tafton) in Isfahan, Iran. Iron concentration of 100 samples of flour and breads were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer. Moreover, the non-carcinogenic health risk of iron in fortified breads was estimated by Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) in Monte Carlo Simulation technique. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), with a recovery level of 95%, were 1.8 × 10-5 and 5.9 × 10-5 mg/kg, respectively. The total mean concentration of iron in flour (53.48 ± 22.49 mg/kg) and bread (39.02 ± 22.63 mg/kg) samples was within the standard recommended range (40-85 mg/kg) in Iran. THQ for adults and children was equal to 0.53 and 2.48. respectively. Hence, non-carcinogenic risk of iron through bread consumption was acceptable for adults, while it was not acceptable for children as a sensitive group. Consequently, it is required to rescreen the flour and bread fortification program in Iran according to the comprehensive risk assessment studies.

Recent trends in the application of protein electrospun fibers for loading food bioactive compounds.

Electrospun fibers (EFs) have emerged as promising one-dimensional materials for a myriad of research/commercial applications due to their outstanding structural and physicochemical features. Polymers of either synthetic or natural precursors are applied to design EFs as carriers for bioactive compounds. For engineering food systems, it is crucial to exploit polymers characterized by non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity, biocompatibility, slow/controllable biodegradability, and structural integrity. The unique attributes of protein-based biomaterials endow a wide diversity of desirable features to EFs for meeting the requirements of advanced food/biomedical applications. In this review paper, after an overview on electrospinning, different protein materials (plant- and animal-based) as biodegradable/biocompatible building blocks for designing EFs will be highlighted. The potential application of protein-based EFs in loading bioactive compounds with the intention to inspire interests in both academia and industry will be summarized. This review concludes with a discussion of prevailing challenges in using protein EFs for the bioactive vehicle development.

Vortex-assisted microextraction of melamine from milk samples using green short chain ionic liquid solvents coupled with high performance liquid chromatography determination.

Melamine is added illegally to milk and dairy products to increase the amount of apparent protein. This organic nitrogen rich chemical compound has been of great challenge in food safety based on its adverse effect on health. Therefore, the extraction and determination of melamine from milk is necessary. Recently, ionic liquid (ILs) as solvent usage has been noticeable for low melting point, low toxicity, high thermal stability, and high extraction capabilities in a wide range of separation processes. ILs are introduced as organic-inorganic salts and green solvents in microextraction preparation. Therefore, in this study, three ionic liquids ([C6mim][NTF2], [C4mim][NTF2] and [C2mim][NTF2] ILs) were prepared and employed as an extraction solvent in dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) of melamine from milk samples followed by HPLC-UV. The selected ILs were designed using three types of alkyl-imidazolium (as the short organic cations) and bis (tri fluoro methyl sulfonyl) imide as anion and characterized by ATR-FTIR spectra, carbon, and hydrogen Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (H&C-NMR) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). These techniques confirmed the formation of functional groups, the structure of hydrogen and carbon atoms, and various elements of ionic bond between imidazolium and bis (tri fluoro methyl sulfonyl) imide. In the next step, the effect of significant parameters, including type and volume of ILs, adsorption time, pH of the sample solution, and sample volume, were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantification (LOQ), and linearity range were obtained 63.64 µg kg-1, 210.03 µg kg-1, and 210.03-1000 µg kg-1, respectively, for as prepared [C6mim][NTF2] as the best ILs. Notably, the achieved LOQ was lower than the maximum residue level (MRL) for the melamine residue in dairy products. Eventually, the proposed method was applied to detect melamine in milk samples, and the relative recoveries were examined as 79.6-105.0 %.

Theoretical and practical aspects of risk communication in food safety: A review study.

Currently, food safety hazards have introduced as one of the most important threats to public health worldwide. Considering numerous crises in the field of food safety at global, regional, and national levels, and their impact on the physical and mental health of consumers, it is very vital to evaluate risk communication strategies in each country. Food safety risk communication (FSRC) aims to provide the means for individuals to protect their health from food safety risks and make informed decisions about food risks. The purpose of this study is to present FSRC as one of the key parts of risk analysis, its importance considering the prevalence of food contamination and recent crises related to food. Additionally, the stages of implementation of FSRC are mentioned. In FSRC, it is essential to comply with the principles and prerequisites. There are various strategies for FSRC nowadays. Different platforms for FSRC are rapidly evolving. Choosing and evaluating the appropriate strategy according to the target group, consensus of stakeholders, cooperation and coordination of risk assessors and risk managers have a significant impact in order to improve and implement FSRC.

Corrigendum to "Determination of metal(oids) in different traditional flat breads distributed in Isfahan city, Iran: Health risk assessment study by latin hypercube sampling" [Toxicol. Reports 10 (2023) 382-388].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.02.015.].

Impact of Selenium Nanoparticle-Enriched Lactobacilli Feeding Against Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection of BALB/c Mice.

The effectiveness of selenium nanoparticle (SeNP)-enriched Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus was studied against Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection on the intestinal fragments and kidney tissue of BALB/c mice. Gut microbiota-targeted bacteria and E. coli O157:H7 counts were obtained by qPCR and PCR. Histology of ileum, colon, and kidney tissues and Stx secretions were analyzed until one-week post-infection. Mice fed with SeNP Lpb. plantarum in the preinfection feeding groups have lower E. coli O157:H7 counts and lower intestinal damage than those in the infected group. The lowest mean fecal probiotic counts were in the L. acidophilus group (7.61 log 10). In pretreatment groups of SeNP L. acidophilus and L. acidophilus, the mean counts of bacteria decreased to 104 CFU/g by day 7. The lowest Stx copy number was demonstrated in SeNP Lpb. plantarum feeding groups' day 7 (P < 0.05). Feeding groups with SeNP Lpb. plantarum had significantly higher members of Lactobacilli in their fecal microbiota than the control group on day 7. It was clarified that Se-enriched Lpb. plantarum and L. acidophilus can be useful as a method of preventing STEC infections. The viability of STEC infection exposure to selenium-enriched Lactobacillus spp. was decreased more than for non-Se-enriched Lactobacillus spp.

Examining the Extent of Contamination, Antibiotic Resistance, and Genetic Diversity of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile Strains in Meat and Feces of Some Native Birds of Iran.

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile (C. difficile) is one of the essential enteropathogens in humans and livestock and is a severe health threat, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, antimicrobials are one of the most critical risk factors for C. difficile infection (CDI). The present study examined the infection, antibiotic resistance, and genetic diversity of the C. difficile strains in the meat and feces of some native birds (chicken, duck, quail, and partridge) in the Shahrekord region, Iran, from July 2018 to July 2019. Samples were grown on CDMN agar after an enrichment step. To determine the toxin profile, the tcdA, tcdB, tcdC, cdtA, and cdtB genes were detected via multiplex PCR. The antibiotic susceptibility of these isolates was examined using the disk diffusion method and followed based on MIC and epsilometric test. 300 meat samples of chicken, duck, partridge, and quail and 1100 samples of bird feces were collected from six traditional farms in Shahrekord, Iran. Thirty-five meat samples (11.6%) and 191 fecal samples (17.36%) contained C. difficile. Moreover, five toxigenic samples isolated had 5, 1, and 3 tcdA/B, tcdC, and cdtA/B genes. Out of the studied strains isolated from the 226 samples, two isolates belonging to ribotype RT027 and one isolated RT078 profile related to native chicken feces were observed from chicken sample. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that all the strains are resistant to ampicillin, 28.57% are resistant to metronidazole, and 100% were susceptible to vancomycin. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the raw meat of birds might be a source of resistant C. difficile that poses a hygienic threat to the consumption of native bird meat. Nevertheless, further studies are essential to understand additional epidemiological features of C. difficile in bird meat.

Determination of metal(oids) in different traditional flat breads distributed in Isfahan city, Iran: Health risk assessment study by latin hypercube sampling.

This survey was conducted to assess the metal(oids) content in 93 samples of bread, including barbari, lavash, and tafton, using inductive couple plasma/optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) method and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The amounts of measured element were compared with the permissible limit set for bread by FAO/WHO and Iranian National Standardization Organization (INSO). The limit of detection (LOD) was ranged from 6.6 × 10-5 to 2.1 × 10-2 mg l-1 with recoveries ranged from 92% to 102%. The average concentrations of aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in bread were 29.88 ±â€¯8, 0.03 ±â€¯0.004, 12.77 ±â€¯3.70, 0.01 ±â€¯0.006, 34.16 ±â€¯8.95, 0.01 ±â€¯0.008, 346.07 ±â€¯36.08, 3314.81 ±â€¯317.19, 0.24 ±â€¯0.11, and 19.65 ±â€¯4.66 mg Kg-1, respectively. Amounts of As, Cd, Hg, Mg, Pb, and Zn were lower, and those of Al, Fe, and Na were higher than the permissible limits defined by FAO/WHO. The Latin Hyper Cube (LHC) sampling results revealed that children were exposed to higher non-carcinogenic risk and adults were more threatened by carcinogenic risk. It is recommended to control the entrance of metals in bread in the farm-to-fork chain in order to prevent probable future health challenges.

Acrylamide content of industrial and traditional popcorn collected from Tehran's market, Iran: A risk assessment study.

Acrylamide as a probable human carcinogen can be produced via the Maillard reaction between asparagine and reducing sugars at high temperatures during food processing. In this study, the concentration of acrylamide in industrial and traditional popcorn sold in Tehran, Iran in the spring of 2021 was analyzed. Industrial popcorn is popcorn that has a manufacturing license from the health authorities. Traditional popcorn is sold by retailers in entertainment centers. Estimated daily intake (EDI) and margin of exposure (MOE) for neurological changes and neoplastic effects have been estimated. The values of limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were determined as 3.1 and 10.2 ng/mL, respectively. The amount of acrylamide was measured ranging from nondetectable up to 14.8 mg/kg. Acrylamide was detected in 86% of samples. The level of acrylamide in most popcorn samples has been detected as greater than LOD and LOQ. The average content of acrylamide in traditional popcorn was determined to be 7.7 mg/kg which was higher than the average value of 3.08 mg/kg found in industrial popcorn. Significant difference was observed between industrial and traditional popcorn samples. The average intake of popcorn for adolescent population was estimated as 2 g per day. EDI was calculated as 0.3 and 0.12 µg/kg of body weight per day for the traditional and industrial popcorn. These results indicated that popcorn can be considered a potential source of acrylamide exposure in the adolescent population. Furthermore, if the actual MOEs for neurological and neoplastic effects are estimated to be less than 10 000, it is considered a health risk. In this study, MOE has been estimated lower than 10 000 for neurological changes and neoplastic effects.

Application of intelligent packaging for meat products: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Today, in response to consumer demand and market trends, the development of new packaging with better performance such as intelligent packaging has become more important. This packaging system is able to perform intelligent functions to increase shelf life, increase safety and improve product quality. OBJECTIVES: Recently, various types of packaging systems are available for meat products, especially cooked, fresh and processed meats. But because meat products are very perishable, monitoring their quality and safety in the supply chain is very important. This systematic article briefly reviews some of the recent data about the application of intelligent packaging in meat products. METHODS: The search was conducted in Google Scholar, Science Direct, Elsevier, Springer, Scopus, and PubMed, from April 1996 to April 2021 using a different combination of the following keyword: intelligent packaging, and meat. RESULTS: The results showed that the intelligent packaging presents several benefits compared to traditional packaging (e.g., antimicrobial, antioxidant, and shelf life extension) at the industrial processing level. Thus, these systems have been applied to improve the shelf life and textural properties of meat and meat products. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to control the number of intelligent compounds that are included in the packaging as they clearly influence the quality and nutritional properties as well as the final cost of the food products.

Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance of Clostridioides (Clostridium difficile) In Meat and Meat Products: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Meat and meat products are introduced as one of the frequent sources of Clostridioides difficile. We aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of C. difficile isolates in meat and meat products using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A literature search was performed in the primary international and bibliographic databases such as MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science to achieve all articles related to the prevalence and antibiotic resistance rates from 2007 to 2022. Results: The 278 retrieved articles were reduced to 54 worldwide eligible studies after screening and matching inclusion/exclusion criteria. C. difficile was examined in different types of samples and its resistance to 10 antibiotics. The pooled prevalence of C. difficile was 3.4% in all samples. C. difficile pooled prevalence was detected in fish, poultry, and red meat groups with 6.9%, 5.2%, and 3.2%, respectively. Regarding antibiotic resistance, the highest pooled prevalence was for ciprofloxacin (86.6%), followed by clindamycin (42.6%) and erythromycin (34%). The lowest pooled prevalence was observed in metronidazole (7.6%), vancomycin (6.6%), and chloramphenicol (6%). Conclusion: Low resistance was found to commonly used drugs for C. difficile infection (CDI) treatment. Since each antibiotic can be predisposing cause for CDI development, this finding possibly will be warning from a One Health viewpoint about the misuse of antibiotics in the chain of farm to fork including agriculture, animal husbandry and the food industry and also their injudicious use in medicine.

Evaluation of Virulence Factors, Antibiotic Resistance, and Biofilm Formation of Escherichia coli Isolated from Milk and Dairy Products in Isfahan, Iran.

Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) strains are important causes of gastrointestinal diseases worldwide, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the presence, antibiotic resistance, and potential biofilm formation in dairy products in Isfahan, Iran. A total of 200 samples, including traditional and pasteurized dairy products, were analyzed. In 200 samples, 54 E. coli isolates, including (48/110) and (6/90) positive samples of traditional and pasteurized dairy products, were detected. Furthermore, pathogenic strains were isolated from 30% of traditional dairy products and 5.55% of pasteurized dairy products. Most isolates were classified as enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). Moreover, antibiotic resistance was evaluated using the disk diffusion method for pathogenic E. coli. Overall, 73.68% of contaminated samples by pathogenic strains were resistant to at least one antibiotic. The highest resistance was observed against streptomycin (57.9%), followed by tetracycline (50%). Additionally, all isolates were sensitive to amikacin. For evaluating biofilm formation, the violet crystal assay was applied on a polystyrene microplate well for pathogenic isolates. In total, 68.42% of isolates were able to form biofilms. The presence of E. coli in dairy products indicates potential health risks for Iranian consumers. Serious measures are needed to control and prevent the spread of this pathogen.

Effect of Face-to-Face Education on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward "Traffic Light" Food Labeling in Isfahan Society, Iran.

Emerging noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) with premature mortality are one of the major concerns in health supervising organizations of the world. High intake of energy, salt, sugar, fat, and trans fatty acids are introduced as dietary risk factors of NCDs. The status of food risk factors is presented in Traffic Light (TL) food labeling through colors of red, yellow, and green as the signs of stop, wait and watch and go, respectively. This stepwise interventional study examined whether TL education can result in choosing healthier food via assessing the impact of face-to-face educational sessions on knowledge, attitudes, and practices of 673 respondents toward TL food labeling through a self-administered and structured questionnaire. Paired t test or alternatively Wilcoxon test was used to evaluate the influence of education in total scores of knowledge, attitudes, and practices in test-retest. Results indicated that before education, the average of the scores for the knowledge, attitudes, and practices was 1.003 ± 0.69, 10.97 ± 1.86, and 1.60 ± 1.84, respectively. After education, the scores were increased to 8.72 ± 3.11, 15.95 ± 2.64, and 8.42 ± 1.69. Significant differences in the scores of the respondents were observed before and after education (p < .05). This study revealed that the intervention of education had positive effect on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the studied population. Even though general awareness about the food risk factors of NCDs existed, special education is required to make public TL and food labeling information usage as an actual guidance for every food item in Iran.

Accuracy of the amount of trans-fatty acids in traffic light labelling of traditional sweets distributed in Isfahan, Iran.

BACKGROUND: High consumption of trans-fatty acids (TFAs) is introduced as dietary risk factor of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The accuracy of the information shown on the traffic light (TL) labelling has a significant influence on consumers to reduce TFA content in foods. This study is conducted aiming to determine the TFA content in traditional sweets distributed in Isfahan, Iran. Furthermore, the accuracy of the amount of TFAs on TL was considered by comparing it with the experimentally analyzed values. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 99 Iranian traditional sweets with a TL label were randomly collected from confectionary shops located in Isfahan. TFAs were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). RESULTS: TFAs were detected in all samples with the total average of 1.6 ± 0.3% in total fat (range of 0.040 ± 0.001 to 7.900 ± 1.100%). More than half of the samples had less than 2% of TFAs in the total fat. Overall, 81.8% of the studied products with TL labelling showed a discrepancy in the TFAs in the values analyzed in laboratory. CONCLUSION: In the present study, the discrepancy of TFAs in the experimentally measured values with TL food labelling was observed in more than 80% of Iranian traditional sweets. Most of the samples contained less than 2% of TFAs that is defined as a limit in Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA). These findings could be alarming for the consumers of this kind of products.

Clostridium difficile isolated from faecal samples in patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that is widely identified worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the phenotypic characterization and molecular typing of Clostridium difficile isolates among patients with UC at an inflammatory bowel disease clinic in Iran. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, conducted from April 2015 to December 2015, 85 UC patients were assessed for C.difficile infection (CDI). C. difficile isolates were characterized based on their toxin profile and antimicrobial resistance pattern. Multi-locus sequence typing analysis (MLST) and PCR ribotyping were performed to define the genetic relationships between different lineages of toxigenic strains. RESULTS: The prevalence of C. difficile isolates was 31.8% (27/85) in patients, of those 15 patients (17.6%) had CDI. Three different sequence types (STs) identified based on MLST among the toxigenic isolates, that is ST54 (33.3%), ST2 (53.3%), and ST37 (13.6%). C. difficile strains were divided into four different PCR-ribotypes (012, 014, 017 and IR1). The most common ribotype was 014 accounting for 48.3% (7/15) of all strains. The strains isolated during the first episode and recurrence of CDI usually belonged to PCR ribotype 014 (ST2). A high rate of CDI recurrence (14.1%, 12/85) experienced in UC patients. Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract with non-toxigenic C. difficile strains was frequent among patients with mild disease. All C. difficile isolates were susceptible to metronidazole, and vancomycin, 86 and 67% of isolates were resistant to clindamycin and erythromycin respectively. There was no correlation between the toxin type and antibiotic resistance (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Overall CDI is rather prevalent in UC patients. All patients with CDI experienced moderate to severe disease and exposed to different antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents. Close monitoring and appropriate management including early detection and fast treatment of CDI will improve UC outcomes.

Integrated photografted molecularly imprinted polymers with a cellulose acetate membrane for the extraction of melamine from dry milk before HPLC analysis.

In this study, a new separation technique based on membrane extraction is described for the determination of melamine in dry milk. The water-compatible cellulose acetate membrane, which is photografted by melamine imprinted nanospheres, was prepared by placing the membrane into the polymerization solution containing methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker, acetonitrile as porogen, and melamine as the template molecule. The characterization of the polymeric membrane was performed by Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. This integrated composite membrane was used as a solid-phase extraction medium for the extraction of melamine from dry milk samples. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of the membrane were evaluated. The results showed higher binding capacity for melamine imprinted membranes in comparison with the nonimprinted membranes. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that the extraction of melamine from dry milk by the photografted cellulose acetate membrane had a linear calibration curve in the range of 0.02-11.80 µg/mL with an excellent precision of 2.73%. The limit of detection and quantification of melamine was 0.007 and 0.020 µg/mL, respectively. The recoveries of melamine were in the range of 88.7-94.8%.