A Quantitative Risk Assessment Model for in Ready-to-Eat Smoked and Gravad Fish.

This study introduces a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) model aimed at evaluating the risk of invasive listeriosis linked to the consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) smoked and gravad fish. The QRA model, based on published data, simulates the production process from fish harvest through to consumer intake, specifically focusing on smoked brine-injected, smoked dry-salted, and gravad fish. In a reference scenario, model predictions reveal substantial probabilities of lot and pack contamination at the end of processing (38.

Modelling the low temperature growth boundaries of Salmonella Enteritidis in raw and pasteurized egg yolk, egg white and liquid whole egg: Influence of the initial concentration.

Salmonella is the most frequently reported cause of foodborne outbreaks with known origin in Europe, with eggs and egg products standing out as the most frequent food source (when it was known). The growth and survival of Salmonella in eggs and egg products have been extensively studied and, recently, it has been reported that factors such as the initial concentration and thermal history of the egg product can also influence its growth capability. Therefore, the objective of this study was to define the boundary zones of the growth/no growth domain of Salmonella Enteritidis (4 strains) as a function of temperature (low temperature boundary) and the initial concentration in different egg products.

Cellulose Nanofibers from Olive Tree Pruning as Food Packaging Additive of a Biodegradable Film.

A biodegradable packaging film containing cellulose nanofibers from olive tree pruning, a by-product of olives production, was obtained using a solvent casting method. Nanocellulose was added to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to enhance the technological properties of the composite film as food packaging material. Nanocellulose was obtained from unbleached and bleached pulp through a mechanical and TEMPO pretreatment.

Valorisation of L. Olive Leaves through the Evaluation of Their Extracts: Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity.

L. leaves constitute a source of bioactive compounds with recognized benefits for both human health and technological purposes. In the present work, different extracts from olive leaves were obtained by the application of two extraction methods, Soxhlet and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and six solvents (distilled water, ethanolic and glycerol mixtures solvents).

Strategies for Microbial Decontamination of Fresh Blueberries and Derived Products.

Increasing consumption of blueberries is associated with appreciation of their organoleptic properties together with their multiple health benefits. The increasing number of outbreaks caused by pathogenic microorganisms associated with their consumption in the fresh state and the rapid spoilage of this product which is mainly caused by moulds, has led to the development and evaluation of alternatives that help mitigate this problem. This article presents different strategies ranging from chemical, physical and biological technologies to combined methods applied for microbial decontamination of fresh blueberries and derived products.

Microbiological criteria: Principles for their establishment and application in food quality and safety.

Legislation on food safety has led towards the standardization of food productions which, together with the existing quality certifications, aim to increase the level of protection of public health. It is recognized the need for the agri-food industry to have tools to harmonize their productions and to adequately manage their quality systems in order to improve consumers' confidence. The implementation of microbiological criteria is focused on facilitating this harmonization by enabling the discrimination of defective lots and acting as control tools at industrial level.

Evaluation of the effect of Lactobacillus sakei strain L115 on Listeria monocytogenes at different conditions of temperature by using predictive interaction models.

In this study, the inhibitory capacity of Lactobacillus sakei strain L115 against Listeria monocytogenes has been assayed at 4, 8, 11, 15 and 20 °C in broth culture. Besides, the use of predictive microbiology models for describing growth of both microorganisms in monoculture and coculture has been proposed. A preliminary inhibitory test confirmed the ability of Lb.

'MicroHibro': A software tool for predictive microbiology and microbial risk assessment in foods.

A tool able to quantitatively assess the fate of potential pathogenic microorganisms in foods along the food chain and their impact on public health is highly valuable for food safety decision-makers. The aim of this work was to present an overview of the Predictive Microbiology software MicroHibro, which is able to assess the evolution of potential pathogens and spoilage microorganisms along the food chain, providing estimates for the exposure level and risk associated with a food product. The application is built on an extensive Predictive Microbiology Model Data Base (PMDB) including kinetic processes like growth, inactivation, transfer as well as dose-response models.

[Second Consensus of the Chilean Society of Endocrinology and Diabetes about insulin resistance].

Insulin resistance is a prevalent condition commonly associated with unhealthy lifestyles. It affects several metabolic pathways, increasing risk of abnormalities at different organ levels. Thus, diverse medical specialties should be involved in its diagnosis and treatment.

PD-L1 gene polymorphisms and low serum level of PD-L1 protein are associated to type 1 diabetes in Chile.

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) has a complex etiology in which genetic and environmental factors are involved, whose interactions have not yet been completely clarified. In this context, the role in PD-1 pathway and its ligands 1 and 2 (PD-L1 and PD-L2) have been proposed as candidates in several autoimmune diseases. The aim of this work was to determine the allele and haplotype frequency of six gene polymorphisms of PD-ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2) in Chilean T1D patients and their effect on serum levels of PD-L1 and autoantibody profile (GAD65 and IA2).

Beneficial role of endogenous immunoglobulin subclasses and isotypes in septic shock.

Purpose: There is increasing evidence on the relationship between endogenously produced immunoglobulins and the clinical outcome in septic shock (SS).

Materials And Methods: Levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses, immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin E were measured in plasma from 42 patients with SS and in 36 patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome at diagnosis. Association of immunoglobulins levels with disease severity and outcome was evaluated.

MicroRNAs miR-21a and miR-93 are down regulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with type 1 diabetes.

Introduction: It is well established that type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease. Controversial data exists regarding the differential control of the immune system in T1D patients compared to unaffected individuals. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the control of gene expression (by negative regulation of gene expression at post-transcriptional level, by mediating translational repression or degradation of the mRNA targets).

Evaluation of hygiene practices and microbiological status of ready-to-eat vegetable salads in Spanish school canteens.

Background: This study was conducted in eight Spanish school canteens during the period 2008-2009. Food handlers' practices, kitchen equipment, hygiene/sanitation conditions and handling practices were evaluated using checklists. In parallel, the microbiological quality and safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetable salads were assessed.

Pro- and anti-inflammatory responses are regulated simultaneously from the first moments of septic shock.

The relationships between cytokine responses in septic shock are currently poorly understood. Some studies have pointed to a biphasic model, with an initial proinflammatory phase, followed by a reactive, anti-inflammatory response to explain the pathogenesis of the most severe form of sepsis. However, evidence for the coexistence of both responses has been found.

Cross-talk between body iron stores and diabetes: iron stores are associated with activity and microsatellite polymorphism of the heme oxygenase and type 2 diabetes.

To assess the relationship between the length of (GT)n repeats in HO-1 gene promoter and heme oxygenase (HO) enzymatic activity in mononuclear cells with iron (Fe) stores in type 2 diabetic mellitus (DM2) patients and metabolic syndrome (MS) subjects, we studied 163 patients with DM2, 185 with MS, and 120 controls subjects. We evaluated iron status (hemoglobin and serum Fe, ferritin, and transferrin receptor), and we determined the length of (GT)n repeats in HO-1 gene promoter by capillary electrophoresis and HO enzymatic activity in mononuclear cells and assessed the relationship between these results and Fe stores. Only 1/163, 6/185, and 7/120 had iron deficiency anemia in DM2 patients, MS subjects, and controls, respectively.

Risk Assessment and Management of Listeria Monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Lettuce Salads.

  Foodborne diseases constitute a major concern in societies, and their causes are aimed to be identified and minimized. Only in the last few years, this is encouraged by the application of risk assessment, management, and communication. This work presents a probabilistic quantitative microbiological risk assessment and management of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat lettuce salads in Spain.

[Programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1) gene polymorphisms and type 1 diabetes in Chilean children].

Background: Programmed cell death 1 (PDCD-1) immune-receptor is a key element in the negative regulation of peripheral tolerance in T cells. Several polymorphisms of this gene have been described and it is linked with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases like Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis.

Aim: To analyze four gene polymorphisms of PDCD-1 gene and explore its possible contribution as a susceptibility gene for type 1 diabetes (T1D).

High concentrations of anti-caspase-8 antibodies in Chilean patients with type 1 diabetes.

Introduction: Deregulation of apoptosis across the Fas-FasL pathway is an increasingly relevant phenomenon in the pathogenic mechanisms associated with autoimmune diseases. Caspase-8 initiates the activation of the apoptotic process and interacts directly with Fas in the membrane of the T lymphocyte.

Objectives: To standardize an Elisa essay to measure the concentration of anti-caspase-8 antibodies in plasma of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) patients and analyze their possible distribution and association with characteristics of the disease.

Serological markers of autoimmunity in pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot study.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is highly prevalent in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with GDM have considerable risk for developing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of anti-GAD65 and anti-IA2 auto-antibodies in Chilean pregnant women with GDM, normal pregnancy (NP) and with PCOS (PPCOS) to establish whether in PCOS women GDM is partially induced by auto-antibodies.

Clustering of cases of type 1 diabetes in high socioeconomic communes in Santiago de Chile: spatio-temporal and geographical analysis.

The objective of this study was to describe spatial and space-time patterns of type 1 diabetes in children less than 15 years old, diagnosed between 2000 and 2005 with residence in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. Knox and Mantel tests were used to detect space-time interaction between cases. An ecological Bayesian model adjusted by socioeconomic factor and year was proposed to estimate the incidence by communes.

Associations of the CTLA-4 polymorphisms with type 1 diabetes in a Chilean population: case-parent design.

CTLA-4 plays a key role in T cells regulation. We analysed the CTLA-4 +49A/G and -318C/T polymorphisms in 178 cases of type 1 diabetes and their parents (534 individuals) from Santiago, Chile. A significant overall association with T1D (p=0.

Association of CTLA-4 polymorphisms and clinical-immunologic characteristics at onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children.

CTLA-4 is a homeostatic regulator of T cell activation and is believed to play a critical role in immune tolerance. Polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 promoter (-318C/T) and in exon 1 (+49 A/G) were analyzed in 300 Chilean patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) and 310 healthy children by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The effect of CTLA-4 allele and haplotype frequencies on the interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and transforming growth factor-beta(1) levels and the presence in serum of GAD65 and IA-2 autoantibodies at the onset of T1D was evaluated.

[Association between Fok I vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism and plasmatic concentrations of transforming growth factor-beta1 and interferon gamma in type 1 diabetes mellitus].

Background And Objective: In order to assess whether Fok I vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) polymorphism is involved in the genetic susceptibility of type 1 diabetes, a case-control study was conducted and VDR genotypes were related to serum concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D and cytokines transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) and interferon gamma (INF-gamma).

Patients And Method: 151 incident cases of type 1 diabetes and 182 non related healthy controls from Santiago were studied for VDR polymorphisms in peripheral blood DNA. Exon 2 (Fok I) segments were amplified by polimerase chain reaction and analyzed by means of restriction fragment length polymorphism to determine each corresponding genotype.