The Effect of Activity Tracking Apps on Physical Activity and Glycemic Control in People with Prediabetes Compared to Normoglycemic Individuals: A Pilot Study.

Unlabelled: Introduction-Aim: Adopting a lifestyle that incorporates regular physical activity confers substantial benefits to both physical and mental health and is recommended for prediabetic individuals. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of activity tracking apps on increasing physical activity and its effect on glycemic control in people with prediabetes.

Materials And Methods: This pilot study included 37 participants, 18 in the prediabetic group and 19 in the normoglycemic group matched for age and gender (mean age 53 years, 40% males).

Risk assessment of complex organoarsenic species in food.

The European Commission asked EFSA for a risk assessment on complex organoarsenic species in food. They are typically found in marine foods and comprise mainly arsenobetaine (AsB), arsenosugars and arsenolipids. For AsB, no reference point (RP) could be derived because of insufficient toxicity data.

Effect of Different Dietary Patterns on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Background/objectives: Lifestyle interventions such as dietary changes have been proposed to control the cardiometabolic risk factors and thus prevent cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD). We performed an umbrella review to investigate whether different dietary patterns affect CV risk in individuals with at least one cardiometabolic risk factor (hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome) but not established CVD.

Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed and Scopus databases (up to August 2024) for the systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Re-evaluation of saccharin and its sodium, potassium and calcium salts (E 954) as food additives.

This opinion deals with the re-evaluation of saccharin and its sodium, potassium and calcium salts (E 954) as food additives. Saccharin is the chemically manufactured compound 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one-1,1-dioxide. Along with its sodium (Na), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) salts, they are authorised as sweeteners (E 954).

Fertilizers and Human Health-A Systematic Review of the Epidemiological Evidence.

Background: Fertilizers are widely used to supply nutrients to crops, thereby increasing yields and soil fertility. However, the effects of their production and application on human health through occupational, residential, and environmental exposure remain unclear.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review of epidemiological studies on the association between exposure to fertilizers and health-related outcomes.

Update of the risk assessment of brominated phenols and their derivatives in food.

The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2012 risk assessment on brominated phenols and their derivatives in food, focusing on five bromophenols and one derivative: 2,4,6-tribromophenol (), 2,4-dibromophenol (), 4-bromophenol (), 2,6-dibromophenol (), tetrabrominated bisphenol S (), tetrabromobisphenol S bismethyl ether (). Based on the overall evidence, the CONTAM Panel considered in vivo genotoxicity of to be unlikely. Effects in liver and kidney were considered as the critical effects of 2,4,6-tribromophenol () in studies in rats.

Wastewater Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2: A Comparison of Two Concentration Methods.

Wastewater surveillance is crucial for the epidemiological monitoring of SARS-CoV-2. Various concentration techniques, such as skimmed milk flocculation (SMF) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation, are employed to isolate the virus effectively. This study aims to compare these two methods and determine the one with the superior recovery rates.

Elucidating the non-genetic risk factors for celiac disease: an umbrella review of meta-analyses.

The breadth and validity of the associations of nongenetic risk factors with celiac disease (CeD) are elusive in the literature. We aimed to evaluate which of these associations have strong epidemiological credibility and assessed presence and extent of potential literature biases. We systematically searched PubMed until April 2024 for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies examining associations between putative risk factors and CeD.

Update of the scientific opinion on tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives in food.

The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2011 risk assessment on tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and five derivatives in food. Neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity were considered as the critical effects of TBBPA in rodent studies. The available evidence indicates that the carcinogenicity of TBBPA occurs via non-genotoxic mechanisms.

Scientific Committee guidance on appraising and integrating evidence from epidemiological studies for use in EFSA's scientific assessments.

EFSA requested its Scientific Committee to prepare a guidance document on appraising and integrating evidence from epidemiological studies for use in EFSA's scientific assessments. The guidance document provides an introduction to epidemiological studies and illustrates the typical biases, which may be present in different epidemiological study designs. It then describes key epidemiological concepts relevant for evidence appraisal.

Risk assessment of small organoarsenic species in food.

The European Commission asked EFSA for a risk assessment on small organoarsenic species in food. For monomethylarsonic acid MMA(V), decreased body weight resulting from diarrhoea in rats was identified as the critical endpoint and a BMDL of 18.2 mg MMA(V)/kg body weight (bw) per day (equivalent to 9.

Safety of intravitreal chemotherapy in the management of retinoblastoma: A systematic review of the literature.

Intravitreal chemotherapy is used as a salvage therapy for retinoblastoma with persistent or recurrent vitreous seeding after primary treatment. To assess the safety of this technique, we conducted a systematic review of all studies reporting ocular toxicity data. Forty-eight trials involving 2751 eyes were included.

The effect of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1 receptor agonists on arterial stiffness: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) are indices used to assess arterial stiffness. We evaluated the effect of sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) on arterial stiffness indices.

Methods: We searched PubMed (up to January 2024) for RCTs assessing the effect of SGLT2i or GLP1-RA on arterial stiffness with reporting outcomes PWV and AIx.

Evidence in Focus: The Sparse Landscape of Randomized Trials on Retinoblastoma Treatment.

Background: Retinoblastoma, although rare, is one of the most common intraocular malignancies worldwide. Its prognosis has improved significantly in the past few decades, thanks to modern treatments, like systemic, intra-arterial, and intravitreal chemotherapy. However, regarding survival, there are significant differences between high- and low-income countries, eye salvage is still a challenge worldwide, and treatment-related toxicity needs to be carefully and sufficiently managed.

Risks for animal and human health related to the presence of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in feed and food.

EFSA was asked for a scientific opinion on the risks for animal and human health related to the presence of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in feed and food. The assessment focused on hexaCNs due to very limited data on other PCN congeners. For hexaCNs in feed, 217 analytical results were used to estimate dietary exposures for food-producing and non-food-producing animals; however, a risk characterisation could not be performed because none of the toxicological studies allowed identification of reference points.

Longitudinal Muscle Biopsies Reveal Inter- and Intra-Subject Variability in Cancer Cachexia: Paving the Way for Biopsy-Guided Tailored Treatment.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of cancer cachexia research, the development and refinement of diagnostic and predictive biomarkers constitute an ongoing challenge. This study aims to introduce longitudinal muscle biopsies as a potential framework for disease monitoring and treatment. The initial feasibility and safety assessment was performed for healthy mice and rats that received two consecutive muscle biopsies.

Prognostic factors in high-grade pediatric osteosarcoma among children and young adults: Greek Nationwide Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies and Solid Tumors (NARECHEM-ST) data along with a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The 5-year overall survival of children and adolescents with osteosarcoma has been in plateau during the last 30 years. The present systematic review (1976-2023) and meta-analysis aimed to explore factors implicated in the prognosis of children and young adults with high-grade osteosarcoma. Original studies including patients ≤30 years and the Nationwide Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies and Solid Tumors (NARECHEM-ST) data (2010-2021) referred to children ≤14 years were analysed.

Unravelling Beau's Lines as a Potential Indicator of Severe Immune Response in Covid-19 and Reinfection.

Background: Beau's lines are transverse grooves in the nail plate that result from transient interruption of the growth of the proximal nail matrix. These rare nail disorders can be triggered mostly by infections or systemic diseases.

Case Description: We describe a 65-year-old man who presented with nail changes on all fingernails.

Update of the risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in food.

The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2011 risk assessment on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in food, focusing on 10 congeners: , -, -, -, -, -, -, -, - and ‑. The CONTAM Panel concluded that the neurodevelopmental effects on behaviour and reproductive/developmental effects are the critical effects in rodent studies. For four congeners (, -, -, -) the Panel derived Reference Points, i.

Risks for animal health related to the presence of ergot alkaloids in feed.

The European Commission requested EFSA to provide an update of the 2012 Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) on the risks for animal health related to the presence of ergot alkaloids (EAs) in feed. EAs are produced by several fungi of the and genera. This Opinion focussed on the 14 EAs produced by (ergocristine, ergotamine, ergocornine, α- and β-ergocryptine, ergometrine, ergosine and their corresponding 'inine' epimers).

Update of the risk assessment of inorganic arsenic in food.

The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2009 risk assessment on arsenic in food carrying out a hazard assessment of inorganic arsenic (iAs) and using the revised exposure assessment issued by EFSA in 2021. Epidemiological studies show that the chronic intake of iAs via diet and/or drinking water is associated with increased risk of several adverse outcomes including cancers of the skin, bladder and lung. The CONTAM Panel used the benchmark dose lower confidence limit based on a benchmark response (BMR) of 5% (relative increase of the background incidence after adjustment for confounders, BMDL) of 0.

Guidance for the assessment of detoxification processes in feed.

This statement provides scientific guidance on the information needed to support the risk assessment of the detoxification processes applied to products intended for animal feed in line with the acceptability criteria of the Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/786.

The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Youth with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age and female adolescents. The diagnosis of PCOS is difficult during puberty due to overlapping of the criteria with normal variations of menstruation during this age period. There are insufficient data on the gut microbiome and PCOS and potential mechanisms linking the two.