Saccharomyces boulardii as a single trigger of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome: Seven case reports

BACKGROUND Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome(FPIES)is the most serious type of non-immunoglobulin E(IgE)-mediated food allergic reaction manifesting as sepsis-like symptom,which can lead to shock.Saccharomyces boulardii(S.boulardii),a probiotic prescribed frequently in clinical settings,has been reported to trigger FPIES in an infant with soy-triggered FPIES.In this report,we describe a new clinical FPIES in which S.boulardii was the sole triggering factor of acute FPIES adverse reaction in seven healthy infants.CASE SUMMARY Seven FPIES cases triggered by only S.boulardii were gathered from 2011 to the present.None of the patients had previously experienced any allergic reaction to cow’s milk,soy,or complementary food.The age of the patients was 4-10-months old,and the symptoms of FPIES developed after ingestion of S.boulardii,which is mostly prescribed for the treatment of gastroenteritis or antibiotic-associated diarrhea.All patients experienced severe repetitive vomiting 1-3 hours after S.boulardii ingestion.Extreme lethargy,marked pallor,and cyanosis were also observed.No IgE-mediated hypersensitivity developed in any patient.Diarrhea was followed by initial intense vomiting in approximately 5-10 hours after S.boulardii ingestion,and only one case showed bloody,purulent,and foul-smelling diarrhea.The patients stabilized quickly,mostly within 6 hours.Symptoms got all improved within 24 hours after discontinuation of S.boulardii.CONCLUSION S.boulardii can be the sole trigger of acute FPIES and be prescribed cautiously even in healthy children without FPIES.

Associations between food insecurity with gestational diabetes mellitus and maternal outcomes mediated by dietary diversity:A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Food insecurity(FI)during pregnancy negatively impacts maternal health and raises the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)and pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH),resulting in adverse outcomes for both mother and baby.AIM To investigate the relationships between FI and pregnancy outcomes,particularly GDM and PIH,while also examining the mediating role of the dietary diversity score(DDS).METHODS A cross-sectional study was undertaken to examine this relationship,involving 600 pregnant women.Participants were women aged 18 years or older who provided complete data on FI and pregnancy outcomes.The FI was measured via the Household Food Security Survey Module,with GDM defined as fasting plasma glucose levels of≥5.1 mmol/L or a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test value of≥8.5 mmol/L.The DDS is determined by evaluating one's food consumption based on nine distinct food groups.A logistic regression model was used to explore the relationship between FI and PIH,and GDM.RESULTS Seventeen percent of participants reported experiencing FI during pregnancy.The study found a significant association between FI and an elevated risk of GDM[odds ratio(OR)=3.32,95%CI:1.2-5.4].Once more,food-insecure pregnant women had higher rates of PIH(OR=0.10,95%CI:0.02-0.45)and they also faced a higher likelihood of neonatal complications,such as neonatal intensive care unit’s admissions and the birth of infants with extremely low birth weight.The FI wasfurther linked to metabolic disruptions,such as elevated fasting blood sugar(FBS),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,and triglyceride levels.Our results indicate that the DDS acts as a significant mediator in the relationship between FI and the incidence of GDM.In particular,the mediation analysis showed that approximately 65%of the effect was mediated through DDS(P=0.002).CONCLUSION These findings underscore the serious challenges that FI presents during pregnancy and its effects on maternal and infant health.Additionally,the study explored how DDS mediates the relationship between FI and the incidence of GDM.

Ultra-processed food,obesity,and colon cancer:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Recently,there has been a significant increase in the consumption of ultraprocessed foods worldwide.However,the association between the consumption of ultra-processed food,obesity,and the prevalence of colon cancer remains controversial.AIM To find out the association between the consumption of ultra-processed food,obesity,and the prevalence of colon cancer.METHODS A comprehensive systematic literature search of PubMed,Scopus,Web of Science,and Google Scholar for grey literature was done for articles published before 8th March 2023.The search was done to retrieve potential peer-reviewed articles that explored the association between the consumption of ultra-processed food,obesity,and the prevalence of colon cancer.RESULTS Of the 246 potential articles assessed,17 met the inclusion criteria.Meta-analysis results demonstrated that high consumption of ultra-processed food is associated with an increased risk of obesity[odds ratio(OR):1.65;95%CI:1.07-2.45;P<0.05].Consequently,there is a positive association between obesity and an increased risk of colon cancer(OR 1.48;95%CI:0.77-2.87;P>0.05).CONCLUSION Consuming ultra-processed foods increases the risk of obesity and colon cancer.

Antisepsis and Fresh-keeping Effects of Natamycin Coating Compounds Treatment on Red Global Grape

The aim was to research fresh-keeping effects of natamycin on cold-pre- served grape. Red globe grapes were processed with compound coating liquid of chitosan with mass fraction at 1% and natamycin with mass fractions at 0.20% （T1）, 0.40% （T2） and 0.60% （T3）, respectively. Grapes processed with water （CK3） and 1% chitosan （CK2） were taken as control groups. Rotten rate, seed shattering rate, mass loss rate, respiratory intensity and related physiological quality in test and control groups were compared. The results indicated that respiratory intensity, mass loss rate, rotten rate and seed shattering rate in CK1 were all higher than those in CK2. In addition, T1, T2 and T3 were lower in the indices than CK1 and CK2, but still kept at a high level in fruit hardness. Furthermore, mass fractions of Vc and titratable acid declined more slowly in T1, T2 and T3, compared with CK1 and CK2. Natamycin better preserved grapes and prolonged storage period. In general, natamycin with mass fraction at 0.4% proved best in fresh-keeping.

Effects of Nine Kinds of Household Vase Solutions on Fresh-keeping Effect of Lilium Cut Flowers

[Objective]The paper was to study the effects of nine kinds of household vase solutions on fresh-keeping effect of Lilium cut flowers.[Method]Using Lilium"Sorbonne"as the material,nine kinds of household vase solutions were prepared by edible white granulated sugar,white vinegar,akafen powder and vitamin C tablets,respectively.The morphological and physiological indexes of Lilium cut flowers,including vase life,ornamental grade,flower diameter,fresh weight of flower branches,water balance value,soluble protein content and MDA content of petals,were observed,and the effects of nine kinds of household vase solutions on fresh-keeping effect of Lilium cut flowers were studied.[Result]The household vase solution F8(20 g/L white granated sugar+1 packet/L acafen powder+2 tablets/L vitamin C tablets)had the best fresh-keeping effect on Lilium cut flowers,which was beneficial to prolong the vase life and improve the ornamental value of Lilium cut flowers.[Conclusion]The household vase solution of Lilium cut flowers is optimized,which is not only environmentally friendly but also convenient for ordinary families.

Fresh-keeping Effects of Different Concentrations of 6-BA and B9 on Carnation Cut Flower

Using sucrose, citric acid and vitamin C as the basic liquid, different concentrations of 6-BA and B9 preservatives were added, and the carnation variety ＇ Master＇ was treated. The results showed that the formula of 3% sucrose ＋ 50 mg/L citric acid ＋ 600 mg/L vitamin C ＋ 20 mg/L 6-BA could effectively maintain the water balance of the cut flower, prolong the vase life of the cut flower to 16.4 d, and maximize the flower diameter and the crown height.

The impact of demographic dynamics on food consumption and its environmental outcomes:Evidence from China

With increasing population and changing demographics,food consumption has experienced a significant transition in quantity and quality.However,a dearth of knowledge remains regarding its environmental impacts and how it responds to demographic dynamics,particularly in emerging economies like China.Using the two-stage Quadratic Almost Demand System(QUAIDS)model,this study empirically examines the impact of demographic dynamics on food consumption and its environmental outcomes based on the provincial data from 2000 to 2020 in China.Under various scenarios,according to changes in demographics,we extend our analysis to project the long-term trend of food consumption and its environmental impacts,including greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,water footprint(WF),and land appropriation(LA).The results reveal that an increase in the proportion of senior people significantly decreases the consumption of grain and livestock meat and increases the consumption of poultry,egg,and aquatic products,particularly for urban residents.Moreover,an increase in the proportion of males in the population leads to higher consumption of poultry and aquatic products.Correspondingly,in the current scenario of an increased aging population and sex ratio,it is anticipated that GHG emissions,WF,and LA are likely to decrease by 1.37,2.52,and 3.56%,respectively.More importantly,in the scenario adhering to the standards of nutritional intake according to the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents in 2022,GHG emissions,WF,and LA in urban areas would increase by 12.78,20.94,and 18.32%,respectively.Our findings suggest that changing demographics should be considered when designing policies to mitigate the diet-environment-health trilemma and achieve sustainable food consumption.

Resilience effects for household food expenditure and dietary diversity in rural western China

A more resilient livelihood is increasingly recognized as an efficient way to improve vulnerable households’food security and optimize their dietary decisions.This study quantifies rural household resilience in western China,identifies the three pillars(absorptive capacity,adaptive capacity,and transformative capacity)contribution to resilience,and then establishes the estimated Resilience Capacity Index(RCI)linked with food security and dietary diversity supported by the multiple indicator multiple cause(MIMIC)model.Results show that,despite geographical heterogeneity,the RCI consistently increased from 2015 to 2021.Households with a higher RCI inheriting better capacity to deal with risk and shocks are significantly and positively correlated with increasing food expenditure and diversifying food choices.It can be because resilient households will allocate more money to food expenditure instead of saving for livelihood uncertainty.Thus,policymakers can provide more incentives for rural households to adopt more dynamic and effective risk management strategies.This,in turn,could yield positive spillover effects by preventing human capital loss associated with dietary-related chronic diseases and mortality.

Tb^(3+)-nucleic acid probe-based label-free and rapid detection of mercury pollution in food

Mercury is a threatening pollutant in food,herein,we developed a Tb^(3+)-nucleic acid probe-based label-free assay for mix-and-read,rapid detection of mercury pollution.The assay utilized the feature of light-up fluorescence of terbium ions(Tb^(3+))via binding with single-strand DNA.Mercury ion,Hg^(2+)induced thymine(T)-rich DNA strand to form a double-strand structure(T-Hg^(2+)-T),thus leading to fluorescence reduction.Based on the principle,Hg^(2+)can be quantified based on the fluorescence of Tb^(3+),the limit of detection was 0.0689μmol/L and the linear range was 0.1-6.0μmol/L.Due to the specificity of T-Hg^(2+)-T artificial base pair,the assay could distinguish Hg^(2+)from other metal ions.The recovery rate was ranged in 98.71%-101.34%for detecting mercury pollution in three food samples.The assay is low-cost,separation-free and mix-to-read,thus was a competitive tool for detection of mercury pollution to ensure food safety.

Farm buildings and agri-food transitions in Southern France:Mapping dynamics using a stakeholder-based diagnosis

This study's goal is to present a dynamic portrait of the farm-buildings environment in Occitania,in Southern France,in order to better identify the transitions underway in agri-food chains.To this end,we undertook a ter-ritorial diagnosis based on actor statements,using 28 semi-structured interviews across Occitania.This diagnosis was enriched by graphic modelling,which enabled the spatialization of the dynamics described.We show that the process of standardisation of farm buildings prevails in the majority of the territories studied.This phenomenon has intensified in recent years with the development of vast photovoltaic-roofed sheds,accentuating the farm-land conversion and soil sealing.At the same time,in areas with strong environmental,landscape and heritage contexts,a'new adventure in farm buildings'(2022 survey)is taking shape.It is primarily driven by local short food chains,which rely on self-construction,repurposing and refurbishment,the sharing of tools and equipment,and which favour the use and reuse of local resources.This study shows that farm-buildings dynamics crystallise many challenges confronting the reterritorialisation of agriculture and food production.

Repositioning fertilizer manufacturing subsidies for improving food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in China

China removed fertilizer manufacturing subsidies from 2015 to 2018 to bolster market-oriented reforms and foster environmentally sustainable practices.However,the impact of this policy reform on food security and the environment remains inadequately evaluated.Moreover,although green and low-carbon technologies offer environmental advantages,their widespread adoption is hindered by prohibitively high costs.This study analyzes the impact of removing fertilizer manufacturing subsidies and explores the potential feasibility of redirecting fertilizer manufacturing subsidies to invest in the diffusion of these technologies.Utilizing the China Agricultural University Agri-food Systems model,we analyzed the potential for achieving mutually beneficial outcomes regarding food security and environmental sustainability.The findings indicate that removing fertilizer manufacturing subsidies has reduced greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions from agricultural activities by 3.88 million metric tons,with minimal impact on food production.Redirecting fertilizer manufacturing subsidies to invest in green and low-carbon technologies,including slow and controlled-release fertilizer,organic-inorganic compound fertilizers,and machine deep placement of fertilizer,emerges as a strategy to concurrently curtail GHG emissions,ensure food security,and secure robust economic returns.Finally,we propose a comprehensive set of government interventions,including subsidies,field guidance,and improved extension systems,to promote the widespread adoption of these technologies.

Women’s empowerment and food consumption:Evidence from female-headed households in Tanzania

Despite the growing recognition of women’s increasing role in the household and corresponding empowerment programs in sub-Saharan Africa,intensive research on the relationship between women’s influence and household food consumption is minimal.Using the most recent(2017-2018)national household survey data from Tanzania,this study examined the influence of women’s empowerment on household food consumption.First,we compared the monthly consumption of eight food categories between female-headed households(FHHs)and male-headed households(MHHs)using both descriptive statistics and the propensity score matching(PSM)method.Furthermore,we adopted the two-stage Linear Expenditure System and Almost Ideal Demand System model(LES-AIDS)to estimate income and price elasticities for the two household types.The results show that FHHs consume bread and cereals,fish,oils and fats,vegetables,and confectionery(sugar,jam,honey,chocolate,etc.)more than MHHs.Moreover,FHHs have a significantly higher income elasticity of demand for all food groups than MHHs.They are also more price elastic than MHHs in meat,fish,oils,fats,sugar,jam,honey,chocolate,etc.

Immunoglobulin G-mediated food intolerance and metabolic syndrome influence the occurrence of reflux esophagitis in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients

BACKGROUND Reflux esophagitis has an increasing prevalence and complex and diverse symptoms.Identifying its risk factors is crucial to understanding the etiology,prevention,and management of the disease.The occurrence of reflux esophagitis may be associated with food reactions,Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection,and metabolic syndromes.AIM To investigate the risk factors for reflux esophagitis and analyze the effects of immunoglobulin(Ig)G-mediated food intolerance,H.pylori infection,and metabolic syndrome on reflux esophagitis.METHODS Outpatients attending the Second Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital between 2017 and 2021 were retrospectively enrolled.The patients’basic information,test results,gastroscopy results,H.pylori test results,and IgG-mediated food intolerance results were collected.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors for reflux esophagitis.Statistical mediation analysis was used to evaluate the effects of IgG-mediated food intolerance and metabolic syndrome on H.pylori infection affecting reflux esophagitis.RESULTS A total of 7954 outpatients were included;the prevalence of reflux esophagitis,IgG-mediated food intolerance,H.pylori infection,and metabolic syndrome were 20.84%,61.77%,35.91%,and 60.15%,respectively.Multivariate analysis showed that the independent risk factors for reflux esophagitis included IgG-mediated food intolerance(OR=1.688,95%CI:1.497-1.903,P<0.00001)and metabolic syndrome(OR=1.165,95%CI:1.030-1.317,P=0.01484),and the independent protective factor for reflux esophagitis was H.pylori infection(OR=0.400,95%CI:0.351-0.456,P<0.00001).IgG-mediated food intolerance had a partially positive mediating effect on H.pylori infection as it was associated with reduced occurrence of reflux esophagitis(P=0.0200).Metabolic syndrome had a partially negative mediating effect on H.pylori infection and reduced the occurrence of reflux esophagitis(P=0.0220).CONCLUSION Patients with IgG-mediated food intolerance and metabolic syndrome were at higher risk of developing reflux esophagitis,while patients with H.pylori infection were at lower risk.IgG-mediated food intolerance reduced the risk of reflux esophagitis pathogenesis in patients with H.pylori infection;however,metabolic syndrome increased the risk of patients with H.pylori infection developing reflux esophagitis.

Utilisation of green urban space for food sufficiency and the realisation of the sustainable development goals-UK stakeholders perspective

The exponential growth of food demand due to the increasing global population has the potential to seriously threaten the quality and quantity of food supplies due to climate change.This study explores the utilisation of green urban spaces for achieving food self-sufficiency by investigating the extent to which sustainable urban farms could be used to reduce the consumption of imported produce in the UK.It also examines urban farming stakeholders'perspective on how food self-sufficiency can help realise the SDGs especially SDG 2(Zero hunger)and SDG 13(Climate action).The study adopts a mixed method approach through a survey with 115 respondents and semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 respondents from 4 different urban farming stakeholder groups.The findings of this study presented a strong correlation between stakeholders who had concerns about where their food came from and the carbon footprint of imported produce.The research shows that,urban farms will no doubt play a vital role in the future of food security in our cities/communities and that the SDGs could be realised through sustainable urban farms implemented within the relevant planning regulations/policies.

Kiwi Fruit Fresh-keeping Technology

The vitamin C rich-kiwi fruit-the king of fruits-is good to taste but hard to store. Only a few countries can prevent mildew on the fruit stalk during the storage process. The fresh-keeping technology developed by the Shaanxi Teachers University has enabled China to catch up with the advanced countries in this field.

Life cycle assessment as a prospective tool for sustainable agriculture and food planning at a local level

Owing to the far-reaching environmental consequences of agriculture and food systems,such as their contribution to climate change,there is an urgent need to reduce their impact.International and national governments set sustainability targets and implement corresponding measures.Nevertheless,critics of the globalized system claim that a territorial administrative scale is better suited to address sustainability issues.Yet,at the subnational level,local authorities rarely apply a systemic environmental assessment to enhance their action plans.This paper employs a territorial life cycle assessment methodology to improve local environmental agri-food planning.The objective is to identify significant direct and indirect environmental hotspots,their origins,and formulate effective mitigation strategies.The methodology is applied to the administrative department of Finistere,a strategic agricultural region in North-Western France.Multiple environmental criteria including climate change,fossil resource scarcity,toxicity,and land use are modeled.The findings reveal that the primary environmental hotspots of the studied local food system arise from indirect sources,such as livestock feed or diesel consumption.Livestock reduction and organic farming conversion emerge as the most environmentally efficient strategies,resulting in a 25%decrease in the climate change indicator.However,the overall modeled impact reduction is insufficient following national objectives and remains limited for the land use indicator.These results highlight the innovative application of life cycle assessment led at a local level,offering insights for the further advancement of systematic and prospective local agri-food assessment.Additionally,they provide guidance for local authorities to enhance the sustainability of planning strategies.

中外合作办学项目中专业课“Food Microbiology”教学改革的探索与实践

本文以青岛农业大学中外合作办学项目中的全英文专业课“Food Microbiology”为研究对象,通过线上教学方法、线下教学方法、课程思政建设等方面开展研究。构建线上线下混合式教学方法和实践思路,激发学生课堂积极性、课外能动性,提高学生主体地位和创新实践能力。挖掘专业课程的思政要素,探讨思政要素的融入方式,正确引领学生树立爱国主义情怀和文化自信。问卷调查结果表明,学生对课程的参与度和满意度均达到90%以上,学生评教得分为92.53分。线上线下混合式教学和课程思政建设对提升“Food Microbiology”课程教学质量起到积极作用。

New food sources and production systems:a comparison of international regulations and China’s advancements in novel foods with synthetic biology

The global shift towards sustainable food systems has sparked innovations in food sources and production systems,including cell-based meat,plant-based food products,precision fermentation,and 3D food printing.These advancements pose regulatory challenges and opportunities,with China emerging as a critical player in adopting and regulating new food technologies.This review explores the international landscape of new food sources and production systems(NFPS),focusing on China’s role and regulatory approaches compared to global practices.Through this comparative analysis,we aim to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on food safety regulation,offering insights and recommendations for policymakers,industry stakeholders,and researchers engaged in the global food system’s evolution.This comprehensive overview underscores the dynamic nature of regulatory frameworks governing NFPS,highlighting the international efforts to ensure food safety,consumer protection,and the sustainable evolution of the food industry.

Food nutrition and toxicology targeting on specific organs in the era of single-cell sequencing

Due to the complex natures of dietary food components,it is difficult to elucidate how the compounds affect host health.Dietary food often selectively presents its mechanism of action on different cell types,and participates in the modulation of targeted cells and their microenvironments within organs.However,the limitations of traditional in vitro assays or in vivo animal experiments cannot comprehensively examine cellular heterogeneity and the tissue-biased influences.Single-cell RNA sequencing(sc RNA-seq)has emerged as an indispensable methodology to decompose tissues into different cell types for the demonstration of transcriptional profiles of individual cells.Sc RNA-seq applications has been summarized on three typical organs(brain,liver,kidney),and two representative immune-and tumor related health problems.The everincreasing role of sc RNA-seq in dietary food research with further improvement can provide sub-cellular information and the coupling between other cellular modalities.In this review,we propose utilizing sc RNAseq to more effectively capture the subtle and complex effects of food chemicals,and how they may lead to health problems at single-cell resolution.This novel technique will be valuable to elucidate the underlying mechanism of both the health benefits of food nutrients and the detrimental consequences food toxicants at the cellular level.

Nanobody-based food allergen surveillance:current status and prospects

The incidence of food allergy has increased in recent decades,posing drastic risks to sensitive individuals,leading to mild to severe allergic symptoms.There is still no effective immune therapeutic strategy for food allergy that addresses accurate analytical methods to indicate the presence of allergens to prevent exposure of sensitive individuals.Currently,the most commonly applied detection method is immunoassay developed with food allergen-specifc antibodies,especially the conventional formats of monoclonal antibodies(mAbs)and polyclonal antibodies(pAbs),which serve as dominant detection reagents for food allergen analysis,although with the disadvantages of being labor-intensive,costly,batch differences,and signifcant cross-reaction,etc.Camelid-derived nanobodies(Nbs)have attracted tremendous attention to explore their application in food hazard analysis because of robust characteristics like unique paratopes,high stability and affnity that strongly contribute to the benefcial effect.However,extensive analysis is needed to validate the potential use of Nbs as detection reagents and the advantages for food allergen surveillance.Previous reports have demonstrated the potential of Nbs for immunoassay development against food allergens,such as macadamia allergen Mac i 1,peanut allergens Ara h 1 and Ara h 3,lupin allergen Lup an 1,milk allergenβ-lactoglobulin,etc.In this review,we comprehensively summarize the structural and biochemical properties of Nbs that beneft the application of Nb-based immunoassay,as well as the representative detection strategies,to provide research data for newly developed Nb formats for food allergen analysis,and investigate the future establishment of Nb-based surveillance against major food allergens.