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- 12th IFDC 2017 special issue – Iodine, selenium and iron contents in Portuguese key foods as consumedPublication . Delgado, Inês; Ventura, Marta; Gueifão, Sandra; Coelho, Inês; Nascimento, Ana Cláudia; Silva, José Armando L.; Castanheira, IsabelIodine, selenium and iron are micronutrients essential for thyroid hormone synthesis causing their low plasma levels an additional risk of autoimmune thyroid diseases. A Portuguese TDS pilot study representative of diets in Portugal was carried out, since foods are the main natural sources of these micronutrients. Six hundred and twenty-four samples were collected based on local markets and later analysed in pools of ten meat samples, twenty-seven fish, nine chicken eggs and six cow dairy products. The iodine and selenium contents were determined using ICP-MS after alkaline (iodine) or acid digestion (selenium) and iron by ICP-OES after acid digestion. The highest content of three oligoelements was detected in fish. Meat had lower iodine content and the dairy products lower selenium and iron levels. Sardine presented significant different levels in summer and winter for iodine, and in summer and autumn for selenium, mackerel had diverse contents of iron in summer and autumn. The contribution of salmon and milk for iodine RNI was around 40%, for children and adults. Shrimp is also the food with more selenium, exceeding 1.5 times the % RNI for children and adults females, while iron maximum contribution was observed in meat for children and adult males.
- 2015/16 I-MOVE/I-MOVE+ multicentre case control study in Europe: moderate vaccine effectiveness estimates against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and low estimates against lineage mismatched influenza B among childrenPublication . Kissling, Esther; Valenciano, Marta; Pozo, Francisco; Vilcu, Ana-Maria; Reuss, Annicka; Rizzo, Caterina; Larrauri, Amparo; Horváth, Judit Krisztina; Brytting, Mia; Domegan, Lisa; Korczyńska, Monika; Meijer, Adam; Machado, Ausenda; Ivanciuc, Alina; Višekruna Vučina, Vesna; van der Werf, Sylvie; Schweiger, Brunhilde; Bella, Antonino; Gherasim, Alin; Ferenczi, Annamária; Zakikhany, Katherina; O Donnell, Joan; Paradowska-Stankiewicz, Iwona; Dijkstra, Frederika; Guiomar, Raquel; Lazar, Mihaela; Kurečić Filipović, Sanja; Johansen, Kari; Moren, Alain; I-MOVE/I-MOVE+ study teamBackground:During the 2015/16 influenza season in Europe, the co-circulating influenza viruses were A(H1N1)pdm09 and B/Victoria, which was antigenically distinct from the B/Yamagata component in the trivalent influenza vaccine. Methods:We used the test negative design in a multicentre case–control study in twelve European countries to measure 2015/16 influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against medically-attended influenza-like illness (ILI) laboratory-confirmed as influenza. General practitioners swabbed a systematic sample of consulting ILI patients ainfluenza Vaccinend a random sample of influenza positive swabs were sequenced. We calculated adjusted VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H1N1)pdm09 genetic group 6B.1 and influenza B overall and by age group. Results: We included 11,430 ILI patients, of which 2272 were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 2901 were influenza B cases. Overall VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was 32.9% (95% CI: 15.5-46.7). Among those aged 0–14, 15–64 and ≥65 years VE against A(H1N1)pdm09 was 31.9% (95% CI: -32.3-65.0), 41.4% (95%CI: 20.5-56.7) and 13.2% (95% CI: -38.0-45.3) respectively. Overall VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 genetic group 6B.1 was 32.8% (95%CI: -4.1-56.7). Among those aged 0–14, 15–64 and ≥65 years VE against influenza B was -47.6% (95%CI: -124.9-3.1), 27.3% (95%CI: -4.6-49.4), and 9.3% (95%CI: -44.1-42.9) respectively. Conclusions: VE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and its genetic group 6B.1 was moderate in children and adults, and low among individuals ≥65 years. VE against influenza B was low and heterogeneous among age groups. More information on effects of previous vaccination and previous infection are needed to understand the VE results against influenza B in the context of a mismatched vaccine.
- 2015/16 seasonal vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B among elderly people in Europe: results from the I-MOVE+ projectPublication . Rondy, Marc; Larrauri, Amparo; Casado, Itziar; Alfonsi, Valeria; Pitigoi, Daniela; Launay, Odile; Syrjänen, Ritva K; Gefenaite, Giedre; Machado, Ausenda; Vučina, Vesna Višekruna; Horváth, Judith Krisztina; Paradowska-Stankiewicz, Iwona; Marbus, Sierk D; Gherasim, Alin; Díaz-González, Jorge Alberto; Rizzo, Caterina; Ivanciuc, Alina E; Galtier, Florence; Ikonen, Niina; Mickiene, Aukse; Gomez, Veronica; Kurečić Filipović, Sanja; Ferenczi, Annamária; Korcinska, Monika R; van Gageldonk-Lafeber, Rianne; I-MOVE+ hospital working group; Valenciano, MartaWe conducted a multicentre test-negative case-control study in 27 hospitals of 11 European countries to measure 2015/16 influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) against hospitalised influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B among people aged ≥ 65 years. Patients swabbed within 7 days after onset of symptoms compatible with severe acute respiratory infection were included. Information on demographics, vaccination and underlying conditions was collected. Using logistic regression, we measured IVE adjusted for potential confounders. We included 355 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases, 110 influenza B cases, and 1,274 controls. Adjusted IVE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was 42% (95% confidence interval (CI): 22 to 57). It was 59% (95% CI: 23 to 78), 48% (95% CI: 5 to 71), 43% (95% CI: 8 to 65) and 39% (95% CI: 7 to 60) in patients with diabetes mellitus, cancer, lung and heart disease, respectively. Adjusted IVE against influenza B was 52% (95% CI: 24 to 70). It was 62% (95% CI: 5 to 85), 60% (95% CI: 18 to 80) and 36% (95% CI: -23 to 67) in patients with diabetes mellitus, lung and heart disease, respectively. 2015/16 IVE estimates against hospitalised influenza in elderly people was moderate against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B, including among those with diabetes mellitus, cancer, lung or heart diseases.
- 25 years of European Union (EU) quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs across EU Member StatesPublication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.; Costa, H.S.Consumers are increasingly turning their attention to the quality and origin of products that they consume. European Union (EU) quality schemes are associated with a label, which was introduced to allow consumers to perform an informed choice and to protect producers from unfair practices. This present study provides an overview of the last 25 years of EU quality schemes [Protected Designations of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) and Traditional Specialities Guaranteed (TSG)] on agricultural products and foodstuffs across the 28 EU Member States. According to the results, it was possible to conclude that Southern European countries have the highest number of registered products. The most used EU quality scheme is PGI, followed by PDO. Concerning the analysis of the evolution in the last 25 years, the number of registered products among EU Member States has increased significantly. The fruit, vegetables and cereals (fresh or processed) category is the one that accounts for the highest percentage (26.8%) of registered products, followed by cheeses and meat products (cooked, salted, smoked) categories, with 17.2% and 13.5%, respectively. Further investigations should address consumer preferences, knowledge and attitudes, especially Northern European countries with a lower number of registered products. Moreover, the investigation and registration of products should be encouraged among all EU Member States to allow the maintenance of important elements of the history, culture and heritage of the local areas, regions and countries. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.
- 2ª Reunião do Projeto europeu JA CHRODIS - 2015Publication . Costa, Luciana
- 3-MCPD Occurrence in Vegetable Oils: Impact on Human Nutrition and Future ChallengesPublication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.; Costa, H.S.Over the last years, the global production of vegetable oils increased, and palm oil is still the most produced vegetable oil, followed by soybean, rapeseed and sunflower oils. Processing of vegetable oils is essential to remove impurities from the oil and to assure their quality and safety. Nonetheless, some of the applied conditions, namely during deodorization, can lead to the formation of contaminants, such as chloropropanols. In this review, an overview of the occurrence of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol in vegetable oils, as well as its potential impact on human nutrition, based on exposure assessment to this contaminant, and future challenges are discussed. According to this literature review, notable differences are found for the occurrence of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol in the different vegetable oils, but also among the same type of oil, which is possibly due to the geographical origin of samples, their composition, but also due to the processing conditions applied. It has been observed that unprocessed oils/fats have non-detectable or very low amounts of 3-monochloropropane-1,2 diol, while the refined oils have high amounts. Amongst the reviewed data, the highest values reported were for rice bran oil (1449 - 2564 mg/kg) and edible blending oil (1367 mg/kg). For instance, for palm oil, which is the most widely consumed vegetable oil, the values for 3 monochloropropane-1,2-diol ranged from not detected to 540 mg/kg. With respect to mitigation strategies, the use of radical scavengers, such as phenolic compounds, is efficient, but there is still a lot of work to be done in this area of research. Regarding exposure assessment to this contaminant, few studies have focused on this subject, but the reported results indicate that the mean exposure value is lower than the tolerable daily intake (2 µg/kg of body weight/day). Nonetheless, among the different food groups evaluated for exposure assessment, vegetable oils/fats were identified as the major contributor for children. In the near future, it is crucial to evaluate other processing conditions, namely cooking methods (e.g. frying and baking), since it can have a significant impact on the occurrence of this hazardous compound. Also, it is necessary to monitor the occurrence of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol in other foodstuffs, to accurately estimate the exposure assessment.
- A 3.2 Mb deletion on 18q12 in a patient with childhood autism and high-grade myopiaPublication . Gilling, M.; Lauritsen, M.B.; Møller, M.; Henriksen, K.F.; Vicente, A.M.; Oliveira, G.; Cintin, C.; Eiberg, H.; Andersen, P.S.; Mors, O.; Rosenberg, T.; Brøndum-Nielsen, K.; Cotterill, R.M.; Lundsteen, C.; Ropers, H.H.; Ullmann, R.; Bache, I.; Tümer, Z.; Tommerup, N.Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders with unknown aetiology. Even though ASDs are suggested to be among the most heritable complex disorders, only a few reproducible mutations leading to susceptibility for ASD have been identified. In an attempt to identify ASD susceptibility genes through chromosome rearrangements, we investigated a female patient with childhood autism and high-grade myopia, and an apparently balanced de novo translocation, t(5;18)(q34;q12.2). Further analyses revealed a 3.2 Mb deletion encompassing 17 genes at the 18q break point and an additional deletion of 1.27 Mb containing two genes on chromosome 4q35. Q-PCR analysis of 14 of the 17 genes deleted on chromosome 18 showed that 11 of these genes were expressed in the brain, suggesting that haploinsufficiency of one or more genes may have contributed to the childhood autism phenotype of the patient. Identification of multiple genetic changes in this patient with childhood autism agrees with the most frequently suggested genetic model of ASDs as complex, polygenic disorders.
- 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals in foods: a review on risk assessment, analytical methods, formation, occurrence, mitigation and future challengesPublication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Costa, H.S.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.Undoubtedly, significant advances were performed concerning 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals research on foods, and their formation by double oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. But further studies are still needed, especially on their occurrence in foods enriched with n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, as well as in foods for infants and processed foods. Major factors concerning the formation of 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals were discussed, namely the influence of fatty acids composition, time/temperature,processing conditions, salt, among others. Regarding mitigation, the most effective strategies are adding phenolic extracts to foods matrices, as well as other antioxidants, such as vitamin E. Exposure assessment studies revealed 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals values that could not be considered a risk for human health. However, these toxic compounds remain unaltered after digestion and can easily reach the systemic circulation. Therefore, it is crucial to develop in vivo research, with the inclusion of the colon phase, as well as, cell membranes of the intestinal epithelium. In conclusion, according to our review it is possible to eliminate or effectively decrease 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals in foods using simple and economic practices.
- 4-Hydroxynonenal: a parameter of quality and safety of vegetable oilsPublication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.; Silva, M.A.; Costa, H.S.Due to several factors, namely social, economic and technical, people have less time to spend in food preparation. Consequently, the consumption of fried and pre-fried foods has been increasing due to its easy preparation. This behaviour has been linked to an increase in the intake of fats and oils subjected to high temperatures. Oils and fats are previously processed (refining) to improve their quality, stability and safety. Despite the removal of a large amount of impurities from the oil that influence negatively their quality, some processing conditions can often originate new compounds with additional health hazards.
- Abordagem multidisciplinar na identificação e monitorização de cianobactérias potencialmente tóxicasPublication . Churro, Catarina; Valério, ElisabeteO risco que as florescências cianobacterianas representam para a saúde humana advêm do facto destes desenvolvimentos excessivos estarem frequentemente associados à produção de cianotoxinas. As principais vias de exposição para o homem são através de água potável contaminada, diálise, consumo de peixe e marisco contaminado e atividades recreativas. A toxicidade destes compostos é elevada, como pode ser constatado no gráfico 1 em que está representada a comparação da toxicidade, com base na dose-letal (LD50%) em murganhos, entre as cianotoxinas e algumas das toxinas mais conhecidas em relação ao cianeto.