Search Results (24)

Illegal wildlife trade exerts severe pressure on wild parrot populations, and confiscated parrots often end up in rescue centers where they are rehabilitated for release. However, parrots kept in captivity often develop potentially maladaptive behaviors, including attraction to humans. This behavior can increase the risk of recapture. We modified and tested a previously published human aversion training (HAT) protocol designed to reduce human attraction in confiscated Amazona parrots. The HAT consisted of observers either on the ground or on a ladder, offering food to a single individual and then feigning capture of birds that approached or failed to move away from the observer. Twelve Yellow-naped Amazons (Amazona auropalliata) underwent 36 sessions of HAT over a 14-week period. Ten additional birds were held without training as a control. All birds were evaluated through food offer tests (FOTs) before, during, and after the experiment (FOT scores ranged from 1 when the bird approached the observer to 6 when the bird flew away). Over the training period, both groups showed increased aversion to people. However, contrary to our predictions, aversion scores were not higher for the group given aversion training. Aversion training also did not have a strong impact on fate post-release: within a month of release, 40% of the 22 birds were recaptured in a nearby village, including 4 treatment and 5 control birds. Overall, these results suggest that holding these birds in monospecific groups increased aversion to humans. However, the intense training aversion protocol did not further increase the fear of humans in these Amazona parrots, many of which may have been pets for years before entering the program. This study suggests that rehabilitation and release projects should regularly evaluate the impacts of their training programs and improve or eliminate costly protocols that do not achieve stated objectives. Full article

Local governance has been found to be an important determinant of individuals’ subjective well-being (SWB) in cross-municipality studies in Europe and Asia. In addition, previous literature suggests that increasing access to determinants of SWB provides lesser SWB benefit to racial minorities compared to white people in the United States (U.S.). Given this context, we ask the following: (1) does good local governance improve SWB in the U.S.? and (2) does good local governance improve SWB for Black and Hispanic people equally compared to white people? To answer these questions, we examine Chicago, Illinois, the third-largest city in the U.S. with substantial Black and Hispanic populations. We model local governance, our independent variable, as the number of weeks for the municipality to respond to pothole service requests reported to the city’s non-emergency services system. Our dependent variable was life satisfaction, measured by the Cantril Ladder. Covariates included self-reported health problems, lack of money for food, sex, age, age-squared, and marital status. Neighborhood race/ethnicity was tested as a moderator of the primary relationships. We estimated linear regression models with and without race × governance interactions. Our findings demonstrate that local governance is an important determinant of SWB, but that it benefits SWB in white neighborhoods more than in Black/Hispanic neighborhoods. Full article

Spirometra mansoni is a zoonotic parasite that inhabits the intestines of dogs and cats. The plerocercoids (spargana) parasitize several vertebrates, including humans, resulting in a food-borne zoonosis known as sparganosis. In this study, it has been established that a LAMP assay can detect S. mansoni eggs in dog feces. A total of 97 fecal samples were collected from Changsha City, Hunan Province. The fecal DNA was extracted before designing primers for LAMP based on the S. mansoni cox1 gene. The specificity of this method was verified by PCR using LAMP outer primers or inner primers and nested PCR with S. mansoni-specific cox1 primers. DNA samples from five control dog worms were analyzed using the LAMP assay to evaluate the specificity. The detection rate of LAMP for S. mansoni eggs was 70.21% in stray dogs. PCR and nested PCR produced specific bands on agarose gel electrophoresis consistent with the expected length. When the LAMP assay was conducted using S. mansoni-infected samples, negative samples, and genomic DNA from control worms, only the S. mansoni-infected samples showed a typical ladder pattern. The samples were stained with SYBR Green I, and only the S. mansoni-infected samples had a fluorescent signal. In addition, compared with PCR and microscope, LAMP method can detect eggs in the shortest infection days, and its detection rate was higher than that of PCR. These results suggest that the established LAMP method have many advantages in detecting Spirometra mansoni. Full article

Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most common food allergies in early childhood. Although a strict elimination diet effectively prevents allergic symptoms, it does not promote the development of tolerance to cow’s milk proteins (CMPs). The milk ladder is a stepwise approach to the reintroduction of CMPs, starting with extensively heated forms and gradually progressing to unheated cow’s milk, according to the individual tolerance levels. The rationale for this approach lies in the reduced allergenicity of heated forms, mainly due to the food matrix effect. The milk ladder was originally developed to gradually expand the diet in children with non-IgE-mediated CMPA. However, recent evidence suggests that it can also be applied in IgE-mediated CMPA to accelerate tolerance development. In children with high-risk IgE-mediated CMPA, this approach may be more challenging. Even minor recipe modifications, particularly those affecting composition or heating conditions, can alter the allergenicity of heated foods. Moreover, barriers to reintroducing food allergens, including parental anxiety or the child’s food aversion, may be more pronounced in this group. Although for high-risk patients, reintroduction is usually performed in hospital settings, increasing evidence indicates that, in selected cases, it may also be safely conducted at home. Several emerging strategies, including early low-dose exposure and oral immunotherapy, show promise in further enhancing tolerance development. Despite these challenges, early reintroduction of CMPs appears to play a crucial role in modulating the immune response and promoting tolerance. This review provides the summary of evidence and practical insights into the implementation of the milk ladder in children with IgE-mediated CMPA. Full article

Background: Resistance exercise (RE) is recognized for promoting the development of muscle strength and mass, as well as contributing positively to cardiovascular health. The combination of this type of exercise with the intake of foods rich in bioactive compounds, such as camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia), and creatine supplementation may be an interesting strategy to enhance the cardiovascular system. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of RE and supplementation with camu-camu and creatine on oxidative balance, mineral content, ATPase enzyme activity, and histological changes in the heart of Wistar rats. Methods: Forty-eight adult rats were divided into eight groups, with or without RE. The groups received a control diet (AIN-93M), camu-camu (200 mg/kg/day), creatine (300 mg/kg for 7 days and 50 mg/kg/day thereafter), or a combination of both. The RE protocol was performed on a vertical ladder three times a week for eight weeks. At the end, the animals were anesthetized and euthanized for tissue collection. Results: The trained control group that received a standard diet (AIN-T) showed greater activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. The trained group receiving creatine and camu-camu supplementation (CC + Cr-T) showed higher total antioxidant capacity (FRAP), increased Mg²⁺-ATPase activity, higher nitric oxide levels, and a greater diameter of cardiac muscle fibers. No pathological changes were observed in heart histology in any group, indicating preservation of tissue integrity. Conclusions: RE associated with camu-camu and creatine supplementation may be an effective strategy for modulating antioxidant and functional aspects of the heart. Full article

Background/Objectives: Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy, usually presenting as bloody stools in breastfed, well-appearing, and regularly growing infants. The aim of our study was to describe the clinical features of Italian infants affected by FPIAP and their management and natural history in a real-life setting. Methods: A retrospective, observational study was performed at two tertiary pediatric hospitals (Florence and Trieste), including FPIAP-diagnosed infants between 2012 and 2022. Results: Most of the 100 enrolled patients were breastfed (68.0%), and the majority of those who underwent diagnostic tests (n = 51) showed normal hemoglobin and total IgE levels. A maternal elimination diet was performed in 69.0%, mostly for milk only, but 40.6% underwent multiple elimination diets. The remission rate was high both in breastfed infants (76.8%) and in those who received extensively hydrolyzed formula (81.8%). Nine subjects were left on a free diet, but six were lost at follow-up. The median time of complete remission was 30 days (IQR 14–60). Culprit food reintroduction was tolerated at a median age of 8 months (IQR 6–11), in ladder modality (for hen’s egg and cow’s milk) in 61.7%. Nine patients relapsed (14.3%) upon reintroduction with no associated variables identified at the regression analysis. The relapse rate was slightly higher when trigger food reintroduction was attempted > 12 months (16.7%) versus <12 months (13.0%). Conclusions: In our population, FPIAP had, as expected, a benign evolution. The early reintroduction of the suspect food in a gradual manner for cow’s milk and hen’s egg leads to good tolerance within the first year in most patients, avoiding unnecessary elimination diets. Full article

Following successful oral immunotherapy (OIT) for peanut allergy using boiled peanuts (BOPI trial), this study investigated the potential of wet-thermal-processing-induced allergen modification, specifically soaking and boiling (1–4 h) to reduce the allergenicity of cashew and pistachio allergens. In addition, this study provides a foundation of understanding for developing safer forms of cashew/pistachio administration for application in OIT by gradual exposure to increasing doses of modified allergens with reduced potency as an “allergen ladder”. An SDS-PAGE analysis and an intrinsic-fluorescence spectroscopy revealed altered tertiary structures of the allergens, leading to their denaturation and even degradation. Notably, the reduction in both allergen-specific polyclonal IgG and human-specific IgE (sIgE) binding correlated with the treatment time, with the most significant decrease observed after 4 h of boiling. In contrast, shorter soaking treatments showed negligible effects on the IgE-binding capacity of these nuts, therefore indicating a further need for optimization. These findings indicate that extended boiling effectively reduced the amounts of the highly potent allergenic component Ana o 3 in cashew and Pis v 1 in pistachio, as confirmed by ELISA using polyclonal anti-Ana o 3 antibodies, and an immunoblot showed decreased IgE epitope binding in cashew and pistachio allergens, which further modified their allergenic profiles. This approach shows promise as a viable method for offering a safer therapeutic option for cashew/pistachio allergy. Full article

The windowpane oyster Placuna placenta lives in brackish coastal waters and has long been economically important to the Philippines because of its durable and translucent shell, which is used as a glass substitute and material for making windowpanes and handicrafts. There has been considerable degradation of the P. placenta fishery over the past decades. Moreover, there are waste and under-exploited by-products, such as the meat, which though nutritious and edible, currently has a very low value; its use is confined to dishes consumed by families in the fishing community. Historically, there have been instances of excellent practice in terms of regulating the P. placenta fishery, while in recent times, there have been local initiatives to restore this and to develop high-value food products from the meat. These initiatives have, however, never been followed through at a provincial or national level. Research on other molluscs and marine organisms highlights that these contain high-value pharmaceutical products, an unexplored facet of P. placenta. This review compiles evidence to establish the groundwork for an essential and comprehensive multidisciplinary research programme centred around the P. placenta, which would ensure a high value for all parts of the oyster, including those currently discarded. By fostering a sustainable and circular economy within this fishery sector and its associated industry, its economic value would be amplified. This is particularly important for oyster harvesters in the Philippines, who often find themselves on the economic ladder’s lower rungs. By integrating the principles of a circular economy, this initiative would not only aim to uplift the economic prospects of these harvesters, but in doing so would drive the restoration of P. placenta to its former range. Full article

China is currently experiencing severe water scarcity issues in its agricultural production sector. To address this challenge, the Chinese government has taken steps towards implementing a nationwide reform in agricultural water pricing to accelerate the more sustainable management of the agricultural water resources sector. The present study adopted a multiple regression model to test four alternative irrigation water charging methodologies (charges based on ladder pricing, time, land area, and electricity) accompanied by supportive agricultural pricing policies to address the inherent conflicts between water conservation and agricultural development goals. This study focused on the Wei River Basin, which is recognized as a highly water-stressed region in China. This basin was chosen as a pilot area for comprehensive reform initiatives related to agricultural water pricing and served as the geographical scope for our research. Between June and July of 2022, we conducted comprehensive field surveys within the Wei River Basin, accumulating a dataset of 415 data points pertaining to the crop year of 2022. Our results showed that the ladder water price-based method exhibited remarkable potential in achieving substantial savings, with a minimum of 60.5239 m³/mu of irrigation water conserved for food crops and an impressive 67.8090 m³/mu for cash crops. However, regarding water-saving irrigation technologies, the estimation results indicated that electricity-based charging outperformed the other methods, resulting in an impressive 55.22% increase when ladder pricing served as the benchmark. In addition, regarding agricultural green production, the results for food crops and cash crops are different, with food crops being more sensitive to the ladder water price policies. Moreover, the results suggested that different water charging methods have significant heterogeneity effects from the perspective of the farmers’ scale, land fragmentation, and water price awareness capacity. This study forges an innovative path for water-stressed nations to execute agricultural water pricing reform and enhance agricultural production’s sustainable growth. Full article

Background: Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most common and complex food allergies affecting children worldwide and, with a few exceptions, presents in the first few months of life. Baked-milk-containing diets are well tolerated in the majority of milk-allergic children and allow dietary restrictions to be relaxed. In addition, the early introduction of tolerated forms of allergenic foods to an infant’s diet in small amounts may enhance the outgrowth of their milk allergy through oral tolerance induction. The methods of milk introduction vary widely across the globe. Methods: We convened an expert group to develop a comprehensive milk ladder based on the calculated milk protein content of Indian foods. To validate the milk ladder, the foods chosen for the ladder were analyzed and the ladder was re-evaluated based on the cooked milk protein content. Results: Combining expert consensus and validation of milk protein content, we created the world’s first milk ladder containing Indian foods. This is the first ladder that provides information on the timing and temperature of cooking, with validated milk protein content. Conclusions: This is the first milk ladder based on the unique features of Indian food habits built by the consensus of Indian experts along with international collaboration with laboratory quantification of milk protein in each step. We believe the “The Indian Milk Ladder” will be a very helpful tool for pediatricians helping manage CMA in children as well as their parents and caregivers, not only in India, but in countries world-wide where these foods are commonly consumed. Full article

Harmful algal blooms impact human welfare and are a global concern. Sargassum spp., a type of algae or seaweed that can potentially bloom in certain regions of the sea around Thailand, exhibits a noteworthy electron capacity as the sole reducing and stabilizing agent, which suggests its potential for mediating nanoparticle composites. This study proposes an eco-friendly microwave-assisted biosynthesis (MAS) method to fabricate silver nanoparticles coated with Sargassum aqueous extract (Ag/AgCl-NPs-ME). Ag/AgCl-NPs-ME were successfully synthesized in 1 min using a 20 mM AgNO₃ solution without additional hazardous chemicals. UV–visible spectroscopy confirmed their formation through a surface plasmon resonance band at 400–500 nm. XRD and FTIR analyses verified their crystalline nature and involvement of organic molecules. TEM and SEM characterization showed well-dispersed Ag/AgCl-NPs-ME with an average size of 36.43 nm. The EDS results confirmed the presence of metallic Ag⁺ and Cl⁻ ions. Ag/AgCl-NPs-ME exhibited significant antioxidant activity against free radicals (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP), suggesting their effectiveness. They also inhibited enzymes (tyrosinase and ACE) linked to diseases, indicating therapeutic potential. Importantly, the Ag/AgCl-NPs-ME displayed remarkable cytotoxicity against cancer cells (A375, A549, and Caco-2) while remaining non-toxic to normal cells. DNA ladder and TUNEL assays confirmed the activation of apoptosis mechanisms in cancer cells after a 48 h treatment. These findings highlight the versatile applications of Ag/AgCl-NPs-ME in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. Full article

Microbial factors, including bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, are significant contributors to foodborne illnesses, posing serious food safety risks due to their potential for rapid growth and contamination. Listeria monocytogenes is one of the most common types of foodborne bacteria that can cause serious foodborne diseases or even fatalities. In this study, a novel nucleic acid amplification method called Proofman-LMTIA was employed to detect Listeria monocytogenes contamination in food. This method combines proofreading enzyme-mediated probe cleavage with ladder-shape melting temperature isothermal amplification. A positive recombinant plasmid was used as a control to ensure the accuracy of the detection results, and primers and Proofman probes were specifically designed for the LMTIA. Genomic DNA was extracted, the reaction temperature was optimized, and the primers’ specificity was verified using foodborne pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella. The sensitivity was assessed by testing serial dilutions of genomic DNA, and the method’s applicability was confirmed by detecting artificially contaminated fresh pork. The established LMTIA method exhibited both high specificity and sensitivity. At the optimal reaction temperature of 63 °C, the primers specifically identified Listeria monocytogenes contamination in pork at a concentration of 8.0 ± 0.7 colony-forming units (CFUs) per 25 g. Furthermore, the Proofman-LMTIA method was applied to test Listeria monocytogenes DNA in 30 food samples purchased from a Chinese retail market, and reassuringly, all results indicated no contamination. Proofman-LMTIA can serve as a reliable and rapid method for detecting Listeria monocytogenes in food, contributing to public health by safeguarding consumers from foodborne illnesses, and strengthening food safety regulations. Full article

IgE-mediated cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most prevalent food allergies in early childhood. Though the cornerstone of management involves the strict avoidance of milk products while awaiting natural tolerance, research increasingly shows that the rates of resolution are slowing down. Therefore, there is a need to explore alternative pathways to promote tolerance to cow’s milk in pediatric populations. This review aims to combine and appraise the scientific literature regarding the three CMPA management methods: avoidance, the milk ladder, and oral immunotherapy (OIT) and their outcomes in terms of efficacy, safety, and immunological effects. Cow’s milk (CM) avoidance virtually protects against allergic reaction until natural tolerance occurs, with hypoallergenic substitutes available in the market, but accidental ingestion represents the main issue for this strategy. Introduction to baked milk using the milk ladder was designed, with most CMPA patients successfully completing the ladder. Similar to baked milk treatment, many OIT protocols also demonstrated decreased IgE and increased IgG4 levels post protocol, as well as a reduction in wheal size diameter. Though these strategies are shown to be safe and effective in CMPA, future clinical trials should compare the safety and effectiveness of these three management strategies. Full article

Food adulteration is a serious problem all over the world. Establishing an accurate, sensitive and fast detection method is an important part of identifying food adulteration. Herein, a sequence-specific ladder-shape melting temperature isothermal amplification (LMTIA) assay was reported to detect soybean-derived components using proofreading enzyme-mediated probe cleavage (named Proofman), which could realize real-time and visual detection without uncapping. The results showed that, under the optimal temperature of 57 °C, the established Proofman–LMTIA method for the detection of soybean-derived components in dairy products was sensitive to 1 pg/μL, with strong specificity, and could distinguish soybean genes from those of beef, mutton, sunflower, corn, walnut, etc. The established Proofman–LMTIA detection method was applied to the detection of actual samples of cow milk and goat milk. The results showed that the method was accurate, stable and reliable, and the detection results were not affected by a complex matrix without false positives or false negatives. It was proved that the method could be used for the detection and identification of soybean-derived components in actual dairy products samples. Full article

The process of gradually reintroducing food allergens into an individual’s diet is referred to as a food allergen “ladder”, and the most recent edition of the original Milk Allergy in Primary (MAP) Care Guidelines, as well as the International Milk Allergy in Primary Care (IMAP), includes a shortened, improved, and international version with specific recipes, indicating the exact milk protein content, as well as the duration of heating and the temperature for each step of the ladder. Food allergen ladders are being used increasingly in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to develop a Mediterranean milk ladder based on the principles of the Mediterranean eating pattern. The protein content delivered in a portion of the final food product in each step of the ladder in the Mediterranean version corresponds to that provided in the IMAP ladder. Different recipes for the various steps were provided to increase acceptability and variety. Quantification of the total milk protein, casein content, and beta-lactoglobulin by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) could detect the gradual increase in concentrations, but the accuracy of the method was affected by the presence of the other ingredients in the mixtures. When developing the Mediterranean milk ladder, a key consideration was to reduce the amount of sugar by using limited amounts of brown sugar and substituting sugar with fresh fruit juice or honey for children aged older than one year. The proposed Mediterranean milk ladder includes principles of (a) healthy eating based on the Mediterranean diet and (b) the acceptability of foods across different age groups. Full article