Search Results (73)

In recent years, maximum residue limit (MRL) standards regulated by governments have become increasingly stringent. MRL standards aim to protect human health and environmental sustainability by setting maximum allowable residue concentrations for chemical substances in imported products. In November 2020, the European Union published EU Regulation 2020/1085, imposing stricter MRL standards on imported agricultural products. As standard-setting leaders implement more restrictive MRLs and export-oriented countries adjust their chemical practices to align with these standards, it is essential to examine the emerging trade patterns associated with MRLs and exports. This paper investigates the impact of maximum residue limits (MRLs) on China’s agricultural exports, using disaggregated product-level data (HS eight-digit) for 237 products across 43 importing countries from 2006 to 2021. The results show that a 10% more stringent MRL at the mean in the previous year leads to a 6.6% decrease in the current-year export values of China’s agricultural products. Stricter MRLs for insecticides significantly reduce China’s agricultural exports, while MRLs for fungicides and herbicides have no significant effect. Additionally, I analyze the top 10 most frequently notified chemical substances in goods from China, as reported by the European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) over 2020–2024. More stringent MRLs for Chlorpyrifos, Diafenthiuron, and Carbendazim significantly impede China’s agricultural exports to the European Union. Conversely, China’s agricultural exports to USMCA, ASEAN, and BRI member countries are sensitive to more restrictive MRLs for Diafenthiuron, while benefiting from tougher MRLs for Tolfenpyrad, Dinotefuran, and Imidacloprid. The impacts of MRLs on the extensive and intensive margins of exports suggest that more restrictive MRLs do not significantly affect the probability of exporting, but they reduce export values conditional on the export decisions. The findings suggest that tightening MRL standards by importing countries do not necessarily impede agricultural trade; in some cases, they facilitate China’s agricultural exports to these markets. This study provides policymakers with a comprehensive analysis to formulate strategies for enhancing agricultural exports and highlights the role of food safety standards in sustainable development. Full article

Leprosy, a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, continues to be a significant public health challenge in Brazil, which has a high rate of new cases and late diagnoses. This study investigates the relationship between Primary Health Care (PHC) and Family Health Strategy (FHS) coverage and leprosy detection in Minas Gerais, a state marked by heterogeneity in the distribution of the disease. This observational and ecological study analyzed data from 2010 to 2020, which were obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and the EGESTOR-AB portal. Using statistical methods, such as Pearson’s correlation and Prais–Winsten Linear Regression, trends and associations between coverage variables and leprosy indicators were assessed. This study found that PHC and FHS coverage expansion in Minas Gerais was not directly associated with a uniform reduction in late leprosy diagnosis. The findings indicate that the expansion of PHC and the FHS has not been accompanied by a homogeneous reduction in late diagnoses. It is therefore recommended that active surveillance actions be strengthened, that teams be continuously trained, and that strategies recommended by the WHO be integrated. Full article

Driving warning systems are of great help in notifying emergencies. Based on the results of former studies as well as the multisensory integration effect (MIE), the current meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of utilizing unimodal (i.e., auditory, visual, and tactile) and multimodal (i.e., bimodal and trimodal) driving warning systems in drivers’ response time. Sixty eligible articles representing 308 individual studies were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed: First, both auditory warnings (pooled Hedges’ g = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.34 to 1.61, p < 0.01) and tactile warnings (pooled Hedges’ g = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.22 to 1.32, p < 0.01) were found to reduce the response time significantly compared to no warning, but visual warnings did not produce significant benefit; Second, tactile warnings outperformed the visual warnings (pooled Hedges’ g = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.11 to 1.37, p < 0.05); Third, auditory-tactile bimodal warnings surpassed unimodal warnings (p < 0.05); Fourth, drivers’ response time under trimodal warning conditions were shorter than that under bimodal warning conditions but not in a significant level. Overall, the results support multisensory redundant signal effect hypothesis in multimodal conditions. Current study provides a quantitative understanding of the effectiveness of driving warnings and could contribute to the design of related technologies. Full article

The increasing global interest in herbs and spices necessitates a thorough examination of the chemical hazards associated with their consumption. The objective of this work was to provide an understanding of the current state and prevalence of chemical contaminants (toxins, heavy metals, and pesticide residues) in herbs and spices consumed in Europe, facilitating informed decision-making in public health and regulatory frameworks Through an extensive literature search, contamination levels of chemical hazards among different herbs and spices were evaluated. The European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has shown 1133 notifications for spices and herbs in the last 10 years (2013–2023). Focusing on the chemical hazards associated with the consumption of these products, mycotoxins (especially aflatoxins and ochratoxin A) and plant-derived compounds with potential health implications (e.g., pyrrolizidine alkaloids) were the most often notified. Nevertheless, besides these naturally occurring compounds, other deliberated added substances such as artificial unauthorized dyes (e.g., Sudan I, II, III, and IV) that can pose a human health risk have been identified. Finally, environmental contaminants could also be present in herbs and spices. Pesticide residues (e.g., chlorpyrifos, carbendazim, and bifenthrin) have been notified, and studies in terms of their persistence and adherence to regulatory limits and heavy metals were also investigated, focusing on cadmium, lead, and mercury due to the bioaccumulation abilities of plants. Other environmental contaminants, such as dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were considered for this study. In conclusion, this work contributed to identifying gaps and challenges in regulatory practices and to the dialog on the safety and quality of herbs and spices, offering a holistic perspective on toxins, heavy metals, and pesticide residues and fostering collaboration between all stakeholders to advance in public health protection in Europe. Full article

Rates of victimization from identity theft continue to rise exponentially. Personally identifiable information (PII) has become vitally valuable data bad actors use to commit fraud against individuals. Focusing primarily on the United States and Canada, the objective of this paper is to raise awareness for those involved in criminal justice (CJ) to more fully understand potential life-changing consequences for those whose PII is used fraudulently. We examine the impact of crimes involving PII and the urgent need to increase investigations and legal proceedings for identity theft-related crimes. Referring to a National Crime Victimization Survey, we analyze why many victims of identity theft crimes resist notifying appropriate authorities. We also address why those within the CJ system are often reluctant to initiate actions against occurrences of identity theft. We provide insight into consequences experienced by identity theft victims, particularly if their PII is posted on the Dark Web, a threat that can exist into perpetuity. If rates of victimization from identity theft-based crimes are to decline, reporting of victimization must increase, and current legislation related to investigating and processing identity theft crimes must progress. Full article

In January 2020, increased mortality was reported in a small broiler breeder flock in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Gross pathological findings included coelomitis, oophoritis, salpingitis, visceral gout, splenomegaly, and renomegaly. Clinical presentation included inappetence, pronounced diarrhoea, and increased egg deformation. These signs, in combination with increased mortality, triggered a notifiable avian disease investigation. High pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) was not suspected, as mortality levels and clinical signs were not consistent with HPAIV. Laboratory investigation demonstrated the causative agent to be a low-pathogenicity avian influenza virus (LPAIV), subtype H6N1, resulting in an outbreak that affected 15 premises in Northern Ireland. The H6N1 virus was also associated with infection on 13 premises in the Republic of Ireland and six in Great Britain. The close genetic relationship between the viruses in Ireland and Northern Ireland suggested a direct causal link whereas those in Great Britain were associated with exposure to a common ancestral virus. Overall, this rapidly spreading outbreak required the culling of over 2 million birds across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland to stamp out the incursion. This report demonstrates the importance of investigating LPAIV outbreaks promptly, given their substantial economic impacts. Full article

Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum biovar Gallinarum (SG) causes fowl typhoid, a notifiable infectious disease in poultry. However, the pathogenic mechanism of SG-induced systemic infection in chickens remains unclear. Thioredoxin reductase (TrxB) is a redox protein crucial for regulating various enzyme activities in Salmonella serovar, but the role in SG-induced chicken systemic infection has yet to be determined. Here, we constructed a mutant SG strain lacking the trxB gene (trxB::Cm) and used chicken embryo inoculation and chicken oral infection to investigate the role of trxB gene in the pathogenicity of SG. Our results showed that trxB::Cm exhibited no apparent differences in colony morphology and growth conditions but exhibited reduced tolerance to H₂O₂ and increased resistance to bile acids. In the chicken embryo inoculation model, there was no significant difference in the pathogenicity of trxB::Cm and wild-type (WT) strains. In the chicken oral infection, the WT-infected group exhibited typical clinical symptoms of fowl typhoid, with complete mortality between days 6 and 9 post infection. In contrast, the trxB::Cm group showed a 100% survival rate, with no apparent clinical symptoms or pathological changes observed. The viable bacterial counts in the liver and spleen of the trxB::Cm-infected group were significantly reduced, accompanied by decreased expression of cytokines and chemokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, CXCLi1, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), which were significantly lower than those in the WT group. These results show that the pathogenicity of the trxB-deficient strain was significantly attenuated, indicating that the trxB gene is a crucial virulence factor in SG-induced systemic infection in chickens, suggesting that trxB may become a potentially effective target for controlling and preventing SG infection in chickens. Full article

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, and hence, sufficient herd immunity is obligatory to prevent infection transmission. Measles is still a cause of considerable disease burden globally, mainly in children. During a national measles outbreak in Israel in 2018–2019, the peak incidence rates occurred in the Jerusalem district. Most measles cases in the Jerusalem district (75.5%, 1702) were observed in children younger than 15 years of age, 49.2% (1109) were in children under 5 years of age, and 18.9% (425) were in infants under 1 year of age. The routine measles vaccination schedule includes two doses at 1 and 6 years of age. Most cases (1828, 81.1%) were unvaccinated (zero measles vaccine doses). These cases comprised the 425 affected infants under 1 year of age, who were ineligible for vaccination, along with the 1403 children over 1 year of age, who were otherwise unvaccinated. This study aimed to describe the epidemiologic and laboratory features of this measles outbreak, and to investigate case ascertainment (laboratory confirmed compared to epidemiologically confirmed cases). The study population included 2254 measles cases notified during the period spanning June 2018 to May 2019 in the Jerusalem district (incidence rate 176 per 10,000 population). Of the 2254 cases, 716 (31.8%) were laboratory confirmed, and 1538 (68.2%) were confirmed as epidemiologically linked. Most laboratory confirmed cases (420, 58.7%) underwent real-time PCR tests. Serological tests (measles IgM and IgG) were used in 189 (26.4%) cases, and a combination of RT-PCR and serology was used in 107 (14.9%) cases. In a multivariate model analysis, the variables significantly associated (after adjustment) with higher odds for laboratory confirmation included month of disease onset (late), additional measles cases in the household (single case), place of medical treatment (hospital; either emergency department, or hospitalization) and vaccination status (at least one prior vaccine dose). The measles outbreak described demonstrates the urgency of addressing vaccination gaps with appropriate outbreak prevention programs. The road to measles elimination needs to be paved with robust public health infrastructure, excellent field epidemiology for outbreak surveillance, investigation, and control, and laboratory proficiency. Full article

Methamphetamine contamination of residential properties remains a serious public health concern for members of the public. External stakeholders including Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and testing and remediation technicians are engaged on investigating whether contamination has occurred from manufacturing or smoking processes. More specifically, local council EHOs are responsible for managing clandestine drug laboratories when notified by police and also for responding to public enquiries. However, the full scope of these contaminated properties is not seen by any single stakeholder, making it very challenging to quantify these situations. To evaluate the prevalence of methamphetamine related enquiries from the general public to EHOs, this study surveyed and interviewed officers from around Australia. It was found that public enquiries were infrequent with only 6% of respondents having received enquiries in the last month, which indicates that people are seeking information from other sources. Interestingly, there were case study scenarios that also mentioned issues with awareness and the flow of information. Concerns regarding difficult cases, police notifications, and site visits were also highlighted. The results of this study provide a benchmark of how methamphetamine related cases are managed and highlight the need for trustworthy information that is available to EHOs, governments, industry members, and the public in a unified location. Full article

Background: In August 2022, the Hellenic National Public Health Organisation was notified about a gastroenteritis outbreak in town A in Southern Greece. Investigations aimed to identify the source and implement control measures. Methods: Case definition categories were used in a 1:3 case–control study. Cases and controls were interviewed about various exposures. Cases’ stool samples were cultured on agar plates and characterised by serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). Environmental investigations included tap water sampling for microbiological and chemical analysis in town A and inspection of the water supply system. Results: We identified 33 cases (median age: 17 years). Tap water consumption was the only significant risk factor for gastroenteritis (OR = 5.46, 95% CI = 1.02–53.95). Salmonella (S.) Bovismorbificans isolated from eight stool and one tap water samples had identical PFGE profiles. No resistant isolates were identified. Residual chlorine levels were lower than the acceptable limits before and during the outbreak. We advised consumption of bottled water and adherence to strict hand hygiene rules until tap water was declared suitable for drinking. Conclusions: Epidemiological and molecular data revealed a waterborne S. Bovismorbificans outbreak in town A. We recommend local water safety authorities to ensure that residual chlorine levels comply with the legislation towards water safety planning, to mitigate risks. Full article

African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating infectious disease of domestic pigs and wild boar that is spreading quickly around the world and causing huge economic losses. Although the development of effective vaccines is currently being attempted by several labs, the absence of globally recognized licensed vaccines makes disease prevention and early detection even more crucial. ASF has spread across many countries in Europe and about two years ago affected the Italian susceptible population. In Italy, the first case of ASF genotype II in wild boar dates back to January 2022, while the first outbreak in a domestic pig farm was notified in August 2023. Currently, four clusters of infection are still ongoing in northern (Piedmont-Liguria and Lombardy), central (Lazio), and southern Italy (Calabria and Campania). In early September 2023, the first case of ASFV genotype II was detected in a domestic pig farm in Sardinia, historically affected by genotype I and in the final stage of eradication. Genomic characterization of p72, p54, and I73R/I329L genome regions revealed 100% similarity to those obtained from isolates that have been circulating in mainland Italy since January 2022 and also with international strains. The outbreak was detected and confirmed due to the passive surveillance plan on domestic pig farms put in place to provide evidence on genotype I’s absence. Epidemiological investigations suggest 24 August as the most probable time of ASFV genotype II’s arrival in Sardinia, likely due to human activities. Full article

The proper communication of clinically actionable findings to participants of genetic research entails important ethical considerations, but has been challenging for a variety of reasons. We document an instance of the return of individual genetic results in the context of a very rural American Indian community, in hopes of providing insight to other investigators about potentially superior or inferior courses of action. This was a case/control study of asthma among 324 pediatric participants. Subsequently, microarray genotype data became available, providing over 2 million variants, incidentally including some conferring risk for conditions for which the American College of Medical Genetics recommends return of results. The study investigators engaged in extensive consultation with the IRB, the tribal government, and local clinicians to better inform our approach. We were able to notify the two participants heterozygous for the one clinically actionable variant identified. One participant welcomed this information and proceeded to obtain further clinical work-up; the other participant declined further follow-up. While demanding considerable time and effort, the return of clinically actionable genetic results is important from both an ethical perspective and to provide an improved trust relationship with the community of research participants. Full article

The primary methods of communication in the modern world are social networks, which are rife with harmful messages that can injure both psychologically and financially. Most websites do not offer services that automatically delete or send malicious communications back to the sender for correction, or notify the sender of inaccuracies in the content of the messages. The deployment of such systems could make use of techniques for identifying and categorizing harmful messages. This paper suggests a novel multilayered preprocessing approach for the recognition and classification of malicious social network messages to limit negative impact, resulting in fewer toxic messages, scams, and aggressive comments in social media messages and commenting areas. As a result, less technical knowledge would be required to investigate the effects of harmful messages. The dataset was created using the regional Lithuanian language with four classes: aggressive, insulting, toxic, and malicious. Three machine learning algorithms were examined, five use cases of a multilayered preprocessing approach were suggested, and experiments were conducted to identify and classify harmful messages in the Lithuanian language. Full article

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible influencing factors based on the distribution of the pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) antibody levels in 0–14-year-old children in Jiangsu Province, China, and to analyze changes in IgG antibody levels after pertussis vaccination in children over time via a restricted cubic spline (RCS)-fitted binary logistic regression model. We collected surveillance data on pertussis through the National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS). Serum samples were collected, and PT IgG/FHA IgG antibody levels were determined via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A binary logistic regression model was fitted with an RCS. Peak incidence occurred in children aged 0–1 years from 2007 to 2022, and a second peak emerged in children aged 5 years and older from 2018 onwards which shifted towards older age groups. The geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of the anti-PT IgG antibody and anti-FHA IgG antibody in 1129 patients were 15.13 (13.49–16.76) IU/mL and 22.99 (21.17–24.81) IU/mL, respectively. The seropositivity rates of the anti-PT IgG and anti-FHA IgG antibodies in the group receiving a full vaccination course (four doses) were significantly higher than those of other groups (24.6% vs. 43.3%). The RCS fitting model showed a non-linear relationship between the duration after immunization and the odds ratio (OR) of having PT-IgG and FHA-IgG antibody concentrations ≥20 IU/mL in children with documented immunization histories (1–4 doses) (P_overall < 0. 001; P_nonlinear ≤ 0.001). The children with histories of immunization demonstrated antibody levels that decreased to very low levels around 17 months after the last dose of the vaccine. Therefore, it is recommended that pertussis-containing vaccines be administered as booster immunizations for older children. Full article

Rhinoviruses (RV) are one of the most common causative agents of respiratory infections, with significant socioeconomic impact. RV infections are not notifiable in Bulgaria, and little is known about the different RV genotypes circulating in the country. This study aims to investigate the diversity of RV genotypes that were circulating in Bulgaria in the period 2018–2021 in samples from ILI/ARI patients. Genotype assignment was based on sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 5′ untranslated region and the VP4-VP2 region. Out of a total of 1385 nasopharyngeal swabs tested, 166 were RV-positive (RV detection rate: 11.99% (166/1385)). Those with a cycle threshold <25 were selected for genotyping (n = 63). RV isolates were successfully genotyped and classified into 34 genotypes within Rhinovirus A (RV-A), Rhinovirus B (RV-B) and Rhinovirus C (RV-C) species. Presumptive recombination events between the 5′UTR and VP4-VP2 regions were detected in three of the isolates. RV-A and RV-C were the prevalent RV species, with significantly more frequent detections of RV-A in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the post-pandemic period, when RV-C prevailed. The present study is the first to determine RV genotypes in Bulgaria and the circulation of RV-C has been described for the first time in the country. Full article