We report a case of occupational monkeypox virus infection from a needlestick injury in a healthcare worker in South Korea and review similar reports in the literature during 2022. Postexposure ...prophylactic treatment with a third-generation smallpox vaccine and antiviral agent tecovirimat inhibited local virus spread and alleviated lesion pain.
Aims
The current study was conducted to investigate the effects of atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma on the reduction of B. cereus and S. aureus, both potential hazardous bacteria ...on Gwamegi.
Methods and Results
DBD plasma devices (1.1 kV, 43 kHz, 5–60 min, N2: 1.5 lpm for 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 min) were used to investigate the reduction effect. In the B. cereus by DBD plasma treatment, the 5–60 min indicated a reduction of 0.2–1.2 log CFU/g. The reductions of S. aureus at the same duration time of DBD plasma were 0.1–1.1 log CFU/g. The D‐values for B. cereus and S. aureus were 49.0 (R2 = 0.98) and 61.0 (R2 = 0.94) min, respectively. The pH values for 0–30 min (6.00–6.01) were not significantly different, but significant differences at 60 min (6.09). There were no significant sensorial differences in colour (6.4–5.2) and flavour (6.2–5.3), but showing significant differences in appearance (6.6–5.2), texture (6.3–5.1) and overall acceptability (6.5–5.5).
Conclusions
This study indicates that the 60 min of DBD plasma treatment resulted in >1 log CFU/g of B. cereus and S. aureus without concomitant adverse changes in pH and most sensory properties in semi‐dried Gwamegi.
Significance and Impact of the Study
This novel DBD plasma technology can be applied in semi‐dried food production and distribution processes to enhance dried fishery food hygiene and safety.
The objective was to explore the effects of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma on bacterial reduction, physiological characteristics (pH and moisture), and sensorial quality against Listeria ...monocytogenes on the surface of smoked salmon. Reductions were treated with 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min with DBD plasma varied from 0.17, 0.25, 0.32, 0.70, 0.81, 1.05, and 1.25 log10 CFU/g, respectively. The R2 and D‐value of L. monocytogenes was .98 and 49.01 min, respectively. However, moisture levels were significantly different after 30 and 60 min of treatment compared with the control but pH and the sensory qualities were not. This study found that treated with 60 min DBD plasma reduced L. monocytogenes by more than 90% without negatively affecting the smoked salmon. Based on these results, antibacterial treatment for smoked salmon, and this strategy could be explored in the seafood industry to increase food safety.
Effects of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma against Listeria monocytogenes and quality of smoked salmon fillets was evaluated for bacterial reduction, physiological characteristics (pH and moisture), and sensorial quality. Reductions were treated varied from 0.17, 0.25, 0.32, 0.70, 0.81, 1.05, and 1.25 log10 CFU/g, respectively with 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min with DBD plasma. The R2 and D‐value of L. monocytogenes was .98 and 49.01 min, respectively. Treated with 60 min DBD plasma could be used for bacterial reduction.
Background
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) has been reported to account for approximately 5–16% of all GCs with good prognosis compared to EBV-negative GC. We evaluated ...the clinicopathological characteristics of EBVaGC including survival rate in South Korea.
Methods
A total of 4,587 patients with GC who underwent EBV in situ hybridization (EBV–ISH) were prospectively enrolled at the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from 2003 to 2021. Age, sex, smoking status, cancer type and stage, tumor size and location, histological type, molecular features and survival information were analyzed.
Results
A total of 456 patients with GC (9.9%) were positive for EBV. The EBVaGC group displayed a higher proportion of males (
P
< 0.001), a predominant presence in the proximal stomach (
P
< 0.001), a higher proportion of undifferentiated cancer (
P
< 0.001), and a lower cancer stage (
P
= 0.004) than the EBV-negative group. Cox multivariate analyses revealed age (hazard ratio HR = 1.025,
P
< 0.001), tumor size (HR = 1.109,
P
< 0.001), and cancer stage (stage2 HR = 4.761,
P
< 0.001; stage3 HR = 13.286,
P
< 0.001; stage4 HR = 42.528,
P
< 0.001) as significant risk factors for GC-specific mortality, whereas EBV positivity was inversely correlated (HR = 0.620,
P
= 0.022). Furthermore, the EBVaGC group displayed statistically significant survival advantages over the EBV-negative cancer group in terms of both overall (
P
= 0.021) and GC-specific survival (
P
= 0.007) on the Kaplan–Meier survival curve. However, this effect was evident only in males.
Conclusions
EBVaGC patients showed better prognoses despite their association with proximal location and poorly differentiated histology in male, probably due to the difference in immunity between males and females.
A simple and cost-effective fabrication process of a flexible-based inverse micro-cone array (i-MCA) structure textured on flexible transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) was successfully ...demonstrated via a micro-imprinting process. The flexible i-MCA films exhibited an extremely high total transmittance of ∼93% and a haze of ∼95% with reduced reflectance while simultaneously demonstrating water-repellent properties. Introducing i-MCA on the illuminating side of organic solar cells (OSCs)- and perovskite solar cells-rigid glass substrate showed improved power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) due to the light trapping effect by multiple light bounces between cone array structures (forward scattering). This results in an increase of the optical path length in the photoactive layer. Similarly, flexible TCEs embedded with textured i-MCA increased the PCE by 14% for flexible OSCs. More importantly, i-MCA-TCE-based OSCs were highly flexible with 98% retention from the initial PCE at both 0° and at 60° even after 2000 bending cycles at a radius of 2 mm. This finding demonstrates that textured i-MCA is promising for improving: (a) the light harvesting efficiency of solar cells when installed in low-/high-latitude locations and (b) the wearable technology where a flexible device attached on curved objects could retain the PCE, even at an oblique angle, with respect to the normal incidence angle.
Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a common cause of outbreaks linked to food. In this study, the effectiveness of a non-thermal method known as high-pressure processing (HPP) on the viable reduction of an ...HuNoV GII.4 strain on raw crabs was evaluated at three different pressures (200, 400, and 600 MPa). HuNoV viability in raw crabs was investigated by using propidium monoazide/sarkosyl (PMA) as a nucleic acid intercalating dye prior to performing a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The effect of the HPP exposure on pH, sensory, and Hunter colors were also assessed. HuNoV was reduced in raw crabs compared with control to HPP (0.15-1.91 log) in non-PMA and (0.67-2.23 log) in PMA. HuNoV genomic titer reduction was <2 log copy number/µL) when HPP was treated for 5 min without PMA pretreatment, but it was reduced to >2 log copy number/µL after PMA. The pH and Hunter colors of the untreated and HPP-treated raw crabs were significantly different (
< 0.05), but sensory attributes were not significant. The findings indicate that PMA/RT-qPCR could be used to detect HuNoV infectivity without altering the quality of raw crabs after a 5 min treatment with HPP. Therefore, HuNoV GII.4 could be reduced up to 2.23 log in food at a commercially acceptable pressure duration of 600 MPa for 5 min.
Given the growing global demand for seafood, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive study on the prevalence and persistence patterns of pathogenic bacteria and viruses associated with specific ...seafood varieties. This assessment thoroughly examines the safety of seafood products, considering the diverse processing methods employed in the industry. The importance of understanding the behavior of foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Clostridium botulinum, Listeria monocytogenes, human norovirus, and hepatitis A virus, is emphasized by recent cases of gastroenteritis outbreaks linked to contaminated seafood. This analysis examines outbreaks linked to seafood in the United States and globally, with a particular emphasis on the health concerns posed by pathogenic bacteria and viruses to consumers. Ensuring the safety of seafood is crucial since it directly relates to consumer preferences on sustainability, food safety, provenance, and availability. The review focuses on assessing the frequency, growth, and durability of infections that arise during the processing of seafood. It utilizes next‐generation sequencing to identify the bacteria responsible for these illnesses. Additionally, it analyzes methods for preventing and intervening of infections while also considering the forthcoming challenges in ensuring the microbiological safety of seafood products. This evaluation emphasizes the significance of the seafood processing industry in promptly responding to evolving consumer preferences by offering current information on seafood hazards and future consumption patterns. To ensure the continuous safety and sustainable future of seafood products, it is crucial to identify and address possible threats.
Human norovirus can accumulate in shellfish in contaminated waters through their filter-feeding mechanism, and they can retain the virus for extended periods. It is important to note that this ...bioaccumulation can pose a risk to human health if the shellfish are consumed raw or undercooked. Jeotgal is a salted fermented food made from various types of seafood and is consumed in Korea and certain Asian countries. However, jeotgal is not sterilized during preparation and is typically consumed raw after fermentation. Bivalve shellfish, such as oysters, mussels, and clams, are considered high-risk foods for HuNoV transmission due to the potential for contaminated water to lead to the accumulation of HuNoV in their digestive tissues. Other foods may also contribute to HuNoV transmission, but bivalve shellfish are particularly susceptible. This study investigated the effect of high pressure processing (HPP) on the inactivation of HuNoV GII.4, in clam jeotgal . After HPP treatment, HuNoV GII.4 was quantified using RT-qPCR and combined with Propidium monoazide (PMA) + Sarkosyl, a pre-treatment agent, before RT-qPCR. As a result of this treatment HuNoV GII.4 was significantly ( p < 0.05) reduced to 0.27–1.38 log copy number/μL. Compared to the RT-qPCR, the reduction in HuNoV was significantly greater ( p < 0.05) (0.24 log, 43%) log copy number/μL in PMA + Sarkosyl/RT-qPCR when clam jeotgal was treated at 200–600 MPa of HPP. The Hunter “L” and “a” and Hunter “b” values increased and decreased significantly ( p < 0.05), respectively, as the pressure of the HPP increased. Although the sensorial color significantly ( p < 0.05) decreased as the pressure of the HPP increased, most of the sensory parameters (smell, taste, appearance, and overall acceptability) and the pH were not significantly ( p < 0.05) different between non-HPP treated and HPP treated samples. Therefore, HPP pressure in excess of 400 MPa for 5 min appeared to be effective to viably reduce HuNoV levels by ≥90% without significant changes in the overall quality (pH, and most sensory parameters) of clam jeotgal .
Background
This study aims to evaluate the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and to explore the mechanism.
Methods
...RWPE‐2 cells were randomly divided into three groups: (a) RWPE‐2 group (normal control), (b) LPS groups (lipopolysaccharide inducing inflammation) and (c) ESWT groups (LPS induced RWPE‐2 treated by ESWT). After ESWT was administered, cells and supernatant were collected for enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis. In vivo, Sprague‐Dawley rats (n = 30) were randomly divided into three groups: (a) normal control group, (b) prostatitis groups, and (c) ESWT groups. Prostatitis rats were induced by 17 β‐estradiol and dihydrotestosterone for 4 weeks. After ESWT, prostates of each group were collected for immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, and ELISA.
Results
ESWT improved prostatitis by attenuating inflammation (P < .01). ESWT downregulated the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX‐2) through inhibiting TLR4‐NFκB pathway compared with the LPS group in vitro or prostatitis group in vivo (P < .05). TRAF2 mediates ERK1/2‐COX2 pathway. ESWT promotes prostate tissue recovery by stimulating vascular endothelial growth factor expression (P < .01). ESWT could suppress apoptosis in the prostate.
Conclusions
ESWT improved CP/CPPS and reduced inflammation by degrading COX‐2 in microenvironment through TLR4‐NFκB‐inhibiting pathway. TRAF2 regulator in ERK1/2‐COX‐2 inhibition significantly reduced inflammation, thus suggesting ESWT may be a potential and promising treatment for CP/CPPS.
