Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen transmitted through food that can cause severe infections in high-risk groups such as pregnant women, elderly, young children and immunocompromised individuals. It is a ubiquitous bacterium that can survive in harsh conditions, such as dry environments, at low temperatures, in brine conditions and at low pH values. It also has the capacity to form biofilms, ...

BACKGROUND Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is hypothesized to alter atherosclerotic plaque composition, with potential development of high-risk plaque (HRP). EAT can be measured by volumetric assessment (EAT-v) or linear thickness (EAT-t). We performed a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis to assess the association of EAT with HRP and whether this association is dependent on the ...

BACKGROUND Seafood intake is associated with beneficial effects for human health. Seafood provides a number of nutrients beyond the traditionally known long chain marine n-3 fatty acids EPA, DPA and DHA, such as protein, vitamin D, iodine, selenium and vitamin B12. Valid assessment of dietary seafood and n-3 supplement intakes are becoming increasingly crucial when giving recommendations to pop...

Lettuce is consumed raw in salads and is susceptible to microbial contamination through environment, agricultural practices, and its morphology, thus, a potential vehicle for food-borne illness. This study investigated the effect of adoption of food safety and hygienic practices by lettuce farmers on the microbial safety of field sourced lettuce in Lagos State, Nigeria. Ten structured questionn...

mutton and rice pudding form the menu at least four days out of seven. The idea that hot boiled beef is not very acceptable on a warm summer day or that salads may be a welcome change from the inevitable potato never seems to enter the heads of those responsible for the kitchen department. The two things which middle-class patients find hardest to endure in hospital are the absurd time at which...

Background: In many developing countries, the risk of contracting a food-borne disease is high after consuming contaminated ready-to-eat Street-Vended Foods (SVFs). The main objective of this research was to assess the microbiological quality of SVF groups sold in the Johannesburg Metropolis, South Africa. Methods: A stratified random sampling procedure was used for collecting the ready-to-eat...