The semi-quantitative risk assessment of Listeria monocytogenes contamination in cooked meat products in bulk in Zhejiang Province / 预防医学

Objective@#To investigate the contamination status and assess the potential consumption risk of Listeria monocytogenes ( L. monocytogenes ) in cooked meat products in bulk in Zhejiang Province, so as to provide strategy for food safety supervision and management.@*Methods@#A total of 2 320 cooked meat products were sampled from eleven cities in Zhejiang Province during 2018-2020. The detection of L. monocytogenes was carried out in accordance with the national standard GB/T 4789.30-2016. Risk Ranger software was used for the semi-quantitative risk assessment on the whole population and pregnant women.@*Results@#The total detection rate of L. monocytogenes in cooked meat products in bulk in Zhejiang Province was 2.97% ( 69/2 320 ). The detection rates in stewed, smoked/roasted, fried, dried products and others were 3.85%, 1.81%, 0.59%, 0% and 0.94%, which were significantly different ( P<0.05 ). There were 28 positive samples in 1 069 samples collected in 2020, with the concentration ranging from 5 to 590 CFU/g and averaging 6.8 CFU/g. The estimated number of listeriosis cases each year caused by consumption of cooked meat products in bulk was 131 in the whole population with a risk score of 42, and 1.44 in pregnant women with a risk score of 54. The risk coefficient could reduce to approximate zero after sufficient heating before intake.@*Conclusion@#The prevalence of L. monocytogenes in cooked meat products in bulk in Zhejiang Province during 2018-2020 poses a potential risk in food safety. Pregnant women should avoid eating.

Extramammary Paget's disease: Analysis of 17 Chinese cases.

Background/Objective: Extramammary Paget’s Disease (EMPD) seems to be more common in Caucasians than Chinese. We report the clinical manifestations, management, and prognostic characteristics in 17 Chinese patients. Methods: Medical records and biopsies of 17 patients who had been treated at a large university hospital in China between March 2005 and January 2012 were reviewed. Results: Of the 17 patients, 14 were men. They had lesions on the scrotum and the penis. Of the three women, two had vulvar and one had inguinal lesions. All patients underwent Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). Three men had metastasis to the inguinal lymph nodes and underwent an extensive local excision with inguinal lymphadenectomy. Eight patients who had positive excision margins received additional radiation therapy. The mean follow-up duration was 54 months (4-85 months). One patient had two recurrences. Three had metastasis to the inguinal lymph node. One had metastasis to the bone and concomitant prostate cancer. Two patients died of the disease. Conclusion: A striking difference in presentation of EMPD in Chinese compared with Caucasians is the male predominance and location on the penis and scrotum. Mohs micrographic surgery followed by radiotherapy is an effective treatment. Long-term follow-up suggests that the disease has a good prognosis when it does not metastasise.

The Importance of Allergen Avoidance in High Risk Infants and Sensitized Patients: A Meta-analysis Study

PURPOSE: At this time, there is uncertainty regarding whether allergen avoidance is the most appropriate strategy for managing or preventing allergies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of allergen avoidance in the prevention of allergic symptoms in previously sensitized patients and newborns that have the potential to develop allergies. METHODS: We performed online searches of articles published from January 1980 to December 2012 in PubMed and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and selected articles involving randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and allergen avoidance. The parameters used to determine allergenic potential in newborns included the risk ratio (RR) of eczema, asthma, rhinitis, wheeze, and cough. The methods employed to evaluate previously sensitized patients were the standardized mean difference (SMD) of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Data quality was assessed using the Jadad scale. RESULTS: A total of 14 RCTs were identified. Meta-analysis demonstrated that allergen avoidance for newborns did not reduce the subsequent incidence of allergic diseases (eczema, P=0.21; rhinitis, P=0.3; cough, P=0.1) but significantly reduced the incidence of asthma and wheezing in high-risk infants (asthma, P=0.03; wheeze, P=0.0004). However, previously sensitized patients who reduced their exposure to known allergens did not show improvement in their lung functions (FEV1, P=0.3; PEFR morning, P=0.53; PEFR evening, P=0.2; PEFR, P=0.29). CONCLUSIONS: Allergen avoidance may not always be successful in preventing allergic symptoms. However, rigorous methodological studies are required to confirm this hypothesis.