RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Bakery products are important food snacks consumed by people of all ages and economic groups. The growth of unwanted microorganisms that deteriorate products such as bacteria, moulds, and fungi in these foodstuffs may offer risks to consumers' health and generate considerable economic losses. This work aimed to assess the microbiological quality of some packed and unpacked bread products in Alexandria, Egypt. METHODS: This cross-sectional comparative study involved 168 local and branded bakery products that were collected randomly from 2 districts in Alexandria. Hygienic practices such as covering of the bread and wearing gloves during handling were observed and recorded. All bread samples were tested to determine the total plate count (TPC), presence/absence of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), total yeasts and moulds in CFU/g and total coliform count (TC) in MPN/g. RESULTS: The mean of the total yeasts and moulds and TC in the packed bread was lower than that of the unpacked bread (3.40 × 103 CFU/g and 3.25 MPN/g versus 6.37 × 103 CFU/g and 31.61 MPN/g, respectively). However, the mean of TPC in the packed bread was higher than that of the unpacked bread (1.39 × 106 versus 2.07 × 105 CFU/g, respectively). The mean TPC, total yeasts and moulds and TC was higher in the studied flatbread than Fino bread and toast (3.4 × 106, 1.14 × 104 CFU/g and 24.6 MPN/g, respectively). The presence of S. aureus was higher in flat, unpacked bread, bread displayed outside the shop and handled without gloves. CONCLUSION: Bread produced by local bakeries showed lower standards in packaging and microbial quality. Better manufacturing, packaging, storage, and handling initiatives should be introduced to avoid related food safety concerns in the future. The formal authorities should define and clarify standards and rules on bread safety.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to the development and progression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by affecting a wide range of targeted genes and facilitating the development of lupus nephritis (LN). The present study aimed to analyze the serum expression of miR-181a and miR-223 in SLE patients and to assess whether they could serve as novel biomarkers for SLE diagnosis and to distinguish LN. METHODS: The study included 70 control subjects and 116 patients with SLE (67 non-LN and 49 LN groups). Circulating miR-181a and miR-223 expression levels were analyzed among the Egyptian population using a real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Up-regulation of miR-181a was detected among SLE patients compared to healthy controls and higher values were reported among the LN group compared to the non-LN group. Down-regulation of miR-223 was reported among SLE patients compared to controls and lower values were reported among the LN group compared to the non-LN group. The higher miR-181a expression and the lower miR-223 expression were associated with higher stages of LN. SLE disease activity index, proteinuria and serum creatinine were independently correlated with miR-181a and miR-223 among SLE patients by linear regression analysis. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that combined miR-181a and miR-223 expression increased the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of SLE and further distinguished LN from non-LN patients. CONCLUSIONS: miR-181a and miR-223 could play a role in evaluating SLE disease progression and prognosis. Combined miR-181a and miR-223 expression analysis could serve as novel serum-based biomarkers in the diagnosis of SLE and predicting LN among Egyptians.
