Determining meat freshness using electrochemistry: Are we ready for the fast and furious?

Electrochemistry is providing a variety of sensors at an extremely rapid pace. Many of these sensors offer powerful attributes like a multitude of platforms like voltammetry, impedimetry, amperometry and conductometry, as well as sensor-related gains like high sensitivity, selectivity and low cost. It is natural that their applications to food, especially meat freshness determination, are also increasing. Novel methods for rapidly assessing meat freshness are vital for meeting the increasing worldwide demand for meat products. Therefore, we present a short and succinct review of the most promising electrochemical sensor types, including those based on conductive polymers, nanocomposites and metal nanoparticles. From the wide range of sensors that have been designed to detect microbial pathogens and chemical degradation, we have covered a basic snapshot to yield an impression of recent gains in the research genre of meat freshness. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

National trends in the prevalence of hepatitis B and C in South Korea, before and during COVID-19 pandemic (2007-2021); a nationwide representative study

Objective: Due to the various changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, some infectious diseases showed different epidemiology and prevalence during the pandemic. However, there is a lack of comprehensive study on trends in the prevalence of hepatitis B and C relating the pandemic. Thus, we compared the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. Patients and Method: We conducted a comprehensive trend analysis with a nationwide serial cross-sectional survey from 2007 to 2021 (n=86,931) using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The changes in the prevalence for hepatitis B and C were evaluated using weighted regression model to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: From 2007 to 2021, 86,931 Korean adults aged 19 or older were included from the KNHANES data. The prevalence of hepatitis B showed a declining trend until the onset of the pandemic (1.80% in 2007-2009; 1.08% in 2016-2019; and 1.01% in 2020), at which point this trend reversed (1.39% in 2021). The prevalence of hepatitis C remained stable (0.14% in 2007-2009; and 0.18% in 2016-2019), with no particular surge related to the COVID-19 pandemic (βdiff, -0.002; 95% CI, -0.761 to 0.756). For hepatitis B, old age was identified as a pandemic-related vulnerable factor (ratio of odds ratio, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.05-2.70).Conclusion: In this study, unlike other infectious diseases, Hepatitis B and C did not show a decreasing trend during the pandemic. In particular, Hepatitis B showed a rebound trend during the pandemic, which was noticeable in those aged 60 or older. Further studies are needed to support these findings.</p

ICORG 10-14: NEOadjuvant trial in adenocarcinoma of the oEsophagus and oesophagoGastric junction international study (Neo-AEGIS)

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy is increasingly the standard of care in the management of locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and junction (AEG). In randomised controlled trials (RCTs), the MAGIC regimen of pre- and postoperative chemotherapy, and the CROSS regimen of preoperative chemotherapy combined with radiation, were superior to surgery only in RCTs that included AEG but were not powered on this cohort. No completed RCT has directly compared neoadjuvant or perioperative chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemoradiation. The Neo-AEGIS trial, uniquely powered on AEG, and including comprehensive modern staging, compares both these regimens. Methods: This open label, multicentre, phase III RCT randomises patients (cT2-3, N0-3, M0) in a 1:1 fashion to receive CROSS protocol (Carboplatin and Paclitaxel with concurrent radiotherapy, 41.4Gy/23Fr, over 5 weeks). The power calculation is a 10% difference in favour of CROSS, powered at 80%, two-sided alpha level of 0.05, requiring 540 patients to be evaluable, 594 to be recruited if a 10% dropout is included (297 in each group). The primary endpoint is overall survival, with a minimum 3-year follow up. Secondary endpoints include: disease free survival, recurrence rates, clinical and pathological response rates, toxicities of induction regimens, post-operative pathology and tumour regression grade, operative in-hospital complications, and health-related quality of life. The trial also affords opportunities for establishing a bio-resource of pre-treatment and resected tumour, and translational research. Discussion: This RCT directly compares two established treatment regimens, and addresses whether radiation therapy positively impacts on overall survival compared with a standard perioperative chemotherapy regimen Sponsor: Irish Clinical Research Group (ICORG). Trial registration: NCT01726452 . Protocol 10-14. Date of registration 06/11/2012.</p

Additional file 1 of ICORG 10-14: NEOadjuvant trial in Adenocarcinoma of the oEsophagus and oesophagoGastric junction International Study (Neo-AEGIS)

Appendix A: Description of data: copy of consent form (DOCX 60 kb