Hazard prevention, risk assessment and practical advice/recommendations by experts for educational purpose

Dear reader, Food safety is from highest importance in our food consumption and producing system. It poses as an elemental prerequisite for the daily working procedures in every food producing or food processing operation. For this reason within the European Union, the Codex Alimentarius commission developed the well known HACCP concept. Its purpose is to establish safety measures on every step of the food value chain and to guarantees a high level of safety. This handbooks gives advice and provides examples and explanations on several topics of this system-based concept with focus on the implementation of this system within the organic food production. It contains the theoretical background of food safety in organic food production and is part of the SAFE-ORG food-project, funded by the European Union. SAFE-ORG Food is an international project within the Erasmus Plus programme. Five universities are working together in order to combine, research and collect scientific findings regarding the food safety in organic food production. The aim of the project is to improve the availability of good, understandable and helpful educational material on organic food safety. We hope to create an positive impact for the safe production of organic food in Europe and to support the stakeholders of the organic food sector within their daily work.Funded by ERASMUS+Funded by ERASMUS

Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses

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Ohtude ennetamine, riskihindamine ja ekspertide õppeotstarbelised praktilised soovitused

Lp. lugeja, Toiduohutus on toidu tootmise, töötlemise ja tarbimise süsteemis kõige olulisem. See on igapäevaste tööprotse põhieeldus igas toidutootmis ja –töötlemistegevuses. Sel põhjusel töötas Codex Alimentarius ́e komisjon Euroopa Liidus välja hästi tuntud HACCP kontseptsiooni, mille eesmärgiks on toidu väärtusahela erinevates etappides kõrgel tasemel toiduohutuse meetmete rakendamine. Käesolev käsiraamat annab nõuandeid ja näiteid ning selgitusi selle süsteemipõhise kontseptsiooni erinevatel teemadel, keskendudes selle süsteemi rakendamisele mahetoidu tootmises. See sisaldab toiduohutuse teoreetilist tausta mahetoidu tootmises ja on osa SAFE-ORG toiduprojektist, mida rahastab Euroopa Liit. SAFE-ORG Food on Erasmus Plus programmi rahvusvaheline projekt.SAFE-ORG Food on Erasmus Plus programmi rahvusvaheline projekt. Viis ülikooli teevad koostööd, et kombineerida, uurida ja koguda toiduohutuse alaste teadusuuringute tulemusi mahetoidu tootmises. Projekti eesmärk on parandada kõrgetasemega, arusaadava ja abistava õppematerjali kättesaadavust tootjatele ja õppejõududele. Loodame avaldada positiivset mõju ohutu mahetoidu tootmisele Euroopas ning toetada mahetoitu tootvaid ettevõtteid nende igapäevatöös.Rahastas ERASMUS+Rahastas ERASMUS

Higher PUFA and omega-3 PUFA, CLA, α-tocopherol and iron, but lower iodine and selenium concentrations in organic milk: a systematic literature review and meta- and redundancy analyses

Demand for organic milk is partially driven by consumer perceptions that it is more nutritious. However, there is still considerable uncertainty over whether the use of organic production standards affects milk quality. Here we report results of meta-analyses based on 170 published studies comparing the nutrient content of organic and conventional bovine milk. There were no significant differences in total SFA and MUFA concentrations between organic and conventional milk. However, concentrations of total PUFA and n-3 PUFA were significantly higher in organic milk, by an estimated 7 (95 % CI −1, 15) % and 56 (95 % CI 38, 74) %, respectively. Concentrations of α-linolenic acid (ALA), very long-chain n-3 fatty acids (EPA+DPA+DHA) and conjugated linoleic acid were also significantly higher in organic milk, by an 69 (95 % CI 53, 84) %, 57 (95 % CI 27, 87) % and 41 (95 % CI 14, 68) %, respectively. As there were no significant differences in total n-6 PUFA and linoleic acid (LA) concentrations, the n-6:n-3 and LA:ALA ratios were lower in organic milk, by an estimated 71 (95 % CI −122, −20) % and 93 (95 % CI −116, −70) %. It is concluded that organic bovine milk has a more desirable fatty acid composition than conventional milk. Meta-analyses also showed that organic milk has significantly higher α-tocopherol and Fe, but lower I and Se concentrations. Redundancy analysis of data from a large cross-European milk quality survey indicates that the higher grazing/conserved forage intakes in organic systems were the main reason for milk composition differences

Inflammatory signaling regulates embryonic hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell production

Identifying signaling pathways that regulate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) formation in the embryo will guide efforts to produce and expand HSPCs ex vivo. Here we show that sterile tonic inflammatory signaling regulates embryonic HSPC formation. Expression profiling of progenitors with lymphoid potential and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from aorta/gonad/mesonephros (AGM) regions of midgestation mouse embryos revealed a robust innate immune/inflammatory signature. Mouse embryos lacking interferon γ (IFN-γ) or IFN-α signaling and zebrafish morphants lacking IFN-γ and IFN-ϕ activity had significantly fewer AGM HSPCs. Conversely, knockdown of IFN regulatory factor 2 (IRF2), a negative regulator of IFN signaling, increased expression of IFN target genes and HSPC production in zebrafish. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) combined with sequencing (ChIP-seq) and expression analyses demonstrated that IRF2-occupied genes identified in human fetal liver CD34(+) HSPCs are actively transcribed in human and mouse HSPCs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the primitive myeloid population contributes to the local inflammatory response to impact the scale of HSPC production in the AGM region. Thus, sterile inflammatory signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway regulating the production of HSPCs during embryonic development

Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses

Demand for organic foods is partially driven by consumers' perceptions that they are more nutritious. However, scientific opinion is divided on whether there are significant nutritional differences between organic and non-organic foods, and two recent reviews have concluded that there are no differences. In the present study, we carried out meta-analyses based on 343 peer-reviewed publications that indicate statistically significant and meaningful differences in composition between organic and non-organic crops/crop-based foods. Most importantly, the concentrations of a range of antioxidants such as polyphenolics were found to be substantially higher in organic crops/crop-based foods, with those of phenolic acids, flavanones, stilbenes, flavones, flavonols and anthocyanins being an estimated 19 (95% CI 5, 33)%, 69 (95% CI 13, 125)%, 28 (95% CI 12, 44)%, 26 (95% CI 3, 48)%, 50 (95% CI 28, 72)% and 51 (95% CI 17, 86)% higher, respectively. Many of these compounds have previously been linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases, including CVD and neurodegenerative diseases and certain cancers, in dietary intervention and epidemiological studies. Additionally, the frequency of occurrence of pesticide residues was found to be four times higher in conventional crops, which also contained significantly higher concentrations of the toxic metal Cd. Significant differences were also detected for some other (e.g. minerals and vitamins) compounds. There is evidence that higher antioxidant concentrations and lower Cd concentrations are linked to specific agronomic practices (e.g. non-use of mineral N and P fertilisers, respectively) prescribed in organic farming systems. In conclusion, organic crops, on average, have higher concentrations of antioxidants, lower concentrations of Cd and a lower incidence of pesticide residues than the non-organic comparators across regions and production season

Measuring health and broader well-being benefits in the context of opiate dependence: the psychometric performance of the ICECAP-A and the EQ-5D-5L

Background Measuring outcomes in economic evaluations of social care interventions is challenging because both health and well-being benefits are evident. The ICEpop CAPability instrument for adults (ICECAP-A) and the five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) are measures potentially suitable for the economic evaluation of treatments for substance use disorders. Evidence for their validity in this context is, however, lacking. Objectives To assess the construct validity of the ICECAP-A and the EQ-5D-5L in terms of convergent and discriminative validity and sensitivity to change on the basis of standard clinical measures (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure, Treatment Outcomes Profile, Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, Leeds Dependence Questionnaire, and Social Satisfaction Questionnaire). Methods A secondary analysis of pilot trial data for heroin users in opiate substitution treatment was conducted. Baseline convergence with clinical measures was assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Discriminative validity was assessed using one-way analysis of variance and stepwise regressions. Sensitivity to changes in clinical indicators was assessed at 3 and 12 months using the standardized response mean statistic and parametric and nonparametric testing. Results Both measures had the same level of construct validity, except for clinical indicators of well-being, for which the ICECAP-A performed better. The ICECAP-A was sensitive to changes in both health and well-being indicators. The EQ-5D-5L had lower levels of sensitivity to change, and a ceiling effect (27%), particularly evident in the dimensions of self-care (89%), mobility (75%), and usual activities (72%). Conclusions The findings support the construct validity of both measures, but the ICECAP-A gives more attention to broader impacts and is more sensitive to change. The ICECAP-A shows promise in evaluating treatments for substance use disorders for which recovery is the desired outcome

CHD7 and Runx1 interaction provides a braking mechanism for hematopoietic differentiation.

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) formation and lineage differentiation involve gene expression programs orchestrated by transcription factors and epigenetic regulators. Genetic disruption of the chromatin remodeler chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 7 (CHD7) expanded phenotypic HSPCs, erythroid, and myeloid lineages in zebrafish and mouse embryos. CHD7 acts to suppress hematopoietic differentiation. Binding motifs for RUNX and other hematopoietic transcription factors are enriched at sites occupied by CHD7, and decreased RUNX1 occupancy correlated with loss of CHD7 localization. CHD7 physically interacts with RUNX1 and suppresses RUNX1-induced expansion of HSPCs during development through modulation of RUNX1 activity. Consequently, the RUNX1:CHD7 axis provides proper timing and function of HSPCs as they emerge during hematopoietic development or mature in adults, representing a distinct and evolutionarily conserved control mechanism to ensure accurate hematopoietic lineage differentiation.Bloodwise, CRUK, MRC, Wellcome Trust, NIH, Leukemia and Lymphoma Societ

The Ontogeny of the megakaryocyte lineage

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry. Dept. of Biomedical Genetics, 2008.Megakaryocytes are the large cellular precursors to platelets, small blood cells that play an essential role in stabilizing and assisting in the repair of damaged tissue following injury. In the adult bone marrow, megakaryocytes and erythroid cells (red blood cells) are derived from common bipotential megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitors (MEP) that are derived from hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Both megakaryocytes and erythroid cells have been described in early mouse and human embryos before detectable HSC are evident. However, little is known about their developmental origin, whether embryonic megakaryocyte and erythroid lineages share a common precursor, or time of their maturation. In this thesis, I examine the entire hierarchy of megakaryopoiesis in the mouse embryo from the emergence of the first megakaryocyte precursors to the identification of the first, unique platelets in the embryonic circulation. Previously unrecognized bipotential primitive megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitors (pMEP) support the concept that the first embryonic megakaryocyte progenitors arise from hemangioblast precursors and are closely associated with the primitive erythroid lineage, the predominant hematopoietic lineage during early embryogenesis. pMEP and megakaryocyte progenitors (Meg-CFC) produced during primitive hematopoiesis likely produce the first mature megakaryocytes seen in the yolk sac and the first, large highly reticulated platelets that enter the embryonic circulation. We also show evidence that adult-like definitive-MEP (dMEP) are later produced in the yolk sac then migrate to the fetal liver, demonstrating that throughout development the erythroid and megakaryocyte lineages remain closely associated. Our hypothesis that there are two distinct megakaryocyte lineages is supported by the inability of c-myb-knockout mice and embryonic stem cells to fully contribute to definitive hematopoiesis. Using these models, we conclusively determined that primitive erythro- and megakaryopoiesis occurs independently of c-myb but is required after the onset of definitive hematopoiesis to produce a normal complement of Meg-CFC. Furthermore, these later staged Meg-CFC have severely reduced proliferative capacity suggesting c-myb is required for the expansion of definitive, but not primitive Meg-CFC. Thrombopoiesis also initiates normally in c-myb-null embryos, but this is not sustained, supporting our hypothesis that the first platelets are derived from primitive megakaryocytes