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Hospital plate waste poses a major challenge facing the present food systems, as providing meals that meet the nutritional requirements and expectations of the patients remains complex for hospital food services. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of plate waste in Lebanese hospitals, evaluate the patients' satisfaction levels, and identify the determinants of plate waste in participating hospitals. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2023 and September 2023, involving 155 in-patients from cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, obstetrics-gynecology, and surgical wards across 16 hospitals in different Lebanese governorates. Plate waste was measured, and patient satisfaction was assessed using a questionnaire. Plate waste represented 31.4% of the total food served, equivalent to 366 tonnes annually in the 16 participating hospitals. Waste was higher in hospitals located in rural areas (p-value = 0.771). The highest waste levels were observed in the obstetrics-gynecology ward and during lunchtime. Vegetables were the most wasted food group. The majority of participants were satisfied with the food service, and low appetite was the main reason for not consuming hospital meals. Food quality (β= -0.17, p-value = 0.049) and governorate (β= -0.18, p-value = 0.019) were determinants of plate waste. The hospital sector is as unique and challenging as other sectors regarding plate waste, which warrants further research to gain deeper insights into waste generation., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Corn-based breakfast cereals, known as cornflakes, have become a common breakfast choice worldwide, recognized for their convenience and versatility. However, mycotoxins can contaminate these products, adversely affecting human health. This study assessed the occurrence of major mycotoxins (AFB1, OTA, DON, ZEA, and FUM) in cornflake stock-keeping units (SKUs) marketed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It also evaluated the effect of different independent variables (country of origin, temperature on the production day, storage time, presence of chocolate, bran, and nut ingredients) and estimated the exposure levels of the UAE population to these mycotoxins and the associated risk factors. Seventy-six distinct cornflake SKUs were identified through a market screening and tested for mycotoxins using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. AFB1, OTA, ZEA, FUM, and DON were detected in 23.7, 48.7, 27.6, 9.2 and 88.2% of the samples, respectively. The mean concentrations among positive samples were 2.0, 1.0, 10.14, 584.9, and 90.6 μg/kg, respectively. Except for AFB1, the average mycotoxin levels in samples were below the established limits by the European Union (EU). Among positive samples, none exceeded the US FDA limits for all mycotoxins, and only one exceeded the CODEX limit for FUM. On the other hand, four (5.3%), one (1.3%), one (1.3%), and one (1.3%) SKU exceeded EU limits for AFB1, OTA, FUM, and ZEA, respectively. The country of origin (developing vs. developed countries) exhibited a significant effect on AFB1 presence (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, higher temperature on the production day was associated with significantly higher AFB1 occurrence (p = 0.009). Moreover, the presence of chocolate ingredient had a borderline significant effect on AFB1 (p = 0.05) and a significant effect on OTA (p = 0.002), with higher percentages observed in SKUs containing chocolate. However, no significant effects were found for storage time or the presence of bran and nut ingredients in the cornflakes. On the other hand, the HQ values were below 1 for all mycotoxins, indicating low risk. MoE values exceeded 10,000 among regular cornflake consumers, except for FUM, suggesting minimal risk. Liver cancer risk was 0.0032 cases per 100,000 people per year. Weekly OTA exposure was 0.133 ng/kg BW, below PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Deficient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) significantly account for a high burden of disease across the globe. Lebanon, an Eastern Mediterranean lower-middle-income country with a polluted environment, a fragmented healthcare system, and an ongoing severe economic crisis, faces serious challenges in sustaining safe water supplies, especially in vulnerable communities, while also hosting the world highest refugee population per capita. This study aimed to examine the mutagenicity, and the estrogenic and androgenic activities of water supplies, across both a Palestinian refugee camp and a Syrian informal settlement. Water samples were collected from two targeted camps in Dbayeh and Choueifat, North and South of the Capital City Beirut, respectively, between the months of September and October 2022. Microbial and physicochemical properties of samples were determined, including fecal contamination, total dissolved solids, and various minerals and salts. Organic pollutants were extracted using pre-packed solid phase extraction (SPE) columns, and then mutagenicity of extracts was examined using the Ames test in two Salmonella typhi bacterial strains. The estrogenic and androgenic activities of extracts were assessed using the yeast estrogen and androgen screen tests assays (YES/YAS). Results show excessive levels of total coliforms and total dissolved solids (TDS) in samples from both sites. In addition, the water supply from the Dbayeh Palestinian refugee camp is mutagenic, while the water supply from the Choueifat Syrian informal settlement shows anti-androgen activity. Our findings provide valuable WASH baseline data in two major vulnerable communities in Lebanon, and highlight the importance of a water toxicity testing approach concomitant with a water safety plan, based on a holistic strategy that covers all stages of the water supply chain., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 El Kawak et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Cornflakes are a popular and convenient breakfast cereal made from corn and widely consumed worldwide, including in Lebanon. However, they are susceptible to mycotoxin contamination, which can have harmful effects on human health. Our study evaluated the occurrence of five mycotoxins (AFB1, OTA, FUM, ZEA, DON) levels in packed cornflakes marketed in Lebanon. A market screening identified 35 different cornflake stock-keeping units (SKU) in the Lebanese market, originating from 10 different brands and having different tastes and shapes. SKUs were collected and tested for five mycotoxins in triplicates using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The results showed the presence of the five mycotoxins in the samples. The average levels of AFB1, OTA, ZEA and FUM among positive samples (above limit of detection) were 1.58, 1.2, 15.1 and 774.1 μg/kg, respectively, and were below the EU limits. On the other hand, the average level of DON was 1206.7 μg/kg, exceeding the EU limit. Furthermore, out of the positive samples, 60%, 17%, 9%, 14%, and 6% exceeded the EU limits for DON, OTA, AFB1, FUM, and ZEA, respectively. Notably, SKUs made in Lebanon had significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of AFB1 and FUM. The packing size of the cornflakes had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the levels of the five mycotoxins detected in the samples. AFB1, FUM and ZEA levels differed significantly among SKUs (p > 0.05). Considering these findings, further studies should be conducted to assess the exposure to mycotoxins from the consumption of cornflakes in Lebanon, especially among children., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Tea is among the oldest and most-known beverages around the world, and it has many flavors and types. Tea can be easily contaminated in any of its production steps, especially with mycotoxins that are produced particularly in humid and warm environments. This study aims to examine the level of ochratoxin A (OTA) and total aflatoxin (AF) contamination in black and green tea sold in Lebanon, evaluate its safety compared to international standards, and assess the effect of different variables on the levels of OTA and AFs. For this, the Lebanese market was screened and all tea brands ( n = 37; 24 black and 13 green) were collected twice. The Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay (ELISA) method was used to determine OTA and AFs in the samples. AFs and OTA were detected in 28 (75.7%) and 31 (88.6%) samples, respectively. The average of AFs in the positive (above detection limit: 1.75 μg/kg) samples was 2.66 ± 0.15 μg/kg, while the average of OTA in the positive (above detection limit: 1.6 μg/kg) samples was 3.74 ± 0.72 μg/kg. The mean AFs in black and green tea were 2.65 ± 0.55 and 2.54 ± 0.40 μg/kg, respectively, while for OTA, the mean levels were 3.67 ± 0.96 and 3.46 ± 1.09 μg/kg in black and green tea samples, respectively. Four brands (10.8%) contained total aflatoxin levels above the EU limit (4 μg/kg). As for OTA, all samples had OTA levels below the Chinese limit (5 μg/kg). No significant association ( p > 0.05) was found between OTA and tea type, level of packaging, country of origin, country of packing, and country of distribution. However, AF contamination was significantly ( p < 0.05) higher in unpacked tea, and in brands where the country of origin, packing, and distributor was in Asia. The results showed that the tea brands in Lebanon are relatively safe in terms of AFs and OTA.

Human milk is the primary source of nutrition for infants in their first year of life. Its potential contamination with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a group of toxic man-made chemicals, is a health concern that may threatens infants' health. Our study aims to assess the levels of PFOA and PFOS in the breast milk of Lebanese lactating mothers and the maternal factors associated with their presence. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with a Micromass Quattro micro API triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used to detect the level of contamination in 57 collected human milk samples. PFOA and PFOS were present in 82.5% and 85.7% of the samples, respectively, while PFOA levels ranged between 120 and 247 pg/mL with a median of 147 pg/mL, and those of PFOS ranged between 12 and 86 pg/mL with a median of 27.5 pg/mL. The median contamination for PFOA exceeded the threshold set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (60 pg/mL); however, that of PFOS was below the threshold (73 pg/mL). The consumption of bread, pasta, meat, and chicken more than twice per week and that of white tubers and roots at least once per week was significantly associated with higher levels of PFOA ( p < 0.05). No significant association was found between maternal age, BMI, parity, level of education, place of residence, source of water used, and smoking with the levels of PFOA and PFOS in the human milk. Additionally, the consumption of cereals at least twice per week was significantly associated with higher levels of PFOS. These findings call for actions to improve the local environmental and agricultural practices, and the regulations and standards for inspecting imported food. It is important to highlight that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the reported contamination with PFOS and PFOA in our study.

Abstract: Exposure of newborns to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is a public health concern. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of POPs in human milk collected from lactating mothers in Lebanon and to investigate the sociodemographic, nutritional, and other lifestyle determinants. Fifty-four breast milk samples were collected as per World Health Organization guidelines. A survey was used to assess the anthropometric and demographic characteristics of participants. Dietary habits were evaluated based on a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls were measured in milk samples with liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography. Among the screened POPs, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) was the only POP detected in breast milk samples and was found in only 17.9% of the samples, with a mean (SD) of 11.6 (5.0) μg/L and a range of 5.7 to 21.4 μg/L. Prepregnancy body mass index and age were positively associated with DDE contamination in breast milk. Women who consumed cereals at least two times per week had detectable DDE contamination in their breast milk. Consumption of potatoes and beans at least once per week was also associated with DDE contamination. Our study is the first to assess the presence of POPs in breast milk in Lebanon. The benefits of breastfeeding compensate for the low prevalence of DDE in the breast milk. Our findings highlight the high need to implement monitoring policies, good agricultural practices, and education programs for breastfeeding mothers., (Copyright ©, International Association for Food Protection.)

Food loss and food waste occur along the food supply chain, negatively impacting the environment, global economy, and food security. There is a growing global interest in tackling this issue to mitigate or handle the waste generated and limit its repercussions, as one in eight people suffer from undernourishment worldwide. In the Arab world, where there is a high dependency on imports and limited potential of increasing local food production, addressing food loss and waste becomes substantial. Research has mainly been focused on household food waste generation, while data on post-consumer plate food waste in the foodservice sector remains scarce. In this study, managers from a representative sample of 222 restaurants located in Municipal Beirut, Lebanon, were surveyed about food waste generation. Plate food waste was measured to establish baseline information. Multiple Tobit regression analyses were performed to explore the determinants for plate food waste generation. Plate waste generation was also compared between Lebanese and non-Lebanese cuisine restaurants. Results revealed that 1,620 tons of plate food waste are generated per year in Beirut, equivalent to 0.15% of Lebanon's total organic waste. Furthermore, Lebanese cuisine restaurants serving Mediterranean Mezze were found to generate 34 kg of organic waste per day more than restaurants that serve international non-Lebanese cuisine. The type of cuisine, kind of service, and menu planning were significantly associated with post-consumer food waste generation. This study revealed an increasing concern towards the amount of plate waste generated in Beirut, and thereby further research is needed to create baseline information at the national level., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

On August 4, 2020, an explosion at the Port of Beirut, Lebanon, ripped the city to shreds, killing more than 200 people, wounding 6500 others, and leaving about 300,000 residents temporarily homeless. The explosion raised many concerns regarding the possible presence of radioactive material and the associated public health risks. Accordingly, and after opening the affected sites for public access, an external radiological survey of the hit area was conducted. The dose rate reading in Beirut's seaport (ground zero) varied between 58 and 100 nSv/h. The detected levels were within the average worldwide annual gamma dose rate of 50 to 53 nSv/h set by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. The recorded values were not significantly different from those measured by the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission (LAEC) at the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS-L) in 2009 and 2010 at three locations in Beirut's seaport (minimum value 50 nSv/h and maximum value 140 nSv/h). Besides, in the surveyed area, radiological scans were conducted on 360 injured patients reported to the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), showing no signs of radiation exposure due to the explosion.

One of the drawbacks of canning is the migration of various chemicals from the package into the food product. This work aimed at analyzing the concentrations of Bisphenol A (in 137 samples) and heavy metals (in 51 samples) of canned tuna commercialized in Lebanon while evaluating the variability across different brands, packing media, layer, and proximity to the expiry date. Accordingly, BPA was detected in 12 samples out of the 137 samples, run in duplicates. The estimated daily intake of BPA for the selected samples (n = 274) was lower than the tolerable daily intake of BPA, 0.004 mg/kg/day. Therefore, there is no health risk associated with BPA as a result of consuming canned tuna commercialized in the Lebanese market. Besides, the study has shown that 66 samples out of 102 were contaminated with Zn whereas 100% of the samples were contaminated with Aluminum and Tin. However, the calculated Health Risk Index of all the considered heavy metals are all within the safe limits as defined by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) and Codex Alimentarius., (© 2020 The Author(s).)

Food waste has a great impact on food and nutrition security, the environment, and global, regional as well as national economies. However, little is known about the associated nutrient loss embedded in wasted foods, especially in developing countries, with Lebanon being a case in point. The present paper uses data gathered from a survey of 250 households conducted in Beirut, Lebanon, in which respondents filled 7-day food waste diaries in order to investigate the drivers of food waste generation at the household level and its dietary content. The results show that food waste is approximately 0.2 kg per capita per day in urban Lebanon. This wasted food contains on average 451.2 kcal, 37.5 g carbohydrates, 14.9 g protein, 2.9 g dietary fiber, 2.4 μg vitamin D, 165.2 mg calcium and 343.2 mg potassium. Furthermore, a Tobit analysis of the socio-demographic and behavioral drivers of food waste generation was conducted. This analysis shows that being the sole homeowner, spending more on food, having a larger number of household members, being ready to eat everything prepared, and tending not to buy special offers, significantly increases household food waste generation, at least in terms of physical weight. This is the first study conducted in Lebanon and the Middle East aiming at investigating food waste, and the associated nutrient loss as well as the drivers of food waste generation at the household level. This work could help provide evidence for policymakers to address both food and nutrition security issues in Lebanon., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

The demand for marinated chicken worldwide, is continuously growing. To date, limited data on addition of active components of Essential Oils (EOs) to marinades for chicken preservation are available. The antimicrobial effect of carvacrol and thymol, added at 0.4 and 0.8% v/w to marinated fresh chicken, stored in air and under vacuum packaging (VP), for 21 days at 4 °C, was examined. The samples were monitored for microbiological (total viable count (TVC), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Brochothrix thermosphacta, Pseudomonas spp., total coliforms, Escherichia coli, yeasts and molds) and sensory attributes (odor characteristics). Our data supports that among the tested microorganisms, Pseudomonas spp., LAB and B. thermosphacta were the most dominant microbiota in the marinated chicken samples. Additionally, the use of active EOs components, especially the higher concentration (0.8% v/w) in combination with VP, retarded the growth of spoilage microbiota and resulted in a significant reduction of about 2.9-3.1 log cfu/g and a microbiological shelf-life extension of marinated chicken by >6 days, as judged by TVC data. Interestingly, the combination of active components of EOs at the lower concentration (0.4% v/w) and packaging (air or vacuum) resulted in a significant sensorial shelf-life extension of 15 and >21 days, as compared to the controls' shelf-life of 9 days. The results of our study demonstrated the potential of the active components, carvacrol and thymol, as natural effective antimicrobial hurdles to control the growth of spoilage microorganisms in marinated chicken meat., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The Middle East North Africa region has one of the highest rates of diabetes, both in prevalence and in rate of increase. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and associated risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in the adult population of Beirut., Methods: A random sample of 501 men and women aged 18 to 79 years was examined in a cross-sectional manner. The sample was then divided into 3 groups based on T2D self-report, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and fasting glucose (no diabetes [ND], at risk for diabetes [RD], and probable diabetes [PD]). These were compared to determine the various associated risks., Results: The sample consisted of 64.3% women, with an average age of 45.4 ± 15 years, and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 29.4 ± 5.9 kg/m 2 . The subjects were predominantly from a low socio-economic status, and more than half smoked either cigarettes or a waterpipe. The percentages of the 3 groups were as follows: 41.7%, 40.3%, and 18.0% for ND, RD, and PD, respectively. Out of 90 subjects diagnosed with PD, 26 did not know they had diabetes. Independent, positively associated risk factors were age, BMI, heart rate, hypertension, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol., Conclusion: The prevalence of T2D was high in this study and seems to be increasing compared to prior diabetes reports. Overall, the whole sample had a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. However, subjects with diabetes had significantly more components of the metabolic syndrome., Abbreviations: ADA = American Diabetes Association CRP = C-reactive protein DD = definite diabetes FPG = fasting plasma glucose HbA1c = glycosylated hemoglobin MENA = Middle-East North Africa ND = no diabetes PD = probable diabetes RD = at risk of diabetes T2D = type 2 diabetes mellitus TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone.

The use of bisphenol A (BPA) in packaging has grown over the past 50 years despite concerns of its migration into packaged food and beverages, resulting in human exposure. Many studies have reported tumorigenic effects and endocrine alterations associated with BPA in animal models. This study aims at assessing human exposure to BPA from olive oil. A total of 27 olive oil samples were collected from mills and local villagers in the Hasbaya District, a major olive oil harvesting region in Lebanon. Information on storage conditions was also collected. BPA was extracted and quantified by HPLC. Results showed significantly higher BPA levels in olive oil samples stored in plastic vs. non-plastic packaging (mean = 333 vs. 150 μg/kg, p value = 0.006), samples with a plastic storage duration of >1 year compared to those with a storage duration of <1 year (mean = 452 vs. 288 μg/kg, p value = 0.008), and oil samples sourced from locals compared to oil mills (mean = 376 vs. 228 μg/kg, p value = 0.022). Statistically significant higher BPA levels remained for samples stored in plastic vs. non-plastic packaging in the bootstrap multivariable linear regression (B = 121.56, 95% CI 53.44-194.39, p value = 0.009). This is the first report on BPA levels in Mediterranean olive oil. The estimated exposure was 1.38% of the EFSA tolerable daily intake, hence there are no concerns about potential health risks from olive oil consumption.

Background: Food safety is a key public health issue worldwide. This study aims to characterise existing governance mechanisms - governance structures (GSs) and food safety management systems (FSMSs) - and analyse the alignment thereof in detecting food safety hazards, based on empirical evidence from Lebanon., Results: Firm-to-firm and public baseline are the dominant FSMSs applied in a large-scale, while chain-wide FSMSs are observed only in a small-scale. Most transactions involving farmers are relational and market-based in contrast to (large-scale) processors, which opt for hierarchical GSs. Large-scale processors use a combination of FSMSs and GSs to minimise food safety hazards albeit potential increase in coordination costs; this is an important feature of modern food supply chains. The econometric analysis reveals contract period, on-farm inspection and experience having significant effects in minimising food safety hazards. However, the potential to implement farm-level FSMS is influenced by formality of the contract, herd size, trading partner choice, and experience., Conclusion: Public baseline FSMSs appear effective in controlling food safety hazards; however, this may not be viable due to the scarcity of public resources. We suggest public policies to focus on long-lasting governance mechanisms by introducing incentive schemes and farm-level FSMSs by providing loans and education to farmers. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.)

This study explores the effects of chitosan and natamycin on the quality of fresh "Phyllo" - a dough-based wheat product, by monitoring the microbiological, physicochemical and sensory parameters. Four different lots of phyllo samples stored under aerobic packaging conditions, in the absence or presence of the aforementioned antimicrobials, were prepared and stored at 4 °C. Microbiological data suggested that, the combination of chitosan and natamycin resulted in significant reductions (1-3 log cfu/g) of the microbial species examined (mesophilic total viable counts; TVC), yeasts/molds, psychrotrophic and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms) by day 10. The pH values of treated phyllo samples were lower on final day 10, as compared to the untreated phyllo, and of the Hunter color parameters (L*, b* and a*) that were evaluated, mostly the combined treatment of chitosan and natamycin maintained the original lightness (L*) and color (yellowness) stability (b*) of phyllo product during the storage period. Sensory data, based on overall acceptability (mean values of appearance and odor) scores confirmed the superiority of combined treatment of chitosan and natamycin, resulting in almost a doubling of the shelf-life of fresh phyllo, while retaining excellent sensorial characteristics (appearance and odor) even on final storage day (10)., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Curcumin has been successfully encapsulated in cyclodextrin-metal organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) without altering their crystallinity. The interaction between curcumin and CD-MOFs is strong through hydrogen bond type interaction between the OH group of cyclodextrin of CD-MOFs and the phenolic hydroxyl group of the curcumin. Interestingly, dissolving the curcumin loaded CD-MOFs crystals in water results in formation of a unique complex between curcumin, γCD and potassium cations. In fact, the initial interaction between curcumin and CD-MOF is crucial for the formation of the latter. This new complex formed in alkaline media at pH 11.5 has maximum absorbance at 520nm and emittance at 600nm. Most importantly, the stability of curcumin in this complex was enhanced by at least 3 orders of magnitude compared to free curcumin and curcumin:γ-CD at pH 11.5. These results suggest a promising benign system of CD-MOFs, which can be used to store and stabilize curcumin for food applications., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Food is generally wasted all along the supply chain, with an estimated loss of 35percent generated at the consumer level. Consequently, household food waste constitutes a sizable proportion of the total waste generated throughout the food supply chain. Yet such wastes vary drastically between developed and developing countries. Using data collected from 44 countries with various income levels, this paper investigates the impact of legislation and economic incentives on household food waste generation. The obtained results indicate that well-defined regulations, policies and strategies are more effective than fiscal measures in mitigating household food waste generation., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A method to measure thermo-mechanical properties of pharmaceutical and polymeric powders was developed. The measurements are conducted by characterizing the material's response to applied acoustic waves. Measurements were performed using griseofulvin, felodipine and indomethacin as model drugs and polyethylene oxide (MW=200,000, 900,000, 2,000,000Da) as model polymers. The method employed measures the mechanical impedance enabled the calculation of the powder rheological and thermo-mechanical properties. Measurements attained with this new technique are compared with measurements made using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The new method detects the melting and glass transitions events while providing complementary information to that provided by DSC and DMA., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Foods and pharmaceuticals materials are exposed to various environmental conditions during processing and while in storage; therefore, stability and quality are key attributes of concern. The properties of foods and pharmaceutical materials that define their quality are affected by conditions such as temperature, humidity and time. Glass transition is considered a key material property to understand how these external conditions affect the stability and quality of foods and pharmaceuticals. Thus, investigating the thermo-mechanical properties of these materials as well as characterizing the glass transition temperature have a great interest not only in the food industry, but also extend to the pharmaceutical and polymer industries. The aim of this study was to design and test a new disposable powder holder that allows the use of a dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) instrument to test and characterize loose powder samples. The disposable aluminum powder holder was designed and constructed to be used in the single cantilever configuration on a TA Instruments RSA III DMA. Three different powder samples - Felodipine, polyethylene-oxide (MW 900 kDa) and HPMC (E4M) - were used for validation. The use of this powder holder allows the detection of different thermal changes of powder samples without compacting and when large sample size is necessary for detection and/or interpretation.

The role of transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) in anaesthesia remains controversial because it is a rapidly evolving technique with few proven benefits and considerable cost. Recently, the Society of Cardiovascular Anaesthesiologists has published practice guidelines for the use of peri-operative TOE. To determine the current role of transoesophageal echocardiography and the relative impact of category-based transoesophageal echocardiographic indications the present study investigated its use in seven Western European countries. The study sample was taken from a prospective cohort of 224 patients with acute or chronic haemodynamic disturbances or at risk of myocardial ischaemia. All patients were monitored with two-lead electrocardiography and radial and pulmonary artery catheters, as well as biplane or multiplane transoesophageal echocardiography. A total of 2232 clinical interventions were made in these patients. The most frequently observed intervention was the administration of a fluid bolus (45% of all interventions). Overall, transoesophageal echocardiography was the most important guiding factor in 560 (25%) interventions. It was the most important monitor in guiding the following therapeutic interventions: anti-ischaemic therapy--207 of 372 interventions (56%); fluid administration--275 of 996 (28%) interventions; vasopressor or inotrope administration--56 of 316 (16%) interventions; vasodilator therapy--six of 142 (4%) interventions and depth of anaesthesia--four of 211 (2%) interventions. We found that transoesophageal echocardiography is frequently influential in guiding clinical decision making and is used most frequently for category II indications but category I indications were associated with more frequent change in management.