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Abstract Hydatid cyst contamination in food presents a persistent and pervasive threat to public health. Hence, several studies have been published on hydatid cysts in raw meat products. The current study aimed to meta-analyze the prevalence of hydatid cysts in meat. The search was performed in international databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, from January 1, 2000, to February 10, 2024. A meta-analysis of prevalence was conducted using the metaprop command in the subgroups of countries, animals, and WHO regions. Meta-regression of the prevalence of hydatid cysts in meat over time and sanitation services ranking was conducted using a random effects model (restricted maximum–-likelihood). Fifty-seven published references with 130 data reports were included in the study. The lowest and highest prevalence of hydatid cysts in raw meat was observed in Sudan at 0.01%, 95%CI (0.01–0.02) and Italy at 69.86%, 95%CI (68.14–71.55), respectively. The highest prevalence of hydatid cysts was observed in Sheep (12.32%), Cattle (11.85%), and Buffalo (10.65%). The lowest and highest prevalence of hydatid cysts was South-East Asian Reg (2.77%) and European Region (33.21%), respectively. Meta-regression showed that the prevalence of hydatid cysts has significantly decreased over time (p-value = 0.021) and insignificantly decreased with sanitation services ranking (p-value = 0.679). Therefore, in order to maintain the existing conditions and even reduce the burden of hydatidosis, public health education, promotion of hygienic practices, and investment need to be carried out continuously.

Introduction: Microcapsules obtained from microencapsulation technology consist of an active inward kernel substance and an external layer or crust that protects and covers the kernel substance. Microencapsulation is applied in different disciplines, such as food and pharmaceutical. Coacervation, as a separator of colloidal composition into two liquid phases, is the second common method of capsulation in food industries. It provides high encapsulation efficiency and bioactive compounds-controlled liberation, may be influenced by temperature and physical and biological mechanisms, and offers desirable flexibility that patronages the development of extensive food. Reason for writing: Bioactive ingredients include antioxidants, vitamins, peptides, multiple unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, lutein, lycopene, and probiotics. Their sensitivity usually restricts the application of bioactive components. Coacervation can create a protective obstacle and optimal diffusion and compatibility characteristics in different environments. Methodology: In this review article, the research results in the range of 2015–2024 and the useful content of related articles related to the subject were collected from various databases such as ScienceDirect and google scholar. In general, the bioactive compounds encapsulated by the microencapsulation method, especially the complex coacervation method and their advantages, the wall and core materials used, microencapsulation conditions, and finally, the results of the research are collected attractively and comprehensively. Results: Complex coacervation could be a promising, interesting, and useful method to protect and deliver substances, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants, peptides, phytosterols, lutein, lycopene, pigments and phenolic acids, enzymes, essential oils, and probiotics, for controlled release applications during storage and delivery in the gastrointestinal tract. Conclusion: Considering the advantages of bioactive components, it seems necessary to pay attention to microencapsulation methods, especially occlusion, to solve limitations in this field and to optimize the conditions and parameters of the coacervation, especially the complex coacervation.

Approximately 5 % of all seeds at a seed company are discarded because of their underutilization. Bitter gourd contains a large number of seeds that are discarded, which are difficult to treat and cause severe environmental pollution. However, these seeds are a rich source of bioactive metabolites (such as glycosides, saponin, alkaloids, triterpenes, steroids, dietary fibers, essential oils, and saturated and unsaturated fatty acids) with antioxidant, antimicrobial properties, and health-promoting effects. So, it is important to find ways to treat this waste and use it in various food products and health-promoting effects to benefit humans and prevent environmental pollution as per Goal 12 (responsible consumption and production) of 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. This review discussed the extraction of different functional compounds by using traditional and modern extraction techniques, nutraceutical and food applications, as well as the toxicological effects of the bitter gourd seeds, aiming to give a new research direction to the researchers of concerned fields to find more potential applications of this natural waste. Both in vivo and in vitro study results showed that bitter gourd seeds in powder, extract, and oils can be used as antioxidant and antitumor agents and showed antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Bitter gourd seeds also have healthy and technological compounds that could be used in food industries to improve food products' quality, stability, and nutritional characteristics. Bitter gourd seeds can also be used to purify drinking water. Further studies are needed to find more applications of this natural by-product in developing functional and nutritious foods.

Background & Objective: Reflective learning is one of the most important learning models because it is based on the student's own experiences and is based on self-directed learning. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of reflective learning on scrub and circular skills in operating room students at the Iran University of Medical Sciences. Material & Methods: The current research is a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. The research population consisted of 60 students in the 3rd and 5th semesters of their bachelor's degree in the operating room who were randomly assigned to two training groups: one that used the reflective learning approach and the other that used the conventional university method. The skills of the correct principles of scrub and circular were measured in both groups before and one week after the intervention using an objective structured clinical test (three stations). The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire that was valid and reliable. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 22. Results: The two intervention and control groups were homogeneous and similar in terms of demographic characteristics (p > 0.05). The intervention group (reflective learning) demonstrated a significantly higher mean score in scrub and circular skills compared to the control group (traditional learning) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the reflective learning teaching method has been able to significantly improve post-test scores. So that, with a structured and coherent guide for reflection, students can move beyond the description process to deeper levels of reflection and, thus, learning.

Despite extensive experimental focus, there remains a notable gap in comprehending the progressive development of these techniques over time. This comprehensive review is dedicated to cataloging the evolution of extraction and analytical methods spanning several decades. In this article, we meticulously traced the development of analytical and extraction techniques. Additionally, we intricately map the periodic discovery of metabolites within guava fruit, aligning them with the chronological utilization of analytical methods. This article results from extensive research and literature analysis to bridge the knowledge gap. Our efforts highlight the advantageous phytochemicals in guava and the diverse extraction techniques available. By encompassing various facets of analytical methods and delving into metabolomics, this review can offer substantial benefits to cultivating future guava varieties. Subsequent sections within this review will serve as a valuable resource, aiding prospective researchers in identifying the most effective extraction and analytical methods for discovering novel metabolites in guava or similar biological samples. Furthermore, through a comprehensive timeline detailing methodological advancements, this review enhances our understanding of the evolutionary path of guava research. Such insights empower researchers to make informed decisions and actively contribute to the continual advancement of the field of research.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) is an innovative process for recovering valuable substances and compounds from plants and various biomaterials. This technology holds promise for resource recovery while maintaining the quality of the extracted products. The review comprehensively discusses UAE’s mechanism, applications, advantages, and limitations, focusing on extracting essential oils (EOs) from diverse terrestrial plant materials. These oils exhibit preservation, flavor enhancement, antimicrobial action, antioxidant effects, and anti-inflammatory benefits due to the diverse range of specific compounds in their composition. Conventional extraction techniques have been traditionally employed, and their limitations have prompted the introduction of novel extraction methods. Therefore, the review emphasizes that the use of UAE, alone or in combination with other cutting-edge technologies, can enhance the extraction of EOs. By promoting resource recovery, reduced energy consumption, and minimal solvent use, UAE paves the way for a more sustainable approach to harnessing the valuable properties of EOs. With its diverse applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and other industries, further research into UAE and its synergies with other cutting-edge technologies is required to unlock its full potential in sustainable resource recovery and product quality preservation.

The aim of this article is to review applications of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) in poultry meat. As well as, its effects on the qualitative characteristics and shelf-life stability. Packaging is a harmonized rule of preparing the product for transportation, dissemination, retail, and end-use to ensure safe delivery. MAP is modern packaging that includes air removal (78% N2, 21% O2, and 3% CO2 gas) from inside the casings and replacing them with a single gas or a mixture of gases. The atmosphere with a high concentration of O2 by 80 % leads to off-oxygenating the dye and keeps it from deteriorating on the surface of the meat. O2 causes oxidation of fat and protein, and decreases the quality of meat. The CO2 gas concentration and the casings composition significantly affect the change in the meat pH value. The decrease in oxygen in the packaging alters the meat colour from red to purple to convert the Oxymyoglobin to Deoxymyoglobin. Moreover, the consumer rejects this type of meat with a myoglobin tint. The colour stability using MAP has improved, and the Metmyoglobin configuration rate has decreased. MAP gave less moisture loss. The total and psychrophile bacterial populations in the poultry meat treated with MAP decreased and increased with the progress of storage periods. The TBA value, the peroxide value, and the fatty acid percentage decreased by using the MAP. MAP can be a part of Hurdle's technique to prolong the chicken meat shelf life.

This study investigates the potential of using bacteriophages to control foodborne pathogen biofilms on stainless steel surfaces in the food industry. Biofilm-forming bacteria can attach to stainless steel surfaces, rendering them difficult to eradicate even after a thorough cleaning and sanitizing procedures. Bacteriophages have been proposed as a possible solution, as they can penetrate biofilms and destroy bacterial cells within, reducing the number of viable bacteria and preventing the growth and spread of biofilms. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the potential of bacteriophages against different biofilm-forming foodborne bacteria, including Cronobacter sakazakii, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes. Bacteriophage treatment generally causes a significant average reduction of 38 % in biofilm formation of foodborne pathogens on stainless steel. Subgroup analyses revealed that phages are more efficient in long-duration treatment. Also, applying a cocktail of phages is 1.26-fold more effective than applying individual phages. Phages at concentrations exceeding 107 PFU/ml are significantly more efficacious in eradicating bacteria within a biofilm. The antibacterial phage activity decreases substantially by 3.54-fold when applied at 4 °C compared to temperatures above 25 °C. This analysis suggests that bacteriophages can be a promising solution for controlling biofilms in the food industry.

The present research examined patulin's presence across the whole supply chain of selected fruits. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on 442 samples of fruits (oranges, apples, apricots, lemons, and guava) to determine the presence of patulin contamination. This analysis used Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with a UV detector. The findings indicate that 17, 23, and 28 % of selected fruit samples tested positive for patulin levels in farm, transportation, and market samples. However, the sample collected during the transportation step showed that 56 % (percentage of positive samples) of fruits have patulin levels greater than 50 μg/kg, and 41 % (percentage of positive samples) have greater levels than 50 μg/kg in market samples. The findings of the one-way analysis of variance indicated that no statistically significant variation existed between the amounts of patulin across the various stages of the food supply chain system (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, the analysis of the correlation study, namely Kendall's tau_b and Spearman's rho, denote a robust association between the levels of patulin and the food supply system. The apple samples exhibited the most significant average dietary intake of patulin, with an average value of 0.11 μg/kg bw/day. The maximum mean hazard quotient (HQ) of 0.28 was also recorded. The prevalence and incidence of patulin in specific fruits were found to be relatively high, and it was observed that market samples had elevated levels of patulin in the selected fruits.

Abstract The escalating concern over the presence and health implications of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in drinking water has underscored the need for rigorous risk assessments. Our study aimed to quantify both the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks associated with exposure to selected PTEs—namely arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd). Also, we evaluated ingestion and skin contact exposures to risks during summer and winter using metrics such as the hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and cancer risk (CR) for children, adult males, and adult females. For all demographic groups and exposure pathways, the HQ values remain below the established safety threshold (HQ