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The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial characteristics of propolis, a bioactive compound collected from hives, have prompted its use in the food sector in recent times. This study investigated the physicochemical characteristics, phenolic profile, and antioxidant capacity of 31 propolis extracts collected from Northern Spain. The physicochemical composition (resins, waxes, ashes mineral content, and heavy metals) was within the allowable regulatory limits. The analysis of bioactive compounds enabled the identification of 51 constituents: flavonoids (apigenin, catechin, chrysin, quercetin, and pinocembrin) and phenolic acids (caffeic, ferulic, and coumaric). The mean value of total polyphenols was 42.72 ± 13.19 Pinocembrin–Galangin Equivalents/100 g, whereas a range between 1.64 ± 0.04 and 4.95 ± 0.36 Quercetin Equivalents (QE) g/100 g was found for total flavonoids content. The determination of bioactivities revealed significant antioxidant capacity using DPPH (1114.28 ± 10.39 µM Trolox Equivalents and 3487.61 ± 318.66 µM Vitamin C Equivalents). Resin content in propolis samples was positively and significantly correlated with both polyphenols (rho = 0.365; p = 0.043) and flavonoid composition (rho = 0.615; p = 0.000) as well as the antioxidant capacity TEAC DPPH (rho = 0.415; p = 0.020). A multiple regression analysis modeled the correlation between resin composition, flavonoids, and TEAC DPPH values, yielding a significant regression equation (R2 = 0.618; F (2,28) = 22.629; p < 0.000; d = 2.299). Therefore, evaluating physicochemical parameters and biological activities provides a promising framework for predicting propolis' quality and antioxidant properties, thus suggesting its potential as a functional and bioactive compound for the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the impact of Triepi-45-a tool that enables an episiotomy angle of 45° to be marked on the perineum at rest-on the incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) during operative vaginal delivery (OVD).Method: A retrospective-prospective cohort study was performed among successive women who underwent OVD at Complejo Asistencial Universitario de de León, Spain, between 2011 and 2013 (preintervention cohort, n=986) and between 2014 and 2016 (intervention cohort, n=986) after implementation of an interventional programme in 2013 to improve the episiotomy angle, including use of Triepi-45, in OVD.Results: The intervention cohort had a lower incidence of OASIS than the preintervention cohort (70/986 [7.1%] vs 93/986 [9.4%]), but the difference was not significant, owing to the low use of Triepi-45 in the intervention cohort (n=375). However, the OASIS incidence was significantly lower in the Triepi-45 cohort than in the preintervention cohort (18/375 [4.8%] vs 93/986 [9.4%]; odds ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.86).Conclusion: Use of Triepi-45 had a positive impact on reducing OASIS in OVD. It remains essential to raise obstetricians' awareness of the importance of the episiotomy angle and to implement the systematic use of tools to reduce the incidence of OASIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beef preparations (meatballs, minced meat, hamburgers, white sausages, and red sausages) from northwest Spain were tested. Microbial counts ranged from 0.70 ± 0.00 log10 cfu/g (enterococci) to 9.57 ± 0.37 log10 cfu/g (psychrotrophs). In 73.3% of cases, total aerobic counts were higher than the microbiological limits set for the end of the manufacturing process in the European Union (EU Regulation 2073/2005). Forty Escherichia coli isolates were tested against thirteen clinically important antibiotics (disk diffusion method; CLSI). Three of the strains (7.5%) were susceptible to all the antibiotics, four (10.0%) showed resistance or reduced susceptibility to one antibiotic, and 33 (82.5%) were multiresistant (with resistance or reduced susceptibility to between two and eight antibiotics), with an average of 1.85 resistances per strain. The highest rates of resistance were observed for two antimicrobials widely used on cattle farms (cefalotin and tetracycline). The findings in this research emphasize the need to correctly handle beef preparations with the aim of reducing risks to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A total of 226 chicken samples (carcasses, legs, wings, necks and breasts) were obtained (73 in 1993 and 153 in 2006) from 10 retail outlets in North-Western Spain and screened for the presence of Salmonella. Isolates were subjected to serotyping, phage typing (Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (15 antimicrobials; disk diffusion method). Salmonella was detected in 40 (55%) samples in 1993 and 19 (12.4%) in 2006 (P <0.001). The serotypes (S. Enteritidis, Salmonella Poona, Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Newport and S. Typhimurium) and phage types (1, 4, 14b and 35 in the case of S. Enteritidis and 193 for S. Typhimurium) detected are among the main types responsible for human salmonellosis in Spain. All strains were multi-resistant (resistant to 3–13 antimicrobials). The average number of resistances per strain increased (P <0.05) from 3.98 in 1993 to 5.00 in 2006. An increase in the incidence of resistance was observed between 1993 and 2006 for cephalothin (P <0.01), enrofloxacin (P <0.001) and tetracycline (P <0.01). The decreases in the prevalence of Salmonella between 1993 and 2006 suggest that the mandatory measures introduced over the last decade in the European Union to reduce the incidence of Salmonella in poultry have apparently been successful. However, the increase in antibiotic resistance rates is of concern and constitutes a threat to public health. Because the data in this study demonstrated that chicken in North-Western Spain is a potential source of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella strains, the need of consumer education on good sanitary practices is highlighted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine and compare the antibiotic resistance profiles of Listeria monocytogenes isolates obtained from poultry in North-Western Spain in 1993 and 2006. The prevalence of Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes was also investigated. A total of 202 samples were analysed (100 in 1993 and 102 in 2006). Samples taken in 1993 and 2006 showed a similar (P > 0.05) prevalence for both Listeria spp. (95.0% and 92.1%, respectively) and L. monocytogenes (32.0% and 24.5%). In both 1993 and 2006 the species most frequently detected was Listeria innocua, followed by L. monocytogenes. Other species isolated were Listeria welshimeri, Listeria grayi and Listeria ivanovii. L. monocytogenes isolates (68) were tested by disc diffusion assay for their resistance to 15 drugs currently used in veterinary and human therapy. All isolates displayed resistance to at least one antibiotic. Excluding nalidixic acid, to which most strains are intrinsically resistant, 37.2% of strains in 1993 and 96.0% in 2006 showed resistance to at least one antibiotic. Multi-resistance (resistance to two or more antibiotics) was less common in 1993 than in 2006 (18.6% and 84.0%, respectively; P < 0.001). The average number of antibiotics to which the strains were resistant was lower (P < 0.001) in 1993 (1.6) than in 2006 (4.2). An increase (P < 0.05) in the percentage of resistant strains was observed between 1993 and 2006 for six different drugs: gentamicin, streptomycin, neomycin, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and furazolidone. In this research, the prevalence and the antibiotic susceptibility of L. monocytogenes in poultry samples from the same origin in North-Western Spain in the 1990s and the 2000s were compared for the first time. The increase in antibiotic resistance from 1993 to 2006 constitutes a matter for concern and confirms a general worldwide pattern among many groups of bacteria. The high prevalence of L. monocytogenes in poultry suggests the crucial role of food handlers in preventing listeriosis in consumers. Reducing the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in poultry and preventing the emergence or selection of antibiotic-resistant strains are also highlighted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]