Trends in Aflatoxin M1 Global Research: A Bibliometric Analysis Study

Milk and dairy products, including yogurt, provide essential nutrients and are widely consumed as valuable protein sources. However, considering then increasing prevalence of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the diet of dairy cows, concerns arise regarding the possible contamination of milk and dairy products with AFM1, the major metabolite of AFB1 excreted in the milk of lactating animals. AFM1, although less potent when compared to AFB1, has been associated with an increase in the prevalence of human hepatic carcinoma. Hence, following a survey on AFM1 contamination of raw and processed drinking milk, this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in yogurt available in Bangkok, Thailand, and to estimate the associated dietary exposure and health risk among different population groups. A total of 180 plain yogurt samples were randomly collected from supermarkets during March to June 2024. The samples were extracted using the QuEChERS methodology and analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry method. With this method, residual amounts of AFM1 were detected in 12 out of 180 yoghurt samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.031 to 0.048µg/kg. These levels are below the statutory limits set by the European Union and the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee. In addition, a quantitative risk assessment conducted for the AFM1 positive samples revealed that the margin of exposure (MOE) values derived for yogurt were above 10,000. The risk level of hepatocellular carcinoma due to AFM1 exposure expressed as the mean estimated number of liver cancer cases per 100,000 individuals per year ranged from 1.12 × 10- 7 to 1.33 × 10- 4 for the positive yogurt samples. Although the overall risk of AFM1 exposure is considered low for all age groups, children remain the most vulnerable population; therefore, continuous monitoring of dairy milk and milk products is warranted to minimize potential exposure.

Aflatoxins are fungal metabolites found in feeds and foods. When the ruminants eat feedstuffs containing Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), this toxin is metabolized and Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is excreted in milk. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified AFB1 and AFM1 as human carcinogens belonging to Group 1 and Group 2B, respectively, with the formation of DNA adducts. In the last years, some epidemiological studies were conducted on cancer patients aimed to evaluate the effects of AFB1 and AFM1 exposure on cancer cells in order to verify the correlation between toxin exposure and cancer cell proliferation and invasion. In this review, we summarize the activation pathways of AFB1 and AFM1 and the data already reported in literature about their correlation with cancer development and progression. Moreover, considering that few data are still reported about what genes/proteins/miRNAs can be used as damage markers due to AFB1 and AFM1 exposure, we performed a bioinformatic analysis based on interaction network and miRNA predictions to identify a panel of genes/proteins/miRNAs that can be used as targets in further studies for evaluating the effects of the damages induced by AFB1 and AFM1 and their capacity to induce cancer initiation.

Detection of aflatoxin M1 in milk products from China by ELISA using monoclonal antibodies

ABSTRACTSurgical hip dislocation (SHD) is a powerful and safe approach used to address pathologic lesions around the hip joint, and therefore, many studies have been conducted in this field. However, no bibliometric studies regarding the global research trend concerning SHD have been studied yet. This study aims to determine the research status in the field of SHD research between 2001 and 2021. The publications related to SHD from 2001 to 2021 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Three bibliometric tools were used for this study. The main analyses include publication counts, contributions of countries, institutions, authors, journals and funding agencies, as well as analyses on clustering of references and keywords. In total, 498 articles were identified. The annual publication counts of SHD showed an ascending tendency as a whole. The United States has the most prominent contributions, with the most number of publications and the highest value of H-index. The University of Bern was the organization that produced the most literature. Professors Ganz R, Siebenrock KA, Tannast M, Steppacher SD and Leunig M were the core authors in this field. The most productive journal was Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. Burst keyword detection suggested that the following research directions, including ‘surgical hip dislocation’, ‘outcome’, ‘fixation’ and ‘pain’, are considered the research hotspots and deserve more attention. In conclusion, this is the first bibliometric analysis that provides a comprehensive overview of SHD research, which may assist investigators in exploring new directions for this technique.

Aflatoxins are extremely teratogenic, mutagenic, toxic, and carcinogenic compounds. In the present study, 60 cow’s raw milk samples were collected from Qazvin province, Iran during Dec 2015 till July 2016. Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to determine Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in the milk samples. AFM1 was detected in 34 raw milk samples ranging from 6.25×10-3 to 127.87×10-3 (part per billion). AFM1 contents in all positive samples were far below the US legal limit (0.5 ppb), but AFM1 in30% of the raw milk samples exceeded the EU legal limit (0.05) and 5% of the samples exceeded the Iran legal limit (0.1 ppb). This study indicates a high occurrence of AFM1 in cow’s raw milk especially in winter (40.71×10- 3ppb) but the level of contamination were not significantly different in various seasons (P<0.05). Since contamination of milk with AFM1 is a potential risk for human health, in order to prevent the repetition, milk and milk products should be controlled periodically. The levels of AFM1 contamination of milk in the present study showed that continuous examining of milk is necessary to improve public health and reduce consumer exposure to aflatoxins. Reducing the levels of AFB1 in animal feedstuffs can be regarded as initial step to control the transfer of AFM1 to the humans.

Evidence of low levels of aflatoxin M1 in milk and dairy products marketed in Qatar

Background: One of the major problems that threaten milk and other dairy products is aflatoxins contamination. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the hydroxylated metabolite of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) which is produced in liver of animals and is further excreted to the milk. Due to the negligible effect of pasteurization, sterilization, and milk processing on aflatoxin, it is eventually transmitted to other dairy products. This study was conducted to evaluate the AFM1occurrence in local dairy products in Shiraz, southern Iran. Methods:In this experimental study, from summer 2016 to winter 2016, 76 samples of four dairy products [raw milk (22), cheese (22), ice cream (22), and yogurt samples (10)] were collected from the retailors, and assessed by ELISA method. Results: AFM1 was identified in 92.1% of all samples as the mean contamination was 48.135 ppt. In 23.65% of all samples, AFM1 exceeded the EU limit (50 ppt for milk and dairy products, and 250 ppt for cheese). In 5.26% of all samples, AFM1 was visible more among Iranian national standard limit (100 ppt), and in 1.31% of all samples, AFM1 was more than the US/FDA limit (500ppt). Conclusion: Due to the adverse effects of aflatoxins, even in low amounts, these toxins make serious health problems for humans. Therefore, continuous control of AFB1 contamination in animal feeding and AFM1 in milk used in the preparation of dairy products is crucial.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination in milk and milk products may pose a major public health concern. The present cross-sectional study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of AFM1 in bovine milk across all districts of Punjab, India and to identify the associated animal and farm level risk factors. A total of 402 milk samples (266 cow milk and 136 buffalo milk) were analysed using commercial ELISA and representative samples were confirmed using HPLC-FLD. The results revealed that 56.2 and 13.4% of the milk samples exceeded the maximum levels of the European Union, i.e. 0.05 μg/l and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), i.e. 0.5 μg/l for AFM1 in milk, respectively. On analysis of species variation, buffalo milk (prevalence: 56.6%; mean concentration: 0.42±0.9 μg/l) was found to have higher AFM1 levels than cow milk (prevalence: 56.0%; mean concentration: 0.19±0.3 μg/l), with statistically significant difference between mean concentrations (P&lt;0.01) and non-significant difference between AFM1 prevalence (P=0.91). Furthermore, milk from commercial dairy farms (prevalence: 64.7%; mean concentration: 0.34±0.65 μg/l) was found to be more contaminated than from household dairy establishments (prevalence: 47.8%; mean concentration: 0.19±0.65 μg/l). The risk factors ‘above average milk yield/day’ (odds ratio (OR): 2.4) and ‘poor animal hygiene’ (OR: 1.9) were identified at animal level, and ‘intensive dairy farming’ (OR: 3.1) and ‘animal feed without aflatoxin binder’ (OR: 4.7) as farm level risk factors for AFM1 excretion above maximum levels of European Union in milk. Among cow breeds, the milk from ‘non-descript’ breed (OR: 11.5) was found to be most contaminated with AFM1 and the least from Jersey breed (OR: 1.0). The present study highlighted the presence of AFM1 in milk samples; therefore, regular monitoring of AFM1 in milk is required so that high risk regions and associated risk factors can be addressed appropriately.

Introduction: Every year, millions of children die from preventable causes worldwide. According to World Health Organization, injuries are the leading cause of disability and death among all age groups below 60 years.Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the global research outcomes and trends, and some key bibliometric indicators in pediatric trauma.Methods: A descriptive bibliometric analysis study was designed. On June 14, 2021, an electronic search was performed in the Web of Science Core Collection database using the potential searching keywords “Pediatric AND Trauma” in the title field without any limitations. The search was performed using the Boolean search query method. The data were downloaded in plaintext and comma-separated values format. The required graphs were generated using OriginPro 2018. Furthermore, the data were transferred to HistCite™ software for bibliometric analysis. In addition, the obtained data were plotted for network visualization mapping using VOSviewer software version 1.6.15 for windows.Results: A total of 2,269 documents were included in the final analysis. The included documents were authored by 7,894 authors and published in 395 research and academic journals, mainly in the English language (n = 2,222). The main document types were articles (n = 1,276, citations = 18,244), and meeting abstracts (n = 331, citations = 19). Pediatric (n = 2,269) and trauma (n = 2,257) were the most widely used keywords. The most productive year was 2019 (n = 184, citations = 527). The most prolific author was Upperman JS (n = 29, citations = 202). The most attractive journals in pediatric trauma research were The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (n = 290, citations = 5,199) and the Journal of Pediatric Surgery (n = 256, citations = 5,088). The most active institute was the University of California System (n = 110). The most dominant country was the United States of America (USA) (n = 1,620, citations = 22,983). The USA and Canada had the highest total link strength, 103 and 70, respectively.Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of research output in pediatric trauma. The USA continues to dominate scientific research and funding in pediatric trauma. Findings of the current study will help the researchers and clinicians to understand the recent achievements and research frontiers. Collaborative research initiative needs to be established between institutions in developed and developing countries and among researchers.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a potent mycotoxin that can contaminate milk and dairy products. It is a metabolite of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which is produced by certain fungi that infect crops. In Lebanon, traditional dairy production—including various cheeses, yogurt, and Labneh—is widely practiced. However, there is limited information on how AFM1 transfers and behaves in these products. This study aimed to fill that knowledge gap by examining the transfer of AFM1 from artificially contaminated milk into traditional Lebanese dairy products, specifically Halloumi, Akkawi, double-cream, Baladiyeh cheese, yogurt, and Labneh. Milk was contaminated with a known concentration of AFM1, and the resulting dairy products were analysed for AFM1 transfer rates, focusing on the distribution between whey and curd. The study also assessed the effect of brine storage (10%) on AFM1 levels in cheese. The findings showed that the transfer of AFM1 varied depending on the processing method and type of product. Generally, whey had higher concentrations of AFM1 compared to curd. Brine storage reduced AFM1 levels in most cheese types, with the exception of double-cream cheese. Yogurt processing was found to decrease AFM1 content, while converting yogurt to Labneh resulted in an increase. This research provides valuable insights into the risk of AFM1 contamination in traditional Lebanese dairy products. Understanding the transfer and behaviour of AFM1 is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate the risks associated with mycotoxin exposure. Accordingly, this paper also includes a risk assessment generated using the reported transfer rates that showed that dairy products produced from raw milk contaminated at 0.05 µg/L would present a high risk to the Lebanese consumer that emphasises the importance of keeping AFM1 in food at a level that is ‘As Low As Reasonably Achievable’ specifically in a country such as Lebanon where dairy products are highly consumed.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a hepatocarcinogenic compound found in milk from lactating individuals receiving diets contaminated with aflatoxin B1. Considering the AFM1 resistance to conventional processing methods applied to milk products, novel approaches have been proposed to efficiently decontaminate AFM1. This review focuses on recent occurrence data of AFM1 and the physical, chemical and biological methods for decontamination of AFM1, in milk and dairy products. Occasionally, high AFM1 occurrence levels have been reported, mainly in African countries. Adsorption through nonviable microorganisms and clay materials are the most effective, promising approaches for decontamination of AFM1 from milk and dairy products.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the principal hydroxylated AFB1 metabolite mainly present in milk. In this study the levels of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in Raw and Pasteurized milk marketed in Kathmandu valley was estimated. Altogether 32 milk samples (Raw 16, Pasteurized 16) obtained from different areas of Kathmandu valley were analysed for AFM1 by Thin Layer Chromatography. The milk samples were analyzed according to the official AOAC methods, which included extraction of toxin using chloroform, clearing by silica gel column chromatography, qualitative analysis by Thin Layer Chromatography and quantification by Visual comparison of the spots. AFM1 was found in 14 (43.75%) of milk samples examined. The levels of AFM1 in 7 (21.87%) samples were higher than the maximum tolerance limit (0.05 µg/l) accepted by some European countries while none of the samples exceeded the prescribed limit of US regulations. The mean concentration of AFM1 was higher in Raw milk (0.030 ± 0.042 µg/l) compared to pasteurized (0.022 ± 0.039) but the difference was not statistically significant (p&gt;0.05). This finding reflects that milk marketed in Kathmandu valley contains residual level of Aflatoxin M1 and pose public health risk. Therefore, milk and milk products have to be screened for AFM1 contamination periodically. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jfstn.v7i0.10598 J. Food Sci. Technol. Nepal, Vol. 7 (52-56), 2012

ABSTRACTAlthough the mycological content of white cheese has been extensively studied, little data is available concerning the existence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in Egyptian white cheese. Egyptian legislation does not allow for AFM1 in milk or milk products. In this study, trace amounts of AFM1 contamination were detected in laboratory manufactured Egyptian white cheese using either single or triple quadrupole techniques after artificial exposure of AFM1 to raw milk used for the cheese making. Validation data proved that the triple quadrupole method was more sensitive and selective than the single quadrupole method for AFM1 analysis. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.0625 ppb and 0.125 ppb for the triple quadrupole method and 0.125 ppb and 0.250 ppb for the single quadrupole method. Recovery of AFM1 ranged from 87% to 92% for single quadrupole and 89% to 99% for triple quadrupole using mass spectrometer techniques. Linear regression produced linear standard curves with coefficients of determination of regression of 0.9981 and 1.000 for the single and triple quadruples, respectively. Although both methods were able to measure AFM1, the tandem mass spectrometer produced results that were more reliable.

Two year survey on the occurrence and seasonal variation of aflatoxin M1 in milk and milk products in Serbia

The present study had two objectives: first, to determine the carry over or excretion percentage of aflatoxin B1 (AFBI) in milk in form of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and second, to assess the reduction in excretion of AFM1 in milk using different organic and inorganic toxin binders available in Pakistani market. Lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes (n=16) were randomly selected and were divided into four treatment groups designated as A, B, C and D. In each treatment 500 μg/Kg of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was fed along with no sequestering agent added (control); and three toxin binders: Fixar Viva in group B, Mycosorb in group C and T5X in group D. These toxin binders were added at concentration of 0.25% of dry matter intake of animal. It resulted in 2.13% carryover in milk as AFM1. A significant reduction (P&lt;0.05) in dry matter intake, milk production, milk fat and protein percentage was also observed by feeding AFB1. Addition of three toxin binders Mycosorb, Fixar Viva, and T5X at a concentration of 0.25% in ration resulted in 47%, 39%, and 35% reduction in AFM1 secretion respectively. The present study also indicated that percentage carryover ofAFM1 in buffaloes is higher than that reported in lactating cows as well as in goats and Mycosorb is capable of reducing the excretion of AFM1 into milk by improving the dry matter intake, milk production and protein contents. These findings may be applicable in field to reduce AFM1 release in milk of Nili-Ravi buffaloes.