Medical Bulletin 29/ April/ 2025 - Video

Nearly half of all grocery purchases in the U.S. are ultra-processed foods (UPFs), raising alarms among public health experts. A new study published in Public Health Nutrition analyzed over 33 million food items bought by 59,939 American households in 2020, using the NOVA classification system to assess levels of food processing.

The research found that 48% of packaged food and 38% of beverages were UPFs—foods heavily engineered with additives and ingredients rarely used in home cooking. These included soft drinks, snacks, mixed dishes, and soups. While whole foods like fruits and vegetables had minimal UPFs, they made up only a small share (12%) of overall purchases.

Purchases of UPFs were highest among non-Hispanic white households (49%), followed by Black (47%), Hispanic (46%), and other ethnic groups (43%). Households with lower income and lower education levels also bought more UPFs, regardless of race. This suggests persistent socioeconomic and racial disparities in diet quality.

“Carbonated beverages topped the list for UPF content at 90%, followed by soups and mixed dishes (81%), and snacks and sweets (71%).” Meanwhile, dairy beverages and fruit juices showed significant variation between racial groups.

Importantly, the study only captured in-home purchases, potentially underrepresenting beverage consumption—especially among non-Hispanic Black households, who may buy more sugary drinks outside the home.

The findings highlight the pervasive role of UPFs in American diets and point to the need for federal policy action. Unlike countries that have begun regulating food processing and marketing, the U.S. lacks nationwide measures to limit UPF consumption.

Researchers urge stronger policies to reduce UPF intake and promote healthier diets, especially in vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by chronic diseases linked to ultra-processed foods.

Reference: Exploring disparities in the proportion of ultra-processed foods and beverages purchased in grocery stores by US households in 2020. Dunford, E.K., Miles, D.R., Popkin, B.M. Public Health Nutrition (2025). DOI: 10.1017/S1368980025000606, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/exploring-disparities-in-the-proportion-of-ultraprocessed-foods-and-beverages-purchased-in-grocery-stores-by-us-households-in-2020/845F4FA3CCBAEC37A3CA9124AE0538AD

A study titled "Evaluation of Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion (HOPE) for Lung Preservation" has demonstrated that the hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (HOPE) technique is a safe and effective method for preserving donor lungs, even with total out-of-body times nearing 20 hours. The study, presented by Jitte Jennekens, MSc, organ perfusionist/transplant coordinator at UMC Utrecht in the Netherlands, was unveiled at the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Annual Meeting in Boston.

"This technique has been used for preserving livers and kidneys and is undergoing trials for hearts, but it hasn't been widely studied for lung preservation," said Jennekens.

Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is an established method that allows donor lungs to be preserved and evaluated outside the body before transplantation. The lungs are connected to a pump and ventilator, perfused with a physiological fluid, and sometimes reconditioned. Typically, donor lungs are transported on ice, then warmed to 37°C for functional testing using normothermic EVLP (nEVLP), before being returned to ice until transplantation.

The UMC Utrecht’s HOPE protocol improves upon this process by eliminating the second cooling phase. After an hour of nEVLP, lungs are maintained at 12°C until transplantation. In a comparison of 12 cases using the nEVLP-HOPE protocol with 118 historical cases of direct lung transplantation without perfusion, no lungs in the HOPE group were rejected. Short-term outcomes were comparable between the two groups.

“Our results confirm that HOPE is a safe and effective preservation method following normothermic EVLP,” Jennekens said. The next step, according to Jennekens, is determining which preservation strategy works best for specific types of donor lungs, paving the way for future optimization of donor lungs with targeted therapies.

References: Park, Chanmin; Ko, Yong Jae; Kim, Hee Youn; Sagas, Michael; Eddosary, Melfy, Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 2016

A recent study published in npj Viruses warns that global trends such as urbanization, increased international travel, and the expansion of mosquito habitats are heightening the risk of yellow fever (YFV) spreading beyond its current endemic regions. Yellow fever (YF), caused by YFV, is an acute viral illness primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which thrives in urban environments. Unlike other mosquito-borne diseases, humans infected with YFV are efficient amplifiers, allowing the virus to spread rapidly in cities.

Historically, yellow fever spread from Africa to the Americas during the transatlantic slave trade. Though an effective vaccine was developed in the 1930s, and mosquito eradication efforts in the Western Hemisphere curbed the virus for decades, recent outbreaks in Africa have raised concerns. These epidemics are attributed to factors such as human population growth, inadequate vaccine coverage, and poor mosquito control.

The study highlights the Asia-Pacific region as highly vulnerable, with over two billion people living in areas infested with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and no natural immunity to YFV. Increased international travel by unvaccinated individuals could lead to the virus reaching non-endemic areas, sparking potential outbreaks.

While the World Health Organization’s “Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics” initiative aims to curb the spread, the study emphasizes the need for enhanced vaccine access, better mosquito control, and improved surveillance. Researchers also call for more investment in alternative vaccine platforms and mosquito control strategies. The authors warn that if yellow fever were to spread in today’s world, its high fatality rate could result in a global health crisis even worse than COVID-19.

References: Gubler DJ, Hanley KA, Monath TP, et al. Yellow Jack: a modern threat to Asia-Pacific countries? npj Viruses, 2025, DOI: 10.1038/s44298-024-00079-5, https://www.nature.com/articles/s44298-024-00079-5