Background: Accurate assessment is required to assess current and changing physical activity levels, and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions designed to increase activity levels. This study systematically reviewed the literature to determine the extent of agreement between subjectively (self-report e.g. questionnaire, diary) and objectively (directly measured; e.g. accelerometry, doubly labeled water) assessed physical activity in adults.

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A case-control study was conducted to determine the association between plasma organochlorine levels and prostate cancer risk. Male clinic patients scheduled for prostate core biopsy or seeing their urologist for other conditions from 1997 through 1999 in Kingston, Ontario were eligible, excluding those with an earlier cancer. Age frequency matched controls (n ¼ 329) were compared with 79 incident prostate cancer cases. Before knowledge of diagnosis, the patients completed a questionnaire and donated 15 ml of blood for the measurement of 14 PCBs, and 13 organochlorine pesticides by gas chromatography. At least 70% of patients had detectable levels of nine PCB congeners and seven pesticides, and these chemicals were included in the risk analysis adjusted for total lipids. Geometric means for these PCB congeners, total PCBs, and p,p'-DDE are slightly lower for cases than controls, whereas the levels of p,p'-DDT and other pesticides are virtually equal. Adjusting for age and other confounders in multivariable logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) are consistently below 1.0 for PCB congeners and total PCBs. For pesticides, most ORs are very close to the null. This study suggests that longterm low-level exposure to organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in the general population does not contribute to increased prostate cancer risk.

We investigated an outbreak of listeriosis detected by whole-genome multilocus sequence typing and associated with packaged leafy green salads. Nineteen cases were identified in the United States during July 5, 2015–January 31, 2016; isolates from case-patients were closely related (median difference 3 alleles, range 0–16 alleles). Of 16 case-patients interviewed, all reported salad consumption. Of 9 case-patients who recalled brand information, all reported brands processed at a common US facility. The Public Health Agency of Canada simultaneously investigated 14 cases of listeriosis associated with this outbreak. Isolates from the processing facility, packaged leafy green salads, and 9 case-patients from Canada were closely related to US clinical isolates (median difference 3 alleles, range 0–16 alleles). This investigation led to a recall of packaged leafy green salads made at the processing facility. Additional research is needed to identify best practices and effective policies to reduce the likelihood of Listeria monocytogenes contamination of fresh produce.

Cyclospora cayetanensis was identified in 176 returned travellers from the Riviera Maya region of Mexico between 1 June and 22 September 2015; 79 in the United Kingdom (UK) and 97 in Canada. UK cases completed a food exposure questionnaire. This increase in reported Cyclospora cases highlights risks of gastrointestinal infections through travelling, limitations in Cyclospora surveillance and the need for improved hygiene in the production of food consumed in holiday resorts.