Creating Mold-Free Buildings: A Key to Avoiding Health Effects of Indoor Molds

In view of the high costs of building diagnostics and repair subsequent to water damage—as well as the large medical diagnostic and healthcare costs associated with mold growth in buildings—commitment to a philosophy of proactive preventive maintenance for home, apartment, school, and commercial buildings could result in considerable cost savings and avoidance of major health problems among building occupants. The author identifies common causes of mold growth in buildings and summarizes key building design and construction principles essential for preventing mold contamination indoors. Physicians and healthcare workers must be made aware of conditions within buildings that can give rise to mold growth, and of resulting health problems. Timely advice provided to patients already sensitized by exposure to molds could save these individuals, and their families, from further exposures as a result of inadequate building maintenance or an inappropriate choice of replacement housing.     

Impact of hydration state and molecular oxygen on the chemical stability of levothyroxine sodium

Abstract

Levothyroxine sodium is an important medication used primarily for treating patients with hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine sodium tablets have been recalled many times since their 1955 introduction to the US market. These recalls resulted from the failure of lots to meet their content uniformity and potency specifications. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that the chemical stability of levothyroxine sodium pentahydrate is compromised upon exposing the dehydrated substance to molecular oxygen. The impact of temperature, oxygen and humidity storage conditions on the stability of solid-state levothyroxine sodium was examined. After exposure to these storage conditions for selected periods of time, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify the formation of impurities. The results showed that levothyroxine sodium samples degraded significantly over a 32-day test period when subjected to dry conditions in the presence of molecular oxygen. However, dehydrated samples remained stable when oxygen was removed from the storage chamber. Furthermore, hydrated samples were stable in the presence of oxygen and in the absence of oxygen. These results reveal conditions that will degrade levothyroxine sodium pentahydrate and elucidate measures that can be taken to stabilize the drug substance.     

Asthma and respiratory infections in school children with special reference to moisture and mold problems in the school

AIM OF THE STUDY: Initially, we performed a questionnaire study on 622 school children aged 7 to 13 y. The study was supplemented with a clinical study including skin prick tests to 13 molds in 212 (34%) children with doctor-diagnosed asthma or parental-reported wheezing or prolonged cough. These children were attending one of two elementary schools, one with moisture problems (index) school, the other being the control school. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether exposure to moisture and sensitization to molds are associated with respiratory manifestations in school children. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma was 4.8%, which was similar in the children from both schools. The children from the index school more often had wheezing (16% vs 6%; p <0.001) and cough (21% vs 9%: p < 0.001) symptoms than control children. Positive skin reactions to molds were rare (2.4%), being present in 7% of asthmatic and in 1-2% of non-asthmatic children (NS). Lower respiratory tract infections were more common in the spring than in the fall in children from the index school, but not in control children, and the difference between the schools was significant in emergency visits (OR =2.0, p <0.01) and antibiotic courses (OR = 2.1, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence of an association between moisture or mold problems in the school building and the occurrence of respiratory infections, repeated wheezing and prolonged cough in school children.     

Selective P2Y2 receptor agonists stimulate vaginal moisture in ovariectomized rabbits

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression of P2Y(2) receptors in vaginal and cervical tissues and the effects of P2Y(2) receptor agonists INS45973 and INS365 on vaginal moisture. DESIGN: Pilot in vivo and histological study using animal subjects. SETTING: Experimental laboratory research. ANIMAL(S): Female New Zealand White rabbits were used for in vivo studies and female cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) was used for in situ hybridization. INTERVENTION(S): Rabbits were kept intact or ovariectomized. Two weeks after ovariectomy, animals received daily vaginal instillation of vehicle or drugs for 16 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Vaginal moisture was assessed in rabbits on 4 separate days during the treatment period. The P2Y(2) receptor mRNA distribution was assessed by in situ hybridization of monkey vagina and cervix. RESULT(S): Compared to control, vaginal moisture was significantly diminished in ovariectomized animals treated with vehicle. INS365 (8.1%) and INS45973 (0.9%) increased vaginal moisture in ovariectomized animals to levels that were comparable to or significantly higher than control animals, respectively. In situ hybridization studies indicated that P2Y(2) receptor mRNA was localized to endocervical and cervical gland, epithelium, and stratified squamous epithelium of the vagina. CONCLUSION(S): INS45973 and INS365 may interact with P2Y(2) receptors in the cervix and vagina to stimulate vaginal moisture in the estrogen (E)-deprived state. The P2Y(2) receptor agonists provide a potential nonhormonal alternative for treating vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women.     

The ability of breathing system filters to prevent liquid contamination of breathing systems: a laboratory study

The ability of 29 different breathing system filters (five pleated hydrophobic and 24 electrostatic) to prevent the passage of water was assessed. Five, 10 or 20 ml of water was added on to the patient side of the filter during ventilation of a patient model with the filter layer orientated either horizontally or vertically. Water did not pass through the filter layer during any of the 30 tests on the pleated hydrophobic filters. In contrast, water passed through the filter layer in 39 of the 144 tests on the electrostatic filters (27%; 95% CI for difference between the filter types 14-35%; p = 0.0004). For electrostatic filters, a smaller internal volume, a larger volume of water added, and having the filter layer horizontal rather than vertical all significantly increased the probability of water penetration. Although pleated hydrophobic filters would protect the breathing system against liquid contamination, electrostatic filters can also be used, provided the internal volume is chosen appropriately and the filter layer is vertical.     

复方止痛湿敷剂的制备及疗效观察

目的 对复方止痛湿敷剂的制备与质量控制进行研究并进行临床疗效观察。方法 对主要成份大黄素、大黄酸、三七总皂苷等进行定性鉴别；进行动物皮肤刺激皮肤过敏试验；设立对照组进行临床疗效观察。结果 本制剂质量稳定，主要有效成份的鉴别特征性强，对皮肤刺激性小，临床疗效佳。结论 此制剂对急慢性扭伤、关节炎等引起的疼痛疗效良好。     

湿度对肾泰脾康片稳定性影响的研究

目的研究湿度对片剂稳定性的影 响。方法采用漫反射光谱法测定片剂表面的颜色变化，反相高效液相色谱法测定淫羊藿苷含量变化。结果湿度越大，含量下降越快，变色越快，变色速度大于含量下降速度。结论 控制片芯水分，工艺中减少引湿性成分，于干燥处存放。     

长乐颗粒剂成型工艺的初步研究

目的：筛选出合适的辅料及其配比，改善复方中药长乐方剂的成型性及其颗粒剂的引湿性。方法：通过将物料制成颗粒并对其进行粒度分布的检测确定其成型性；将所制成的颗粒在高湿的环境中测其吸湿性、流动性等粉体学性质，观察其外观确定其引湿性。结果：加入的辅料以浸膏粉：微晶纤维素：可溶性淀粉的配比为2：1．5：1．5为最佳配比。结论：加入的辅料微晶纤维素与可溶性淀粉之比为1：1时，可改善中药浸膏的成型性和颗粒剂抗湿性，制成的颗粒外观均匀。     

丹参种子的超干贮藏研究

目的确定丹参种子的最适超干方法和不同贮藏时间内的最适超干水分,并探索耐藏机制。方法用硅胶常温干燥法和恒温鼓风箱50℃干燥法将丹参种子干燥到不同的含水量后进行贮藏,通过测定种子发芽率、发芽势、活力指数等指标确定最适超干方法及超干水分;通过测定可溶性糖的量和MDA量来探索种子耐藏性。结果采用硅胶脱水比用烘箱更安全;超干丹参种子在贮藏初期耐藏性优势明显,随着贮藏时间的延长,超干种子相对于对照的耐藏性优势下降;常温密封贮藏丹参种子的最适含水量约为7.5%;种子耐藏性与种子中可溶性糖量密切相关。结论丹参种子可以采用超干贮藏方法来保存种质资源。     

中药浸膏粉吸湿过程模型及应用研究

目的:研究中药浸膏粉的吸湿过程特点,建立数学模型,为深入研究中药浸膏吸湿行为提供一种新的方法,为确定生产周期、预测产品稳定性提供参考。方法:分析中药浸膏粉吸湿过程,应用物质质量守恒定律、费克扩散第一定律,建立双指数吸湿过程模型,对中药浸膏吸湿数据进行拟合,并与其他常用5种模型比较,评价双指数模型的效果。结果:经统计分析可知,双指数模型、Weibull分布模型、一级过程模型的决定系数(R2)均较大,残差平方和(RSS),AIC值均较小,综合3种模型的实际应用意义,认为双指数模型更适用于模拟中药浸膏粉的吸湿过程。结论:所建立的双指数模型适合表征中药浸膏粉的吸湿过程。