Prognostic significance of cytochemical analysis of leukemic M2 blasts

Cytochemical analysis of leukemic blasts from 46 patients with acute myeloblastic M2 leukemia (according to the FAB classification) was performed before and after cytostatic therapy, and compared with findings obtained in 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Cytochemical findings for myeloperoxidase (MPO), Sudan black B, acid phosphatase and alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase (ANAE) were related to the achievement of the first complete remission (CR),i.e. data were compared after the patients had been divided into CR and non-CR groups. The analysis clearly showed that a high proportion of myeloperoxidase- and, to a lesser extent, Sudan black B-positive blasts before treatment may have constituted a significantly unfavourable prognostic factor.     

Patterns of asbestosis in New Jersey.

Hospital discharge data from New Jersey were used to identify cases of asbestosis for the 8 years 1979-1986. Multiple admissions were deleted so that each individual was counted once at the time of his/her first hospitalization with an asbestosis diagnosis. White males had the highest age-adjusted average annual discharge rate of 19.3 cases/100,000 population, followed by black males (12.3 cases/100,000) and white females (1.2 cases/100,000). The discharge rate was positively associated with age in each race/sex category. The relationship between rates for black males and white males depended on age: under 65 years, the rates were almost equal, and at 65 years and older, the white rates were nearly twice the black rates. There were two areas of the state where the rates were highest: the north-central and southwest regions. These two areas represent manufacturing and shipbuilding applications of asbestos, respectively. During the years 1979-1986, the annual percentage increase in asbestosis rates was 20% for white males, 17% for black males, and 8% for white females. Continued surveillance will reveal when the rates for asbestosis stop increasing.     

In vivo and in vitro comparison of fire ant venom and fire ant whole body extract

Thirty-four patients with a history of immediate hypersensitivity to the sting of the imported fire ant were evaluated in a study designed to compare the diagnostic usefulness of fire ant whole body extract (WBE) preparations with that of fire ant venom (IFAV). Ninety-one percent ($\text{31}\text{34}$) of the hypersensitive patients skin tested with IFAV at a maximal concentration of 1:5 × 10³, $\text{v}\text{v}$, demonstrated a wheat equal to or greater than the histamine control. Fifty-three percent ($\text{18}\text{34}$) of the group were skin test positive to a WBE preparation. When the criteria for a positive skin test were relaxed, 82% of the hypersensitive group could be identified with the IFAWBE. A comparison of skin test results in sensitive patients revealed variability in the sensitivity of the WBE preparations utilized in the study. Leukocyte histamine release demonstrated a dose-response release of histamine with both IFAV and SIWBEa preparations. Specific venom antisera produced in rabbits identified a precipitin line of common identity in a gel-diffusion system containing IFAWBE and IFAV. This finding was verified by the competitive inhibition of IFAWBE with IFAV in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay system. Fire ant WBEs contain venom constituents and are effective diagnostic agents in up to 82% of patients with hypersensitivity to the sting of the imported fire ant. Marked variability in the responsiveness of sensitive patients to different WBE preparations mandates standardization of these diagnostic preparations.     

Liquid Guayule Natural Rubber,a Sustainable Processing Aid,Enhances the Processability,Durability and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Rubber Composites

Petroleum-based oils are widely used as processing aids in rubber composites to improve processability but can adversely affect rubber composite performance and increase carbon footprint. In this research, liquid guayule natural rubber (LGNR), produced from guayule natural rubber, was used as a renewable processing aid to replace naphthenic oil (NO) in Hevea natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and guayule natural rubber (GNR) composites. The rheological properties, thermal stability, glass transition temperature, dynamic mechanical properties, aging, and ozone resistance of rubber composites with and without NO or LGNR were compared. Natural and synthetic rubber composites made with LGNR had similar processability to those made with NO, but had improved thermal stability, mechanical properties after aging, and ozone resistance. This was due to the strong LGNR–filler interaction and additional crosslinks formed between LGNR and the rubber matrices. The glass transition temperature of SBR composites was reduced by LGNR because of its increased molecular mobility. Thus, unlike NO, LGNR processing aid can simultaneously improve rubber composite durability, dynamic performance and renewability. The commercialization of LGNR has the potential to open a new sustainable processing-aid market.     

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and Peonidin-3-O-glucoside-Rich Fraction of Black Rice Germ and Bran Suppresses Inflammatory Responses from SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein S1-Induction In Vitro in A549 Lung Cells and THP-1 Macrophages via Inhibition of the NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway

Black rice is a functional food that is high in anthocyanin content, primarily C3G and P3G. It possesses nutraceutical properties that exhibit a range of beneficial effects on human health. Currently, the spike glycoprotein S1 subunit of SARS-CoV-2 (SP) has been reported for its contribution to pathological inflammatory responses in targeting lung tissue and innate immune cells during COVID-19 infection and in the long-COVID phenomenon. Our objectives focused on the health benefits of the C3G and P3G-rich fraction of black rice germ and bran (BR extract) on the inhibition of inflammatory responses induced by SP, as well as the inhibition of NF-kB activation and the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in an in vitro model. In this study, BR extract was identified for its active anthocyanins, C3G and P3G, using the HPLC technique. A549-lung cells and differentiated THP-1 macrophages were treated with BR extract, C3G, or P3G prior to exposure to 100 ng/mL of SP. Their anti-inflammatory properties were then determined. BR extract at concentrations of 12.5–100 μg/mL exhibited anti-inflammation activity for both A549 and THP-1 cells through the significant suppression of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 inflammatory gene expressions and IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-18 cytokine secretions in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). It was determined that both cell lines, C3G and P3G (at 1.25–10 μg/mL), were compatibly responsible for the significant inhibition of SP-induced inflammatory responses for both gene and protein levels (p < 0.05). With regard to the anti-inflammation mechanism, BR extract, C3G, and P3G could attenuate SP-induced inflammation via counteraction with NF-kB activation and downregulation of the inflammasome-dependent inflammatory pathway proteins (NLRP3, ASC, and capase-1). Overall, the protective effects of anthocyanins obtained from black rice germ and bran can be employed in potentially preventive strategies that use pigmented rice against the long-term sequelae of COVID-19 infection.     

穴位杵针配合眼周按摩治疗18—30岁女性黑眼圈的临床疗效观察

目前治疗黑眼圈的方法很多,可以采用针灸、按摩、药膳、中药外敷、中药内服、西药内服、物力治疗、化妆品、改变生活习惯,等等。但单纯使用每种方法都其局限性,所以,仍需要去探求有效易行的方法。     

Performance Improvement Effect of Asphalt Binder Using Pyrolysis Carbon Black

The generation of waste tires is rapidly increasing. Waste tire pyrolysis is an alternative to waste tire recycling. The main substances extracted in the waste tire pyrolysis method include oil, carbon black, and iron. In this study, carbon black from the pyrolysis of waste tires was used to modify and improve the permanent deformation properties of the asphalt binder, and 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of pyrolysis carbon black by weight were mixed in raw asphalt, which is called AP-3 and AP-5. Laboratory tests, such as the softening point test, flash point test, rotational viscometer test, dynamic shear rheometer test, and bending beam rheometer test, were carried out. The use of pyrolysis carbon black increased the softening point and rotational viscosity at 135 °C. When using 15% PCB for AP-3 and 10% PCB for AP-5, the performance improvement effect of the resistance to permanent deformation was significant. The use of pyrolysis carbon black decreased fatigue at room temperature and improved the resistance of low-temperature cracking up to −12 °C but gave poor results at −18 °C.     

黑米花色素苷对大鼠血液生化指标和巨噬细胞功能影响的研究

目的观察黑米花色素苷(black rice anthocyanin,BA)对大鼠血液生化指标的影响及其对腹腔巨噬细胞(peritoneal macrophage,PM)与肺泡巨噬细胞(alveolar macrophage,AM)的激活作用,探讨其对大鼠的免疫调节作用。方法雌性SD大鼠24只,随机分为对照组和BA低(BAL,25mg/kgbw),中(BAM,50mg/kgbw),高(BAH,100mg/kgbw)剂量组4组。除对照组给生理盐水外,另三组分别给予相应剂量的BA,1/d连续30d。实验结束时,从股动脉取血,用生化方法测定巨噬细胞内乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力、及丙二醛(MDA)含量,并进一步观察巨噬细胞摄取中性红的能力。结果BA组大鼠血液中尿素氮(UN)、尿酸(UA)、甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)水平都有不同程度的降低,PM内ACP、LDH活力显著升高,PM和AM内SOD活力升高,MDA水平降低,而且能显著增强PM、AM的吞噬能力。结论BA对大鼠血液和巨噬细胞生化指标有重要的免疫调节作用。     

The Relationship between Habitual Coffee Drinking and the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Taiwanese Adults: Evidence from the Taiwan Biobank Database

Previous studies revealed inconsistent results between coffee drinking and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between habitual coffee drinking and the prevalence of MetS among men and women. We conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional study using 23,073 adults obtained from the Taiwan Biobank database (mean ± SD (range) age, 54.57 ± 0.07 (30–79) years; 8341 men and 14,731 (63.8%) women). Adults who drank more than one cup of coffee per day (n = 5118) and those who drank less than one cup per day (n = 4515) were compared with nondrinkers (n = 13,439). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the risk of MetS between the two groups. Separate models were also estimated for sex-stratified and habitual coffee-type-stratified (black coffee (BC), coffee with creamer (CC), and coffee with milk (CM)) subgroup analyses. The MetS diagnosis was based on at least three of the five metabolic abnormalities. Coffee drinkers (≥1 cup/day) had a significantly lower prevalence of MetS than nondrinkers (AOR (95% CI): 0.80 (0.73–0.87)). Women who drank any amount of coffee and any type of coffee were more likely to have a significantly lower prevalence of MetS than nondrinkers. Only men who drank more than one cup of coffee per day or black coffee drinkers were more likely to have a lower prevalence of MetS. Our study results indicate that adults with habitual coffee drinking behaviors of more than one cup per day were associated with a lower prevalence of MetS. Moreover, women could benefit from habitual coffee drinking of all three coffee types, whereas men could only benefit from drinking BC.     

Pseudoventricular Tachycardia

This program is acceptable for 24 hours of Prescribed credit by the American Academy of Family Physicians and 24 hours of Category 1 credit toward the Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association. If movies are viewed, additional credits are available. Further information and registration and hotel reservation forms can be secured by writing to: Interstate Postgraduate Medical Association, PO Box 1109, Madison, WI 53701.