E-cigarettes and health risks: more to the flavor than just the name.

The growing interest in regulating flavored E-liquids must incorporate understanding of the "flavoring profile" of each E-liquid-which flavorings (flavoring chemicals) are present and at what concentrations not just focusing on the flavor on the label. We investigated the flavoring profile of 10 different flavored E-liquids. We assessed bronchial epithelial cell viability and apoptosis, phagocytosis of bacteria and apoptotic cells by macrophages after exposure to E-cigarette vapor extract (EVE). We validated our data in normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE) and alveolar macrophages (AM) from healthy donors. We also assessed cytokine release and validated in the saliva from E-cigarette users. Increased necrosis/apoptosis (16.1-64.5% apoptosis) in 16HBE cells was flavor dependent, and NHBEs showed an increased susceptibility to flavors. In THP-1 differentiated macrophages phagocytosis was also flavor dependent, with AM also showing increased susceptibility to flavors. Further, Banana and Chocolate were shown to reduce surface expression of phagocytic target recognition receptors on alveolar macrophages. Banana and Chocolate increased IL-8 secretion by NHBE, whereas all 4 flavors reduced AM IL-1ß secretion, which was also reduced in the saliva of E-cigarette users compared with healthy controls. Flavorant profiles of E-liquids varied from simple 2 compound mixtures to complex mixtures containing over a dozen flavorants. E-liquids with high benzene content, complex flavoring profiles, high chemical concentration had the greatest impacts. The Flavorant profile of E-liquids is key to disruption of the airway status quo by increasing bronchial epithelial cell apoptosis, causing alveolar macrophage phagocytic dysfunction, and altering airway cytokines.

Clinical features of mild cognitive impairment differ in the research and tertiary clinic settings.

OBJECTIVE: Comparative analysis of subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosed in a primary research setting and those seen in a tertiary care memory disorders clinic. METHODS: Subjects who received a diagnosis of MCI between July 1, 2005, and December 31, 2006, in a longitudinal research study of normal cognition (n = 48) and patients diagnosed in a tertiary care referral clinic (n = 34) were evaluated using similar methodologies. Comparative analyses of detailed medical, neurological and neuropsychological data are presented. RESULTS: The diagnosis of MCI was not accepted by 13 of 48 subjects (27%) classified as MCI in the primary research setting. Nondegenerative, potentially treatable causes of cognitive decline were found in 3 of 34 subjects (9%) seen in the tertiary referral clinic and in 11 of 35 subjects (31%) identified as MCI in the primary research setting (p = 0.02, Fisher's exact test). MCI subjects identified in the primary research setting were older than those referred to the memory clinic (mean +/- SD, 79.7 +/- 7.0 vs. 71.5 +/- 9.0 years, p < 0.0001, t test) and had more years of education (16.0 +/- 3.2 vs. 13.6 +/- 4.2 years, p < 0.01, t test). MCI subjects in the primary research setting appeared to be in a milder stage of disease, characterized by higher Mini-Mental State Examination scores (28.2 +/- 1.8 vs. 25.7 +/- 1.8, p < 0.0001), and a tendency towards single domain involvement, predominantly memory (mean number of domains involved, 1.0 vs. 2.5, p < 0.0001). More advanced stages of MCI, seen in the tertiary referral population, had additional involvement of attention (p < 0.0001, Fisher's exact test) and visuospatial domains (p < 0.0002, Fisher's exact test). Semiquantitative grading of hippocampal and medial temporal lobe atrophy did not differ between groups (p = 0.81, Mann-Whitney U test). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of MCI may be unwelcome in naïve persons. Remedial causes of MCI should be actively investigated. Demographic and clinical characteristics of MCI differ between research subjects and patients referred to a tertiary care clinic.

Root exudates of the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens do not enhance metal mobilization.

• To examine whether root exudates of the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens play a role in metal hyperaccumulation, we compared the metal mobilization capacity of root exudates collected from two ecotypes of T. caerulescens, and from the nonaccumulators wheat (Triticum aestivum) and canola (Brassica napus). • Plants were grown hydroponically and three treatments (control, -Fe and -Zn) were later imposed for 2 wk before collection of root exudates. • On a basis of root d. wt, the total soluble organic C in the root exudates of T. caerulescens was similar to that of wheat, and significantly higher than that of canola. In all treatment, the root exudates of T. caerulescens and canola mobilized little Cu and Zn from Cu- or Zn-loaded resins, and little Zn, Cd, Cu or Fe from a contaminated calcareous soil. By contrast, the root exudates of wheat generally mobilized more metals from both resin and soil. In particular, the -Fe treatment, and to a lesser extent the -Zn treatment, elicited large increases in the metal mobilization capacity of the root exudates from wheat. • We conclude that root exudates from T. caerulescens do not significantly enhance mobilization of Zn and Cd, and therefore are not involved in Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation.

[Pulmonary manifestations of primary Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome. Apropos of 8 cases in a series of 35 patients]. / Manifestations pulmonaires du syndrome de Gougerot-Sjögren primitif. A propos de huit observations dans une série de 35 patients.

Clinical, roentgenologic, functional and broncho-alveolar lavage features of lung involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome were assessed in a retrospective study of 35 cases. Diffuse interstitial patterns on chest radiography were present in six patients and alveolar patterns were suggestive of lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis or pseudolymphoma in two. Acute and febrile onset mimicked infectious pneumonitis in three patients when dyspnea was the most common clinical feature in others. Patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and pulmonary disease were older (65 vs 56 years) (P = 0.025), have more frequently extra-glandular manifestations (P = 0.03), keratoconjunctivis sicca (P = 0.018) and biological perturbations (hypergammaglobulinemia (P = 0.03), antinuclear antibodies (P = 0.01) than those without lung involvement. Low diffusion capacity was present in seven patients associated twice to small airways obstruction. Bronchoalveolar lavage revealed in all cases an increased total cells count (mean: 6.96 10(5)/mm3) and a lymphocytic alveolitis (range: 11 to 66%; mean: 38%) associated with an elevated percentage of alveolar neutrophils in four patients. A low CD4/CD8 ratio was related to a pejorative issue. Treatment consisted in corticotherapy combined with oral cyclophosphamide in case of pseudolymphoma.

Filial responsibility expectations among adult child-older parent pairs.

We investigated filial responsibility consensus in a random sample of 144 elderly parent-adult child pairs. Most respondents interpreted the filial role as including a great deal of emotional support and discussion of important matters and available resources. Both generations perceived living close by and writing letters to parents on a weekly basis as less important. Parents, compared to their offspring, were more likely to disapprove of receiving financial assistance from children, living with children, and having children adjust their work schedules to help them. Robinson's A revealed that there was a moderate level of intergenerational agreement on filial responsibility expectations.

Transient postnatal elevation of serotonin levels in mouse neocortex.

Serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (HIAA) levels were measured during ontogeny of frontoparietal cortex in Balb/C mice by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. Unlike NE, the concentration of 5-HT was transiently elevated to more than twice the adult level during the first postnatal week; this was accompanied by increased HIAA content comparable to the adult, indicating elevated levels of 5-HT release. Since a transient hyperplasia of 5-HT-immunoreactive fibers and uptake sites has been observed previously in the same cortical areas, the transient elevation of 5-HT levels may play an important role in shaping early postnatal morphogenetic events in neocortex.

Extraction of cobalt from thiocyanate solutions with polyurethane foam.

The extraction of cobalt (II) from aqueous thiocyanate solutions with polyurethane foam has been extensively investigated. The extraction is enhanced by high thiocyanate concentration, high ionic strength and low temperature. A pH of 1.0-9.0 can be used for efficient extraction. Cobalt can be extracted at low concentration and the distribution coefficient is independent of foam weight. Several foam types and foam pretreatments have been examined. The effect of various substances added to the cobalt thiocyanate solutions has been investigated. Some of these substances caused either enhanced or decreased extractions by interacting with the polyurethane foam or by changing the solution chemistry.

The cation-chelation mechanism of metal-ion sorption by polyurethanes.

The mechanism of sorption of ions by polyurethanes has been investigated through detailed studies of the extraction of cobalt(II) thiocyanate and the salts of several organic acids. Polyether-based polyurethanes. particularly those containing poly(ethylene oxide), were found to be distinctly superior to polyesters in the sorption of salts and performed much better than might be expected by analogy with monomeric liquid solvents. The results were judged to be inconsistent with several possible mechanisms, including adsorption, solvent extraction, weak or strong base anion-exchange, and complexation of metal anions by the polymer. A new proposal, termed the cation chelation mechanism (CCM), was advanced to account for the observations. In this view, a number of cations (including those of the alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, some transition metals, NH(+)(4), RNH(+)(3) and perhaps H(3)O(+)) may be multiply complexed (chelated) by portions of the polymer, thus facilitating the sorption of accompanying anions. As predicted by the mechanism, moderately strong and selective complexation of several cations was observed to occur with the following order of selectivity: Li(+) < Na(+) < Cs(+) < Rb(+) < K(+) approximately NH(+)(4) < Ag(+) approximately Tl(+) < Ba(2+) < Hg(2+) < Pb(2+). Such behaviour parallels that known for many crown and non-cyclic polyethers and is therefore identified with the polyether portions of the polymer, which are thought to adopt helical conformations surrounding the complexed cations. The cation-chelation mechanism may be widely applicable to the sorption of ions of several types by polyether-based polyurethanes, particularly when large, hydrophobic anions (such as anionic metal complexes) are accompanied by an excess of chelatable cations.

X-ray fluorescence determination of cobalt on polyurethane foam.

Although the extraction and preconcentration of several species by polyurethane foam have been reported, very few methods have included a direct determination of the component on the polymer. Cobalt thiocyanate is highly extractable by polyether polyurethane from solutions of 3M NH(4)Cl and 1M NH(4)SCN. After extraction of the cobalt the foam discs can be analysed by X-ray fluorescence, which gives a linear response for samples treated identically. Cobalt at levels as low as 0.05 ppm can be quantitatively extracted and cobalt determined in the presence of several other metal ions.