Effect of Latex Purification and Accelerator Types on Rubber Allergens Prevalent in Sulphur Prevulcanized Natural Rubber Latex: Potential Application for Allergy-Free Natural Rubber Gloves

Safety of EUS latex balloon use in patients with a latex allergy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Balloons are used in EUS to improve visualization. However, data on the safety of latex balloons in patients with latex allergies are limited, and nonlatex alternatives can be costly. We investigated the safety of latex balloon use during EUS.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted at a tertiary center between 2019 and 2022. Patients with reported latex allergies who underwent linear EUS were included. Baseline demographics, EUS characteristics, and adverse events were collected. The primary outcome was the rate of adverse events.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven procedures were performed on 57 unique patients (mean age, 65.3 ± 14.5 years). Latex balloons were used in 59 procedures (67.8%), with only 8 procedures (13.6%) using prophylactic medications. No adverse events occurred during or after procedures, regardless of medication use or history of anaphylaxis.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of EUS latex balloons in patients with a latex allergy was associated with no adverse events.

Advancement of an Environmentally Friendly and Innovative Sustainable Rubber Wrap Film with Superior Sealing Properties

Common kitchen wraps like plastic and aluminum foil create significant environmental burdens. Plastic wrap, typically made from non-renewable fossil fuels, often ends up in landfills for centuries, breaking down into harmful microplastics. Aluminum foil, while effective, requires a large amount of energy to produce, and recycling it at home can be impractical due to food residue. A promising new alternative, low-nitrosamine rubber wrap film, aims to reduce waste by offering a reusable option compared to traditional single-use plastic wrap. The film is environmentally friendly, durable, and effective in sealing containers and keeping food fresh or crispy. The raw materials used to make the product were studied, namely fresh and concentrated natural rubber latex. No nitrosamines were found in either the fresh or concentrated latex, which is important as nitrosamines are known to be carcinogenic. The absence of nitrosamines in the raw materials suggests that the universal rubber wrap film is safe for use. In this study, the rubber formulation and properties of rubber used to make rubber wrap film were studied. The content of additives affecting the rubber properties was varied to find the optimum rubber formulation for making rubber wrap films. The rubber formulation with the least amount of chemicals that met the following criteria was selected: tensile strength of at least 15 MPa, elongation at break of at least 600%, and nitrosamine content below 6 ppm. It was found experimentally that the optimum rubber formulation for making a translucent rubber film had 0.7 phr zinc oxide and 1.0 phr sulfur. Performance tests revealed the rubber wrap film's superior sealing capabilities. Its elasticity allows for a tighter fit on containers, effectively conforming to various shapes and creating an optimal seal compared to plastic wrap and aluminum foil. The results of this study provide valuable information for developing a universal rubber wrap film that is safe with low nitrosamines.

Recent advances and perspectives on natural latex serum and its fractions for biomedical applications

Advances and the discovery of new biomaterials have opened new frontiers in regenerative medicine. These biomaterials play a key role in current medicine by improving the life quality or even saving the lives of millions of people. Since the 2000s, Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) has been employed as wound dressings, mechanical barrier for Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR), matrix for drug delivery, and grafting. NRL is a natural polymer that can stimulate cell proliferation, neoangiogenesis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) formation. Furthermore, it is well established that proteins and other biologically active molecules present in the Natural Latex Serum (NLS) are responsible for the biological properties of NRL. NLS can be obtained from NRL by three main methods, namely (i) Centrifugation (fractionation of NRL in distinct fractions), (ii) Coagulation and sedimentation (coagulating NRL to separate the NLS from rubber particles), and (iii) Alternative extraction process (elution from NRL membrane). In this review, the chemical composition, physicochemical properties, toxicity, and other biological information such as osteogenesis, vasculogenesis, adhesion, proliferation, antimicrobial behavior, and antitumoral activity of NLS, as well as some of its medical instruments and devices are discussed. The progress in NLS applications in the biomedical field, more specifically in cell cultures, alternative animals, regular animals, and clinical trials are also discussed. An overview of the challenges and future directions of the applications of NLS and its derivatives in tissue engineering for hard and soft tissue regeneration is also given.

Design, Synthesis, and Spectral Properties of Novel 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole Derivatives

This paper is focused on the optimalization of methods for the synthesis, isolation, and purification of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole-based acrylic and methacrylic monomers. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed through infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Spectroscopic properties of the resulting 2-mercaptobenzothiazole derivatives were determined based on their absorption spectra and molar absorption coefficients in solvents with varying polarities. A correlation was established between the calculated density functional theory (DFT) energies and Frontier Molecular Orbitals and the experimental observations, confirming their consistency. The practical utility of the synthesized compounds, particularly in future polymerization processes, hinges on a thorough understanding of these properties.