Quality assessment of Rheum species cultivated in Japan by focusing on M2 polarization of microglia

In traditional Japanese medicine, Rhei Rhizoma is used as a purgative, blood stasis-resolving and antipsychotic drug. The latter two properties are possibly related to anti-inflammatory effects. Microglia regulate inflammation in the central nervous system. M1 microglia induce inflammation, while M2 microglia inhibit inflammation and show neurotrophic effects. This study investigated the effects from water extracts of roots of cultivated Rheum species in Nagano Prefecture, Japan (strain C, a related strain to a Japanese cultivar, 'Shinshu-Daio'; and strain 29, a Chinese strain) and 3 kinds of Rhei Rhizoma available in the Japanese market, and also examined their constituents on the polarization of cultured microglia. All extracts significantly decreased M1 microglia, and strains C and 29 significantly increased M2 microglia. Furthermore, the extracts of both strains significantly increased the M2/M1 ratio. Among the constituents of Rhei Rhizoma, ( +)-catechin (2), resveratrol 4'-O-β-D-(6″-O-galloyl) glucopyranoside (5), isolindleyin (8), and physcion (15) significantly increased the M2/M1 ratio. The contents of the constituents in water extract of each strain were quantified using HPLC. The extracts of strains C and 29 contained relatively large amounts of 2 and 5; and 2, 8, and 15, respectively. This study showed the water extracts of roots of cultivated Rheum strains in Japan had the effects of M2 polarization of microglia, suggesting that these strains become the candidate to develop anti-inflammatory Rhei Rhizoma. Moreover, the suitable chemical composition to possess anti-inflammatory activity in the brain was clarified for the future development of new type of Rhei Rhizoma.

Associations between short-term exposure of PM2.5 constituents and hospital admissions of cardiovascular diseases among 18 major Chinese cities

Previous studies showed different risk effects on exposure of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) mass for cardiovascular disease (CVD) globally, which is likely due to different constituents of PM_2.5. This study aimed to investigate the association between short-term exposure of PM_2.5 constituents and hospital admissions of CVD. Daily counts of city-specific hospital admissions for CVD in 18 cities in China between 2014 and 2017 were extracted from the national Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance database and the Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning Information Center database. Directly measured PM_2.5 constituents, including ions and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, were collected by the Chinese Environmental Public Health Tracking system. We used the time-stratified case-crossover design to estimate the association between PM_2.5 constituents and hospital admissions of CVD. Concentrations of ions accounted for the majority of the detected constituents. Excess risk (ER) of average ions concentrations for CVD was highest as 2.30% (95% CI: 1.62-2.99%) for NH₄⁺, whose major sources are residential and agricultural emissions. This was followed by 1.85% (1.30-2.41%) for NO₃^- (generally from vehicles), 0.95% (0.28-1.63%) for SO₄^2- (often from fossil fuel burning) respectively. The association for ions were generally consistent with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and ischemic stroke, e.g., NH₄⁺ was associated with IHD (2.50%; 1.52-3.48%) and ischemic stroke (1.77%; 0.65-2.9%). For polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mainly from coal and vehicle-related oil combustion, the constituents were all associated with ischemic stroke but not for IHD. The ER for ischemic stroke was highest at 1.69% (0.99-2.39%) for indeno (123-cd) pyrene. Thus, in terms of the subtypes of CVD, the risks of hospital admissions varied with exposure to different PM_2.5 constituents. Exposed to NH₄⁺ had the highest risk to IHD and ischemic stroke, whereas PAHs were predominately associated with ischemic stroke only.

Constituent transformation mechanism of concentrated leachate after incineration at different temperatures

Spraying concentrated leachate into an incineration furnace and burning is encouraged by the Chinese government as a harmless method for leachate treatment. In this research, the constituent transformation mechanism was studied, by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), of residues after burning the concentrated leachate in a muffle furnace at different temperatures (750 °C, 850 °C, 900 °C, 1000 °C, and 1100 °C). XRD results showed that the main components of the residues were metal chlorides and calcium salt crystals and that the peak position of most of these crystals changed little because their crystal structure was stable at high temperatures. SEM results illustrated that the higher the burning temperature, the smaller the solid particles, and the looser the structures of the residues. EDS analysis showed that S atoms in the concentrated leachate were usually transformed into gaseous compounds during incineration, whereas most of the Cl atoms could be fastened onto solid residues if an appropriate temperature was maintained. This study concluded that 900 °C was the best burning temperature for spraying concentrated leachate into the furnace. In addition, this study suggested that material selection for the nozzle and flue gas pipelines must pay more attention to corrosion caused by gaseous sulfur compounds. Similarly, material selection for the inner wall of the incinerator furnace should pay more attention to corrosion caused by Cl atoms. This means that the municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration power plants should incorporate various and appropriate corrosion-resistant materials according to the different regions of the incinerator.

Identifying principles for effective messages about chemicals in cigarette smoke

US law requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to disclose information on harmful and potentially harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke (i.e., constituents) to the public. To inform this effort, we sought to identify principles for creating constituent messages that effectively discourage smoking. Participants were an online convenience sample of 1148 US smokers ages 18+. We developed a library of 76 messages about constituents only and constituents plus contextualizing information (i.e., toxic products that also contain the chemical, health effects, or both). We randomized smokers to receive 1 message from each of 7 message panels in a mixed between-/within-subjects experiment. Participants rated each message on perceived message effectiveness. Results indicated that smokers perceived messages about arsenic, formaldehyde, lead, uranium, and ammonia as more effective than messages about nitrosamines. Messages that contained information on toxic products, health effects, or both received higher effectiveness ratings than constituent-only messages. Among constituent-only messages, those that referenced multiple constituents received higher effectiveness ratings than those with fewer constituents. We conclude that chemical messages may have more impact if they pair known constituents with toxic product or health effect information. These message principles can be used to inform studies examining the impact of constituent messages on smoking beliefs and behavior.

Effects of fine particulate matter and its constituents on emergency room visits for asthma in southern Taiwan during 2008-2010: a population-based study

This population-based study evaluated the short-term association between fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) concentrations and its constituents and hospital emergency room visits (ERVs) for asthma in southern Taiwan during the period 2008-2010. Data on hospital ERVs for asthma and ambient PM_2.5 levels and its constituents were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research database and the Environmental Protection Administration, respectively. The quasi-Poisson generalized additive model was used to explore the associations between PM_2.5 and hospital ERVs for asthma. During the study period, the average daily number of ERVs for asthma and mean 24-h average level of PM_2.5 was 20.0 and 39.4 μg m^-3, respectively. The estimated effects of PM_2.5 on asthma ERVs fluctuated with increasing tendencies after adjusting for O₃ and attenuating tendencies after adjusting for NO₂, SO₂, and CO. Children were more susceptible than other age groups to the effects of PM_2.5 exposure on asthma ERVs, with the relative risks (RRs) for every 10 μg m^-3 increase in PM_2.5 being 1.016 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.002-1.030] and 1.018 (95% CI = 1.002-1.034), respectively, at a lag 0 day (i.e., no lag days) and lag 0-1 days. The effect of PM_2.5 concentrations on asthma ERVs was similar in male and female. Furthermore, asthma ERVs was significantly associated with concentrations of nitrate (NO₃^-), with the RR for each 1 μg m^-3 increase in NO₃^- concentrations being 1.004 (95% CI = 1.001-1.007) at lag 0 day. In conclusion, both PM_2.5 concentrations and its chemical constituents are associated with ERVs for asthma; moreover, children were more susceptible to the effects of PM_2.5 in southern Taiwan. PM_2.5 constituent, nitrate, is more closely related to ERVs for asthma.

Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants and Their Constituents on Lung Inflammatory Disorders

Acute bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) are essentially lung inflammatory disorders. Various plant extracts and their constituents showed therapeutic effects on several animal models of lung inflammation. These include coumarins, flavonoids, phenolics, iridoids, monoterpenes, diterpenes and triterpenoids. Some of them exerted inhibitory action mainly by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and nuclear transcription factor-κB activation. Especially, many flavonoid derivatives distinctly showed effectiveness on lung inflammation. In this review, the experimental data for plant extracts and their constituents showing therapeutic effectiveness on animal models of lung inflammation are summarized.

Mortality and emergency room visits associated with ambient particulate matter constituents in metropolitan Taipei

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the elderly mortality and all population emergency room visits (ERV) associated with exposing to particulate matter (PM) ≤10μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10), PM2.5, and PM constituents in Taipei, Taiwan.

METHODS

This study used a distributed lag nonlinear model with Poisson distribution to estimate cumulative 6-day (lags 0-5) relative risks (RRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) of mortality and ERV of all causes, circulatory diseases, and respiratory diseases associated with daily concentrations of PM10, PM2.5 and PM constituents (organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), nitrate and sulfate).

RESULTS

Mortality and ERVs were associated with PM concentrations and its constituents. The elderly all-cause mortality was significantly associated with nitrate concentrations (RR=1.12 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.23) at 1μg/m(3)) and OC higher than 15μg/m(3); and mortality from circulatory diseases was significantly associated with PM10 (RR=1.13 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.25) at 50μg/m(3)), PM2.5 (RR=1.16 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.34) at 30μg/m(3)), nitrate higher than 8μg/m(3), and sulfate (RR=1.31 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.54) at 7μg/m(3)). An increase in PM2.5 from 5μg/m(3) to 30μg/m(3) was associated with increased ERV risk of all causes and respiratory diseases with cumulative 6-day RRs of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.18) and 1.27 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.46), respectively. All-cause ERV was significantly associated with concentrations of OC (RR=1.03 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.06) at 4μg/m(3)), EC (RR=1.08 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.12) at 2μg/m(3)), nitrate higher than 6μg/m(3), and sulfate higher than 8μg/m(3).

CONCLUSIONS

Ambient air quality management should regularly evaluate PM constituents and related health effects.

Haemolymph constituents and osmolality as functions of moult stage, body weight, and feeding status in marron, Cherax cainii () and yabbies, Cherax destructor (Clark, 1936)

The study investigates the change in osmolality and haemolymph constituents in marron Cherax cainii and yabbies Cherax destructor associated with moult stages, body weights and their feeding status. A total of 582 haemolymph samples from 5 moult stages (postmoult-AB, intermoult-C, and premoult stages – D₀, D₁, D₂), two body weight classes (2–15 g and 61–75 g) and nutritional status were used for analysis of osmolality, protein, glucose, and ionic concentrations of potassium and chloride following the standard biochemical procedures. The haemolymph protein, glucose, potassium and chloride levels were highest at intermoult and early premoult stages, and lowest at postmoult in both crayfish species. Except protein, no significant differences were seen in analyzed parameters between various weight classes and two species. Haemolymph osmolality, protein and glucose were significantly higher in fed crayfish, whereas no variations in haemolymph potassium and chloride concentrations were observed between the fed and unfed crayfish. Maximum osmolality was recorded at 7–8 h after feeding in both crayfish species. The results showed that the biochemical changes in the haemolymph of marron and yabbies are related to moult stages, body weight and feeding and thus can be used as tools for determining suitable diets.