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Lead is one of the heavy metals that is toxic and widely distributed in the environment, and children are more sensitive to the toxic effects of lead because the blood–brain barrier and immune system are not yet well developed. The objective of the study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of lead poisoning in children aged 0∼6 years in a hospital in Guangxi, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of lead poisoning. We collected and analyzed the clinical data of 32 children with lead poisoning admitted to a hospital in Guangxi from 2010 to 2018. The results showed that most of the 32 cases presented with hyperactivity, irritability, poor appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation. The hemoglobin (HGB), mean corpusular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and hematocrit (HCT) of the lead-poisoned children were all decreased to different degrees and were below normal acceptable levels. Urinary β2-microglobulin was increased. Blood lead levels (BLL) decreased significantly after intravenous injection of the lead chelator, calcium disodium edetate (CaNa2-EDTA). In addition, HGB returned to normal levels, while MCV, MCH, and HCT increased but remained below normal levels. Urinary β2-microglobulin was reduced to normal levels. Therefore, in this cohort of children, the high-risk factors for lead poisoning are mainly Chinese medicines, such as baby powder. In conclusion, lead poisoning caused neurological damage and behavioral changes in children and decreased erythrocyte parameters, leading to digestive symptoms and renal impairment, which can be attenuated by CaNa2-EDTA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an inorganic filler, the fine particle talcum powder exhibits the poor compatibility when blended with polymers. By the "grafting from" method, a modified talcum powder (Talc-g-pla) was synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide in bulk. The polymer chains grew in situ and chemically grafted on the talc surface, which was tightly connected even after washing with dichloromethane for 24 h. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscope (AFM), and the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of Talc-g-pla confirmed the successful modification of talc with PLA, which was about 2 wt%. Due to the good compatibility by the grafted PLA as a bridge between PLA and talc, the Talc-g-pla was well dispersed and served as an efficient nucleating agent of commercial PLA at low loadings. For the PLA/Talc-g-pla composite by the blend of Talc-g-pla with PLA in the proportions between 0.5–3.0 wt%, the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and polarized optical microscope (POM) showed that the improvement of thermodynamic properties and crystallization of PLA/Talc-g-pla composites were more obvious than those of the PLA/Talc physical composites. The DSC results suggested that the 1 wt% Talc-g-pla increased the crystallinity of PLA by over 3% than talc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to optimize the processing of Myristica fragrans Houtt. by talcum powder simmering using single-factor and orthogonal experimental methods, and the overall desirability values of dehydrodiisoeugenol and essential oils content were selected as indicators of the process. The new process reduced the total content of the three toxic components, namely myristicin, safrole and elemicin, from 1.91% to 1.16% before and after processing, indicating that the toxic components were reduced by 39%. The IC50 of the essential oils before and after processing were 1.002 ± 0.05 and 0.233 ± 0.05 mg/mL for DPPH scavenging activity and 0.132 ± 0.04 and 0.057 ± 0.05 mg/mL for ABTS scavenging activity, respectively. And the absorbance of the antioxidant activity against Ferric reducing power ranged from 0.213 to 0.709 and from 0.225 to 0.755, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration for Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pumilus and Escherichia coli were all lower after processing than before. The antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity of the essential oils after processing were better than before. The results of the survival of zebrafish embryos at different concentrations of essential oils at 0–168 h post fertilisation were higher after processing than before. These findings suggest that processing plays the role of reducing toxicity and increasing beneficial effects. They provide a scientific basis not only for the processing of M. fragrans, but also for the processing of other foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Douglas maple (Acer glabrum Torr. var. Douglasii (Hook.) Dippel [Aceraceae]) has potential for habitat development in urban landscapes. Efficacious micropropagation methodology would enhance the value of this seed recalcitrant species. Three light intensities—6.6, 16.8, and 36.6 μmols•m-2•s-1 (0.65, 1.58, and 3.44 μmols•ft-2•s-1, respectively) PPFD—were tested for their effect on Douglas maple chlorophyll content, shoot length, number of nodes, and mean dry weight. Visually, plants appeared darker green under lower light intensity. However, mean dry weight of cultured microcuttings was significantly higher at higher light intensity. We tested in vitro and ex vitro rooting procedures for their ability to produce healthy roots on established microcuttings. IBA concentration (0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 μΜ) and the length of the initial microcutting propagule (2.0 to 3.0 cm [0.79–1.18 in]) or 3.5 to 4.5 cm [1.38–1.77 in]) were evaluated for enhancing in vitro rooting. Initial microcutting length as a covariate and concentrations of IBA (0.1% and 0.3%) in a talcum powder formulation were evaluated for enhancement of ex vitro rooting. Rooting treatments were assessed by measuring overall survival rate of plantlets after rooting and acclimatization. Greatest survival (92%) occurred with ex vitro rooting with a 0.1% IBA talcum powder treatment. In comparison, the best in vitro rooting treatment (1 μΜ IBA regardless of microcutting length) yielded just 75% survival after rooting and acclimatization. We verified efficacy of the ex vitro rooting protocol (100% rooting and acclimatization) using a second Douglas maple genotype (treated with 0.1% IBA talcum powder). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talcum powder is one of the leading causes of pneumoconiosis, adding compound surfactants to the dust removal process can significantly increase the effectiveness of the dust removal. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the effect of compound surfactants on the wettability of talcum powder. This paper focuses on the ability of compound surfactants to increase the wettability of talcum powder surface by using Materials Studio 8.0. The simulation results were analyzed from the water adsorbed amount, interaction energy, and water molecule concentration profile. Combined with the experimental data of contact angle, the optimal surfactant compounding method was obtained. The simulation results revealed that stable adsorption structures can be formed by the compound of anionic and nonionic surfactants, which can reduce the electrostatic repulsion between anionic surfactants effectively and promote the directional arrangement of nonionic surfactants on the talcum powder surface. When the molar ratio of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Polysorbate 80 was 0.4:0.6, the amount of absorbed water reached 113, which is better than monomers and other compound surfactants. The contact angle experiment results indicated a consistent variation law with the simulation results. The contact angle decreased from 68.48° to 19.84° using the compounding method mentioned above, which has the optimum wetting effect among the four compounding methods. The research results will provide a reference for the application of compound surfactants in talcum powder dustproof work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esthetic and reconstructive surgery routinely employs the utilization of silicone implants. Silicone's limited biocompatihility can lead to serious side effects, such as capsular contracture. A capsule forming around the implant is an inflammatory response to the presence of a foreign material; however, the precise cause of capsular contracture is unknown. This experimental study looks into the effects of the two most widely used powders in surgical gloves-talcum and comstarch-on capsule formation. Materials and Methods: Three circular silicone implants, each 1.5 cm in diameter and 2 mm thick, were implanted into pockets developed on the dorsums of 12 female rats, which were then randomly assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 received no powder in their implant pockets; Group 2 received 1.5 mg of talcum powder; and Group 3 received 1.5 mg of cornstarch powder. The capsules around the implants were histopathologically evaluated, their thicknesses were measured, and overall scores were determined after 4 weeks. Results: Although there were no statistically significant differences in the average capsule thickness measured across all four quadrants (P = 0.368), there were significant differences in the capsule score distributions across the control, talcum, and cornstarch groups (P = 0.026). Conclusion: The results of the study projects that powdered gloves (talc or cornstarch) contribute to exacerbated capsular inflammation forming around silicone implants. Therefore, powder-free gloves would be highly recommended during breast augmentation and reconstruction surgeries while handling implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn and soybeans have the largest area of GM crops in the world. Milk powder and baby food are processed foods that contain corn and soybeans,therefore, monitoring transgenic corn and soy in processed food has been investigated in several studies.In this study, 40 samples of baby food and milk powder were collected from pharmacies and supermarkets in Tehran. All the samples were extracted using Azmaelixir DNA kit. Internal control genes for soy (Lectin) and corn (Zein) were checked to ensure the extraction. Then, the presence of CaMV35Stransgenic Promoter was checked by Real -time PCR technique. The results showed the presence of this sequence in 2.5% of baby food samples and 10% of samples in infant formula. The preliminary results of this study suggest more investigation and monitoring is necessary for the possible labeling of these products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen is naturally distributed by wind or animals, but agricultural fields might suffer from lack of pollination due to a variety of factors. Artificial pollination is necessary for walnut trees because of dichogamy and lack of pollen in their early years. An airborne artificial pollination system is introduced and studied. As an automated solution, a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was fabricated for artificial pollination of walnut trees. The robot was designed, modelled and tested by releasing pollen over walnut trees. Airflow under the UAV was simulated using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software. This simulation helped determine pollen streams under the robot to ensure that the released pollen reached the target trees. The quadrotor controller was designed and simulated in MATLAB, for system stability. For dynamic simulation, the robot was modelled in ADAMS software, and a co-simulation of MATLAB and ADAMS was used to tune and test the controller that was implemented for field experiments. The motion and stability of the UAV over farms with and without moderate winds were observed. To investigate the field performance of the proposed system, the pollination system is used on a walnut orchard. Different mixtures of pollen diluted with talcum powder were distributed over different groups of trees, using the quadrotor. After a few months, the results achieved on the trees were measured and the merits of the proposed system were evaluated. • A new quadrotor pollinator is introduced. • The pollinator is designed, simulated, and fabricated. • Modelling, control and simulation of the pollinator and pollination are presented. • The pollinator was used experimentally on an orchard and the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolaris sorokiniana root-rot of wheat seedlings remains a serious worldwide problem. Spores of Nocardiopsis albirubida strain NA2 were bioformulated as talcum wettable powder (TWP) and clay-alginate pellets (CP) biofungicides before screening for their biocontrol effect. Based on their promising biocontrol results, the talcum powder biofungicide was selected to optimise the bioformulation parameters using the response surface methodology (RSM). The biofungicides TWP and CP significantly (P < 0.05) and respectively reduced the disease severity index (DSI) to 25.6% and 58.2% compared to a positive control (84.0%). Furthermore, the talcum powder biofungicide showed no significant differences compared to a marketed chemical control agent (Difenoconazole®). The TWP biofungicide was selected and a Placket-Burman screening design was explored to evaluate the composition for an optimised biofungicide. Two variables: washed spore density and talcum powder quantity, respectively, showed an important in planta biocontrol effect on B. sorokiniana. The RSM optimisation for the two influencing variables allowed a very notable reduction of the DSI, passing from 25.6% (standard formulation process) to 5.1% (optimised talcum powder biofungicide) by using 25 ml of washed spore suspension (≈107spores ml−1) and 125 g of autoclaved talcum powder. The coefficient of determination R2 = 0.950 indicated that 95.0% of the response variability can be simulated with the suggested mathematical equation. The spore viability and the biocontrol efficacy have been demonstrated after 12 months storage. The TWP biofungicide based on washed NA2 spores open up promising applications for the biocontrol of B. sorokiniana root rot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology was used to quantitatively detect talcum powder in 82 wheat flour samples. Based on anomaly detection, sample division, and spectral preprocessing, four models were established to predict the content of talcum powder in wheat flour. Among them, the performance of Bayesian ridge regression (BRR) combined with second derivative (2D) was proved to be the best. In addition, 46 effective features were selected using a multilevel feature method combining improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA). At this time, the coefficient of determination (R2_PRE), root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), and relative percent difference (RPD) values of the BRR model on the prediction set reached 0.9802, 0.8914, and 6.9263. The results showed that NIRS technology was feasible in detecting the content of talcum powder in wheat flour. At the same time, the effectiveness of multilevel method was better than that of single‐level method, and the performance of improved POS was better than that of PSO. Multilevel feature selection based on improved optimization algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study characterizes airborne asbestos exposures resulting from the adult application of cosmetic talc body powders spiked with known concentrations of tremolite. Raw talc ores were spiked with 0.005% and 0.1% asbestiform or non-asbestiform tremolite. Personal samples were collected during 16 simulated events, including puff and shaker application and associated clean-up activities. Airborne fiber levels (PCM) were not significantly different for simulations involving talc spiked with asbestiform and non-asbestiform tremolite (p = 0.6104). For application and clean-up of talc spiked with 0.005% asbestiform tremolite, 2 of 24 (8.3%) samples were above the LOD for TEM (0.003 f/cc). For application of talc spiked with 0.1% asbestiform tremolite, 21 of 24 (87.5%) were above the LOD for TEM. The corresponding mean PCME asbestos concentrations were 0.016 f/cc for puff and shaker for samples collected in the first 15 min, 0.002 f/cc for puff and 0.004 f/cc for shaker in the second 15 min, and 0.005 f/cc for puff and 0.013 f/cc for shaker for the full 30 min. Mean PCME concentrations for samples collected during clean-up following application of talc spiked with 0.1% asbestiform tremolite were 0.003 f/cc for samples collected in the first 15 min following puff application, 0.005 f/cc for samples collected in the second 15 min following shaker application, and 0 f/cc for the remaining clean-up samples. Using the EPA's exposure factors, we determined the range of cumulative asbestiform fiber exposures that would result from product use, assuming asbestiform tremolite was present at 0.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a response to a letter to the editor regarding the association between asbestos, talc, and ovarian cancer. The authors argue that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) may have misdiagnosed cases of ovarian cancer as mesothelioma due to significant asbestos exposure. They also criticize the IARC for not considering studies that did not find a risk for ovarian cancer due to asbestos. The authors further question the causal link between perineal talc and ovarian cancer, citing inconclusive data and the need for a dose-response relationship. They also highlight a decrease in mesothelioma cases after asbestos was banned and a decrease in new annual ovarian cancer cases in the United States despite talc use. The authors declare no conflicts of interest and are supported by the Women's Cancer Research Foundation. [Extracted from the article]

Cosmetic and personal care products are considered an essential part of our daily care routine; hence, these products must be stable and safe for human use. This study aimed to assess the quality and safety of the most common cosmetic preparations. To select the products to be tested, a cross-sectional survey was distributed featuring the most used types and brands of products. Based on 447 responses from both males and females with different ages and education levels, 21 products from different brands were selected and tested in terms of microbial load, heavy metal content, and organoleptic properties. Microbial contamination was investigated using the aerobic plate count method. Lead (Pb), aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and arsenic (As) impurities were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The products included sunblock, lip balm, hand cream, hair cream, shampoo, cleanser, baby oil, baby powder, bar soap, hair dye, makeup, deodorant, hair serum, shaving gel, and toothpaste. Microbial contamination was found in 14 of the products, ranging between 1467.5 and 299.5 cfu/ml. The most commonly isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus species. Most of the tested products showed metal impurities, with toothpaste having the highest concentrations of Pb, Cr, As, Cu and Ni. The samples did not show lumps or discoloration, did not have characteristic odors, and had pH values ranging from 6.90 to 8.10. The continuous usage of such products could lead to serious negative consequences. As a result, ensuring the quality of cosmetic products is critical. Regulatory authorities are required to enforce strict legislation on cosmetic manufacturing to assess and ensure the quality and safety of the products before they reach consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed pelleting is among the important types of seed coating. Compared with conventional seed coating, seed pelletization not only changes the seed shape and standardizes the seed appearance but also carries a larger amount of active ingredients with better compatibility. In this study, the irregular welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.) seeds were pelletized, the performances of different fillers and binders for seed pellet granulation were investigated, and the microstructures of the prepared pellets with the optimized formulations were characterized. The results showed that the application of magnesium stearate mixed with talcum powder at a mass ratio of 1:2 as a filter and 1% CMC solution as a binder was favorable for the pelletizing of welsh onion seeds. The pelleted seeds were qualified in all indexes and met the standards of seed pelletization. The SEM observations of microstructures showed that there are significant differences among the pellets prepared by different fillers, and the tighter the bonding between fillers, the greater the strength of the pellets. The quality assessment of the pelletized seeds with pesticides showed that the reasonable addition of appropriate pesticides had little effect on seed germination. This study enriches the basic theory of seed pelleting via the combined evaluation of macroscopic properties and microstructures and provides a useful guideline for the improvements of precision sowing and standardized planting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was performed into the stability of three emulsion explosives, namely bulk, packaged and powdery emulsion explosive. The dynamic stability is crucial for bulk emulsion explosive, and the experimental results show that it will possibly achieve both good dynamic stability and fluidity when polyisobutene succinic anhydride (PIBSA) based emulsifiers, such as PIBSA-DTEA, PIBSA-TEA and PIBSA-STEA etc, used alone in preparing explosive. Opposite with that, the long-term storage stability is much more important for packaged emulsion explosive. In several PIBSA based emulsifiers, polyisobutene succinimide (PIBSI) is more suitable for improving the stability of packaged emulsion explosive. Moreover, the stability also can be improved through rising the toughness of oil film, like adding a certain amount of microcrystalline wax. The caking of ammonium nitrate (AN) crystals with time is the key reason, which decreasing the stability of powdery emulsion explosive. The caking phenomenon will be weakened with the addition of rosin because the softened rosin can allow the repair of damaged oil film and prevent AN crystals breaking the oil film. Besides that, adding potassium nitrate to AN solution or a certain amount of talcum powder also can effectively improve the stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Grapes are mostly propagated by hardwood cutting. Most of the time, auxin (Indole Butyric Acid) is used in liquid form. There are some problems associated with using auxin in liquid form viz. cell sap may exude from cutting end on dipping in solution that may lead to contamination, every time auxin solution should be freshly prepared etc. In order to address these problems, auxin hormone is used in powder form by using Talcum powder. Methods: In the present investigation, rooting powders containing different concentration of auxin were tried for root induction behavior. Approximately 15-20 cm long and 1-1.5 cm thick hardwood cuttings of grapes were taken. Result: The results indicates that grape cuttings treated with Indole Butyric Acid @ 3000 ppm in powder form was found to be best for root induction behavior. However, in most of the cases observations were at par with Indole Butyric Acid @ 2000 ppm (powder form) and with treatment @ 2000 ppm in liquid form but if we consider other benefits like long shelf life, no contamination etc. It can be concluded the rooting hormone in powder form should be considered better alternative to liquid form for root induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike that of glycol-modified Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETG), the crystallinity of PET can be post-adjusted to enhance the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts such as food-contact tableware and bio-implants. The aforementioned PET material could be 3D printed to produce the desired parts for performance evaluation before mass production by injection molding. In this study, using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), we examined the pellets, extruded filament, and printed specimen to identify variations in melting and crystalline temperatures, as well as crystallinity. It was also shown by Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) that the addition of talcum powder increased the thermal stability of filament and resulted in an interaction between the fillers and polymer matrix. The crystallinities of the filament and printed specimen were then compared with the yield strengths and Young's moduli to confirm the effects of the decreased molecular weight of the extruded PET filament. The talcum powder effectively improved the viscosity of the PET melted during the extrusion process for the filament and then enhanced the crystallinity of the PET, thereby achieving a significantly higher Young's modulus. The printed PET specimen presented an excellent yield strength of 25 MPa and ductile properties with strain-at-break values of 30%, successfully indicating potential applications in food-contact tableware and bio-implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new polishing pad based on the sol-gel (SG) technique is fabricated and can polish the single crystal diamond (SCD) substrate at high speed. In this work, the base material, fillers, and coating height of the polishing pad are selected. Pressed polymer fiber is used as the base material, talcum powder is chosen as filler, and the coating height of the gel formulation system on the surface of the base material is between 20 and 40 $\mu \text{m}$. The surface morphology of SCD substrate was observed with a 3D optical surface profiler. The surface roughness decreased from 78.024 nm to 6.126 nm in 2 h and the material removal rate of the SCD (100) was about 135 nm/h. The Raman spectroscopy result shows that there was phase transformation on the surface of the SCD substrate after polishing. The material removal mechanism was proposed based on the result. During the scratch of the diamond abrasive, the diamond on the surface of the SCD substrate was transformed into amorphous carbon. Then the amorphous carbon was removed mechanically. The new gel polishing pad can polish the SCD substrate with high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the best propagation mode of Osmanthus fragrans cutting, improve the cutting survival and rooting rate of perennial mother trees, the new semi-lignified branches with strong growth and no diseases and insect pests were used as test materials, the effects of different kinds of plant growth regulators（naphthalene acetic acid（NAA), indole butyric acid（IBA）） and concentrations（100, 200 mg/L）, treatment methods（water immersion treatment, ethanol solution quick dip treatment, talcum powder treatment） and cutting substrates on the survival roots of cuttings of O. fragrans were compared and analyzed. The results showed that the survival rate of O. fragrans cuttings under 200 mg/L NAA water immersion treatment was the highest, up to 80.89%. The rooting rate, mean root number and mean root length were 73.37%, 9.47 pieces/plant and 9.0 cm respectively, which were increased by 560.99%, 84.60% and 162.39% compared with the control group. The comparison of different cutting substrates showed that perlite was the best, followed by river sand, and 1 yellow subsoil+2 vermiculite or pure vermiculite was poor. The best combination of cutting propagation of new branches of O. fragrans was to take perlite as the matrix and soak in 200 mg/L NAA for 2 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: External cephalic version (ECV) is a procedure to manipulate a fetus with breech presentation to the cephalic presentation through the maternal abdomen under ultrasound guidance. Talcum powder or aqueous gel is frequently used to facilitate ECV. Materials & Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted at POF Hospital, Wah from 10th Oct 2015-10th Oct 2019. A total of 56 low-risk gravid women underwent ECV. Powder and gel use was compared in attaining a successful version. Results: In the powder use group, 9 ECVs were successful and 19 ECVs were unsuccessful. In the gel use group, 12 ECVs were successful and 16 were unsuccessful. There were more successful ECVs in the gel group but the association was not significant (P value .408. Conclusion: Powder or gel is not superior over the other as an aid for achieving successful ECV through gel use is more satisfying for the provider than powder use in performing ECV. More studies are required regarding aids used in performing ECV for recommendations in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single bottle of unopened Johnson's baby powder with a manufacturing date of 1985 was investigated for potential geochemical contaminants of concern. Study of 3 replicate samples via basic powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicates talc is the dominant phase present with chlorite ± serpentine and no other major impurities are observed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) documented the presence of Ni as a minor component in observed Fe-sulfides and Cr was detected in chromite and/or chromian magnetite. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) documented the presence of Ni within individual platy and fibrous talc particles. Repeat analysis (n = 10) of pressed powders (n = 5) via handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) yielded SiO 2 contents of 57.40 to 58.28 wt% and MgO contents of 29.90 to 30.79 wt%. Data also documents the presence of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn. Cu and Zn are interpreted to occur in Fe-sulfides. Subsequent duplicate analysis (n = 2) of 3 talc samples via high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) detected 4 trace metals present of concern: V, Co, Cr, and Ni. Across all sample runs (n = 6), V averaged 10.6 ppm (±0.5 ppm at 2σ), Co averaged 55.0 ppm (±4.3 ppm at 2σ), Cr averaged 400.9 ppm (±11.4 ppm at 2σ), and Ni averaged 1395.9 ppm (±105 ppm at 2σ). While a precise geologic source for the studied talc cannot be unequivocally identified based on the data collected in this study (and the sample bottle alone), a comparison with global talc deposits indicates a product origin likely associated with (ultra)mafic-hosted talc deposits based on Ni (ppm) and Cr (ppm) contents, as opposed to carbonate metasedimentary-hosted deposits. From this work, it can therefore be concluded that Ni- and Cr-bearing particles made it into the baby powder production chain of this manufacturer in 1985. This study provides a foundation for future mineral and geochemical characterization of past, present, and future consumer talc-related products and may provide context for health-related studies. [Display omitted] • Talc product safety is highly controversial. • A 1985 bottle of Johnson's baby powder was analyzed to investigate metals. • Averages are V (10.6 ppm), Co (55.0 ppm), Cr (400.9 ppm), Ni (1395.9 ppm). • Ni occurs in talc particles and sulfides; Cr occurs in spinel phases. • The product likely is from an (ultra)mafic-hosted talc deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accidental ingestion of diluted household descaling products by infants is a phenomenon that poison control centers regularly encounter. Feeding infants with baby milk prepared with water from electric kettles still containing descaler is a common way of exposure. This study aimed to determine the risks related to ingestion of (diluted) descalers by infants. pH measurements were performed using acetic acid and three different commercially available electric kettle descalers. The pH of different dilutions was measured in the absence or presence of baby milk powder. In addition, an overview was made of pH values of different electric kettle descalers as given by the product information of the manufacturer. Finally, a simple pharmacokinetic (PK) model was used to predict changes in blood pH in infants after ingestion of acetic acid, which is the most commonly used descaler. Several commercially available electric kettle descalers have a pH <2. Even after diluting such descalers up to 10 times the pH can remain low. The addition of milk powder increases the pH of descalers containing weaker acids, with a pH >1.5, while descalers with stronger acids and pH <1 show little pH increase after the addition of milk powder. Finally, a simple PBPK model for the ingestion of acetic acid predicted that the ingestion of larger amounts of acetic acid (>1000 mg) by an infant could result in relevant changes in blood pH. Commercially available electric kettle descaling products may pose a health risk to infants in case of accidental ingestion since the pH of some of these products can be very low, even when diluted 10-times or in the presence of baby milk powder. Oral exposure of infants to the common descaler acetic acid, after accidental preparation of baby milk with cleaning vinegar, will probably not result in serious local effects, but changes in blood pH cannot be excluded when larger amounts of acetic acid are ingested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talcum powder is recognized as the leading drug for pleurodesis, a treatment of choice for malignant pleural effusions. Recently, it was shown that hydrogel foam delivery systems significantly enhanced the number of adhesions between the chest wall and the lung in a New Zealand rabbit model due to the sol-gel transition. However, many questions still remain regarding the cause of improved efficacy, such as: (1) Would only hydrogel foams improve the efficacy of talc pleurodesis? (2) Is it possible to achieve the same efficacy of hydrogels using non-hydrogel foams? 3) What are the physicochemical properties that can be correlated to the efficacy of talc pleurodesis? In this study, we use non-hydrogel foam formulations to determine the efficacy of pleurodesis. Foam stability and rheology of the formulations were correlated to adhesion formation. The results clearly suggest a correlation of pleurodesis efficacy to the viscosity and modulus of the foam delivery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In forensic science, cigarettes are considered as crucial physical evidence because it helps to establish the connection between the criminal and the crime scene. In the present study, SERDS has been used for the examination of 25 different brands or series of cigarette inner liner paper. The discrimination power is calculated by using three methods, i.e., visual discrimination of the spectra, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). They are 100.00%, 92.42% and 100.00%, respectively. Cigarette inner liner paper samples were divided into four categories based on HCA and assignment of Raman special peaks: (1) talcum powder, (2) zinc oxide, (3) talcum powder and zinc oxide and (4) zinc oxide and barium sulfate. The PCA‐FDA model was constructed for identifying the unknown samples, it delivered 100.00% calibration accuracy and validation accuracy. The results suggest that SERDS combined with the chemometric methods is a rapid, nondestructive and accurate method for the differentiation of cigarette inner liner papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting talcum powder as the main raw material, porous ceramic heads for copper sulfate reference electrode(CSE) were prepared by adjusting the parameters of raw material size, sintering temperature, binder content, molding pressure and sintering mode. The porosity, pore size, morphology, structure, shrinkage and other performance parameters of the porous ceramic heads were tested and analyzed. Three kinds of porous ceramic heads were selected to make a portable copper sulfate reference electrode, and the long-term stability and life of the electrode potential were tested. The results show that the size of raw material, sintering temperature and forming pressure have a significant influence on the pore size and porosity of porous ceramic head. With the decrease of the size of raw material, the increase of sintering temperature and forming pressure, the pore size and porosity decrease. The electrode potential of the portable reference electrode made of porous ceramic head with pore size of 522 nm and porosity of 17.4% has a long-term stability and the estimated life can reach 4.2 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging is a useful method for powdery food quality and safety evaluation. Due to the particularity of the powder, light penetration depth and adulterant particle size have an effect on detection of adulterants in wheat flour. In this study, wheat flour of different thickness was placed on talcum powder or benzoyl peroxide (BPO) of different particle sizes to study the light penetration depth. BPO of different particle sizes was also mixed in wheat flour to study the adulterant particle size effects. The results showed that, for talcum, the light penetration depth in wheat flour was 0.6 mm, and for BPO, the light penetration depth in wheat flour was 0.8–1 mm (depending on the particle size of BPO). In terms of the particle size effects, mixtures of wheat flour and BPO with particle sizes of 380–270 μm and 270–250 μm were found to have better adulterant detection results. It indicated that the difference of particle size of subsurface reference powder would affect the light penetration depth. Combined with the ideal "multi-layer effect" hypothesis, it is verified that the penetration depth of light and the particle size of adulterant affect the detection of adulterant in wheat flour. • The "multi-layer effect" can explain the results for powder adulterant discrimination. • The difference of subsurface reference powder affects the light penetration depth. • BPO particle size close to the camera spatial resolution has a better detection result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient animal model is fundamental for studies on the underlying mechanisms of constrictive pericarditis (CP). A novel CP rat model was established by pericardial injection composing of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and talcum powder without thoracotomy. Pathological changes were confirmed by histological staining. E‐flow Doppler of mitral valve, tissue Doppler E′ in the medial mitral annular (E′sep) and the lateral mitral annular (E′lat) were measured to assess ventricular filling function. Circumferential, longitudinal, and radial strains (SC, SL and SR) and the respective strain rates (SrC, SrL and SrR) were analyzed in interventricular septum (IVS) and left ventricular free wall (LVFW). Rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were treated with LPS. The activation of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) was confirmed by Q‐PCR and western blot assays. Thickening of pericardium and fibrosis in pericardium and subepicardial myocardium were showed in the model group. Diastolic dysfunction in the CP group was indicated by decreased E′lat and E′lat/E′sep, increased E/E′lat, decreased EFW of SrC and SrL, increased AIVS and decreased E/A of SrC, SrL and SrR. Systolic dysfunction was indicated by decreased SCFW and SLFW in CP rats. The levels of TGF‐β1, p‐Smad2/3, α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), and collagen‐I/III (COL‐I/III) were increased in the CP group. The increased TGF‐β1 that induced by LPS activated and phosphorylated Smad2/3 resulting in the secretion of α‐SMA and COL‐I/III. This model is of vital importance in studying the pathogenesis of CP. This study has described a novel rat model of constrictive pericarditis (CP), which has been established and verified by the typical morphological features of pericarditis and ventricular diastolic dysfunction. It is important in understanding and studying the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of CP [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the presence of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and aflatoxin M1 in raw materials and all types of infant formula produced in Pegah Dairy Plants (PDPs) in Shahrekord, Iran. To this aim, 80 samples of raw cow's milk, whey protein, starch, vitamin and all type of infant formula were collected for 6 months during 2018-2019. Cd and Pb were measured by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) samples and analyzed by ELISA technique. The incidence of contamination of AFM1 in vitamins, raw cow's milk, whey powder, and baby formula collected from Pegah dairy plants were ND, 34, 23 and 8 ppb, respectively. The result indicated that none of aflatoxin M1 in infant formula samples exceeded FDA lead consumption guidelines. In addition, maximum mean lead in maltodextrin, starch, vitamin, raw cow's milk, whey powder, baby oil, infant formula, immediate, whole and skim was 20, 23, ND, 49, 20, 21, 17, 17, 12, and 17 ppb, respectively. Further, the maximum cadmium content was found to be 5.5, 9.5, ND, 14, ND, 6.3, 12.30, 7.6, 9.2 and 5.4 ppb, respectively, where the value of the samples was not above the maximum recommended limits by standard of Iran, European Community (EC) and Codex Alimentarius (CAC). The average of the heavy metal (Cd and Pb) and AFM1 in the maltodextrin, starch, vitamin, raw milk, whey powder and baby oil, and the types of infant formula produced by Pegah dairy Plants (PDPs) Shahrekord was below the recommended levels by Iran standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The output power of photovoltaic (PV) generators is negatively affected by shading caused by surface soiling. Thus, it is crucial to evaluate the power loss level and plan cleaning schedules efficiently and economically, particularly in large-scale PV power plants. This paper proposes a novel and comprehensive solution that combines circuit topology analysis and image processing to estimate power loss in soiled PV panels. The performance evaluation is based on a wide range of soiling conditions, including sand, dust, and talcum powder, and is compared with a benchmarking system from prior studies. Compared with the best-performing data-driven-only method, the proposed scheme improves the estimation accuracy from 11.02% to 39.52% by exploring the circuit information. • Novel hybrid scheme combines image processing and circuit topology analysis for soiling loss estimation. • The proposed method shows improvement in processing efficiency, suitable for PV sites with limited computing power. • The approach outperforms existing DNN-based estimators, particularly for slightly soiled PV modules. • The approach demonstrates enhanced accuracy in high-resolution estimation scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel method for estimating of detection capability in a qualitative analysis. • The method is based on the concept of Classification Analytical Signal. • The method is presented by a simple algorithm and each step is described in depth. • The method is mostly relevant for detection of low concentrations of the analyte. This paper presents a new methodology for the estimation of the limit of detection and other related parameters in qualitative analysis. Estimation of the detection limit is important in special cases when a small amount of an illegal ingredient can significantly affect the quality of the product or the presence of even a small amount of an extraneous analyte is significant. The approach is based on a recently introduced concept of an analytical signal in qualitative analysis, called the Classification Analytical Signal (CAS). A detailed algorithm to calculate the detection capability for a one-class classification method Data-Driven Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (DD-SIMCA) is described and illustrated with two real-world examples. Both examples consider cases where the detection of low analyte concentrations is important and corresponding samples should be considered as non-compliant. The first case presents adulteration of wheat flour with talcum powder, where the samples were specially prepared with various concentrations of the analyte. The second case uses a publicly available dataset devoted to the estimation of tetracycline in blood serum. The latter case is used to compare the limits of detection estimated for multivariate calibration with those presented for qualitative analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The current similar simulation materials are featured with the contradiction between low strength and high rockburst tendency, thus being unable to simultaneously realize the qualitative rockburst of small size specimen and the impact damage restoration of large size model. Developed a new similar simulation material for coal with both low strength and strong rockburst tendency in this paper. • In this paper, we propose for the first time to develop similar simulation materials using water glass as binder, sodium silicofluoride as curing agent and talcum powder as aggregate. And the optimal doping of the new similar simulation material was obtained by orthogonal experiment and multiple linear regression method. • It was confirmed that the modulus index is a simplified evaluation index that can comprehensively evaluate rockburst. And according to the similarity criterion, the rockburst evaluation criteria of modulus index for similar simulation materials are obtained by deriving theoretical equations. • Micro-macroscopic experiments were utilized to monitor in real time the energy-temperature-strength synergistic change characteristics and similarities between this material and the coal with a strong RT. The feasibility of the material was confirmed in terms of physical parameters, degree of rockburst and homologous energy and temperature characteristics. • This study also revealed the multi-parameter precursor characteristics of rockburst damage in the specimen, which can lay a foundation for the prevention and study of impact ground pressure disaster. The current similar simulation materials (SSM) are featured with the contradiction between low strength and high rockburst tendency (RT), thus being unable to simultaneously realize the qualitative rockburst of small size specimen and the impact damage restoration of large size model. In this case, this study developed a new SSM of low strength and high RT by using water glass (WG) as cement, talcum powder (TP) as aggregate and adding curing agent sodium silicofluoride (SSF). Under the requirements of initial set volume shrinkage rate (IVSR), long-term volume decay rate (LVDR), uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and modulus index (MI), the optimal ratios of SSF and TP were obtained 20% and 70% by orthogonal experiment and multiple linear regression method, respectively. Micro-macroscopic experiments such as uniaxial compression, scanning electron microscope (SEM), acoustic emission (AE) and Infrared thermal imager were utilized to monitor in real time the energy-temperature-strength synergistic change characteristics and similarities between this material and the coal with a strong RT. The experimental results show that: the UCS value of this material is 6.11 MPa and its MI is 11.57, which meets the requirements for low strength and high RT. Meanwhile it satisfies a certain similar proportionality between its physical parameters and those of coal. In the whole process of uniaxial compression, there are energy and temperature homologous changes in the characteristics of consistency, and both materials conform to the stress–strain phase law. The infrared radiation temperature displays a trend of "slowly decreasing-gradually warming-continuously cooling-suddenly warming-sharply cooling". The AE energy count rate shows a trend of "calm transition and sudden increase before and after the stress peak". All are characterized by strong RT. There is still some difference between the two specimens during energy and temperature changes, due to their different molding characteristics and load-bearing capacity. The feasibility of the material was confirmed in terms of physical parameters, degree of rockburst and homologous energy and temperature characteristics. Meanwhile, this study revealed the multi-parameter precursor characteristics of rockburst damage in the specimen, which can lay a foundation for the prevention and study of impact ground pressure disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measure the size and shape of talc particles in talcum powder and compare this data to the size and shape of talc particles found in surgically resected tissues from patients with ovarian carcinoma. Using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we measured the size and shape of talc particles in samples of talc-containing baby powder (TCBP) and surgically resected pelvic tissues (hysterectomies) from talc-exposed patients with ovarian carcinoma. The most frequent class of particles in TCBP can be unequivocally identified as talc, using both polarized light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX). The talc particles found in resected tissues from ovarian carcinoma patients are similar in size and shape to the most abundant morphological class of particles in TCBP. This finding, combined with previous epidemiological literature and tissue-based analytical studies, provides further evidence that the small, isodiametric particles that dominate TCBP can migrate from the perineum and become lodged in distal structures in the female reproductive tract, where they may lead to an increased risk of developing ovarian carcinoma. • 77.7%– of particles in talcum powder have aspect ratio of 1–3.9 and area of 1–400 μm2. • 83.5% of talc particles in pelvic tissues ovarian carcinoma patients have an aspect ratio of 1–3.9 and an area of 1–400 μm2. • These similarities are statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tracheal intubation (TI) is a common procedure that rarely entails life‐threatening complications. A 1.5‐year‐old female spayed cat presented with acute signs of respiratory distress 5 weeks after undergoing TI. Radiographs revealed a marked, segmental, tracheal narrowing. A hard, 5‐cm‐long, white‐yellowish tissue was identified and removed from the trachea, with subsequent resolution of clinical signs and radiographic changes. Microscopically, the tissue consisted of fibrin and lytic neutrophils, interspaced with optically empty cavities and a few remains of talcum powder and hair shafts. Consequently, a diagnosis of obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane (OFTP) was made. A rare complication of TI in humans, OFTP should also be suspected in cats with respiratory distress, a history of TI and radiographic evidence of tracheal narrowing. Based on cases from other species and the cat described herein, the condition can be easily resolved with OFTP removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive and daily inhalation of talcum, a main ingredient of face powders, causes pulmonary talcosis, which has led to the replacement of talcum with safer natural ingredients. RiceSorb®, or Oryza sativa starch from Japanese rice, was used as an alternative owing to its nontoxic and excellent oil absorption capacity. The objectives of the present work were to formulate loose face powders from RiceSorb® and to investigate the physicochemical properties of the prepared formulations. Five formulations of loose face powders were prepared by varying the ratios between talcum and RiceSorb®: 4:0 (FT0), 3:1 (FT1), 1:1 (FT2), 1:3 (FT3), and 0:4 (FT4). The physicochemical properties were evaluated mainly based on USP 41 and NF 36 such as morphology by using a scanning electron microscope, bulk density, flow property (angle of repose), moisture content (MC), and pH. The stability of the formulations were also performed at ambient temperature and 45°C for 2 months. The formulations had pH 6.90-8.62, bulk density 0.33-0.49 g/ml, and an angle of repose 30°-41°. Overall, the formulations which contained only RiceSorb® (FT4) or higher proportion of RiceSorb® (FT3) had finer particles, lower bulk density, pH, and angle of repose than those of the formulations containing high proportion of talcum: FT0 and FT1. Under storage conditions for 2 months, the formulations containing high proportion of RiceSorb® exhibited noticeably increased MC and angle of repose. However, the other physicochemical properties were somewhat the same. The present results suggest the applicability of RiceSorb® for loose face powders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on method has been used on Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos and White-tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla in Scotland and on Gyps vultures in Asia.

In the present study, the deep eutectic solvent-based extraction method has been developed for separation of Zn prior to ICP-OES analysis. Five different choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents were prepared. The Zn extraction ability of DESs from milk powder and baby formulation samples which contain a high amount of milk protein was investigated. The parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as the amount and type of solvent, extraction time and ambient temperature were optimized. Oxalic acid-based DES gave the highest yield and reproducible results and appropriate preparation criteria. It is concluded from the results that DES-oxalic can quantitatively extract Zn from milky samples. The analytical parameters such as linear calibration range, limit of detection (4.2 µg L−1) and quantification (14.1 µg L−1) were also calculated. The added-found method is successfully applied to ERM BD 150 standard reference material, and the recovery values and standard deviation values were found between the ranges of 79.4–97.21 µg L−1 and 4.1–6.31 µg L−1, respectively. The method was also applied to real samples, and the recovery values were found between 73 and 106% in the spiked samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For increasingly finer powders, the material‐specific separation at high loadings is a challenging task, for instance in recycling processes. Here, a combination of triboelectric charging and electrostatic separation was investigated for powder mixtures of talcum and calcite. The dependencies of the triboelectric charge on the mass loading, the gas velocity, and the mixture ratio were investigated. While higher charge levels were achieved with increasing gas velocity, the mass loading had an opposite effect on the net charge. Although bipolar charge distributions were observed within pure materials and mixtures, electrical neutralization did not occur in the mixtures. Therefore, already in a non‐optimized setup, a decent degree of material enrichment (of up to 53 %) was found on the separating electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of illegal additives in wheat flour is an important and broadly recognised global issue of food quality and safety. Hyperspectral imaging combines the advantages of spectroscopy and imaging techniques, and is widely used for food quality and safety evaluation. In this study, near-infrared hyperspectral imaging was used to discriminate low levels (<5.0%) of talcum powder and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) particles in wheat flour. After data pre-processing, spectra of wheat-talcum powder mixture samples were analysed by first derivative band difference, and the spectra of wheat-BPO mixture samples were analysed by spectral correlation measurement method and band ratio method. Successful results were obtained for discriminating single adulterants from wheat-talcum powder/BPO mixtures, as well as both adulterants synchronously from wheat-talcum powder-BPO mixtures. All these results show that NIR hyperspectral imaging technique combined with different spectral analysis methods can effectively discriminate the adulteration of talcum powder and BPO particles in wheat flour. • NIR hyperspectral imaging proved effective for adulterant discrimination. • Talcum and BPO can be separately/synchronously discriminated in wheat flour. • Spatial location of adulterants in wheat flour can be visualised in binary images. • Particle size of adulterants affects the discrimination results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the influence of nanoparticles as an additive on the tribological properties of calcium grease. Design/methodology/approach: The nano additives in this research are with different concentration of multi carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Talc powder (1, 2, 3, 3 and 5 per cent). The ratio of MWCNTs to Talc powder is 1:1. The tribological properties of hyper MWCNTs/Talc powder to calcium grease were evaluated using a pin-on-disk wear testing. The results show that the nano additives MWCNTs/Talc to calcium grease exhibit good performance in anti-wear and friction reduction. The action mechanism was estimated through analysis of the worm surface with x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. Findings: The result indicates that boundary film mainly composed of MWCNT and Talc powder, and other organic compound was formed on the worm surface during the friction test. In addition, the wear rate and coefficient of friction of nanogreases have shown excellent improvement about 80.62 and 63.44 per cent, respectively, at 4 Wt.% of MWCNTs/Talc powder. Moreover, the thermal conductivity of nanogrease increased about 51.72 per cent. Originality/value: This study describes the inexpensive and simple fabrication of nanogrease for improving properties of lubricants, which improve power efficiency and extend lifetimes of mechanical equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structured light scanning is a noninvasive, accurate, and cost‐effective 3D imaging technique, but due to reflection issues is yet to be utilized for tool mark analysis on fresh bone. During imaging, reflection from shiny surfaces, such as greasy bone, disrupts image formation. This study tested the David SLS‐1 scanner's ability to image saw marks and explored six strategies to reduce reflection by [1] dulling the surface or [2] altering the projected light. The surface was dulled by freezing, talcum powder, dulling spray, or compressed air. The projected light was altered with a diffuser or limited to single pattern‐coded. Results demonstrated that the resolution was insufficient for capturing minute details of striae. All six tests failed to reduce reflection sufficiently to produce complete images, but projecting vertical pattern‐coded light showed the most promise. Future research is required concentrating on enhancing resolution and exploring the role of pattern‐coded light in reducing reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genital use of talcum powder and its associated risk of ovarian cancer is an important controversial topic. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells are known to manifest a persistent prooxidant state. Here we demonstrated that talc induces significant changes in key redox enzymes and enhances the prooxidant state in normal and EOC cells. Using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, levels of CA-125, caspase-3, nitrate/nitrite, and selected key redox enzymes, including myeloperoxidase (MPO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GSR), were determined. TaqMan genotype analysis utilizing the QuantStudio 12K Flex was used to assess single-nucleotide polymorphisms in genes corresponding to target enzymes. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT proliferation assay. In all talc-treated cells, there was a significant dose-dependent increase in prooxidant iNOS, nitrate/nitrite, and MPO with a concomitant decrease in antioxidants CAT, SOD, GSR, and GPX (P <.05). Remarkably, talc exposure induced specific point mutations that are known to alter the activity in some of these key enzymes. Talc exposure also resulted in a significant increase in inflammation as determined by increased tumor marker CA-125 (P <.05). More importantly, talc exposure significantly induced cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis in cancer cells and to a greater degree in normal cells (P <.05). These findings are the first to confirm the cellular effect of talc and provide a molecular mechanism to previous reports linking genital use to increased ovarian cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an inflammatory disorder, which occurs as a result of repeated contact with an allergen. Fragrances are the products obtained naturally or produced synthetically. The purpose of this study is to detect the fragrance allergens producing ACD. Materials and Methods: This is an open-label prospective observational study. Patients of age above 18 years with history of using cosmetic products with dermatitis lesions over face, neck, axilla and hands were included. Patch testing was done with fragrance series by using the standard technique. The results were interpreted on day 2 and day 4 as recommended by International Contact Dermatitis Research Group criteria. Results: Totally 27 patients were included in this study. Of them, 12 were males and 15 were females; the mean age was 43 years. The mean duration of symptoms was 12.5 months. The most common site of involvement was hands. Housewives and office workers were the most commonly affected occupational groups. The most commonly used category of cosmetic product was talcum powders by 13 (48.1%) patients. In this study, 85.18% patients showed at least one fragrance antigen positivity. Fragrance mix II is the most frequent allergen in this study. Discussion: We conclude that the fragrance mix II is an important marker to find out fragrance allergy. Hand dermatitis is the most common presentation in patients with fragrance allergy. Perfumed talcum powders, soaps and perfumes are the leading sources of sensitization to fragrance allergens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elongate mineral particles, including asbestos, have long been screened in talc and other mineral powders. In recent years, there has been a renewed scrutiny of talc containing asbestos due to allegations in civil litigation in the United States as well as reports, proposals, and white papers by international laboratories and government bodies related to this subject. This study demonstrates the importance of the fundamental understanding of both mineralogy and its application, using microscopy with empirical examples from conflicting analyses of the same talc powders by two independent laboratories in civil litigation in the United States. Methods include polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the accurate measurement of morphological, optical, compositional, and structural data to characterize mineral-based samples. Discussions in this study include: 1) contrasting the interlaboratory findings of amphibole and amphibole asbestos by PLM and TEM using various preparation techniques, 2) the use of multiple analytical tools on a singular particle for identification, 3) the misidentification of anthophyllite asbestos by inexpert use of electron diffraction using TEM, and 4) the misidentification of chrysotile in talc by PLM. These examples emphasize the importance of not only maintaining the existing requirements, but of the need for even more rigorous analytical requirements in routine monitoring of elongate mineral particles that may occur in mineral-based powders. • Amphibole, biopyribole, talc, chrysotile, asbestos, amphibole asbestos, talcum powder, TEM, PLM, SEM, EBSD, SAED, zone axis index, asbestos testing, asbestiform, non-asbestiform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]