Kratom Retail Availability in Fort Worth, Texas LoParco, C. R.; Yockey, R. A.; Sekhon, V. K. ...
Journal of psychoactive drugs,
01/01/2024, 2024 Jan-Mar, 2024-01-00, 20240101, Volume:
56, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Kratom use is associated with cannabis use, so retail availability may also be related. Kratom and Delta-8 THC (a psychoactive cannabis product) are federally unregulated, marketed as "natural," and ...often used for pain relief and/or relaxation. Kratom may have greater retail availability in more socioeconomically deprived areas because harmful substances are frequently marketed to lower-income communities. This study examined kratom retail availability in Fort Worth, Texas. Locations with alcohol, tobacco, and/or CBD licenses were called in July 2022: 1,025/1,223 (84%) answered the phone. T-tests examined potential differences in socioeconomic deprivation scores surrounding outlets by whether they sold kratom. Cross-tabulations examined overlap in kratom and Delta-8 THC availability. Kratom was available in 6% of locations. Most kratom retailers had a tobacco license (92%). However, most stores with a tobacco license did not sell kratom (14%), whereas most stores with a CBD license did (55%). Kratom availability was not associated with area deprivation scores. Most kratom retailers (95%) sold Delta-8 THC and two-thirds (65%) of Delta-8 THC retailers sold kratom. This study was the first to examine retail availability of kratom. Findings indicate the presence of niche stores specializing in the retail of federally unregulated substances.
To achieve the standardization of the thyroid FNA reporting, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) hosted the "NCI Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration State of the Science Conference", which led to the ...formation of 'The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology' (TBSRTC).
The present study was undertaken by 2 experts in thyroid FNA, who in a double blinded fashion, examined and re-classified 80 random FNA cases according to the 6 levels of TBSRTC for an inter-observer review, to study and assess the new terminology for ease of reproducibility and to note the rate of disagreement overall or in any particular category. The FNAs were reclassified in a double blinded fashion according to the 6 levels of TBSRTC which are: non diagnostic (ND); benign; atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS); follicular neoplasm/suspicious for a follicular neoplasm (FN/SFN), Hurthle cell type/suspicious for a follicular neoplasm, Hurthle cell type (FNHCT/SFNHCT); suspicious (SUS), and malignant.
In the present study, the maximum number of cases was reclassified under the benign category (61.25% cases), followed by the FN/ SFN category and the AUS/FLUS category (11.25% and 10.00% respectively). An agreement was reached in 66 cases (82.5%); the experts disagreed in 14 cases-17.5% (where 1 expert did not agree with the other). Individually; a 93.87% agreement was noted for the lesions in the benign category, for 50% lesions in the AUS/FLUS category, for 66.66% lesions in the FN/SFN and the SUS categories, for 71.42% lesions in the FNHCT/ SFNHCT categories and for 100% lesions in the ND and the malignant categories. Thus, the maximum disagreement was noted in the AUS/FLUS category.
The implementation of TBSTRC which stands for a unique, international and a universal terminology for reporting the thyroid cytology; should be encouraged in our country, because of its relative ease of reproducibility. Although there was a great deal of agreement in implementing TBSTRC in the present study; disagreements were seen in the categories of AUS/FLUS and FN/SFN in the study which was conducted at our centre. This corroborated with the findings of the studies which were done elsewhere.
Four bread wheat (PBW-138, PBW-299, PBW-343 and PBW-373), two durum wheat (PDW-215 and PDW-233) and two triticale cultivars (TL-419 and TL-1210) were investigated for physicochemical, milling and ...dough-handling properties for predicting end-use quality. Physical properties of durum wheat (PDW-215) and bread wheat (PBW-138, PBW-299 and PBW-343) cultivars were better than other wheat, durum and triticale cultivars. The compositional analysis revealed nonsignificant differences between the different cultivars; however, starch observed significant variation for different varieties. Particle size distribution indicated that triticale flours showed lower particle size than wheat and durum wheat. Dough-handling studies revealed triticale flours to be the weakest, while bread wheat flours were observed to be intermediate between durum and triticale. Among all the varieties, the bread wheat (PBW-138) variety was observed to be best, followed by PDW-215 durum wheat variety. Strong correlations were observed between physicochemical and dough-handling parameters, which can be used as quality parameter for suitable end-use.
•Solvent extraction with compressed propane at 21–27°C and 1.1MPa was evaluated.•Major volatiles were E-2-tetradecenal, dodecanal, E-2-dodecenal, and tetradecanal.•Major fatty acids were linoleic ...acid and α-linolenic acid.•Drying at 60°C resulted in better preservation of color and volatile compounds.•Propane extraction lead to a decrease in browning index of dried cilantro.
Dehydration leads to quality defects in cilantro such as loss in structure, color, aroma and flavor. Solvent extraction with compressed propane may improve the dehydrated quality. In the present study, effect of drying temperature, particle size, and propane extraction on color, volatile composition, and fatty acid composition of cilantro was evaluated. Cilantro was dehydrated (40°C or 60°C), size reduced and separated into three particles sizes, and extracted with compressed propane at 21–27°C. Major volatile compounds found in dried cilantro were E-2-tetradecenal, dodecanal, E-2-dodecenal, and tetradecanal. Major fatty acids were linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid. Drying at 60°C compared to 40°C resulted in better preservation of color (decrease in browning index values) and volatile compounds. Propane extraction led to a positive change in color values and a decrease in volatile composition, oil content, and fatty acid composition.
A field experiment was conducted for 5 years from 2009 to 2015 at Punjab Agricultural University Regional Research Station, Bathinda, Punjab, India to observe the effect of irrigation water quality ...on tuber yield, soil characteristics and water productivity of potato under mulched conditions in light textured soil under semi arid climate of Indian Punjab. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with three mulch treatments viz. no mulch (M0), rice straw mulch @ 6 t ha−1 (Ms) and polyethylene mulch, black 50 μm (Mp) in main plots and three irrigation water qualities viz. canal water alone (CW), poor quality saline-sodic ground water alone (GW) and cyclic use of CW and GW (CW-GW) in sub plots. The experimental soil was alkaline in reaction, low in organic carbon, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium. The electrical conductivity (EC) and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) of canal water and ground water was 0.45 dS m−1, -0.6 mmolc L−1; and 2.2 dS m−1, 6.44 mmolc L−1, respectively. The results revealed that under unmulched conditions (M0), CW and CW- GW gave significantly higher tuber yield than GW. Mulching, in general, resulted in significantly higher marketable tuber yield than in non mulched conditions. The tuber yield was statistically at par with Ms and Mp, irrespective of the irrigation water quality. Similar trends were observed in case of yield attributing parameters viz. plant height, number of haulms per plant and number of marketable tubers per plant. The water use efficiency was higher under Ms and Mp than under M0. The highest water use efficiency was recorded in Ms under CW irrigation. Among the quality parameters, dry matter and total sugars increased with application of saline-sodic GW as compared to CW-GW and CW irrigation due to higher abiotic stress due to salts.
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. We hypothesized that simultaneous inhibition of biosynthesis of ergosterol in ...the fungal cell membrane and (1→3)-β-d-glucan in the cell wall, respectively, by the antifungal triazole isavuconazole (ISA) and the echinocandin micafungin (MFG) may result in improved outcomes in experimental IPA in persistently neutropenic rabbits. Treatments included ISA at 20 mg/kg of body weight/day (ISA20), 40 mg/kg/day (ISA40), and 60 mg/kg/day (ISA60); MFG at 2 mg/kg/day (MFG2); combinations of ISA20 and MFG2, ISA40 and MFG2, and ISA60 and MFG2; and no treatment (untreated controls UC). The galactomannan index (GMI) and (1→3)-β-d-glucan levels in serum were measured. The residual fungal burden (number of CFU per gram) was significantly reduced in ISA20-, ISA40-, ISA60-, ISA20-MFG2-, ISA40-MFG2-, and ISA60-MFG2-treated rabbits compared with that in MFG2-treated or UC rabbits (
< 0.01). Measures of organism-mediated pulmonary injury, lung weights, and pulmonary infarct score were lower in ISA40-MFG2-treated rabbits than in rabbits treated with ISA40 or MFG2 alone (
< 0.01). Survival was prolonged in ISA40-MFG2-treated rabbits in comparison to those treated with ISA40 or MFG2 alone (
< 0.01). These outcome variables correlated directly with significant declines in GMI and serum (1→3)-β-d-glucan levels during therapy. The GMI correlated with measures of organism-mediated pulmonary injury, lung weights (
= 0.764;
< 0.001), and pulmonary infarct score (
= 0.911;
< 0.001). In summary, rabbits receiving combination therapy with isavuconazole and micafungin demonstrated a significant dose-dependent reduction in the residual fungal burden, decreased pulmonary injury, prolonged survival, a lower GMI, and lower serum (1→3)-β-d-glucan levels in comparison to rabbits receiving isavuconazole or micafungin as a single agent.
Management of saline water through desalination or blending with low salinity canal water may be a viable strategy for potato irrigation in semi-arid regions having saline ground water and scarce ...canal water. A 4-year study was conducted to investigate the effects of four water qualities canal water (CW), desalinated water (DSW), saline ground water (GW) and mixed water (MW) (CW + GW), three N-P-K-fertigation levels F100 = 100% NPK (190, 28.4 and 53.9 kg ha−1 of N, P and K, respectively), F80 = 80% NPK and F60 = 60% NPK and their interaction on the performance of two potato varieties grown in a sandy loam alluvial soil of semi-arid region. The electrical conductivity (EC) of CW, DSW, GW and MW ranged from 0.3 to 0.4, 0.2–0.3, 3.2–4.2 and 1.8–2.2 dS m−1, respectively. Drip irrigation with GW resulted in 21–44% reduction in total tuber yield compared with CW, however, the maximum reduction (54%) was observed in grade-A tuber yield that was accompanied by a considerable increase in grade-C tuber yield. Irrigation with MW increased total tuber yield by 9–37% compared with GW. Irrigation with DSW manifested a 41% and 14% increase in total tuber yield as compared with GW and MW, respectively. The tuber yield obtained with MW was comparable with DSW up to soil EC1:2 of 0.65 dS m−1, and beyond that level, DSW was observed to be superior. The variety ‘Kufri Surya’ had slight yield advantage over ‘Kufri Pukhraj’ when CW, DSW and MW were used, however, yields of both varieties were statistically at par under GW irrigation. The variety ‘Kufri Jyoti’ exhibited a 13–22% yield advantage over ‘Kufri Surya’ for all irrigation water qualities. Plant growth and yield attributing parameters were the highest at F100 which declined progressively with a decrease in fertigation level for all water qualities. However, these differences were narrow between GW and MW and moderate between CW and DSW. Therefore, in drip fertigated potatoes using saline or mixed water in a sandy loam soil, it is advocated to use 80% of recommended NPK without any loss in tuber yield and to reduce cost of cultivation & environmental pollution.
•Four water qualities & 3 NPK-fertigation dose effects on potato were studied for 4 years.•Saline water yielded 21% (1st year) to 44% (4th year) lower than that with fresh water.•Desalinated water yielded 19% (1st year) to 75% (4th year) higher over saline water.•Blending of saline with fresh water yielded 9–37% higher than saline water irrigation.•Mixed water + 60% NPK gave higher tuber yield than that with saline water + 100% NPK.
Compressed solvents have been used to extract oils from food materials for use in the food industry. Raffinate, residue left after solvent extraction, may be utilized as a food adjunct. We ...investigated the effect of compressed propane extraction on the stability of color and volatile composition in cilantro during prolonged storage. Dried cilantro was extracted with compressed propane (21–27 °C) and stored (freezer, refrigerator, room temperature and elevated temperature) for up to 12 months. At 30-day intervals, the samples were tested for change in color (L*, a*, b*, chroma, hue angle and browning index BI) and volatile composition. Green color and volatile compounds were best preserved when cilantro samples were dried at 60 °C, extracted with propane, and stored in refrigerator or in freezer. It was concluded that preprocessing conditions and storage conditions govern the degree of loss in color and volatile composition of cilantro during prolonged storage.
•Cilantro left after extraction with compressed propane may be used as food adjunct.•Storage stability of propane extracted cilantro was investigated.•Retention of green color was dependent on dehydration and storage temperature.•Degree of volatile loss were governed by preprocessing and storage conditions.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a liver disease characterized by hepatic fat accumulation associated with various severities of inflammation and scarring. As ...studies explore specialized treatments, emerging evidence suggests a potential protective effect of coffee consumption. Consumption of coffee or its components, such as caffeine and/or chlorogenic acid (CA), can reduce markers of liver injury and induce a myriad of other health benefits. However, there is limited research on patients with both MASLD and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Current research suggests that patients with MASLD are at greater risk of developing T2D and future liver-related complications and vice versa. Given that both MASLD and T2D are global burdens, the present literature review analyzes current research to identify trends and determine if coffee can be a viable treatment for MASLD patients with T2D. Results indicate that coffee consumption may protect against MASLD in T2D patients who are overweight/obese through a declined rate of weight gain, inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (
) gene, and insignificant changes to the gut microbiome. More longitudinal research on human subjects is needed to establish a causal relationship between coffee consumption and MASLD alleviation.
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