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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2022The pyrolysis of biomass material results in pyroligneous acid (PA) and biochar, among other by-products. In agriculture, PA is recognized as an antimicrobial agent,...
The pyrolysis of biomass material results in pyroligneous acid (PA) and biochar, among other by-products. In agriculture, PA is recognized as an antimicrobial agent, bio-insecticide, and bio-herbicide due to antioxidant activity provided by a variety of constituent materials. Application of PA to crop plants and soil can result in growth promotion, improved soil health, and reduced reliance on polluting chemical crop inputs. More detailed information regarding chemical compound content within PA and identification of optimal chemical profiles for growth promotion in different crop species is essential for application to yield effective results. Additionally, biochar and PA are often applied in tandem for increased agricultural benefits, but little is known regarding the optimal proportion of each crop input. This work reports on the effect of combined applications of different proportions of PA (200- and 800-fold dilutions) and chemical fertilizer rates (100%, 75%, 50%, and 0%) in the presence or absence of biochar on Komatsuna ( var. , Japanese mustard spinach) plant growth. To elucidate the chemical composition of the applied PA, four different spectroscopic measurements of fluorescence excitation were utilized for analysis-excitation-emission matrix, ion chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It was determined that PA originating from pyrolysis of Japanese pine wood contained different classes of biostimulants (e.g., tryptophan, humic acid, and fulvic acid), and application to Komatsuna plants resulted in increased growth when applied alone, and in different combinations with the other two inputs. Additionally, application of biochar and PA at the higher dilution rate increased leaf accumulation of nutrients, calcium, and phosphorus. These effects reveal that PA and biochar are promising materials for sustainable crop production.
Topics: Agriculture; Charcoal; Fertilizers; Soil; Terpenes
PubMed: 35684334
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27113397 -
JAMA Network Open Dec 2020The prevalence and severity of long-term health complications after exposure to sulfur mustard are unknown.
IMPORTANCE
The prevalence and severity of long-term health complications after exposure to sulfur mustard are unknown.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the long-term health outcomes among survivors exposed to sulfur mustard during the Iran-Iraq War.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
In this retrospective cohort study, late-onset health complications of 64 190 Iranian survivors exposed to sulfur mustard during the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988 were investigated using descriptive statistics. Data involving affected organs and symptom severity were extracted from the Veterans and Martyr Affair Foundation (VMAF) database from 1980 to 2019. Assessments were conducted across 3 groups depending on whether survivors were (1) evacuated and admitted (EA) to a hospital; (2) not evacuated or admitted (NEA) to a hospital; or (3) evacuation or admission status was not documented.
EXPOSURES
Analysis of chronic symptom severity following exposure to sulfur mustard.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Mild, moderate, or severe rankings of symptoms in lungs, eyes, and skin of survivors exposed to sulfur mustard using data from the VMAF database.
RESULTS
Of 64 190 chemical survivors registered in the VMAF database, 60 861 met the inclusion criteria. Of the included survivors, 98.0% were male, and the mean (SD) age was 23.5 (7.7) years. Most survivors (53 675 [88.2%]) had no symptoms or mild lesions, and 7186 survivors (11.8%) had moderate or severe complications. Moderate to severe lung (6540 [10.7%]), eye (335 [0.6%]), or skin (725 [1.2%]) injuries were documented in the exposed population. The proportion of moderate plus severe late complications in eyes was 3 times as high in male survivors compared with female survivors (0.6% [95% CI, 0.53%-0.65%] vs 0.2% [95% CI, 0.09%-0.73%]; P < .001), whereas dermal complications were significantly more common in female survivors (3.9% [95% CI, 2.92%-5.11%] vs 1.14% [95% CI, 1.06%-1.23%]; P < .001). Mild lung lesions were more prevalent in the NEA group than in the EA group (73.9% [95% CI, 73.4%-74.4%] vs 11.0% [95% CI, 10.6%-11.3%]; P < .001). In the NEA group, 83.2% (n = 23 866) developed lung injuries that were mostly mild or moderate, whereas 77% (n = 24 766) of the EA group did not develop lung injuries (P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
The present study found sex differences in the frequencies of eye and skin complications following sulfur mustard exposure, and lung complications were more prevalent years after sulfur mustard exposure than soon after exposure. Mild lung lesions were observed more frequently among sulfur mustard-exposed survivors who had not been evacuated or hospitalized than among those who had been evacuated or hospitalized. These differences may be due to physiological response or dose of exposure. Close monitoring over an extended period may be required for detection of late pulmonary complications in individuals exposed to sulfur mustard.
Topics: Adult; Chemical Warfare Agents; Eye Diseases; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Iran; Lung Diseases; Male; Mustard Gas; Prevalence; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Factors; Skin Diseases; Survivors; Time; War Exposure
PubMed: 33301016
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.28894 -
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies May 2020The present study examines the antimicrobial activity of nasturtium herb (Tropaeoli maji herba) and horseradish root (Armoraciae rusticanae radix) against clinically...
BACKGROUND
The present study examines the antimicrobial activity of nasturtium herb (Tropaeoli maji herba) and horseradish root (Armoraciae rusticanae radix) against clinically important oral bacterial pathogens involved in periodontitis, gingivitis, pulpitis, implantitis and other infectious diseases.
METHODS
A total of 15 oral pathogens, including members of the genera Campylobacter, Fusobacterium, Prevotella, Parvimonas, Porphyromonas, Tanerella, Veillonella, and HACEK organisms, were exposed to [1] a combination of herbal nasturtium and horseradish using a standardized gas test and [2] a mixture of synthetic Isothiocyantes (ITCs) using an agardilution test. Headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry was employed to quantify the amount of allyl-, benzyl-, and 2- phenyl- ethyl-ITC.
RESULTS
With exception of Veillonella parvula, all tested species were highly susceptible to herbal nasturtium and horseradish in the gas test with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) between 50/20 mg and 200/80 mg and to synthetic ITCs in the agardilution with MICs between 0.0025 and 0.08 mg ITC/mL, respectively. Minimal bactericidal concentrations extended from 0.005 mg ITC/mL to 0.34 mg ITC/mL.
CONCLUSIONS
ITCs may be considered an interesting alternative to antibiotics for prevention and treatment of oropharyngeal infections, periodontitis and related diseases. Furthermore, the suitability of ITCs for endocarditis prophylaxis in dental procedures might be worth further investigation.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Armoracia; Bacteria; Mustard Plant; Nasturtium; Plant Oils; Plant Roots; Powders
PubMed: 32448381
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-020-02953-0 -
ACS Omega Jul 2022Protection and decontamination of surfaces after exposure to chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are of considerable interest to the homeland defense and battlespace...
Protection and decontamination of surfaces after exposure to chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are of considerable interest to the homeland defense and battlespace operation communities. In this work, polyurethane was spin-coated onto aluminum oxide quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors. Polyurethane film thickness was varied by altering the concentration of the polymer/chloroform solution used for spin-coating. Atomic force microscopy confirmed the formation of smooth, homogeneous films on the QCM sensor surface. Aluminum oxide QCM sensors coated with polyurethane were exposed to saturated vapors of dichloropentane (DCP), a mustard gas (HD) simulant, and dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), a sarin gas (GB) simulant, and the mass uptake, diffusion coefficient, volume fraction, and partition coefficient of the simulant in the film were determined from QCM data. Results showed that both DCP and DMMP readily sorbed into the films although the mass uptake of DCP was greater than that of DMMP owing to DCP's higher vapor pressure. Additionally, the CWA simulant uptake increased with polyurethane film thickness. Sorption diffusion coefficients were 1 × 10 cm/s and 1 × 10 cm/s for DCP and DMMP vapor, respectively. Simulant desorption was also measured and showed that some DMMP remained in the film/substrate system, while DCP sorption was fully reversible. Reversible desorption for both CWA simulants was relatively quick and independent over the range of film thicknesses studied, with average desorption diffusion coefficients of 2 × 10 cm/s and 1 × 10 cm/s for DCP and DMMP, respectively. Collectively, this study is expected to inform protection and decontamination strategies of equipment and structures upon exposure to CWAs.
PubMed: 35811928
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c02257 -
Translational Vision Science &... Nov 2020This pilot study investigated the in vivo therapeutic potential and tolerability of a multimodal ophthalmic formulation, topical eye drops (TED), for acute mustard gas...
PURPOSE
This pilot study investigated the in vivo therapeutic potential and tolerability of a multimodal ophthalmic formulation, topical eye drops (TED), for acute mustard gas keratopathy (MGK) using a rabbit model.
METHODS
Twenty New Zealand White rabbits were used. Only right eyes of 18 rabbits (oculus dexter [OD]) received single sulfur mustard gas (SM) vapor injury, whereas contralateral eyes were left untreated or received TED for tolerabilty evaluation. Two rabbit eyes received no treatment and served as age-matched naive control. The four groups were: Naive (oculus sinister [OS] untreated eyes; n = 9); TED (OS treated only with TED BID for 3 days; n = 9); SM (OD exposed to SM vapor; n = 9); and SM+TED (OD exposed to SM+TED BID for 3 days; n = 9). Ocular examination in live rabbits were performed utilizing slit-lamp biomicroscopy, Fantes grading system, fluorescein staining, Schirmer's tests, pachymetry, and applanation tonometry. Cellular and molecular changes in rabbit corneas were assessed after humane euthanasia on day-3 and day-7 with histopathological and real-time polymerase chain reaction PCR techniques.
RESULTS
TED to rabbit eyes was found tolerable in vivo. SM-exposed eyes showed significant increase in Fantes scores, central corneal thickness (CCT), Schirmer's test, epithelium-stroma separation, and corneal edema. TED mitigated clinical symptoms by reducing corneal edema, Fantes scores, CCT, and Schirmer's test. Further, TED decreased SM-induced corneal haze, inflammatory and profibrotic markers, transforming growth factor-TGF-β1 and cyclooxygenase-2COX-2, and damage to corneal structure, including epithelial-stromal integrity.
CONCLUSIONS
The developed multimodal eyedrop formulation, TED, has potential to mitigate acute MGK effectively in vivo.
TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE
TED is effective against MGK.
Topics: Animals; Cornea; Corneal Diseases; Corneal Edema; Mustard Gas; Pilot Projects; Rabbits
PubMed: 33200047
DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.12.6 -
Frontiers in Chemistry 2023Sulfur mustard (SM) is one kind of highly toxic chemical warfare agent and easy to spread, while existing detection methods cannot fulfill the requirement of rapid...
Sulfur mustard (SM) is one kind of highly toxic chemical warfare agent and easy to spread, while existing detection methods cannot fulfill the requirement of rapid response, good portability, and cost competitiveness at the same time. In this work, the microwave atmospheric pressure plasma optical emission spectroscopy (MW-APP-OES) method, taking the advantage of non-thermal equilibrium, high reactivity, and high purity of MW plasma, is developed to detect three kinds of SM simulants, i.e., 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide, dipropyl disulfide, and ethanethiol. Characteristic OES from both atom lines (C I and Cl I) and radical bands (CS, CH, and C) is identified, confirming MW-APP-OES can preserve more information about target agents without full atomization. Gas flow rate and MW power are optimized to achieve the best analytical results. Good linearity is obtained from the calibration curve for the CS band (linear coefficients > 0.995) over a wide range of concentrations, and a limit of detection down to sub-ppm is achieved with response time on the order of second. With SM simulants as examples, the analytical results in this work indicate that MW-APP-OES is a promising method for real-time and in-site detection of chemical warfare agents.
PubMed: 37332893
DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1173870 -
Experimental Eye Research Jun 2023The vesicant sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent that causes acute and chronic injury to the cornea and proximal anterior segment structures. Despite...
The vesicant sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent that causes acute and chronic injury to the cornea and proximal anterior segment structures. Despite clinical evidence of SM-exposure causing unexplained retinal deficits, there have been no animal studies conducted to examine the retinal toxicity of this vesciant. The cardinal hallmark of retinal response to stressors or injury is the activation of reactive gliosis, a cellular process largely governed by Müller glia. Previously we showed that corneal exposure to sodium hydroxide elicits rapid induction of reactive gliosis and results in retinal degeneration in a dose-related manner. Based on this evidence, we hypothesized that the vesicant nitrogen mustard (NM), an analog of SM, may also elicit reactive gliosis. To test this idea, we developed a mouse model of NM ocular injury and investigated corneal and retinal effects focusing on citrullination, a posttranslational modification (PTM) of proteins. This PTM was recently linked to alkali injury and has also been shown to occur in retinal degenerative conditions. Here, we demonstrate that corneal exposure to 1% NM causes a synchronous activation of citrullination in both the cornea and retina with hypercitrullination becoming apparent temporally and manifesting with altered cellular expression characteristics. A key finding is that ocular citrullination occurs acutely as early as 1-h post-injury in both the cornea and retina, which underscores a need for expeditious interception of this acute corneal and retinal response. Moreover, exploiting dose response and temporal studies, we uncoupled NM-induced retinal citrullination from its induction of retinal gliosis. Our findings demonstrate that hypercitrullination is a common corneo-retinal mechanism that sensitizes the eye to NM injury and suggests that counteracting hypercitrullination may provide a suitable countermeasure to vesicant injury.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Mechlorethamine; Irritants; Gliosis; Cornea; Eye Injuries; Retina; Mustard Gas; Retinal Diseases
PubMed: 37080381
DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109485 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2022Mustard gas (MG) is one of the most widely used chemical weapons in the past century. However, little information exists concerning long-term mortality from MG...
BACKGROUND
Mustard gas (MG) is one of the most widely used chemical weapons in the past century. However, little information exists concerning long-term mortality from MG exposure. In this study, we investigated mortality rate among civilian people exposed to MG during Iran-Iraq war in Sardasht in Iran after 32 years. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, data of people exposed to MG in Sardasht in 1987 were extracted from the Veterans and Martyr Affair Foundation of Iran up to March 20, 2019. Mortality rate, cumulative mortality and standardized mortality ratio with 95% confidence interval were calculated to explain mortality in the cohort, and then compared with general Iranian population. Cox regression analysis was used to indicate factor affecting the risk of death in the cohort. RESULTS: Out of 1,203 exposed people at the beginning of the period, 148 people died by the end of the study, with an average age of 66.42 at the time of death. Total person-years of the people up to end of the study were 38,198.63 and mortality rate was equal to 387 per 100,000 persons-years. Total number of observed deaths was less than expected death and the all-cause standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was determined as 0.680 (95% CI: 0.574 - 0.798). Cause-specific SMR showed that observed death due to respiratory diseases was higher than expected (SMR: 1.75) (95% CI: 1.145 - 2.569). The results of univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis showed that increasing age and having severe late complications in lung were associated with increased risk of death among people in the cohort.
CONCLUSION
In general, this result indicated that acute exposure to MG, even without wearing protective clothing and masks, could not increase all-cause mortality after 32 years if accompanied by special and ongoing care for those exposed.
Topics: Aged; Chemical Warfare Agents; Cohort Studies; Humans; Iran; Iraq; Mustard Gas; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 35681169
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13520-2 -
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Leaf mustard is an important commercial and culinary vegetable. However, only limited information is available on the content and composition of the nutritionally...
Leaf mustard is an important commercial and culinary vegetable. However, only limited information is available on the content and composition of the nutritionally important lipophilic constituents in these leaves. This research presents information on the contents and composition of carotenoids, tocols, phytosterols, and fatty acids in four cultivars of leaf mustard. The carotenoids and tocols were analyzed utilizing liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) with single ion monitoring (SIM), while phytosterols and fatty acids were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC)-MS and GC-flame ionization detection (FID), respectively. The LC-MS results revealed the dominance of (all-)-lutein, within the range of 37.12 (. Asia Curled)-43.54% (. Jeok) of the total carotenoids. The highest amount of all of the individual carotenoids and total carotenoids (143.85 µg/g fresh weight; FW) were recorded in . Cheong. Among the studied leaf samples, 67.16 (. Asia Curled)-83.42 µg/g FW (. Cheong) of α-tocopherol was recorded. Among the phytosterols, β-sitosterol was the most dominant one among the studied mustard leaves, accounting for 80.42 (. Jeok)-83.14% (. Red frill) of the total phytosterols. The fatty acid analysis revealed the presence of a significant amount of rare hexadecatrienoic acid (C16:3n3) in the studied mustard leaves, which accounted for 27.17 (. Asia Curled)-32.59% (. Red frill) of the total fatty acids. Overall, the . Cheong represented the highest contents of carotenoids, tocols, and phytosterols. Moreover, . Red frill contains the highest amount of n-3 PUFAs and antioxidant compounds. Thus, these cultivars can be promoted in cuisines which can be eaten to obtain the highest health benefits.
PubMed: 36552672
DOI: 10.3390/antiox11122464 -
International Journal of Fertility &... Feb 2023War toxin, mustard gas, alkylating agent results in male infertility via inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA mutagenesis. SIRT1 and SIRT3 are...
OBJECTIVE
War toxin, mustard gas, alkylating agent results in male infertility via inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA mutagenesis. SIRT1 and SIRT3 are multifunctional enzymes that involve in the DNA repair, oxidative stress responses. This study aim is to assess the correlation between serum levels of SIRT1, SIRT3 and both rs3758391T>C and rs185277566C>G gene polymorphisms with infertility in the war zones of Kermanshah province, Iran.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this case-control study based on the semen analysis, samples were divided into two groups infertile (n=100) and fertile (n=100). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to determine the malondialdehyde level, and also a sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test was used to evaluate the DNA fragmentation rate. Using the colorimetric assays, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was measured. SIRT1 and SIRT3 protein levels were determined by using ELISA. The genetic variants of SIRT1 rs3758391T>C, and SIRT3 rs185277566C>G, were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length (PCR-RFLP) technique.
RESULTS
Malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the percentage of DNA fragmentation were higher in infertile samples, but serum levels of SIRT1 and SIRT3, and SOD activity was lower in infertile compared to fertile samples (P<0.001). The TC+CC genotypes and the C allele from SIRT1 rs3758391T>C polymorphism, and CG+GG genotypes and the G allele from SIRT3 rs185277566C>G polymorphism could increase risk of infertility (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that war toxins through the impact on genotypes, decreasing levels of SIRT1 and SIRT3 and increasing levels of oxidative stress, lead to defects in the concentration, motility and morphology of sperms and thus, infertility in men.
PubMed: 36906829
DOI: 10.22074/ijfs.2022.553494.1304