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BMC Plant Biology Jun 2024The accumulation of arsenic (As) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain poses a significant health concern in Bangladesh. To address this, we investigated the efficacy of...
The accumulation of arsenic (As) in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain poses a significant health concern in Bangladesh. To address this, we investigated the efficacy of various organic amendments and phytoremediation techniques in reducing As buildup in O. sativa. We evaluated the impact of five doses of biochar (BC; BC: 0.1%, BC: 0.28%, BC: 0.55%, BC: 0.82% and BC: 1.0%, w/w), vermicompost (VC; VC: 1.0%, VC: 1.8%, VC: 3.0%, VC: 4.2% and VC: 5.0%, w/w), and floating duckweed (DW; DW: 100, DW: 160, DW: 250, DW: 340 and DW: 400 g m) on O. sativa cultivated in As-contaminated soil. Employing a three-factor five-level central composite design and response surface methodology (RSM), we optimized the application rates of BC-VC-DW. Our findings revealed that As contamination in the soil negatively impacted O. sativa growth. However, the addition of BC, VC, and DW significantly enhanced plant morphological parameters, SPAD value, and grain yield per pot. Notably, a combination of moderate BC-DW and high VC (BCVCDW) increased grain yield by 44.4% compared to the control (BCVCDW). As contamination increased root, straw, and grain As levels, and oxidative stress in O. sativa leaves. However, treatment BCVCDW significantly reduced grain As (G-As) by 56%, leaf hydrogen peroxide by 71%, and malondialdehyde by 50% compared to the control. Lower doses of BC-VC-DW (BCVCDW) increased antioxidant enzyme activities, while moderate to high doses resulted in a decline in these activities. Bioconcentration and translocation factors below 1 indicated limited As uptake and translocation in plant tissues. Through RSM optimization, we determined that optimal doses of BC (0.76%), VC (4.62%), and DW (290.0 g m) could maximize grain yield (32.96 g pot, 44% higher than control) and minimize G-As content (0.189 mg kg, 54% lower than control). These findings underscore effective strategies for enhancing yield and reducing As accumulation in grains from contaminated areas, thereby ensuring agricultural productivity, human health, and long-term sustainability. Overall, our study contributes to safer food production and improved public health in As-affected regions.
Topics: Oryza; Arsenic; Charcoal; Soil Pollutants; Biodegradation, Environmental; Composting; Araceae; Soil
PubMed: 38872089
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05219-w -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Due to the high solubility of Cd in water, it is considered a potential toxin which can cause cancer in humans. In plants, it is associated with the development of...
Due to the high solubility of Cd in water, it is considered a potential toxin which can cause cancer in humans. In plants, it is associated with the development of oxidative stress due to the generation of reactive oxygen species. To overcome this issue, the roles of different plant hormones are vital. Strigolactones, one of such natural plant hormones, show promise in alleviating cadmium toxicity by mitigating its harmful effects. Acidified biochar (AB) can also effectively mitigate cadmium toxicity via ion adsorption and pH buffering. However, the combined effects of strigolactone and AB still need in-depth investigations in the context of existing literature. This study aimed to assess the individual and combined impacts of SLs (0 and 25 µM) and AB (0 and 0.75% w/w) on radish growth under Cd toxicity, i.e., 0 and 20 mg Cd/kg soil. Using a fully randomized design (CRD), each treatment was administered in four replicates. In comparison to the control under 20 mg Cd/kg soil contamination, the results showed that 25 µM strigolactone + 0.75% AB significantly improved the following: radish shoot length (~ 17%), root length (~ 47%), plant fresh weight (~ 28%), plant dry weight (~ 96%), chlorophyll a (~ 43%), chlorophyll b (~ 31%), and total chlorophyll (~ 37%). It was also noted that 0.75% AB was more pronounced in decreasing antioxidant activities than 25 µM strigolactone under 20 mg Cd/ kg soil toxicity. However, performing 25 µM strigolactone + 0.75% AB was far better than the sole application of 25 µM strigolactone and 0.75% AB in decreasing antioxidant activities in radish plants. In conclusion, by regulating antioxidant activities, 25 µM strigolactone + 0.75% AB can increase radish growth in cadmium-contaminated soils.
Topics: Raphanus; Lactones; Soil Pollutants; Charcoal; Cadmium; Antioxidants; Metals, Heavy; Oxidative Stress; Chlorophyll; Plant Roots; Plant Growth Regulators; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring
PubMed: 38871988
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64596-2 -
Cancer Radiotherapie : Journal de La... Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Fluorouracil; Leucovorin; Rectal Neoplasms; Organoplatinum Compounds; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
PubMed: 38871603
DOI: 10.1016/j.canrad.2023.12.002 -
The Science of the Total Environment Sep 2024Drained agricultural peat soils pollute both the atmosphere and watercourses. Biochar has been observed to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nutrient loading...
Drained agricultural peat soils pollute both the atmosphere and watercourses. Biochar has been observed to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nutrient loading in mineral soils. We studied effects of three biochar types with two application rates (10 and 30 Mg ha) on GHG fluxes as well as N and P leaching on peat soil. Peat monoliths were drilled from a long-term cultivated field and were watered either slightly (five dry periods) or heavily (four rainfall periods) during an 11-month laboratory experiment with intact peat columns. The incubation of bare peat profiles enhanced peat decomposition leading to high CO (up to 1300 mg CO m h) and NO emissions (even 10,000-50,000 μg NO m h) and NO-N leaching (even 300-700 mg L) in all treatments. In the beginning of the experiment, the lower application rate of pine bark biochars increased NO emission compared to control, but otherwise none of the biochars or their application rates significantly affected gas fluxes or nutrient leaching. These results indicate that moderate softwood biochar application does not help to mitigate the environmental problems of agricultural peat soils. Higher application rate of biochar pyrolyzed at high temperature is recommended for further studies with peat soils.
Topics: Charcoal; Soil; Nitrous Oxide; Nitrogen; Agriculture; Air Pollutants; Greenhouse Gases; Soil Pollutants
PubMed: 38871319
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173906 -
Cell Host & Microbe Jun 2024Survival strategies of human-associated microbes to drug exposure have been mainly studied in the context of bona fide pathogens exposed to antibiotics. Less well... (Review)
Review
Survival strategies of human-associated microbes to drug exposure have been mainly studied in the context of bona fide pathogens exposed to antibiotics. Less well understood are the survival strategies of non-pathogenic microbes and host-associated commensal communities to the variety of drugs and xenobiotics to which humans are exposed. The lifestyle of microbial commensals within complex communities offers a variety of ways to adapt to different drug-induced stresses. Here, we review the responses and survival strategies employed by gut commensals when exposed to drugs-antibiotics and non-antibiotics-at the individual and community level. We also discuss the factors influencing the recovery and establishment of a new community structure following drug exposure. These survival strategies are key to the stability and resilience of the gut microbiome, ultimately influencing the overall health and well-being of the host.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Xenobiotics; Symbiosis; Gastrointestinal Tract; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Host Microbial Interactions
PubMed: 38870896
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.05.009 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jul 2024In the center of the Nile Delta in Egypt, the Kitchener drain as the primary drainage discharges about 1.9 billion m per year of water, which comprises agricultural...
In the center of the Nile Delta in Egypt, the Kitchener drain as the primary drainage discharges about 1.9 billion m per year of water, which comprises agricultural drainage (75 %), domestic water (23 %), and industrial water (2 %), to the Mediterranean Sea. Cadmium (Cd) stands out as a significant contaminant in this drain; therefore, this study aimed to assess the integration of biochar (0, 5, and 10 ton ha) and three PGPRs (PGPR-1, PGPR-2, and PGPR-3) to alleviate the negative impacts of Cd on sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) in saline-alkali soil. The treatment of biochar (10 ton ha) and PGPR-3 enhanced the soil respiration, dehydrogenase, nitrogenase, and phosphatase activities by 137 %, 129 %, 326 %, and 127 %, while it declined soil electrical conductivity and available Cd content by 31.7 % and 61.3 %. Also, it decreased Cd content in root, shoot, and seed by 55.3 %, 50.7 %, and 92.5 %, and biological concentration and translocation factors by 55 % and 5 %. It also declined the proline, lipid peroxidation, HO, and electrolyte leakage contents by 48 %, 94 %, 80 %, and 76 %, whereas increased the catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and polyphenol oxidase activities by 80 %, 79 %, 61 %, and 116 %. Same treatment increased seed and oil yields increased by 76.1 % and 76.2 %. The unique aspect of this research is its investigation into the utilization of biochar in saline-alkali soil conditions, coupled with the combined application of biochar and PGPR to mitigate the adverse effects of Cd contamination on sunflower cultivation in saline-alkali soil.
Topics: Charcoal; Cadmium; Helianthus; Soil Pollutants; Soil; Egypt; Alkalies; Biodegradation, Environmental; Plant Roots; Soil Microbiology
PubMed: 38870735
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116555 -
The Canadian Journal of Hospital... 2024Extravasation is the erroneous delivery of IV medication or fluid into the extravascular space. Complications ranging from mild injury to amputation can result,...
BACKGROUND
Extravasation is the erroneous delivery of IV medication or fluid into the extravascular space. Complications ranging from mild injury to amputation can result, depending on the physical and pharmacologic properties of the infusate. Children are at increased risk for extravasation injuries. There is a paucity of data on the treatment and outcomes of extravasation injuries, particularly in terms of the role of pharmacologic antidotes.
OBJECTIVES
To describe the incidence of extravasation at a tertiary pediatric care centre (as an update to a previous study), to identify the agents most commonly involved in extravasation injuries, to describe the antidotes used for management of injuries and their related adverse drug effects, and to describe complications related to injuries.
METHODS
The medical records of pediatric patients who experienced an extravasation injury at the BC Children's and BC Women's Hospitals, between September 1, 2008, and September 30, 2020, were reviewed. Data regarding management (adherence with institutional protocol) and outcomes of injuries were collected.
RESULTS
The 242 charts included in the analysis noted a total of 245 extravasation injuries, for an extravasation incidence of 0.04% per patient-day. Of the 242 patients, 110 were excluded from secondary outcome analysis due to lack of data detailing the extravasation event. Of the remaining 132 patients, the majority were neonates ( = 54, 40.9%), infants ( = 33, 25.0%), and children ( = 34, 25.8%), and more than a third were treated on general pediatric wards ( = 50, 37.9%). The medications most frequently involved were total parenteral nutrition with lipids (36/132, 27.3%), vancomycin (36/132, 27.3%), and IV fluids (35/132, 26.5%). Most of the patients had mild outcomes and recovered without complications. No adverse drug events from antidotes were reported.
CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of extravasation at the study institution remained low, with the medications involved being similar to those reported in the literature and the majority of patients having mild outcomes. Additional prospective studies are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of antidotes administered for extravasation injuries.
PubMed: 38868325
DOI: 10.4212/cjhp.3525 -
BMC Plant Biology Jun 2024The combination of compost and biochar (CB) plays an important role in soil restoration and mitigation strategies against drought stress in plants. In the current study,...
Incorporation of compost and biochar enhances yield and medicinal compounds in seeds of water-stressed Trigonella foenum-graecum L. plants cultivated in saline calcareous soils.
BACKGROUND
The combination of compost and biochar (CB) plays an important role in soil restoration and mitigation strategies against drought stress in plants. In the current study, the impact of CB was determined on the characteristics of saline calcareous soil and the productivity of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) plants. The field trials examined CB rates (CB CB and CB corresponding to 0, 10, and 20 t ha, respectively) under deficit irrigation [DI, DI and DI receiving 100, 80, and 60% crop evapotranspiration (ETc), respectively] conditions on growth, seed yield (SY), quality, and water productivity (WP) of fenugreek grown in saline calcareous soils.
RESULTS
In general, DI negatively affected the morpho-physio-biochemical responses in plants cultivated in saline calcareous soils. However, amendments of CB or CB improved soil structure under DI conditions. This was evidenced by the decreased pH, electrical conductivity of soil extract (ECe), and bulk density but increased organic matter, macronutrient (N, P, and K) availability, water retention, and total porosity; thus, maintaining better water and nutritional status. These soil modifications improved chlorophyll, tissue water contents, cell membrane stability, photosystem II photochemical efficiency, photosynthetic performance, and nutritional homeostasis of drought-stressed plants. This was also supported by increased osmolytes, non-enzymatic, and enzymatic activities under DI conditions. Regardless of DI regimes, SY was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved by 40.0 and 102.5% when plants were treated with CB and CB, respectively, as similarly observed for seed alkaloids (87.0, and 39.1%), trigonelline content (43.8, and 16.7%) and WP (40.9, and 104.5%) over unamended control plants.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the application of organic amendments of CB can be a promising sustainable solution for improving saline calcareous soil properties, mitigating the negative effects of DI stress, and enhancing crop productivity in arid and semi-arid agro-climates.
Topics: Trigonella; Soil; Charcoal; Seeds; Composting; Dehydration; Water; Salinity
PubMed: 38867179
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05182-6 -
Molecular Neurobiology Jun 2024Acute nerve agent exposure can kill a person within minutes or produce multiple neurotoxic effects and subsequent brain damage with potential long-term adverse outcomes....
Acute nerve agent exposure can kill a person within minutes or produce multiple neurotoxic effects and subsequent brain damage with potential long-term adverse outcomes. Recent abuse of nerve-agents on Syrian civilians, during Japan terrorist attacks, and personal assassinations in the UK, and Malaysia indicate their potential threat to world population. Existing nerve agent antidotes offer only incomplete protection especially, if the treatment is delayed. To develop the effective drugs, it is advantageous to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of nerve agent-induced multiple neurological impairments. This study aimed to investigate the molecular basis of neuroinflammation during nerve agent toxicity with focus on inflammasome-associated proteins and neurodegeneration. In rats, NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity levels were considerably increased in the hippocampus, piriform cortex, and amygdala areas after single subcutaneous soman exposure (90 µg/kg). Western analysis indicated a notable increase in the neuroinflammatory indicator proteins, high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels. The presence of fluorojade-C-stained degenerating neurons in distinct rat brain areas is indicating the neurodegeneration during nerve agent toxicity. Pre-treatment with galantamine (3 mg/kg, - 30 min) followed by post-treatment of atropine (10 mg/kg, i.m.) and midazolam (5 mg/kg, i.m.), has completely protected animals from death induced by supra-lethal dose of soman (2XLD) and reduced the neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative changes. Results highlight that this new prophylactic and therapeutic drug combination might be an effective treatment option for soldiers deployed in conflict areas and first responders dealing with accidental/deliberate release of nerve agents.
PubMed: 38867111
DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04294-2 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Jun 2024A novel mesoporous magnetic biochar (MBC) was prepared, using a randomly growing plant, i.e., common reed, as an exporter of carbon, and applied for removal of methylene...
A novel mesoporous magnetic biochar (MBC) was prepared, using a randomly growing plant, i.e., common reed, as an exporter of carbon, and applied for removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The prepared sorbent was characterized by nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm, saturation magnetization, pH of point of zero charges (pH), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The obtained MBC has a specific surface area of 94.2 m g and a pore radius of 4.1 nm, a pore volume of 0.252 cm g, a saturation magnetization of 0.786 emu g, and a pH of 6.2. Batch adsorption experiments were used to study the impact of the physicochemical factors involved in the adsorption process. The findings revealed that MB removal by MBC was achieved optimally at pH 8.0, sorbent dosage of 1.0 g L, and contact time of 30 min. At these conditions, the maximum adsorption was 353.4 mg g. Furthermore, the adsorption isotherm indicated that the Langmuir pattern matched well with the experimental data, compared to the Freindlich model. The ∆G was - 6.7, - 7.1, and - 7.5 kJ mol, at 298, 308, and 318 K, respectively, indicating a spontaneous process. The values of ∆H and ∆S were 5.71 kJ mol and 41.6 J mol K, respectively, suggesting endothermic and the interaction between MB and MBC is van der Waals type. The absorbent was regenerated and reused for four cycles after elution with 0.1 mol L of HCl. This study concluded that the magnetic biochar generated from common reed has tremendous promise in the practical use of removing MB from wastewater.
Topics: Methylene Blue; Charcoal; Adsorption; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Poaceae; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Water Purification; Porosity; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics
PubMed: 38866933
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33860-3