Potential of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and pea (Pisum sativum) for remediation of soils contaminated with bromides and PAHs.

The aim of the research was to study a removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phytoextraction of bromine (Br) from contaminated soils. The experiments using pea and wheat seedlings as potential candidates for soil remediation were performed. The soil for the experiments was collected from a site slightly contaminated by some PAHs. Before planting, the soil was exposed to 20 mg of Br/kg of soil. In the soil taken from rhizosphere of pea and wheat, the concentrations of many PAHs decreased up to 7 times compared to the concentrations of the compounds in the initial soil. Pea was capable of more effectively influencing the soil PAHs than wheat. The growth of pea and wheat in the soil spiked with Br resulted in a significant increase of Br concentration in a plant. Concentration of Br in roots of pea and wheat increased 21 and 3 times, respectively. Bromine content in leaves of wheat and pea increased 10 and 4.5 times. This accumulation of Br in the plants led to a decrease of its concentration in the rhizosphere soil. The experimental results demonstrated a good ability of the plants to cleanup the soils contaminated with organic and inorganic compounds.

Effects of Algicidal Macrophyte Metabolites on Cyanobacteria, Microcystins, Other Plankton, and Fish in Microcosms.

To control harmful algae blooms (HABs), methods based on natural mechanisms are now required. We investigated the effects of an algicide derived from macrophyte metabolites, namely mixtures of gallic, tetradecanoic, heptanoic, and octanoic acids (1:1:1:1 mass ratio, a total concentration of 14 mg/L), on the biomass of cyanobacteria and other plankton and the production of microcystins under experimental conditions. Two types of microcosms have been created: simple (microalgae, cyanobacteria, and zooplankton) and complex (microalgae, cyanobacteria, zooplankton, and planktivorous fish). We observed the dynamics of the phytoplankton structure, the concentrations of microcystins and chlorophyll-a, hydrochemistry, and the status of zooplankton and fish in both types of microcosms with and without algicide for one month (from 19 July to 19 August 2021). The introduction of algicide caused changes in phytoplankton structure, a drop in cyanobacterial biomass, and a decrease in the total concentration of microcystins. Surprisingly, the contributions of the most toxic microcystins (LR form) were higher in both types of microcosms exposed to algicide than in microcosms without algicide. The inhibitory effect on the cyanobacterial biomass was most significant in complex ecosystems (containing fish), while it was only observed at the end of the exposure in simple ecosystems. Not only algicide but also phytoplankton consumed by fish and zooplankton, as well as nutrient excretory activity by both consumers, seem to have impact on cyanobacterial biomass. This study found that the using chemical substances similar to macrophyte metabolites can help regulate HABs and cyanotoxins. However, the results differ depending on ecosystem type.

The Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Complex Treatment of Kidney Tuberculosis (Experimental Study).

In recent years, the application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been recognized as a promising method for treatment of different diseases associated with inflammation and sclerosis, which include nephrotuberculosis. The aim of our study is to investigate the effectiveness of MSCs in the complex therapy of experimental rabbit kidney tuberculosis and to evaluate the effect of cell therapy on the reparative processes. Methods: To simulate kidney tuberculosis, a suspension of the standard strain Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (106 CFU) was used, which was injected into the cortical layer of the lower pole parenchyma of the left kidney under ultrasound control in rabbits. Anti-tuberculosis therapy (aTBT) was started on the 18th day after infection. MSCs (5 × 107 cells) were transplanted intravenously after the start of aTBT. Results: 2.5 months after infection, all animals showed renal failure. Conducted aTBT significantly reduced the level of albumin, ceruloplasmin, elastase and the severity of disorders in the proteinase/inhibitor system and increased the productive nature of inflammation. A month after MSC transplantation, the level of inflammatory reaction activity proteins decreased, the area of specific and destructive inflammation in kidneys decreased and the formation of mature connective tissue was noted, which indicates the reparative reaction activation.