Comparison of efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus cisplatin versus docetaxil, cisplatin, plus fluorouracil in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Induction followed by concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) is the standard of care for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). This study evaluated and compared the efficacy of two regimens of neoadjuvant chemotherapy along with CCRT in LANPC. Patients with LANPC were randomly divided in Group I (receiving neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin) and Group II (receiving neoadjuvant docetaxil, cisplatin and fluorouracil). Both groups also received concurrent single agent (i.e., cisplatin) chemotherapy and radiotherapy (70Gy). Treatment response was assessed at 8 weeks after the completion of CCRT using RECIST criteria. A total of 68 LANPC patients were enrolled. Group I comprised of 32 patients, with male to female ratio of 2.2, a mean (range, median) age of 38.6±11.3 (19-58, 36) years. Group II comprised of 36 patients, with male to female ratio of 3.5, mean (range, median) age of 40.9 ±11.6 (17-63, 40) years. The complete response was higher whereas the partial response was lower in Group I as compared to Group II (23/32 versus 16/36 and 06/32 versus 18/36, respectively). LANPC patients receiving gemcitabine plus cisplatin based neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed higher response, as compared with docetaxil, cisplatin and fluorouracil based neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Irinotecan dosing and pharmacogenomics: a comprehensive exploration based on UGT1A1 variants and emerging insights.

Irinotecan is a critical anticancer drug used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer and advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by obstructing topoisomerase 1; however, it can cause minor-to-severe and life-threatening adverse effects. UDP glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1 (UGT1A1) polymorphisms increase the risk of irinotecan-induced neutropenia and diarrhea. Hence, screening for UGT1A1 polymorphisms before irinotecan-based chemotherapy is recommended to minimize toxicity, whereas liposomes offer the potential to deliver irinotecan with fewer side effects in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the effects of genotype-guided dosing of irinotecan on UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A1*6 variants, incorporating pharmacogenomic research, optimal regimens for metastatic colorectal and pancreatic cancer treatment using irinotecan, guidelines for toxicity reduction, and an evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of UGT1A1 genotype testing.

Thorough examination of the potential biological implications of the cuproptosis-related gene LIPT2 in the prognosis and immunotherapy in pan-cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the expression levels and prognostic value of the Lipoyltransferase 2 (LIPT2) gene in a pan-cancer view. METHODOLOGY: Our study comprehensively investigated the role of LIPT2 in pan-cancer, combining bioinformatics analyses with experimental validations. RESULTS: Analysis of LIPT2 mRNA expression across various cancers revealed a significant up-regulation in 18 tumor types and down-regulation in 8 types, indicating its diverse involvement. Prognostic assessment demonstrated a correlation between elevated LIPT2 expression and poorer outcomes in Overall Survival (OS) and Disease-Free Survival (DFS), particularly in Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (LIHC), and Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma (PCPG). Protein expression analysis in GBM, LIHC, and PCPG affirmed a consistent increase in LIPT2 levels compared to normal tissues. Examining the methylation status in GBM, LIHC, and PCPG, we found reduced promoter methylation levels in tumor samples, suggesting a potential influence on LIPT2 function. Genetic mutation analysis using cBioPortal indicated a low mutation frequency (< 2%) in LIPT2 across GBM, LIHC, and PCPG. Immune correlation analysis unveiled a positive association between LIPT2 expression and infiltration levels of immune cells in GBM, LIHC, and PCPG. Single-cell analysis illustrated LIPT2's positive correlation with functional states, including angiogenesis and inflammation. Enrichment analysis identified LIPT2-associated processes and pathways, providing insights into its potential molecular mechanisms. Drug sensitivity analysis demonstrated that elevated LIPT2 expression conferred resistance to multiple compounds, while lower expression increased sensitivity. Finally, RT-qPCR validation in HCC cell lines confirmed the heightened expression of LIPT2 compared to a control cell line, reinforcing the bioinformatics findings. CONCLUSION: Overall, our study highlights LIPT2 as a versatile player in cancer, influencing diverse aspects from molecular processes to clinical outcomes across different cancer types.

Physiological and biochemical variations of naturally ripened mango (Mangifera Indica L.) with synthetic calcium carbide and ethylene.

To meet the increasing consumer demands for fruits, the implementation of artificial ripening techniques using synthetic chemicals has become increasingly commonplace among less ethical fruit production companies in today's global market. The objective of present work was to establish a difference in the physiological and biochemical and profiles of naturally ripened mangoes vs. those ripened by application of synthetic calcium carbide and ethylene. The application of calcium carbide at 10 g/kg mangoes resulted early ripening in 2 days, with a 3-day shelf life, as compared with 5 and 6 days, for mangoes ripened by ethylene and naturally, respectively. Higher levels of calcium carbide reduced moisture, fiber, protein and carbohydrates content and increased the ash content of mangoes, as compared to higher levels of ethylene, whereas in naturally ripened mangoes the content percentages were 80.21, 3.57, 3.05 6.27 and 4.74, respectively. Artificial ripening resulted in significant loss of ascorbic, citric and malic acid, as values were recorded 35.94, 2.12 and 0.63 mg/g, respectively, in mangoes ripened with 10 g/kg of calcium carbide. However, in naturally ripened mangoes the amounts of these acids were recorded significantly (p < 0.05) high as 52.29, 3.76 and 1.37 mg/g, respectively. There was an increase in total soluble solids (TSS) and reducing sugars, and a decrease in titratable acidity in calcium carbide (10 g/kg) treated mangoes. Elemental analyses revealed high levels of minerals in naturally ripened mangoes, with significant values of iron (0.45 mg/100 g), zinc (0.24 mg/100 g) and copper (0.17 mg/100 g). The organoleptic quality of the fruit decreased significantly (p < 0.05) as a result of the use of calcium carbide. Although use of artificial ripening techniques provides speedy ripening of mangoes, there are obvious limitations. Consequently, natural ripening should be promoted in order to have safer and more nutritious mangoes.

CT texture analysis for differentiating between peritoneal carcinomatosis and peritoneal tuberculosis: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) and peritoneal tuberculosis (PTB) have similar clinical and radiologic imaging features, which make it very difficult to differentiate between the two entities clinically. Our aim was to determine if the CT textural parameters of omental lesions among patients with PC were different from those with PTB. METHODS: All patients who had undergone omental biopsy at our institution from January 2010 to December 2018 and had a tissue diagnosis of PC or PTB were eligible for inclusion. Patients who did not have a contrast-enhanced CT abdomen within one month of the omental biopsy were excluded. A region of interest (ROI) was manually drawn over omental lesions and radiomic features were extracted using open-source LIFEx software. Statistical analysis was performed to compare mean differences in CT texture parameters between the PC and PTB groups. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients were included in the study of which 38 and 28 had PC and PTB, respectively. Omental lesions in patients with PC had higher mean radiodensity (mean difference: +32.4; p = 0.001), higher mean entropy (mean difference: +0.11; p < 0.001), and lower mean energy (mean difference: -0.024; p = 0.001) compared to those in PTB. Additionally, omental lesions in the PC group had lower gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) homogeneity (mean difference: -0.073; p < 0.001) and higher GLCM dissimilarity (mean difference: +0.480; p < 0.001) as compared to the PTB group. CONCLUSION: CT texture parameters of omental lesions differed significantly between patients with PTB and those with PC, which may help clinicians in differentiating between the two entities.

Unveiling the significance of foliar-applied silicon, selenium and phosphorus for the management and remediation of arsenic in two different rice genotypes.

Under paddy soil conditions, rice plants are vulnerable to arsenic (As) accumulation, thus causing potential threat to human health. Here we investigated the influence of foliar-applied phosphorus (P: 10 and 20 mg L-1), silicon (Si: 0.6 and 1.5 g L-1) and selenium (Se: 5 and 10 mg L-1) on As accumulation, morphological and physiological attributes of two contrasting rice genotypes (KSK-133 and Super Basmati) under As stress (25 mg kg-1 as arsenate). Silicon foliar dressing significantly (p < 0.05) reduced grain As uptake (up to 67%) and improved rice growth and chlorophyll content (28-66%) in both rice genotypes over their controls. Phosphorus foliar application resulted in a notable decrease (17%) in grain As uptake of coarse rice genotype (KSK-133), while it slightly increased grain As uptake in the fine one (Super Basmati; 6%) compared to controls. However, foliar-applied Se did not show significant effects on rice plants growth attributes and As uptake in both genotypes. Similarly, biochemical and enzymatic attributes (i.e., lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage, peroxidase and catalase) were improved with Si application in rice plants, except for P treatment that was only effective for coarse one. Foliar-applied Si also resulted in reduced cancer risk and hazard quotient (< 0.10) for both rice genotypes. This study advances our understanding on critical role of different foliar-applied nutrients and rice genotypes, which is imperative to develop effective As remediation and management strategies in coarse and fine rice genotypes and protect human health.

This study provided new insights on the significance of foliar-applied phosphorus, silicon and selenium for the management and remediation of arsenic in fine (Super Basmati) and coarse (KSK-133) rice genotypes. Foliar-applied silicon was the most promising strategy to mitigate arsenic uptake and minimizing health risk in rice grain of both genotypes, while phosphorus was effective only for coarse one, thus showing a genotype dependent response. Interestingly, selenium foliar application had no significant effect on arsenic accumulation in both rice genotypes.

Guar gum/poly ethylene glycol/graphene oxide environmentally friendly hybrid hydrogels for controlled release of boron micronutrient.

The present study was aimed at synthesis of polymeric hydrogels for controlled boron (B) release, as B deficiency is a major factor that decreases crops yield. Thus, graphene oxide incorporated guar gum and poly (ethylene glycol) hydrogels were prepared using the Solution Casting method for boron release. 3-Glycidyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GLYMOL) was used as a cross-linker. Characterizations of hydrogels were carried out by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis and Scanning Electron scope. The FTIR outcomes confirmed the existence of functional groups, bindings and development of hydrogel frameworks from incorporated components. The quantity of GLYMOL directly increased the thermal stability and water retention but decreased the swelling %. The maximum swelling for the hydrogel formulations was observed at pH 7. The addition of GLYMOL changed the diffusion from quasi-Fickcian to non-Fickcian diffusion. The maximum swelling quantities of 3822% and 3342% were exhibited by GPP (control) and GPP-8 in distilled water, respectively. Boron release was determined in distilled water and sandy soil by azomethine-H test using UV-Visible spectrophotometer while 85.11% and 73.65% boron was released from BGPP-16, respectively. In short, water retentive, water holding capacities, swelling performances, biodegradability and swelling/deswelling features would offer an ideal platform for boron release in sustained agricultural applications.

Institutional quality, oil price, and environmental degradation in MENA countries moderated by economic complexity and shadow economy.

This paper aims to analyze the link between environmental degradation and institutional quality and the price of oil moderated by economic complexity and the underground economy. We use quantile regressions with annual panel data for 15 countries in the Middle East and North Africa during 1995-2021. The findings indicate that institutional quality, economic complexity, and output positively and heterogeneously impact environmental degradation. However, the square of production has a negative impact, confirming an inverted U relationship between production and environmental degradation. Likewise, we find that the price of oil and the underground economy have a negative and heterogeneous impact on environmental degradation. Based on our results, a potential recommendation for policymakers is that the institutional framework of Middle Eastern and North African countries should be accompanied by a more significant concern for the environment instead of prioritizing extractive growth that is detrimental to the environment's environmental sustainability. Likewise, economic diversification will mitigate environmental degradation and improve formal employment. Our findings are relevant to policymakers and researchers interested in promoting ecological sustainability.

Aflatoxins posing threat to food safety and security in Pakistan: Call for a one health approach.

Aflatoxins are among the most important mycotoxins due to their widespread occurrence and adverse impacts on humans and animals. These toxins and/or their metabolites cannot be destroyed with cooking or boiling methods. Therefore, consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated food may lead to impaired growth, compromised immunity, stomach and liver cancer, and acute toxicity. These adverse effects along with food wastage might have detrimental consequences on a country's economy. Several studies from Pakistan reported a high prevalence of aflatoxins in food and feed commodities (Range; milk = 0.6-99.4%, cereals, and grains = 0.38-41%, animal feed = 31-100%). Notably, Pakistan reported very high figures of impaired child growth-stunted 40.2%, wasted 17.7% and underweight 28.9%-that could be associated with the higher aflatoxin prevalence in food items. Importantly, high aflatoxins prevalence, i.e. 100%, 69% and 60.5%, in children has been reported in Pakistan. Food and feed are more prone to aflatoxin contamination due to Pakistan's hot and humid climate; however, limited awareness, inadequate policy framework, and weak implementation mechanisms are the major obstacles to effective control. This review will discuss aflatoxins prevalence, associated risk factors, adverse health effects, required regulatory regime, and effective control strategies adopting the One Health approach to ensure food safety and security.

Hub genes identification and association of key pathways with hypoxia in cancer cells: A bioinformatics analysis.

Three human cancer cell lines (A549, HCT116, and HeLa) were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms and potential prognostic biomarkers associated with hypoxia. We obtained gene expression data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets GSE11704, GSE147384, and GSE38061, which included 5 hypoxic and 8 control samples. Using the GEO2R tool and Venn diagram software, we identified common differentially expressed genes (cDEGs). The cDEGs were then subjected to Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway analysis by employing DAVID. The hub genes were identified from critical PPI subnetworks through CytoHuba plugin and these genes' prognostic significance and expression were verified using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), respectively. The research showed 676 common DEGs (cDEGs), with 207 upregulated and 469 downregulated genes. The STRING analysis showed 673 nodes and 1446 edges in the PPI network. We identified 4 significant modules and 19 downregulated hub genes. GO analysis revealed all of them were majorly involved in ribosomal large subunit assembly and biogenesis, rRNA processing, ribosome biogenesis, translation, RNA & protein binding frequently at the sites of nucleolus and nucleoplasm while 11 were significantly associated with a better prognosis of hypoxic tumors. Our research sheds light on the molecular mechanisms that underpin hypoxia in human cancer cell lines and identifies potential prognostic biomarkers for hypoxic tumors.

Evaluation of azo dyes degradation potential of fungal strains and their role in wastewater treatment.

In the present investigation, two fungal strains were exploited to evaluate their degradation capability on Synozol Red, Yellow, and Navy-Blue dyes which gave the utmost decolorization such as 40%, 70%, 90% by Aspergillus niger, and 36%, 73%, 87% by Trichoderma viride, respectively for 60 days. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the decolorized dyes suggested that various compounds such as Caprolactam, Furazan-3-carboxamide, oxime, 4-amino-N, N-dimethyl, 6H-Pyrazolo[1,2-a] [1,2,4,5]tetrazine, Hexahydro-2,3-dimethyl, Benzene, 1-propenyl, Dihydroxymaleic acid, Arsenous acid, tris(trimethylsilyl) ester were produced by the fungi which helped in the removal of dyes from the wastewater. The laccase activity of the degraded dyes was proof that both of the strains positively produced the enzyme that helped in the biodegradation of carcinogenic dyes into less harmful products. The A. niger extracted laccase relative activity was 262%, 265%, and 145.7% for Synozol Yellow, Synozol Red, and Navy Blue, respectively. Similarly, laccase, obtained from T. viride, showed relative activity of 187.5% against Synozol Yellow, 215% against Synozol Red, and 202% against Navy Blue. Furthermore, the supernatant extracted from fungi-decolorized wastewater was used to check phytotoxicity on Vigna radiata, which gave excellent results. Both fungal strains, on the basis of their dye degradation potential, can be used to ameliorate wastewater contaminated with azo dyes.

Spectroscopic fingerprinting, pollution characterization, and health risk assessment of potentially toxic metals from urban particulate matter.

The unprecedented stride of urbanization and industrialization has given rise to anthropogenic input of tiny particulates into the air. Urban particulate matter (PM) armored with potentially toxic metals (PTMs) could be lethal to the environment and human health. Therefore, the present study was planned to investigate the spectroscopic fingerprinting, pollution status and health risk of PM-associated PTMs collected from ten functional areas of Lahore, Pakistan. The diverged results of studied qualitative and quantitative analyses showed distinct compositional and pollution characteristics of PTMs in urban PM with respect to selected functional areas. The XRD results evident the fractional presence of metal-containing minerals, i.e., pyrite (FeS2), calcite (CaCO3), zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), and chalcostibite (CuSbS2). Several chemical species of Zn, Pb, and As were found in PM of various functional areas. However, morphologies of PM showed anthropogenic influence with slight quantitative support of PTMs presence. The cumulative representation of PTMs pollution of all selected areas depicted that Cd was heavily polluted (Igeo=3.21) while Cr (Igeo=1.82) and Ni (Igeo=2.11) were moderately polluted PTMs. The industrial area having high pollution status of Cd (Igeo=5.54 and EF=18.07), Cu (Igeo=6.4 and EF=32.61), Cr (Igeo=4.03 and EF=6.53), Ni (Igeo=5.7 and EF=20.17), and Zn (Igeo=4.87 and EF=11.27) was prominent among other studied areas. The PTMs were likely to pose a high non-cancerous risk in IndAr (HI = 7.48E+00) and HTV (HI = 1.22E +00) areas predominantly due to Zn with HQ > 1. However, Cr was prominent to cause cancerous risks with values beyond the tolerable range (1.00E-04 to 1.00E-06).

Synergistic effect of microwave heating and thermosonication on the physicochemical and nutritional quality of muskmelon and sugarcane juice blend.

Melons (Cucumis melo L.) are highly popular due to its delicate and delightful flavor in the worldwide. However, the flavor of the melon juice was easily affected by thermal treatments and unpleasant cooking smell during production process. Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) juice is a proven nutritious beverage with high levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, and other beneficial nutrients. Due to its low sugar content, combined with sugarcane, muskmelon-sugarcane blend juice gives an appealing and exotic drink. The research was planned to evaluate the effect of thermo-sonication (20 kHz, 70% amplitude, 5, 10 and 15 min) and microwave (90 °C, 400 W, 120 sec) on physicochemical parameters including pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC) and antioxidant capacity of muskmelon and sugarcane juice blend, during storage of 90 days at refrigeration (4±1 °C). The statistical results showed that synergism of sonication and microwave treatments had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) influence on pH, TSS, titratable acidity, TPC, TFC and antioxidant capacity. T3 (15 min of sonication and 120 s of microwave) showed the maximum TSS (12.00±0.40 °B), pH (5.07±0.02), TPC (484.33±10.41 mg GAE/100 mL), TFC (261.73±11.32 mg CE/100 mL), and antioxidant activity (381.62±17.72 µg AAE/100 mL), as compared to untreated samples. Thermosonication for 15 min caused maximum retention of TPC, TFC and antioxidant capacity of blend juice during 90 days of storage, whereas in untreated samples these parameters were found highly decreased during storage. Thus, sonication and microwave can be recommended as an alternative to both conventional pasteurization processes and chemical preservatives.

Synergistic effect of plasma power and temperature on the cracking of toluene in the N2 based product gas.

In this research, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor is used to study the cracking of the toluene into C1-C6 hydrocarbons. The combined effect of parameters such as temperature (20-400 °C) and plasma power (10-40 W) was investigated to evaluate the DBD reactor performance. The main gaseous products from the decomposition of toluene include lower hydrocarbon (C1-C6). The cracking of toluene increases with power at all temperatures (20-400 °C). On the otherhand, it decreases from 92.8 to 73.1% at 10 W, 97.2 to 80.5% at 20, 97.5 to 86.5% at 30 W, and 98.4 to 93.7% at 40 W with raising the temperature from 20 to 400 °C. Nonetheless, as the temperature and plasma input power increase, the methane yield increases. At 40 W, the maximum methane yield was 5.1%. At 10 and 20 W, the selectivity to C2 increases as the temperature rises up to 400 °C. At 30 and 40 W, it began to drop after 300 °C due to the formation of methane and the yield of methane increases significantly beyond this temperature.

Call for biotechnological approach to degrade plastic in the era of COVID-19 pandemic.

Plastic pollution is a global issue and has become a major concern since Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19. In developing nations, landfilling and illegal waste disposal are typical ways to dispose of COVID-19-infected material. These technologies worsen plastic pollution and other human and animal health problems. Plastic degrades in light and heat, generating hazardous primary and secondary micro-plastic. Certain bacteria can degrade artificial polymers using genes, enzymes, and metabolic pathways. Microorganisms including bacteria degrade petrochemical plastics slowly. High molecular weight, strong chemical bonds, and excessive hydrophobicity reduce plastic biodegradation. There is not enough study on genes, enzymes, and bacteria-plastic interactions. Synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and bioinformatics methods have been created to biodegrade synthetic polymers. This review will focus on how microorganisms' degrading capacity can be increased using recent biotechnological techniques.

Carbonate Reservoir Quality Variations in Basins with a Variable Sediment Influx: A Case Study from the Balkassar Oil Field, Potwar, Pakistan.

The carbonate reservoir quality is strongly reliant on the compaction process during sediment burial and other processes such as cementation and dissolution. Porosity and pore pressure are the two main factors directly affected by mechanical and chemical compactions. Porosity reduction in these carbonates is critically dependent on the overburden stress and subsidence rate. A variable sediment influx in younger basins may lead to changes in the reservoir quality in response to increasing lithostatic pressure. Deposition of molasse sediments as a result of the Himalayan orogeny caused variations in the sedimentation influx in the Potwar Basin of Pakistan throughout the Neogene times. The basic idea of this study is to analyze the carbonate reservoir quality variations induced by the compaction and variable sediment influx. The Sakesar Limestone of the Eocene age, one of the proven carbonate reservoirs in the Potwar Basin, shows significant changes in the reservoir quality, specifically in terms of porosity and pressure. A 3D seismic cube (10 km2) and three wells of the Balkassar field are used for this analysis. To determine the vertical and lateral changes of porosity in the Balkassar area, porosity is computed from both the log and seismic data. The results of both the data sets indicate 2-4% porosities in the Sakesar Limestone. The porosity reduction rate with respect to the lithostatic pressure computed with the help of geohistory analysis represents a sharp decrease in porosity values during the Miocene times. Pore pressure predictions in the Balkassar OXY 01 well indicate underpressure conditions in the Sakesar Limestone. The Eocene limestones deposited before the collision of the Indian plate had enough time for fluid expulsion and show underpressure conditions with high porosities.

Assessment of aflatoxin M1 exposure and associated determinants in children from Lahore, Pakistan.

Aflatoxins are potent carcinogenic and immunomodulatory mycotoxins, and exposure may lead to deleterious effects on human health. This study aimed to detect aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) as biomarker of exposure and determine associated risk factors in children attending a specialized-childcare hospital in Lahore. Urine samples collected from 238 children (1-11 years) during winter (January-mid-March 2020) and hot-humid summer (August-September 2020) were tested for AFM1 presence using ELISA. Data on potential risk factors were also collected. Of 238 samples, 156 (65.5%) were positive for urinary AFM1. Season was significantly associated (OR = 2.64; 95% CI = 1.49-4.79; p = 0.001) with AFM1 positivity; prevalence was higher in hot-humid months (74.6%) than winter (57.3%). The place of living was also significantly associated (OR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.25-3.97; p = 0.007), and urinary AFM1 positivity was higher in urban children (71.1%) compared to rural (58.3%). Median value for creatinine-adjusted AFM1 was 1.9 ng/mg creatinine (Q1-Q3 = 0.82-6.0 ng/mg creatinine), while non-creatinine-adjusted AFM1 was 0.57 ng/mL (Q1-Q3 = 0.23-1.4 ng/mL). Significantly higher urinary AFM1 levels were detected in children; age ≤2 years (p = 0.037), who consumed more milk (p = 0.048), and who presented to the nutrition clinic (p = 0.003). These findings highlight the need for an effective control program to reduce the AFM1 burden in children.

Effect of eCG dose on ovarian haemodynamics, hormonal profiles and prolificacy rate when oestrus was induced during low-breeding season in Beetal goats.

The objectives of the experiment were to determine the effect of two doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) in a standard synchronization protocol based on a short-term progesterone (P4 ) priming on ovarian structures and haemodynamics, concentrations of steroid hormones and prolificacy rate when oestrus was induced during low-breeding season (LBS) in Beetal dairy goats. We hypothesized that inclusion of eCG in a short-term P4 priming-based synchronization protocol would increase the blood perfusion to ovarian structures leading to enhance oestrous and ovulatory responses and prolificacy rate in goats. Forty-two multiparous acyclic goats were blocked by body condition and, within block, assigned randomly to receive saline as control (CON), low eCG (L-eCG; 300 IU) or high eCG (H-eCG; 600 IU) dose. Initially, a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device was placed in the anterior vagina on d -8, followed by removal of CIDR on d -3, concurrent with the administration of PGF2α and eCG according to their respective treatments. Goats were monitored for oestrous response. B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography was performed with 12-h interval, starting from day -3 until natural breeding (day 0), and then on days 5, 10, 15 and 20 post-breeding to monitor follicular and luteal dynamics and blood flow, respectively. Blood was sampled at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 60 h after CIDR removal to quantify plasma concentrations of estradiol-17ß (E2 ), whereas plasma concentrations of P4 were assayed at days 5, 10, 15 and 20 after breeding. Pregnancy and prolificacy rates were determined at day 30 and 150 after breeding, respectively. Data were analysed with mixed-effects models, and orthogonal contrasts were used to evaluate the effect of treatment [Con vs. (½ L-eCG + ½ H-eCG)] and dose of eCG (L-eCG vs. H-eCG). Data are presented in sequence as CON, L-eCG, H-eCG (LSM ± SEM). The oestrous intensity score (152.9 vs. 182.7 vs. 186.5 ± 15.1; p = .02) was greater in eCG-treated goats as compared to CON. Administration of eCG reduced the intervals to standing oestrus (66.2 vs. 41.8 vs. 48.9 h ± 5.5; p = .05), breeding (70.2 vs. 44.4 vs. 45.4 h ± 4.5; p = .03) and ovulation (84.5 vs. 61.2 vs. 63.4 h ± 6.2; p = .05) compared with CON goats. The mean growth rate of pre-ovulatory follicle was greater (1.11 vs. 1.49 vs. 1.45 mm ± 0.08; p = .01) in eCG-treated goats resulting in an increased diameter of pre-ovulatory follicle (6.27 vs. 7.20 vs. 7.31 mm ± 0.07; p < .01) and corpora lutea (6.75 vs. 8.26 vs. 8.07 mm ± 0.42; p = .04) than CON. The mean follicular blood flow did not differ among treatments; however, the mean luteal blood flow was greater in L-eCG-treated goats (0.81 vs. 1.61 vs. 1.07 cm2 ± 0.12; p = .001). The mean concentrations of E2 (4.03 vs. 5.21 vs. 4.78 pg/ml ± 0.42; p = .04) and P4 (4.85 vs. 6.39 vs. 6.22 ng/ml ± 0.34; p = .04) were greater in eCG-treated goats. The twinning rate did not differ between treatments; nevertheless, prolificacy rate was greater (p = .04) in L-eCG-treated goats. Collectively, our data suggest that the administration of eCG improves the induction of oestrous and ovarian dynamics. Administration of L-eCG enhances prolificacy rate, therefore, a low dose of eCG might be practically beneficial to improve reproduction during LBS in acyclic Beetal dairy goats.

A critical review on biochar-assisted free radicals mediated redox reactions influencing transformation of potentially toxic metals: Occurrence, formation, and environmental applications.

Potentially toxic metals have become a viable threat to the ecosystem due to their carcinogenic nature. Biochar has gained substantial interest due to its redox-mediated processes and redox-active metals. Biochar has the capacity to directly adsorb the pollutants from contaminated environments through several mechanisms such as coprecipitation, complexation, ion exchange, and electrostatic interaction. Biochar's electron-mediating potential may be influenced by the cyclic transition of surface moieties and conjugated carbon structures. Thus, pyrolysis configuration, biomass material, retention time, oxygen flow, and heating time also affect biochar's redox properties. Generally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) exist as free radicals (FRs) in radical and non-radical forms, i.e., hydroxyl radical, superoxide, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, and singlet oxygen. Heavy metals are involved in the production of FRs during redox-mediated reactions, which may contribute to ROS formation. This review aims to critically evaluate the redox-mediated characteristics of biochar produced from various biomass feedstocks under different pyrolysis conditions. In addition, we assessed the impact of biochar-assisted FRs redox-mediated processes on heavy metal immobilization and mobility. We also revealed new insights into the function of FRs in biochar and its potential uses for environment-friendly remediation and reducing the dependency on fossil-based materials, utilizing local residual biomass as a raw material in terms of sustainability.