Citric acid enhanced phytoextraction of nickel (Ni) and alleviate Mentha piperita (L.) from Ni-induced physiological and biochemical damages.

Phytoremediation is considered one of the well-established and sustainable techniques for the removal of heavy metals and metalloids from contaminated sites. The metal extraction ability of the plants can be enhanced by using suitable organic materials in combination with metal-tolerant plants. This experiment was carried out to investigate the phytoextraction potential of Mentha piperita L. for nickel (Ni) with and without citric acid (CA) amendment in hydroponic experiment. The experiment was performed in controlled glass containers with continuous aeration in complete randomized design (CRD). Juvenile M. piperita plants were treated with different concentrations of Ni (100, 250, and 500 µM) alone and/or combined with CA (5 mM). After harvesting the plants, the morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes as well as Ni concentrations in different tissues of M. piperita plants were measured. Results revealed that Ni stress significantly decreased the plant agronomic traits, photosynthesis in comparison to control. Nickel stress enhanced the antioxidant enzymes activities and caused the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in M. piperita. The CA treatment under Ni stress significantly improved the plant morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics when compared with Ni treatments alone. The results demonstrated that CA enhanced the Ni concentrations in roots, stems, and leaves up to 138.2%, 54.2%, and 38%, respectively, compared to Ni-only-treated plants. The improvement in plant growth with CA under Ni stress indicated that CA is beneficial for Ni phytoextraction by using tolerant plant species. Graphical abstract.

Comparative safety and efficacy of conventional interferon versus pegylated-interferon based therapy for HCV: A retrospective cohort study from Gujranwala, Pakistan.

Numerous studies on risk factors, clinical presentation and treatment of hepatitis C are known to the world. However, no data is available about the safety and efficacy of anti-hepatitis C therapy among the patients of Gujranwala, Pakistan. This retrospective study compared two dosage forms of interferon; conventional interferon (IR) and Pegylated interferon (PIR) in 370 Hepatitis C patients selected through non probability convenient sampling technique. Clinical data were collected related to therapy outcomes at the start of therapy, after each follow up and at the end of therapy. The study indicated that HCV 3 was the most prevalent genotype of hepatitis C. Main side effects associated with therapies were pain at injection site (PIR; 49%, IR; 48%), inflammation at injection site (PIR; 34%, IR; 48%), fever (PIR; 56.12%, IR; 61.5%), myalgia (PIR; 24.5%,IR; 22.99%), malaise (PIR; 7.14%, IR; 5.75%), anorexia (PIR; 46%, IR; 39%), vomiting (PIR; 43%, IR; 41%), irritability (PIR; 4%, IR; 11.5%) and impaired concentration (PIR; 13%, IR; 21). The sustained viral response rate was significantly better in PIR group as compared to IR group (PIR; 80.61%, IR; 66.67%). In conclusion Pegylated interferon based therapy showed better clinical response with less adverse events as compared to conventional interferon based therapy. However, there is dire need to shift from these intravenous dosage forms to relatively new oral dosage forms for the treatment of hepatitis C to further improve clinical outcome and minimize the risks of adverse events.

Patterns of outdoor exposure to heat in three South Asian cities.

Low socio-economic status has been widely recognized as a significant factor in enhancing a person's vulnerability to climate change including vulnerability to changes in temperature. Yet, little is known about exposure to heat within cities in developing countries, and even less about exposure within informal neighbourhoods in those countries. This paper presents an assessment of exposure to outdoor heat in the South Asian cities Delhi, Dhaka, and Faisalabad. The temporal evolution of exposure to heat is evaluated, as well as intra-urban differences, using meteorological measurements from mobile and stationary devices (April-September 2016). Exposure to heat is compared between low-income and other neighbourhoods in these cities. Results are expressed in terms of air temperature and in terms of the thermal indices Heat Index (HI), Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) at walking level. Conditions classified as dangerous to very dangerous, and likely to impede productivity, are observed almost every day of the measurement period during daytime, even when air temperature drops after the onset of the monsoon. It is recommended to cast heat warnings in terms of thermal indices instead of just temperature. Our results nuance the idea that people living in informal neighbourhoods are consistently more exposed to heat than people living in more prosperous neighbourhoods. During night-time, exposure does tend to be enhanced in densely-built informal neighbourhoods, but not if the low-income neighbourhoods are more open, or if they are embedded in green/blue areas.

Phytoremediation of heavy metals by Alternanthera bettzickiana: Growth and physiological response.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of Alternanthera Bettzickiana (Regel) G. Nicholson plant subjected to different levels of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM) stress. A. bettzickiana was able to accumulate Cd and Pb in different plant parts and total uptake of both metals was higher in shoots than roots. Plant growth, biomass and photosynthetic pigments increased with increasing metal concentrations, up to 1.0 mM, in soil and then decreased with higher metal levels. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased under lower metal levels (0.5 and 1.0 mM) while decreased at higher metal levels (2.0 mM). Leaf and root electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents decreased at lower metal levels (≤1.0 mM) while increased at higher levels. The present study clearly signifies the potential of A. bettzickiana plant towards Cd and Pb tolerance and accumulation especially at lower metal levels.