Risk Factors for the Development of Pneumonia in Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Pneumonia is one of the most prevalent medical complications post-stroke. It can have negative impacts on the prognosis of stroke patients. This study aimed to determine the predictors of pneumonia in stroke patients. The authors devised, reviewed, and enhanced the search strategy in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were gathered from various electronic databases, including Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science, from January 1st, 2011, to February 25th, 2024. The review encompassed studies involving patients aged 18 years and older who were hospitalized for acute stroke care. Inclusion criteria required patients to have received a clinical diagnosis of stroke, confirmed via medical imaging (CT or MRI), hospital primary diagnosis International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision discharge codes, or pathology reporting. A total of 35 studies met the criteria and were included in our pooled analysis. Among them, 23 adopted a retrospective design, while the remaining 12 were prospective. The pooled incidence of pneumonia among patients with stroke was found to be 14% (95% confidence interval = 13%-15%). The pooled analysis reported that advancing age, male gender, a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the presence of a nasogastric tube, atrial fibrillation, mechanical ventilation, stroke severity, dysphagia, and a history of diabetes were identified as significant risk factors for pneumonia development among stroke patients. Our results underscore the importance of proactive identification and management of these factors to mitigate the risk of pneumonia in stroke patients.

Comparison of Outcomes Between Milrinone and Dobutamine in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials and Observational Studies.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the outcomes between milrinone and dobutamine in patients with cardiogenic shock. The search strategy involved a comprehensive exploration of electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus from the the inception of each database up to the 31st of January 2024. A combination of keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms was employed to identify relevant studies. The outcomes assessed in this meta-analysis included all-cause in-hospital mortality, length of intensive care unit (ICU stay), and length of hospital stay. A total of seven studies were included in this meta-analysis enrolling 3,841 patients (2,331 in the dobutamine group and 1,510 in the milrinone group). Pooled analysis showed that the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients receiving dobutamine compared to patients receiving milrinone (relative risk (RR): 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02 to 2.01, p-value: 0.04). However, the length of hospital stay and length of ICU stay were not significantly different between the two groups. Limited data are available to favor the use of one inotropic agent over another. Dobutamine might lead to a shorter hospital length of stay, but there is also a risk of increased all-cause mortality. Larger randomized studies with adequate power are needed to validate these observations.

Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Deferoxamine, Deferasirox, and Deferiprone in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease or Transfusion-Dependent Anemia: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials.

This network meta-analysis was conducted with the aim of comparing the efficacy and safety of deferiprone (DFP), deferasirox (DFX), and deferoxamine (DFO) in individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) or transfusion-dependent anemia. This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)" guidelines. The search was conducted on electronic databases, including PubMed, CINAHIL, and EMBASE, from the inception of databases to January 10, 2024. Outcomes assessed in this study included a change in liver iron concentration (LIC) and a change in ferritin from baseline. For safety analysis, adverse events were compared among three treatment groups. A total of five studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled analysis showed that the change in LIC and serum ferritin from baseline was not significantly different in patients with SCD or other anemias. In terms of adverse events, deferiprone was the safest among all. In conclusion, deferiprone demonstrated noninferiority to deferoxamine and deferasirox in measures of iron load, presenting a viable treatment option. Safety outcomes revealed deferasirox carried a higher risk of adverse events compared to deferiprone, supporting its favorable safety profile.

Predictors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) refers to the abrupt stoppage of the heart's mechanical activity, primarily triggered by coronary artery disease. OHCA represents a significant global cause of death. The aim of this study was to assess the predictors of OHCA in patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This meta-analysis was conducted following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Two investigators performed a comprehensive search of online databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, from their inception to October 15, 2023. Keywords such as "predictors," "out-of-hospital cardiac arrest," and "acute coronary syndrome" were used to identify relevant articles. To enhance the search, synonyms and their corresponding Medical Subject Heading terms were included. A total of six studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was 4% (95% confidence interval, 3%-5%). The current meta-analysis reports that age, gender, having multivessel disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and having ST-elevation myocardial infarction were some of the significant factors associated with OHCA in patients hospitalized with ACS.

The Effects of Restrictive Fluid Resuscitation on the Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Sepsis or Septic Shock: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized-Controlled Trials.

This study aims to assess the impact of a restrictive resuscitation strategy on the outcomes of patients with sepsis and septic shock. This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the recommendations from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. A systematic search was performed in databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, covering the period from the inception of the database to August 2023, with no limitations on the language of publication. Outcomes assessed in the meta-analysis included mortality, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay in days, duration of mechanical ventilation in days, acute kidney injury (AKI) or the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), and length of hospital stay in days. Overall, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the present meta-analysis. The findings of this study indicate that although the risk of mortality was lower in fluid restriction compared to the control group, the difference was statistically insignificant (risk ratio (RR): 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9-1.05; P value: 0.61). Additionally, the duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly shorter in the restrictive fluid group compared to its counterparts (mean difference (MD): -1.02; 95% CI: -1.65 to -0.38; P value: 0.003). There were no significant differences found in relation to the duration of ICU stays, the incidence of AKI, the requirement for RRT, or the length of hospital stays measured in days.

Comparison of Postoperative Outcomes Between Intra-aortic Balloon Pump and Levosimendan in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study was conducted to compare the postoperative outcomes between intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and levosimendan in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This meta-analysis was conducted following the recommendations of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). For this meta-analysis, a literature search was performed on PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE from inception to July 15, 2023. Keywords used to search for relevant articles included "intra-aortic balloon," "levosimendan," and "cardiac surgery" along with their key terms and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. Outcomes assessed in this study included postoperative outcomes like all-cause mortality, postoperative arrhythmias, need for inotropic support, length of intensive care unit stay (ICU) in days, and duration of mechanical ventilation in hours. Other outcomes included two-hour, six-hour, and 24-hour postoperative central venous pressure (CVP), mean atrial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR). A total of eight studies were included in the pooled analysis. The pooled results found that the length of ICU stay and the duration of mechanical ventilation were significantly higher in patients receiving IABP. Additionally, the findings of this meta-analysis showed a higher need for inotropic support in patients receiving IABP compared to patients receiving levosimendan but the difference was statistically insignificant. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of mortality and arrhythmias. In conclusion, patients treated with levosimendan exhibited significant advantages, as they experienced shorter ICU stays and reduced duration of mechanical ventilation compared to the IABP group and less requirement for inotropic support.

Comparison of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With and Without Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to patients without rheumatoid arthritis. We conducted a thorough search of online databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, to identify English-language publications examining cardiovascular outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis from January 1, 2005, to May 15, 2023. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was performed using relevant keywords such as "rheumatoid arthritis," "cardiovascular diseases," and "risk," along with their synonyms. Medical subject heading (MeSH) terms and Boolean operators (AND, OR) were employed to optimize the search. Outcomes assessed in this study included composite cardiovascular events (as defined by individual studies), myocardial infarction, and stroke (including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke). Overall, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the present meta-analysis. We found that the risk of composite CVD was higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to patients without rheumatoid arthritis. We also found a higher risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to their counterparts. This study demonstrates the elevated risk of CVD in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and highlights the importance of incorporating cardiovascular management and assessment into the care of these patients.

Comparison of Effectiveness and Safety of Ustekinumab and Adalimumab As Induction or Maintenance Therapy in Patients With Moderate to Severe Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This meta-analysis has been conducted to compare ustekinumab and adalimumab as induction or maintenance therapy in patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD). The current meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Two investigators independently searched online databases including PubMed, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Cochrane Library for relevant articles published up to April 2023. The initial search terms were "ustekinumab," "adalimumab," and "Crohn's disease". Three studies (with a total of 612 patients) were included in the present meta-analysis. We did not find any significant difference in clinical remission (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.68-2.52), clinical response (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 0.39-4.91), endoscopic remission (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 0.66-3.64), and steroid-free remission (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.67-1.42) between patients who received ustekinumab and patients who received adalimumab. In conclusion, this meta-analysis provides valuable insights into the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab and adalimumab in the treatment of moderate to severe CD. Our findings indicate that both drugs have similar effectiveness in achieving clinical remission, clinical response, radiological remission and steroid-free remission.

Comparison of High-Flow Nasal Cannula Versus Conventional Oxygen Therapy After Extubation in Children Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis aims to compare high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and conventional oxygen therapy (COT) post-extubation in pediatric cardiac surgical patients. The present meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two authors independently searched three electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant articles published in English from inception to February 2023. Searching was conducted using keywords and medical subject headings (MeSH), which included "conventional oxygen therapy," "high-flow nasal cannula," "extubation," "pediatrics," and "cardiac surgery." Our primary outcome was extubation failure defined as the need for reintubation within 24 to 72 hours after planned extubation. Secondary outcomes assessed in this meta-analysis included partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2), partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2), and the ratio of PaO2 and FiO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen). A total of three studies were included in the meta-analysis, with a total of 227 patients.  No significant difference was found between the two groups (the HFNC group and the COT group) in terms of reintubation (RR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.34, 2.30, p-value: 0.80). Pooled meta-analysis showed that PaO2 was significantly greater in patients receiving HFNC at six hours (MD: 33.73, 95% CI: 18.33, 49.14, p-value<0.001), at 12 hours (MD: 44.90, 95% CI: 28.59, 61.22, p-value<0.001) and at 24 hours (MD: 43.53, 95% CI: 29.16, 57.91, p-value<0.001) of extubation. PaCO2 was significantly lower in patients receiving HFNC at six hours (MD: -5.40, 95% CI: -7.94, -2.85, p-value<0.001) and at 12 hours (MD: -5.93, 95% CI: -9.78, -2.09, p-value<0.001) of extubation. However, no significant difference was reported between the two groups after 24 hours of extubation (MD: -0.84, 95% CI: -9.04, 7.37, p-value: 0.84) and PaO2/FiO2 was significantly greater in patients receiving HFNC at six hours (MD: 64.14, 95% CI: 36.10, 92.17, p-value<0.001), at 12 hours (MD: 70.73, 95% CI: 20.46, 121.01, p-value<0.001) and at 24 hours (MD: 82.18, 95% CI: 50.03, 114.32, p-value<0.001) of intubation. In conclusion, the meta-analysis revealed that compared with COT, HFNC significantly increased PaO2 and the ratio of PaO2 to FiO2, and decreased PaCO2. No significant differences were observed in the rate of reintubation between the two groups. This is the first meta-analysis comparing HFNC and COT in pediatric cardiac surgical patients.

Effectiveness of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Preventing Relapse and Recurrence of Depression in Adults With Major Depressive Disorder: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in preventing the relapse and recurrence of depression in adults with major depressive disorders. The study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two authors conducted a systematic search of online databases, such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE, using keywords, such as "electroconvulsive therapy," "depressive disorders," and "recurrence." The primary outcome measure was the incidence of relapse and recurrence in adults with major depressive disorder who received ECT alone or in combination with an antidepressant medication compared to those who received antidepressant medication alone. The secondary outcome measure was the change in the Mini-Mental State Examination score from baseline to the end of the trial in both groups. A total of six articles were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled rate of recurrence in the ECT group was 28.4% compared to 30.6% in the antidepressant group, with no significant difference between the two groups (risk ratio (RR) = 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.65-1.10, p = 0.21). However, subgroup analysis showed that the risk of recurrence was significantly lower in patients receiving ECT with antidepressant therapy compared to the antidepressant group alone (RR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.45-0.93, p = 0.02). On the other hand, when ECT was given alone, the risk was higher in the ECT group compared to the antidepressant group; however, the difference was not statistically significant (RR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.79-1.75). In conclusion, the results of this meta-analysis suggest that ECT alone or in combination with an antidepressant medication does not significantly impact the incidence of recurrence in adults with major depressive disorder when compared to antidepressant medication alone.

Human Health and Ecological Risks Associated with Total and Bioaccessible Concentrations of Cadmium and Lead in Urban Park Soils.

This study investigated the total and bioaccessible concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in urban soils and their associated human health and ecological risk. Total and bioaccessible metal concentrations were found within the safe limits except for Cd, surpassing the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) China limit in 9.5% of parks. Bioaccessible concentrations were higher in the gastric (G) phase than the intestinal (I) phase, while Cd showed more bioaccessibility compared to Pb. Bioaccessible concentrations reduced Hazard Quotient (HQing) values by 2-22 times and 0-2 times for children and adults, respectively, while hazard index (HI) declined by 1.7 times, and the mean total bioaccessible risk of Pb decreased by 20.8 times. Further, the study revealed a low level of contamination factor (CF < 1) and a low degree of contamination (CD < 6), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) values for all the cities were less than 150, indicating low ecological risk.

Effect of Statin Therapy on Mortality and Recurrence of Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Patients With Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Statins can play an essential role in the tertiary and primary prevention of cardiovascular events by reduction of cholesterol in a stroke patient. This meta-analysis aims to assess statin therapy's effect on mortality and recurrence of Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) in patients with spontaneous ICH. The current meta-analysis was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library to identify studies assessing the use of statins in patients with ICH. The primary outcome assessed in the current meta-analysis was a hemorrhagic stroke. The secondary outcomes included cardiac-related events and all-cause mortality. A total of 9 studies were included in the current meta-analysis enrolling 49027 patients, with 8094 patients on statin therapy and 40933 patients in the control group. The risk of recurrent ICH was significantly lower in patients receiving stains (RR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.67-0.99, p-value: 0.02) compared to placebo. However, no significant differences were observed regarding all-cause mortality (RR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.53-1.20, p-value: 0.27) and cardiovascular events (RR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.88-1.74). In ICH patients, statins can reduce the risk of recurrent ICH in patients with a history of ICH. However, statins had no significant effect on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events.

Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Anticoagulant Monotherapy and Combined Therapy of Anticoagulant and Antiplatelets in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease and Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis.

It is still uncertain whether patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD) who require long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC) should also receive antiplatelet treatment (APT). This meta-analysis aims to compare the efficacy and safety of OAC alone with OAC plus APT in individuals with AF and stable CAD. The current meta-analysis was conducted as per the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE). We performed electronic searches using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. The efficacy outcomes assessed in this meta-analysis included cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic), and all-cause mortality. The safety outcome included major bleeding events. A total of five studies were included in the current meta-analysis enrolling 9199 patients with stable CAD and AF. Out of these five studies, three were observational and two were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Our study showed no significant difference between two groups in the incidence of cardiovascular mortality (Hazard ratio {HR}: 0.86, 95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.59-1.25, I-square: 44%), myocardial infarction (HR: 1.21, 95% CI: 0.73-2.01, I-square: 0%), all-cause mortality (HR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.76-1.19, I-square: 68%) and stroke (HR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.61-1.12, I-square: 45%). However, lower incidence of major bleeding events in patients who received OAC alone as compared to patients who received a combination of OAC and anti-platelet (HR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.18-1.580, I-square: 78%) were found. The current meta-analysis showed that OAC monotherapy is associated with a lower incidence of major bleeding events in patients with stable CAD and AF. It is also not associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, stroke, and myocardial infarction.

Efficacy of Direct Renin Inhibitors in Slowing Down the Progression of Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

Albuminuria is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular events in diabetic people. The pathogenic processes in these circumstances have been documented to be significantly influenced by enhanced renin-angiotensin system activity. The current meta-analysis was carried out to assess the efficacy of direct renin inhibitors in preventing the progression of diabetic kidney disease. This meta-analysis was conducted as per the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). We searched the relevant medical literature through PubMed, Cochrane library and EMBASE. The primary efficacy outcome was a percentage change in urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) (in mg/g) level. Other primary efficacy outcomes included remission from microalbuminuria to normal albuminuria and progression from microalbuminuria to macroalbuminuria. Four randomized control studies were identified and included in the current meta-analysis involving 9,609 participants. The use of direct renin inhibitors was superior in reducing mean UACR compared to angiotensin receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The pooled mean difference in UACR between direct renin inhibitors and the control group was 9.42% (95% CI: -15.70 to -3.15: p-value=0.003). The odds of progression from microalbuminuria to normal albuminuria are 1.26 times higher in patients receiving direct renin inhibitors compared to patients in the control group (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08-1.46, p-value=0.002). The odds of remission from microalbuminuria to macroalbuminuria were 20% lower in patients receiving direct renin inhibitors compared to patients in the control group (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69-0.93, p-value=0.003). The use of aliskiren is associated with a significant reduction in UACR, increased remission from microalbuminuria to normal albuminuria and decreased progression from microalbuminuria to macroalbuminuria.

The Use of the SMART-COP Score in Predicting Severity Outcomes Among Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Meta-Analysis.

Pneumonia is a pathological process of interstitial lung tissue and distal airway and alveolar infection and infiltration. SMART-COP (systolic blood pressure, multilobar infiltrates, albumin, respiratory rate, tachycardia, confusion, oxygen, and pH) is a severity score method designed to identify individuals who require intensive respiratory or vasopressor support (IRVS) support due to pneumonia. Therefore, it is important for management decisions in pneumonia. This meta-analysis was conducted to determine the performance of the SMART-COP score in predicting the prognosis and severity of patients presenting with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The current meta-analysis was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic search was conducted using Medline, Embase, and CINAHL to identify relevant studies assessing the validity of the SMART-COP score in predicting the severity of patients with CAP. Overall, nine studies were included in the current meta-analysis. A pooled sensitivity of the SMART-COP score to predict the use of IRVS is 89% (95% CI: 84%-92%) while its specificity is 68% (95% CI: 65%-70%). The pooled sensitivity of the SMART-COP score to predict 30-day mortality is 92% (95% CI: 89%-94%) while its specificity is 39% (95% CI: 37%-42%). To summarize, SMART-COP is a new, eight-variable instrument that appears to accurately identify patients with CAP who will require IRVS and 30-day mortality. Our findings show that SMART-COP will be a valuable tool for clinicians in accurately predicting illness severity in CAP patients as compared to other scoring systems. SMART-COP can be useful to identify patients who need urgent management.

Effects of ozone phytotoxicity in reducing the yield and nutritional quality of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.).

This study was designed to assess the effects of tropospheric ozone (O3) on the yield and nutritional quality of chilli (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Pusa Jwala) using ethylene diurea (EDU) under field conditions in Peshawar, Pakistan. Average O3 concentration ranged between 38 and 68 ppb which is high enough to cause phytotoxic effects. Accumulated ozone exposure over a threshold of 40 ppm h (AOT40) value calculated for 3-month period was found to be substantially higher, i.e., 7.3 ppm h. Various growth and yield parameters analyzed on weekly basis showed that the plant height (6.3%), number of flowers (15%), fruits (36%), and total dry biomass (30%) and its nutritional quality parameters such as mean crude protein, fat, and fiber showed 24%, 100%, and 12% better results in EDU-treated plants as compared with control, respectively. However, mineral contents showed no significant difference (p < 0.05) for both the groups. The results of this study concluded that ambient O3 is a threat to the selected plant species thus affecting its quality and yield and EDU remains successful in protecting the chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) against the negative effects of tropospheric ozone.

Biochars reduced the bioaccessibility and (bio)uptake of organochlorine pesticides and changed the microbial community dynamics in agricultural soils.

Biochar is considered as a universal sorbent used for soil amendment but its impacts on organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and microbial communities associated with soil and vegetables are unclear. The effects of different biochars (derived from sewage sludge biochar (SSBC), soybean straw biochar (SBBC), rice straw biochar (RSBC) and peanut shells biochar (PNBC)), on bioaccessible fractions of OCPs in a contaminated soil and their subsequent bioaccumulation into vegetables (Chinese cabbage and spring onion) were investigated in this research work. The influence of these amendments on vegetable yields and soil microbial community using Illumina next generation sequencing technology was also assessed. The application of selected biochars significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the bioaccessibility of ∑OCPs in contaminated soil: SSBC (52%), PNBC (51%), RSBC (60%), and SBBC (47%), as compared to the control. The results indicated that following biochar additions, the bio-uptake of ∑OCP bio-uptake was considerably (from 86 to 85%) reduced in grown vegetables. Risk assessment showed that biochar amendments markedly (p < 0.01) decreased the hazard quotient (HQ) indices and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILTR) values for OCPs associated with the consumption of vegetables. In addition, the results of high-throughput sequencing showed significant differences in microbial community structure between the treatments, which was driven by differences in the relative abundances of soil microbes. The relative abundances of Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae and Verrucomicrobia decreased following biochar additions. However, biochar amendments increased the relative abundances of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Gemmatimonadetes, though the increase in relative abundances of these phyla was strongly dependent on the type of biochar used.

Endocrine disrupting pesticides in soil and their health risk through ingestion of vegetables grown in Pakistan.

A comprehensive study was conducted to appraise the concentrations of 30 endocrine disrupting pesticides (EDPs) in soil and vegetable samples collected from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The sum of 30 EDPs (Σ30EDPs) ranged from 192 to 2148 µg kg-1 in the collected soils. The selected EDP concentrations exceeded their respective limits in most of the tested soils and showed great variation from site to site. Similarly, high variations in Σ30EDP concentrations were also observed in vegetables with the highest mean concentration in lettuce (28.9 µg kg-1), followed by radish (26.6 µg kg-1), spinach (25.7 µg kg-1), onion (16.2 µg kg-1), turnip (15.6 µg kg-1), and garlic (14.7 µg kg-1). However, EDP levels in all studied vegetables were within FAO/WHO limits. The mean bioconcentration factor values were observed < 1 for all the studied vegetables. The health risk assessment revealed that the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of Σ30EDPs associated with vegetable ingestion was below the acceptable risk level (1 × 10-6), showing no cancer risk to local inhabitants. However, exposure to endocrine disruptor and probable carcinogen heptachlor epoxide poses a potential non-cancer risk (hazard quotient (HQ > 1)) to children through vegetable consumption. The presence of banned EDPs in soils and vegetables of the study area indicates the stability of these legacy chemicals in the environment from over usage in the past or illegal current application for agricultural purposes. Graphical abstract.

Influence of biochars on the accessibility of organochlorine pesticides and microbial community in contaminated soils.

Biochar can be used as a promising potential substance to reduce the availability of toxic elements and compounds in contaminated soils but its effects on the accessibility of pesticides and microbiological interactions still remain unclear. Here, 65 day incubation experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of biochars on the accessibility of 21 different organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and also to evaluate their influence on soil microbial community. The tested soil was collected from an agricultural field, containing loamy sand texture, and historically contaminated with high concentrations of OCPs. The soil was amended with four different kinds of biochars: sewage sludge biochar (SSBC), peanut shells biochar (PNBC), rice straw biochar (RSBC), and soybean straw biochar (SBBC). The results indicated that biochar-amendments had strong effects upon OCP accessibility over time and can act as super sorbent. Despite greater persistence of OCPs in soil, the application of selected biochars significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the accessibility of ∑OCPs in the amended soil in the order of SSBC (8-69%), PNBC (11-75%), RSBC (6-67%), and SBBC (14-86%), as compared to the control soil during 0-65 d incubation period. Moreover, the findings from total phospholipid acid (PLFA) and Illumina next-generation sequencing revealed that the incorporation of biochar have altered the soil microbial community structure over time. Higher abundances of Proteobacteria, firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, and Actinobacteria were found in biochar amendments. However, the relative abundances of Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi decreased, following biochar addition. The findings of these experiments suggest that biochar addition to soil at the rate of 3% (w/w) could be advantageous for decreasing accessibility of OCPs, enhancing the soil microbial communities, and their subsequent risk to environment and food chain contamination.