Achievability of Municipal Solid Waste Compost for Tea Cultivation with Special Reference to Cadmium

Not AvailableMunicipal solid waste compost (MSWC) is quite often used for soil amendment in agricultural crops and yet little is known about its effect on tea (Camellia sinensis L.) cultivation. This study investigates the effect of MSWC application on cadmium (Cd) concentrations in soil, tea plants, and infusions. Different doses of MSWC are added to soil with two Tocklai vegetative (TV) tea clones (TV1 and TV23) for 2 years in pot experiments. Several fractions of Cd in amended soils, biomass yield, and Cd content in different parts of tea plants and in tea infusions are measured. Several indexes related to risk assessment are also calculated. The geo‐accumulation index values of Cd in soil amended with MSWC ranges from −1.74 to 3.12, indicating class 0 (practically uncontaminated) to class 4 (heavily contaminated) contamination level. Average daily intakes (ADI) of Cd through tea infusion produced from tea plant amended with MSWC are 8.9 × 10−6 and 9.2 × 10−6 mg kg−1 per body weight and day for men and women, respectively. These values are much lower than those given in the Joint FAO/WHO Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake Guideline for Cd. The non‐carcinogenic risk values (also called hazard quotient) for Cd, estimated from the ADI values, are found to be 1.78 × 10−2 and 1.94 × 10−2 mg kg−1 per day for men and women, respectively, suggesting no health hazard. The results suggested the possibility of management of MSW through composting and the feasibility of compost application for tea cultivation.Not Availabl

Correction to: Pre-frail older adults show improved cognition with StayFitLonger computerized home–based training: A randomized controlled trial (GeroScience, (2023), 45, 2, (811-822), 10.1007/s11357-022-00674-5)

The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error in Table 1. There is an error in the numbers (means and SD)

Not Available

Not AvailableMunicipal solid waste compost (MSWC) is quite often used for soil amendment in agricultural crops and yet little is known about its effect on tea (Camellia sinensis L.) cultivation. This study investigates the effect of MSWC application on cadmium (Cd) concentrations in soil, tea plants, and infusions. Different doses of MSWC are added to soil with two Tocklai vegetative (TV) tea clones (TV1 and TV23) for 2 years in pot experiments. Several fractions of Cd in amended soils, biomass yield, and Cd content in different parts of tea plants and in tea infusions are measured. Several indexes related to risk assessment are also calculated. The geo‐accumulation index values of Cd in soil amended with MSWC ranges from −1.74 to 3.12, indicating class 0 (practically uncontaminated) to class 4 (heavily contaminated) contamination level. Average daily intakes (ADI) of Cd through tea infusion produced from tea plant amended with MSWC are 8.9 × 10−6 and 9.2 × 10−6 mg kg−1 per body weight and day for men and women, respectively. These values are much lower than those given in the Joint FAO/WHO Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake Guideline for Cd. The non‐carcinogenic risk values (also called hazard quotient) for Cd, estimated from the ADI values, are found to be 1.78 × 10−2 and 1.94 × 10−2 mg kg−1 per day for men and women, respectively, suggesting no health hazard. The results suggested the possibility of management of MSW through composting and the feasibility of compost application for tea cultivation.Not Availabl

Risk of human exposure to arsenic and other toxic elements from geophagy : trace element analysis of baked clay using inductively coupled plasma spectrometry

Geophagy or earth-eating is common amongst some Bangladeshi women, especially those who are pregnant, both in Bangladesh and in the United Kingdom. A large proportion of the population in Bangladesh is already exposed to high concentrations of arsenic (As) and other toxic elements from drinking contaminated groundwater. Additional exposure to As and other toxic elements from non-food sources has not been adequately addressed and here we present the first study to monitor As levels in baked clay (known as sikor). Methods: Sikor samples originating from Bangladesh were digested using a microwave digester and analysed for their As, Pb, Cd, Mn, Fe and Zn levels using ICP-MS. Detailed As speciation analysis was performed using HPLC-ICPMS. Results: Of particular concern were the levels of As (3.8-13.1 mg kg-1), Cd (0.09-0.4 mg kg-1) and Pb (21-26.7 mg kg-1) present in the sikor samples and their possible impact on human health. Speciation analysis revealed that sikor samples contained mainly inorganic As. Modest consumption of 50 g of sikor is equivalent to ingesting 370 μg of As and 1235 μg of Pb per day, based on median concentration values. This level of sikor consumption exceeds the permitted maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) of inorganic As by almost 2-fold. Conclusion: We conclude that sikor can be a significant source of As, Cd and Pb exposure for the Bangladeshi population consuming large quantities of this material. Of particular concern in this regard is geophagy practiced by pregnant women concurrently exposed to As contaminated drinking water. Future studies needs to evaluate the bioavailability of As and other elements from sikor and their impact on human health

Reduction of in-hospital cardiac arrest with sequential deployment of rapid response team and medical emergency team to the emergency department and acute care wards.

PurposeThis study aimed to determine if sequential deployment of a nurse-led Rapid Response Team (RRT) and an intensivist-led Medical Emergency Team (MET) for critically ill patients in the Emergency Department (ED) and acute care wards improved hospital-wide cardiac arrest rates.MethodsIn this single-center, retrospective observational cohort study, we compared the cardiac arrest rates per 1000 patient-days during two time periods. Our hospital instituted a nurse-led RRT in 2012 and added an intensivist-led MET in 2014. We compared the cardiac arrest rates during the nurse-led RRT period and the combined RRT-MET period. With the sequential approach, nurse-led RRT evaluated and managed rapid response calls in acute care wards and if required escalated care and co-managed with an intensivist-led MET. We specifically compared the rates of pulseless electrical activity (PEA) in the two periods. We also looked at the cardiac arrest rates in the ED as RRT-MET co-managed patients with the ED team.ResultsHospital-wide cardiac arrests decreased from 2.2 events per 1000 patient-days in the nurse-led RRT period to 0.8 events per 1000 patient-days in the combined RRT and MET period (p-value = 0.001). Hospital-wide PEA arrests and shockable rhythms both decreased significantly. PEA rhythms significantly decreased in acute care wards and the ED.ConclusionImplementing an intensivist-led MET-RRT significantly decreased the overall cardiac arrest rate relative to the rate under a nurse-led RRT model. Additional MET capabilities and early initiation of advanced, time-sensitive therapies likely had the most impact

Rationale and protocol of the StayFitLonger study: a multicentre trial to measure efficacy and adherence of a home-based computerised multidomain intervention in healthy older adults.

In older adults, multidomain training that includes physical and cognitive activities has been associated with improvement of physical and cognitive health. The goal of the multisite StayFitLonger study is to assess a home-based computerised training programme, which combines physical exercises, stimulating cognitive activities and virtual coaching. One hundred twenty-eight cognitively healthy older adults will be recruited from the community in Switzerland, Canada and Belgium. The study will comprise (1) a 26-week double-blind randomized controlled efficacy trial and (2) a 22-week pragmatic adherence sub-study. In the efficacy trial, participants will be randomly assigned to an experimental or an active control intervention. In the experimental intervention, participants will use the StayFitLonger programme, which is computerised on a tablet and provides content that combines physical activities with a focus on strength and balance, as well as divided attention, problem solving and memory training. Outcomes will be measured before and after 26 weeks of training. The primary efficacy outcome will be performance on the "Timed-Up & Go" test. Secondary outcomes will include measures of frailty, cognition, mood, fear of falling, quality of life, and activities of daily living. Age, sex, education, baseline cognition, expectation, and adherence will be used as moderators of efficacy. Following the 26-week efficacy trial, all participants will use the experimental programme meaning that participants in the control group will 'cross over' to receive the StayFitLonger programme for 22 weeks. Adherence will be measured in both groups based on dose, volume and frequency of use. In addition, participants' perception of the programme and its functionalities will be characterised through usability, acceptability and user experience. This study will determine the efficacy, adherence and participants' perception of a home-based multidomain intervention programme and its functionalities. This will allow for further development and possible commercialization of a scientifically validated training programme. ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04237519 Registered on January 22, 2020 - Retrospectively registered