The Potential of Chrysanthemum and Pelargonium for Phytoextraction of Lead - Contaminated Soils

Phytoremediation is a set of technologies that uses plants to clean up contaminated soils and groundwater. Phytoremediation is environmentally friendly, successful and cost-effective compared to other in situ methods such as the electrokinetic method. In this work, two local plant species, Chrysanthemum and Pelargonium, were examined for their ability to uptake lead from lead contaminated soils (1000 ppm). Additionally, two types of soils were used for the phytoremediation study. The first soil was a silty clay soil, and the second was a carefully designed mixture of commercially available peat moss (33%), peyrlaite (16%), sand (16%), clay (17%) and organic “manure” fertilizer (18%). Commercially available pots as well as especially designed and manufactured pots were used for the phytoremediation experiments. Chrysanthemum showed greater potential for lead accumulation than Pelargonium. Chrysanthemum reduced lead from about1000 ppm to about 276 ppm in the soil in five months only. Most of the lead was found in the roots of the plant (73%), while 11%, 9% and 7% was found in the stems, leaves and flowers, respectively. Pelargonium, however, was not as effective as Chrysanthemum. Pelargonium reduced lead concentrations from about 1400 ppm to about 900 ppm

Modeling cancer genomic data in yeast reveals selection against ATM function during tumorigenesis

The DNA damage response (DDR) comprises multiple functions that collectively preserve genomic integrity and suppress tumorigenesis. The Mre11 complex and ATM govern a major axis of the DDR and several lines of evidence implicate that axis in tumor suppression. Components of the Mre11 complex are mutated in approximately five percent of human cancers. Inherited mutations of complex members cause severe chromosome instability syndromes, such as Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome, which is associated with strong predisposition to malignancy. And in mice, Mre11 complex mutations are markedly more susceptible to oncogene- induced carcinogenesis. The complex is integral to all modes of DNA double strand break (DSB) repair and is required for the activation of ATM to effect DNA damage signaling. To understand which functions of the Mre11 complex are important for tumor suppression, we undertook mining of cancer genomic data from the clinical sequencing program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which includes the Mre11 complex among the 468 genes assessed. Twenty five mutations in MRE11 and RAD50 were modeled in S. cerevisiae and in vitro. The mutations were chosen based on recurrence and conservation between human and yeast. We found that a significant fraction of tumor-borne RAD50 and MRE11 mutations exhibited separation of function phenotypes wherein Tel1/ATM activation was severely impaired while DNA repair functions were mildly or not affected. At the molecular level, the gene products of RAD50 mutations exhibited defects in ATP binding and hydrolysis. The data reflect the importance of Rad50 ATPase activity for Tel1/ATM activation and suggest that inactivation of ATM signaling confers an advantage to burgeoning tumor cells

Antenatal depression among pregnant mothers in Afghanistan: a cross-sectional study

Background: Approximately one in five pregnant women experience antenatal depression globally. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of antenatal depression and explore its relationship between various demographic variables, recent sexual engagement, and recent adverse life events among pregnant Afghan women. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was carried out between January, 2023 and April 2023 among 460 women aged 15–45 years who were recruited using convenience sampling from Herat province (Afghanistan). Logistic regression models were utilized to explore the relationship between antenatal depression and socio-demographic characteristics among the participants. Results: The prevalence of antenatal depression symptoms was 78.5%. Multiple regression analysis indicated that antenatal depression was significantly associated with (i) being aged 30–45 years (AOR: 4.216, 95% CI: 1.868–9.515, p = .001), (ii) being of low economic status (AOR:2.102, 95% CI: 1.051–4.202, p = .036), (iii) not being employed (AOR: 2.445, 95% CI:1.189–5.025, p = .015), (iv) not having had sex during the past seven days (AOR: 2.335, 95% CI: 1.427–3.822, p = .001), and (v) not experiencing a traumatic event during the past month (AOR:0.263, 95% CI: 0.139–0.495, p < .001). Conclusion: The present study provides insight into the factors associated with the high prevalence of antenatal depression among pregnant Afghan women (e.g., demographic variables, recent adverse life events, and recent sexual engagement). It highlights the urgency of addressing antenatal depression in Afghanistan and provides a foundation for future research and interventions aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of pregnant women in the Afghan context

Surface Photovoltage Spectroscopy of Cd0.97\text{}_{0.97}Fe0.03\text{}_{0.03}Se and Cd0.97\text{}_{0.97}Fe0.03\text{}_{0.03}Te Crystals

The surface electronic structure of the Cd$\text{}_{1-x}$Fe$\text{}_{x}$Se and Cd$\text{}_{1-x}$Fe$\text{}_{x}$Τe crystals with x = 0 and x = 0.03 has been studied by Surface Photovoltage Spectroscopy (SPS). The change of surface photovoltage was observed due to photo-excitation of the electrons from the deep donor state Fe 3d to conduction band edge. This gave possibility to determine energy position of the Fe 3d state at 0.64 and 0.15 eV over the top of the valence band for CdSe and CdTe, respectively

The particle size of drug nanocarriers dictates the fate of neurons; Critical points in neurological therapeutics

Neurological disorders and diseases are on the rise in the world, while pharmacists are being encouraged to encapsulate drugs into the nanocarriers. The critical key question is which size of nanocarrier has a promising neurotherapeutic effect. In the present study, FTY-720, an FDA approved drug, was encapsulated into O/W nanocarriers. SEM and DLS data indicated in ultrasonication and stirring methods resulted in spherical nanocarriers with a particle size of 60 and 195 nm (nF60 and nF195), respectively. Further to investigate the effect of particle size on neuronal cells, MTT assay, PI flow-cytometry, LDH release, and NO production examinations were performed. Results showed that small nanocarriers increased cell viability along with the decline of dead cells, while both nanocarriers decreased LDH release and NO production as compared to the conventional drug. Notably, qRT-PCR and western blotting data related to apoptotic markers indicated in the increase of cell mortality in cells treated by nF190 was not due to the increase of apoptosis and Bax/Bcl2 ratio. It is worth mentioning that integrin α5 as a cell surface receptor involves in neuritogenesis was over-expressed in neuronal cells treated by small nanocarriers. However, nF60 increased PTK2 over-expression along with neurite outgrowth, as well. In other words, nanocarriers at the size of 60 nm are preferred to 195 nm as a drug carrier in neurotherapy due to profound impacts on neural cells. Thanks to small nanocarrier broad positive action on neural viability and neurite outgrowth. The present study discloses a pharmaceutical strategy to design drugs based on their particle size efficiency. © 2020 IOP Publishing Ltd