Development of a framework to structure decision-making in environmental and occupational health: A systematic review and Delphi study.

Background: Environmental and occupational health (EOH) assessments increasingly utilize systematic review methods and structured frameworks for evaluating evidence about the human health effects of exposures. However, there is no prevailing approach for how to integrate this evidence into decisions or recommendations. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence-to-decision (EtD) frameworks provide a structure to support standardized and transparent consideration of relevant criteria to inform health decisions.

Spatiotemporal distribution of cyanobacteria in relation to water chemistry of Sutlej River, Punjab (India).

In this investigation, the spatiotemporal distribution of cyanobacteria and their relationships with variations in water chemistry (physico-chemical parameters and heavy metal) of Sutlej River, Punjab (India) has been analyzed by employing multivariate statistical methods. Sutlej River exhibits a rich array of cyanobacterial diversity, comprising 28 species across 15 genera, distributed among 11 families and spanning 5 orders within the class Cyanophyceae. In terms of relative abundance, Microcystis aeruginosa (17.

Unmet health care needs during the COVID-19 pandemic among adults: a prospective cohort study in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected access to health care services in Canada; however, limited research examines the influence of the social determinants of health on unmet health care needs during the first year of the pandemic. The objectives of this study were to describe unmet health care needs during the first year of the pandemic and to investigate the association of unmet needs with the social determinants of health.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 23 972 adults participating in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) COVID-19 Study (April-December 2020) to identify the social determinants of health associated with unmet health care needs during the pandemic.

Obesity and weight change during the COVID-19 pandemic in children and adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Many obesity risk factors have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, including physical inactivity, poor diet, stress, and poverty. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as associated lockdowns or restrictions, on weight change in children and adults. We searched five databases from January 2020 to November 2021.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety, and unmet healthcare needs in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to healthcare services in Canada. Research prior to the pandemic has found that depression and anxiety symptoms were associated with increased unmet healthcare needs. The primary objective of this study was to examine if mental health was associated with perceived access to healthcare during the pandemic METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 23,972 participants (aged 50-96) in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging COVID-19 Exit Survey (Sept-Dec 2020).

Stressors and perceived consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: a cross-sectional study using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Background: The indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults, such as stress, are unknown. We sought to describe the stressors and perceived consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults in Canada and to evaluate differences by socioeconomic factors.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging COVID-19 Exit Questionnaire (September-December 2020).

Understanding interdisciplinary perspectives of plant intelligence: Is it a matter of science, language, or subjectivity?

Background: Evidence suggests that plants can behave intelligently by exhibiting the ability to learn, make associations between environmental cues, engage in complex decisions about resource acquisition, memorize, and adapt in flexible ways. However, plant intelligence is a disputed concept in the scientific community. Reasons for lack of consensus can be traced back to the history of Western philosophy, interpretation of terminology, and due to plants lacking neurons and a central nervous system.

Evaluation of growth and carotenoid production by a green microalga Scenedesmus quadricauda PUMCC 4.1.40. under optimized culture conditions.

Microalgae are a potential source of a wide range of food and novel value-added products. The versatility of microalgae to produce different kind of pigments is gaining interest as a sustainable source of natural carotenoids. Currently, commercial production of carotenoids from selected microalgae requires special culture conditions which are difficult to maintain.

Assessment of water quality condition and spatiotemporal patterns in selected wetlands of Punjab, India.

Wetlands are one of the most productive aquatic ecosystems on earth, and their water quality is an indicative of their suitability for maintaining various ecosystem services. In this study, different statistical techniques and water quality index (WQI) were employed to access the status and spatiotemporal patterns in water quality of seven selected (two natural and five manmade) wetlands of Punjab. The results revealed that the status of water quality in the selected wetlands was between good and poor during studied seasons (summer, monsoon, and winter) of year 2019.

Interaction of pretilachlor with PS-II activity of the cyanobacterium Desmonostoc muscorum PUPCCC 405.10.

Interaction of pretilachlor with photosystem (PS)-II of the cyanobacterium Desmonostoc muscorum PUPCCC 405.10 has been studied in this paper. Pretilachlor negatively affected growth, chlorophyll a (Chl a), photosynthesis, and carbon dissimilation in a dose-dependent manner.

High production of carotenoids by the green microalga Asterarcys quadricellulare PUMCC 5.1.1 under optimized culture conditions.

Since carotenoids are important as natural colorants, antioxidants, neutraceutics and pharmaceutics, the aim of the present study was to find a new good source of these pigments. We hereby report a green microalga Asterarcys quadricellulare PUMCC 5.1.

Lisinopril-associated bullous pemphigoid in an elderly woman: a case report of a rare adverse drug reaction.

An 87-year-old woman with a long-standing history of hypertension, hypothyroidism and diabetes presented to us with scaly and pruritic vesicles of an erythematous base and crusted surface of 2-month duration. They first appeared on her abdomen and gradually spread to her lower back, thighs, before spreading to her upper and lower limbs. Her lesions were non-painful, aggravated by sun exposure only, and sparing mucous membranes.

Cyanobacterial lectins characteristics and their role as antiviral agents.

Lectins are ubiquitous proteins/glycoproteins of non-immune origin that bind reversibly to carbohydrates in non-covalent and highly specific manner. These lectin-glycan interactions could be exploited for establishment of novel therapeutics, targeting the adherence stage of viruses and thus helpful in eliminating wide spread viral infections. Here the review focuses on the haemagglutination activity, carbohydrate specificity and characteristics of cyanobacterial lectins.

The cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PUPCCC 62: a potential candidate for biotransformation of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in the presence of sulphate.

The cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp., an isolate from polluted water of Satluj river, India, was found resistant to chromium(VI) up to 200 nmol mL(-1). In this study, it has been demonstrated that this organism takes up Cr(VI) through a phosphate transporter.

Limnology and cyanobacterial diversity of high altitude lakes of Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, India.

Limnological data of four high altitude lakes from the cold desert region of Himachal Pradesh, India, has been correlated with cyanobacterial diversity. Physico-chemical characteristics and nutrient contents of the studied lakes revealed that Sissu Lake is mesotrophic while Chandra Tal, Suraj Tal and Deepak Tal are ultra-oligotrophic. Based on morphology and 16S rRNA gene sequence, a total of 20 cyanobacterial species belonging to 11 genera were identified.

Evaluation of toxicological impact of cartap hydrochloride on some physiological activities of a non-heterocystous cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya foveolarum.

The present study was aimed to the evaluation of toxicological impact of insecticide cartap hydrochloride on photosynthesis and nitrogen assimilation of a non-heterocystous cyanoprokaryote Leptolyngbya foveolarum isolated from paddy fields of Punjab, India. The microorganism tolerated commercial grade insecticide up to 80 ppm. Lower concentration (20 ppm) of cartap supported good growth with high dry weight of biomass, total protein content, photosynthetic pigments, photosynthesis and respiration compared to untreated control cultures while higher concentrations (40 and 60 ppm) inhibited these parameters in a dose dependent manner.

Anilofos tolerance and its mineralization by the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PUPCCC 64.

This study deals with anilofos tolerance and its mineralization by the common rice field cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PUPCCC 64. The organism tolerated anilofos up to 25 mg L(-1).

Chlorpyrifos degradation by the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PUPCCC 64.

Background, Aim, And Scope: Indiscriminate use of insecticides leads to environmental problems and poses a great threat to beneficial microorganisms. The aim of the present work was to study chlorpyrifos degradation by a rice field cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PUPCCC 64 so that the organism is able to reduce insecticide pollution in situ.

Common dermatologic diseases among students at a tertiary care center in Lebanon.

Unlabelled: There are few publications on prevalence of skin diseases in Lebanon.

Objectives: To find the prevalence of dermatologic diseases among students seen at the university health services of the American University of Beirut.

Patients & Methods: Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed.

Isolation and characterization of exopolysaccharides produced by the cyanobacterium Limnothrix redekei PUPCCC 116.

Limnothrix redekei PUPCCC 116, a filamentous cyanobacterium, has been identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) of this organism have been isolated and characterized chemically, and its rheological properties were compared with commercial xanthan. The organism produced 304 microg EPS/ml culture in 21 days.

Interaction between carbon and nitrogen metabolism during akinete development in the cyanobacterium Anabaena torulosa.

Nutrient enrichment with a nitrogen (as nitrate) or carbon (as fructose) source to unaerated diazo and photoautorophic cultures of the cyanobacterium Anabaena torulosa induced early development of akinetes with high frequency. When cultures under any mode of nutrition were aerated, akinetes were not differentiated. Unaerated cultures with nitrate nitrogen or fructose exhibited higher respiratory rates and nitrogen assimilation compared to aerated cultures.

Topical zinc oxide vs. salicylic acid-lactic acid combination in the treatment of warts.

Background: Warts are a common dermatologic problem. Treatment is painful, prolonged, and can cause scarring.

Objective: To evaluate topical zinc oxide for the treatment of warts.

Nutrient stress causes akinete differentiation in cyanobacterium Anabaena torulosa with concomitant increase in nitrogen reserve substances.

Addition of nitrogen source (nitrate), carbon sources (acetate, citrate and fructose), depletion of nutrients (phosphate-free nitrate medium), dilution of medium (2, 4 and 8 times diluted nitrate medium) under unaerated conditions induced akinete differentiation in Anabaena torulosa. Aerated cultures under the same conditions did not differentiate akinetes. The amounts of reserve metabolites--glycogen and cyanophycin (multi-L-arginyl-poly-L-aspartic acid) granule polypeptide (CGP)--were determined in unaerated and aerated cultures, and at different stages of growth and akinete differentiation.