Metal phyto-accumulation potential, biochemical response, and health risk assessment of selected wheat varieties grown in municipal sewage sludge amended soils.

Present study identified metal accumulation potential, biochemical, growth, and human health risk attributes of wheat varieties (Zincol-16, NARC-09, NARC-11, Pakistan-13, Borlaug-16) cultivated in sewage sludge amended soils, that is, 80% soil + 20% sludge (C), 90% soil + 10% sludge (B) and 100% soil (control, A). Metal accumulation significantly varied ( < 0.05) among wheat varieties and the accretion pattern was roots > straw > grains.

Molecular identification of Halomonas AZ07 and its multifunctional enzymatic activities to degrade Pyropia yezoensis under high-temperature condition.

Background: Pyropia yezoensis a commercially important red seaweed species, is susceptible to various microorganisms infections, among which bacterial infections are the most prominent ones. Pyropia yezoensis is often affected by harmful bacterial communities under high temperatures that can lead to its degradation and economic losses. The current study aimed to explore Pyropia yezoensis-associated microbiota and further identify potential isolates, which can degrade Pyropia yezoensis under high-temperature conditions.

Impact of environmental pollutants on pediatric brain tumor incidence in New Jersey.

Objective: The relationship between environmental contaminants and brain tumor incidence in adults has been thoroughly explored but research into how these contaminants affect pediatric brain tumor (PBT) incidence has not been explored. Children, typically having more limited geographical movement and thus more consistent environmental contaminant exposure, might offer more reliable insights into which environmental contaminants affect the incidence of brain tumors. The present study is the first to focus on exploring whether a possible association exists between the incidence of PBTs and exposure to environmental pollutants in New Jersey (NJ).

Exposure to air pollution as a risk factor for anaemia: a global scoping review.

Anaemia is an important global health issue with various factors responsible for its occurrence. Though nutritional deficiency is one of the main causes of the disease, evidence suggests a potential link between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and an increased risk of developing anaemia. Our scoping review evaluates studies conducted across the world to examine possible associations between anaemia and ambient air pollution.

Public health emergency preparedness for infectious disease emergencies: a scoping review of recent evidence.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to demonstrate the risks and profound health impacts that result from infectious disease emergencies. Emergency preparedness has been defined as the knowledge, capacity and organizational systems that governments, response and recovery organizations, communities and individuals develop to anticipate, respond to, or recover from emergencies. This scoping review explored recent literature on priority areas and indicators for public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) with a focus on infectious disease emergencies.

Subtractive sequence analysis aided druggable targets mining in Burkholderia cepacia complex and finding inhibitors through bioinformatics approach.

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is a group of gram-negative bacteria composed of at least 20 different species that cause diseases in plants, animals as well as humans (cystic fibrosis and airway infection). Here, we analyzed the proteomic data of 47 BCC strains by classifying them in three groups. Phylogenetic analyses were performed followed by individual core region identification for each group.

Navigating diagnostic options for inborn errors of immunity in children: a case-based illustration.

Purpose Of Review: In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of recognized inborn errors of immunity (IEI), many of which present in childhood. This review discusses diagnostic approaches for some of the more common presentations of IEI in childhood.

Recent Findings: Implementation of newborn screening (NBS) using the T cell receptor excision circle (TREC) assay has led to the timely identification of patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) as well as both syndromic and nonsyndromic forms of T cell lymphopenia, including DiGeorge syndrome.

Systems Immunology Analyses of Gain-of-Function Immune Phenotypes Reveal Heterogeneous Response to IL-6 and Broad Immunometabolic Roles for STAT1.

Patients with gain-of-function (GOF) pathogenic variants have enhanced or prolonged STAT1 phosphorylation following cytokine stimulation and exhibit increased yet heterogeneous susceptibility to infections, autoimmunity, and cancer. Although disease phenotypes are diverse and other genetic factors contribute, how GOF affects cytokine sensitivity and cell biology remains poorly defined. In this study, we analyzed the immune and immunometabolic profiles of two patients with known pathogenic heterozygous GOF mutation variants.

Rising through the pandemic: a scoping review of quality improvement in public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic generated a growing interest in and need for evidence-based tools to facilitate the implementation of emergency management strategies within public health practice. Quality improvement (QI) is a key framework and philosophy to guide organizational emergency response efforts; however, the nature and extent to which it has been used in public health settings during the COVID-19 pandemic remains unclear.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review of literature published January 2020 - February 2021 and focused on the topic of QI at public health agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morinda citrifolia Linn. fruit extract mitigates heroin seeking behavior in mice.

Methanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia unripe fruit (MMC) was tested against heroin addiction using a mouse modified runway model of drug‑seeking. Habituation sessions were carried out for 10 min/d for 3 days. On day 0, the total run time of each mouse was noted (the start box to goal box) during the preconditioning test.

Insights into the role of estrogens and androgens in glial tumorigenesis.

Gliomas are more common in males than in females. Emerging evidence from several studies and have shown the role of estrogens and androgens in glial tumorigenesis. In recent times, studies have also shed light on the actions of estrogen receptors, alpha and beta, and androgen receptor.

Deep learning analysis of electrocardiogram for risk prediction of drug-induced arrhythmias and diagnosis of long QT syndrome.

Aims: Congenital long-QT syndromes (cLQTS) or drug-induced long-QT syndromes (diLQTS) can cause torsade de pointes (TdP), a life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. The current strategy for the identification of drugs at the high risk of TdP relies on measuring the QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) on the electrocardiogram (ECG). However, QTc has a low positive predictive value.

TREC Screening for WHIM Syndrome.

Purpose: T cell receptor excision circle (TREC) quantification is a recent addition to newborn screening (NBS) programs and is intended to identify infants with severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID). However, other primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) have also been identified as the result of TREC screening. We recently reported a newborn with a low TREC level on day 1 of life who was diagnosed with WHIM (warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, myelokathexis) syndrome, a non-SCID primary immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the chemokine receptor CXCR4.

Are we prepared? The development of performance indicators for public health emergency preparedness using a modified Delphi approach.

Background: Disasters and emergencies from infectious diseases, extreme weather and anthropogenic events are increasingly common. While risks vary for different communities, disaster and emergency preparedness is recognized as essential for all nation-states. Evidence to inform measurement of preparedness is lacking.

The use of an invitational letter to increase the vaccine uptake of patients with coeliac disease.

Aim: We sought to establish the impact on vaccine uptake of sending out a single appointment letter inviting patients to attend a vaccine clinic.

Background: Coeliac disease is associated with splenic dysfunction and so patients with coeliac disease are at a higher risk of overwhelming infection. Additional vaccinations are recommended for these individuals to provide additional protection against infection.

The Management of Diabetes in Conflict Settings: Focus on the Syrian Crisis.

Humanitarian crises represent a major global health challenge as record numbers of people are being displaced worldwide. The Syrian crisis has resulted in >4 million refugees and 6 million people who are internally displaced within Syria. In 2017, there were 705,700 reported cases of adult diabetes in Syria.

A program utilizing community pharmacists to improve diabetes education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Objective: The aim of this program was to demonstrate that retail community pharmacists could successfully recruit, engage and counsel people with diabetes by serving as a trusted source of diabetes information. We evaluated the outcomes of this clinical program in preparation for a wider roll out.

Methods: Joslin Diabetes Center collaborated with Nahdi Medical Company, a large retail pharmacy chain in Saudi Arabia, to offer a 'Let's Talk About Diabetes' (LTAD) program.

Retiring the Flip Phones: Exploring Social Media Use for Managing Public Health Incidents.

Objective: Communication is essential during public health emergencies and incidents. This research aimed to understand current uses and challenges for public health agencies using social media during these incidents.

Methods: An exploratory, qualitative study was conducted using the structured interview matrix facilitation technique.