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Herbal plant extracts or purified phytocomponents have been extensively used to treat several diseases since ancient times. The Indian Ayurvedic system and Chinese traditional medicines have documented the medicinal properties of important herbs. In Ayurveda, the polyherbal formulation is known to exhibit better therapeutic efficacy compared to a single herb. This review focuses on six key ayurvedic herbal plants namely, Tinospora cordifolia, Withania somnifera, Glycyrrhiza glabra/Licorice, Zingiber officinale, Emblica officinalis and Ocimum sanctum. These plants possess specific phytocomponents that aid them in fighting infections and keeping body healthy and stress-free. Plants were selected due to their reported antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects in several diseases and effectiveness in controlling viral pathogenesis. An ad-vanced literature search was carried out using Pubmed and google scholar. Result(s): These medicinal plants are known to exhibit several protective features against various diseases or infections. Here we have particularly emphasized on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and immunomodulatory properties which are common in these six plants. Recent literature analysis has revealed Ashwagandha to be protective for Covid-19 too. The formulation from such herbs can exhibit synergism and hence better effectiveness against infection and related dis-eases. The importance of these medicinal herbs becomes highly prominent as it maintains the har-monious balance by way of boosting the immunity in a human body. Further, greater mechanistic analyses are required to prove their efficacy in fighting infectious diseases like Covid-19. It opens the arena for in-depth research of identifying and isolating the active components from these herbs and evaluating their potency to inhibit viral infections as polyherbal formulations.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.
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Acid deposition and particulate matter (PM) pollution have declined considerably in China. Although metal(loid) and acid deposition and PM have many common sources, the changes of metal(loid) deposition in China in the recent decade have not been well explored by using long-term monitoring. Therefore, we analyzed the dry and wet deposition of eleven metal(loid)s (including Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, Sr, and Zn) from 2017 to 2021 at Mount Emei, which is adjacent to the most economic-developed region in western China (Sichuan Basin (SCB)). Anthropogenic emissions contributed to over 80% of the annual wet deposition fluxes of metal(loid)s and acids (SO4 2-, NO3 -, and NH4 +) at Mount Emei, and the major source regions were the SCB, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and Gansu Province. Metal(loid) and acid deposition had similar seasonal variations with higher wet deposition fluxes in summer but higher wet deposition concentrations and dry fluxes in winter. The seasonal variations were partially associated with higher precipitation but lower pH in summer (968 mm and 5.52, respectively) than in winter (47 mm and 4.73, respectively). From 2017 to 2021, metal(loid) deposition did not decline as substantially as acid deposition (5.6%-30.4%). Both the annual total deposition fluxes and concentrations of Cr, Cu, Sr, Ba, and Pb were even higher in 2020-2021 than in 2017-2018. The inter-annual and seasonal changes implied the responses of metal(loid) deposition to anthropogenic emission changes were buffered (e.g., transformation, dilution, and degradation) by precipitation rates, acidity, natural emissions, and chemical reactions in the atmosphere, among others.Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
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Arsenicals are one of the oldest treatments for a variety of human disorders. Although infamous for its toxicity, arsenic is paradoxically a therapeutic agent that has been used since ancient times for the treatment of multiple diseases. The use of most arsenic-based drugs was abandoned with the discovery of antibiotics in the 1940s, but a few remained in use such as those for the treatment of trypanosomiasis. In the 1970s, arsenic trioxide, the active ingredient in a traditional Chinese medicine, was shown to produce dramatic remission of acute promyelocytic leukemia similar to the effect of all-trans retinoic acid. Since then, there has been a renewed interest in the clinical use of arsenicals. Here the ancient and modern medicinal uses of inorganic and organic arsenicals are reviewed. Included are antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic and anticancer applications. In the face of increasing antibiotic resistance and the emergence of deadly pathogens such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, we propose revisiting arsenicals with proven efficacy to combat emerging pathogens. Current advances in science and technology can be employed to design newer arsenical drugs with high therapeutic index. These novel arsenicals can be used in combination with existing drugs or serve as valuable alternatives in the fight against cancer and emerging pathogens. The discovery of the pentavalent arsenic-containing antibiotic arsinothricin, which is effective against multidrug-resistant pathogens, illustrates the future potential of this new class of organoarsenical antibiotics.
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African Americans who earn US$50,000-60,000 annually - solidly middle class - are exposed to much higher levels of industrial chemicals, air pollution and poisonous heavy metals, as well as pathogens, than are profoundly poor white people with annual incomes of $10,000. The main culprits include indifference and ignorance, inadequate testing of industrial chemicals, racism, housing discrimination, corporate greed and lax legislation from, in the United States, a weakened Environmental Protection Agency. Black and minority ethnic people are also more likely to live in 'deprived' areas that are closer to sources of industrial pollution - from leadtainted water in Flint, Michigan, to nerve gas, arsenic and polychlorinated biphenyls in Anniston, Alabama.
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Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) often presents with significant coagulopathy which may result in both hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the initial treatment and diagnosis of APL owing to the viral infection's own associated coagulopathy. Here we report two cases of APL newly diagnosed in the setting of COVID-19 infection and considerations in their management. Included is a discussion of strategies for the dosing of arsenic trioxide in patients with significant obesity and renal insufficiency. The case series submitted does not represent a study on patients and thus no specific informed consents or permissions were required. All images included in our manuscript have been deidentified and all authors certify that personal details that could potentially be used to identify the patients in the cases described have been removed. The corresponding author has personally confirmed that both patients included in this study have given verbal permission to present their cases in the de-identified manner as described above.
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Introduction / Objective: In this study we aimed to elucidate the action of ultra-diluted (potency 6CH as per homeopathic pharmacopeia) ethanolic extract of Arsenicum album (Arsenic 6CH) on cytokine gene expression changes along with alteration of hepatic histology in Gallus gallus embryo (embryonated egg) challenged with the spike protein (S protein RBD of Delta SARS-CoV-2). Method(s): Allantoic fluid was collected during harvesting of the inoculated eggs after antigenic challenge. The gene expression analysis of interferons (IFN alpha, IFN beta, IFN gamma);transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta1);interleukins (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1beta) were studied in real-time PCR. Pre- and post-treatment sets were separately studied. Hepatic tissue of the embryos was collected for histological study. Result(s): The most prominent changes were found with IL-10 expression, which was significantly increased directly by Arsenic 6CH;in pre-and post-treatment experimental sets, its level was further increased, while in control sets, such changes were not delineated. Some changes were found in relation to INF beta, IL-8, IL-1beta, and TGF beta1 in alcohol 6CH (potentized vehicle alcohol as per homeopathic pharmacopoeia), and there was no significant change in other experimental sets. Histological studies of the liver indicated definite protective action of Arsenic 6CH from hepatic pathological changes in both pre and post-treatment experimental sets. Conclusion(s): Our study indicates enhancement of beneficial anti-inflammatory cytokines with hepato-protective action by Arsenic 6CH in Gallus gallus embryo challenged with Delta SARS-CoV-2 spike protein RBD antigen inducing pathological changes. Copyright © 2022 are reserved by International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research.
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In order to trace and monitor the atmospheric heavy metal pollution in Xichang City, an investigation activity was carried out with a sort of moss (Taxiphyllum taxirameum) (packed in moss bags) as a biological indicator for monitoring heavy metal pollution. The investigation was conducted from the period from April 2019 to April 2020, during which two grave emergency events occurred during spring monitoring period from January 15 to April 15, 2020, i.e., COVID-19 and "3.30"severe forest fire in Xichang, which inevitably affected the atmospheric quality. Based on the concentration analysis of 12 kinds of heavy metal, including Al, Cr, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mn, Hg, Zn, V, As and Ba contained in the moss and the local meteorological data, comparing those informative data before and after the time when the emergency events toke place, the paper made an analysis on the impacts of two enormous emergency events on the air pollution of heavy metal in Xichang. The results showed that total amount of enrichment of above-mentioned 12 heavy metals in spring (January 15 to April 15, 2020) is (12.85 +or- 1.57) mg/g, which was significantly higher than in the other three seasons (p < 0.01), but no significant discrepancies about the total enrichment amount in the other three seasons (p > 0.05). Primarily because of COVID-19 pandemic, the level of motor vehicles emissions cut down, and the decrease of the tourism in the related areas perhaps causing the decline of pollution of Pb. In addition, the decrease of unbalanced emission of pollutants led to a noted increase of atmospheric oxidation in urban area, thus boosting the formation of secondary particulate matter, and the particulate matter from surrounding industrial sources was transported into the urban area;as a result, remarkable increases of Hg concentration of moss within the moss bags were detected downwind the industrial area located in the urban fringe. Consequently, the investigation showed that the moss-bag method is an effective biological tool for monitoring air heavy metal pollution, which could reflect the impacts of major pollution events on air quality.
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Corona virus is pandemic and responsible for more than 5.6 million deaths. It was observed that its severity was reported in varied ways in different countries and even in different states of India. This variation was critically evaluated in the area with high contamination of Arsenic (As) to understand the arsenic toxicity and Covid epidemiology and associated health effects in the human population. It was reported that the area with low arsenic contamination has a very high incidence rate of Corona infection in the world. Even in the Indian scenario, high As-contaminated states like West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar, the incidence rate is 1.994%, 1.114% and 0.661%, respectively. In contrast, states with the least arsenic contamination have a very high corona incidence rate like 6.308, 17.289 and 4.351, respectively. It was evident that Arsenic inhibits the RdRp complex, which leads to the inhibition of viral genome replication. The PAMP associated pathway was activated by Arsenic and effectively bound with viral spike proteins leading to effective clearance of virus through activation of TNF alpha and IL-1. It finally leads to increased production of IgE, IgG and IGA. Arsenic also enhances inflammatory response against the virus through increased production of cytokine. The high arsenic level also induces apoptosis in viral infected cells through Bax/Bak pathway. It activates cytochrome-c and caspase-3 activity, inducing apoptosis in viral infected cells through PARP activation in the nucleus. These combined findings suggest that high arsenic contamination causes replication inhibition, activates an inflammatory response, increases antibody production, and finally leads to apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. People residing in arsenic hit areas are at a very low threat of corona infection.
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Nanoparticle (NP)-based colorimetric methods are extensively used for the rapid detection of environmental contaminants, different substances and SARS-CoV-2 in various fields such as environmental science, virology, pollution research, and the food industry, as well as biomedicine. Colorimetric sensors exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity, are easy to handle, portable, safe for screening purposes and can be visualized by the naked eye. Herein, the colorimetric sensing approaches of the two most commonly used metallic NPs, i.e., gold (Au) and silver (Ag), and their physicochemical methods are discussed, as metallic NPs show good efficiency due to their unique optical and chemical properties. This review summarizes the progress on colorimetric sensors based on metallic NPs as sensors and their applications, elucidating the utility and superior features of metallic-NP-based colorimetric assay for the detection of different environmental contaminants, biomolecules and SARS-CoV-2 in the environmental as well as human biological samples. An outlook with respect to the trends and future development of the proposed sensors is also provided.
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The proceedings contain 250 papers. The topics discussed include: applying machine learning to arsenic species and metallomics profiles of toenails to evaluate associations of environmental arsenic with incident cancer cases;user satisfaction with an AI system for chest X-ray analysis implemented in a hospital’s emergency setting;scaling AI projects for radiology – causes and consequences;ECG classification using combination of linear and non-linear features with neural network;dataset comparison tool: utility and privacy;when context matters for credible measurement of drug-drug interactions based on real-world data;a lightweight and interpretable model to classify bundle branch blocks from ECG signals;analysis of stroke assistance in Covid-19 pandemic by process mining techniques;automated diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder condition using shape based features extracted from brainstem;using explainable supervised machine learning to predict burnout in healthcare professionals;and an image based object recognition system for wound detection and classification of diabetic foot and venous leg ulcers.
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Limited information is available regarding chemical water quality at the tap in Guatemala City, preventing individuals, water utilities, and public health authorities from making data-driven decisions related to water quality. To address this need, 113 participants among households served by a range of water providers across the Guatemala City metropolitan area were recruited as participatory scientists to collect first-draw and flushed tap water samples at their residence. Samples were transported to the U.S. and analyzed for 20 metals and 25 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). At least one metal exceeded the Guatemalan Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) for drinking water in 63% of households (n = 71). Arsenic and lead exceeded the MPL in 33.6% (n = 38) and 8.9% (n = 10) of samples, respectively. Arsenic was strongly associated with groundwater while lead occurrence was not associated with location, water source, or provider. One or more PFAS were detected in 19% of samples (n = 21, range 2.1–64.2 ppt). PFAS were significantly associated with the use of plastic water storage tanks but not with location, water source, or provider. Overall, the high prevalence of arsenic above the MPL in Guatemala City tap water represents a potential health risk that current water treatment processes are not optimized to remove. Furthermore, potential contaminants from premise plumbing and storage, including lead and PFAS, represent additional risks requiring further investigation and public engagement.
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COVID-19 is a public health emergency of international concern. The outbreak of the disease began as pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, China. It is a virus induced respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). Close genetic similarity with the bat SARS- like coronavirus RaTG13 and the presence of high degree of similarity between ACE-2 receptors among various animals and humans indicate its likely origin from bats. Person to person contact was also identified. There is no clear evidence of vertical transmission of the virus yet, though its presence is detected in semen of affected individuals. Symptoms appear 2 to 14 days post- exposure and include dyspnoea, coughing, sore throat, fever, repeated shaking with chills, myalgia and anosmia. In some cases, diarrhoea, cutaneous manifestations such as chilblain-like foot lesions have also been reported. Coagulopathy is most probably a consequence of massive inflammatory response and may contribute to the occurrence of thrombosis. The severity of the disease ranges from very mild to severe depending upon the age, immune status and presence of comorbidities. In severe disease, elevated serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines like Interleukin-1, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-12, Interferon-gamma and TGF- beta along with increased level of chemokines are observed. Histopathological examination revealed pulmonary edema along with formation of hyaline membrane and monocytosis. Liver biopsy revealed moderate microvesicular steatosis. Blood examination showed decreased number of CD4 and CD8 cells. Animal trials have shown that ferrets and cats are susceptible to the disease while dogs, ducks, pigs and chickens are not. The results of Thin slice Computed Tomography showed multifocal ground glass opacities. Treatment is not specific. Hydroxychloroquine led to the reduction of viral load. On 1st May, 2020, FDA agreed for Emergency Usage Authorization for the use of Remdesivir as it showed promising results in cell culture, animal models as well as in human trials by decreasing the mortality. Maintenance of hand hygiene and proper cough hygiene is essential. Cowpathy is known to have multiple health restoring properties for boosting immunity and bioenhancer activity, which can also be utilized for prevention and control of coronavirus spread in population. AYUSH ministry of India has reported the beneficial effects of Sanshamani vati, ayurvedic concoction and homeopathic medicine Arsenicum album and initiated the clinical trial studies on Ashwagandha, Pipali, Yashtimadhu, Guduchi and Ayush-64 combination of herbs. Therefore, preventive and control measures are a must to minimize health losses and decrease the burden on health care system.
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Arsenic (As) is a highly toxic, carcinogenic trace metal that can potentially contaminate groundwater sources in volcanic regions. This study provides the first comparative documentation of As concentrations in groundwater in a volcano-sedimentary region in the Philippines. Matched, repeated As measurements and physico-chemical analyses were performed in 26 individual wells from 11 municipalities and city in Batangas province from July 2020 to November 2021. Using the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric method, analysis of the wells revealed that in 2020, 23 out of 26 (88.46%) had As levels above the WHO limit of >10 ppb while 20 out of 26 wells (76.92%) had persistently high As levels a year later. Using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test, levels of As were found to be statistically elevated compared to the national safe limit of 10 pbb in the 26 matched sampling sites in both 2020 (p-value < 0.001) and 2021 (p-value = 0.013). Additionally, a two-paired Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that As levels were statistically higher in 2020 than in 2021 (p-value = 0.003), suggesting that As levels may be higher in years when there is more volcanic activity;however, this remains to be further elucidated with suitable longitudinal data, as this study is still in its preliminary stages. The data was also analyzed using a bivariable regression, which showed no evidence of a significant relationship between As levels and distance from the danger zone (Taal volcano crater);however, results showed an inverse but statistically insignificant relationship between As levels and elevation. Due to the toxic profile and persistence of As in groundwater in Batangas Province, continuous groundwater As monitoring, timely public health risk communication, and the provision of alternative water sources to affected populations are recommended.
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Recent decades witness an enormous increase in concentrations of environmental contaminants of human health concern. The research efforts attempt to develop synthetic (chemicals) and natural (biological) adsorbents for remediation of hazardous heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, antibiotics, and other emerging pollutants. However, application of potential adsorbents in remediation lack selectivity and sustainability prospects. Present review aims to provide a critical discussion on adsorption potential of synthetic and natural adsorbents in sustainability framework. The synthetic adsorbents are discussed in terms of recipes and underlying sorption mechanisms. Herein, pragmatic analysis on novel synthetic adsorbents like ferrate, following green chemistry principles and engineered nanoparticles (NPs) is elucidated. In natural biosorbents (both live and dead biomass), the phyto-technologies, biosorption, natural/engineered biochar, clay, and chitosan are comprehensively reviewed. This panoramic review revealed that phytoremediation and biosorption can be preferred as ‘sustainable bioresource eco-technologies’ for remediation of chemical pollution. The interrelationship between adsorbents and United Nations- Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs) is established. Eco-friendly and cost-effective biosorbents tend to follow the sustainability paradigm unlike traditional chemical adsorbents. In conclusion, the ‘biorefinery’, ‘Water-Energy-Food Nexus’ and ‘biocircular economy’ co-benefits of biosorbents can augment the sustainability indicators to help achieve salient SDGs.
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The wetlands and salt flats of the Central Andes region are unique extreme environments as they are located in high-altitude saline deserts, largely influenced by volcanic activity. Environmental factors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, arsenic content, high salinity, low dissolved oxygen content, extreme daily temperature fluctuation, and oligotrophic conditions, resemble the early Earth and potentially extraterrestrial conditions. The discovery of modern microbialites and microbial mats in the Central Andes during the past decade has increased the interest in this area as an early Earth analog. Along 10 years of prospection of these microbial ecosystems, we have reported, for first time for science, around 35 new systems along wetlands, lakes, volcanoes, and salt flats of Central Andes region of Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia. Microbial biodiversity and metagenomic characterization, together with ancestral biogeochemical cycles, including arsenic and carbon together with bacterial rhodopsin systems, photoreceptors characterization and plasmid biology were studied in these systems. This production of knowledge was accompanied by involvement of Andean ancestral communities, mining industries and governments in order to promote the preservation of these ancestral ecosystems. Finally, the last year, during pandemic, two stories of biotech applications based on basic knowledge of Andean extremophiles became in two Start Ups invested by the GRID X incubator program https://gridexponential.com: 1- CASPR-BIOTECH https://caspr.bio develops diagnostic kits that apply to COVID19, Hanta virus and Dengue and is based on new CRISPR-Cas systems that we discovered in the Puna salt flats and patented in the USA. 2- We founded CKAPUR https://Ckapur.com, a company that develops sustainable biotechnology applied to agriculture based on Extremophilic microorganisms: "ancestral stardust recyclers" isolated from salt flats. In this moment this Start Up is being part on Indiebio program in San Francisco USA https://indiebio.co/ In that way, studying and preserving microbial extreme biodiversity from salt pads can generate economic development in local communities through NAGOYA treaty as much as it does in mining development, only without any type of environmental impact.
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Exposure to environmental toxicants such as Arsenic (As) can result in As-induced alterations in immune regulators. Consequently, people who are more prone to viral infections like influenza A or B, H1N1, SARS CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus), and SARS CoV2 may develop a susceptibility to immune responses in their lungs because our previous reports delineated the ability of QIAPI 1®, a melanin precursor, to dissociate water molecules with simultaneous therapeutic efficacy against central nervous system (CNS) diseases, retinopathy, and As-induced renal toxicity. Considering the commonalitie of lung pathology of SARS CoV and As-induced toxicity, the aim of this study is to decipher the efficacy of QIAPI 1® against pentavalent As-induced lung toxicity by examining the pulmonary pathology. Hematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining was used for ascertaining the lung pathology in Wistar rat models. Animals were divided into 3 groups: control group, group treated with pentavalent As, and a group treated with pentavalent As and QIAPI 1®. There were no significant changes in lung histopathology in the control group as indicated by intact morphology. The As-treated group revealed damage to the histoarchitecture with pulmonary edema, interstitial fibrosis, diffuse alveolar damage, Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP)-lesions, formation of hyaline membrane, multinucleated giant pneumocytes, atypical pneumocytes, inflammatory cell infiltration, and interstitial edema. The group treated with As and QIAPI 1® significantly associated with mitigated histological signs of lung inflammation induced by Arsenic. Therefore, QIAPI 1® can be recommended as antagonistic to Asinduced lung toxicity. In conclusion, this model could be preferred as a hypothetical model to examine the efficacy of QIAPI 1® in SARS CoV2-induced pulmonary damage. Future studies are warranted to delineate the efficacy of QIAPI 1® against SARS CoV and SARS CoV2 lung pathology.
Subject(s)
Arsenic , COVID-19 , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype , Animals , Arsenic/toxicity , Humans , Lung , Rats , Rats, Wistar , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Introduction: In December 2019, a new variant of a coronavirus led to a pandemic outbreak. Patients with haematological malignancies are at high risk for a severe progression of COVID-19 with high mortality rates. Case report: 54-year-old patient was tested positive for COVID-19 upon admission. The CT scan showed bilateral ground-glass pulmonary opacities. He received dexamethasone and remdesivir. Due to severe thrombocytopenia and detection of blasts in peripheral blood a bone marrow biopsy was done. Cytological and molecular results confirmed the diagnosis intermediate risk APL. We started a therapy with arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoic acid (ATO/ATRA). The white blood cells (WBC) increased and the respiratory situation worsened. The patient developed a thrombophlebitis. Bleeding complications appeared as an epistaxis, which required an intervention. 28 days after starting the induction, the bone marrow biopsy showed < 5% blasts. A complete peripheral remission was documented on day 50. Discussion: A major concern in treating APL is the differentiation syndrome, which can ultimately result in pulmonary failure. This patient presented with severely impaired lung function due to simultaneous COVID-19 pneumonitis. Therapy of APL had to consider both clinical conditions. Key decisions were (beyond antiviral therapy and supportive measures) a consequent dosing of glucocorticoids and early cytoreductive therapy using hydroxyurea (HU). The pulmonary function was critical during days 7-15 after start of APL therapy, consistent with differentiation syndrome being the main cause of worsening, and clinically met by stop of ATO/ATRA. Another concern was coagulation dysfunction, given the high risk of thromboembolic complications associated with COVID-19, the severe thrombocytopenia and plasmatic coagulation disorder caused by APL. In this case - besides supportive platelet transfusions - we treated by low dose heparin only when a thrombophlebitis occurred. Overall in this patient presenting with COVID-19 and simultaneously APL, the most challenging problem was overcoming pulmonary worsening in the initial phase of APL therapy.
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Arsenic, a potent carcinogen and neurotoxin, affects over 200 million people globally. Current detection methods are laborious, expensive, and unscalable, being difficult to implement in developing regions and during crises such as COVID-19. This study attempts to determine if a relationship exists between soil's hyperspectral data and arsenic concentration using NASA's Hyperion satellite. It is the first arsenic study to use satellite-based hyperspectral data and apply a classification approach. Four regression machine learning models are tested to determine this correlation in soil with bare land cover. Raw data are converted to reflectance, problematic atmospheric influences are removed, characteristic wavelengths are selected, and four noise reduction algorithms are tested. The combination of data augmentation, Genetic Algorithm, Second Derivative Transformation, and Random Forest regression (R2=0.840 and normalized root mean squared error (re-scaled to [0,1]) = 0.122) shows strong correlation, performing better than past models despite using noisier satellite data (versus lab-processed samples). Three binary classification machine learning models are then applied to identify high-risk shrub-covered regions in ten U.S. states, achieving strong accuracy (=0.693) and F1-score (=0.728). Overall, these results suggest that such a methodology is practical and can provide a sustainable alternative to arsenic contamination detection.
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The illegal trade of wildlife in SE Asia has been identified as the likely cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. We reviewed 198 papers on the current COVID pandemic in Cambodia, diseases such as avian influenza and Nipah virus, most likely to develop into a new pandemic in Cambodia, and common features of disease that require mitigation. Artisanal goldmining uses pure mercury in the areas where wildlife is smuggled to China. Moreover, 30-40% of Cambodians are zinc deficient. High levels of arsenic in irrigation water (>1000 µg/L) are associated with very low levels of zinc in rice (5 µg/g) and rice is the primary staple food for the region. Brown rice from nine of 15 paddy fields in the arsenic zone of Cambodia had double the new guidelines of 100 µg/kg inorganic arsenic for children's food in the EU and USA. The combination of deficiencies of essential micronutrients like zinc and pervasive presence of arsenic and mercury has the potential to compromise the immunity of many Cambodians. Innovative solutions are suggested to improve micronutrient nutrition. Toxins that suppress the immune system must be better managed to reduce the virulence of pathogens. Cambodia was not likely the source of the COVID-19 but does have problems that could result in a new pandemic.