Parenthood desire, perceived parenthood stigma, and barriers to achieving parenthood in childless sexual minority men.

PURPOSE: To examine the parenthood desire, perceived parenthood stigma, and barriers to achieving parenthood among sexual minority men (SMM) in Canada, and to investigate factors influencing their fertility and assisted reproductive knowledge. METHODS: Data were collected from March to mid-June 2023 using a 78-item anonymous online survey. Childless cisgender SMM (age 18+) living in Canada were recruited from the LGBTQIA+ community outside the fertility care networks. Chi-square, t-tests, ANOVA, reliability tests, Spearman's correlation, and hierarchical regression model were used for analysis. RESULTS: Over 160 people clicked the survey hyperlink during the study period and 112 completed surveys were analyzed. The mean age of participants was 33.2±8.5 (range: 19.7-60.0). Having a child by any means was "quite"/"very" important to 35.7% (n=40), yet 56.0% (n=61) thought it was "unlikely" to achieve parenthood. Financial readiness (n=90, 85.7%) and relationship stability (n=86, 81.9%) were the two most "important" parenthood considerations. Participants who were non-white (p=0.017), under age 30 (p=0.008), and had no siblings (p=0.024) had significantly higher means of parenthood desire compared to others. The final hierarchical regression model explained 43% of the variance in the knowledge scores (R2adj =0.353), predicted by the levels of (i) education (ß=0.37, p<0.001), (ii) family acceptance of sexual orientation (ß=0.39, p=0.004), and (iii) parenthood desire (ß=0.27, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: With an increasing number of SMM desiring children, it is pivotal to advance family-building equality through improving their fertility and assisted reproductive knowledge, removing disparities in accessing adoption and assisted reproductive services, and decreasing social stigma against SMM having children.

Case Series on DRESS: An Unpredictable Adverse Drug Reaction.

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome (DRESS) is a potentially life-threatening, drug-induced, multi-organ system reaction. The most frequently involved organ is the liver, followed by the kidneys and lungs. Early detection and diagnosis followed by withdrawal of the offending agent is vital to minimise the associated morbidity and mortality, and a detailed drug history is vital to identify the causative drugs. Although Spanish guidelines were developed by a panel of allergy specialists from the Drug Allergy Committee of the Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) and are available in literature from 2020, many clinicians are still unaware about the management of this syndrome. Framing National guidelines for the early diagnosis and pharmaco-therapeutic management of DRESS will help healthcare professionals to save the patients from unintended vulnerability. We hereby present a case series on DRESS.

Frequency of impaired glucose tolerance and its correlates in females of reproductive age in urban slums of Lahore, 2019.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus has almost reached global epidemic proportions. Fortunately, the progress of the disease can be stemmed at the prediabetic level. The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and its predictors in females of reproductive age in the urban slums of Lahore. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among females of reproductive age in the slums of metropolitan Lahore. The calculated sample size was 384. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering demographic variables, lifestyle, medical, and dietary history. The oral GT test was carried out on the study participants after a 10 hour overnight fasting. Data were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 23). Frequency distributions and percentages were calculated for categorical variables, and the mean and standard deviation were calculated for continuous variables. The Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate, was used to determine the association between IGT and various categorical variables. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the correlates of IGT after adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: The final sample size was 394 women; 17% of whom had IGT, and 8.6% had newly diagnosed diabetics. Results of logistic regression showed increased waist/hip ratio, lower literacy of father or husband, age, and low intake of pulses as significant predictors of IGT (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The frequency of IGT is high in females of reproductive age living in the urban slums of Lahore. There is a need for targeted health promotion and educational activities to improve the health and social conditions of slum dwellers.

Multifunctional analysis and antimicrobial activity of Adhatoda vasica: a traditional medicinal plant.

OBJECTIVES: Antibiotic resistance is rising, prompting innovative strategies for eradicating the epidemic. This study investigated the antibacterial properties of the leaves of a widely used medicinal plant, Adhatoda vasica. METHODS: The plant's polar (water, methanol) and non-polar (hexane) extracts were tested against several different bacterial strains using the disc diffusion technique. RESULTS: In a study, it was found that the water extract had the greatest inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus simulans and Staphylococcus aureus, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 16.444 and 19.315 g/mL, respectively. Gram-negative strains were more susceptible to plant extracts than Gram-positive strains. The phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, and steroids, where absorbance was recorded at 415 nm. The water extract had the highest amount of phenolics, with a total phenolic content of 53.92 0.47 mg and a total flavonoid content of 7.25 0.08 mg. Results suggest that the extract may have potential therapeutic applications for antimicrobial properties. CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that the extract's phenolic group of secondary metabolites were responsible for its antibacterial activity. The study highlights A. vasica as a promising source for discovering new and effective antibacterial compounds.

Leflunomide Induced Atypical DRESS: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome (DRESS syndrome) is a potentially life-threatening, drug-induced, multi-organ system reaction, the most frequently involved organ is liver, followed by the kidneys and lungs.1 Early detection and diagnosis followed by withdrawal of the offending agent is vital to minimise the associated morbidity and mortality. A detailed drug history is vital to identify the causative drugs. Although Spanish guidelines were developed by a panel of allergy specialists from the Drug Allergy Committee of the Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) and are available in literature from 2020, many clinicians are still unaware about the management of this syndrome. Framing national guidelines for the early diagnosis and Pharmaco-therapeutic management of DRESS will help the healthcare professionals to save the patients from unintended vulnerability. Leflunomide, a drug widely used in rheumatology and orthopaedics must be used with caution since it has the potential to cause DRESS syndrome. We report a case of a lady aged 32 years, presented to our hospital with a history of leflunomide intake and symptoms of DRESS.

In utero acetaminophen exposure and child neurodevelopmental outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen is a frequently used analgesic for pain and fever. There have been reports of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with in utero acetaminophen exposure. However, it is unclear whether this association is related directly to acetaminophen use, or the reasons for use. OBJECTIVES: To summarise the literature on the association between in utero acetaminophen exposure and child neurodevelopmental outcomes, and assess the extent to which the association is due to confounding by indication. DATA SOURCES: OVID for Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO, and EBSCO for CINAHL, from inception to August 18, 2022. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: We searched for peer-reviewed, English-language studies on in utero acetaminophen exposure and child neurodevelopmental outcomes. Data were extracted using a standardised form created a priori, and quality was assessed using the Systematic Assessment of Quality in Observational Research. SYNTHESIS: We generated pooled risk ratios (RR) for outcomes examined by ≥3 studies using random-effects models; outcomes that could not be meta-analysed were narratively summarised following Synthesis Without Meta-Analysis guidelines. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies including 23 cohorts were eligible (n = 367,775 total participants; median: 51.7% with acetaminophen exposure). Studies were primarily prospective cohort studies from Europe and the US, with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) being the most common outcome. Quality assessments resulted in 13.6% of studies being classified as high, 59.1% as medium, 22.7% as low, and 4.5% as very low quality. In utero acetaminophen exposure was associated with an elevated risk of ADHD (unadjusted pooled RR 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20, 1.44; I2  = 47%, n = 7 studies), with little difference after adjusting for confounders, including indications for acetaminophen use (adjusted pooled RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.15, 1.55; I2  = 50%, n = 4 studies). CONCLUSIONS: Confounding by indication did not explain the association between in utero acetaminophen exposure and child ADHD. Further, high-quality research is needed on this and other neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Evaluation Of Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy Of Ascorbic Acid After Third Molar Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Abstraction of wisdom teeth or impacted third molar under local anaesthesia is one of the most frequent interventions by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The abstraction of the third molar is usually followed by the release of liberation and consequent trismus, pain, and swelling due to the area of the third molar being highly vascularized and rich in loose connective tissue. Objective of the study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of ascorbic acid following surgical extraction of the third molar. METHODS: The current study was carried out Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi, from October to December 2022. This was a cross-sectional observational study. Fifty participants who required surgical extraction of the impacted third molar were included in the study via non-probability purposive sampling and were segregated equally into two groups, i.e., Group A and Group B, comprising twenty-five participants in each group. Group A received amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (625 mg) thrice a day and metronidazole (400 mg) twice daily. In comparison, Group B received amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (625 mg) thrice daily, ascorbic acid (500 mg) twice daily, and metronidazole (400 mg) twice daily. Both groups received naproxen sodium as per requirement (550 mg). Pain, facial swelling, and C reactive protein concentration were evaluated until the 7th postoperative day. RESULTS: There was a reduction in pain and facial swelling in both groups, but in the ascorbic acid group, there was more reduction in pain and facial swelling compared to the control group. However, the difference between the two groups in reducing pain and facial swelling was statistically significant (p<0.01). There was a reduction in CRP in both groups, but in the ascorbic acid group, there was more reduction in CRP 2.35 (1.60-5.30) compared to the control group 2.6 (0.86-5.03). However, the difference between the two groups in reducing C reactive protein concentration was statistically insignificant (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study concluded that ascorbic acid significantly reduced inflammation and C reactive protein, so ascorbic acid should be used as an adjuvant supplement with other conventional drugs.

Effect Of Sglt2 Inhibitor Dapagliflozin On Sodium, Potassium And Creatinine Levels In Patients With Acute Heart Failure.

Background: Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) is a new class of medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Additionally, they have been found to have beneficial effects on heart failure outcomes, convincingly reducing the morbidity and mortality in heart failure. Although the medical data indicates SGLT2i to be safe and cardio-protective, very little attention has been given to the impact of these agents on electrolyte balance particularly in acute heart failure (AHF). We aimed to evaluate the effect of SGLT2i, and dapagliflozin on serum sodium, potassium and creatinine in AHF. Methods: Overall, 160 adult patients of either gender, admitted with AHF were selected for the study. Selected individuals were randomly assigned to receive dapagliflozin 10 mg orally added to standard medical treatment (n=80) or were in reception of standard medical therapy only (n=80). Serum electrolytes and serum creatinine were collected on admission and day 7 or on discharge whichever happened earlier. Results: The mean level of serum electrolytes displayed insignificant differences among both groups on admission. The mean level of serum potassium was higher in the dapagliflozin group compared with the control group (p<0.001) on day 7/discharge. Mean serum sodium level was comparable and showed significant differences between the two groups following treatment (p-value=0.021). Significant higher levels of serum creatinine were observed following treatment in both groups. However, on intergroup comparison, they were statistically insignificant. Conclusion: Dapagliflozin is an effective treatment of heart failure and is not associated with deterioration of serum electrolyte levels and renal functioning when used as add-on therapy in AHF.

Two-Stage Intelligent DarkNet-SqueezeNet Architecture-Based Framework for Multiclass Rice Grain Variety Identification.

Image processing is an important domain for identifying various crop varieties. Due to the large amount of rice and its varieties, manually detecting its qualities is a very tedious and time-consuming task. In this work, we propose a two-stage deep learning framework for detecting and classifying multiclass rice grain varieties. A series of steps is included in the proposed framework. The first step is to perform preprocessing on the selected dataset. The second step involves selecting and fine-tuning pretrained deep models from Darknet19 and SqueezeNet. Transfer learning is used to train the fine-tuned models on the selected dataset. The 50% sample images are employed for the training and rest 50% are used for the testing. Features are extracted and fused using a maximum correlation-based approach. This approach improved the classification performance; however, redundant information has also been included. An improved butterfly optimization algorithm (BOA) is proposed, in the next step, for the selection of the best features that are finally classified using several machine learning classifiers. The experimental process was conducted on selected rice datasets that include five types of rice varieties and achieves a maximum accuracy of 100% that was improved than the recent method. The average accuracy of the proposed method is obtained at 99.2%, through confidence interval-based analysis that shows the significance of this work.

Effect of Vegetable Waste on Growth Performance and Hematology of Broiler Chicks.

Vegetable waste (spinach, potato, and cauliflower) is a rich and natural source of nutrients, potentially good for supplying minerals, essential amino acids, and antioxidants to the birds. Relatively, its cost very low, easily to accessible, easily process & pose little risk of illness. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of vegetable waste (VW) as feed supplement on growth performance and hematology of broiler chicks. For this purpose, a total of 200 (4 days old) vaccinated chicks were acquired from a commercial hatchery Multan which was acclimated for three weeks (21 days) on basal starter feed after that 25-day-old chicks with uniform body weight were allocated according to a CRD (completely randomized design) into four dietary treatments with three replicates of each contained 15 chicks in 12 pens. In dietary treatments, chicks were feed with basal feed (BF) and supplemented feed with vegetable waste (VW) of spinach, potato, and cauliflower. For this purpose, the dietary treatments included control treatment (T 1) (100% BF+0% VW) and other dietary treatments (T 2) (75% BF+25% VW), (T 3) (50% BF+50% VW), and (T 4) (25% BF+75% VW). The body weight, feed intake, food conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality were checked on weekly and daily basis. For hematology analysis, after the 1st experimental week (25-day-old chicks) and the last 5th experimental week (56-day-old chicks), the samples of blood were gathered from the wing's veins of two birds from each treatment in random way. At the end of five weeks (35 days), birds with uniform average body weight were selected per treatment with three replicates (2 bird/replicate) and then were manually slaughtered according to the Halal method to analyze the weight of internal body organs of broilers by physical and statistical analysis (ANOVA). There was no significant effect (P > 0.05) on feed intake and FCR among all the dietary treatments. But in average, body weight and BWG were higher in treatment (T 2) (P < 0.01) than all other dietary treatments (T 3) and (T 4) and control treatment (T 1). The blood constituents in this study showed that broilers in control treatment (T 1) and other dietary treatments (T 2), (T 3), and (T 4) fed on different doses were significantly (P < 0.01) different from each other. The week 5 (W 5) shows higher values of blood constituents (P < 0.01) than week 1 (W 1). The carcass yield of the chicks fed on different doses showed that they were significantly different (P < 0.01) among the dietary treatments. The VW inclusion 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% had positive effect on blood constituents and carcass yield of the broiler chicks; they were significantly (P < 0.01) different among the treatments.

Boswellic Acids, Pentacyclic Triterpenes, Attenuate Oxidative Stress, and Bladder Tissue Damage in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Cystitis.

Boswellic acids, derived from the Boswellia serrata plant, have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory properties in experimental animal models. The present study was aimed to evaluate the uro-protective effect of boswellic acids in rats with cyclophosphamide-induced cystitis. Interstitial cystitis was induced by cyclophosphamide (CYP). In order to analyze the reduction of the urothelial damage, the bladder weight, the nociception response, and the Evans blue dye extravasation from the bladder were evaluated. To investigate the involvement of lipid peroxidation and enzymatic antioxidants CAT, SOD, and GPX and MPO and NO were evaluated. IL-6 and TNF-α were measured by the ELISA immunoassay technique. The results showed that pretreatment with boswellic acids significantly reduced urothelial damage which was accompanied by a decrease in the activity of MDA, CPO, and NO levels and prevention of the depletion of CAT, SOD, and GPX. The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were dramatically reduced by boswellic acids. Histopathological findings revealed a considerable reduction in cellular infiltration, edema, epithelial denudation, and bleeding. Our findings showed that boswellic acids, by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, negate the detrimental effects of cyclophosphamide on the bladder, suggesting boswellic acids as promising therapeutic alternatives for cystitis.

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles from Manilkara zapota L. extract and the evaluation of its intrinsic in vivo antiarthritic potential.

The plant Manilkara zapota belongs to the family Sapotaceae and is commonly known as Chiku in Pakistan. Traditionally, M. zapota is used in pulmonary diseases, diarrhea, rheumatism, hemorrhage, and ulcers. There is no study available on the in vivo antiarthritic activity of M. zapota and its gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vivo acute and sub-acute antiarthritic activity of aqueous extract of M. zapota and its biosynthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Plant-induced reduction method was used for the synthesis of AuNPs. The synthesized AuNPs were characterized via UV, FTIR, SEM, and zeta potential measurements and were optimized by screening various parameters including time, temperature, pH, and salt concentration. Arthritis in rats was induced by Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA) injection in hind paw. The antiarthritic effect was evaluated by the determination of paw volume, joint diameter, latency time, hematological, biochemical parameters, antioxidant biomarkers, TNF-α level, and radiological evaluation. The aqueous extract and nanoparticles significantly decreased the paw volume, joint diameter, and significantly increased latency time as compared to the FCA-induced arthritic group. They significantly normalized the hematological, biochemical parameters, and oxidative stress biomarkers in comparison to the arthritic group. They also significantly decreased the TNF-α level when assessed against the arthritic group. Radiological evaluation confirmed the antiarthritic effect of the aqueous extract and nanoparticles of M. zapota leaf extract. It is concluded that the aqueous extract and nanoparticles of M. zapota possess significant analgesic, antiarthritic, and anti-inflammatory activity. However, nanoparticles possess more pronounced antiarthritic activity as compared to the aqueous extract. Moreover, free radical scavenging action and TNF-α reduction showed a prominent role in their antiarthritic activity. Further, investigation is underway to identify the active phytochemical constituent responsible for the antiarthritic activity.

Occupational Hand-Related Injuries at a Major Tertiary Care Burn and Reconstructive Center in Pakistan.

Introduction Work-related hand injuries are usually a consequence of mechanical force on hand. This study retrospectively investigated the occurrence of work-related hand injuries in patients belonging to different age groups, gender, educational status, occupation, etc.  Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2018 to December 2019 at the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Demographic and clinical characteristics were gathered through a structured questionnaire based on relevant literature. Patients were assessed using the purposive sampling technique and written informed consent was taken from each participant. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical tests were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results One hundred and twenty participants were interviewed, and 87.5% of patients did not have a vascular injury, and 62.5% of patients had an associated fracture. Over half of them (57.5%) had injuries of their dominant hands. Most of the injuries (67.5%) involved fingers while the rest of the injuries were found either in the palm or the dorsum of the hand. Among the causes of accidents, the majority didn't wear or wore unfitted gloves (76.6%) and the main causes of the hand injuries were related to defects in the workplace (53.3%). Lack of concentration (11.7%), wearing loose or unfitted clothes or jewelry (19.2%), lack of machine maintenance (29.2%), and a patient's chronic disease (1.66%) were among the less frequent causes.  Conclusion It is important to understand the relationship between occupational and hand injuries. It provides an insight into the lack of protection and guidance of workers.

Bentonite and Biochar Mitigate Pb Toxicity in Pisum sativum by Reducing Plant Oxidative Stress and Pb Translocation.

Lead (Pb)-polluted soils pose a serious threat to human health, particularly by transmitting this heavy metal to the food chain via the crops grown on them. The application of novel amendments in Pb-polluted soils can significantly reduce this problem. In this research, we report the effects of various organic and inorganic amendments i.e., bentonite (BN), biochar (BR), lignin (LN), magnesium potassium phosphate cement (CM) and iron hydroxyl phosphate (FeHP), on the Pb bioavailability in Pb-polluted soil, upon Pb distribution in shoots, roots, grain, the translocation factor (TF) and the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Pb in pea (Pisum sativum L.) grain. Furthermore, effects of the said amendments on the plant parameters, as well as grain biochemistry and nutritional quality, were also assessed. Lead pollution significantly elevated Pb concentrations in roots, shoots and grain, as well as the grain TF and BCF of Pb, while reducing the nutritional quality and biochemistry of grain, plant height, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll contents (chl a and chl b) and the dry weight (DW) of shoot, root and grain. The lowest Pb distribution in shoots, roots and grain were found with BN, FeHP and CM, compared to our control. Likewise, the BN, FeHP and CM significantly lowered the TF and BCF values of Pb in the order FeHP > CM > BN. Similarly, the highest increase in plant height, shoot, root and grain DW, RWC, chl a and chl b contents, grain biochemistry and the micronutrient concentrations, were recorded with BR amendment. Biochar also reduced grain polyphenols as well as plant oxidative stress. Given that the BR and BN amendments gave the best results, we propose to explore their potential synergistic effect to reduce Pb toxicity by using them together in future research.

Effects of biochar and zeolite soil amendments with foliar proline spray on nickel immobilization, nutritional quality and nickel concentrations in wheat.

Since Ni-rich soils are a threat to the environment, growing edible crops on Ni-rich soils can pose a serious risk to human, animal, plant and ecosystem health and, hence, is considered as a challenging task for the researchers. Contrarily, limiting the bioavailability of Ni in such soils upon the addition of suitable amendments cum foliar spray of proteinogenic amino acids having an objective to alleviate stress to crop plants can considerably reduce the environmental risk. In this pot trail, we substantiate the effects of biochar (BR) and zeolite (ZL) addition in the soil along with proline (PN) spray on the resistance, and stress responses of wheat against Ni as well as on Ni translocation and accumulation in wheat plants grown on a Ni-rich soil contaminated by electroplating effluent. The treatments, applied with and without PN spray, involved: no amendment; BR; ZL; and a concoction of both amendments (BR50%+ZL50%). We found that BR50%+ZL50% treatment significantly immobilized Ni in the soil, reduced its accumulation in the shoot, root, and grain, blocked membrane lipid peroxidation and showed an improvement in photosynthetic parameters, the status of antioxidant activities, grain biochemistry and grain yield, compared to the control. Interestingly, exogenous PN spray caused a significant additive effect on the aforementioned parameters in the wheat plants grown on BR50%+ZL50% treated soil. Our results involved a reduced Ni bioavailability in wheat rhizosphere due to BR50%+ZL50% in soil and, furthermore, the additive effect of PN spray to scavenging ROS, obstructing peroxidation of lipid membrane and, thus providing resilience to wheat plant against Ni stress. The suggested technique can make Ni-rich soils suitable for cultivation and production of high-quality food by minimizing Ni bioavailability and toxicity to plants.

Promoting the productivity and quality of brinjal aligned with heavy metals immobilization in a wastewater irrigated heavy metal polluted soil with biochar and chitosan.

Depleting aquifers, lack of planning and low socioeconomic status of Pakistani farmers have led them to use wastewater (WW) for irrigating their crops causing food contamination with heavy metals and ultimately negative effects on human health. This study evaluates the effects of chitosan (CH) and biochar (BC) on growth and nutritional quality of brinjal plant together with in situ immobilization of heavy metals in a soil polluted with heavy metals due to irrigation with wastewater (SPHIW) and further irrigated with the same WW. Both CH and BC were applied at three different rates i.e. low rate [(LR), BC0.5%, CH0.5% and BC0.25%+CH0.25%], medium rate [(MR), BC1%, CH1% and BC0.5%+CH0.5%] and high rate [(HR), BC1.5%, CH1.5% and BC0.75%+CH0.75%]. Result revealed that brinjal growth, antioxidant enzymes, and fruit nutritional quality significantly improved from LR to HR for each amendment, relative to control. However, these results were more prominent with BC alone and BC+CH, compared with CH alone at each rate. Similarly, with few exceptions, significant reduction in Ni, Cd, Co, Cr and Pb concentrations in the root, shoot and fruit were found in sole CH treatment both at LR and MR but in both CH and BC+CH treatments at HR, relative to control. Interestingly, the concentrations of Fe in the roots, shoots and fruit were more pronounced at BC treatments relative to CH and BC+CH treatments at each rate, compared to control. Overall, the BC+CH treatment at HR was the most effective treatment for in situ immobilization of heavy metals in SPHIW and further irrigated with the same WW, compared to rest of the treatments. This study indicates that BC0.75%+CH0.75% treatment can be used to reduce mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in SPHIW and facilitates plant growth by improving the antioxidant system. However, the feasibility of BC0.75%+CH0.75% treatment should also be tested at the field scale.