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Bulk segregant analysis and marker-trait association reveal common AFLP markers for resistance to septoria leaf blotch in Tunisian old durum wheat. Septoria tritici blotch (STB) caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella graminicola is currently the major foliar disease of durum wheat in Tunisia. Most of the Tunisian elite cultivars show little or no resistance to this pathogen. Recently, some Tunisian landraces including 'Agili' have been identified as highly resistant to the virulent STB pathotype, 'Tun06'. In order to identify amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers associated with resistance to STB, we used bulk segregant analysis (BSA) in two F3 biparental populations derived from crosses between the resistant durum wheat accession 'Agili' and the susceptible cultivars 'Karim' and 'Khiar' and Association Mapping (AM) in a collection of 110 old durum wheat landraces. Out of the 24 EcoRI/MseI primer combinations tested, 4 were polymorphic between resistant and susceptible DNA pools. Screened on the parents and 9 to 12 progenies from each bulk, these polymorphic AFLP primer combinations revealed EcoACT/MseCTC-241, EcoACA/MseCTT-128, and EcoAGG/MseCTC-104 as specific alleles to resistant individuals suggesting their linkage to a gene for resistance to STB. Binary logistic regression analysis on the diversity panel showed that two AFLP markers out of the three identified by BSA were significantly associated with the resistance. EcoACT/MseCTC-241 was the significantly associated allele at P < 7.10-8 and was identified at a genetic distance of 1.2 cM to the resistance gene. This result indicates the efficiency of using landrace populations to detect potential markers for qualitative resistance.

Alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) enables sensitive detection of DNA damage in eukaryotic cells induced by genotoxic agents. The present work aims to study the genotoxic effects of cadmium or copper in pea (Pisum sativum L.) roots and leaves. We performed the Comet assay on cells exposed to cadmium chloride (0.35 mg kg-1, 0.7 mg kg-1, 1.4 mg kg-1, 7.0 mg kg-1) or copper chloride (35 mg kg-1, 70 mg kg-1, 140 mg kg-1, 700 mg kg-1) for 30 days. The tail moment in migrated DNA was regarded as an indication of DNA damage. The genotoxic test revealed a pronounced DNA alteration in roots of plants exposed to cadmium, and less in those exposed to copper. However, DNA damage in leaves was only significant in plants treated with the higher cadmium concentrations. Analysis of cadmium accumulation showed that roots accumulated almost 50-fold more cadmium than above-ground parts of the plant. This may explain the low genotoxic effects observed in leaves of cadmium-treated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nomophobia (NO MObile PHone Phobia) is a psychological condition in which people are anxious of being cut off from their mobile phones and been associated with adverse consequences to physical and psychosocial health. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of nomophobia on musculoskeletal problems in the upper extremity among adults. The Nomophobia scale (NMP-Q) was used to measure addiction to smartphone use among 5,087 Middle Eastern adults. A snowball sampling approach was used to recruit the participants between March and June 2021. Results showed that nomophobia was evident in 1,119 participants (22%) with a mean NMP-Q score of 114.1 (SD 11.1). A total of 3,396 upper extremity symptoms were reported among our participants. The binomial logistic regression showed that NMP-Q score is a significant predictor of symptoms to the thumb only ( β  = 0.01, p = .026). This study has provided evidence of the negative physical consequences of addiction to smartphone use. Participants with thumb-related symptoms were more prone to sustain other concurrent upper extremity symptoms, probably due to their maladaptive habits of using the phone. Thus, it is important to increase awareness about the risks associated with the use of smartphones. Implications for occupational therapy are presented.

Global water scarcity entailed the use of treated wastewater (TWW) in agriculture, however, this water can vehiculate numerous pollutants into soil and further crops such as microplastics (MPs). To date, few studies had quantified the accumulation of MPs in soils and earthworms after irrigation with TWW as well as their toxicological effects. Hence, the main objective of the present work is to evaluate the toxicity of MPs using Lumbricus sp. earthworms collected from TWW irrigated soils with an increasing gradient of time (5 years, 16 years and 24 years). MPs determination in soil, as well as in earthworms were performed. The intestinal mucus was quantified, and cytotoxicity (Lysosomal membrane stability (LMS), Catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) activities), neurotoxicity (Acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE)) and genotoxicity (Micronuclei frequency (MNi)) biomarker were assessed. Our results revealed that the use of TWW rendered MPs accumulation in earthworms' tissues and induce alteration on the intestinal mucus. An important cytotoxicity time-depending was observed being associated with an increase on genotoxicity. Overall, the present investigation highlights the ecotoxicological risk associated with the use of TWWs as an important driver of MPs and consequently measures are necessary to reduce MPs in wastewater treatment plans to improve this non-conventional water quality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The rapid rise in increasingly resistant bacteria has become a major threat to public health. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is crucial in guiding appropriate therapeutic decisions and infection prevention practices for patient care. However, conventional culture-based AST methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, rapid AST approaches exist to address the delayed gap in time to actionable results. There are two main types of rapid AST technologies- phenotypic and genotypic approaches. In this review, we provide a summary of all commercially available rapid AST platforms for use in clinical microbiology laboratories. We describe the technologies utilized, performance characteristics, acceptable specimen types, types of resistance detected, turnaround times, limitations, and clinical outcomes driven by these rapid tests. We also discuss crucial factors to consider for the implementation of rapid AST technologies in a clinical laboratory and what the future of rapid AST holds.

Nowadays, animal manure composting constitutes a sustainable alternative for farmers to enhance the level of nutrients within soils and achieve a good productivity. However, pollutants may be present in manures. This study focuses on the detection of environmental microplastics (EMPs) into composts, as well as on the assessment of their potential toxicity on the earthworm Eisenia andrei. To these aims, animals were exposed to two types of compost, namely bovine (cow) and ovine (sheep) manure, besides to their mixture, for 7 and 14 days. The presence and characterization of EMPs was evaluated in all the tested composts, as well as in tissues of the exposed earthworms. The impact of the tested composts was assessed by a multi-biomarker approach including cytotoxic (lysosomal membrane stability, LMS), genotoxic (micronuclei frequency, MNi), biochemical (activity of catalase, CAT, and glutathione-S-transferase, GST; content of malondialdehyde, MDA), and neurotoxic (activity of acetylcholinesterase, AChE) responses in earthworms. Results indicated the presence of high levels of EMPs in all the tested composts, especially in the sheep manure (2273.14 ± 200.89 items/kg) in comparison to the cow manure (1628.82 ± 175.23 items/kg), with the size <1.22 μm as the most abundant EMPs. A time-dependent decrease in LMS and AChE was noted in exposed earthworms, as well as a concomitant increase in DNA damages (MNi) after 7 and 14 days of exposure. Also, a severe oxidative stress was recorded in animals treated with the different types of compost through an increase in CAT and GST activities, and LPO levels, especially after 14 days of exposure. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider these findings for agricultural good practices in terms of plastic mitigation in compost usage, in order to prevent any risk for environment health., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as emergent pollutants and have become a significant environmental concern, especially when combined with other contaminants. In this study, earthworms, specifically Eisenia andrei, were exposed to MPs (at a concentration of 10 μg kg -1 of soil), herbicide 2,4-D (7 mg kg -1 of soil), and a combination of the two for 7 and 14 days. The chemical uptake in the earthworms was measured, and the bacterial and archaeal diversities in both the soil and earthworm gut were analyzed, along with the metabolomic profiles. Additionally, data integration of the two omics approaches was performed to correlate changes in gut microbial diversity and the different metabolites. Our results demonstrated that earthworms ingested MPs and increased 2,4-D accumulation. More importantly, high-throughput sequencing revealed a shift in microbial diversity depending on single or mixture exposition. Metabolomic data demonstrated an important modulation of the metabolites related to oxidative stress, inflammatory system, amino acids synthesis, energy, and nucleic acids metabolism, being more affected in case of co-exposure. Our investigation revealed the potential risks of MPs and 2,4-D herbicide combined exposure to earthworms and soil fertility, thus broadening our understanding of MPs' toxicity and impacts on terrestrial environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The use of androgenic-anabolic steroids (AASs) has increased in recent years, especially among athletes, due to their effect on body shape and performance. These agents could have serious side effects on this highly susceptible population, which tends to use these substances frequently to promote muscle growth and physical performance. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes toward the use of anabolic androgenic steroids among physical education university students in Palestine. A cross-sectional study of physical education students from November 2020 to January 2021 was conducted using an electronic questionnaire. The main outcome was to measure the level of knowledge and use of the AAS. A total of 380 students were included. The mean age of the students was 21 years (SD = 4.2), and the study participants were distributed almost equally according to sex. Approximately a quarter of the students were smokers. Eighty percent (80%) of the study participants were from the West Bank, while the remaining 20% were from Jerusalem and 48 territories. Furthermore, most of the students lived with their families; half lived in cities, approximately 152 (40%) lived in villages, and only 29 (8%) lived in camps. The average level of knowledge of the AAS was 2.95 out of 8 (37/100), with a median of three. Furthermore, only 36 (10%) of the participants had satisfactory knowledge, scoring 80% or more. Regarding the use of AAS, 11 (2.9%) participants, all males, confirmed that they were currently using AAS. Additionally, approximately 28 (7%) had previously used them, while 30 (8%) planned to try them in the future. Overall, 221 (58%) patients were confirmed to use vitamins and minerals. Our study showed that most of the participants had a substantial lack of information on the potential side effects of AAS, while the level of use was comparable with that of other populations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: early respiratory rehabilitation is required for patients with coronavirus virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) sequelae to reduce the risk of serious disabilities after hospital discharge., Methods: it was a comparative prospective study including patients with persistent symptoms one month after discharge. The patients were hospitalized at the pneumology department D of Abderahman Mami hospital for COVID-19 pneumonia. The study involved two groups: (G1) included patients who participated in respiratory muscle training program (twice a week during 6 weeks), and a control group (G2). The groups were matched based on age, sex and body mass index (BMI). Persistent symptoms and pulmonary lung function (forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), total lung capacity (TLC) and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), maximal inspiratory pressure (PI max) and maximal expiratory pressure (PE max), 6 Minute Walk distance (6-MWD) at baseline and after 6 weeks were compared between the two groups., Results: the two groups of patients were comparable in terms of age, sex, BMI, comorbidities, and extent of lung computed tomography (CT) lesions. Compared to G2, a significant improvement of persistent symptoms was noted in G1, including dry cough (p=0.002), dyspnea (p=0.001), chest pain (p=0.002), and fatigue (p=0.001). The mean of percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) increased from 96.68% to 97.93% (p<0.01) in G1. A significant improvement in the percentages of change of FEV1 (p=0.005), FVC (p=0.003), TLC (p<0.001), DLCO (p<0.001), and 6-MWD (p=0.015) was also noted in G1 after this program. Nevertheless, only the percentage of FEV1 (p=0.02) increased in the control group. No impact of respiratory muscle training on PI max and PE max was noted., Conclusion: the present study demonstrated a significant improvement of persistent symptoms and exercise tolerance after short-term respiratory muscle training in patients suffering from COVID-19 sequelae., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright: Imen Sahnoun et al.)

Heavy metal pollution is causing harmful consequences on soil fertility, and earthworms are frequently employed as test organisms to evaluate the ecotoxicity of polluted soils. In this study, Eisenia andrei was exposed for 7 and 14 days to polymetallic contaminated soils collected from an industrial zone in the south-eastern Tunisia. Earthworm growth, heavy metal accumulation, genotoxicity, cytotoxicity, biochemical and transcriptional responses were determined. Results revealed a higher accumulation of heavy metals in earthworms after 14 than 7 days of soil exposure, a reduction in lysosomal membrane stability (LMS), besides an increase in micronuclei frequency (MN). Moreover, earthworm oxidative status was affected in terms of increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) and metallothionein (MTs) content, and enhancement of catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities. An inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was also observed in treated earthworms, whereas transcriptional data demonstrated an up-regulation of cat, gst, mt, p21 and topoisomerase genes. Overall, these findings support the use of earthworms as suitable bioindicator species for pollution monitoring and assessment, advance our understanding of the interaction between heavy metals and earthworms, and provide valuable information about the harmful impact of biota exposure to naturally contaminated soils., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Due to anthropogenic activities, various pollutants can be found in agricultural soil, such as cadmium (Cd) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). They are highly toxic and can have a negative impact on soil fertility. For remediation strategies, biochar has acquired considerable attention due to its benefits for agriculture. However, we should recognize the ecological risk posed by biochar use. In addition, little is known about its non-desirable effects on soil organisms such as earthworms, especially in the case of soil remediation. In this study, earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were exposed to soil contaminated with Cd (0.7 mg/kg), (2,4-D) (7 mg/kg), and a mixture of the two in the presence and absence of biochar (2%). A 7- and 14-day incubation experiment was carried out for this purpose. Cd and 2,4-D uptakes in earthworms' tissues, oxidative stress, cytotoxic response, DNA damage, histopathological changes, and gene expression level were assessed. Results suggested that biochar increased the bioavailability of Cd and 2,4-D and the frequency of micronuclei (MNi) and decreased the lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) in earthworms. Also, histopathological examination detected numerous alterations in animals exposed to the contaminants without any amelioration when biochar was added. The biochemical response of earthworms in terms of oxidative stress demonstrates that in the presence of biochar, animals tend to alleviate the toxicity of Cd and 2,4-D. This was also supported by transcriptomic analyses where expression gene levels related to oxidative stress were upregulated in earthworms exposed to Cd and 2,4-D + biochar. The present investigation brought new insights concerning the use of biochar in agriculture., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Gundelia (G.) tournefortii has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipemic effects. We evaluated the anticancer effect of G. tournefortii in an hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mouse model of an HCC cell line (Hep3B) injected into NOD.CB17-Prkdc-SCID/NCrHsD male mice. Tumorigenicity was assessed by tumor size, histology, serum α-fetoprotein (αFP), and glypican 3 (GPC3). HCC-related gene expression of the cell cycle (Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDNK2A)), proliferation (MKI67), and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFA) were measured. HCC cell cycle alterations, apoptosis, and antioxidant markers in serum and liver following treatment with G. tournefortii were determined. Signaling pathways of liver p53 and phosphorylated PI3K, AKT, and mTOR were also evaluated. Results indicate a significant increase in tumor size in HCC animals associated with elevated αFP, GPC3, and MKI67. Tumor markers of p53 and phosphorylated AKT/PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway were diminished, with less proliferating cells and reduced PDGFRA gene expression following G. tournefortii infection. H&E staining showed a remarkable reduction in inflammatory lesions in HCC mice treated with G. tournefortii. This result was in line with a significant delay in the G2/M phase of HCC-primary hepatocytes by 1.39- to 2.4-fold and reduced HCC necrosis associated with inhibited CDNK2A gene expression. Antioxidant activity was significantly lower in the HCC mice than in the control group. Moreover, G. tournefortii inhibited the HCC formation of 3D MCTS spheroids. G. tournefortii treatment markedly restored antioxidant levels and displayed anticancer and antiproliferative effects and could be a promising cancer therapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Accurate dietary assessment is required in a variety of research fields and clinical settings. Image-based dietary assessment using smartphones applications offer the opportunity to reduce both researcher and participant burden compared to traditional dietary assessment methods. The current study, conducted in Palestine, aimed to design an image-based dietary assessment application, to assess the relative validity of the application as a dietary assessment tool for energy and macronutrient intake using the 3-Day Food Record (3-DFR) as a reference method, and to test its usability among a sample of Palestinian university students. The development of a smartphone application (Ghithaona) designed to assess energy and macronutrient intake is reported. The application validity was tested among a sample of Palestinian undergraduates from An-Najah National University. Participants recorded their dietary intake using the Ghithaona application over 2 consecutive days and 1 weekend day. Intake from the Ghithaona application were compared to intake collected from 3-DFR, taken on 2 consecutive weekdays and 1 weekend day, in the second week following the Ghithaona application. At the end of the study, participants completed an exit survey to test assess application usability and to identify barriers to its use. Mean differences in energy, and macronutrients intake were evaluated between the methods using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Agreement between methods was ascertained using Pearson correlations and Bland-Altman plots. The Ghithaona application took 6 months to develop. The validation test was completed by 70 participants with a mean age of 21.0 ± 2.1 years. No significant differences were found between the two methods for mean intakes of energy or macronutrients (p &gt; 0.05). Significant correlations between the two methods were observed for energy, and all macronutrients (r = 0.261-0.58, p ≤ 0.05). Bland-Altman plots confirmed wide limits of agreement between the methods with no systematic bias. According to the exit survey, it was found that majority of participants strongly agreed and agreed that the application saves time (94.2%), helps the participant to pay attention to their dietary habits (87.2%), and is easy to use (78.6%). The Ghithaona application showed relative validity for assessment of nutrient intake of Palestinian undergraduates., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Heavy metal contamination is a serious threat for terrestrial ecosystems. Thus, they could be accumulated in living organisms leading consequently to harmful consequences. In this context, the present work aims to evaluate the effects of four increasing Nickel (Ni) nominal concentrations (T: 0 mg/kg, C1: 150 mg/kg, C2: 250 mg/kg, C3: 500 mg/kg) on agronomic and biochemical parameters in bean (Vicia faba) plants. The measured exposure concentrations were in the range of 96.69%-104.18% of the nominal concentrations. Bean's responses were evaluated at biometric levels, chlorophyll content and biochemical parameters namely catalase glutation-S-transferase activities and malondialdehyde content, in booth parts of plants. Our data revealed a marked negative effect of Ni exposure on bean plant development and chlorophyll content. Biochemical biomarkers reported that plants anti-oxidative defense system has been significantly affected specially in roots at the high Ni concentration. Briefly, resistance mechanisms of Vicia faba to Ni seem to imply an activation of the antioxidant system and a limitation of the reactive oxygen species., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Muscular dystrophy is a progressive and ultimately lethal neuromuscular disease. Although gene editing and gene transfer hold great promise as therapies when administered before the onset of severe clinical symptoms, it is unclear whether these strategies can restore muscle function and improve survival in the late stages of muscular dystrophy. Large myd /Large myd ( myd ) mice lack expression of like-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-1 ( Large1 ) and exhibit severe muscle pathophysiology, impaired mobility, and a markedly reduced life span. Here, we show that systemic delivery of AAV2/9 CMV Large1 (AAV Large1 ) in >34-week-old myd mice with advanced disease restores matriglycan expression on dystroglycan, attenuates skeletal muscle pathophysiology, improves motor and respiratory function, and normalizes systemic metabolism, which collectively and markedly extends survival. Our results in a mouse model of muscular dystrophy demonstrate that skeletal muscle function can be restored, illustrating its remarkable plasticity, and that survival can be greatly improved even after the onset of severe muscle pathophysiology.

Polymicrobial infections are challenging to treat because we don't fully understand how pathogens interact during infection and how these interactions affect drug efficacy. Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are opportunistic pathogens that can be found in similar sites of infection such as in burn wounds and most importantly in the lungs of CF and mechanically ventilated patients. C. albicans is particularly difficult to treat because of the paucity of antifungal agents, some of which lack fungicidal activity. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of anti-fungal treatment during C. albicans-P. aeruginosa coculture in vitro and co-infection in the mucosal zebrafish infection model analogous to the lung. We find that P. aeruginosa enhances the activity of fluconazole (FLC), an anti-fungal drug that is fungistatic in vitro , to promote both clearance of C. albicans during co-infection in vivo and fungal killing in vitro . This synergy between FLC treatment and bacterial antagonism is partly due to iron piracy, as it is reduced upon iron supplementation and knockout of bacterial siderophores. Our work demonstrates that FLC has enhanced activity in clinically relevant contexts and highlights the need to understand antimicrobial effectiveness in the complex environment of the host with its associated microbial communities.

Given the wide use of plastic and pesticides in agriculture, microplastics (MP) and the herbicide 2,4 dichloro-phenoxy-acetic acid (2-4-D) can be present simultaneously in soil. Nevertheless, little is known about their combined toxicity. In this study, Eisenia andrei was exposed to environmental MP (100 µg kg -1 soil) and 2,4-D (7 mg kg -1 soil) for 7 and 14 days. Bioaccumulation, genotoxicity, oxidative stress and gene expression level were assessed. Results revealed that MP increased 2,4-D bioaccumulation in earthworms. Simultaneous exposure to both these pollutants caused a significant reduction in lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) and an increase in micronuclei (MNi) frequency. Biochemical analysis revealed oxidative alterations in earthworms exposed to all treatments; being very pronounced in earthworms exposed to the mixture in terms of increase in glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehydes accumulation (MDA). Furthermore, an up-regulation in cat and gst expression level was recorded in worms exposed to single or mixture treatment, except MP in case of gst. Our data highlight the toxicity of the combined exposure to MP and 2,4-D and afford new insights into the potential ecological risks posed by MP in terrestrial ecosystems., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

(1) Background: ESports is a new trend of sports, which has gained considerable popularity worldwide. There is a scarcity of evidence that focuses on the lifestyle of ESports players (eSP) particularly on symptoms of nomophobia, level of anxiety, sleep quality, food consumption and physical activity. (2) Objective: to determine the prevalence and relationship between symptoms of nomophobia, psychological aspects, insomnia and physical activity of eSP in Saudi Arabia. (3) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2021 using a convenient self-selection adult sample. A total of 893 (216 eSP vs. 677 non-eSP (NeSP)) participants aged over 18 years were included. All participants answered a seven-part validated questionnaire that included: (i) sociodemographic questions; (ii) a symptoms of nomophobia questionnaire; (iii) general anxiety disorder questions, (iv) an insomnia severity index, (v) an Internet addiction scale, (vi) the Yale food addiction scale 2.0 short form and (vii) an international physical activity questionnaire. (4) Results: Among the entire population, the prevalence of moderate to severe nomophobia, anxiety, insomnia, Internet addiction and low physical activity were 29.8%, 13.9%, 63.3%, 27% and 2.8%, respectively. The eSP and NeSP differed significantly in nomophobia scale, anxiety and insomnia values. Compared to NeSP, eSP had a higher level of severe nomophobia p = 0.003, a severe level of anxiety p = 0.025 and symptoms of insomnia p = 0.018. Except for food addiction and physical activity, a positive correlation was identified between symptoms of nomophobia, anxiety and insomnia among eSP. (5) Conclusion: This study reported high prevalence of nomophobia, anxiety and insomnia among eSP compared to NeSP.

In the present study, we investigated microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils with different agronomic practices (organic farming, soil under greenhouses, soil under mulching and soil irrigated with treated wastewater (TWW)). Plastic particles from each site were collected and characterized by FTIR and Raman microspectroscopy. Plastic particles were then ground and added (size rage under 100 μm) at a concentration of 100 μg kg -1 to soils from organic farming containing Eisenia andrei for 7 and 14 days. MPs accumulation in earthworms was quantified and characterized. Oxidative stress was assessed by evaluating the activities of catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and acetylcholinesterase as well as malondialdehyde accumulation. Our results revealed higher quantity of MPs in soils ranging from 13.21 ± 0.89 to 852.24 ± 124.2 items kg -1 with the dominance of small sizes (0.22-1.22 μm). Polyethylene (PE) and polybutyrate adipate terephtalate (PBAT) were the dominant MPs. Moreover, our results revealed a significant ingestion of MPs in earthworms with values ranging from 1.13 to 35.6, characterized mostly by PE, PBAT and polypropylene (PP). Biochemical data revealed an important alteration in worms exposed to MPs from soils with mulching and irrigated with TWW. Our study provides new insights into the effects of microplastic in earthworms and thus the vulnerability of terrestrial ecosystem to this emergent contaminant., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background The practice patterns of psychiatrists have changed over the last two decades. Objectives This study describes the pattern of prescribing psychotropic drugs in treating common psychiatric disorders, and investigates the rate of polypharmacy and potential drug-drug interactions. Setting Psychiatry governmental outpatient clinic in the north of West Bank, Palestine. Methods Cross-sectional study that included all prescriptions which were issued over the period October 2018 to January 2019, for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorders, and checked for the presence and the grade of potential drug-drug interactions using "Medscape drug interactions checker". Main outcome measure Prescribing patterns of psychotropic drugs. Results A total of 1045 prescriptions were examined. The mean age of the patients was 47.3 years (SD = 13.6), two-thirds of the patients (64.5%) were males. Fifty-two percent of the patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia while 15.2% were diagnosed with depression. The later third was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizoaffective and anxiety disorders (15.8%, 11.1% and 5.1% respectively). The most commonly prescribed drugs were typical antipsychotics for schizophrenia, bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression and tricyclic anti-depressants for anxiety. Polypharmacy was found in 877 prescriptions (84%), and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were identified in 823 (94%) prescriptions. The DDIs were classified as minor (4, 0.5%), significant (418, 50.8%) and serious (401, 48.7%). Conclusions Our results suggest that the pharmacotherapy of psychiatric disorders in Palestine may not be in accordance to international guidelines and the incidence of polypharmacy and DDIs is high., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG part of Springer Nature.)

In this work, we investigated the morphological effect of dichloromethane (DCM) on alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ) plant. We studied in vitro the influence of its concentration on alfalfa germination. The plants were placed in pots for 15 weeks, and exposed to increasing concentrations of DCM (50 µg L -1 and 84 mg L -1 ). In addition, we examined the effect of two manures (cow and sheep), which were applied to a contaminated soil, on alfalfa plant growth. The effect of the presence of dichloromethane is obvious even in plant-soil manure system. In fact, in the event of contamination, the soil-cow manure mixture represents the best setting medium for the Alfalfa plant compared to other environments, regardless of the contamination level. Indeed, the presence of two types of manure does not allow the suppression of the inhibitory effect of dichloromethane on the mass of the dry matter of the aerial part which is 18.38% for the cow manure-amended soil and 13.96% for the sheep manure-amended soil.

In this work, we propose to evaluate the effect of agriculture intensification under greenhouses on the biochemical and transcriptomic responses of the earthworms Eisenia andrei. This work was conducted on two sites in Téboulba and Sahline (Monastir governorate) and a control site in an experimental plot that is undergoing organic farming. For this purpose, the earthworms Eisenia andrei were exposed to the soils during 7 and 14 days. The physicochemical properties of the soils were analyzed. The biochemical biomarkers of metallothioneins (MTs) and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulations were also assessed. Moreover, the gene expression level of the MTs was analyzed. The results of our study revealed a significant trace element accumulation accompanied by a high level of MDA and MT proteins. Moreover, a significant expression of the MT gene was observed in earthworms exposed to the soils from Sahline and Téboulba. Hence, this work reveals that intensive agriculture can affect the biological responses of earthworms and consequently, the soil's biofertility.

Metal accumulation in soil could lead to severe damage to plants, animals, and humans. The present work aims to evaluate the effects of nickel (Ni) exposure on Medicago sativa at physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic levels. Plants were exposed to five increasing concentrations of Ni (0, 50, 150, 250, and 500 mg/kg) for 60 days. Agronomic parameters (fresh and dry matter) and chlorophyll content (Chl) were determined in an alfalfa plant. Chemical analyses were conducted, involving the determination of Ni loads in plants (roots and shoots). Moreover, malondialdehyde accumulation (MDA), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and peroxidase activities, termed as oxidative stress biomarkers, were measured. The gene expression levels of Prx1C, GST, and phytochelatins (PCs) were determined at different nickel concentrations. Our results showed that Ni concentration in plants increased significantly along with Ni concentration in the soil. Regarding oxidative stress biomarkers, Ni contamination caused an increase in peroxidase and GST activities, with a remarkable accumulation of MDA, especially for the highest Ni concentration (500 mg/kg of Ni). Our data showed also a significant upregulation of Prx1C and GST genes in shoots and roots. The PCs' gene expression was significantly enhanced in response to the different nickel concentrations, suggesting their important role in Ni detoxification in alfalfa plants. Our data provided evidence about the clear toxicity of Ni, an often-underestimated trace element., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Co-existence of depression and anxiety can be associated with severe detrimental consequences to the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the affected populations. This study was conducted to determine prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among Palestinian medical students and to investigate associations between sociodemographic factors of the students with depressive and anxiety symptoms., Methods: This study was conducted in a cross-sectional observational design using a questionnaire in the period between September 2018 and April 2019 in a major university in the West Bank of Palestine. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The questionnaire also collected the sociodemographic characteristics of the students. Reliability of the questionnaire was tested using the test re-test method. A total of 425 medical students were invited to participate in the study., Results: Of those invited, 286 students completed the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 67.3%. More than half (56.6%) of the students had minimal depression, 20.3% had mild depression, 14.0% had moderate depression, 9.1% had severe depression, 23.4% had no anxiety, 29.7% had mild to moderate anxiety, 25.5% had moderate to severe anxiety, and 21.3% had severe anxiety. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that academic stage (p-value < 0.01), Grade Point Average (p-value < 0.01), mental health status (p-value < 0.001), ever attempted suicide (p-value < 0.05), and religious commitment (p-value < 0.01) were predictors of BDI-II scores. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that academic stage (p-value < 0.05) and mental health status (p-value < 0.001) were predictors of BAI scores., Conclusions: Depressive and anxiety symptoms were prevalent among Palestinian medical students in a major university in the West Bank of Palestine. Interventions might be designed to improve self-rated mental health of medical students in their academic years, ameliorate study conditions, and provision of counseling services to improve spirituality might be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety among medical students in Palestine. Future studies are still needed to investigate if these interventions could be useful in reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms among Palestinian medical students.

Humans are exposed to the antimicrobial agent triclosan (TCS) through use of TCS-containing products. Exposed tissues contain mast cells, which are involved in numerous biological functions and diseases by secreting various chemical mediators through a process termed degranulation. We previously demonstrated that TCS inhibits both Ca 2+ influx into antigen-stimulated mast cells and subsequent degranulation. To determine the mechanism linking the TCS cytosolic Ca 2+ depression to inhibited degranulation, we investigated the effects of TCS on crucial signaling enzymes activated downstream of the Ca 2+ rise: protein kinase C (PKC; activated by Ca 2+ and reactive oxygen species [ROS]) and phospholipase D (PLD). We found that TCS strongly inhibits PLD activity within 15 minutes post-antigen, a key mechanism of TCS mast cell inhibition. In addition, experiments using fluorescent constructs and confocal microscopy indicate that TCS delays antigen-induced translocations of PKCβII, PKCδ and PKC substrate myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase. Surprisingly, TCS does not inhibit PKC activity or overall ability to translocate, and TCS actually increases PKC activity by 45 minutes post-antigen; these results are explained by the timing of both TCS inhibition of cytosolic Ca 2+ (~15+ minutes post-antigen) and TCS stimulation of ROS (~45 minutes post-antigen). These findings demonstrate that it is incorrect to assume that all Ca 2+ -dependent processes will be synchronously inhibited when cytosolic Ca 2+ is inhibited by a toxicant or drug. The results offer molecular predictions of the effects of TCS on other mammalian cell types, which share these crucial signal transduction elements and provide biochemical information that may underlie recent epidemiological findings implicating TCS in human health problems., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Plant-microbe interactions such as rhizobacteria legumes are interesting in organic farming that has undergone significant expansion in the world. The organic agriculture is as an environment-friendly technique and a sustainable alternative to intensive agricultural system. Three types of soil were chosen, organic (ORG), conventional (CON), and fallow land (NA) to isolate soil bacteria-nodulating Medicago sativa, in order to develop microbial inoculants for use in agricultural sustainable system. Soil analysis revealed significant higher amounts of total nitrogen, organic carbon, total phosphorus, and matter detected in ORG. As for heavy metals, ORG showed high Cu content due to the authorized chemical use in organic farming. A sample of 130 bacteria was isolated from Medicago sativa nodule, genetically characterized by PCR/RFLP of ribosomal 16S RNAs, and a great dominance of Sinorhizobium meliloti (88.4%, 73.8%, and 55.5%) is obtained among NA-, CON-, and ORG-managed soils, respectively. The ORG showed the high bacterial diversity with 13.3% of non-identified strains. The resistance against five pesticides (Prosper, Cuivox, Fungastop, Nimbecidine, and Maneb) revealed a maximum of inhibitory concentration about 10 mg l -1 of Prosper, 12 mg l -1 of Cuivox, 6 ml l -1 of Fungastop, 7.5 ml l -1 of Nimbecidine, and 25 ml l -1 of Maneb. The analysis of the symbiotic properties and plant growth-promoting potential revealed two efficient strains significantly increased alfalfa dry weight through producing siderophores, phosphorus, and indole acetic acid (13.6 mg ml -1 and 19.9 mg ml -1 respectively). Hence, we identify two tolerant and efficient strains, Achromobacter spanium and Serratia plymuthica, isolated from Medicago sativa nodule with valuable potential able to phytostabilize pesticide-contaminated soils.

In the present study, we evaluated the concentrations of several micronutrients and heavy metals (Fe, Mg, Mn, K, Ca, Na, Zn, Cu, Ni and Cd) in soils and in edible parts of two vegetables (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Amal) and (Lactuca sativa L. cv Augusta) and a fruit (Fragaria x ananassa cv. Sabrina) from conventional and organic farming in the eastern-central region of Tunisia. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to investigate correlations between metals in the edible part of the crops and metals in soil. The bio-concentration factors (BCF) were calculated to evaluate the ability of plants to absorb nutrients from the soil. Our data indicated a significant decrease in micronutrients in the edible part of crops from organic farming. However, toxic metals loads significantly increased in crops from conventional agriculture. Our data should be carefully considered in view of the potential health risk assessment for Tunisian consumers., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a severe autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system. NMO and its abortive forms are referred to as NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD). NMOSD are mostly associated with antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG). However, recent studies have demonstrated antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) in a subset of patients. Data on NMOSD in North Africa are sparse., Objective: To describe the frequency of MOG-IgG and AQP4-IgG among patients with optic neuritis (ON) and/or myelitis in Algeria as well as the clinical and paraclinical features associated with these antibodies., Methods: Retrospective testing of 42 patients with optic neuritis and/or myelitis treated at the teaching hospital of TiziOuzou for MOG-IgG and AQP4-IgG, and retrospective evaluation of the patients' medical records., Results: Six of 42 (14.3%) patients were positive for AQP4-IgG and 3/42 (7.1%) were positive for MOG-IgG. No patient was positive for both AQP4-IgG and MOG-IgG. All antibody-positive patients were women. MOG-IgG was associated with severe episodes of ON in all MOG-IgG-positive patients. Steroid treatment was followed by complete remission in two patients. AQP4-IgG was associated with ON and/or longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM), often with severe onset. While all six of the AQP4-IgG-positive patients met the 2015 IPND criteria for NMOSD, only one of the three MOG-IgG-positive patients did so. Interestingly, clinically silent extensive spinal cord or brain lesions were present in two of the three MOG-IgG-positive patients, and altered visual evoked potentials without clinical evidence of ON were found in three of the six AQP4-IgG-positive patients., Conclusion: MOG-IgG and AQP4-IgG are found in a substantial subset of Algerian patients with ON and/or myelitis, are present predominantly in women, and may be associated with differences in clinical presentation and, possibly, outcome. Only a subset of MOG-IgG positive patients meets the current diagnostic criteria for NMOSD., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aims of this work were firstly to study the effect of heavy metal-polluted soils from Tunisian mine on earthworm biochemical biomarkers and on bacterial communities and therefore to analyze the interaction between earth worms and bacterial communities in these contaminated soils. For this purpose, we had introduced earthworm Eisenia andrei in six soils: one from mine spoils and five from agricultural soils, establishing a gradient of contamination. The response of worms to the presence of heavy metal was analyzed at the biochemical and transcriptional levels. In a second time, the impact of worm on bacterial community structure was investigated using automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) fingerprinting. An impact of heavy metal-contaminated soils on the oxidative status of E. andrei was observed, but this effect was dependent of the level of heavy metal contamination. Moreover, our results demonstrate that the introduction of earthworms E. andrei has an impact on bacterial community; however, the major change was observed in the less contaminated site. Furthermore, a significant correlation between earthworm oxidative status biomarkers and bacterial community structure was observed, mainly in the mine spoils. Therefore, we contribute to a better understanding of the relationships between epigenic earthworms and bacterial communities in heavy metal-contaminated soils.

Eisenia andrei earthworms were exposed for 7 and 14 days to six samples of soil taken from around an abandoned lead (Pb) mine and characterized by different levels of metal contamination (S6-S1, this latter being the most contaminated soil). The organisms were analyzed for metal bioaccumulation and for biological parameters as biomarkers of stress (lysosomal membrane stability; lipofuscin lysosomal content; lysosomal/cytoplasmic volume ratio) and genotoxicity (Micronucleus frequency). Chemical analysis showed the loads of Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu in the worms following exposure. Among the stress biomarkers, lysosomal membrane stability was significantly affected in the coelomocytes of the earthworms exposed already 7 days to different contaminated soils. Organisms exposed for 14 days to S1 showed in the cells of the chloragogenous tissue, a particularly relevant increase in lipofuscin, a biomarker of oxidative stress, and an increase in the lysosome/cytoplasm volume ratio, indicating stressful condition at the tissue level. Moreover, in the same conditions, a decrease in total body weight was observed. At the longer exposure time, the coelomocytes of worms exposed to S1, S2, and S3 (soils with higher metal concentrations) showed a significant increase in micronuclei (MNi) frequency. Expressions of the P21 and topoisomerase genes, which are involved in DNA repair, showed significant up-regulation in the cells of worms exposed to S1, S2, S3, S4 and to a less extend S6. This may indicate that the worms were only able to successfully reduce the level of DNA damage in S4 and S5 if considering MN frequency data. The biomarker data was integrated by the Earthworm Expert System, allowing an objective interpretation of the complex biological data and clearly defining the areas in which the presence of chemicals is toxic for the edaphic organisms., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Montelukast is recommended for the treatment of asthma, exercise -induced bronchospasm and allergic rhinitis. Several trials demonstrated potential therapeutic effects in other respiratory conditions, and different animal-model-based studies explored potential pharmacological actions in non-respiratory conditions., Areas Covered: Clinical investigations on the pharmacotherapeutic effects of montelukast, in addition to in-vivo studies on animal models of non-respiratory diseases. The data discussed in this review were mainly obtained from clinical randomized trials, real-life studies, and studies based on animal models as approve of concept. As a condition, all of the discussed articles were published in journals cited by Pubmed. Expert commentary: The current clinical data are in favor of montelukast use in the management of chronic asthma as an add-on or alternative therapy to the inhaled corticosteroids. Further clinical trials are required to confirm the effectiveness and feasibility of montelukast for the treatment of conditions other than the current clinical indications.

This study investigated the stress response of earthworms (Eisenia andrei) to exposure to a commonly used herbicide, 2,4 dichloro-phenoxy-acetic acid (2,4-D). We evaluated both stress biomarkers and the transcriptional expression levels and activity of three enzymes involved in oxidative stress responses. Earthworms were exposed to three sublethal concentration of 2,4-D (3.5, 7, and 14 mg kg(-1)) for 7 and 14 days. Exposure to 7 and 14 mg kg(-1) 2,4-D significantly reduced both worm body weight and lysosomal membrane stability (LMS); the latter is a sensitive stress biomarker in coelomocytes. Exposure to 2,4-D caused a pronounced increase in the accumulation of malonedialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress, and significantly increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD),and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Compared to expression in controls, the expression levels of the sod, cat, and gst genes increased in worms exposed to all three 2,4-D doses for 7 days. However, after 14 days of exposure, only the expression of the gst gene remained higher than controls. These data provide new insights into the cytotoxicity of 2,4-D in the earthworm E. andrei and should be carefully considered in view of the biological effects of herbicides in soils organisms., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The induction of oxidative stress is a characteristic symptom of metal phytotoxicity and is counteracted by antioxidants such as glutathione (GSH) or homoglutathione (hGSH). The depletion of GSH│hGSH in fifteen-day-old alfalfa (Medicago sativa) plants pre-incubated with 1mM buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) affected antioxidant responses in a metal-specific manner under exposure to copper (Cu; 0, 6, 30 and 100μM) or cadmium (Cd; 0, 6 and 30μM) for 7 days. The phytotoxic symptoms observed with excess Cu were accompanied by an inhibition of root glutathione reductase (GR) activity, a response that was augmented in Cd-treated plants but reverted when combined with BSO. The synthesis of phytochelatins (PCs) was induced by Cd, whereas the biothiol concentration decreased in Cu-treated plants, which did not accumulate PCs. The depletion of GSH│hGSH by BSO also produced a strong induction of oxidative stress under excess Cu stress, primarily due to impaired GSH│hGSH-dependent redox homeostasis. In addition, the synthesis of PCs was required for Cd detoxification, apparently also determining the distribution of Cd in plants, as less metal was translocated to the shoots in BSO-incubated plants. Therefore, specific GSH│hGSH-associated mechanisms of tolerance were triggered by stress due to each metal., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Few studies have compared the impact of different antiretroviral regimens on residual immune activation and inflammation with discordant results. Aim of the study was to investigate the impact of various antiretroviral regimens on markers of immune activation and inflammation during the first two years of effective therapy., Methods: We studied HIV-infected antiretroviral-naïve patients who began cART with either abacavir/lamivudine or tenofovir/emtricitabine, combined with ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (LPV/r), atazanavir (ATV/r) or efavirenz (EFV). All the patients had a virological response within 6 months, which was maintained for 2 years with no change in their ART regimen. C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble CD14 (sCD14), monokine induced by interferon-γ (MIG) and interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) were measured in stored plasma obtained at cART initiation and 24 months later. Mean changes from baseline were analyzed on loge-transformed values and multivariable linear regression models were used to study the effect of the treatment components, after adjusting for factors that might have influenced the choice of ART regimen or biomarker levels. Differences were expressed as the mean fold change percentage difference (Δ)., Results: Seventy-eight patients (91% males) with a median age of 43 years met the inclusion criteria. Their median baseline CD4 cell count was 315/mm3 and HIV-1 RNA level 4.6 log10 copies/ml. During the 2-years study period, IL-6, IP-10 and MIG levels fell significantly, while hs-CRP and sCD14 levels remained stable. IP-10 and MIG levels declined significantly less strongly with ATV/r than with EFV (IP-10Δ -57%, p = 0.011; MIGΔ -136%, p = 0.007), while no difference was noted between LPV/r and EFV. The decline in IL-6 did not differ significantly across the different treatment components., Conclusions: After the first 2 years of successful cART, IL-6, IP-10 and MIG fell markedly while hs-CRP and sCD14 levels remained stable. The only impact of ART regimen was a smaller fall in markers of immune activation with ATV/r than with EFV. Our results suggest that these markers could be worthwhile when evaluating new antiretroviral drugs.

The present work aimed to study the physiological effects of cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) in pea (Pisum sativum). Pea plants were exposed to increasing doses of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) and copper chloride (CuCl2) for 20 d. The examined parameters, namely root and shoot lengths, the concentration of photosynthetic pigments and the rate of photosynthesis were affected by the treatments especially with high metals concentrations. The analysis of heavy metals accumulation shows that leaves significantly accumulate cadmium for all the tested concentrations. However, copper was significantly accumulated only with the highest tested dose. This may explain the higher inhibitory effects of cadmium on photosynthesis and growth in pea plants. These results are valuable for understanding the biological consequences of heavy metals contamination particularly in soils devoted to organic agriculture.