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Specialized chemicals are used for intensifying food production, including boosting meat and crop yields. Among the applied formulations, antibiotics and pesticides pose a severe threat to the natural balance of the ecosystem, as they either contribute to the development of multidrug resistance among pathogens or exhibit ecotoxic and mutagenic actions of a persistent character. Recently, cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPPs) have emerged as promising technologies for degradation of these organic pollutants. CAPP-based technologies show eco-friendliness and potency for the removal of organic pollutants of diverse chemical formulas and different modes of action. For this reason, various types of CAPP-based systems are presented in this review and assessed in terms of their constructions, types of discharges, operating parameters, and efficiencies in the degradation of antibiotics and persistent organic pollutants. Additionally, the key role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is highlighted. Moreover, optimization of the CAPP operating parameters seems crucial to effectively remove contaminants. Finally, the CAPP-related paths and technologies are further considered in terms of biological and environmental effects associated with the treatments, including changes in antibacterial properties and toxicity of the exposed solutions, as well as the potential of the CAPP-based strategies for limiting the spread of multidrug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Urolithiasis (UL) is a prevalent disorder that significantly burdens the global healthcare system. Except for acute surgical conditions, most kidney stones don't show any symptoms during presentation. Patients with asymptomatic renal calculi frequently seek alternative treatments. Several Ayurvedic preparations mentioned in Ayurvedic compendia have shown encouraging results in patients after long-term use. However, the results of several Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of Ayurvedic preparations in UL vary. Aim: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of Ayurvedic preparations in patients with UL. Materials and Methods: The electronic databases Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and ARP were searched upto August 2023 to recognise applicable studies. The modified Jadad Scale was used to assess the quality of the studies. The Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) tool was used to determine the RoB for randomised trials. Results: The search retrieved 1459 studies, but only 19 studies were found eligible for inclusion in the study. Statistical analysis revealed a substantial decrease in the number and size of calculi in 178 cases in the intervention group compared to only 101 events in the control group (OR: 3.03, 95% CI; 2.00, 4.61). It also showed a significant reduction in the size of stones, a significant improvement in haematuria with p=0.18, a highly significant improvement in dysuria with p=0.04, and highly significant relief in pain with p<0.0001. Conclusion: This review concludes that Ayurvedic drugs have optimistic results in the treatment of UL. More substantial clinical trials with a larger sample size must be conducted to generate stronger evidence for using Ayurvedic Medicines (AyM) as a treatment choice for UL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ancient science of life known as Ayurveda uses a variety of formulations or herbal compounds to treat a wide range of illnesses. Male infertility accounts for half of all infertility worldwide, and numerous etiological variables play a role. A pharmacologically active tobacco component called nicotine has a negative impact on male fertility and the reproductive system. Musalyadi Churna (MSC) is one of the polyherbal compound formulations mentioned in Ayurveda Classics for aphrodisiac therapy and recommended for the treatment of male infertility. Objective: The current study aims to evaluate the spermatogenic potential of MSC along with its protective effect against testicular degeneration induced by nicotine in rat models. Materials and Methods: Sixty adult Sprague– Dawley male rats were used in the experiment, which were divided into ten groups of six rats each. Nicotine was administered orally as disease control. The standard and vehicle control were also included along with study drug groups in which MSC was administered orally to the rats. The study was conducted for 70 days for each group with assessment of body weight and food consumption. After treatment, rats were weighed and sacrificed for evaluation of parameters like organ weight, epididymal sperm count, and sperm morphology along with histological assessment. The data were statistically evaluated using analysis of variance test and Bonferroni multiple‑comparison range test to compare different treatment groups. Results and Conclusion: In the present study, MSC possesses substantial spermatogenic efficacy, and the result indicates that the study drug possesses a protective effect against nicotine‑induced impaired testicular functions in rats, but further research to elucidate its exact mechanism of action is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]