<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;" lang="EN-US"> Eco-criticism is relatively considered a new term in Urdu literature although a brief review of Urdu literature ...particularly poetry indicates that environmental problems have always been critically observed by the literary minds. Ecocriticism is a kind of literary criticism that discuss the relationship of the physical environment as a living entity with literature and not just as a background of social dialogue. It is a theoretical technique that was introduced in the 90s in the west, however, Imdad Imam Asar has been considered the earliest critic who used this technique in Urdu literature through his book "KashifulHaqaiq". Afterwards, Maulvi Muhammad Ismail Merathi used ecological perspectives in their poetry at a time when ecological studies and organizations had yet not been established. Dr. Wazir Agha, Nasir Kazmi, Majeed Amjad, Parveen Shakir and Tariq Naeem pronounced the disturbing effects of deforestation on nature, particularly on birds. Urdu poets mourned the high industrial ambitions of humans which destroyed the environmental beauty and awarded air pollution, global warming, climate change and drought to nature and humans. Poets like Mustafa Zaidi, Zia Jalandhari and others believed that environmental destruction is not limited to the physical aspects only it also disturbed the social behavior of the humans. Some modern poets like KishwarNaheed, Yousaf Zafar and Saeed Aasi associated the decay of humanity with environmental change in their poems and warns humans against it.
Purpose of Review
Given increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), there is a significant interest in exploring non-antibiotic therapeutic options. We discuss basics of ...bacteriophage therapy (BT) and its role in the treatment of infections due to MDRO.
Recent Findings
BT employs lytic viruses to infect and lyse bacterial pathogens and is an emerging treatment strategy for treatment of infections caused by MDROs. We summarize key characteristics that make BT an attractive option against MDROs, discuss recent cases in which BT was successfully used to treat antibiotic recalcitrant infections, and discuss challenges that need to be overcome to make BT a viable clinical strategy.
Summary
BT is a viable therapeutic option needing further research in order to bring it to clinical practice.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Indwelling catheters are the most common cause of health care-associated bloodstream infections (BSIs). BSIs arise from a bacterial biofilm that consists of bacteria embedded within an extracellular ...polysaccharide matrix on the catheter surface. The initial step in biofilm formation is adherence of planktonic organisms to the catheter surface. Attached organisms divide to form microcolonies and secrete an extracellular polysaccharide matrix. Under stress conditions, these organisms can detach and become planktonic, resulting in bacteremia that can allow the bacteria to colonize a new site. Systemic antibiotics are able to eliminate planktonic organisms released from the biofilm but are often ineffective in treating infections resulting from biofilm-embedded organisms. Biofilm resistance is usually multifactorial, which makes biofilm eradication difficult, and, thus, most biofilm-related infections require prompt removal of the device. Intervention strategies for biofilm-associated infections include (1) prevention of initial device contamination, (2) minimization of initial microbial cell attachment, (3) use of agents such as high-dose antibiotics or antibiofilm agent in a catheter lock solution to penetrate the biofilm matrix and kill the embedded organisms, and (4) removal of the infected device. Some antibacterials are better than others in treating biofilm-associated bacteria, such as rifampin (in combination with other antibiotics), tigecycline, daptomycin, N-acetylysteine (in combination with tigecycline), and ethanol.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Abstract
Background
Due to increasing multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections, there is an interest in assessing the use of bacteriophage therapy (BT) as an antibiotic alternative. After the first ...successful case of intravenous BT to treat a systemic MDR infection at our institution in 2017, the Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics (IPATH) was created at the University of California, San Diego, in June 2018.
Methods
We reviewed IPATH consult requests from June 1, 2018, to April 30, 2020, and reviewed the regulatory process of initiating BT on a compassionate basis in the United States. We also reviewed outcomes of the first 10 cases at our center treated with intravenous BT (from April 1, 2017, onwards).
Results
Among 785 BT requests to IPATH, BT was administered to 17 of 119 patients in whom it was recommended. One-third of requests were for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Mycobacterium abscessus. Intravenous BT was safe with a successful outcome in 7/10 antibiotic-recalcitrant infections at our center (6 were before IPATH). BT may be safely self-administered by outpatients, used for infection suppression/prophylaxis, and combined successfully with antibiotics despite antibiotic resistance, and phage resistance may be overcome with new phage(s). Failure occurred in 2 cases despite in vitro phage susceptibility.
Conclusions
We demonstrate the safety and feasibility of intravenous BT for a variety of infections and discuss practical considerations that will be critical for informing future clinical trials.
Bacteriophage therapy (BT) is an emerging therapeutic strategy against multidrug resistant infections. We demonstrate safety and successful outcome in 7/10 cases treated with intravenous BT and share lessons learned, BT referral pattern, and regulatory aspects in the US.
In recent years, copper (Cu) pollution in agricultural soils, due to arbitrary use of pesticides, fungicides, industrial effluent and wastewater irrigation, present a major concern for sustainable ...agrifood production especially in developing countries. The world’s major food requirement is fulfilled through agricultural food crops. The Cu-induced losses in growth and yield of food crops probably exceeds from all other causes of food safety and security threats. Here, we review the adverse effects of Cu excess on growth and yield of essential food crops. Numerous studies reported the Cu-induced growth inhibition, oxidative damage and antioxidant response in agricultural food crops such as wheat, rice, maize, sunflower and cucumber. This article also describes the toxic levels of Cu in crops that decreased plant growth and yield due to alterations in mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, enzyme activities and decrease in chlorophyll biosynthesis. The response of various crops to elevated Cu concentrations varies depending upon nature of crop and cultivars used. This review could be helpful to understand the Cu toxicity and the mechanism of its tolerance in food crops. We recommend that Cu-tolerant crops should be grown on Cu-contaminated soils in order to ameliorate the toxic effects for sustainable farming systems and to meet the food demands of the intensively increasing population.
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CEKLJ, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Purpose of Review
This review summarizes the literature on invasive candidiasis (IC) in liver transplant recipients (LTRs) regarding diagnostic strategies, treatment, and prophylaxis.
Recent Findings
...Recent literature on IC has expanded and refined definitions of risk factors for IC in LTRs. We discuss increasing rates of resistance among candida species and new antifungals. Diagnostic modalities continue to decrease time to initiation of empiric antifungals, which may impact outcomes.
Summary
A well-documented host of risk factors for IC may allow for targeted prophylaxis, while minimizing exposure to antifungal medications. Further research on minimum effective duration of treatment and prophylaxis is needed to combat resistance.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Silicon (Si) is generally considered as a benefic element for higher plants, especially for those grown under abiotic stressed environments. Current study is carried out in a hydroponic experiment to ...analyze the effect of Si application on barley growth, photosynthesis and ultra-structure under chromium (Cr) stress. The treatments consisted of three Si (0, 1 and 2mM) and two Cr (0 and 100μM) levels. The results showed that Si application at both levels enhanced plant growth relative to the control, and alleviated Cr toxicity, reflected by significant increase in growth and photosynthetic parameters, such as SPAD value, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), cellular CO2 concentration (Ci), stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Tr), and chlorophyll fluorescence efficiency (Fv/Fm), with 2mM Si having greater effect than 1mM Si. Cr stress caused ultra-structural disorders in leaves, such as uneven swelling of chloroplast, increased amount of plastoglobuli, disintegrated and disappeared thylakoid membranes, increased size and number of starch granules in leaves, and root ultra-structural modification, including increased vacuolar size, presence of Cr metal in cell walls and vacuoles, disruption and disappearance of nucleus. Exogenous Si alleviated these ultra-structural disorders both in roots and leaves. Apparently, Si and Cr behaved antagonistically, indicating that Si could be a candidate for Cr detoxification in crops under Cr-contaminated soil.
► Si application alleviated Cr toxicity. ► Cr stress caused ultra-structural disorders in both leaves and roots. ► Exogenous Si alleviated ultra-structural disorders caused by Cd stress. ► Si could be a candidate for Cr detoxification in crops.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Factors predisposing to NE can be antenatal, perinatal, or a combination of both. Antenatal maternal factors, familial ...factors, genetic predisposition, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, infections, placental abnormalities, thrombophilia, coagulation defects, and metabolic disorders all have been implicated in the pathogenesis of NE. At present, therapeutic hypothermia is the only treatment available, regardless of etiology. Recognizing the etiology of NE involved can also guide investigations such as metabolic and sepsis workups to ensure optimal management. Understanding the etiology of NE may allow the development of targeted adjunctive therapies related to the underlying mechanism and develop preventative strategies.
Abstract
To investigate the impact of Glutathione (GSH) in mitigating low-temperature stress in Pusa Sheetal cv. of
Solanum lycopersicum
and imparting low-temperature tolerance by evaluating the ...different physiological responses
.
The plant under research was also being studied for its growth and stress tolerance. Low temperatures (LT) stress was applied to seedlings with or without GSH application 12 h before LT stress (prophylactic dose), after 12 h-LT (preemptive dose), and post 12-h recovery (curative dose). Different concentrations of GSH 0, G1 (0.5 mM), G2 (1 mM) and G3 (2 mM) against LT stress were used. Antioxidant activities, photosynthesis, growth, and stress tolerance indices were quantified. LT stress caused an oxidative burst in
S. lycopersicum
seedlings of the Pusa Sheetal cv. as indicated by increased peroxidation of lipids and H
2
O
2
concentration. Glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities were enhanced. The best concentration was G2 (1 mM), which resulted in a rise in antioxidant activity. Moreover, a decline in lipid peroxidation and H
2
O
2
levels was also seen. The purpose of this study is to identify the role of GSH in reducing LT stress and to find the best dose concentration. This is the first report to assess the GSH-mediated LT stress tolerance in
S. lycopersicum
(Pusa Sheetal cv.). Therefore, exogenous GSH application of optimal concentration of GSH to LT stressed
S. lycopersicum
can be an effective approach for augmenting the plant detoxification system and promoting its growth and development.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Plant growth regulators have an important role in various developmental processes during the life cycle of plants. They are involved in abiotic stress responses and tolerance. They have very ...well-developed capabilities to sense the changes in their external milieu and initiate an appropriate signaling cascade that leads to the activation of plant defense mechanisms. The plant defense system activation causes build-up of plant defense hormones like jasmonic acid (JA) and antioxidant systems like glutathione (GSH). Moreover, calcium (Ca
2+
) transients are also seen during abiotic stress conditions depicting the role of Ca
2+
in alleviating abiotic stress as well. Therefore, these growth regulators tend to control plant growth under varying abiotic stresses by regulating its oxidative defense and detoxification system. This review highlights the role of Jasmonates, Calcium, and glutathione in abiotic stress tolerance and activation of possible novel interlinked signaling cascade between them. Further, phyto-hormone crosstalk with jasmonates, calcium and glutathione under abiotic stress conditions followed by brief insights on omics approaches is also elucidated.
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