Health Research Articles

Predictors of initiating biologics in the treatment of psoriasis.

Biologics are among the most effective therapies for psoriasis. However, many patients are only introduced to them at advanced stages of the disease course. Our aim was to identify predictors of initiating biologic therapy in patients with psoriasis and compare patients initiating biologics early versus late in their disease course. Kaplan-Meier curves visualized time to biologic initiation, while Cox regression models further explored variables as predictors of biologic initiation. Mann-Whitney U and chi-squared tests compared patients who started biologics early with those who began biologics later in the disease course. Our primary analysis included 233 psoriasis patients. Cox regression showed that age at diagnosis (P = 0.007), general physical well-being (P = 0.02), and nail psoriasis severity (P = 0.02) were significantly associated with time to biologic initiation. Our secondary analysis, the comparisons between patients starting biologics early versus later in the disease course, included a total of 378 patients. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age at diagnosis was 34.5 (25.0-51.2) years for patients initiating biologics within 5 years, compared to 22.0 (15.0-32.8) years for patients initiating biologics later (P < 0.0001). The median (IQR) age at initiation was 37.0 (27.0-53.2) and 45.0 (36.0-55.0) years for patients initiating biologics earlier versus later than 5 years (P = 0.04). Age at diagnosis, general well-being, and severity of nail psoriasis significantly predicted future initiation of biologic treatment. Patients initiating biologics early in their disease course were generally older at diagnosis but younger at the time of biologic initiation compared to patients initiating biologics later in their disease course.

Cellulose Surface Nanoengineering for Visualizing Food Safety.

Food safety is vital to human health, necessitating the development of nondestructive, convenient, and highly sensitive methods for detecting harmful substances. This study integrates cellulose dissolution, aligned regeneration, in situ nanoparticle synthesis, and structural reconstitution to create flexible, transparent, customizable, and nanowrinkled cellulose/Ag nanoparticle membranes (NWCM-Ag). These three-dimensional nanowrinkled structures considerably improve the spatial-electromagnetic-coupling effect of metal nanoparticles on the membrane surface, providing a 2.3 × 108 enhancement factor for the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect for trace detection of pesticides in foods. Notably, the distribution of pesticides in the apple peel and pulp layers is visualized through Raman imaging, confirming that the pesticides penetrate the peel layer into the pulp layer (∼30 μm depth). Thus, the risk of pesticide ingestion from fruits cannot be avoided by simple washing other than peeling. This study provides a new idea for designing nanowrinkled structures and broadening cellulose utilization in food safety.

Unlocking Biological Activity and Metabolomics Insights: Primary Screening of Cyanobacterial Biomass from a Tropical Reservoir.

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms can pose risks to ecosystems and human health worldwide due to their capacity to produce natural toxins. The potential dangers associated with numerous metabolites produced by cyanobacteria remain unknown. Only select classes of cyanopeptides have been extensively studied with the aim of yielding substantial evidence regarding their toxicity, resulting in their inclusion in risk management and water quality regulations. Information about exposure concentrations, co-occurrence, and toxic impacts of several cyanopeptides remains largely unexplored. We used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomic methods associated with chemometric tools (NP Analyst and Data Fusion-based Discovery), as well as an acute toxicity essay, in an innovative approach to evaluate the association of spectral signatures and biological activity from natural cyanobacterial biomass collected in a eutrophic reservoir in southeastern Brazil. Four classes of cyanopeptides were revealed through metabolomics: microcystins, microginins, aeruginosins, and cyanopeptolins. The bioinformatics tools showed high bioactivity correlation scores for compounds of the cyanopeptolin class (0.54), in addition to microcystins (0.54-0.58). These results emphasize the pressing need for a comprehensive evaluation of the (eco)toxicological risks associated with different cyanopeptides, considering their potential for exposure. Our study also demonstrated that the combined use of LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics and chemometric techniques for ecotoxicological research can offer a time-efficient strategy for mapping compounds with potential toxicological risk. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-10. © 2024 SETAC.

Seasonal predictions of summer compound humid heat extremes in the southeastern United States driven by sea surface temperatures

Humid heat extreme (HHE) is a type of compound extreme weather event that poses severe risks to human health. Skillful forecasts of HHE months in advance are crucial for developing strategies to enhance community resilience to extreme events1,2. This study demonstrates that the frequency of summertime HHE in the southeastern United States (SEUS) can be skillfully predicted 0–1 months in advance using the SPEAR (Seamless system for Prediction and EArth system Research) seasonal forecast system. Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the tropical North Atlantic (TNA) basin are identified as the primary driver of this prediction skill. The responses of large-scale atmospheric circulation and winds to anomalous warm SSTs in the TNA favor the transport of heat and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to the SEUS. This research underscores the role of slowly varying sea surface conditions in modifying large-scale environments, thereby contributing to the skillful prediction of HHE in the SEUS. The results of this study have potential applications in the development of early warning systems for HHE.

Association between TNF-α, cortisol levels, and exposure to PM10 and PM2.5: a pilot study

PurposeThe most harmful atmospheric pollutant for human health is particulate matter (PM). We analyzed the correlation between short-term lag exposure to PM10 and PM2.5, salivary cortisol and TNF-α level, and methylation levels of the TNF-α promoter.MethodsA pilot study including 20 subjects. Eight salivary samples for each subject at various times of the day were collected for comparing cortisol levels and TNFα detection. TNFα promoter methylation levels on salivary DNA were analyzed. Regression analyses were performed using generalized linear mixed models between the different outcomes and 4, 3, 2 and 1 day’s lag values of PM10/PM2.5.Generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) was used to evaluate any potential deviation from linearity.ResultsArea under the curve with respect to the ground (AUCg) showed a statistically positive association with 4-, 3-, 2-, and 1-day lag of exposure to PM10. Area under the curve with respect to the increase (AUCi) showed a statistically negative association with 4-, 3- and 1-day lag of exposure to PM10. TNFα showed statistically significant association with both exposures, PM10 and PM2.5, at 4-, 3-, 2-, and 1-day lag.ConclusionsRegarding cortisol levels there is an increase of overall hormone levels but a less dynamism of the system to answer to external stressors. Increase of TNF-α may reflect increased levels of oxidative stress and inflammation due to pollution exposure.

Development of highly adaptable RT-PCR methods for identifying Delta and BA.1 variants in inactivated COVID-19 vaccines.

Background The emergence and rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), poses a significant threat to human health and public safety. While next-generation sequencing (NGS) is capable of detecting and tracking new COVID-19 variants for disease diagnosis and prevention, its high cost and time-consuming nature limit its widespread use. In this study, our aim was to develop a highly adaptable and accurate RT-PCR method for identifying the Delta or BA.1 variants in inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. We devised three two-plex RT-PCR methods targeting specific mutation sites: S: Δ156-157, S: N211-, L212I, and S: Δ142-144, Y145D. The RT-PCR method targeting the S: Δ156-157 mutation site was able to distinguish the Delta variant from other COVID-19 virus strains, while the RT-PCR methods targeting the S: N211-, L212I or S: Δ142-144, Y145D mutation sites were able to distinguish the BA.1 variant from other COVID-19 virus strains. We separately validated these three two-plex RT-PCR methods, and the results demonstrated good linearity, repeatability, reproducibility, and specificity for each method. Moreover, all three methods can be applied in the production of SARS-CoV-2 variant inactivated vaccines, enabling the identification of Delta or BA.1 variants in virus cultures as well as in inactivated vaccine stocks. This study presents a systematic approach to identify COVID-19 variants using multiple RT-PCR methods. We successfully developed three two-plex RT-PCR methods that can identify Delta and BA.1 variants based on specific mutation sites, and we completed the validation of these three methods.

Antimicrobial and therapeutic potentials of the blackberry extracts against Escherichia coli infection in male albino rats.

Blackberries have garnered attention recently due to their high concentration of bioactive components like anthocyanin and their health advantages. Therefore, this study aims to determine the bioactive profile, antioxidant and antibacterial effects of blackberry extracts (BBEs). Then, evaluate the protective effect of BBEs (20%, 30% and 40%) in a rat model of 2 mL of 4-8 × 106 Escherichia coli ATTC 25922 strain colony-forming unit mL-1 oral infection on the seventh day of the experiment. Rats were divided into six groups: G1: control (C-: normal or negative group), G2: (C+: infected or positive group), G3: infected-treated group by 20% BBE, G4: infected-treated group by 30% BBE, G5: infected-treated group by 40% of BBE and G6: infected-treated group by Gentamicin. The results showed that BBE had a high content of total phenolic compounds, flavonoid, anthocyanin contents, and different vitamins (vitamins A, E and C), reaching 450, 186, 58.83 mg 100 g-1, 2.68, 2.14 and 107.46 mg 100g-1 fresh weight, respectively, which showed great antioxidant and antibacterial effects. Therefore, liver enzymes, kidney function and lipid profiles were significantly higher in the infected group than in the control or infected-treated groups. Furthermore, BBE ameliorated inflammation of the intestine and hepatocyte damage compared to the infected control group. These results suggest that consistent intake of BBE might alleviate hepatic inflammation and the gut microbiota in ways that could significantly impact human health. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Radial Oxygen Loss Triggers Diel Fluctuation of Cadmium Dissolution in the Rhizosphere of Rice.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a significant global threat to human health, primarily through dietary intake, with rice serving as a major source. While Cd predominantly resides in bound states in soil, the physiological processes by which rice facilitates Cd absorption in the rhizosphere remain largely elusive. This study delves into the mechanisms governing Cd uptake by rice plants in the rhizosphere, emphasizing the impact of daytime and nighttime fluctuations in microenvironmental conditions. Employing a microfluidic chip setup, the research reveals that radial oxygen loss from rice roots triggers dissolution of Cd in the rhizosphere. Notably, Cd mobility exhibits distinct diurnal fluctuations, peaking at 44.0 ± 4.1 nM during the daytime and dropping to 8.3 ± 1.3 nM during the nighttime. Further investigations reveal that variations in dissolved oxygen and hydroxyl radical concentrations influence Cd release, while pH changes and microbial reduction reactions play crucial roles in Cd immobilization. These findings provide insights into the intricate processes governing Cd mobilization in the rice rhizosphere, highlighting the importance of regulating these processes for effective Cd adsorption control in rice crops and safeguarding public health.

Assessing ChatGPT's Competency in Addressing Interdisciplinary Inquiries on Chatbot Uses in Sports Rehabilitation: Simulation Study.

ChatGPT showcases exceptional conversational capabilities and extensive cross-disciplinary knowledge. In addition, it can perform multiple roles in a single chat session. This unique multirole-playing feature positions ChatGPT as a promising tool for exploring interdisciplinary subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate ChatGPT's competency in addressing interdisciplinary inquiries based on a case study exploring the opportunities and challenges of chatbot uses in sports rehabilitation. We developed a model termed PanelGPT to assess ChatGPT's competency in addressing interdisciplinary topics through simulated panel discussions. Taking chatbot uses in sports rehabilitation as an example of an interdisciplinary topic, we prompted ChatGPT through PanelGPT to role-play a physiotherapist, psychologist, nutritionist, artificial intelligence expert, and athlete in a simulated panel discussion. During the simulation, we posed questions to the panel while ChatGPT acted as both the panelists for responses and the moderator for steering the discussion. We performed the simulation using ChatGPT-4 and evaluated the responses by referring to the literature and our human expertise. By tackling questions related to chatbot uses in sports rehabilitation with respect to patient education, physiotherapy, physiology, nutrition, and ethical considerations, responses from the ChatGPT-simulated panel discussion reasonably pointed to various benefits such as 24/7 support, personalized advice, automated tracking, and reminders. ChatGPT also correctly emphasized the importance of patient education, and identified challenges such as limited interaction modes, inaccuracies in emotion-related advice, assurance of data privacy and security, transparency in data handling, and fairness in model training. It also stressed that chatbots are to assist as a copilot, not to replace human health care professionals in the rehabilitation process. ChatGPT exhibits strong competency in addressing interdisciplinary inquiry by simulating multiple experts from complementary backgrounds, with significant implications in assisting medical education.

Removal of anionic dye from textile effluent using zirconium phosphate loaded polyaniline-graphene oxide composite: Lab to pilot scale evaluation

Efficient filtering of dyes is essential for the protection of ecosystem and human health due to the considerable water pollution caused by the effluents released from the sector. We present a simple, scalable UV radiation-assisted method for treating methyl orange dye-polluted water from the textile industry using zirconium phosphate-loaded polyaniline-graphene oxide (PGZrP) composite. The new material was synthesized by sonochemically incorporating a polyaniline-graphene oxide composite with hydrothermally synthesized zirconium phosphate. The efficacy of PGZrP in eliminating methyl orange was evaluated using experimental conditions, and the adsorption capacity was investigated as a function of pH, temperature, adsorbent dosage, and adsorption period. The system follows Langmuir adsorption isotherm with pseudo-second-order kinetics. Thermodynamics studies showed that enthalpy (H°) and entropy (S°) values are positive, indicating that the dye adsorption increases with increasing temperature and is an endothermic reaction. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 36.45379 mg/g for methyl orange. Using the COMSOL Multiphysics CFD Platform, an attempt was made to check the temperature and concentration profile of a PGZrP composite in a real industrial system. The predicted result shows that there is no significant temperature change in the material during the adsorption process and the concentration of dye is mainly located on the top region of the bed. The developed zirconium phosphate decorated polyaniline-graphene oxide composite can be successfully utilized for the effective removal of methyl orange from industrial wastewater in bulk quantity which is coming from the textile industry, and the composite can be reused for several cycles with good efficiency. In this work, we have designed a miniaturized proof of concept to remove methyl orange from water which showed good dye removal efficiency.

Factors influencing willingness to pay for improved solid waste collection services among households in urban cities in Uganda: empirical evidence from Lira City

Waste management in Lira City, Uganda faces significant challenges, particularly in the area of waste collection. Pollution and health risks from uncollected waste are rampant, posing serious threats to human health and the environment. This persistent problem demands urgent attention and effective solutions to improve waste collection and safeguard the well-being of the community and the natural surroundings. This study aimed to assess households’ willingness to pay for improved waste collection services, examine their waste management practices, and identify influencing factors. We employed a multistage sampling technique to randomly select 585 household heads and conducted key informant interviews with city officials and private waste collectors. Data analysis was conducted with STATA 17 and results showed that 48.12% of households were willing to pay an average of UGX 3012 ($0.84) per month for better services. Factors including education level, occupation, distance to waste collection sites, and environmental awareness significantly influenced this willingness. The study highlights a significant gap in public awareness and understanding of efficient solid waste management practices and concludes that enhancing public awareness is crucial for improving environmental health and safety in Lira City.

Genetic determinants and phenotypic consequences of blood T-cell proportions in 207,000 diverse individuals

T-cells play a critical role in multiple aspects of human health and disease. However, to date the genetic determinants of human T-cell abundance have not been studied at scale because assays quantifying T-cell abundance are not widely used in clinical or research settings. The complete blood count clinical assay quantifies lymphocyte abundance which includes T-cells, B-cells, and NK-cells. To address this gap, we directly estimate T-cell fractions from whole genome sequencing data in over 200,000 individuals from the multi-ethnic TOPMed and All of Us studies. We identified 27 loci associated with T-cell fraction. Interrogating electronic health records identified clinical phenotypes associated with T-cell fraction, including notable changes in T-cell proportions that were highly dynamic over the course of pregnancy. In summary, by estimating T-cell fraction, we obtained new insights into the genetic regulation of T-cells and identified disease consequences of T-cell fractions across the human phenome.

Association of parent-child discrepancies in educational aspirations with physical fitness, quality of life and school adaptation among adolescents: a multiple mediation model

BackgroundThe global public health issue of diminishing physical fitness among adolescents has gained increasing attention. The impact of parents’ negative emotions or pressure regarding adolescents’ educational aspirations may have a passive impact on the quality of life and adaptation of adolescents in and out of school, and ultimately harm their physical health. This study aims to explore whether parent-child discrepancies in educational aspirations influence physical fitness in adolescents through school adaptation and quality of life.MethodsParticipants consisted of 9,768 students, males 4,753(48.7%), females 5,015(51.3%), aged 11–19 years, males 14.3 ± 1.92, females 14.4 ± 1.93. The educational aspirations were gauged using a six-point scale for expectation scores. Physical fitness assessments were based on criteria from the National Student Physical Fitness and Health Survey. School adaptation was evaluated using the School Social Behaviors Scale-2. Quality of life for adolescents was measured using Chinese version of the Quality of Life Scale for Children and Adolescents. To analyze the multiple mediating effects, structural equation models were used, and 95% confidence intervals were determined through bootstrap methods.ResultsThe results illustrated that school adaptation and quality of life played a significant mediating role in the effect of parent-child discrepancies in educational aspirations and physical fitness. There were three intermediary paths were confirmed: (1) discrepancies in educational aspirations → school adaptation → physical fitness (β=-0.088 SE = 0.021; p<0.01; 95% CI: -0.135, -0.05); (2) discrepancies in educational aspirations → quality of life → physical fitness (β=-0.025; SE = 0.011; p = 0.010; 95% CI: -0.050, -0.006); (3) discrepancies in educational aspirations → school adaptation→ quality of life → physical fitness (β=-0.032; SE = 0.014; p = 0.011; 95% CI: -0.061, -0.007).ConclusionThis study suggests that parents should reduce negative emotions and pressure regarding adolescents’ academic aspirations may help their children get better physical fitness.

The beliefs and practices used to promote physical and mental health in youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or queer plus (LGBTIQ+) experiencing housing insecurity: An integrative review.

The purpose of this integrative review was to explore the beliefs and practices used to promote physical and mental health among youth ages 18-25 years, identifying as LGBTIQ+ experiencing housing insecurity. The approach used strategies described by Whittemore and Knafl. Peer-reviewed, published research articles in English were identified using eight electronic databases. Eighteen research reports using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods were identified. Articles were evaluated for quality using the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Evidenced-Level Hierarchy evaluation tool. Data were analyzed and synthesized using Braun and Clarke's method. Four themes related to the purpose were extracted: pervasive experiences of stigma and discrimination, constantly attuned to navigating risks, inconsistent engagement in health information and care, and inner strength developed through personal and community experiences. There are strong implications for future research, public health nursing practice, and health policy. Public health nurses should incorporate social determinants of health (addressing harmful social processes such as homophobia and racism) as well as a strength-based upstream approach in research, education, and health care practices. More research must also be done to assess engagement in physical and mental health information and care.

Validity of a single-item indicator of treatment side effect bother in patients with head and neck cancer.

Patients with head/neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) experience significant tumor- and treatment-related side effects. No efficient summary measure capturing the totality of side effect burdencurrently exists. We examined associations between a single patient-reported outcome (PRO) item evaluating side effect bother (FACT GP5, "I am bothered by side effects of treatment") with overall side effects in HNSCC. We performed a retrospective secondary analysis of development of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) Head/Neck Symptom Index (FHNSI-10), which included completing FACT-HN (including Head/Neck Cancer Subscale (HNCS) and Trial Outcome Index (TOI)) and the pain intensity numeric rating scale (NRS). We calculated Spearman's correlations between GP5 and these measures of patient-reported global health, head/neck side effects, and pain intensity NRS. A correlation of > 0.4 was considered sufficient evidence of association. Ninety-seven patients completed baseline and 85 completed 3-month follow-up surveys. GP5 was highly correlated with FACT-HN total score (baseline r = 0.66, 3months r = 0.67) and FHNSI-10 (baseline r = 0.63, 3months r = 0.65). GP5 correlated with multiple FACT-HN subscales including FACT-G, physical well-being, functional well-being, HNCS, and TOI (range baseline r = 0.53-0.77, range 3months r = 0.49-0.77). Worsening GP5 score was associated with worsening overall HNCS (p = 0.002), worsening FHNSI-10 score (p < 0.001), and worsening mean pain intensity (p < 0.001). GP5 exhibited validity within HNSCC, exhibiting substantial correlations with a number of HNSCC-related PRO measures including FACT-HN and FHNSI-10. Worsening GP5 was associated with worsening HNCS, FHNSI summary score, and pain intensity. GP5 has promise as a summary indicator of symptom and side effect bother in HNSCC.

Advancements in Flexible Sensors for Monitoring Body Movements during Sleep: A Review

Sleep plays a role in maintaining our physical well-being. However, sleep-related issues impact millions of people globally. Accurate monitoring of sleep is vital for identifying and addressing these problems. While traditional methods like polysomnography (PSG) are commonly used in settings, they may not fully capture natural sleep patterns at home. Moreover, PSG equipment can disrupt sleep quality. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of sensors for sleep monitoring. These lightweight sensors can be easily integrated into textiles or wearable devices using technology. The flexible sensors can be designed for skin contact to offer continuous monitoring without being obtrusive in a home environment. This review presents an overview of the advancements made in flexible sensors for tracking body movements during sleep, which focus on their principles, mechanisms, and strategies for improved flexibility, practical applications, and future trends.

The role of VEGF and TGF-β blood levels for fibroid shrinkage, menorrhagia score, and quality of life improvement after uterine artery embolization for uterine fibroids: a study protocol

Uterine leiomyoma is a common condition affecting women that occurs in more than 70% of females. Women with leiomyomas overall have lower quality of life and deficiency in many specific spheres of life including work-related productivity, sexuality, relationships, social–emotional health, and physical well-being that might be present even in pre-and extended throughout early postmenopausal life. Choices for symptomatic fibroid management include medical, interventional radiology procedures, surgical, and expectant management. The uterine artery embolization (UAE) procedure has gained justified popularity for myoma management. Growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor growth factor β (TGF-β), hold an important role in leiomyoma progression. However, blood levels of VEGF and TGF-β in patients before and after UAE are not fully investigated and the possible relationship with myoma shrinkage has not been evaluated. Therefore, this study aims to assess menorrhagia score and quality of life improvement after UAE for uterine fibroids and compare blood levels of VEGF and TGF-β in patients with uterine leiomyoma before and after UAE. This cross-sectional study will be performed at the University Medical Center, Astana, Kazakhstan. Women undergoing the UAE procedure for uterine leiomyoma will be involved in the study following the precisely defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Uterine leiomyoma nodules’ structural changes after UAE will be assessed along with the blood levels of growth factors (VEGF and TGF-β), menorrhagia score, and quality of life. An important outcome of this project will be an investigation of the blood levels of growth factors (VEGF and TGF-β) before and after the procedure and their association with leiomyoma shrinkage in correlation with the menorrhagia score and quality of life alterations among patients undergoing UAE.

Rethinking Urban Water Management Through Drivers-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses Framework Application in Chennai, India.

Cities suffering water scarcity are projected to increase in the following decades. However, the application of standardized indicator frameworks for assessing urban water resource management problems is on an early stage. India is expected to have the highest urban population facing water scarcity in the world by 2050. In this study, the authors assess how the Drivers-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses framework, a causal framework adopted by the European Environment Agency, can contribute to evaluate water management challenges in cities and apply it to Chennai, India´s fourth-largest urban agglomeration. The framework proved to be a helpful tool for the evaluation of water management challenges in cities by disentangling relationships between environmental indicators and structuring dispersed data that allows a better understanding for policymakers. The main drivers identified in Chennai were population growth and economic development which generated impacts such as loss of aquatic ecosystems, low water table, low water quality, and reduction of biodiversity and human health. As a response, better urban planning, projects for new water infrastructure, and water bodies restoration have been implemented. Nevertheless, Chennai keeps facing difficulties to achieve proper water management. The severe hit of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Indian economy and its future management will be key for achievements related to water management.

Understanding the Cryptosporidium species and their challenges to animal health and livestock species for informed development of new, specific treatment strategies

Cryptosporidium species are parasitic organisms of vertebrates with a worldwide distribution. They have an important impact globally upon human and animal health, and livestock productivity. The life cycle of these species is complex and difficult to disrupt to improve human health, animal health, food security and economic growth. This may contribute to the fact that no new treatment strategy has been widely accepted or applied in livestock for years. Here we consider the natural history of these parasites, their biochemistry and economic impact. Using recent developments in understanding these parasites we then consider viable and affordable approaches to enhancing control of their effects on livestock. These are based on advances in drug discovery, omics research and artificial intelligence applications to human and veterinary medicine that indicate putative new therapeutic approaches.

Ecological and health risk assessments of heavy metals in surface water sediments from Ifite Ogwari community in Southeastern Nigeria

The hydrosphere becomes contaminated secondarily by accumulated heavy metals in sediments which may be released into the aquatic environment, thereby increasing the risks to human health. To evaluate the pollution characteristics of heavy metals in surface water sediments of Ifite Ogwari, nine sediment samples were collected from surface water sources used by the residents for drinking and other household activities. The concentrations of eight heavy metals: cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Enrichment Factor (EF), Contamination Factor (CF), Geoaccumulation index (Igeo), Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) and Risk Assessment Code (RAC) were conducted. Results of heavy metal concentration indicated that Cu < Cr < Ni < Pb < Cd < Zn < Mn < Fe based on the average metal concentration. Human health assessment showed high cancer risk for children and adults in a ratio of 1 in 10000 population. PERI indicated that sediment samples from Iyiutu and Ahala streams have low potential ecological risk while samples from Ube, Tabasi and Ogbu showed moderate ecological risk whereas samples from Isiachala, Nabaloku and Atammele streams as well as Omambala river sediments were high. RAC shows no ecological risk by Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu and Mn but in Omambala river, Cr and Cd contributed to ecological risk while Fe contributed to ecological risk in all the samples. Consequently, there is need for proper monitoring from health base evaluation and conscious effort to live in a clean environment devoid of any kind of exposure.