Mixture Of Substances Research Articles

Pharmacodynamic and Clinical Effects of Ginkgo Biloba Extract EGb 761 and Its Phytochemical Components in Alzheimer's Disease.

Extracts made from plants are complex mixtures of substances with varying compositions depending on the plant material and method of manufacture. This complexity makes it difficult for scientists and clinicians to interpret findings from pharmacological and clinical research. We performed a narrative review summarizing information on ginkgo biloba leaf extract, its composition, pharmacological data and clinical evidence supporting its administration for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Medicinal products containing ginkgo biloba leaf extract which are manufactured in compliance with the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia are approved as medicinal products for the treatment of dementia and related conditions by drug regulatory agencies in Europe, Asia and South America. As multicomponent mixtures, they may affect various targets in the pathogenesis of AD, the most common form of dementia. Pharmacodynamic studies demonstrate the effects of EGb 761 and individual constituents on various pathophysiological features of experimentally induced cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration that could contribute to its clinical efficacy. The safety and efficacy in the treatment of AD and cognitive decline has been studied in randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Most of the studies that investigate the effects of ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) used the special extract EGb 761, which makes it the best-researched plant preparation worldwide. It is therefore the only herbal alternative to standard-of-care anti-dementia drugs. However, the mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated yet, and the clinical studies in AD show heterogeneity.

Propolis (Bee Glue): A Promising Natural Feed Additive for Poultry and Rabbits – A Review

Abstract The concerns about the possible adverse effects of synthetic feed additives in livestock production world-wide has led producers to search for alternative natural feed additives. Propolis (bee glue) is a mixture of natural viscous substances that are collected by honeybees from plants. This natural product consists of about 200–300 compounds with high biological and pharmacological properties. Propolis induces an improvement in growth parameters, feed utilization, and meat quality. It also exerts antioxidant, anti-stress, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory as well as immuno-modulatory and hepatic and cardiac protective effects. The presence of a huge amount of polyphenols such as flavonoids, phenolic acid esters, triterpenes, aromatic acids, diterpenic acids, and lignans are responsible for the biological properties of propolis. Therefore, propolis shows potential promising effects when applied in livestock and poultry production system. Accordingly, this review article is aimed to highlight the influences of propolis on the general health conditions of poultry and rabbits regarding the performance parameters and carcass characteristics, as well as the antioxidant, anti-stress, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and the immuno-potentiation potentials.

Recognizing the impact of Samyoga Viruddha in clinical practice: A case report on Ayurvedic management of chronic urticaria

BACKGROUND: The Ayurvedic concept of Samyoga Viruddha addresses the significant health risks associated with incompatible mixtures of substances, including food components, medications, and environmental factors. This concept is pivotal in understanding how these combinations can disrupt Doshic balance, leading to various health issues. METHODS: A case study was conducted involving a 38-year-old male patient who presented with symptoms of intense itching, rashes, heartburn, dyspepsia, and abdominal heaviness. During history taking, it was revealed that the patient had recently consumed milk with meals followed by an over- the-counter pain reliever for a severe headache. As per Ayurvedic principles, this combination is considered incompatible and was believed to have destabilized the Pitta and Kapha Doshas, leading to the observed symptoms. RESULTS: The patient’s symptoms were successfully managed through a combination of Virechana (medication-induced purgation) and Shamana therapy (pacification of vitiated Doshas). The treatment effectively alleviated hyperacidity, poor digestion, fatigue, and urticaria, demonstrating the practical application of Ayurvedic principles in addressing Doshic imbalances. CONCLUSION: This case study illustrates the importance of recognizing and avoiding Samyoga Viruddha in clinical practice. By adhering to harmonious combinations, healthcare professionals and individuals can mitigate the adverse effects of incompatible substances, thereby promoting better health and vitality. The case also highlights the efficacy and affordability of Ayurvedic treatments like Shodhana and Shamana Chikitsa in managing conditions such as chronic urticaria.

Chemical elements migration in underground waters of mining territory

Relevance. The need to study the forms of migration of chemical elements in the groundwater of flooded copper pyrite mines in order to correctly understand and predict their transfer and distribution in hydrogeochemical fields. Ground and surface waters are a complex mixture of substances in which, depending on pH, Eh and t °С, phase transitions are formed with subsequent dissolution or precipitation of minerals. To solve these problems, numerical hydrogeomigration modeling is used, including physicochemical, which allows drawing conclusions about the scale of pollution and the localization of such areas for subsequent development of measures to improve the state of the hydrosphere. Aim. To determine the forms of metal migration in groundwater and to calculate water saturation indices in relation to minerals. Objects. Groundwater in the territory of the closed Levikha copper pyrite mine. Methods. Laboratory studies of groundwater were carried out using flame emission spectrometry, flame atomic absorption, photometric method with Nessler's reagent, titrimetric, mercumetric and potentiometric methods; mass spectrometry with ionization in inductively coupled plasma and gravimetric method. Physical and chemical modeling using the software product Visual MINTEQ 3.1. Results. According to the results of processing chemical analyzes and physical and chemical modeling, all tested wells are divided into groups: 1) wells no. 1, 2, 3 and 6, located within the former mining allotment (near the Levikha XIV mine, a man-made reservoir, the Levikha II mine and a neutralization station); 2) represented by water in wells no. 4 near the shaft of the mine Tsentralnaya and no. 5 near the dump Yuzhny; 3) well no. 7, located near the mouth of the Levikha river. Saturation indices and forms of migration of components in the aquatic environment make it possible to identify the scale of pollution and the localization of such areas. Thus, with the current pumping system, there is no large-scale pollution of groundwater at the Levikha mine. It is localized in the area of the Tsentralny mine shaft (well no. 4) and the Yuzhny dump (well no. 5).

Occupational Exposure of On-Shift Ottawa Firefighters to Flame Retardants and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

Firefighters can be exposed to complex mixtures of airborne substances, including hazardous substances released during structural fires. This study employed silicone wristbands (SWBs) as passive samplers to investigate potential exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and flame retardants (FRs). SWBs were deployed at different areas of four fire stations, in four truck cabins, and at an office control location; they were also donned outside the jackets of 18 firefighters who responded to fire calls. Overall, office areas had significantly lower PAHs than fire station areas. Vehicle bays and truck cabins had significantly higher concentrations of low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs than sleeping and living room areas. For organophosphate ester flame retardants (OPFRs), tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) were detected in all the samples; 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) was more frequently detected in the fire station areas. Triphenyl phosphate (TPP) concentrations were highest in the truck cabin and office areas, and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCPP) was highest in truck cabins. Thirteen of 16 PAHs and nine of 36 OPFRs were detected in all the SWBs worn by firefighters, and tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) was the predominant OPFR. Levels of LMW PAHs were significantly lower when firefighters did not enter the fire. LMW PAHs, HMW (high molecular weight) PAHs, and EHDPP were significantly elevated when heavy smoke was reported. This work highlights the potential for occupational exposure to PAHs and flame retardants in some fire station areas; moreover, factors that may influence exposure during fire suppression. Whilst firefighters' occupational exposure to PAHs is likely related to fire suppression and exposure to contaminated gear and trucks, exposure to OPFRs may be more related to their presence in truck interiors and electronics.

Neurotoxic Effects of Mixtures of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) at Environmental and Human Blood Concentrations.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may cause various deleterious health effects. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated associations between PFAS exposure and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and mitochondrial toxicity of up to 12 PFAS including perfluoroalkyl carboxylates, perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA), and hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HPFO-DA) were tested at concentrations typically observed in the environment (e.g., wastewater, biosolids) and in human blood using high-throughput in vitro assays. The cytotoxicity of all individual PFAS was classified as baseline toxicity, for which prediction models based on partition constants of PFAS between biomembrane lipids and water exist. No inhibition of the mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of oxidative stress response were observed below the cytotoxic concentrations of any PFAS tested. All mixture components and the designed mixtures inhibited the neurite outgrowth in differentiated neuronal cells derived from the SH-SY5Y cell line at concentrations around or below cytotoxicity. All designed mixtures acted according to concentration addition at low effect and concentration levels for cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity. The mixture effects were predictable from the experimental single compounds' concentration-response curves. These findings have important implications for the mixture risk assessment of PFAS.

Neuroinflammation and Brain Health Risks in Veterans Exposed to Burn Pit Toxins.

Military burn pits, used for waste disposal in combat zones, involve the open-air burning of waste materials, including plastics, metals, chemicals, and medical waste. The pits release a complex mixture of occupational toxic substances, including particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Air pollution significantly impacts brain health through mechanisms involving neuroinflammation. Pollutants penetrate the respiratory system, enter the bloodstream, and cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), triggering inflammatory responses in the central nervous system (CNS). Chronic environmental exposures result in sustained inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal damage, contributing to neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairment. Veterans exposed to burn pit toxins are particularly at risk, reporting higher rates of respiratory issues, neurological conditions, cognitive impairments, and mental health disorders. Studies demonstrate that Veterans exposed to these toxins have higher rates of neuroinflammatory markers, accelerated cognitive decline, and increased risks of neurodegenerative diseases. This narrative review synthesizes the research linking airborne pollutants such as PM, VOCs, and heavy metals to neuroinflammatory processes and cognitive effects. There is a need for targeted interventions to mitigate the harmful and escalating effects of environmental air pollution exposures on the CNS, improving public health outcomes for vulnerable populations, especially for Veterans exposed to military burn pit toxins.

Applications of mixture methods in epidemiological studies investigating the health impact of persistent organic pollutants exposures: a scoping review.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are environmental chemicals characterized by long half-lives in nature and human bodies, posing significant health risks. The concept of the exposome, encompassing all lifetime environmental exposures, underscores the importance of studying POP as mixtures rather than in isolation. The increasing body of evidence on the health impacts of POP mixtures necessitates the proper application of statisticalmethods. We aimed to summarize studies on the overall effects of POP mixtures, identify patterns in applications of mixture methods-statistical methods for investigating the association of mixtures-and highlight current challenges in synthesizing epidemiologic evidence of POP mixtures on health effects as illustrated through a case study. We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed and Embase for epidemiological studies published between January 2011 and April 2023. We included 240 studies that met our eligibility criteria. 126 studies focused on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) mixtures only, while 40 analyzed three or more classes of POPs in mixture analyses. We identified 23 unique mixture methods used to estimate the overall effects of POP mixtures, with Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR), a type of response-surface modeling, being the most common. Additionally, 22.9% of studies used a combination of methods, including response-surface modeling, index modeling, dimension reduction, and latent variable models. The most extensively explored health outcome category was body weight and birth sizes (n = 43), and neurological outcomes (n = 41). In the case study of PFAS mixtures and birth weight, 12 studies showed negative associations, while 4 showed null results, and 2 showed positive associations. This scoping review consolidates the existing literature on the overall effects of POP mixtures using statistical methods. By providing a comprehensive overview, our study illuminates the present landscape of knowledge in this field and underscores the methodological hurdles prevalent in epidemiological studies focused on POP mixtures. Through this analysis, we aim to steer future research directions, fostering a more nuanced comprehension of the intricate dynamics involved in assessing the health effects of POP mixtures. Our work stands as a significant contribution to the ongoing exploration of the chemicalexposome.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Accumulation, Reproductive Impairment, and Associations with Nestling Body Condition in Great (Parus major)- and Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) Living near a Hotspot in Belgium.

Due to the limited number of field studies investigating associations between environmentally relevant per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) mixtures and reproductive impairment, there is uncertainty as to whether birds are affected by PFAS pollution, whether species differ in sensitivity to PFAS, and whether the observed reproductive impairment is caused by PFAS or rather due to other potential confounding variables. Therefore, we investigated PFAS concentrations in eggs and blood plasma of great tit (Parus major) and blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nestlings near a PFAS hotspot in Belgium, reproductive impairment, and associations between the accumulated levels and nestling body condition. In total, 29 eggs and 22 blood plasma samples of great tit clutches, and 10 egg and 10 blood plasma samples of blue tit clutches, were collected. Despite more types of PFAS being detected in eggs compared to plasma, only minor differences in profiles were observed between species. On the other hand, tissue-specific differences were more pronounced and likely reflect a combination of maternal transfer and dietary exposure post-hatching. Despite the high concentrations detected in both species, limited reproductive impairment was observed. Our results support previous findings that great tits and blue tits may not be very susceptible to PFAS pollution and provide evidence that other factors, including ecological stoichiometry, may be more important in explaining inter-species variation in PFAS accumulation and reproductive impairment.

Comparing Different Methodologies to Quantify Particulate Matter Accumulation on Plant Leaves

Urban air pollution poses a significant threat to human health, with metropolitan areas particularly affected due to high emissions from human activities. Particulate matter (PMx) is among the most harmful pollutants to human health, being composed of a complex mixture of substances related to severe pulmonary conditions. Urban green spaces play a vital role in mitigating air pollution by capturing PMx, and it is essential to select plant species with a high capacity for PMx accumulation to effectively enhance air quality. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the accuracy of two PMx quantification methods—light microscopy and filtration—which demonstrated a high correlation (R2 = 0.72), suggesting that both methods are reliable for assessing PMx accumulation on leaves. Light microscopy allowed for the visualization of PMx deposition, revealing the species warranting further analysis using the filtration method. Among the species analyzed, Euonymus japonicus, Ligustrum lucidum, Alnus glutinosa, Rubus ulmifolius, and Laurus nobilis demonstrated the highest total PMx accumulation, exceeding 50 µg cm−2, making them particularly valuable for air pollution mitigation. This study examined the correlation between leaf traits such as specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area (LA), leaf dissection index (LDI), and leaf roundness and PMx accumulation across the 30 different plant species. A multiple linear regression analysis indicated that these leaf traits significantly influenced PMx accumulation, with SLA and LA showing negative correlations and leaf roundness exhibiting a positive correlation with PMx deposition. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of selecting plant species with specific leaf traits for effective air quality improvement in urban environments particularly in highly polluted areas, to enhance air quality and public health.

Lung Lesions in Exposure to Pesticides and Herbicides (Literature Review and Case Report)

Pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, zoocides) are mixtures of substances of chemical or biological origin used to destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, fungi, harmful vegetation, and other living organisms. These organisms damage crop and livestock production, degrade the quality of agricultural products, materials, and goods. Pesticides are classified into organic, and inorganic based on their chemical composition. About 1,000 active ingredients are used in pesticides, of which 310 are considered particularly hazardous. Extensive use of pesticides leads to the destruction of biocenoses and the emergence of various pathological changes in the human body. Among the pesticide ingredients with acute and chronic toxicity, abamectin, aluminum phosphide, beta-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, diazinon, fenamiphos, malathion, methomyl, oxamyl, primicarb, propargite, tebuconazole, chlorothalonil, bromoxynil, bromoxynil octanoate, brodifacoum, and others stand out. In conditions of pesticide load on soils, the frequency of allergic and respiratory diseases is steadily increasing. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), caused by smoking and pesticides, leads to loss of working capacity and social activity, as well as significant costs for treatment and rehabilitation. The article discusses the pathogenetic and clinical aspects of the formation of COPD under conditions of synergy (smoking + pesticides). Various clinical phenotypes of COPD are also considered. A clinical case of a patient with COPD caused by smoking and prolonged contact with pesticides (mosplan, zellek-super, goal 2E), which manifested with chronic respiratory failure, multifocal atherosclerosis, and heart failure, is described.

A Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Mixture Associated with Human Gut Microbiota: Novel Bayesian Hierarchical Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial Regression with G-Computation

A Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Mixture Associated with Human Gut Microbiota: Novel Bayesian Hierarchical Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial Regression with G-Computation

Gestational per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance mixtures in association with birth size and postnatal growth: The New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study

Gestational per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance mixtures in association with birth size and postnatal growth: The New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study

The zebrafish embryo as a model for chemically-induced steatosis: A case study with three pesticides

There is an increasing incidence and prevalence of fatty liver disease in the western world, with steatosis as the most prevalent variant. Known causes of steatosis include exposure to food-borne chemicals, and overconsumption of alcohol, carbohydrates and fat, and it is a well-known side effect of certain pharmaceuticals such as tetracycline, amiodarone and tamoxifen (drug-induced hepatic steatosis). Mechanistic knowledge on chemical-induced steatosis has greatly evolved and has been organized into adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) describing the chain of events from first molecular interaction of a substance with a biological system to the adverse outcome, intrahepatic lipid accumulation. In this study, three known steatosis-inducing pesticides (imazalil, clothianidin, and thiacloprid) were tested for their ability to induce hepatic triglyceride accumulation in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo (ZFE) at 5 days post fertilization, both as single compounds and equipotent binary mixtures. The results indicate that the ZFE is very well applicable as a higher tier testing model to confirm effects in downstream key events in AOPs, that is, chemically-induced triglyceride accumulation in the whole organism and production of visible steatosis. Moreover, dose addition could be concluded for binary mixtures of substances with similar and with dissimilar modes of action.

Association Between Prenatal Exposure to Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances From Electronic Waste Disassembly Areas and Steroid Hormones in Human Milk Samples.

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are long-lasting environmental contaminants that are released into the environment during the e-waste disassembly process, pose a threat to human health. Human milk is a complex and dynamic mixture of endogenous and exogenous substances, including steroid hormones and PFAS. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the association between PFAS and steroid hormones in human milk from women living close to an e-waste disassembly area. In 2021, we collected milk samples from 150 mothers within 4weeks of delivery and analyzed them via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to determine the levels of 21 perfluorinated compounds and five steroid hormones (estrone, estriol, testosterone, progesterone, and androstenedione [A-dione]). We also performed multiple linear regression analysis to clarify the association between maternal PFAS exposure and steroid hormone concentrations. Our results indicated that PFOA and PFOS were positively associated with estrone (β, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08-0.39) and A-dione (β, 0.186; 95% CI, 0.016-0.357) concentrations in human milk, respectively. Further, the average estimated daily intake of PFOA and PFOS were 36.5ng/kgbw/day (range, 0.52-291.7ng/kgbw/day) and 5.21ng/kgbw/day (range, 0.26-32.3ng/kgbw/day), respectively. Of concern, the PFAS intake of breastfeeding infants in the study area was higher than the recommended threshold. These findings suggested that prenatal exposure to PFAS from the e-waste disassembly process can influence steroid hormones levels in human milk. Increased efforts to mitigate mother and infant exposure to environmental pollutants are also required.

Detecting univariate, bivariate, and overall effects of drug mixtures using Bayesian kernel machine regression

ABSTRACT Background: Innovative analytic approaches to drug studies are needed to understand better the co-use of opioids with non-opioids among people using illicit drugs. One approach is the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), widely applied in environmental epidemiology to study exposure mixtures but has received far less attention in substance use research. Objective: To describe the utility of the BKMR approach to study the effects of drug substance mixtures on health outcomes. Methods: We simulated data for 200 individuals. Using the Vale and Maurelli method, we simulated multivariate non-normal drug exposure data: xylazine (mean = 300 ng/mL, SD = 100 ng/mL), fentanyl (mean = 200 ng/mL, SD = 71 ng/mL), benzodiazepine (mean = 300 ng/mL, SD = 55 ng/mL), and nitazene (mean = 200 ng/mL, SD = 141 ng/mL) concentrations. We performed 10,000 MCMC sampling iterations with three Markov chains. Model diagnostics included trace plots, r-hat values, and effective sample sizes. We also provided visual relationships of the univariate and bivariate exposure-response and the overall mixture effect. Results: Higher levels of fentanyl and nitazene concentrations were associated with higher levels of the simulated health outcome, controlling for age. Trace plots, r-hat values, and effective sample size statistics demonstrated BKMR stability across multiple Markov chains. Conclusions: Our understanding of drug mixtures tends to be limited to studies of single-drug models. BKMR offers an innovative way to discern which substances pose a greater health risk than other substances and can be applied to assess univariate, bivariate, and cumulative drug effects on health outcomes.

Coaxial-Tube Quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance for Various Solutions Using SI-Traceable Concentration References.

Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) is an accepted method for determining analyte concentrations using quantitative substances in one spectrum. Conventional qNMR is performed using a mixture of analytes and reference substances. In coaxial-tube NMR, two tubes are used as different solutions, similar to normal NMR spectra. Currently, coaxial tubes with various diameters are available; however, coaxial-tube qNMR is limited, and a general analytical protocol is yet to be proposed. In this study, we established an effective volume ratio (EVR) measurement method using the weight density and qNMR methods. Various analyte concentrations were determined using coaxial-tube qNMR and an SI-traceable reagent. The EVR required for the qNMR concentration calculation was determined using a coefficient of variation (CV) of <1% for an inner tube of ϕ 3 mm or less. The peak integral of each substance was correlated with the effective volume, depending on the abundance of the tube and matched 1H in the solution. The T1 relaxation times differed depending on the substructure, and the T1 values of the formate and OH groups varied for each tube set. Thus, each partial structural characteristic of the peak must be understood before qNMR is performed. The concentrations of various substances, including hygroscopic substances, were determined using coaxial-tube qNMR. Coaxial tubes eliminate the need to mix the analyte with the reference substance; thus, we can quantify the analyte without causing pH and structural changes caused by other mixtures and reuse the analyte for other test systems.

Effect of Epidermal Mucous Secretion of Earthworms and other Selected Organic Substances on Rooting of Semi-Hardwood Cuttings of &lt;em&gt;Citrus aurantifolia&lt;/em&gt; and Top Cuttings of &lt;em&gt;Dracaena sanderiana&lt;/em&gt;

A recent trend in plant growth and propagation is to use natural substances rather than synthetic plant growth regulators. Two experiments were conducted to find out the effect of epidermal mucous secretion (EMS) of earthworms and other organic substances including Aloe vera gel, coconut water and ripe banana on rooting of semi-hardwood cuttings of Citrus aurantifolia and top cuttings of Dracaena sanderiana compared to commercially available plant growth regulators (PGRs). Eleven treatments were prepared using sole application of EMS solution, Aloe vera gel, coconut water and ripe banana, and mixtures of EMS and other organic substances in two different ratios by allocating equal and more inputs from EMS. The present experiments were set up adopting a completely randomized design. The number of roots per cutting, total root length per cutting (cm), length of the longest root per cutting (cm) and root vigor score were recorded for both plant species where destructive sampling was done at two months after planting for C. aurantifolia and one and two months after planting for D. sanderiana. The number of roots per cutting, length of the longest root per cutting and the root vigor score were significantly greater in the control treatment that used commercially available PGR and the cuttings treated with EMS: coconut water (1:1) for C. aurantifolia suggesting the possibility to us EMS and coconut water mixture to substitute the PGR for root induction in C. aurantifolia. The number of roots, total root length and the length of the longest root per cutting were significantly high in the treatments administrated with Aloe vera gel, ripe banana, and a mixture of EMS: ripe bananas (1:1) together with the PGR at two months after planting for D. sanderiana. Hence, the ingredients listed above could be utilized as alternative organic substances to produce adventurous roots in D. sanderiana top cuttings as same as the PGR. The results of the present study could be extremely valuable for developing a unique organic rooting replacement for the synthetic root inducing materials for C. aurantifolia and D. sanderiana. Nonetheless, additional research is required to validate the results of this study.

Binary and quaternary mixtures of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) differentially affect the immune response to influenza A virus infection

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic organofluorine compounds that persist indefinitely in the environment and bioaccumulate throughout all trophic levels. Biomonitoring efforts have detected multiple PFAS in the serum of most people. Immune suppression has been among the most consistent effects of exposure to PFAS. PFAS often co-occur as mixtures in the environment, however, few studies have examined immunosuppression of PFAS mixtures or determined whether PFAS exposure affects immune function in the context of infection. In this study, mixtures containing two or four different PFAS and a mouse model of infection with influenza A virus (IAV) were used to assess immunotoxicity of PFAS mixtures. PFAS were administered via the drinking water as either a binary mixture of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or quaternary mixture of PFOS, PFOA, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). The results indicated that the binary mixture affected the T-cell response, while the quaternary mixture affected the B-cell response to infection. These findings indicate that the immunomodulatory effects of PFAS mixtures are not simply additive, and that the sensitivity of immune responses to PFAS varies by cell type and mixture. The study also demonstrates the importance of studying adverse health effects of PFAS mixtures.

Development of a new reagent for the prevention of asphaltene-resin-paraffin deposits

Asphaltene-Resin-Paraffin deposits (ARPD) form a certain proportion of the crude oil mass, separating as temperature and pressure decrease and adsorbing to the surfaces of the reservoir wellbore zone, downhole equipment and tubulars. These deposits precipitate in the wellbore zone, oilfield equipment and pipes,resulting in reduced system productivity, reduced pumping efficiency of the pumping equipment and other negative consequences. Asphalt-resin and paraffin deposits (ARPD) are a complex mixture of solid paraffin hydrocarbons, asphalt-resin substances (ARS), water and mechanical impurities. The strength and composition of ARPD depend on the composition and properties of oil, geological, physical and technological conditions of field development. Chemical methods for removing deposits are currently the most widely used, as they are highly effective and technologically advanced. To this end, new reagents have been developed and their physico-chemical properties have been studied. Subsequently, the selected reagents were tested on oil samples from Oil and Gas Production Department (OGPD) with a paraffin content of more than 6 %. It was also shown that paraffin inhibitors have individual effects; a reagent that is effective on oil from one field may not have the same effect on oil from other fields. The research includes studies of selected reagents for paraffinic oils from different fields. Using the «cold finger» method, the efficacy of the selected reagents against paraffin deposition was investigated and their optimum doses were determined. Keywords: reagent; sendiment; paraffin; asphaltene; resin; well bottom zone; viscosity; depressor.