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The COVID-19 outbreak has garnered significant global attention due to its impact on human health. Despite its relatively low fatality rate, the virus affects multiple organ systems, resulting in various symptoms such as palpitations, headaches, muscle pain, and hearing loss among COVID-19 patients and those recovering from the disease. These symptoms impose a substantial physical, psychological, and social burden on affected individuals. On February 15, 2020, the Chinese government advised incorporating antimalarial drugs into the guidelines issued by the National Health Commission of China for preventing, diagnosing, and treating COVID-19 pneumonia. We examine the adverse effects of Chloroquine (CQ) in treating COVID-19 complications to understand why it is no longer the primary treatment for the disease.

The COVID-19 outbreak has garnered significant global attention due to its impact on human health. Despite its relatively low fatality rate, the virus affects multiple organ systems, resulting in various symptoms such as palpitations, headaches, muscle pain, and hearing loss among COVID-19 patients and those recovering from the disease. These symptoms impose a substantial physical, psychological, and social burden on affected individuals. On February 15, 2020, the Chinese government advised incorporating antimalarial drugs into the guidelines issued by the National Health Commission of China for preventing, diagnosing, and treating COVID-19 pneumonia. We examine the adverse effects of Chloroquine (CQ) in treating COVID-19 complications to understand why it is no longer the primary treatment for the disease., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Throughout winter many houses and residential buildings in Kosovo use wood for heating. The main purpose of the research is to know what is being accumulated within these living spaces, specifically which (heavy) metal?! In this research in order to determine the (heavy) metal content in wood ash, we have collected ashes of 9 different woods burned at home fireplaces throughout winter season. Fraxinus ornus, Quercus cerris, Quercus petraea, Acer campestre, Populus tremula, Carpinus orientalis and three additional Quercus petraea samples collected in three different months of burning: january, february, march. For determination we have chosen AAS as a method. Our results depending on the type of wood, show presence of all metals intended for determination, in different levels of concentration: Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni. Iron is in higher concentration in all types of wood, then comes zinc specifically in ashes of Populous tremula and Acer campestris. Copper is also found in different levels of concentration and in higher concentration in Quercus cerris same as nickel. Lead and cadmium are found in lower level of concentrations. Quercus cerris has little higher concentration of lead, and lower concentrations in the samples of Quercus petraea; january, february, and march. All our results are converted to mg/kg and afterwards shown in histograms. Also, other parameters, like LOI (1-4%), pH (11-13), EC (3.34 – 15.5), and total alkalinity (301.95 – 427mg/L) are also different depending on the type of wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated concentrations of heavy metals and antibiotics often coexist in agricultural soils due to land application of large amounts of animal manure. The experiment was conducted to investigate the single and joint effects of different concentrations of sulfadiazine (SDZ) (10 mg kg −1 and 100 mg kg −1 ) and copper (Cu) (20 mg kg −1 and 200 mg kg −1 ) on soil microbial activity, i.e. fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis, dehydrogenase (DHA) and basal respiration (BR), microbial biomass and community structure estimated using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), and community level physiological profiles (CLPP) using MicroResp™. High concentration of SDZ or Cu significantly reduced microbial activity during the whole incubation period, while the inhibiting effect of low concentration of SDZ or Cu was only visible within 14 days of incubation. The total PLFA concentration was reduced by SDZ and/or Cu, which resulted from reduced bacterial and actinomycetic biomass. The addition of SDZ and/or Cu decreased the bacteria:fungi ratio, whereas only the addition of high Cu concentration significantly decreased Gram + :Gram − ratio. The addition of Cu obviously inhibited the dissipation of SDZ, which could affect the combined effects of both on microbial activity, biomass and community structure. Principal component analysis of the CLPP and PLFA data clearly revealed the notable effects of SDZ and/or Cu on soil microbial community structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper thefirst results of mass and spectrometer research of snow cover of the largest city in the Far East - Vladivostok (mainland and Island Russky), dropped-out on the November 19 2012, are presented. To exclude secondary pollution by anthropogenous aerosols we used the top layer (5-10 cm) of just dropped-out snow placed in the 3-liter sterile containers. In a couple of hours, when snow in containers thawed, 10 ml of liquid were gained from each sample and were analyzed on a mass spectrometer of high resolution with inductive-connected plasma (MS-ICP) Element XR (Thermo Scientific). Measurements were carried out with use of a technique of TsV3.18.05-2005 Fr.1.31.2005.01714. Tests were selected in 20 points: 16 points - Vladivostok, 3 points - Island Russky (DVFU campus, the bridge, the settlement) and a comparison point - the bay Hero in the southwest of Peter the Great Bay. For the first time application of the most highly sensitive chemical method for an applied ecological task is shown today. Distribution of Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn in areas of Vladivostok different by anthropogenous loading and on Russian Island is revealed. In districts of Vladivostok with high transport loading high contents of metals (Mn, Cu, Zn) which source is motor transport (exhaustgases, autopaint, catalysts) are fixed also. Tests from districts of the Academic Town have traces of influence of the sea coast (halite and potassium-containing minerals) and railroad tracks (a microparticle of iron and its oxides) that strongly pollutes environment iron because of continuous movement of trains. In the tests taken on the Eagle hill, the highest point of Vladivostok, high concentrations of Mn (the highest concentration from all tests) and Cu (the third concentration from all tests) are recorded. This point of selection is in the downtown and, apparently, isn't ecologically clear. It should be noted that height above sea level in an urban environment isn't in sufficient condition for ecological safety. Russian Island is a pure zone with low background contents of heavy metals. The raised maintenance of Cu, Ni and Zn in snow cover of the bay Hero is shown.

Didimosphenia geminata (“didymo”), has become a powerful and devastating river plague in Chile. A system was developed in D. geminata channels with the purpose evaluating the effects of water polluted with didymo on the activation of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) spermatozoa. Results indicate that semen, when activated with uncontaminated river water had an average time of 60 ± 21 s. When using Powermilt, (a commercial activator), times of 240 ± 21 s are achieved, while rivers contaminated with D. geminata achieve a motility time of 30 ± 12 s. Interestingly enough, the kinetic parameters of VSL, VCL and VAP showed no significant changes under all of the conditions. Furthermore, the presence of D. geminata reduces activation time of the samples as the cells age, indicating increased effects in spermatozoa that are conserved for more than 5 days. D. geminata has antioxidant content, represented by polyphenols; 200 ppm of polyphenol were obtained in this study per 10 g of microalgae. Spermatozoa exposed to these extracts showed a reduction in mobility time in a dose dependent manner, showing an IC50 of 15 ppm. The results suggest an effect on spermatozoa activation, possibly due to the release of polyphenols present in contaminated rivers, facilitating the alteration of sperm motility times, without affecting the viability or kinetics of the cells. These findings have important implications for current policy regarding the control of the algae. Current control measures focus on the number of visible species, and not on the compounds that they release, which this study shows, also have a problematic effect on salmon production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the point of view of biological toxicity the most toxic radionuclides are man‐made 90Sr and 137Cs because the behavoir of both of them is similar to stable calcium and potassium in the body. Fish is the last part of the hydrosystem chain which accumulates pollutants. The aim of this study was to analyse the distribution of these two radionuclides in the muscle and other organs of perch and roach that differ by age and living conditions. Measurements were performed for 137Cs and 90Sr activity concentrations in fishes from the lakes of Drūkšiai, Lūkstas and Dusia. Radioecological investigation was carried out for different age groups of roach and perch analysing samples of muscle and spine bones (including the head of fish). Radioecological investigation of fishes from the lakes of Drūkšiai, Lūkstas and Dusia show that the activity concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr are low. Anyway, the accumulated radioactivity by food chain reaches the human body. Nowadays a lot of investigations are related to the lakes in the vicinity of Ignalina NPP. The investigation shows that the activity concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr in fishes from the Drūkšiai lake are the same as in fishes from other lakes in other locations of Lithuania. Kuojų ir ešerių kai kuriuose Lietuvos ežeruose radiologiniai tyrimai Santrauka Iš technogeninių radionuklidų 90Sr ir 137Cs priklauso biologiškai toksiškiausių radionuklidų grupei, nes santykinai mažos jų koncentracijos gali sukelti organizmų pagrindinių funkcijų sutrikimus. Žuvys – galutinė hidrosistemų trofinė grandis ir galutinė vandenų biologinė produkcija, kuri labiausiai akumuliuoja teršalus. Pagrindinis darbo tikslas – nustatyti minėtųjų radionuklidų pasiskirstymo amžinius ir mitybinius dėsningumus kuojų ir ešerių audiniuose bei organuose. Tyrimų metu nustatyta 137Cs, 90Sr savitasis aktyvumas žuvyse, sugautose Drūkšių, Lūksto ir Dusios ežeruose. Radioekologiškai tirta skirtingų amžiaus grupių kuojų ir ešerių raumenys bei stuburo kaulai, galva. Drūkšių, Lūksto ir Dusios ežerų žuvų radioekologiniai tyrimai rodo, kad tirtų radionuklidų kiekis žuvyse nėra didesnis už sanitariniuose reikalavimuose nustatytas leidžiamąsias normas, tačiau nevertėtų užmiršti, kad, apdorojant žuvis, 137Cs ir 90Sr radionuklidai, susikaupę žuvų audiniuose ir organuose, pereina į žmogaus vartojamą maistą. Pastaruoju metu daugiausia dėmesio skiriama Ignalinos atominės elektrinės zonoje esančioms ekosistemoms tirti. Tyrimų rezultatai rodo, kad šiandien žuvų užtarša radionuklidais Drūkšių ežere yra viena iš didžiausių. Nuolatinė radioekologinė stebėsena (monitoringas) būtina visuose Lietuvos regionuose. Reikšminiai žodžiai: žuvys, Lietuva, radiologija, radionuklidai, toksiškumas, mitybinė grandis. Радиологические исследования окуня и плотвы в некоторых озерах Литвы Резюме Техногенные радионуклиды 90Sr и 137Cs относятся к биологически самой токсичной группе радионуклидов. Относительно небольшая их концентрация может привести к нарушению основных функций организма. Рыбы составляют заключительное трофическое звено в гидросистеме и в океано-биологической продукции, которая в наибольшей степени аккумулирует отходы хозяйственной деятельности, в том числе и радионуклиды. Целью работы было установить закономерность распределения этих радионуклидов в тканях и органах окуня и плотвы в зависимости от возраста и способа питания рыб. Во время исследований рыб из озер Друкшяй, Лукстас и Дуся были установлены концентрации радионуклидов 90Sr и 137Cs, содержащихся в них. Радиологическим исследованиям подвергались мышцы, кости позвоночника и головы окуня и плотвы различных возрастных групп. Исследования рыб из озер Друкшяй, Лукстас и Дуся показали, что концентрации названных радионуклидов в рыбе не превышают установленных допустимых санитарных норм. Однако следует помнить, что во время приготовления кулинарных изделий из рыбы радионуклиды 90Sr и 137Cs, накопленные в еë тканях и органах, попадают в пищу человека. В последнее время большое внимание уделяется исследованиям экосистем, которые находятся в зоне Игналинской АЕ. Проведенные исследования показали, что рыба в Друкшяйском озере загрязнена техногенными радионуклидами не больше, чем и в других озерах (Лукстас и Дуся). Постоянные радиологические наблюдения обязательны для всех регионов Литвы. Ключевые слова: Литва, рыба, радиология, радионуклиды, пищевая цепь, токсичность. Firstd Published Online: 14 Oct 2010

Purpose: Reports of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have been limited. The present study evaluated the long-term survival outcomes and toxicity of early-stage NPC patients treated with IMRT alone. Methods and Materials: Between February 2001 and January 2008, 198 early-stage (T1-T2bN0-N1M0) NPC patients had undergone IMRT alone. The data from these patients were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were treated to 68 Gy at 2.27 Gy/fraction prescribed to the planning target volume of the primary nasopharygeal gross tumor volume. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scoring system was used to assess the toxicity. Results: At a median follow-up of 50.9 months (range, 12–104), the 5-year estimated disease-specific survival, local recurrence-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival rate was 97.3%, 97.7%, and 97.8%, respectively. The 5-year local recurrence-free survival rate was 100% for those with Stage T1 and T2a and 94.2% for those with Stage T2b lesions (p = 0.252). The 5-year distant metastasis-free survival rate for Stage T1N0, T2N0, T1N1, and T2N1 patients was 100%, 98.8%, 100%, and 93.8%, respectively (p = .073). All local recurrence occurred in patients with T2b lesions. Five patients developed distant metastasis. Of these 5 patients, 4 had had Stage T2bN1 disease and 1 had had Stage T2bN0 disease with retropharyngeal lymph node involvement. The most common acute toxicities were mainly Grade 1 or 2. At 24 months after IMRT, no Grade 3 or 4 xerostomia had developed, and 62 (96.9%) of 64 evaluated patients were free of trismus; only 2 patients (3.1%) had Grade 1 trismus. Radiation encephalopathy and cranial nerve injury were not observed. Conclusions: IMRT alone for Stage T1N0, T2N0, T1N1, and T2N1 yielded satisfactory survival outcomes with acceptable toxicity, and no differences were found in survival outcomes among these four subgroups. Patients with Stage T2b lesions might have relatively greater risk of local recurrence and those with T2bN1 disease mighth have a greater risk of distant metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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