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Abiogenic silicon: Interaction with potentially toxic elements and its ecological significance in soil and plant systems.
Hussain, B, Riaz, L, Li, K, Hayat, K, Akbar, N, Hadeed, MZ, Zhu, B, Pu, S
Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987). 2023;:122689
Abstract
Abiogenic silicon (Si), though deemed a quasi-nutrient, remains largely inaccessible to plants due to its prevalence within mineral ores. Nevertheless, the influence of Si extends across a spectrum of pivotal plant processes. Si emerges as a versatile boon for plants, conferring a plethora of advantages. Notably, it engenders substantial enhancements in biomass, yield, and overall plant developmental attributes. Beyond these effects, Si augments the activities of vital antioxidant enzymes, encompassing glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD), among others. It achieves through the augmentation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging gene expression, thus curbing the injurious impact of free radicals. In addition to its effects on plants, Si profoundly ameliorates soil health indicators. Si tangibly enhances soil vitality by elevating soil pH and fostering microbial community proliferation. Furthermore, it exerts inhibitory control over ions that could inflict harm upon delicate plant cells. During interactions within the soil matrix, Si readily forms complexes with potentially toxic metals (PTEs), encapsulating them through Si-PTEs interactions, precipitative mechanisms, and integration within colloidal Si and mineral strata. The amalgamation of Si with other soil amendments, such as biochar, nanoparticles, zeolites, and composts, extends its capacity to thwart PTEs. This synergistic approach enhances soil organic matter content and bolsters overall soil quality parameters. The utilization of Si-based fertilizers and nanomaterials holds promise for further increasing food production and fortifying global food security. Besides, gaps in our scientific discourse persist concerning Si speciation and fractionation within soils, as well as its intricate interplay with PTEs. Nonetheless, future investigations must delve into the precise functions of abiogenic Si within the physiological and biochemical realms of both soil and plants, especially at the critical juncture of the soil-plant interface. This review seeks to comprehensively address the multifaceted roles of Si in plant and soil systems during interactions with PTEs.
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Evaluation of COVID-19 Disease Awareness and Its Relation to Mental Health, Dietary Habits, and Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Study from Pakistan.
Ali, A, Sohaib, M, Iqbal, S, Hayat, K, Khan, AU, Rasool, MF
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene. 2021;104(5):1687-1693
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Plain language summary
Dietary factors and healthy eating habits play a crucial role in human health management. The global pandemic of COVID-19 has significantly changed the dietary patterns and eating habits of the people worldwide, particularly in the area affected by this pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of COVID-19 disease and its association with anxiety, depression, dietary habits, and physical activity during the COVID-19 lockdown. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. A total of 1956 participants took part in the study. Results indicate that: - only 7.4% of participants had good knowledge about COVID-19. - the physical activity of the participants was affected as 66.9% of the participants had a decrease in physical activity and around 40% of the participants also gained weight. - around 70% of the participants were suffering from anxiety, and 52% were depressed. Authors conclude that their findings can help formulate concrete policy-making for the Pakistani population in terms of public health prospects. Furthermore, mass-level educational programmes should be launched via print and electronic media to enhance public awareness about COVID-19 and to improve dietary behaviour of people.
Abstract
Coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has significantly increased the mortality and morbidity rates worldwide. The present study was conducted to assess the general public's awareness of COVID-19 and its association with mental health, dietary habits, and physical activity. A web-based survey was conducted to gather information about demographics, knowledge about COVID-19, dietary habits, mental health, and anthropometry among the general public of Pakistan. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression were used for data analysis. The majority of the participants were suffering from anxiety (71.0%) and depression (52.0%) during the COVID-19 pandemic; 32.4% of participants had poor COVID-19-related knowledge. COVID-19 lockdown reduced the physical activity of 66.9% of participants and increased weight of 38.8% of the survey participants. Demographic variables, including age, gender, ethnicity, education, employment, family type, and geographical location, were significantly associated with knowledge about COVID-19 (P < 0.05). Depression was inversely associated with COVID-19 knowledge (P < 0.05). Healthy changes in dietary habits including decreased consumption of fast foods, soft and cola drinks, fruit drinks, cooked meat (outside the home), sugar, and fats, and were associated with increased knowledge of COVID-19. Vitamin C and immunity-boosting supplement consumption were significantly associated with increased knowledge regarding COVID-19 (< 0.05). Inadequate knowledge about COVID-19 and the presence of anxiety and depression were found among most of the study participants. There is a need to conduct educational seminars to limit the health consequences resulting from COVID-19 lockdown.
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Drought tolerance improvement in plants: an endophytic bacterial approach.
Ullah, A, Nisar, M, Ali, H, Hazrat, A, Hayat, K, Keerio, AA, Ihsan, M, Laiq, M, Ullah, S, Fahad, S, et al
Applied microbiology and biotechnology. 2019;(18):7385-7397
Abstract
Climate change is a crucial issue among the serious emerging problems which got a global attention in the last few decades. With the climate change, worldwide crop production has been seriously affected by drought stress. In this regard, various technologies including traditional breeding and genetic engineering are used to cope with drought stress. However, the interactions between plants and endophytic bacteria emerged as an interesting era of knowledge that can be used for novel agriculture practices. Endophytic bacteria which survive within plant tissues are among the most appropriate technologies improving plant growth and yield under drought conditions. These endophytic bacteria live within plant tissues and release various phytochemicals that assist plant to withstand in harsh environmental conditions, i.e., drought stress. Their plant growth-promoting characteristics include nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, mineral uptake, and the production of siderophore, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, and various phytohormones. These plant growth promoting characteristics of endophytic bacteria improve root length and density, which lead to the enhance drought tolerance. In addition, plant-endophytic bacteria assist plant to withstand against drought stress by producing drought-tolerant substances, for instance, abscisic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, ACC deaminase, and various volatile compounds. Indirectly, endophytic bacteria also improve osmotic adjustment, relative water content, and antioxidant activity of inoculated plants. Altogether, these bacterial-mediated drought tolerance and plant growth-promoting processes continue even under severe drought conditions which lead to enhanced plant growth promotion and yield. The present review highlights a natural and environment-friendly strategy in the form of drought-tolerant and plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria to improve drought tolerance in plants.
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Tea and its consumption: benefits and risks.
Hayat, K, Iqbal, H, Malik, U, Bilal, U, Mushtaq, S
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. 2015;(7):939-54
Abstract
The recent convention of introducing phytochemicals to support the immune system or combat diseases is a centuries' old tradition. Nutritional support is an emerging advancement in the domain of diet-based therapies; tea and its constituents are one of the significant components of these strategies to maintain the health and reduce the risk of various malignancies. Tea is the most frequently consumed beverage worldwide, besides water. All the three most popular types of tea, green (unfermented), black (fully fermented), and oolong (semifermented), are manufactured from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. Tea possesses significant antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, antihypertensive, neuroprotective, cholesterol-lowering, and thermogenic properties. Several research investigations, epidemiological studies, and meta-analyses suggest that tea and its bioactive polyphenolic constituents have numerous beneficial effects on health, including the prevention of many diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, genital warts, and obesity. Controversies regarding beneficialts and risks of tea consumption still exist but the limitless health-promoting benefits of tea outclass its few reported toxic effects. However, with significant rise in the scientific investigation of role of tea in human life, this review is intended to highlight the beneficial effects and risks associated with tea consumption.