Accumulation of heavy metals in soil and vegetables is presently a challenging environmental concern worldwide. The present study was designed to elucidate heavy metals contamination of vegetables irrigated with domestic wastewater and associated health risks. The study area comprises three zones: Kot Addu, Alipur, and Muzaffargarh. A total of 153 samples of wastewater, topsoil, and vegetables were analyzed for physicochemical parameters and concentration levels of eight metal elements (Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr) determined through analytical procedures. The outcome of the present investigation reveals that heavy metal concentrations in wastewater, soil, and vegetables irrigated with wastewater were slightly higher than the WHO-suggested limit. The heavy metals concentration observed in vegetables irrigated with wastewater can be ranked in order of Ni > Mn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Fe > Zn > Cd. Transfer factor (TF), daily ingestion of metals (DIM), and health risk index (HRI) were calculated. Spinach exhibited higher values of transfer factor than cabbage, cauliflower, and radish, which were followed by tinda and carrot. Minimum values of HRI were observed for Cr (0.0109) in almost all of the vegetables ingested by adults and children. Cabbage exhibited higher values of HRI for Pb (4.0656) in adults, followed by cadmium (HRI = 2.993). Minimum values of HRI were calculated for Cd (0.0115; child). Cauliflower exhibited higher values of HRI (5.2768) for Pb in children. Pb, HRI values (4.5902) were observed in adults living in Kot Addu. The results exhibited similar trends of HRI in adults and children living in Muzaffargarh and Alipur.

The current study was used to achieved the green synthesis of pure with different percentages of zirconium‐doped cerium oxide nanoparticles (Zr‐doped CeO ₂ NPs) using an aqueous plant extract of Sanvitalia procumbens . The synthesis of pure NPs was achieved by mixing 30 mL of Ce (NO ₃ ) ₃ ·6H ₂ O into 10 mL of plant extract and then adding ZrO (NO ₃ ) ₂ . xH ₂ O into a reaction mixture to synthesize Zr‐doped CeO ₂ NPs with the variation of x ( x = 5%, 10%, and 15%). The phytochemicals present in Sanvitalia procumbens plant extract function as stabilizing and reducing agent which may have ability to synthesize pure and Zr‐doped CeO ₂ NPs. The synthesized NPs were characterized by different analytical techniques, such as UV‐visible (UV‐Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), and powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD). The UV‐Vis spectroscopy revealed that zirconium (Zr) was well doped in CeO ₂ NPs with a band gap energy of 4.07–4.56 eV. The SEM images demonstrate the irregular morphology with an average particle size range of 26.72, 24.37, 21.24, and 19.12 nm for pure, 5%, 10%, and 15% Zr‐doped CeO ₂ NPs, respectively. The fundamental elemental composition of Zr‐doped CeO ₂ NPs was ascertained by EDX analysis, whereas the PXRD patterns support the crystalline nature of NPs. Furthermore, the synthesized pure and Zr‐doped CeO ₂ NPs were used to analyze the antiplatelet activity that showed dose‐dependent antiplatelet potentials. The results revealed that 15% Zr‐doped CeO ₂ NPs showed maximum antiplatelet activity that was 84.24 s at concentrations of 100 μ g/mL. Moreover, the IMR32 cell line was also studied to demonstrate the cytotoxicity of pure and Zr‐doped CeO ₂ NPs. Accordingly, Zr‐doped CeO ₂ NPs exhibits higher cytotoxic effects against brain cancer in contrast to undoped CeO ₂ NPs. Thus, the obtained results suggest the potential use of Zr‐doped CeO ₂ NPs as an industrial application such as in the development of antiplatelet and cytotoxic activity.

Ticks pose a major threat to cattle health and production in Pakistan because they transmit pathogens of diseases like Babesiosis and Theileriosis. Hyalomma spp., found across Africa, Asia, and Europe, are especially problematic. This study explored biocontrol of Hyalomma spp. using spore-free fungal culture filtrates collected from dairy farm soil in Kohat, Pakistan. Three fungal species of the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium were isolated, and their filtrates were tested against tick adults and larvae. Filtrate concentrations were prepared at different strengths. Data were taken after the exposure of adults and larvae ticks to various concentrations of the fungal filtrates. Results indicated that at 100% concentration, all fungal filtrates induced 100% mortality in adults and larvae. Decreasing filtrate concentration lowered tick mortality. The lowest concentration caused the least mortality. The effect was time- and dose-dependent. In conclusion, spore-free fungal culture filtrates can provide biocontrol of Hyalomma spp. in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Further research should explore the active compounds causing mortality and optimal application methods. The process outlined here provides a natural biocontrol alternative to chemical pesticides to reduce tick infestations and associated cattle diseases in Pakistan.

To determine the incidence of antimicrobial-resistant emerging pathogens, Clostridium difficile, and its associated risk factors in tertiary care setups of Pakistan. This cross-sectional prospective study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2020, to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of C. difficile strains isolated from 450 stool specimens of patients suffering from diarrhea hospitalized in tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan. The stool samples of the patients were processed for culture and detection of toxin A and toxin B by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and tpi PCR. The drug sensitivity test was performed for antibiotics including ampicillin, cefixime, cefepime, amoxicillin, nalidixic acid, sulpha/TMP (SXT), chloramphenicol, metronidazole, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and imipenem. Of 450 stool specimens, 108 (24) were positive for C. difficile by stool culture, whereas 115 (25.5) were only positive for C. difficile toxins based on ELISA and PCR (128 (28.6). Of 108, 90.7 (n=98) isolates were resistant to one antibiotic, and 90 (83.4) were resistant to three or more antimicrobials. The highest resistance rates were found against penicillin (83.3) followed by amoxicillin (70), nalidixic acid (61), and metronidazole (38), and the lowest resistance was found against vancomycin (6.4) and imipenem (3.7). CDI was statistically significantly correlated with increased age, use of antibiotics, abdominal surgeries, use of proton pump inhibitors and H2a, and presence of comorbidities. The high frequency of C. difficile in Peshawar, Pakistan, indicates that CDI is an important nosocomial infection in different hospitals. The results will be helpful for clinicians to redesign control and therapeutic strategies in hospitals.