Association between single-person household wage workers in South Korea and insomnia symptoms: the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS).

BACKGROUND: The rise in single-person households is a global phenomenon with well-documented implications for both physical and mental well-being. However, there remains a scarcity of studies focusing specifically on the health impacts of single-person households on workers. This study aims to address this gap by comparing insomnia symptoms between single- and multi-person household workers, shedding light on the health implications of household composition. METHODS: This study utilized data from the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey. Insomnia symptoms were categorized into normal sleep and insomnia symptom groups utilizing the 3-item Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the association between single-person household wage workers and insomnia symptoms. RESULTS: In comparison to wage workers from multi-person households, those from single-person households exhibited heightened risks of reporting insomnia symptoms. In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratios for symptoms of insomnia among single-person household wage workers was 1.173 (95% confidence interval: 1.020-1.349). CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores that single-person household wage workers in Korea face an elevated risk of insomnia symptoms compared to their counterparts in multi-person households.

Chemical exposure from the Hebei spirit oil spill accident and its long-term effects on mental health.

While evidence indicates that exposure to oil spill incidents can affect mental health, it is unclear whether the mental health effects result from the incident itself or from exposure to associated chemicals. Oil contains chemicals that can impact mental health and these chemicals may have long-term effects due to their persistence in the environment. To address the gap in current knowledge, we conducted cross-sectional and prospective analyses of data from adults who participated in the Health Effects of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill study. To assess chemical exposure from oil spills, we used indirect exposure indicators such as distance from the contaminated oil band to residences and duration of clean-up work, along with direct exposure indicators such as urine metabolite concentrations of volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Mental health assessments covered posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety. In the cross-sectional analyses, all four mental health issues were found to be associated with proximity to the oil band (p-value<0.05) and showed a positive association with clean-up work duration (p-value<0.05). Cox regression analysis revealed that higher urinary t, t-muconic acid levels were associated with an increased risk of depression (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 1.55, 95 % Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.05-2.28), and elevated 1-hydroxypyrene levels increased the risk of PTSD (HR = 1.60, 95 % CI = 1.03-2.48). Additionally, higher urinary 2-naphthol levels were associated with increased state anxiety (HR = 1.39, 95 % CI = 1.00-1.93) and trait anxiety (HR = 1.64, 95 % CI = 1.15-2.32). These associations persisted even after controlling for distance and duration variables related to psychosocial exposure. Our findings suggest that environmental disaster response plans should prioritize minimizing chemical exposure while also considering the duration and nature of the mental health impacts.

The association of shift work and TyG index among male workers in a chemical plant of Korea: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Disturbance of circadian rhythms caused by shift work has adverse effects on insulin resistance. Many previous studies have confirmed that shift work and insulin resistance are related using homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, one of the insulin resistance indicators. However, the triglycerides and glucose index (TyG index) has recently been studied as an insulin resistance indicator. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of shift work and TyG index, one of the indirect indicators of insulin resistance, using results of health checkups in one workplace. Methods: Based on medical examination data collected in February 2019, a total of 3,794 subjects from one chemical plant in Korea were selected for this study. Cut-off value of TyG index for predicting development of diabetes mellitus (DM) was 4.69. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed after adjusting for age, employment period, obesity, abdominal obesity, smoking, drinking, physical activity, hypertension, stroke, heart disease. Results: As a result of logistic regression analysis, compared to day workers, odds ratio (OR) with a TyG index above cut-off value for predicting development of DM in shift workers was 1.220 after adjusting for age, employment period, obesity, abdominal obesity, smoking, drinking, physical activity, hypertension, stroke, heart disease (Model 1, OR: 1.276; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.099-1.482; Model 2, OR: 1.232; 95% CI: 1.055-1.438; Model 3, OR: 1.220, 95% CI: 1.030-1.444). Conclusions: There was a significant association between shift work and TyG index among male workers in a chemical plant. More research studies on the association between shift work and TyG index are needed in the future.

Influence of the backbone chemistry and ionic functional groups of five pairs of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes on complex coacervation.

Complex coacervation plays an important role in various fields. Here, the influences of the backbone chemistry and ionic functional groups of five pairs of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes on complex coacervation were investigated. These pairs include synthetic polymers with aliphatic hydrocarbon backbones, peptides with amide bonds, and carbohydrates with glycosidic linkages. Despite sharing identical charged groups, specific pairs displayed distinct liquid/liquid and liquid/solid phase separations depending on the polyelectrolyte mixing ratio, buffer, and ionic strength. The coacervate phase boundary broadened in the orders: glycosidic linkages > amide backbone > aliphatic hydrocarbon backbone, and Tris-phosphate > Tris-acetate > Tris-chloride buffers. Coacervates prepared from polyelectrolytes with lower solubilities in water resisted disassembly at high salt concentrations, and their merge rate was slow. These observations suggest that the hydrophobic segments in polyelectrolytes interfere with the formation of complex coacervates; however, following coacervate formation, the hydrophobic segments render the coacervates stable and elastic.

Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during porcine oocyte in vitro maturation improves oocyte quality and embryonic development by enhancing the homeostasis of energy metabolism.

Although supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during porcine oocyte IVM is well-established, the available data are limited due to the lack of consistency. Moreover, to our knowledge, the anti-oxidant effects of DHA on porcine oocytes have not been reported. Hence, this study aimed to examine the effects of DHA supplementation on the regulation of energy metabolism during porcine oocyte maturation to improve oocyte maturation and embryonic development. By supplementing the IVM medium with various DHA concentrations, 25 µM DHA was identified as the optimal concentration which improved intraoocyte glutathione content and enhanced embryonic development after parthenogenesis. Compared to embryos derived from the control group, those derived from SCNT or IVF showed significantly improved blastocyst formation upon DHA supplementation during IVM. In addition, various transcription factors associated with oocyte development and apoptosis in mature oocytes were beneficially regulated in the DHA-treated oocytes. Moreover, DHA improved the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-regulatory ability of porcine oocytes and ameliorated nuclear maturation and embryonic development, which were decreased by artificially downregulating AMPK. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effects of DHA as an AMPK regulator on oocyte maturation and embryo development in pigs. Furthermore, DHA addition to the IVM medium upregulated the relative expression of genes associated with mitochondrial potential and lipid metabolism. Therefore, the membrane potential of mitochondria (evaluated based on the JC-1 aggregate/JC-1 monomer ratio) and the levels of fatty acids and lipid droplets in matured oocytes increased, resulting in increased ATP synthesis. In conclusion, the DHA treatment of porcine oocytes with 25 µM DHA during IVM enhances the homeostasis of energy metabolism by improving mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism, leading to improved quality of matured oocytes and enhanced embryonic developmental potential of in vitro produced (IVP) embryos. Thus, 25 µM DHA supplementation could serve as a tool for improving the quality of IVP embryos. The study findings provide a basis for further research on improving the production efficiency of cloned animals by securing high-quality matured oocytes and enhancing energy metabolism in mammalian oocytes, including those of pigs.

A Comparative Metagenomic Analysis of Specified Microorganisms in Groundwater for Non-Sterilized Pharmaceutical Products.

In pharmaceutical manufacturing, ensuring product safety involves the detection and identification of microorganisms with human pathogenic potential, including Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC), Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium sporogenes, Candida albicans, and Mycoplasma spp., some of which may be missed or not identified by traditional culture-dependent methods. In this study, we employed a metagenomic approach to detect these taxa, avoiding the limitations of conventional cultivation methods. We assessed the groundwater microbiome's taxonomic and functional features from samples collected at two locations in the spring and summer. All datasets comprised 436-557 genera with Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Cyanobacteria accounting for > 95% of microbial DNA sequences. The aforementioned species constituted less than 18.3% of relative abundance. Escherichia and Salmonella were mainly detected in Hot Springs, relative to Jefferson, while Clostridium and Pseudomonas were mainly found in Jefferson relative to Hot Springs. Multidrug resistance efflux pumps and BlaR1 family regulatory sensor-transducer disambiguation dominated in Hot Springs and in Jefferson. These initial results provide insight into the detection of specified microorganisms and could constitute a framework for the establishment of comprehensive metagenomic analysis for the microbiological evaluation of pharmaceutical-grade water and other non-sterile pharmaceutical products, ensuring public safety.

Air pollution and survival in patients with malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer: a follow-up study of 1591 patients in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: Despite significant advancements in treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, the survival rate for patients with asbestos-related cancers remains low. Numerous studies have provided evidence suggesting that air pollution induces oxidative stress and inflammation, affecting acute respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and overall mortality. However, because of the high case fatality rate, there is limited knowledge regarding the effects of air pollution exposures on survival following a diagnosis of asbestos-related cancers. This study aimed to determine the effect of air pollution on the survival of patients with malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. METHODS: We followed up with 593 patients with malignant mesothelioma and 998 patients with lung cancer identified as asbestos victims between 2009 and 2022. Data on five air pollutants-sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter with a diameter < 10 µm, and fine particulate matter with a diameter < 2.5 µm-were obtained from nationwide atmospheric monitoring stations. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the association of cumulative air pollutant exposure with patient mortality, while adjusting for potential confounders. Quantile-based g-computation was used to assess the combined effect of the air pollutant mixture on mortality. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates for both cancer types decreased with increasing exposure to all air pollutants. The estimated hazard ratios rose significantly with a 1-standard deviation increase in each pollutant exposure level. A quartile increase in the pollutant mixture was associated with a 1.99-fold increase in the risk of malignant mesothelioma-related mortality (95% confidence interval: 1.62, 2.44). For lung cancer, a quartile increase in the pollutant mixture triggered a 1.87-fold increase in the mortality risk (95% confidence interval: 1.53, 2.30). CONCLUSION: These findings support the hypothesis that air pollution exposure after an asbestos-related cancer diagnosis can negatively affect patient survival.

CRISPR/Cas12a antifouling nanocomposite electrochemical biosensors enable amplification-free detection of Monkeypox virus in complex biological fluids.

The escalating global threat of infectious diseases, including monkeypox virus (MPXV), necessitates advancements in point-of-care diagnostics, moving beyond the constraints of conventional methods tethered to centralized laboratories. Here, we introduce multiple CRISPR RNA (crRNA)-based biosensors that can directly detect MPXV within 35 minutes without pre-amplification, leveraging the enhanced sensitivity and antifouling attributes of the BSA-based nanocomposite. Multiple crRNAs, strategically targeting diverse regions of the F3L gene of MPXV, are designed and combined to amplify Cas12a activation and its collateral cleavage of reporter probes. Notably, our electrochemical sensors exhibit the detection limit of 669 fM F3L gene without amplification, which is approximately a 15-fold improvement compared to fluorescence detection. This sensor also shows negligible changes in peak current after exposure to complex biological fluids, such as whole blood and serum, maintaining its sensitivity at 682 fM. This sensitivity is nearly identical to the conditions when only the F3L gene was present in PBS. In summary, our CRISPR-based electrochemical biosensors can be utilized as a high-performance diagnostic tool in resource-limited settings, representing a transformative leap forward in point-of-care testing. Beyond infectious diseases, the implications of this technology extend to various molecular diagnostics, establishing itself as a rapid, accurate, and versatile platform for detection of target analytes.

Diversity in Atomic Structures of Zeolite-Templated Carbons and the Consequences for Macroscopic Properties.

Zeolite-templated carbons (ZTCs) are a family of ordered microporous carbons with extralarge surface areas and micropore volumes, which are synthesized by carbon deposition within the confined spaces of zeolite micropores. There has been great controversy regarding the atomic structures of ZTCs, which encompass two extremes: (1) three-dimensionally connected curved open-blade-type carbon moieties and (2) ideal tubular structures (commonly referred to as "Schwarzites"). In this study, through a combination of experimental analyses and theoretical calculations, we demonstrate that the atomic structure of ZTCs is difficult to define as a single entity, and it widely varies depending on their synthesis conditions. Carbon deposition using a large organic precursor and low-temperature framework densification generates ZTCs predominantly composed of open-blade-type moieties, characterized by low surface curvature and abundant H-terminated edge sites. Meanwhile, synthesis using a small precursor with high-temperature densification produces ZTCs with an increased portion of closed-strut carbon moieties (or closed-fullerene-like nodes), exhibiting large surface curvature and diminished edge sites. The variations in the atomic structure of ZTCs result in significant differences in their macroscopic properties, such as N2/CO2 adsorption, oxidative stability, work function, and electrocatalytic properties, despite the presence of comparable pore structures. Therefore, ZTCs demonstrate the potential to synthesize ordered nanoporous carbons with tunable physicochemical properties.

Preserving Mesoporosity in Type III Porous Liquids through Dual-layer Surface Weaving.

The fundamental limitation for pore preservation in a Type III porous liquid (T3PL) is the need for a small aperture from the porous filler to realize size exclusion of a bulky solvent. We present a dual-layer surface weaving strategy that can disregard this limitation and achieve micro- and mesoporous metal-organic framework (MOF)-based T3PLs even with apertures much larger than the solvent molecules. By first weaving a tight network of poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) on the MOF surface, the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) solvent can be effectively excluded from the pores while smaller guest molecules such as CO2, C2H4, and H2O can freely access the interior, as confirmed by low-pressure adsorption isotherms. Further application of a PDMS-containing polymer coating helps lower the viscosity of the PL due to increased particle dispersibility. This strategy has resulted in the successful construction of T3PLs with aperture sizes up to 3.1 nm.

Analysis of production efficiency of cloned transgenic Yucatan miniature pigs according to recipient breeds with embryo transfer conditions.

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency of the production of cloned transgenic Yucatan miniature pigs (YMPs) using two recipient breeds, i.e., YMPs and domestic pigs (DPs), under various embryo transfer conditions. We initially assessed the in vitro developmental competence of embryos obtained via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) from three different transgenic donor cells. No difference was observed among the three groups regarding developmental competence. Furthermore, the cloning efficiency remained consistent among the three groups after the transfer of the SCNT embryos to each surrogate mother. Subsequently, to compare the efficiency of the production of cloned transgenic YMPs between the two recipient breeds using varying parameters, including ovulation status (preovulation and postovulation), duration of in vitro culture (IVC) (incubated within 24 h and 24-48 h), and the number of transferred SCNT embryos (less than and more than 300), we assessed the pregnancy rates, delivery rates, mean offspring counts, and cloning efficiency. Regarding the ovulation status, YMPs exhibited higher pregnancy rates, delivery rates, and cloning efficiency compared with DPs in both statuses. Moreover, the pregnancy rates, delivery rates, and cloning efficiency were affected by the ovulation status in DPs, but not in YMPs. The comparison of IVC duration between groups revealed that YMPs had higher pregnancy rates vs. DPs in both conditions. SCNT embryos cultured for 24-48 h in YMPs yielded higher delivery rates and cloning efficiency compared with those cultured for less than 24 h in DPs. Finally, the analysis based on the number of transferred SCNT embryos showed that both the pregnancy and delivery rates were higher in YMPs vs. DPs. However, the highest average number of offspring was obtained when more than 300 SCNT embryos were transferred into DPs, whereas the cloning efficiency was higher in YMPs vs. DPs. Our results suggest that YMPs are more suitable recipients than are DPs under various conditions for the production of cloned transgenic YMPs.

Mechanochemically functionalized and fibrillated microcrystalline cellulose as a filler in silicone foam: An integrated experimental and simulation investigation.

Fibrillated celluloses have gained significant attention due to their exceptional mechanical properties and eco-friendly characteristics, which make them suitable for various applications. In this study, we designed a precise approach for producing highly fibrillated microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) via ball-milling treatment using four typical silane coupling agents. The empirical data demonstrate that the fibrillization of MCC and the properties of fibrillated MCC are largely affected by the size and geometry of the functional groups of the silanes. After ball-milling, most MCC displayed enhanced e-beam tolerance and thermal stability, whereas the silane loading amount, surface area, and morphology of fibrillated MCC appeared to be random, which was exemplified by the proportional and non-proportional relationship between the loading amount and surface area of methyl silane- and phenyl silane-treated MCC, respectively. Density functional theory calculations and molecular dynamics simulations were employed to obtain the intricate details. The simulation results were in agreement with the experimental results. Finally, fibrillated MCC was incorporated into silicone foams as an additive. The thermal stability of fibrillated MCC with added silicone was greatly improved, and the tensile strength of fibrillated MCC-containing silicone foam was 44.1 and 5.4 times higher than that of the neat and MCC-containing silicone foams, respectively.

Association between oil spill clean-up work and thyroid cancer: Nine years of follow-up after the Hebei Spirit oil spill accident.

In 2007, an unprecedented oil spill occurred in Taean, Korea. Although crude oil contains chemicals that could increase thyroid cancer risk, few studies have examined the long-term effects of oil exposure during clean-up and thyroid cancer incidence. We investigated the long-term thyroid cancer incidence among participants involved in clean-up work. 1798 participants engaged in at least two surveys since the baseline was tracked from 2008 to 2018. Participants reported the days they participated in oil clean-up works and cancer diagnoses. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratios between clean-up work duration and thyroid cancer. Over the 9-year follow-up, 30 thyroid cancer cases were diagnosed. A positive association was observed between clean-up duration and thyroid cancer risk. This effect was more pronounced among residents living <50 m from traffic roads. Our results indicate that crude oil clean-up work participation may increase the thyroid cancer risk.

Long-term effects of the Hebei Spirit oil spill on the prevalence and incidence of allergic disorders.

The Hebei Spirit oil spill accident occurred in December 2007, approximately 10 km off the coast of Taean, South Korea, a location notably close to residential areas. Crude oil substances have been detected in various environmental mediums since the accident, yet previous studies have primarily focused on the acute effects of oil exposure due to the short latency period of allergic diseases. Therefore, this study evaluated the long-term effects of oil spill exposure on allergic disorders. Our study included adult residents who had participated in the Health Effects Research on Hebei Spirit Oil Spill (HEROS) study up to five years post-incident, which was a prospective cohort to monitor the health status of Taean residents. We used two indicators to assess oil spill exposure, namely the distance from the initial contaminated coastline to each participant's residence and the number of days participants had engaged in oil clean-up work. Current symptoms such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and multimorbidity were considered allergic disorders. In the baseline survey, the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and allergic multimorbidity symptoms was associated with both exposure indicators; however, these associations were not observed in the two consecutive surveys. Significant longitudinal associations between oil spill exposure indicators and the four allergic disorders, as well as multimorbidity incidences, were observed during a five-year follow-up period. Our results suggest that oil spill exposure can affect acute and long-term allergic symptoms in residents near the accident site.

Ulmus macrocarpa Hance trunk bark extracts inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and prevent ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ulmus macrocarpa Hance (UmH) bark has been traditionally utilized for medicinal purposes. The bark extract of this plant has diverse health benefits, and its potential role in enhancing bone health is of distinct interest, particularly when considering the substantial health and economic implications of bone-related pathologies, such as osteoporosis. Despite the compelling theoretical implications of UmH bark in fortifying bone health, no definitive evidence at the in vivo level is currently available, thus highlighting the innovative and as-yet-unexplored potential of this field of study. AIM OF THE STUDY: Primarily, our study aims to conduct a meticulous analysis of the disparity in the concentration of active compounds in the UmH root bark (Umrb) and trunk bark (Umtb) extracts and confirm UmH bark's efficacy in enhancing bone health in vivo, illuminating the cellular mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Umrb and Umtb extracts were subjected to component analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography and then assessed for their inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation through the TRAP assay. An ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model replicates postmenopausal conditions commonly associated with osteoporosis. Micro-CT was used to analyze bone structure parameters, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and staining were used to assess bone formation markers and osteoclast activity. Furthermore, this study investigated the impact of the extract on the expression of pivotal proteins and genes involved in bone formation and resorption using mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). RESULTS: The findings of our study reveal a significant discrepancy in the concentration of active constituents between Umrb and Umtb, establishing Umtb as a superior source for promoting bone health. I addition, a standardized pilot-scale procedure was conducted for credibility. The bone health benefits of Umtb were verified using an OVX model. This validation involved the assessment of various parameters, including BMD, BV/TV, and BS/TV, using micro-CT imaging. Additionally, the activation of osteoblasts was evaluated by Umtb by measuring specific factors such as ALP, OCN, OPG in blood samples and through IHC staining. In the same investigations, diminished levels of osteoclast differentiation factors, such as TRAP, NFATc1, were also observed. The observed patterns exhibited consistency in vitro BMM investigations. CONCLUSIONS: Through verification at both in vitro levels using BMMs and in vivo levels using the OVX-induced mouse model, our research demonstrates that Umtb is a more effective means of improving bone health in comparison to Umrb. These findings pave the way for developing health-functional foods or botanical drugs targeting osteoporosis and other bone-related disorders and enhance the prospects for future research extensions, including clinical studies, in extract applications.

Accelerated Design of Ultra-High-Performance Aramid Copolymers via a High-Throughput Screening Approach.

Developing advanced materials, such as functional polymers, poses a significant challenge as a result of the vastness of the material space that needs to be explored, which could potentially be infinite in principle. We propose a data-driven high-throughput screening approach coupled with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to address this issue in the design of high-performance co-polymerized aramid fibers. We aimed to identify diamine monomers that could replace 3,4'-oxydianiline in Technora from a large-scale set (1 920 304) of possible monomers that were prepared from the PubChem database. We initially screened these monomers using a cheminformatics-based approach, considering four criteria: complexity, neutrality, linearity, and gyration radius of the molecule. Then, we performed subsequent screening based on MD simulations to estimate interchain interaction energies under both stretched and melted conditions and tensile strength simulations. Our screening approach successfully identified 31 promising and novel diamine monomers for aramid copolymers. This demonstrates the potential and effectiveness of our approach as a promising protocol for exploring targeted chemical spaces in designing novel monomers for high-performance aramid fibers and possibly other advanced polymers.

Relationship between job stress and impaired fasting glucose in male steel industry workers: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between job stress and impaired fasting glycemia (IFG) of male workers in a manufacturing industry. Methods: Data were collected from 5,886 male workers in a manufacturing industry who participated in the medical examination from June 19 to August 14, 2020 through self-reported questionnaires. The general characteristics of the subjects, shift work, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and job stress were included. Job stress was measured using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) consisting of 8 items and 43 questions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the IFG association with job stress. Results: Among the various factors that can cause job stress, only high job demand was associated with a risk of IFG (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.82) especially in non-shift worker. For all other factors, no statistically significant results were obtained. Conclusions: In this study of male workers engaged in the Korean steel manufacturing industry, the 'job demand' item among job stress of non-shift worker was related to IFG.

Discovery and optimized extraction of the anti-osteoclastic agent epicatechin-7-O-ß-D-apiofuranoside from Ulmus macrocarpa Hance bark.

Ulmus macrocarpa Hance bark (UmHb) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in East Asia for bone concern diseases for a long time. To find a suitable solvent, we, in this study, compared the efficacy of UmHb water extract and ethanol extract which can inhibit osteoclast differentiation. Compared with two ethanol extracts (70% and 100% respectively), hydrothermal extracts of UmHb more effectively inhibited receptor activators of nuclear factor κB ligand-induced osteoclast differentiation in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. We identified for the first time that (2R,3R)-epicatechin-7-O-ß-D-apiofuranoside (E7A) is a specific active compound in UmHb hydrothermal extracts through using LC/MS, HPLC, and NMR techniques. In addition, we confirmed through TRAP assay, pit assay, and PCR assay that E7A is a key compound in inhibiting osteoclast differentiation. The optimized condition to obtain E7A-rich UmHb extract was 100 mL/g, 90 °C, pH 5, and 97 min. At this condition, the content of E7A was 26.05 ± 0.96 mg/g extract. Based on TRAP assay, pit assay, PCR, and western blot, the optimized extract of E7A-rich UmHb demonstrated a greater inhibition of osteoclast differentiation compared to unoptimized. These results suggest that E7A would be a good candidate for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis-related diseases.

Hierarchical LTL Zeolite as an Efficient and Sustainable Solid Acid Catalyst for Replacing HCl in the Production of Polyurethane Intermediates.

In many industrially important reactions, caustic mineral acid catalysts have been successfully replaced with green solid acids such as zeolites. In this context, extensive efforts have been devoted to replacing HCl to produce methylenedianiline (MDA), a key intermediate in polyurethane production. Unfortunately, limited success has been achieved thus far due to low activity, selectivity towards the desired 4,4'-MDA, and rapid catalyst deactivation. Here we report that meso-/microporous hierarchical LTL zeolite exhibits unprecedentedly high activity, selectivity, and stability. The one-dimensional cage-like micropores of LTL promote the bimolecular reaction between two para-aminobenzylaniline intermediates to selectively produce 4,4'-MDA and inhibit the formation of undesired isomers and heavy oligomers. Meanwhile, the secondary mesopores alleviate mass transfer limitations, resulting in a 7.8-fold higher MDA formation rate compared to solely microporous LTL zeolite. Due to suppressed oligomer formation and fast mass transfer, the catalyst exhibits inappreciable deactivation in an industrially relevant continuous flow reactor.

The association of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and kidney function in Korean adolescents using data from Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 4 (2018-2020): a cross-sectional study.

Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals widely used in various products in everyday life. Due to its unique strong binding force, the half-life of PFAS is very long, so bioaccumulation and toxicity to the human body are long-standing concerns. In particular, effects on kidney function have recently emerged and there are no studies on the effect of PFAS on kidney function through epidemiological investigations in Korea. From 2018 to 2020, the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) cycle 4, conducted an epidemiological investigation on the blood concentration of PFAS for the first time in Korea. Based on this data, the relationship between PFAS blood concentration and kidney function was analyzed for adolescents. Methods: We investigated 5 types of PFAS and their total blood concentration in 811 middle and high school students, living in Korea and included in KoNEHS cycle 4, and tried to find changes in kidney function in relation to PFAS concentration. After dividing the concentration of each of the 5 PFAS and the total concentration into quartiles, multivariable linear regression was performed to assess the correlation with kidney function. The bedside Schwartz equation was used as an indicator of kidney function. Results: As a result of multivariable linear regression, when observing a change in kidney function according to the increase in the concentration of each of the 5 PFAS and their total, a significant decrease in kidney function was confirmed in some or all quartiles. Conclusions: In this cross-sectional study of Korean adolescents based on KoNEHS data, a negative correlation between serum PFAS concentration and kidney function was found. A well-designed longitudinal study and continuous follow-up are necessary.