The impact of long working hours on daily sodium intake.

Background: Long working hours are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, yet the underlying mechanism(s) remain unclear. The study examines how occupational factors like working hours, shift work, and employment status correlate with dietary choices and sodium intake, impacting hypertension risk. Methods: This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2013 and 2020. The dataset included 8,471 respondents, all of whom were wage workers aged 20 or older and reported working at least 36 hours per week. Individuals who have been previously diagnosed with or are currently diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia were excluded. The average daily sodium intake was assessed via a 24-hour dietary recall method. Average weekly working hours were categorized into 3 groups: 36-40 hours, 41-52 hours, and over 52 hours. Multiple logistic regression models were used. Results: Study findings revealed that 83.7% of participants exceeded the recommended daily sodium intake of 2 g set by the World Health Organization. After adjusting for confounding factors, a positive correlation was observed between average working hours and daily sodium intake. Among males, statistical significance was found in the group with average weekly working hours of 41-52 hours (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.30) and the group exceeding 52 hours (PR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.09-1.38) when comparing the fourth quartile of daily sodium intake to the combined quartiles of Q1, Q2, and Q3. Among females, no significance was noted. Conclusions: Long working hours were associated with increased sodium intake, primarily among male workers. This connection is likely attributed to having less time for home-cooked meals, resulting in higher fast food consumption and dining out. A workplace intervention promoting healthy eating and reducing stress is essential to lower sodium consumption and mitigate hypertension risk.

Differences of nutritional intake habits and Dietary Inflammatory Index score between occupational classifications in the Korean working population.

Background: Human nutrient intake is closely related to the conditions of their workplace. Methods: This study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted between 2016 and 2020. The study population comprised individuals aged 19 to 65 years who were engaged in paid work, excluding soldiers (total = 12,201, male = 5,872, female = 6,329). The primary outcome of interest was the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) score, which was calculated using dietary intake data. Generalized linear models were used for statistical analyses. Results: Pink-collar workers had higher DII scores, indicating a potentially higher inflammatory diet than white-collar workers (mean: 2.18 vs. 1.89, p < 0.001). Green and blue-collar workers displayed lower levels of dietary inflammation (green: 1.64 vs. 1.89, p = 0.019, blue: 1.79 vs. 1.89, p = 0.022). After adjusting for sex, age, income, education, and energy intake, the sole trend that persisted was the comparison between white-collar and pink-collar workers. Conclusions: DII scores and dietary patterns differed among occupational groups and genders.

Beta-lapachone ameliorates the progression of primary sclerosing cholangitis pathogenesis in rodent models.

AIMS: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare cholestatic liver disease characterized by chronic inflammation and severe fibrosis for which effective treatment options are currently lacking. In this study, we explored the potential of beta-lapachone (ßL) as a drug candidate for PSC therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We employed an animal model fed a diet containing 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) to assess the preventive and therapeutic effects of ßL. The beneficial effects of ßL on PSC pathogenic characteristics, including blood biomarkers, inflammation, and fibrosis, were determined by assessing relevant parameters. Differential gene expression between each group was analyzed by RNA sequencing of liver tissues. Mdr2-/- mice were utilized to explore the involvement of Abcb4 in the ßL-induced improvement of PSC pathogenesis. KEY FINDINGS: ßL effectively inhibited key features of PSC pathogenesis, as demonstrated by reduced blood biomarkers and improved pathogenic characteristics. Treatment with ßL significantly mitigated DDC-induced apoptosis, cell proliferation, inflammation, and fibrosis. Analysis of differential gene expression confirmed a new insight that ßL could stimulate the expression of genes related to NAD synthesis and Abcb4. Indeed, ßL-induced NAD exhibited effective functioning, as evidenced by enhanced sirt1/3 and acetyl-lysine levels, leading to improved mitochondrial stability. The role of Abcb4 in response to ßL was confirmed in Mdr2/Abcb4 KO mice, where the beneficial effects of ßL were abolished. SIGNIFICANCE: This study provided a new concept for PSC treatment, suggesting that pharmacological stimulation of the NAD synthetic pathway and Abcb4 via ßL ameliorates PSC pathogenesis.

CrebH protects against liver injury associated with colonic inflammation via modulation of exosomal miRNA.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic liver disease, including primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), is a serious extraintestinal manifestations of colonic inflammation. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-responsive element-binding protein H (CrebH) is a transcription factor expressed mostly in the liver and small intestine. However, CrebH's roles in the gut-liver axis remain unknown. METHODS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and PSC disease models were established in wild-type and CrebH-/- mice treated with dextran sulfate sodium, dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, and diethoxycarbonyl dihydrocollidine diet, respectively. RNA sequencing were conducted to investigate differential gene expression. Exosomes were isolated from plasma and culture media. miRNA expression profiling was performed using the NanoString nCounter Mouse miRNA Panel. Effects of miR-29a-3p on adhesion molecule expression were investigated in bEnd.3 brain endothelial cells. RESULTS: CrebH-/- mice exhibited accelerated liver injury without substantial differences in the gut after administration of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), and had similar features to PSC, including enlarged bile ducts, enhanced inflammation, and aberrant MAdCAM-1 expression. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing analysis showed that differentially expressed genes in the liver of CrebH-/- mice after DSS overlapped significantly with genes changed in PSC-liver. Analysis of plasma exosome miRNA isolated from WT and CrebH-/- mice indicates that CrebH can contribute to the exosomal miRNA profile. We also identified miR-29a-3p as an effective mediator for MAdCAM-1 expression. Administration of plasma exosome from CrebH-/- mice led to prominent inflammatory signals in the liver of WT mice with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). CONCLUSIONS: CrebH deficiency led to increased susceptibility to IBD-induced liver diseases via enhanced expression of adhesion molecules and concomitant infiltration of T lymphocytes. Exosomes can contribute to the progression of IBD-induced liver injury in CrebH-/- mice. These study provide novel insights into the role of CrebH in IBD-induced liver injury.

Occupational factors affecting the decline in pulmonary function among male farmers using occupational pesticide in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

Background: Occupational pesticide exposure is a potential risk for respiratory health effects. Most clinical studies on pesticide exposure were related to acute exposure, and only a few studies on chronic exposure have been conducted. This study investigated the chronic respiratory health status and the chronic effects of occupational pesticide exposures of farmers in Gyeonggi-do. Methods: Surveys and pulmonary function tests were conducted on 1,697 farmers in 16 regions of Gyeonggi-do. The structured questionnaire included demographic characteristics, medical history, recent respiratory symptoms and diseases, and work-related conditions, and was conducted through one-on-one interviews. The prevalence of respiratory diseases was compared by the odds ratios (ORs) at 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated by logistic regression analysis. Additional multivariate logistic regression analysis was also conducted. Results: Pesticide work groups showed significant association with an obstructive pattern in the lung function test (unadjusted OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.17-5.52). Selected work-related variables of pesticide exposure were 'start age,' 'cumulative duration,' 'mixing pesticides,' and 'protection(goggle).' The obstructive pattern of lung function test showed significant associations with mixing pesticides (OR, 2.30; 95% CI,1.07-5.46), and protection (goggle) use (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12-0.79). Conclusions: Mixing two or more pesticides showed a significant association. Wearing goggles can be seen as an indicator of awareness of the protective equipment and proper wearing of protective equipment, and loss of pulmonary function can be prevented when appropriate protection is worn.

The association of under-weight and obesity with mortality after hip arthroplasty.

Background: although many studies have demonstrated the association between body mass index (BMI) and many diseases, there is little evidence of postoperative mortality after hip arthroplasty. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between BMI and mortality after hip arthroplasty in the older population. Methods: a total of 3,627 older patients who underwent hip arthroplasty from 2010 to 2013 were included. We used Cox regression analysis to evaluate the association between BMI and mortality after hip arthroplasty. The hazard ratios (HRs) was calculated from 30 days, 31-365 days, and from the first day of surgery to the day of death during the study. Results: under-weight (BMI under 18.5 kg/m2) is significantly associated with increased mortality (HR:1.423; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.023-1.981) after hip arthroplasty compared to the normal range. However, in the short-term mortality within 30 days after surgery, both under-weight (HR: 2.368; 95%CI: 1.130-4.960) and obesity (25-29.9 kg/m2, HR: 2.023; 95%CI: 1.008-4.059) are associated with increased mortality. Conclusion: our study suggested that under-weight is associated with increased risk of mortality after hip arthroplasty. Further, in a short-term outcome, obesity appear to be associated with increased mortality after hip arthroplasty within 30 days.

One-pot synthesis of tin-embedded carbon/silica nanocomposites for anode materials in lithium-ion batteries.

We report a facile "one-pot" method for the synthesis of Sn-embedded carbon-silica (CS) mesostructured (nanostructured) composites through the selective interaction of resol (carbon precursor), tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), and tributylphenyltin (Sn precursor) with an amphiphilic diblock copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide-b-styrene), PEO-b-PS. A unique morphology transition from Sn nanowires to spherical Sn nanoparticles embedded in CS framework has been obtained. Metallic Sn species are homogeneously embedded in a rigid CS framework and are effectively confined within the nanostructures. The resulting composites are used as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries and exhibit high specific capacities (600 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 45 mA g⁻¹, and 440 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 300 mA g⁻¹) and an excellent cyclability of over 100 cycles with high Coulombic efficiency. Most of all, the novel method developed in this work for synthesizing functional hybrid materials can be extended to the preparation of various functional nanocomposites owing to its versatility and facileness.

Sodium terephthalate as an organic anode material for sodium ion batteries.

Disodium terephthalate and its various derivatives are synthesized via simple acid-base chemistry for anode materials in Na ion batteries. They show excellent electrochemical performance, including little capacity fading over 90 cycles, ideal redox potential, and excellent rate performance, making them promising candidates for Na ion batteries.