Natural Product-Derived Compounds Targeting Keratinocytes and Molecular Pathways in Psoriasis Therapeutics.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory skin disorder that affects approximately 2-3% of the global population due to significant genetic predisposition. It is characterized by an uncontrolled growth and differentiation of keratinocytes, leading to the formation of scaly erythematous plaques. Psoriasis extends beyond dermatological manifestations to impact joints and nails and is often associated with systemic disorders. Although traditional treatments provide relief, their use is limited by potential side effects and the chronic nature of the disease. This review aims to discuss the therapeutic potential of keratinocyte-targeting natural products in psoriasis and highlight their efficacy and safety in comparison with conventional treatments. This review comprehensively examines psoriasis pathogenesis within keratinocytes and the various related signaling pathways (such as JAK-STAT and NF-κB) and cytokines. It presents molecular targets such as high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), dual-specificity phosphatase-1 (DUSP1), and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) for treating psoriasis. It evaluates the ability of natural compounds such as luteolin, piperine, and glycyrrhizin to modulate psoriasis-related pathways. Finally, it offers insights into alternative and sustainable treatment options with fewer side effects.

Pennogenin 3-O-ß-Chacotrioside Attenuates Hypertrophied Lipid Accumulation by Enhancing Mitochondrial Oxidative Capacity.

Excessive lipid accumulation in adipocytes is a primary contributor to the development of metabolic disorders, including obesity. The consumption of bioactive compounds derived from natural sources has been recognized as being safe and effective in preventing and alleviating obesity. Therefore, we aimed to explore the antilipidemic effects of pennogenin 3-O-ß-chacotrioside (P3C), a steroid glycoside, on hypertrophied 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Oil Red O and Nile red staining demonstrated a P3C-induced reduction in lipid droplet accumulation. Additionally, the increased expression of adipogenic and lipogenic factors, including PPARγ and C/EBPα, during the differentiation process was significantly decreased by P3C treatment at both the protein and mRNA levels. Furthermore, P3C treatment upregulated the expression of fatty acid oxidation-related genes such as PGC1α and CPT1a. Moreover, mitochondrial respiration and ATP generation increased following P3C treatment, as determined using the Seahorse XF analyzer. P3C treatment also increased the protein expression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in hypertrophied adipocytes. Our findings suggest that P3C could serve as a natural lipid-lowering agent, reducing lipogenesis and enhancing mitochondrial oxidative capacity. Therefore, P3C may be a promising candidate as a therapeutic agent for obesity-related diseases.

Toward Integrating EBPR and the Short-Cut Nitrogen Removal Process in a One-Stage System for Treating High-Strength Wastewater.

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is an economical and sustainable process for phosphorus removal from wastewater. Despite the widespread application of EBPR for low-strength domestic wastewater treatment, limited investigations have been conducted to apply EBPR to the high-strength wastewaters, particularly, the integration of EBPR and the short-cut nitrogen removal process in the one-stage system remains challenging. Herein, we reported a novel proof-of-concept demonstration of integrating EBPR and nitritation (oxidation of ammonium to nitrite) in a one-stage sequencing batch reactor to achieve simultaneous high-strength phosphorus and short-cut nitrogen removal. Excellent EBPR performance of effluent 0.8 ± 1.0 mg P/L and >99% removal efficiency was achieved fed with synthetic high-strength phosphorus wastewater. Long-term sludge acclimation proved that the dominant polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), Candidatus Accumulibacter, could evolve to a specific subtype that can tolerate the nitrite inhibition as revealed by operational taxonomic unit (OTU)-based oligotyping analysis. The EBPR kinetic and stoichiometric evaluations combined with the amplicon sequencing proved that the Candidatus Competibacter, as the dominant glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs), could well coexist with PAOs (15.3-24.9% and 14.2-33.1%, respectively) and did not deteriorate the EBPR performance. The nitrification activity assessment, amplicon sequencing, and functional-based gene marker quantification verified that the unexpected nitrite accumulation (10.7-21.0 mg N/L) in the high-strength EBPR system was likely caused by the nitritation process, in which the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) were successfully out-selected (<0.1% relative abundance). We hypothesized that the introduction of the anaerobic phase with high VFA concentrations could be the potential selection force for achieving nitritation based on the literature review and our preliminary batch tests. This study sheds light on developing a new feasible technical route for integrating EBPR with short-cut nitrogen removal for efficient high-strength wastewater treatment.

Water Extract of Capsella bursa-pastoris Mitigates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Upregulating Antioxidant Enzymes.

Doxorubicin (DOX), an effective chemotherapeutic drug, causes cardiotoxicity in a cumulative and dose-dependent manner. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of hot-water extract of Capsella bursa-pastoris (CBW) on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DICT). We utilized H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells to evaluate the effects of CBW on DOX-induced cell death. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and oxygen consumption rate were measured in H9c2 cells. C57BL/6 mice were treated with DOX and CBW to assess their impact on various cardiac parameters. Human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes were also used to investigate DOX-induced electrophysiological changes and the potential ameliorative effects of CBW. UPLC-TQ/MS analysis identified seven flavonoids in CBW, with luteolin-7-O-glucoside and isoorientin as the major compounds. CBW inhibited DOX-induced death of H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes but did not affect DOX-induced death of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. CBW increased SOD levels in a dose-dependent manner, reducing ROS production and increasing the oxygen consumption rate in H9c2 cells. The heart rate, RR interval, QT, and ST prolongation remarkably recovered in C57BL/6 mice treated with the combination of DOX and CBW compared to those in mice treated with DOX alone. Administration of CBW with DOX effectively alleviated collagen accumulation, cell death in mouse heart tissues, and reduced the levels of creatinine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum. Furthermore, DOX-induced pathological electrophysiological features in human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes were ameliorated by CBW. CBW may prevent DICT by stabilizing SOD and scavenging ROS. The presence of flavonoids, particularly luteolin-7-O-glucoside and isoorientin, in CBW may contribute to its protective effects. These results suggest the potential of CBW as a traditional therapeutic option to mitigate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Poncirus trifoliata Aqueous Extract Protects Cardiomyocytes against Doxorubicin-Induced Toxicity through Upregulation of NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase Quinone Acceptor Oxidoreductase 1.

Doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline-based chemotherapeutic agent, is widely used to treat various types of cancer; however, prolonged treatment induces cardiomyotoxicity. Although studies have been performed to overcome DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DICT), no effective method is currently available. This study investigated the effects and potential mechanisms of Poncirus trifoliata aqueous extract (PTA) in DICT. Changes in cell survival were assessed in H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. The C57BL/6 mice were treated with DOX to induce DICT in vivo, and alterations in electrophysiological characteristics, serum biomarkers, and histological features were examined. The PTA treatment inhibited DOX-induced decrease in H9c2 cell viability but did not affect the MDA-MB-231 cell viability. Additionally, the PTA restored the abnormal heart rate, R-R interval, QT interval, and ST segment and inhibited the decrease in serum cardiac and hepatic toxicity indicators in the DICT model. Moreover, the PTA administration protected against myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis in the heart tissue of mice with DICT. PTA treatment restored DOX-induced decrease in the expression of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone acceptor oxidoreductase 1 in a PTA concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, the PTA inhibitory effect on DICT is attributable to its antioxidant properties, suggesting the potential of PTA as a phytotherapeutic agent for DICT.

Quantitative analysis and contamination profiles of PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs in black-tailed gull eggs in the Republic of Korea.

The simultaneous determination of 8 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 23 organic chlorine pesticides (OCPs), and 35 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in black-tailed gull eggs was described using ultrasound-assisted extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The ranges of the lower limits of detection for PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs were 0.006-0.029, 0.01-0.10, and 0.01-0.20 µg kg-1, respectively. The intraday precision was in the range of 0.650-12.9% and the intraday accuracy was in the range of 86.6-113%. When the proposed method was used to analyze the target compounds in gull eggs collected from six sites in the Republic of Korea, the analytical results demonstrated concentration ranges of 113.32-394.07 µg kg-1 for total PCBs, 422.92-1082.09 µg kg-1 for total OCPs, and 134.50-231.27 µg kg-1 for total PAHs in the samples. The PCA results for PAHs and OCPs were well differentiated by sampling site, whereas those for PCBs differed little by sampling site. There were more pyrogenic PAHs in the West Sea and the South Sea with many industrial areas than in the East Sea with few industrial areas. Differences in the OCP patterns of samples from the West Sea close to China were considered to be related to the use of DDT in China until recently. PCBs were accumulated in the samples regardless of region, so there was no significant difference in the PCB patterns between the samples obtained from the three Seas.

3,4-dihydroxytoluene, a metabolite of rutin, suppresses the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice by inhibiting p300 histone acetyltransferase activity.

3,3',4',5,7-Pentahydroxyflavone-3-rhamnoglucoside (rutin) is a flavonoid with a wide range of pharmacological activities. Dietary rutin is hardly absorbed because the microflora in the large intestine metabolize rutin into a variety of compounds including quercetin and phenol derivatives such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenolacetic acid (DHPAA), 3,4-dihydroxytoluene (DHT), 3,4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (HPAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA). We examined the potential of rutin and its metabolites as novel histone acetyltransferase (HAT) inhibitors. DHPAA, HPAA and DHT at the concentration of 25 µM significantly inhibited in vitro HAT activity with DHT having the strongest inhibitory activity. Furthermore, DHT was shown to be a highly efficient inhibitor of p300 HAT activity, which corresponded with its high degree of inhibition on intracellular lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. Docking simulation revealed that DHT was bound to the p300 catalytic pocket, bromodomain. Drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) analysis further supported the possibility of direct binding between DHT and p300. In HepG2 cells, DHT concentration-dependently abrogated p300-histone binding and induced hypoacetylation of histone subunits H3K9, H3K36, H4K8 and H4K16, eventually leading to the downregulation of lipogenesis-related genes and attenuating lipid accumulation. In ob/ob mice, administration of DHT (10, 20 mg/kg, iv, every other day for 6 weeks) dose-dependently improved the NAFLD pathogenic features including body weight, liver mass, fat mass, lipid accumulation in the liver, and biochemical blood parameters, accompanied by the decreased mRNA expression of lipogenic genes in the liver. Our results demonstrate that DHT, a novel p300 histone acetyltransferase inhibitor, may be a potential preventive or therapeutic agent for NAFLD.

Butyrate production and purification by combining dry fermentation of food waste with a microbial fuel cell.

This study developed and evaluated a high-purity butyrate producing bioprocess from food waste by combining dry fermentation (DF) with a microbial fuel cell (MFC). Acclimatization of a DF reactor with an enrichment culture resulted in high food waste degradation (VS removed, %) and butyrate production. A high VS degradation of 81%, butyrate concentration of up to 24 gCODbutyrate/L and butyrate yields of 497 gCODbutyrate/kg VSadded was obtained in the DF reactor. As a result, butyrate comprised 83% of all short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the DF broth. Acetate (10%) and propionate (7%) comprised the rest of the SCFA. The butyrate composition was further purified by feeding the DF broth to a multi-electrode MFC enriched with anode respiring bacteria (ARB) such as Geobacter sp. (>55%). The ARB in the MFC removed acetate and propionate while purified butyrate was recovered in the MFC effluent. Butyrate purity in the MFC effluent reached as high as 99% at hydraulic retention time of 72 h. Along with butyrate purification, the MFC produced electric power in a range of 0.1-0.6 Wh/gCODbutyraterecovered (or 0.01-7.85 kWh/ton of food waste), demonstrating that MFCs can be an energy-positive butyrate purification bioprocess.

Piceatannol reduces resistance to statins in hypercholesterolemia by reducing PCSK9 expression through p300 acetyltransferase inhibition.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of piceatannol (PT) in statin (rosuvastatin and simvastatin) resistance and tolerance and its association with PCSK9 expression via its p300 inhibitory (p300i) activity. An in vitro study was performed using HepG2 cells that were exposed to statins (rosuvastatin or simvastatin) with or without PT in delipidated serum (DLPS) medium. In the statin exposed conditions, PCSK9 expression was reduced following PT treatment when compared to HepG2 cells w/o PT treatment. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in the expression of the transcription factors SREBP2 and HNF1α, which regulate PCSK9 expression. This resulted in low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) stabilization and reduced cellular cholesterol levels. This indicates that PT epigenetically controls statin-induced PCSK9 expression. Interestingly, PT attenuated p300 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity. Moreover, simulation of PT-p300 binding suggested that PT inhibits p300 as PT could be docked in the p300 HAT domain. Furthermore, inhibition of p300 HAT activity using C-646, a selective p300 inhibitor, or through an siRNA system effectively reduced PCSK9 induction upon statin exposure in HepG2 cells. The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays revealed that PT blocked the recruitment of p300 to the PCSK9 promoter region. In summary, PT attenuated statin-induced PCSK9 expression by inhibiting p300 HAT activity. Finally, co-administration of simvastatin and PT for 10 weeks further reduced plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and stabilized the hepatic LDLR protein level compared with those resulting from single treatment of simvastatin in a high-fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemia mouse model. Our findings indicate that PT is a new nutraceutical candidate to reduce the statin resistance and tolerance that occurs in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 is involved in Nε-(carboxymethyl)-lysine-mediated diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease in the world. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of DN via multifactorial mechanisms including the generation of oxidative stress and overproduction of various growth factors and cytokines. AGEs are heterogeneous cross-linked sugar-derived proteins, and Nε-(carboxymethyl)-lysine (CML)-conjugated BSA is a major component of AGEs. However, the proteins involved in DN induction by CML have never been reported. Herein, we investigated specific protein regulators of AGE-mediated DN via proteomic analysis of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice kidneys. We identified 937, 976, and 870 proteins in control, STZ, and STZ + CML-BSA samples, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis identified several CML-mediated proteins potentially involved in kidney damage, activation of fatty acid oxidation (FAO), and mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, we identified the CML-specific differential protein carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2), related to FAO. To confirm the effect of CPT2 and the CML-mediated mechanism, human renal tubular HK-2 cells were treated with CML-BSA and cpt2 siRNA, and examined for FAO-mediated fibrosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. CML-BSA and CPT2 knockdown induced fibrosis-related gene expression and damage to mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, CPT2 overexpression recovered CML-induced fibrosis-related gene expression. Based on these results, a decrease in CML-induced CPT2 expression causes mitochondrial FAO damage, leading to renal fibrosis and DN.

Determination of glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and diacetyl in red ginseng products using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with GC-MS.

A simple and rapid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry was applied for the determination of glyoxal as quinoxaline, methylglyoxal as 2-methylquinoxaline, and diacetyl as 2,3-dimethylquinoxaline in red ginseng products. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated under optimum extraction conditions (extraction solvent: chloroform 100 µL, disperser solvent: methanol 200 µL, derivatizing agent concentration: 5 g/L, reaction time: 1 h, and no addition of salt). The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 1.30 and 4.33 µg/L for glyoxal, 1.86 and 6.20 µg/L for methylglyoxal, and 1.45 and 4.82 µg/L for diacetyl. The intra- and interday relative standard deviations were <4.95 and 5.80%, respectively. The relative recoveries were 92.4-103.9% in red ginseng concentrate and 99.4-110.7% in juice samples. Red ginseng concentrates were found to contain 191-4274 µg/kg of glyoxal, 1336-4798 µg/kg of methylglyoxal, and 0-830 µg/kg of diacetyl, whereas for red ginseng juices, the respective concentrations were 72-865, 69-3613, and 6-344 µg/L.

Forward Osmosis Membranes under Null-Pressure Condition: Do Hydraulic and Osmotic Pressures Have Identical Nature?

Forward osmosis (FO) membranes fall into the category of nonporous membranes, based on the assumption that water and solute transport occur solely based on diffusion. The solution-diffusion (S-D) model has been widely used in predicting their performances in the coexistence of hydraulic and osmotic driving forces, a model that postulates the hydraulic and osmotic driving forces have identical nature. It was suggested, however, such membranes may have pores and mass transport could occur both by convection (i.e., volumetric flow) as well as by diffusion assuming that the dense active layer of the membranes is composed of a nonporous structure with defects which induce volumetric flow through the membranes. In addition, the positron annihilation technique has revealed that the active layers can involve relatively uniform porous structures. As such, the assumption of a nonporous active layer in association with hydraulic pressure is questionable. To validate this assumption, we have tested FO membranes under the conditions where hydraulic and osmotic pressures are equivalent yet in opposite directions for water transport, namely the null-pressure condition. We have also established a practically valid characterization method which quantifies the vulnerability of the FO membranes to hydraulic pressure.

Large-scale machine learning of media outlets for understanding public reactions to nation-wide viral infection outbreaks.

From May to July 2015, there was a nation-wide outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in Korea. MERS is caused by MERS-CoV, an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family Coronaviridae. Despite expert opinions that the danger of MERS might be exaggerated, there was an overreaction by the public according to the Korean mass media, which led to a noticeable reduction in social and economic activities during the outbreak. To explain this phenomenon, we presumed that machine learning-based analysis of media outlets would be helpful and collected a number of Korean mass media articles and short-text comments produced during the 10-week outbreak. To process and analyze the collected data (over 86 million words in total) effectively, we created a methodology composed of machine-learning and information-theoretic approaches. Our proposal included techniques for extracting emotions from emoticons and Internet slang, which allowed us to significantly (approximately 73%) increase the number of emotion-bearing texts needed for robust sentiment analysis of social media. As a result, we discovered a plausible explanation for the public overreaction to MERS in terms of the interplay between the disease, mass media, and public emotions.

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with in situ derivatization coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for the determination of 4-methylimidazole in red ginseng products containing caramel colors.

A rapid analytical method was developed for the determination of 4-methylimidazole from red ginseng products containing caramel colors by using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with in situ derivatization followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Chloroform and acetonitrile were selected as the extraction and dispersive solvents, and based on the extraction efficiency, their optimum volumes were 200 and 100 µL, respectively. The optimum volumes of the derivatizing agent (isobutyl chloroformate) and catalyst (pyridine), pH, and concentration of NaCl in the sample solution were determined to be 25 and 100 µL, pH 7.6, and 0% w/v, respectively. Validation of the optimized method showed good linearity (R2  > 0.999), accuracy (≥89.86%), intra- (≤6.70%) and interday (≤4.17%) repeatability, limit of detection (0.96 µg/L), and limit of quantification (5.79 µg/L). The validated method was applied to quantify 4-methylimidazole in red ginseng juices and concentrates, 4-methylimidazole was only found in red ginseng juices containing caramel colorant (42.91-2863.4 µg/L) and detected in red ginseng concentrates containing >1% caramel colorant.

Identification of volatile markers for the detection of adulterants in red ginseng (Panax ginseng) juice using headspace stir-bar sorptive extraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Red ginseng (Panax ginseng) products are frequently adulterated by manufacturers with cheaper medicinal plant products including deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata) and doraji (Platycodon grandiflorum) to increase profits. To identify possible volatile markers for the adulteration of red ginseng juices with deodeok or doraji, a headspace stir-bar sorptive extraction method was developed. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that 1-hexanol, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, and trans-2-hexen-1-ol are abundantly present in deodeok and doraji but not red ginseng. The peak area ratios in gas chromatograms of these compounds in red ginseng juices mixed with deodeok or doraji indicate that these volatile chemicals can be used as markers to detect the adulteration of red ginseng juice.

Rice bran supplement prevents UVB-induced skin photoaging in vivo.

Although rice bran consumption is reportedly has numerous beneficial effects on human health, the relationship between rice bran and the prevention of photoaging has not been investigated in detail. We sought to investigate whether consumption of rice bran supplement (RBS) can elicit preventive effects against UVB-induced photoaging in vivo. Dorsal skin sections of hairless mice were exposed to UVB over 16 weeks. RBS consumption suppressed UVB-induced wrinkle formation and inhibited the loss of water content and epidermal thickening in the mouse skin. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that repeated exposure to UVB upregulated matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, while consumption of RBS suppressed MMP-13 and COX-2 expression, as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. These findings suggest that RBS could be a potential bioactive ingredient in nutricosmetics to inhibit wrinkle formation and water content loss via the suppression of COX-2 and MMP-13 expression.

Prosthecobacter algae sp. nov., isolated from activated sludge using algal metabolites.

A Gram-stain-negative, fusiform-shaped, facultatively anaerobic bacterial strain, designated EBTL04(T), was isolated from activated sludge using algal metabolites and taxonomically characterized through polyphasic investigation. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain EBTL04(T) belongs to the family Verrucomicrobiaceae, class Verrucomicrobiae, and is closely related to Prosthecobacter dejongeii DSM 12251(T) (98.6 % sequence similarity), Prosthecobacter fusiformis ATCC 25309(T) (97.9 %), Prosthecobacter debontii DSM 14044(T) (97.5%), Prosthecobacter vanneervenii DSM 12252(T) (94.7%) and Prosthecobacter fluviatilis KCTC 22182(T) (93.7%). The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain EBTL04(T) was 62.7 mol%. The menaquinone MK-6 was detected as the predominant quinone. Strain EBTL04(T) contained phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylserine as major polar lipids. A fatty acid profile with C(16 : 1)ω5c, iso-C(14 : 0), C(16 : 0), anteiso-C(15 : 0) and C(14 : 0) as the major components supported the classification of strain EBTL04(T) in the genus Prosthecobacter. Based on several phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain EBTL04(T) was clearly differentiated from its phylogenetic neighbours. Therefore, strain EBTL04(T) should be considered to represent a novel species of the genus Prosthecobacter, for which the name Prosthecobacter algae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EBTL04(T) ( = KCTC 23681(T) = JCM 18053(T)).

Effect of Environmental and Socioeconomic Factors on Increased Early Childhood Blood Lead Levels: A Case Study in Chicago.

This study analyzes the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in children across Chicagoland zip codes from 2019 to 2021, linking them to socioeconomic, environmental, and racial factors. Wilcoxon tests and generalized additive model (GAM) regressions identified economic hardship, reflected in per capita income and unemployment rates, as a significant contributor to increased lead poisoning (LP) rates. Additionally, LP rates correlate with the average age of buildings, particularly post the 1978 lead paint ban, illustrating policy impacts on health outcomes. The study further explores the novel area of land surface temperature (LST) effects on LP, finding that higher nighttime LST, indicative of urban heat island effects, correlates with increased LP. This finding gains additional significance in the context of anthropogenic climate change. When these factors are combined with the ongoing expansion of urban territories, a significant risk exists of escalating LP rates on a global scale. Racial disparity analysis revealed that Black and Hispanic/Latino populations face higher LP rates, primarily due to unemployment and older housing. The study underscores the necessity for targeted public health strategies to address these disparities, emphasizing the need for interventions that cater to the unique challenges of these at-risk communities.

Determination of toxic α-dicarbonyl compounds in sesame oils using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and diacetyl are toxic α-dicarbonyl compounds found in heat-processed foods, including edible oils. Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction was combined with gas chromatography mass spectrometry to determine the glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and diacetyl contents in sesame oil. Chloroform and methanol were selected as the optimal extraction and dispersive solvents, respectively. The maximum derivatization efficiency was obtained using 500 µg of the derivatization agent, o-phenylenediamine. The derivatization of glyoxal was completed in 1 h, whereas those of methylglyoxal and diacetyl were completed immediately. The optimized method was validated, and was found to exhibit a good linearity, recovery, intraday repeatability, and interday reproducibility. The α-dicarbonyl compound concentrations in the oils were dependent on the roasting temperature. The sesame oil concentrates contained 0-175.4, 0-990.5, and 0-220.9 ng g-1 of glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and diacetyl, respectively. For the perilla oils, the respective concentrations were 0-96.4, 0-410.8, and 0-197.5 ng g-1.

Actinidia arguta Extract Containing Myo-Inositol Suppresses TNF-α-Induced VCAM-1 Expression and Monocyte Adhesion to Endothelial Cells via Inhibition of the PTEN/Akt/GSK-3ß and NF-κB Signaling Pathways.

The primary inflammatory process in atherosclerosis, a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, begins with monocyte adhering to vascular endothelial cells. Actinidia arguta (kiwiberry) is an edible fruit that contains various bioactive components. While A. arguta extract (AAE) has been recognized for its anti-inflammatory characteristics, its specific inhibitory effect on early atherogenic events has not been clarified. We used tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) for an in vitro model. AAE effectively hindered the attachment of THP-1 monocytes and reduced the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in HUVECs. Transcriptome analysis revealed that AAE treatment upregulated phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), subsequently inhibiting phosphorylation of AKT and glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß) in HUVECs. AAE further hindered phosphorylation of AKT downstream of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, leading to suppression of target gene expression. Oral administration of AAE suppressed TNF-α-stimulated VCAM-1 expression, monocyte-derived macrophage infiltration, and proinflammatory cytokine expression in C57BL/6 mouse aortas. Myo-inositol, identified as the major compound in AAE, played a key role in suppressing THP-1 monocyte adhesion in HUVECs. These findings suggest that AAE could serve as a nutraceutical for preventing atherosclerosis by inhibiting its initial pathogenesis.