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Background: Environmental exposure is characterized by low concentration, chronic, and complex exposure. Traditional epidemiological studies show limitations in reflecting these characteristics since they usually focus on a single or very limited number of exposure factors at a time. In this study, we adopted the methodology of environment-wide association study (EWAS) to figure out the association of human liver function with various environmentally hazardous substances. Methods: We analyzed 2,961 participants from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey Cycle 4 (2018-2020). Using generalized linear model (GLM) analysis, we analyzed the association of 72 variables with 3 liver function indices (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], and gamma glutamyl transferase [GGT]). Finally, we visualized our results with Manhattan plot. Results: In GLM analysis, perfluorooctanesulfonate were positively associated with ALT (odds ratio [OR]: 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-3.46; p adjusted = 0.0147) and perfluorodecanoic acid showed positive association with GGT (OR: 2.73; 95% CI: 1.36-5.5; p adjusted = 0.0256). Plasma mercury showed positive association with GGT (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.14-1.84; p adjusted = 0.0315). Using a plastic container while keeping food in the refrigerator was associated with elevated GGT compared to using a glass container (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.16-1.95; p adjusted = 0.0153). 2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate, showed a negative trend with all 3 indices, with AST (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.39-0.73; p adjusted = 0.00357), ALT (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.34-0.75; p adjusted = 0.036), GGT (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.4-0.76; p adjusted = 0.00697). Bisphenol S and frequent use of sunblock cream showed negative association with ALT (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.66-0.89), and GGT (OR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.11-0.55), respectively. Conclusions: We conducted an exploratory study on environmental exposure and human liver function. By using EWAS methodology, we identified 7 factors that could have potential association with liver function.
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BACKGROUND: Phthalates are one of renowned endocrine-disrupting chemicals, although inconsistent results are present around their effect on onset of menarche. Our hypothesis is that pre-pubertal exposure to phthalates is associated with acceleration of menarche. METHODS: We analyzed a total of 236 middle school (7th to 9th grade) girls from Korean National Environmental Health Survey 2015-2017. We used multiple linear regression to investigate impact of eight phthalate metabolites on age of menarche. We also conducted logistic regression to evaluate association between phthalate metabolite concentrations and early onset of menarche, adjusting for grade, maternal age of menarche and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: In linear regression analysis, no significant association was found for any phthalate metabolites. In logistic regression analysis, however, odds ratios (ORs) of early menarche were significantly increased for mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) and for sum of all phthalates. When compared to group with the lowest level, high concentration group for MnBP presented significantly increased odds of early menarche (OR: 2.09; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 4.23) after adjusting for grade, maternal age of menarche and BMI. Furthermore, high concentrations of sum of all phthalates were associated with significant increase of OR of early menarche (OR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.10, 4.49) after adjustment, compared to the lowest concentration group. CONCLUSIONS: Results of our study suggest that exposure to phthalates around puberty may be associated with increased risk of early menarche.
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BACKGROUND: Mental health problems are emerging issues in occupational safety and health, whereas the findings on the relationship between physical hazards and mental health are not consistent. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between physical hazard exposure and mental health outcomes including depression and anxiety. METHODS: We included 48,476 participants from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) in this study. The χ2 test and logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between physical hazard exposures and mental health. All statistical analyses were performed sex-specifically. RESULTS: In logistic regression analysis, the odds ratios (ORs) of depression were significantly increased in male workers who were exposed to vibration (severe OR: 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-1.95) and noise (severe OR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.49-2.48) whereas the ORs of depression were not significant in female workers from vibration (severe OR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.50-1.38) or noise exposure (severe OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 0.84-2.17). The ORs of anxiety were significantly increased in male workers with vibration (severe OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.43-2.15) and noise exposure (severe OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.69-2.63) whereas the OR between vibration and anxiety (severe OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 0.91-2.21) was not significant in female workers. High or low temperature exposure had significant associations with depression and anxiety in both male and female subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Results of our study suggest that physical hazard exposures may be associated with increased risk of mental health problems including depression and anxiety. These associations are more prominent in male workers in comparison with female workers.
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In cerebral ischemia, transmission by the inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is altered. This study was performed to determine whether blockade of GABA(A) receptor would affect regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in a focal ischemic area of the brain. Rats were anesthetized with isoflurane and mechanically ventilated. Fifteen minutes after a permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, one half of the rats were infused with bicuculline 1mg/kg/min iv for 2 min followed by 0.1mg/kg/min iv to the end of the experiment. The other half were infused with normal saline. At one hour after MCA occlusion, rCBF was determined using ¹4C-iodoantipyrine and BBB permeability was determined by measuring the transfer coefficient (Ki) of ¹4C-α-aminoisobutyric acid. With MCA occlusion, rCBF was decreased in the ischemic cortex (IC) (-70%) in the control rats. In the bicuculline treated rats, the rCBF of the IC was lower (-48%) than the contralateral cortex but higher than the rCBF of the IC of the control rats (+55%). MCA occlusion increased Ki in the IC of the control rats (+72%) and bicuculline administration increased Ki further (+53%) in the IC. Blockade of GABA(A) receptors did not significantly affect rCBF or BBB permeability in the non-ischemic brain regions under isoflurane anesthesia. Our data demonstrated that blockade of GABA(A) receptors increased rCBF and enhanced the BBB disruption in focal cerebral ischemia. Our data suggest that GABA(A) receptors are involved, at least in part, in modulating rCBF and BBB disruption in focal cerebral ischemia.
