Gochujang, a traditional Korean fermented food, protects through suppressed inflammatory pathways and histological structure disruption in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice.

The mechanisms underlying chronic inflammatory diseases remain unclear. Therefore, researchers have explored the mechanisms underlying colitis using diverse materials. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in fermented products and bioconversion materials, their potential efficacy is being actively studied. Gochujang, a traditional Korean fermented product, is crafted by blending fermented Meju powder, gochu (Korean chili) powder, glutinous rice, and salt. In our study, we explored the effectiveness of Gochujang (500 mg/kg; Cheongju and Hongcheon, Korea) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice model. Gochujang was orally administered for 2 weeks, followed by the induction of colitis using 3% DSS in the previous week. During our investigation, Gochujang variants (TCG22-25, Cheongju and TCG22-48, Hongcheon) did not exhibit significant inhibition of weight reduction (p = 0.061) but notably (p = 0.001) suppressed the reduction in large intestine length in DSS-induced colitis mice. In the serum from colitis mice, TCG22-48 demonstrated reduced levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 (p = 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (p = 0.001). Additionally, it inhibited the phosphorylation of Erk (p = 0.028), p38, and NF-κB (p = 0.001) the inflammatory mechanism. In our study, TCG22-25 demonstrated a reduction in the IL-6 level (p = 0.001) in serum and inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 and NF-κB (p = 0.001). Histological analysis revealed a significant (p = 0.001) reduction in the pathological score of the large intestine from TCG22-25 and TCG22-48. In conclusion, the intake of Gochujang demonstrates potent anti-inflammatory effects, mitigating colitis by preventing the large intestine length reduction of animals with colitis, lowering serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines, and inhibiting histological disruption and inflammatory mechanism phosphorylation.

[Structural Equation Modeling of Health Promotion Behavior on Migrant Workers: A Multi-Group Analysis Based on the Period of Residence].

PURPOSE: This study developed and tested a hypothetical model of health promotion behavior on migrant workers based on the Health Promotion Model and the Health Literacy Skills Framework. METHODS: Data were collected from 298 migrant workers in 9 regions across the country from December 2020 to March 2021. The exogenous variables were e-health literacy, occupational stress, acculturation, and social support. The endogenous variables were perceived benefits of action, self-efficacy, and health promotion behavior. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 25.0, AMOS 20.0, and R-4.0.3 program. RESULTS: The model fit was appropriate. Social support had the most significant direct impact on the health promotion behavior of migrant workers. Perceived benefits of action and self-efficacy played a mediating role in the relationship among e-health literacy, social support, and health promotion behavior. Based on multi-group analysis, the migrant worker group with less than 5 years of residency had a more statistically significant effect on the relationship between perceived benefits of action and health promotion behavior than those with over 5 years. CONCLUSION: Providing social support as a critical administrative strategy to enhance the health promotion behavior of migrant workers is necessary. Furthermore, when developing an intervention program utilizing the internal mechanism between social support and health promotion behavior, a self-efficacy-enhancing strategy is considered to be more effective. Additionally, educating migrant workers with short-term residence of less than 5 years about the benefits of health behaviors is essential.

Ammonia and Particulate Matter Emissions at a Korean Commercial Pig Farm and Influencing Factors.

Quantifying emission factors of ammonia and particulate matter (PM) in livestock production systems is crucial for assessing and mitigating the environmental impact of animal production and for ensuring industry sustainability. This study aimed to determine emission factors of ammonia, total suspended particles (TSPs), PM10, and PM2.5 for piglets and growing-finishing pigs at a commercial pig farm in Korea. It also sought to identify factors influencing these emission factors. The research found that the emission factors measured were generally lower than those currently used in Korea, but were consistent with findings from individual research studies in the literature. Seasonal variations were observed, with ammonia emissions peaking in spring and autumn, and PM emissions rising in summer. Correlation analyses indicated that the number of animals and their average age correlated positively with both ammonia and PM emission factors. Ventilation rate was also positively correlated with PM emissions. Future extended field measurements across diverse pig farms will offer deeper insights into the emission factors of pig farms in Korea, guiding the development of sustainable livestock management practices.

The Effect of the Mixed Extract of Kalopanax pictus Nakai and Achyranthes japonica Nakai on the Improvement of Degenerative Osteoarthritis through Inflammation Inhibition in the Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Mouse Model.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and, due to the lack of fundamental treatment, the main objective is to alleviate pain and prevent cartilage damage. Kalopanax pictus Nakai and Achyranthes japonica Nakai are herbal plants known for their excellent anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study is to confirm the potential of a mixture extract of Kalopanax pictus Nakai and Achyranthes japonica Nakai as a functional raw material for improving osteoarthritis through anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages and MIA-induced arthritis experimental animals. In macrophages inflamed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), treatment of Kalopanax pictus Nakai and Achyranthes japonica Nakai mixture inhibits NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities, thereby inhibiting inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), inflammatory factors PGE2, MMP-2, and MMP-9, and nitric oxide (NO) was reduced. In addition, in an animal model of arthritis induced by MIA (monosodium iodoacetate), administration of Kalopanax pictus Nakai and Achyranthes japonica Nakai mixture reduced blood levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, inflammatory factors prostaglandin E2(PGE2), matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2), and NO. Through these anti-inflammatory effects, MIA-induced pain reduction (recovery of clinical index, increase in weight bearing, and increase in area and width of the foot), recovery of meniscus damage, loss of cartilage tissue or inflammatory cells in tissue infiltration reduction, and recovery of the proteglycan layer were confirmed. Therefore, it is considered that Kalopanax pictus Nakai and Achyranthes japonica Nakai mixture has the potential as a functional raw material that promotes joint health.

Evaluation of the microbiome composition in particulate matter inside and outside of pig houses.

Particulate matter (PM) produced in pig houses may contain microbes which can spread by airborne transmission, and PM and microbes in PM adversely affect human and animal health. To investigate the microbiome in PM from pig houses, nine PM samples were collected in summer 2020 inside and outside of pig houses located in Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do Province, Korea, comprising three PM samples from within a nursery pig house (I-NPH), three samples from within a finishing pig house (I-FPH), and three samples from outside of the pig houses (O-PH). Microbiomes were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Firmicutes was the most dominant phylum and accounted for 64.8%-97.5% of total sequences in all the samples, followed by Proteobacteria (1.4%-21.8%) and Bacteroidetes (0.3%-13.7%). In total, 31 genera were represented by > 0.3% of all sequences, and only Lactobacillus, Turicibacter, and Aerococcus differed significantly among the three PM sample types. All three genera were more abundant in the I-FPH samples than in the O-PH samples. Alpha diversity indices did not differ significantly among the three PM types, and a principal coordinate analysis suggested that overall microbial communities were similar across PM types. The concentration of PM did not significantly differ among the three PM types, and no significant correlation of PM concentration with the abundance of any potential pathogen was observed. The present study demonstrates that microbial composition in PM inside and outside of pig houses is similar, indicating that most microbe-containing PM inside pig houses leaks to the outside from where it, along with microbe-containing PM on the outside, may re-enter the pig houses. Our results may provide useful insights regarding strategies to mitigate potential risk associated with pig farming PM and pathogens in PM.

PRSS14/Epithin is induced in macrophages by the IFN-γ/JAK/STAT pathway and mediates transendothelial migration.

PRSS14/Epithin (also known as matriptase and ST14), a member of the type II transmembrane serine proteases, is primarily found in a subpopulation of normal epithelial cells and in epithelial cancers. Its known functions include maintaining the epithelial barrier, thymic development, and cancer progression. In this study, we show that several macrophage cell lines and activated bone marrow-derived macrophages also express PRSS14/Epithin. Surface expression, as well as cytoplasmic expression, was detectable upon activation by IFN-γ, but not TNF-α or TGF-ß. Induction of the protein appeared to be restricted to macrophages. IFN-γ showed a biphasic regulation in RAW264.7 cells, and upregulated expression was sustained for several days. This induction by IFN-γ was partially through the increase of PRSS14/Epithin mRNA production, which is downstream of the JAK pathway, shown by the inhibition by tyrphostin AG490. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we verified that two sites among six putative STAT1 binding sites in the PRSS14/Epithin promoter were occupied by STAT1 upon activation. Treatment with IFN-γ enhanced the serum-triggered transendothelial migration of RAW264.7 cells, but not that of PRSS14/Epithin knock-down RAW264.7 cells, although they express multiple markers such as ICAM1, CD80, and CD40 at normal levels. These data strongly suggest that PRSS14/Epithin plays an important role in the transendothelial migration of activated macrophages in the inflammatory microenvironment, and the mode of action is similar to the events in cancer metastasis.