Far-infrared irradiation increases the uptake of LDL cholesterol by downregulating PCSK9 through the activation of TRPV4 calcium channels in HepG2 cells.

This study investigated the effects of far-infrared (FIR) irradiation on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) uptake by human hepatocellular carcinoma G2 (HepG2) cells via the regulation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). FIR irradiation for 30 min significantly decreased PCSK9 expression (p < 0.01) in HepG2 cells. FIR irradiation substantially increased the low-density lipoprotein receptor (p < 0.0001) and LDL-C uptake (p < 0.01). Activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels mimicked the effects of FIR irradiation, significantly decreasing the protein expression of PCSK9 (p < 0.05). Conversely, inhibition of TRP channels using ruthenium red reversed the reduction in PCSK9 protein expression following FIR irradiation (p < 0.01). The specific activation of TRPV4 using 4α-PDD mimicked the effect of FIR irradiation (p < 0.01), whereas PCSK9 reduction by FIR irradiation was significantly reversed by the inhibition of TRPV4 using RN1734 (p < 0.05). These findings implied that FIR irradiation emitted from a ceramic lamp specifically increased TRPV4 activity. These findings provide insights into a novel therapeutic approach using FIR irradiation for LDL-C regulation and its implications for cardiovascular health.

Increased Mobility and Reduced Hysteresis of MoS2 Field-Effect Transistors via Direct Surface Precipitation of CsPbBr3-Nanoclusters for Charge Transfer Doping.

Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have been investigated for various applications, owing to their unique physical properties and excellent optoelectronic functionalities. TMD monolayers synthesized via chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which are advantageous for large-area synthesis, exhibit low mobility and prominent hysteresis in the electrical signals of field-effect transistors (FETs) because of their native defects. In this study, we demonstrate an increase in electrical mobility by ∼170 times and reduced hysteresis in the current-bias curves of MoS2 FETs hybridized with CsPbBr3 for charge transfer doping, which is implemented via solution-based CsPbBr3-nanocluster precipitation on CVD-grown MoS2 monolayer FETs. Electrons injected from CsPbBr3 into MoS2 induce heavy n-doping and heal point defects in the MoS2 channel layer, thus significantly increasing mobility and reducing hysteresis in the hybrid FETs. Our results provide a foundation for improving the reliability and performance of TMD-based FETs by hybridizing them with solution-based perovskites.

Reliable synaptic plasticity of InGaZnO transistor with TiO2interlayer.

We demonstrate an InGaZnO (IGZO)-based synaptic transistor with a TiO2buffer layer. The structure of the synaptic transistor with TiO2inserted between the Ti metal electrode and an IGZO semiconductor channel O2trapping layer produces a large hysteresis window, which is crucial for achieving synaptic functionality. The Ti/TiO2/IGZO synaptic transistor exhibits reliable synaptic plasticity features such as excitatory post-synaptic current, paired-pulse facilitation, and potentiation and depression, originating from the reversible charge trapping and detrapping in the TiO2layer. Finally, the pattern recognition accuracy of Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology handwritten digit images was modeled using CrossSim simulation software. The simulation results present a high image recognition accuracy of ∼89%. Therefore, this simple approach using an oxide buffer layer can aid the implementation of high-performance synaptic devices for neuromorphic computing systems.

Oleracone F Alleviates Cognitive Impairment and Neuropathology in APPswe/PSEN1dE9 Mice by Reducing the Expression of Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule and Leukocyte Adhesion to Brain Vascular Endothelial Cells.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the blood-brain barrier dysfunction has been suggested as a key pathological feature of the disease. Our research group successfully established a synthetic protocol for oleracones, a novel series of flavonoids isolated from the plant extract of Portulaca oleracea L. (PO). PO extract was reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, enhancing cognitive function. Thus, we investigated the effects and mechanism of oleracones on cognition using AD model transgenic mice (Tg; APPswe/PSEN1dE9). Oleracone F treatment significantly improved memory dysfunction in Tg mice. Oleracone F decreased the number, burden, and immunoreactivity of amyloid plaques and amyloid precursor protein (APP) protein levels in the brains of Tg mice compared to wild-type mice. Oleracone F also alleviated inflammation observed in Tg mice brains. In vitro studies in human microvascular endothelial cells (HBMVECs) demonstrated that oleracones D, E, and F blocked the elevations in VCAM-1 protein induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), hindering leukocyte adhesion to HBMVECs. Taken together, our results suggest that oleracones ameliorated cognitive impairment by blocking TNF-α-induced increases in VCAM-1, thereby reducing leukocyte infiltration to the brain and modulating brain inflammation.

Indolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole-Derived Narrowband Violet-Blue Fluorophores: Tuning the Optical and Electroluminescence Properties by Chromophore Juggling.

The development of rigid polyaromatic building blocks for narrowband violet fluorophores has received tremendous attention. Herein, we designed and synthesized two new triangle-shaped rigid building blocks, namely, 2,5-di-tert-butylindolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole (tBuICz) and 2,11-di-tert-butylindolo[3,2,1-jk]carbazole-4-carbonitrile (tBuICzCN), and tethered them with different chromophores to yield a series of violet-blue fluorophores, viz., ICzTPA-ICzPICN, and studied their structure-function relationship. The appended chromophores and cyano unit played a vital role in controlling the optical and electrical properties of the compounds. Except triphenylamine-substituted derivatives, the compounds showed pure violet emission (λem ≤ 403 nm). Intriguingly, the compounds exhibited narrow-band emission with a full-width at half-maximum ≤ 40 nm, attributed to the rigidity of the ICz core. The emission of the compounds displayed positive solvatochromism, which is ascribed to the photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer in the excited state. The compounds revealed excellent thermal robustness with T5d ≥ 363 °C. The triphenylamine-featuring derivatives displayed a high-lying HOMO compared to their congeners due to their electron-rich nature. When we applied these materials in organic light-emitting diodes, ICzPI outperformed in the series with an EQEmax of 3.07% and a current efficiency of 1.04 cd/A. Notably, its CIEy ∼ 0.046 precisely matched with the Rec.2020 standard of deep-blue color (CIEy ∼ 0.046).

In-depth analysis on electrical parameters of floating gate IGZO synaptic transistor affecting pattern recognition accuracy.

The reliable conductance modulation of synaptic devices is key when implementing high-performance neuromorphic systems. Herein, we propose a floating gate IGZO synaptic device with an aluminum trapping layer to investigate the correlation between its diverse electrical parameters and pattern recognition accuracy. Basic synaptic properties such as excitatory postsynaptic current, paired pulse facilitation, long/short term memory, and long-term potentiation/depression are demonstrated in the IGZO synaptic transistor. The effects of pulse tuning conditions associated with the pulse voltage magnitude, interval, duration, and cycling number of the applied pulses on the conductance update are systematically investigated. It is discovered that both the nonlinearity of the conductance update and cycle-to-cycle variation should be critically considered using an artificial neural network simulator to ensure the high pattern recognition accuracy of Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology (MNIST) handwritten digit images. The highest recognition rate of the MNIST handwritten dataset is 94.06% for the most optimized pulse condition. Finally, a systematic study regarding the synaptic parameters must be performed to optimize the developed synapse device.

In-depth analysis on electrical parameters of floating gate IGZO synaptic transistor affecting pattern recognition accuracy.

The reliable conductance modulation of synaptic devices is key when implementing high-performance neuromorphic systems. Herein, we propose a floating gate indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) synaptic device with an aluminum trapping layer to investigate the correlation between its diverse electrical parameters and pattern recognition accuracy. Basic synaptic properties such as excitatory postsynaptic current, paired pulse facilitation, long/short term memory, and long-term potentiation/depression are demonstrated in the IGZO synaptic transistor. The effects of pulse tuning conditions associated with the pulse voltage magnitude, interval, duration, and cycling number of the applied pulses on the conductance update are systematically investigated. It is discovered that both the nonlinearity of the conductance update and cycle-to-cycle variation should be critically considered using an artificial neural network simulator to ensure the high pattern recognition accuracy of Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology (MNIST) handwritten digit images. The highest recognition rate of the MNIST handwritten dataset is 94.06% for the most optimized pulse condition. Finally, a systematic study regarding the synaptic parameters must be performed to optimize the developed synapse device.

Density-Dependent Differentiation of Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Parathyroid-Hormone-Releasing Cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into endoderm lineages, especially parathyroid-hormone (PTH)-releasing cells. We have previously reported that tonsil-derived MSC (T-MSC) can differentiate into PTH-releasing cells (T-MSC-PTHCs), which restored the parathyroid functions in parathyroidectomy (PTX) rats. In this study, we demonstrate quality optimization by standardizing the differentiation rate for a better clinical application of T-MSC-PTHCs to overcome donor-dependent variation of T-MSCs. Quantitation results of PTH mRNA copy number in the differentiated cells and the PTH concentration in the conditioned medium confirmed that the differentiation efficiency largely varied depending on the cells from each donor. In addition, the differentiation rate of the cells from all the donors greatly improved when differentiation was started at a high cell density (100% confluence). The large-scale expression profiling of T-MSC-PTHCs by RNA sequencing indicated that those genes involved in exiting the differentiation and the cell cycle were the major pathways for the differentiation of T-MSC-PTHCs. Furthermore, the implantation of the T-MSC-PTHCs, which were differentiated at a high cell density embedded in hyaluronic acid, resulted in a higher serum PTH in the PTX model. This standardized efficiency of differentiation into PTHC was achieved by initiating differentiation at a high cell density. Our findings provide a potential solution to overcome the limitations due to donor-dependent variation by establishing a standardized differentiation protocol for the clinical application of T-MSC therapy in treating hypoparathyroidism.

Symptom distress and quality of life among Black Americans with cancer and their family caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: Black Americans are disproportionately affected by cancer and chronic diseases. Black patients with cancer and their family caregivers may concurrently experience symptoms that influence their wellbeing. This study investigates the influence of mental and physical symptom distress on quality of life (QOL) among Black Americans with cancer and their family caregivers from a dyadic perspective. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-one dyads comprised of a Black American with breast, colorectal, lung or prostate cancer and a Black family caregiver were included in this secondary analysis of pooled baseline data from three studies. Self-reports of problems managing 13 symptoms were used to measure mental and physical symptom distress. Descriptive statistics and the actor-partner interdependence model were used to examine symptom prevalence and the influence of each person's symptom distress on their own and each other's QOL. RESULTS: Fatigue, sleep problems, pain and mental distress were prevalent. Patients and caregivers reported similar levels of mental distress; however, patients reported higher physical distress. Increased patient mental distress was associated with decreased patient QOL (overall, emotional, social, functional). Increased patient physical distress was associated with decreased patient QOL (overall, physical, emotional, functional) and decreased caregiver emotional wellbeing. Increased caregiver mental distress was associated with decreased caregiver QOL (overall, emotional, social, functional) and decreased patient overall QOL. Increased caregiver physical distress was associated with decreased caregiver QOL (overall, physical, functional), decreased patient emotional wellbeing, and better patient social wellbeing. CONCLUSIONS: Supporting symptom management in Black patient/caregiver dyads may improve their QOL.

Application of Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Tissue Regeneration: Concise Review.

Since the discovery of stem cells and multipotency characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), there has been tremendous development in regenerative medicine. MSCs derived from bone marrow have been widely used in various research applications, yet there are limitations such as invasiveness of obtaining samples, low yield and proliferation rate, and questions regarding their practicality in clinical applications. Some have suggested that MSCs from other sources, specifically those derived from palatine tonsil tissues, that is, tonsil-derived MSCs (TMSCs), could be considered as a new potential therapeutic tool in regenerative medicine due to their superior proliferation rate and differentiation capabilities with low immunogenicity and ease of obtaining. Several studies have determined that TMSCs have differentiation potential not only into the mesodermal lineage but also into the endodermal as well as ectodermal lineages, expanding their potential usage and placing them as an appealing option to consider for future studies in regenerative medicine. In this review, the differentiation capacities of TMSCs and their therapeutic competencies from past studies are addressed. Stem Cells 2019;37:1252-1260.

Chronic Disease Among African American Families: A Systematic Scoping Review.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic diseases are common among African Americans, but the extent to which research has focused on addressing chronic diseases across multiple members of African American families is unclear. This systematic scoping review summarizes the characteristics of research addressing coexisting chronic conditions among African American families, including guiding theories, conditions studied, types of relationships, study outcomes, and intervention research. METHODS: The literature search was conducted in PsycInfo, PubMed, Social Work Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, CINAHL, and Family and Society Studies Worldwide to identify relevant articles published from January 2000 through September 2016. We screened the title and abstracts of 9,170 articles, followed by full-text screening of 530 articles, resulting in a final sample of 114 articles. Fifty-seven percent (n = 65) of the articles cited a guiding theory/framework, with psychological theories (eg, social cognitive theory, transtheoretical model) being most prominent. The most common conditions studied in families were depression (70.2%), anxiety (23.7%), and diabetes (22.8%), with most articles focusing on a combination of physical and mental health conditions (47.4%). RESULTS: In the 114 studies in this review, adult family members were primarily the index person (71.1%, n = 81). The index condition, when identified (79.8%, n = 91), was more likely to be a physical health condition (46.5%, n = 53) than a mental health condition (29.8%, n = 34). Among 343 family relationships examined, immediate family relationships were overwhelmingly represented (85.4%, n = 293); however, extended family (12.0%, n = 41) and fictive kin (0.6%, n = 2) were included. Most (57.0%, n = 65) studies focused on a single category of outcomes, such as physical health (eg, obesity, glycemic control), mental health (eg, depression, anxiety, distress), psychosocial outcomes (eg, social support, caregiver burden), or health behaviors (eg, medication adherence, disease management, health care utilization); however, 43.0% (n = 49) of studies focused on outcomes across multiple categories. Sixteen intervention articles (14.0%) were identified, with depression the most common condition of interest. CONCLUSION: Recognizing the multiple, simultaneous health issues facing families through a lens of family comorbidity and family multimorbidity may more accurately mirror the lived experiences of many African American families and better elucidate intervention opportunities than previous approaches.

Far-Infrared Irradiation Inhibits Adipogenic Differentiation and Stimulates Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Role of Protein Phosphatase 2B.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Far-infrared (FIR) irradiation has been reported to exhibit various biological effects including improvement of cardiovascular function. However, its effect on the differentiation of stem cells has not been studied. Using tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSC), we examined whether and how FIR irradiation affects adipogenic or osteogenic differentiation. METHODS: TMSC were exposed to FIR irradiation (3-25 µm wavelength) for various times (0, 30, or 60 min), and then adipogenic or osteogenic differentiation was induced for 14 days with its respective commercially available differentiation medium. At the end of the differentiation, the cells were stained using Oil red O or Alizarin red S solution, and the expression of differentiation-specific proteins was analyzed by western blotting. RESULTS: FIR irradiation did not alter cell viability or the expression of MSC-specific surface antigens (CD14, CD34, CD45, CD73, CD90, and CD105) in TMSC. However, FIR irradiation significantly inhibited adipogenic differentiation of TMSC, as evidenced by decreased Oil red O staining as well as protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and fatty acid binding protein 4. In contrast, FIR irradiation induced osteogenic differentiation, as evidenced by increased Alizarin red S staining as well as protein expression of osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase. Treatment with heat alone did not inhibit the adipogenic differentiation of TMSC, suggesting that the inhibitory effect on adipogenic differentiation was not due to heat induced by FIR irradiation. However, heat alone did stimulate osteogenic differentiation, but to a lesser extent than FIR irradiation. Furthermore, FIR irradiation increased intracellular Ca²âº levels and the activity of protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B) in TMSC. Treatment with cyclosporin A, a specific PP2B inhibitor, reversed the inhibitory effect of FIR irradiation on adipogenic differentiation of TMSC, but had no effect on osteogenic differentiation. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that FIR irradiation inhibits adipogenic differentiation but enhances osteogenic differentiation of TMSC; the inhibitory effect on adipogenic differentiation is non-thermal and mediated at least in part by activation of Ca²âº-dependent PP2B.

Assessing interactions of binary mixtures of Penicillium mycotoxins (PMs) by using a bovine macrophage cell line (BoMacs).

Penicillium mycotoxins (PMs) are toxic contaminants commonly found as mixtures in animal feed. Therefore, it is important to investigate potential joint toxicity of PM mixtures. In the present study, we assessed the joint effect of binary combinations of the following PMs: citrinin (CIT), ochratoxin A (OTA), patulin (PAT), mycophenolic acid (MPA) and penicillic acid (PA) using independent action (IA) and concentration addition (CA) concepts. Previously published toxicity data (i.e. IC25; PM concentration that inhibited bovine macrophage (BoMacs) proliferation by 25%) were initially analyzed, and both concepts agreed that OTA+PA demonstrated synergism (p<0.05), while PAT+PA showed antagonism (p<0.05). When a follow-up dilution study was carried out using binary combinations of PMs at three different dilution levels (i.e. IC25, 0.5∗IC25, 0.25∗IC25), only the mixture of CIT+OTA at 0.5∗IC25 was determined to have synergism by both IA and CA concepts with Model Deviation Ratios (MDRs; the ratio of predicted versus observed effect concentrations) of 1.4 and 1.7, respectively. The joint effect of OTA+MPA, OTA+PA and CIT+PAT complied with the IA concept, while CIT+PA, PAT+MPA and PAT+PA were better predicted with the CA over the IA concept. The present study suggests to test both IA and CA concepts using multiple doses when assessing risk of mycotoxin mixtures if the mode of action is unknown. In addition, the study showed that the tested PMs could be predicted by IA or CA within an approximate two-fold certainty, raising the possibility for a joint risk assessment of mycotoxins in food and feed.

Association between phthalate exposure and lower handgrip strength in an elderly population: a repeated-measures study.

BACKGROUND: Decreased muscle strength can lead to adverse health outcomes in the elderly. A potential association between phthalate exposure and muscle strength was suggested previously, but has not been investigated directly. We hypothesized that phthalate exposure is associated with lower handgrip strength and that the association is modified by the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. METHODS: We analyzed 1,228 participants (≥60 years of age) recruited in Seoul and Asan, Republic of Korea. The study participants were surveyed up to three times between 2012 and 2015. At every survey, we collected urine samples and measured handgrip strength twice for each hand. The associations between urine phthalate metabolite concentrations and handgrip strength were evaluated using linear mixed models. Based on dietary information from 391 individuals who participated in the first survey in Seoul, we evaluated the heterogeneity of the association for those with high and low omega-6 to omega-3 ratios, using 8.81 (the 75th quantile) as a cutoff value. RESULTS: Log-transformed creatinine-adjusted concentrations of mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate (MEOHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) were inversely associated with all measured handgrip strengths (ß = -0.69 to -0.42, all p-values < 0.05). Associations between phthalate biomarkers and handgrip strength did not differ by sex. When the dietary subgroup was stratified by the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, the associations were stronger among participants with high ratios. CONCLUSIONS: We found inverse associations between phthalate biomarkers and handgrip strength in the elderly; this association was modified by the dietary omega-6 to omega-3 ratio.

Estimation of Total and Inorganic Arsenic Intake from the Diet in Korean Adults.

Arsenic (As) is a major environmental pollutant and a known human carcinogen that is widely distributed in the air, soil, and water. General population is mainly exposed to As through drinking water and food from the contaminated water and soil. Arsenic in drinking water is generally well controlled now. This study was performed to estimate total and inorganic As intake and to determine the major contributing source in the Korean adult diet. The study subjects were 2117 healthy adults (922 males and 1195 females) who had not been occupationally exposed to As. Total dietary intake was studied using the 24-h recall method, which included 138 specific food items. The estimates of total As and inorganic As intake were based on total and inorganic As contents in each food item consumed during the last 24 h. Daily dietary intake was estimated to be 1373.6 g. Total As intake was estimated to be 145.4 µg As/day. Total dietary As intake was correlated with consumption of fish/shellfish, seaweeds, and grains. Approximately 87% of total dietary As intake was attributed to seafood, such as 105.5 µg As/day from fish/shellfish and 20.5 µg As/day from seaweeds. Inorganic As intake was estimated to be 10.4 µg As per day. Inorganic As intake was mainly provided by grains (6.4 µg As/day), followed by seaweeds and fish/shellfish. Our results indicate that seafood and grains are the main As dietary sources in Korean adults and that dietary As exposure may be associated with individual dietary habits and environmental As contamination among countries.

Modification of additive effect between vitamins and ETS on childhood asthma risk according to GSTP1 polymorphism: a cross -sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation, and bronchial airways are particularly susceptible to oxidant-induced tissue damage. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of dietary antioxidant intake and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on the risk of childhood asthma according to genotypes susceptible to airway diseases. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1124 elementary school children aged 7-12 years old. Asthma symptoms and smoking history were measured using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Intake of vitamin A (including retinol and ß-carotene), C, and E was measured by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). GSTP1 polymorphisms were genotyped from peripheral blood samples. RESULTS: ETS was significantly associated with presence of asthma symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.48; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.29-4.76) and diagnosis (aOR, 1.91; 95 % CI, 1.19-3.06). Dietary antioxidant intake was not associated with asthma symptoms, although ETS plus low vitamin A intake showed a significant positive association with asthma diagnosis (aOR, 2.23; 95 % CI, 1.10-4.54). Children with AA at nucleotide 1695 in GSTP1 who had been exposed to ETS and a low vitamin A intake have an increased risk of asthma diagnosis (aOR, 4.44; 95 % CI,1.58-12.52) compared with children who had not been exposed to the two risk factors. However, ETS exposure and low vitamin A intake did not significantly increase odds of asthma diagnosis in children with AG or GG genotypes. CONCLUSION: Low vitamin A intake and ETS exposure may increase oxidative stress and thereby risk for childhood asthma. These relationships may be modified by gene susceptibility alleles of GSTP1.

Dietary patterns and weight status associated with behavioural problems in young children.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations of behavioural problems with dietary patterns and weight status in young children. DESIGN: We assessed poor social skills and behavioural problems with a seventy-six-item Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scale (PKBS) and found three dietary patterns ('Korean healthy', 'animal foods' and 'sweets') in food/food group intake data assessed by an FFQ and analysed using factor analysis. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association of diet and weight status with behaviour. SETTING: Pre-schools in the metropolitan areas of Korea. SUBJECTS: A total of 1458 children (mean age 5·2 (sd 0·9) years) from the Practical Approach for Better Maternal and Child Nutrition and Health Study conducted from 2001 to 2005. RESULTS: The 'Korean healthy' pattern showed a significant inverse association with poor social skills in the second highest quartile group (OR = 0·42; 95 % CI 0·21, 0·82) compared with the lowest quartile group for boys. For girls, the 'sweets' pattern was associated with a greater risk of poor social skills (OR = 3·41; 95 % CI 1·29, 9·01 at Q4 v. Q1) and problem behaviours (OR = 2·80; 95 % CI 1·05, 7·43 at Q4 v. Q1). Regarding weight status, both underweight and overweight boys had a higher risk of poor social skills than normal-weight boys. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary patterns and weight status are important indicators for the behaviour of young children. Healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns, underweight and overweight status, and gender differences should thus be considered for further studies.

Reference levels of blood mercury and association with metabolic syndrome in Korean adults.

PURPOSE: Mercury (Hg) is a nonessential and toxic metal that is widely distributed in the environment. This study was performed to estimate the representative blood Hg level, to determine the contributing factors to Hg exposure, and to analyze the association of blood Hg with metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. METHODS: Mercury exposure is assessed by total Hg concentration in blood. A total of 2,114 healthy adults who have not been exposed to Hg occupationally were sampled by the multistaged, sex-, and age-stratified probability method. Information was collected regarding the subjects' demographic characteristics, lifestyles, and past medical history. The participants then underwent physical examination and blood sampling. RESULTS: The geometric mean concentration of Hg in whole blood was 3.90 µg/L, which was significantly influenced by sex, age, smoking, alcoholic consumption, residence area, and seafood intake after adjustment for confounders. Significant increases in body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were observed according to the blood Hg levels after adjustment for covariates. Also, Hg exposure was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome and their components such as obesity and increased fasting glucose. CONCLUSION: The blood Hg level in Korean adults is higher than that in USA and other Western countries, while it is similar to or lower than that in other Asian countries. The blood Hg level is influenced by sociodemographic factors and individual lifestyles including dietary habits. Furthermore, blood Hg is associated with metabolic syndrome, in which Hg exposure may play a role as a possible risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

The Cohort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases (COCOA) study: design, rationale and methods.

BACKGROUND: This paper describes the background, aim, and design of a prospective birth-cohort study in Korea called the COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases (COCOA). COCOA objectives are to investigate the individual and interactive effects of genetics, perinatal environment, maternal lifestyle, and psychosocial stress of mother and child on pediatric susceptibility to allergic diseases. METHODS/DESIGN: The participants in COCOA represents a Korean inner-city population. Recruitment started on 19 November, 2007 and will continue until 31 December, 2015. Recruitment is performed at five medical centers and eight public-health centers for antenatal care located in Seoul. Participating mother-baby pairs are followed from before birth to adolescents. COCOA investigates whether the following five environmental variables contribute causally to the development and natural course of allergic diseases: (1) perinatal indoor factors (i.e. house-dust mite, bacterial endotoxin, tobacco smoking, and particulate matters 2.5 and 10), (2) perinatal outdoor pollutants, (3) maternal prenatal psychosocial stress and the child's neurodevelopment, (4) perinatal nutrition, and (5) perinatal microbiome. Cord blood and blood samples from the child are used to assess whether the child's genes and epigenetic changes influence allergic-disease susceptibility. Thus, COCOA aims to investigate the contributions of genetics, epigenetics, and various environmental factors in early life to allergic-disease susceptibility in later life. How these variables interact to shape allergic-disease susceptibility is also a key aim.The COCOA data collection schedule includes 11 routine standardized follow-up assessments of all children at 6 months and every year until 10 years of age, regardless of allergic-disease development. The mothers will complete multiple questionnaires to assess the baseline characteristics, the child's exposure to environmental factors, maternal pre- and post-natal psychological stress, and the child's neurodevelopment, nutritional status, and development of allergic and respiratory illnesses. The child's microbiome, genes, epigenetics, plasma cytokine levels, and neuropsychological status, the microbiome of the residence, and the levels of indoor and outdoor pollutants are measured by standard procedures. DISCUSSION: The COCOA study will improve our understanding of how individual genetic or environmental risk factors influence susceptibility to allergic disease and how these variables interact to shape the phenotype of allergic diseases.