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Phthalates and bisphenols (BPs) are well-known endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that are widely used in diverse consumer and personal care products. Despite their vulnerability, children are frequently exposed to phthalates and BPs in their surrounding environments. Although pre-school children spend most of their time in kindergarten, no comprehensive assessment of children’ exposure to EDCs has been conducted according to the type of kindergarten. In this study, the urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and BPs were determined in Korean children attending conventional and eco-friendly kindergartens. The exposure levels and contaminant profiles were investigated according to kindergarten type and their association with oxidative stress was assessed. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites, such as mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (median: 47.1 ng/mL) and mono-[(2-carboxymethyl)hexyl] phthalate (8.45 ng/mL) had the highest levels, indicating that they were the primary contaminants to which the children were exposed. Urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and bisphenol A (BPA) were higher in children from conventional kindergarten than an eco-friendly kindergarten. Conversely, bisphenol S (BPS) concentrations were significantly higher in children from the eco-friendly kindergarten than in those from conventional kindergartens, implying that eco-friendly plastic products might contain BPS as a replacement for BPA. The estimated daily intakes of BPA for all children exceeded the new tolerable daily intake proposed by the European Food Safety Authority. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly associated with the urinary concentrations of certain phthalate metabolites, indicating potential adverse health outcomes from phthalate exposure in children. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to reduce EDC exposure in children, especially in settings where alternative chemicals may still pose health risks.

Organic UV filters (OUVFs) have been commonly used in sunscreen and many consumer products. Following dermal application, these compounds can enter circulation and may cause systemic effects in humans. In the present study, we chose four OUVFs frequently detected in the environment, i.e., avobenzone (AVB), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), octocrylene (OC), and octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), and evaluated their thyroid, neurodevelopmental, and kidney toxicities. For this purpose, zebrafish embryos (

Abstract In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a higher mortality rate than the general population; therefore, prevention is vital. To prevent COVID-19 infection, it is important to study individuals’ risk aversion behavior. The objective of this study was to understand how the behavioral characteristics of physical distancing, hygiene practice, and exercise changed in patients with CKD during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the characteristics of patients who showed weakened or strengthened behavioral changes. We analyzed data from the Study on Kidney Disease and Environmental Chemicals (Clinical Trial No. NCT04679168), that examined a prospective cohort of patients with CKD. This cohort included patients with CKD who visited the participating hospitals for the first time between June and October 2020 and the second time between October 2020 and January 2021. Data on demographics, socio-economic details, and behavioral characteristics were collected through a questionnaire survey. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, we identified whether COVID-19 infection risk perception and previous strong behavioral changes affected behavioral changes during the first and second visits. A total of 277 patients (33.2% females) were included in the analysis. Nine out of 12 behaviors were reinforced at the first visit, and five out of nine reinforced behaviors were weakened at the second visit. A high-risk perception of COVID-19 infection was not associated with the tendency of overall behavioral reinforcement or maintaining behaviors in an enhanced state at the second visit. Strong behavioral changes at the patients’ first visit to the hospital were associated with a tendency to strengthen or maintain reinforced behaviors at the second visit (adjusted odds ratio 1.99, 95% confidence interval 1.19–3.34; P = 0.009). Even if the initial COVID-19 risk perception is high, behavioral changes worsen over time. Individuals who showed more active behavioral changes at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic tended to maintain reinforced behavior over time. Continuous education and monitoring are needed to maintain changed behaviors, especially in patients with a high initial COVID-19 risk perception.

Background The recent novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to unprecedented changes in behavior. We evaluated the current status of precautionary behavior and physical activity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A population of CKD patients (n = 306) registered in the Study on Kidney Disease and Environmental Chemicals (SKETCH, Clinical Trial No. NCT04679168) cohort recruited from June 2020 to October 2020 was included in the study. We conducted a questionnaire survey related to risk perception of COVID-19, precautionary behavior, and physical activity. Results There were 187 patients (61.1%) with estimated glomerular filtration rate of

The Korean endemic springtail Homidia koreana Lee & Lee, is popular in the leaf litter of various forests of South Korea, probably widely distributed throughout the Korean Peninsula. The complete mitochondrial genome of H. koreana was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. The mitochondrial genome of H. koreana consists of a circular DNA molecule of 14,846 bp, with 68.4% AT content. It comprises 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer (tRNA) genes, and 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The molecular phylogenetic relationships estimated using MrBayes 3.2 revealed that H. koreana was closely related to Homidia socia Denis, 1929, both of which belong to the genus Homidia.

An electrochemical immunosensor has been developed for the rapid detection and identification of potentially harmful bacteria in food and environmental samples. This study aimed to fabricate a microwire-based electrochemical immunosensor (MEI sensor) for selective detection of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in microbial cocktail samples using dielectrophoresis (DEP)-based cell concentration. A gold-coated tungsten microwire was functionalized by coating polyethylenimine, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) suspension, streptavidin, biotinylated antibodies, and then bovine serum albumin (BSA) solutions. Double-layered SWCNTs and 5% BSA solution were found to be optimized for enhanced signal enhancement and nonspecific binding barrier. The selective capture of E. coli K12 or S. aureus cells was achieved when the electric field in the bacterial sample solution was generated at a frequency of 3 MHz and 20 Vpp. A linear trend of the change in the electron transfer resistance was observed as E. coli concentrations increased from 5.32 × 102 to 1.30 × 108 CFU/mL (R2 = 0.976). The S. aureus MEI sensor fabricated with the anti-S. aureus antibodies also showed an increase in resistance with concentrations of S. aureus (8.90 × 102–3.45 × 107 CFU/mL) with a correlation of R2 = 0.983. Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes were used to evaluate the specificity of the MEI sensors. The functionalization process developed for the MEI sensor is expected to contribute to the sensitive and selective detection of other harmful microorganisms in food and environmental industries.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health threat of growing concern. Recently, exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as phthalates and bisphenol A has been suggested as a risk factor for CKD. However, most epidemiological studies have focused on a limited number of urinary chemicals. This study aimed to identify chemical determinants of the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), which is a kidney function marker, among multiple major EDCs including phthalate metabolites, bisphenols, and benzophenones in a Korean female population (20–45 years old, n = 441). First, the creatinine-adjusted urinary concentration of each urinary chemical was associated with ACR in a linear regression model (single-pollutant model). Then, compounds with a significant association with ACR in the single-pollutant model were added in a multi-pollutant model and evaluated for their association with ACR. Moreover, to prevent potential reverse causality due to impaired kidney function, quartile analyses were performed for the subjects with healthy renal function (ACR

Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) have been suspected as risk factors for obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) among humans. However, associations between phthalates and environmental phenols are often inconsistent across different populations. In this study, we recruited the adult population (n = 3782) of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015–2017 (Cycle 3) and assessed the associations between urinary biomarkers of phthalate, BPA, and paraben exposure with obesity and DM. A potential collider issue with the use of urinary creatinine (Cr) or specific gravity (SG) exists when adjusting urinary dilution; therefore, a covariate-adjusted standardization (CAS) was employed for adjustment, and the results were compared. In the present population, the direction of the association often varied depending on the choices made to adjust urinary dilution. When using CAS, the direction of association resembled those of previously reported experimental observations. With Cr or SG adjustment, ORs for obesity decreased in the highest quartiles of monocarboxyoctyl phthalate (MCOP) [OR (95% CI) = Cr: 0.71 (0.54, 0.93); SG: 0.68 (0.52, 0.90)], monocarboxy-isononyl phthalate (MCNP) [OR (95% CI) = Cr: 0.67 (0.52, 0.87); SG: 0.68 (0.52, 0.89)], and mono(3-carboxylpropyl) phthalate (MCPP) in the urine [OR (95% CI) = Cr: 0.60 (0.47, 0.76); SG: 0.61 (0.48, 0.77)]; however, with CAS, these negative associations disappeared. Instead, mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) [OR (95% CI) = 1.31 (1.03, 1.66)], BPA [OR (95% CI) = 1.62 (1.27, 2.06)], or ethyl paraben (EtP) [OR (95% CI) = 1.51 (1.19, 1.91)] concentrations in the highest quartile showed positive associations with a higher risk of obesity. On the other hand, for DM, an overall decrease in ORs was observed for phthalate metabolites and BPA following SG adjustment and disappeared with CAS adjustment. In addition, the highest quartiles of BPA, methyl paraben (MeP), and ethyl paraben (EtP) showed a significantly higher risk of DM than those in the lowest quartiles following CAS [OR (95% CI) = BPA: 1.65 (1.06, 2.59); MeP: 1.68 (1.08, 2.60); and EtP: 2.74 (1.77, 4.24), respectively]. The present observations outline the importance of using an appropriate adjustment method for urinary dilution in association studies on obesity and DM. In addition, several phthalates, BPA, and parabens were identified as potential chemical risk factors for these outcomes. Further studies are warranted in other populations to confirm these observations.

Increasing number of consumer chemicals have been associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in human populations. However, many studies that investigated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGRF) as an outcome reported inconsistent associations. In the present study, we employed a subset (n = 1292) of a nationally representative adult population participating in Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015–2017, and assessed associations of major phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and parabens with both eGRF and albuminuria. In order to address a potential collider issue, a covariate-adjusted standardization method was applied, in addition to the conventional creatinine-correction, for adjusting urine dilution. Regardless of adjustment method, urinary DEHP metabolites showed significant positive associations with albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR). In addition, urinary metabolites of other heavy molecular weight phthalates such as MCOP and MCNP showed significant positive associations with ACR in the female population, but only following the covariate-adjusted standardization. For eGFR, conventional creatinine-correction resulted in positive associations with most of measured phthalate metabolites. However, with the covariate-adjusted standardization, most of positive associations with eGFR disappeared, and instead, significant negative associations were observed for MnBP, BPA, and EtP. Secondary analysis following stratification by CKD status, as well as principal component analysis (PCA), generally supported the observed associations. The present observations highlight the importance of urine dilution adjustment method for association studies on eGFR, and suggest potential effects of several consumer chemicals on adverse kidney function among humans.

This study investigates the characteristics of visual working memory (VWM) representations by examining two theoretical models: the integrated-object and the parallel-independent feature storage models. Experiment I involved a change detection task where participants memorized arrays of either orientation bars, colored squares, or both. In the one-feature condition, the memory array consisted of one feature (either orientations or colors), whereas the two-feature condition included both. We found no differences in change detection performance between the conditions, favoring the integrated object model over the parallel-independent feature storage model. Experiment II employed a recall task with memory arrays of isosceles triangles' orientations, colored squares, or both, and one-feature and two-feature conditions were compared for their recall performance. We found again no clear difference in recall accuracy between the conditions, but the results of analyses for memory precision and guessing responses indicated the weak object model over the strong object model. For ongoing debates surrounding VWM ’s representational characteristics, these findings highlight the dominance of the integrated object model over the parallel independent feature storage model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe root of Angelica gigas(Korean angelica) is traditionally used to treat women's ailments that are caused by an impairment of menstrual blood flow and cycle irregularities. This study evaluated the effect particle size of Korean angelica powder on its efficacy for treating estrogen-related symptoms of menopause. Initially, Korean angelica roots were pulverized into ultrafine powder, and orally administered to the rats at a concentration of 500 mg/kg body weight for 8 weeks. The effects of Korean angelica powder particle size on extraction yield, contents of bioactive compounds (decursin and decursinol angelate), levels of serum ovarian hormones (estradiol and progesterone), reproductive hormones (luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone), and experimental osteoporosis parameters (mineral density, strength, and histological features) were determined. A significant increase (fivefold) in the contents of decursin and decursinol angelate in the extract of the ultrafine Korean angelica powder was observed compared to coarse Korean angelica powder. Rats were divided into sham-operated or ovariectomized (OVX) groups that were fed coarse (CRS) or ultrafine (UF) ground Korean angelica root. The serum levels of estradiol in the OVX_UF group were 19.2% and 54.1% higher than that of OVX_CRS group. Serum bone-alkaline phosphatase/total-alkaline phosphatase index in the OVX_UF group was half that of the OVX_CRS group. In addition, less trabecular bone loss and thick cortical areas were observed in rats administered ultrafine powder. Therefore, ultrafine grinding may enhance the bioactivity of herbal medicines and be especially useful when their extracted forms lose bioactivity during processing, storage, and oral intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]