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There is a scarcity of research on the effects of a mixture of chemicals on liver function biomarkers and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) indices, including FSI, HIS, and FBI-4. Thus, we aimed to explore whether there is an association between chemical mixtures, including 26 chemicals found in blood and urine, liver function biomarkers, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) indices in Korean adults. The effects of exposure to chemical mixtures on liver function biomarkers and NAFLD indices were investigated using linear regression models, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile g-computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) among 3669 adults. In silico toxicogenomic data-mining, we evaluated molecular mechanisms associated with NAFLD, including pathways, diseases, genes, miRNAs, and biological processes. The linear regression models showed blood or urine Hg levels were the most important factors associated with AST, ALT, GGT, FSI, and HSI levels, and significant trends were observed for these chemical quartiles (p 0.01). The WQS index was significantly associated with ALT, GGT, FSI, and HSI. The qgcomp index also found an association between chemicals and AST, ALT, GGT, and FSI. In the BKMR model, the overall effect of the mixture was significantly related to ALT, GGT, FSI, and HSI. In silico analysis, we found mixed chemicals interacted with the CYP1A2 gene and were associated with NAFLD. Seventy-eight percent of interactions were identified as physical interactions in the CYP1A2 gene related to NAFLD. Transcription factor regulation in adipogenesis and lipid metabolic processes are fundamental molecular mechanisms that could be influenced by NAFLD-related mixed chemicals. Cutoff thresholds for chemical exposure levels associated with liver function indicators and NAFLD indices were also reported. The strongest interactions and expression of miRNAs involved in NAFLD development were also identified.

A scarcity of research assesses the effects of exposure to a combination of chemicals on lipid profiles as well as molecular mechanisms related to dyslipidemia. A cross-sectional study of 3692 adults aims to identify the association between chemical mixtures, including blood and urine 26 chemicals, and lipid profiles among Korean adults (aged ≥ 18) using linear regression models, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile g-computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). In silico toxicogenomic data-mining, we assessed molecular mechanisms linked with dyslipidemia, including genes, miRNAs, pathways, biological processes, and diseases. In the linear regression models, heavy metals, volatile organic compound metabolites, and phthalate metabolites were found to be related to HDL-C, triglycerides, LDL-C, total lipids, and total cholesterol, and significant trends were observed for these chemical quartiles (p 0.01). The WQS index was significantly linked with HDL-C, triglycerides, LDL-C, total cholesterol, and total lipids. The qgcomp index also found a significant association between chemicals and HDL-C, triglycerides, and total lipids. In BKMR analysis, the overall effect of the chemical mixture was significantly associated with HDL-C, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and total lipids. We found that mixed chemicals interacted with the PPARA gene and were linked with dyslipidemia. Several pathways ("SREBF and miR33 in cholesterol," "estrogen receptor pathway and lipid homeostasis," and "regulation of PGC-1α"), "negative regulation of hepatocyte apoptotic process," "negative regulation of sequestering of triglycerides," "regulation of hepatocyte apoptotic process," and "negative regulation of cholesterol storage," and "abdominal obesity metabolic syndrome" were identified as key molecular mechanisms that may be affected by mixed chemicals and implicated in the development of dyslipidemia. The highest interaction and expression of miRNAs involved in the process of dyslipidemia were also described. Especially, the cutoff levels for chemical exposure levels related to lipid profiles were also provided.

Little is known about the association between a mixture of heavy metals and obesity among individuals ≥50 years of age with comorbidities. Thus, we identified the associations of serum cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) with obesity using linear regression models; weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile g-computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were conducted as secondary analyses. Of the 6434 subjects included in the analysis, 13.8% had obesity and 44.6% had abdominal obesity. In the logistic regression model, serum Hg was associated with obesity and abdominal obesity, and significant trends were observed for these heavy metal tertiles (p < 0.001). Serum Hg levels were also associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). The WQS index was significantly associated with both obesity (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.40-1.46) and abdominal obesity (β = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.48-1.54). The qgcomp index also found a significant association between heavy metals and both obesity (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.12-1.63) and abdominal obesity (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.12-1.60). Serum Hg was the most heavily weighed heavy metal in these models. In BKMR analysis, the overall effect of the mixture was significantly associated with obesity, BMI, and WC. Serum Hg showed positive trends and was observed as the most important factor associated with obesity, BMI, and WC. Our findings were largely robust to secondary analyses that used three novel mixture modeling approaches: WQS, qpcomp, and BKMR. Given increasing exposure to heavy metals, well-characterized cohorts of individuals aged ≥50 years are required to determine the mixed effects of heavy metals on obesity and related diseases.

Novel photocatalysts, based on modified mesostructured UiO-66-Zr composites with defects sites in framewwork arrays were prepared by solvothermal synthesis method using CTABr as ionic surfactant template, acetic acid and benzoic acid as modulators. Modified UiO-66-Zr with defects sites in framewworks by using ionic surfactants CTABr, benzoic acid (UiO-66-M) and acetic acid (UiO-66-A) as modulators were synthesized, characterized by BET, XRD, FTIR, TEM, EDX techniques. The photocatalytic performances over material samples were tested in photodegradation of chlopyrifos ethyl in aqueous solution under simulated solar light irradiation and evaluated by UV-Vis spectra commbied with HPLC analysis. These modified UiO66 showed a highly effective photodegradation and mineralization of chlopyrifos ethyl (peesticide/insecticide) in aqueous solution. The photocatalytic activities of the modified UiO66-Zr were considerably greater than unmodified UiO66-Zr composites were explained by the roles of defected sites created in material framewworks. The presence of the defects not only resulted in the dramatically enhanced porosity (pore size), but also induced the creation of Zr-OH groups which served as the main active adsorption sites for efficient ROS sequestration.The photo-degradation rate of chlopyrifos ethyl was ranked in the order of samples UiO66-Zr-M UiO66-Zr-A UiO66-Zr with reaction constant rate of k3 = 1.23×10-2 (min-1) k2 = 9.1×10-3 (min-1) k1 = 2×10-4 (min-1), respectively. The obtained results showed potential application of modified UiO66-Zr composites for photocatalytic treament of hydrophobic pesticide residues in water without any toxic secondary pollution in agriculture.

In this study, metal-organic frameworks containing zirconium was successfully synthesized at soft conditions (temperature 25oC and ambient pressure). UiO-66 samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX and BET. The SEM-image result showed UiO-66 particles size of 100-200 nm. UiO-66 sample showed the high surface area (1436 m2/g) and high pore volume (0.707 cm3/g). The UiO-66 samples tested were used as an adsorbent to remove aquatic arsenic contamination. UiO-66 materials has a high ability to remove arsenic, reaching 78.82 %. The UiO-66 adsorbent functions excellently across a broad pH range of 1 to 11 and achieves a remarkable arsenate uptake capacity of 294.12 mg/g.

To assess the relationships between mixed B vitamin intakes (B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12) and cognitive performance, as well as their molecular mechanisms.The associations of mixed B vitamin intakes with cognitive function were assessed using multivariate regression models, weighted quantile sum (WQS), quantile g-computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). GeneMANIA, Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, MIENTURNET, miRNAsong were employed as the main data-mining methods.Overall effects of the B vitamin intake mixture were significantly associated with global cognition in the WQS, qgcomp, and BKMR models. A mixture of B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B9) interacted with the five genes (IL1B, BCL2, CASP3, BAX, PTGS2) and was associated with better cognitive function, especially CASP3 and BAX. Physical interactions (77.6%) were observed to be the most important interactions in gene networks. The IL-18 signaling pathway, apoptosis, and Alzheimer's disease were annotated as the key molecular mechanisms involved in mixed B vitamins' improving cognitive function. NFKB1, ATF3, and NR3C1 were the key significant transcription factors associated with cognitive function targeted by a mixture of B vitamins. The strong interaction and expression of hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-128-3p, hsa-miR-181a-5p, and hsa-miR-204-5p are involved in mixed B vitamins' better cognitive performance. We also created and evaluated miRNA sponge sequences for these miRNAs, which might be used to alleviate cognitive decline. The cutoff thresholds for B vitamin intake levels that are associated with cognition performance were reported.Given the increased incidence of dementia across the world, increasing daily mixed B vitamin intake via regular meals may contribute to minimizing dementia risk. Further studies are warranted to identify these links in well-characterized cohorts of diverse populations, either independently or together.

Although there is an association between heavy metals and glioma, the molecular mechanisms involved in glioma development remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the molecular mechanisms implicated in glioma development induced by heavy metals and their mixtures using various methodologies and databases (CTD, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, miRNAsong, GeneMANIA, Metascape, MIENTURNET, UALCAN). I found that heavy metals, particularly arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium, as well as their mixtures, have substantial influences on the etiology of gliomas. "glioblastoma signaling pathways," "integrated cancer pathway," "central carbon metabolism in cancer," "microRNAs in cancer," "p53 signaling pathway," "chemical carcinogenesis-DNA adducts," "glioma," "TP53 network," and "MAPK signaling pathway" were the predominant molecular pathways implicated in the glioma development induced by the studied heavy metals and their mixtures. Five genes (SOD1, CAT, GSTP1, PTGS2, TNF), two miRNAs (hsa-miR-26b-5p and hsa-miR-143-3p), and transcription factors (DR1 and HNF4) were identified as key components related to combined heavy metal and glioma development. Physical interactions were found to be the most common among the heavy metals and their mixtures studied (ranging from 45.2% to 77.6%). The expression level of SOD1 was significantly lower in glioblastoma multiforma samples compared to normal samples, whereas GSTP1 and TP53 expression levels were significantly higher. Brain lower and grade glioma patients who had higher levels of TP53, hsa-miR-25, hsa-miR-34, hsa-miR-222, and hsa-miR-143 had a reduced likelihood of survival. Our findings suggest that further priority should be given to investigating the impact of specific heavy metals or their mixtures on these molecular processes.

We aimed to identify the molecular mechanisms behind curcumin's therapeutic benefits for metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components.The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, MIENTURNET, Metascape, GeneMania, and Cytoscape software were critical analytic tools.Curcumin may have therapeutic effects on MetS and its components via the following genes: NOS3, IL6, INS, and ADIPOQ, particularly PPARG. Curcumin has higher docking scores than other genes with INS and PPARG (docking scores: -8.3 and -5.8, respectively). Physical interactions (56%) were found to be the most prevalent for dyslipidemia, co-expression for hypertension, obesity, T2DM, and MetS. "Galanin receptor pathway", "lipid particles composition", "IL-18 signaling pathway", "response to extracellular stimulus", and "insulin resistance" were listed in the first of the key pathways for MetS, dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, respectively. The protein-protein interaction enrichment analysis study also identified "vitamin B12 metabolism," "folate metabolism," and "selenium micronutrient network" as three major molecular pathways linked to MetS targeted by curcumin. PPARG was the key transcription factor that regulated practically all curcumin-targeted genes linked to MetS and its components. Curcumin targeted hsa-miR-155-5p, which has been linked to T2DM, hypertension, and MetS, as well as hsa-miR-130b-3p and hsa-miR-22-3p, which have been linked to dyslipidemia and obesity, respectively. In silico, sponges that regulated hsa-miR-155-5p were developed and evaluated. Curcumin, MetS, and its components have been found to target adipocytes, cardiac myocytes, smooth muscle, the liver, and pancreas. Curcumin's physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics are closely connected with its therapeutic advantages in MetS and its components due to its high gastrointestinal absorption, drug-likeness, water solubility, and lipophilic nature. Curcumin is a CYP1A9 and CYP3A4 inhibitor. Although curcumin has a low bioavailability, it can be synthesized and administered to increase its pharmacokinetic features.Curcumin needs to undergo therapeutic optimization and further study into its pharmacological structure before it can be used to treat MetS and its components.

Persons with underlying noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are more likely to acquire severe coronavirus disease 2019 disease and to die from coronavirus disease 2019. An urgent need for potential therapy to prevent and control NCDs is critical. We hypothesized that higher intakes of multiple individual nutrients, fruits, or vegetables would be linked with a low risk of NCDs in the Korean population. Thus, we aim to explore the association between NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), arthritis, depression, and dietary factors. A total of 56,462 adults aged 18 years (2009-2019) were included. Dietary factors, including intakes of multiple individual nutrients, fruits, and vegetables, were assessed. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to explore the associations between dietary factors and NCDs. Interactions were found between intakes of multiple individual nutrients and sex for T2DM, hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction, arthritis, and osteoarthritis. Only in women was a 2-fold increase in daily multiple individual nutrient intake (vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C; potassium, protein; phosphorus; calcium; iron; monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid; n-3 fatty acid and n-6 fatty acid; and water) associated with a lower prevalence of T2DM, hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction, arthritis, and osteoarthritis. In both women and men, high fruit or vegetable consumption was linked with a lower risk of T2DM, hypertension, dyslipidemia, osteoarthritis, and depression than low consumption. Our findings found higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, and multiple individual nutrients are linked with a lower risk of NCDs in the Korean adult population. Further work is needed to identify whether interactions between intake of multiple individual nutrients, vegetables, and fruits affect the presence of NCDs., Graphical Abstract Image, graphical abstract

We aim to evaluate the association between curry-rice consumption, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), type 2 diabetes (T2DB), arthritis, and depression.17,625 participants aged ≥18 years were recruited to obtain data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, medical history, current medications, family history, and food consumption. The association between curry-rice consumption, CVDs, T2DB, arthritis, and depression was examined using multivariable-adjusted analyses.In the logistic model, risks of elevated triglyceride (OR 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.97, p = 0.006), elevated HbA1c (OR 0.81; 95% CI, 0.73-0.91, p 0.001), and elevated glucose (OR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79-0.94, p 0.001) were significantly lower in the high curry-rice consumption group than in the low curry-rice consumption group. Risk of hypertension (OR 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78-0.98, p = 0.044), T2DB (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68-0.98, p 0.001), and depression (OR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.70-0.97, p = 0.026) was significantly lower among the high curry-rice consumption group than in the low curry-rice consumption group. These findings were consistent with the results of the analysis when curry-rice consumption was treated as a continuous variable.The potential health benefits resulting from the intake of curry-rice via an ordinary diet could protect the public from the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health. These results highlight an ongoing need to understand the role of curry-rice in NCDs and mental health.

The burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has increased worldwide, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this phenomenon is related to environmental, dietary, and lifestyle risk factors. We aimed to determine the association between the levels of serum heavy metals, hs-CRP, vitamins, and curry intake and to predict risks of MetS based on marginal effects. A data set of 60,256 Koreans aged ≥ 15 years between 2009 and 2017 was used to obtain information on sociodemographic, lifestyle, family history characteristics, MetS, food intake survey, and serum heavy metals. Daily intake of vitamins was measured by a one-day 24 h recall, and curry consumption was calculated using a food frequency questionnaire. Serum heavy metal levels were quantified by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and using a mercury analyzer. We found that vitamin B1, B2, B3, C, and A intakes were significantly lower in subjects with than without MetS. In contrast, serum levels of Pb, Hg, Cd, vitamin A, E, and hs-CRP were significantly higher in subjects with MetS. The risk of MetS was significantly lower for high curry consumers than low curry consumers (adjusted odds ratio 0.85, 95%CI 0.74–0.98). The risks of MetS were reduced by 12% and 1%, when vitamin B1 and C intakes increased by one mg, respectively, but were increased by 14%, 3%, and 9%, when serum levels of Pb, Hg, and hs-CRP increased by one unit. These results show that the potential health benefits resulting from vitamin and curry intakes could protect the public against the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Further studies are required to reduce risk factors associated with serum heavy metal levels and to determine whether interactions between vitamin and curry consumption influence the presence of MetS.

The present study aimed to determine thiamine intake levels and the association between thiamine intake, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mental health. Participants were interviewed to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, current medications, medical and family history. The daily intake of thiamine was assessed by a 24-h recall. The mean age of the 34 700 study subjects was 42⋅9 years (sd 22⋅8, min–max: 1–80) and 19 342 (55⋅7 %) were women. The levels of thiamine intake were 1⋅126 mg (2016), 1⋅115 mg (2017) and 1⋅087 mg (2018) for women, which were equal to or only slightly above the recommended intake of 1⋅10 mg/d for women. The levels of thiamine intake from 2014–15 and 2016–18 significantly decreased. The estimated percentage of insufficient thiamine intake was 37⋅8 % (95 % CI 37⋅3, 38⋅4). Multivariable regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders showed that thiamine intake was critically associated with lower risks of hypertension, MI or angina, type 2 diabetes, depression and dyslipidemia. The daily thiamine intake from food can reversal the risks of hypertension (OR 0⋅95; 95 % CI 0⋅90, 0⋅99), MI or angina (OR 0⋅84; 95 % CI 0⋅74, 0⋅95), type 2 diabetes (OR 0⋅86; 95 % CI 0⋅81, 0⋅93), depression (OR 0⋅90; 95 % CI 0⋅83, 0⋅97) and dyslipidemia (OR 0⋅90; 95 % CI 0⋅86, 0⋅95), respectively. Further works are needed to identify the effects of thiamine and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health. A preventive thiamine supplementation strategy should be adopted to target NCDs and mental health and risk factors associated with thiamine deficiency. The optimisation of NCD control and mental health protection is also a vital integral part of Korea's public health system.

The burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing worldwide especially in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This phenomenon can be related to environmental, dietary, and lifestyle risk factors. We aimed to determine the association between the levels of serum heavy metals, vitamins, and curry intake, subsequently predict the risks for MetS by margin effects. Daily intake of vitamins was measured by 24-h recall was calculated using a food frequency questionnaire. Heavy metals were quantified by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, and mercury analyzer. The risk of MetS was significantly lower in the high curry consumption than in the low curry consumption, risks of Mets were reduced by 7%, 13%, 1%, and 1%, when the levels of vitamin B1, B2, B3, and C intake increased by one mg, respectively. However, risks of Mets were increased by 9%, 3%, 5%, when the levels of serum Pb, Hg, and CRP increased by one unit. The potential health benefits resulting from vitamin and curry supplementation could guard the public against the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Further works are required to thwart risk factors related to heavy metals and determine the mechanistic dual effects of vitamins and curry in MetS.

There is growing evidence that thiamine supplementation could reverse non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of thiamine in metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains unclear. We hypothesized whether an increased intake of thiamine diminishes the risk of MetS in the Korean population with various comorbidities. This study aimed to assess the association between thiamine intake and MetS among adults with comorbidities.57,523 eligible participants aged over 18 years between 2009 and 2019 were recruited to obtain data on sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, current medications, lifestyle, and family history. A 24-h recall was used to determine thiamine intake. Odds ratio (OR) for MetS was calculated for log2-transformed thiamine intake values, subsequently predicting the risk of MetS based on the marginal effect.The risk of MetS was significantly higher in subjects with comorbidities than in those without comorbidities. A doubling of daily thiamine intake was significantly associated with a decrease in MetS among adults with comorbidities by 7% (OR 0.93; 95%CI 0.89-0.97).The potential health benefits result from the intake of thiamine through an ordinary diet in the clinical management of MetS. Therefore, there is an ongoing need to look into these links between thiamine supplementation and MetS in well-characterized cohorts of participants with comorbidities.

Poor indoor air quality is one of the most important factor causing occupational health problems such as sick building syndrome (SBS). Most previous research on risk factors of SBS is evaluated in the office or school environments rather than in the hospital. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of SBS and its related effect on hospital workers in poorly-ventilated and confined working environments through a set of the questionnaires completed from March to June of 2017. The relationship between SBS-Related symptoms, individual characteristics, work environment and conditions were analyzed using Poisson regression. The prevalence of sick building syndrome was 70.1%. The most common symptoms reported by hospital workers include fatigue, headache, and feeling heavy-headed. There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of syndrome and sex, overload of work, atopy as well as varying room temperature.

Since 2011, English for Specific Purposes (ESP) curriculum in Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) has been changed in accordance with pharmaceutical specialization orientation and did apply the active learning-learner centered teaching methods. Our study used three self-administered questionnaires to collect the feedbacks from sophomores, final-year and pharmacist graduating in 2016 in evaluating ESP course effectiveness. Data analyzed with STATA 13 indicated that English lecturers made efforts to organize the active learning activities in ESP class but their target has neither been effective nor met the required students’ needs in academic purposes as well as their occupational purposes. In addition, students’ passivity and lack of apparent motivation made it more difficult to apply the active learning method. Generally, final-year pharmacy students and newly graduated pharmacists, besides their moderate English competence, had a low frequency in using English. It is also found that there exists the relationship between final-year pharmacy students’ frequency of using English, their English competence and pharmaceutical specialization as well as that between English use frequency and occupation.

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen found in hospital-acquired infections including nosocomial pneumonia, especially multidrug-resistant Ab. This study aims to survey the drug resistance profiles of Ab isolated from patients in Thong Nhat Dong Nai General Hospital and assess the relationship between genotypes and antibiotic resistance, Methods: Ninety-seven Ab strains isolated from 340 lower respiratory tract specimens among pneumonia patients were used to screen the most common local carbapenemase genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing results and demographic data were collected and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of colistin were also determined, Results: Over 80% and 90% of Ab strains were determined as carbapenem-resistant and multidrug-resistant (MDR), respectively. Most of the strains carried carbapenemase genes, including blaOXA-51, blaOXA-23-like, blaOXA-58-like, and blaNDM-1, with proportions of 97 (100%), 76 (78.4%), 10 (10.3%), 6 (6.2%), respectively. Amongst these genes, blaOXA-23-like was the only gene which significantly influenced the resistance (p &lt, 0.0001), and Conclusions: The severity of Ab antibiotic resistance is urgent and specifically related to carbapenemase encoding genes. Therefore, screening of MDR Ab and carbapenemase for better treatment options is necessary.