Nationwide monitoring of freely dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using high speed rotation-type passive sampling device in Korean coastal waters.

Measuring the concentration of PAHs in the freely dissolved phase is crucial for assessing ecological impacts in the marine environment. However, various environmental conditions make short-term monitoring challenging. This study used an optimized High Speed Rotation-Type Passive Sampling Device (HSR-PSD) equipped with linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) to conduct the first nationwide monitoring of freely dissolved PAHs in Korean coastal waters.

Principles of passive sampling for ex situ measurement of hydrophobic organic compounds in sediment: Key considerations on dilution, depletion, and equilibrium.

Passive sampling techniques have undoubtedly proven effective for determining freely dissolved concentrations (C) in sediment. However, the absence of a rationale-based, hands-on protocol for guiding practitioners in conducting ex situ exposure of passive samplers in sediment underscores the need for research and development in this area. The goal of this study was to address three critical issues for passive sampling in sediment ex situ: sediment dilution, depletion, and nonequilibrium.

Assessment of toxicity potential of freely dissolved PAHs using passive sampler in Kentucky Lake and Ohio River.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are characterized with high K values, which lead to their recalcitrant nature, bioaccumulation, and biotoxicity, adversely affects the environment. Passive samplers (PS) have proven effective in measuring bioavailable PAH concentrations for toxicity assessments. In this study, we used low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to measure freely dissolved PAH concentrations (C) in Kentucky Lake (KL) and Ohio River (OH), USA.

Ongoing Laboratory Performance Study on Chemical Analysis of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Compounds in Three Aquatic Passive Samplers.

The quality of chemical analysis is an important aspect of passive sampling-based environmental assessments. The present study reports on a proficiency testing program for the chemical analysis of hydrophobic organic compounds in silicone and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) passive samplers and hydrophilic compounds in polar organic chemical integrative samplers. The median between-laboratory coefficients of variation (CVs) of hydrophobic compound concentrations in the polymer phase were 33% (silicone) and 38% (LDPE), similar to the CVs obtained in four earlier rounds of this program.

Fisetin Inhibits UVA-Induced Expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 through the NOX/ROS/MAPK Pathway in Human Dermal Fibroblasts and Human Epidermal Keratinocytes.

Fisetin is a flavonoid found in plants and has been reported to be effective in various human diseases. However, the effective mechanisms of ultraviolet-A (UVA)-mediated skin damage are not yet clear. In this study, we investigated the protective mechanisms of fisetin regarding UVA-induced human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) damages.

Determination and comparison of freely dissolved PAHs using different types of passive samplers in freshwater.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are well-known for their recalcitrant properties and biotoxicity in organisms, leading to serious environmental and health problems. Despite various analytical methods available, accurate determination of the bioavailable fraction is warranted in order to evaluate the precise toxic potentials of these compounds. Currently, the passive sampler is used worldwide to measure the bioavailable PAHs in the environment using the equilibrium partitioning principle.

Unsaturated Fatty Acids Complex Regulates Inflammatory Cytokine Production through the Hyaluronic Acid Pathway.

In this study, we aimed to develop natural and/or functional materials with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We obtained extracts from natural plants through an oil and hot-water extraction process and prepared an extract composite of an effective unsaturated fatty acid complex (EUFOC). Furthermore, the antioxidant effect of the extract complex was evaluated, and the anti-inflammatory effect was explored by assessing its inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production through its HA-promoting effect.

Techniques for monitoring bioavailable organic pollutants in sediment: Application of poly(methyl methacrylate) as a passive sampler.

A poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) passive sampler was applied to harbor sediment to examine whether the substrate could be used as a tool to measure freely dissolved concentrations of contaminants. An ex situ method required at least 1 g of PMMA to detect freely dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment with <100 ng/g dry weight. Two weeks were sufficient to reach equilibrium under 180 rpm for PAHs with a molar volume of <250 cm/mol.

Effect of Intersection Angle of Input Channels in Droplet Generators.

In this paper, we studied the effects of the intersection angle between the inlet channels on the droplet diameter using a COMSOL Multiphysics simulation. We employed the level-set method to study the droplet generation process inside a microfluidic flow device. A flow-focusing geometry was integrated into a microfluidics device and used to study droplet formation in liquid-liquid systems.

Hemodynamics and Wall Shear Stress of Blood Vessels in Aortic Coarctation with Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation.

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of blood flow in aortic coarctation based on stenotic shape structure, stenosis rate, and the distribution of the wall load delivered into the blood vessels and to predict the impact on aneurysm formation and rupture of blood vessels by using a computational fluid dynamics modeling method. It was applied on the blood flow in abdominal aortic blood vessels in which stenosis occurred by using the commercial finite element software ADINA on fluid-solid interactions. The results of modeling, with an increasing stenosis rate and Reynolds number, showed the pressure drop was increased and the velocity was greatly changed.

Possibilities of poly(methyl methacrylate) as a passive sampler for determination of bioavailable concentrations in seawater.

Solvent-treated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was recently introduced as a passive sampler for determining bioavailable concentrations, i.e., freely dissolved concentrations.

Red Ginseng Reduces Inflammatory Response via Suppression MAPK/P38 Signaling and p65 Nuclear Proteins Translocation in Rats and Raw 264.7 Macrophage.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) cause systemic inflammatory responses, which are characterized by high mortality and multiple signs, including metabolic disturbances, respiratory acidosis, hypotension, and vital organs disorder. Cytokines secretion and oxidative stress are the main features of the disease. Diagnosis and treatment of systemic inflammation (SI) remain a challenge.

Long-term oral intake of improves hypomagnesemia, hyperlactatemia, base deficit, and metabolic acidosis in an alloxan-induced rabbit model.

Objectives: (PG) widely used for its various pharmacological activities, including effects on diabetes and its complications. This study aims to investigate the effect of PG on mortality-related hypomagnesemia, hyperlactatemia, metabolic acidosis, and other diabetes-induced abnormalities.

Materials And Methods: Type 1 diabetes was induced by IV injection of alloxan monohydrate 110 mg/kg into New Zealand white rabbits weighing 2-2.

Distribution, accumulation, and potential risk of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the marine environment receiving effluents from a sewage treatment plant.

We investigated the effect of sewage treatment plant effluent on the distribution and accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the marine environment. PBDEs concentrations in seawater and surface sediments were within the ranges 1.58-6.

seed extract attenuates the fatigue induced by exhaustive swimming in rats.

In previous studies, (NS) has been studied due to its various physiological and pharmacological activities. However, evidence on the effects of NS on physical fatigue following exhaustive swimming remains limited. In the present study, the authors evaluated the potential beneficial effects of NS against the fatigue activity following exhaustive swimming.

Identification of genotoxic compounds in crude oil using fractionation according to distillation, polarity and K.

We examined the degree of DNA damage caused by fractions of crude oil in accordance with the boiling points, polarity and log K. Relatively high DNA damage was observed in the aromatic fraction (290-330°C) and resin and polar fraction (350-400°C). The resin and polar fraction showed relatively high genotoxicity compared with the aliphatic and aromatic fraction at the 1-4 log K range.

Restoration and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons after the Wu Yi San oil spill, Korea.

On January 31, 2014, an oil spill accident occurred in Yeosu, South Korea. A total 800-899kl of oil from the pipeline was spilled into the sea. After the oil spill, the KIOST (Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) researched PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in various media, but sedimentary PAHs were not analyzed despite their longer persistency than in other media.

Hepatoprotective effects of Nigella sativa seed extract against acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress.

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of Nigella sativa seed extract (NSSE) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity in TIB-73 cells and rats.

Methods: Toxicity in TIB-73 cells was induced with 10 μmol/L APAP and the protective effects of NSSE were evaluated at 25, 50, 75, 100 μg/mL. For in vivo examination, a total of 30 rats were equally divided into five experimental groups; normal control (vehicle), APAP (800 mg/kg body weight single IP injection) as a hepatotoxic control, and three APAP and NS pretreated (2 weeks) groups (APAP + NSSE 100 mg; APAP + NSSE 300 mg and APAP + NSSE 900 mg/kg).

Antidiabetic Effects of Yam (Dioscorea batatas) and Its Active Constituent, Allantoin, in a Rat Model of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes.

The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacies of crude yam (Dioscorea batatas) powder (PY), water extract of yam (EY), and allantoin (the active constituent of yam) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with respect to glucose, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc), lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress. For this purpose, 50 rats were divided into five groups: normal control (NC), diabetic control (STZ), and STZ plus treatment groups (STZ + PY, STZ + EY, and STZ + allantoin). After treatment for one-month, there was a decrease in blood glucose: 385 ± 7 in STZ, 231 ± 3 in STZ + PY, 214 ± 11 in STZ + EY, and 243 ± 6 mg/dL in STZ + allantoin, respectively.

An accidental fatal attack on domestic pigeons by honey bees in Bangladesh.

Fatalities among avian species due to multiple bee stings are rare. Sixteen pigeons on a farm in Bangladesh each suffered multiple bee stings. Ten of the pigeons died before treatment, 5 (4-11 stings) died within 12 hr after treatment, and 1 pigeon (only 3 stings) survived.

DNA damage caused by organic extracts of contaminated sediment, crude, and weathered oil and their fractions recovered up to 5 years after the 2007 Hebei Spirit oil spill off Korea.

We examined the degree of DNA damage caused by three fractions (F1, aliphatic hydrocarbons; F2, aromatic hydrocarbons; and F3, polar compounds) of the organic extract of sediments taken from Taean, Korea, following the Hebei Spirit oil spill. DNA damage was measured using the comet assay with blood cells of the striped beakfish (Oplegnathus fasciatus). DNA damage was also examined for fractions of crude oil (Iranian Heavy Crude Oil, IHC), weathered oil and six subfractions (F2.

Effect-directed analysis and mixture effects of AhR-active PAHs in crude oil and coastal sediments contaminated by the Hebei Spirit oil spill.

The major AhR-active PAHs were identified in crude oil and oil-contaminated sediments by use of effect-directed analysis. As part of the study, an enhanced potency balance analysis was conducted by establishing the novel relative potency values of (alkyl)-PAHs from the H4IIE-luc bioassay. Silica gel column fractionation of crude oil resulted in greater AhR-mediated potencies in fractions of aromatics (F2) and resins (F3), and such trend was also observed for field collected sediment samples.

Relationships between blood Mg2+ and energy metabolites/enzymes after acute exhaustive swimming exercise in rats.

Magnesium (Mg) plays a central role in neuronal activity, cardiac excitability, neuromuscular transmission, muscular contraction, vasomotor tone, and blood pressure, all of which are significantly related to physical performance. To date, the available data about detection of blood total Mg (tMg; free-ionized, protein-bound, and anion-complex forms) are inconsistent, and there is limited information on blood free-ionized Mg (Mg(2+)) in relation to physical exercise. The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical changes related to energy metabolism after acute exhaustive swimming exercise (AESE) in rats in an attempt to correlate the role of blood Mg(2+) with metabolites/enzymes related to energy production.

Congener-specific accumulation and environmental risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in diverse Korean sewage sludge types.

Industrial, domestic wastewater, and livestock sludge samples were collected from 23 wastewater treatment plants in Korea and analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The concentrations of Σ19PBDE ranged from 4.01 to 10,400 ng/g dry weight.