Urinary trace elements and thyroid nodule formation in a longitudinal cohort of older women: Findings from KoGES.

Thyroid nodules are common in older populations, but the role of trace elements in their development and growth remains unclear. Previous studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the association between trace elements and thyroid nodules. This study investigated the associations between urinary concentrations of various trace elements and the prevalence and incidence of thyroid nodules in older women, a population at higher risk for thyroid disorders.

A novel approach to the relation of multi-pollutant effect and kidney dysfunction: data analysis from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey Cycle 3 (2015-2017).

Background: Traditional statistical models for estimating the impact of multiple environmental chemicals on kidney outcomes have limitations. This study aimed to evaluate the risk prediction of kidney disease in the general population using innovative methodologies.

Methods: Serum persistent organic pollutant (POP), urinary chemical, serum creatinine, and urinary albumin levels were measured in a subpopulation of adults (n = 1,266) drawn from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey Cycle 3 (n = 3,787).

Effect of fasting status on association between exposure to phthalate and phenolics, and thyroid hormones in adult women of reproductive age.

Diet is one of the important exposure sources for many urinary chemicals that have been investigated in association studies for thyroid hormone outcomes. For these chemicals, the fasting status can substantially affect the results of urinary biomonitoring of the study population. Such variability presents challenges for cross-sectional association studies, particularly when the substances of concern have short excretion half-lives.

Lab-on-a-Chip Devices for Nucleic Acid Analysis in Food Safety.

Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices have been developed for nucleic acid analysis by integrating complex laboratory functions onto a miniaturized chip, enabling rapid, cost-effective, and highly sensitive on-site testing. This review examines the application of LOC technology in food safety, specifically in the context of nucleic acid-based analyses for detecting pathogens and contaminants. We focus on microfluidic-based LOC devices that optimize nucleic acid extraction and purification on the chip or amplification and detection processes based on isothermal amplification and polymerase chain reaction.

A novel approach for unveiling co-occurrence patterns of UV filter mixtures in sunscreens: Prioritization for hazard and risk assessment.

In recent years, concerns regarding the toxicity of organic UV filters in sunscreen products have increased. While sunscreen products contain multiple UV filters in combination, current understanding on their co-occurrence patterns and mixture toxicities is still limited. This study utilized a public database, "Hwahae", and analyzed 2183 sunscreen products marketed in South Korea as of 2019, using an association rule mining (ARM) to elucidate their co-occurrence patterns.

Association of urinary levels of trace metals with type 2 diabetes and obesity in postmenopausal women in Korea: A community-based cohort study.

Several toxic metals have been associated with metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) in humans. However, knowledge regarding the influence of many trace elements, especially in combination with essential elements is limited. This study aims to address this research gap by investigating the associations of both non-essential and essential inorganic trace elements in urine with DM and obesity, employing a group of postmenopausal women (n = 851) from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) cohort.

A new species of Homidia (Collembola: Entomobridae) from Korea, with notes on its DNA data.

A new species, Homidia pseudokoreana sp. nov., from South Korea described based on morphological data and DNA barcodes.

Comparison of urinary exposure profiles to phthalates and bisphenol analogues in kindergartens in Korea: Impact of environmental choices on children's health.

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.

Gender- and Age-Group Specific Association of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Exposure with Diabetes Mellitus: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2017.

Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been reported as a potential risk factor for diabetes in adults. However, effect modifications by sex and age, especially among Asian populations, have seldom been investigated. In the present study, we assessed associations of major POPs exposure including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), with diabetes in Korean adults ( = 1,295), a subset of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 3 (2015-2017).

Exposure to Phthalates and Alternative Plasticizers in Patients with Impaired Kidney Function in Korea: Temporal Trend during 2011-2020 and Its Association with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Phthalates are chemical risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, little is known about temporal trends of phthalate exposure and associated health risks among CKD patients. Such information is even scarce for alternative plasticizers. CKD patients were recruited from 2011 to 2020 in Korea ( = 200) and assessed for the temporal changes of both traditional and alternative plasticizer exposure.

Thyroid, neurodevelopmental, and kidney toxicities of common organic UV filters in embryo-larval zebrafish (Danio rerio), and their potential links.

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.

Thyroid and neurobehavioral effects of DiNP on GH3 cells and larval zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) has been used to replace bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and is frequently found in the environment and humans. DiNP is reported for its anti-androgenic activity; however, little is known about its effects on thyroid function and neurodevelopment. In the present study, the thyroid disruption and neurobehavioral alteration potential of DiNP and its major metabolites were assessed in a rat pituitary carcinoma cell line (GH3) and embryo-larval zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Distribution of urinary trace element exposure and dietary sources in women over 50 in an agricultural region- A community-based KoGES cohort study.

Background: There is a noticeable lack of information on the levels of both non-essential and essential trace elements in women aged over 50. The main objective of this study is to investigate trace element concentrations and explore the influence of sociodemographic factors and dietary sources of exposure in this demographic.

Methods: We analyzed 19 trace elements, including manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, molybdenum, chromium, nickel, arsenic, strontium, cadmium, tin, antimony, cesium, barium, tungsten, mercury, thallium, lead, and uranium, using ICP-MS and mercury analyzer.

Association of blood metal exposure with age at menarche in Korean women: KNHANES (2008-2017).

Humans are exposed to metals in their daily lives and this metal exposure is responsible for various adverse health effects. Delayed pubertal development has been suggested as an adverse outcome of metal exposure; however, evidence in nationally representative populations, especially in Asia, is limited. We evaluated the association of blood cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) levels with the age at menarche in Korean females whose blood heavy metals were measured as part of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008-2017.

Heat-moisture-treated rice starches with different amylose and moisture contents as stabilizers for nonfat yogurt.

Food producers are interested in enhancing native starch properties without chemical modifications. Here, rice starches were physically modified via heat-moisture treatment (HMT) using different amylose (high, medium, low, and waxy) and moisture (15 %, 20 %, 25 %, and 30 %) contents. Hydration properties and pasting viscosities differed for different amylose and moisture contents.

Association between environmental chemical exposure and albumin-to-creatinine ratio is modified by hypertension status in women of reproductive age.

Chemicals have been identified as a potential risk factor of renal dysfunction. However, studies that consider both multiple chemicals and non-chemical risk factors, such as hypertension, are rare. In this study, we assessed the associations between exposure to several chemicals, including major metals, phthalates, and phenolic compounds, and the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR).

Selective Detection of K12 and in Mixed Bacterial Communities Using a Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT)-Functionalized Electrochemical Immunosensor with Dielectrophoretic Concentration.

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 and 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.

On-site bioaerosol sampling and detection in microfluidic platforms.

As the recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and several severe illnesses such as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), Influenza A virus (IAV) flu, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) have been found to be airborne, the importance of monitoring bioaerosols for the control and prevention of airborne epidemic diseases outbreaks is increasing. However, current aerosol collection and detection technologies may be limited to on-field use for real-time monitoring because of the relatively low concentrations of targeted bioaerosols in air samples. Microfluidic devices have been used as lab-on-a-chip platforms and exhibit outstanding capabilities in airborne particulate collection, sample processing, and target molecule analysis, thereby highlighting their potential for on-site bioaerosol monitoring.

Longitudinal behavioral changes and factors related to reinforced risk aversion behavior among patients with chronic kidney disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

Urinary paraben concentrations of adult women by fasting status: Comparison between Korea and the United States.

Personal care products (PCPs) are considered as a major source of paraben exposure; however, the dietary contribution is not well known. We compared the urinary levels of methyl-, ethyl-, and propyl-paraben (MeP, EtP, and PrP), and investigated their associations with fasting status and contacts with other potential exposure sources among Korea and the US adult women. A group of fasting, non-pregnant adult women (n = 469) was recruited from Seoul, Ansan/Incheon, and Jeju, Korea in 2015-2016, and their urine was measured for parabens.

Biomarker-Determined Nonylphenol Exposure and Associated Risks in Children of Thailand, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia.

Nonylphenol (NP) is an endocrine disruptor and environmental contaminant. Yet, data on individual body burdens and potential health risks in humans, especially among children, are scarce. We analyzed two specific urinary NP metabolites, hydroxy-NP (OH-NP) and oxo-NP.

Exposure to several polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is associated with chronic kidney disease among general adults: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2017.

We investigated the association between major persistent organic pollutants (POPs) exposure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) among general adult population of Korea. For this purpose, a subset of the adult population (n = 1276) participated in Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 3 (2015-2017) were analyzed for twenty-four POPs in serum, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and were derived for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR). Multivariable linear regression was conducted to assess the association between POPs exposure and CKD-related parameters including eGFR and uACR.

Sex, menopause, and age differences in the associations of persistent organic pollutants with thyroid hormones, thyroxine-binding globulin, and peripheral deiodinase activity: A cross-sectional study of the general Korean adult population.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can disrupt the thyroid hormone system in humans. We assessed the associations of several POPs with serum thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone, and investigated the modulating effects of sex, menopausal status, and age on these associations, in a subgroup of the adult population (n = 1250) from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey. PCB105 and PCB118 were negatively associated with total T4 in premenopausal females and males aged <50, whereas the associations were insignificant in other groups.