Factors Influencing Behavior of Reducing Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Breastfeeding Mothers

PURPOSE: To investigate factors that affect behaviors of reducing exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in breastfeeding mothers. METHODS: Subjects were 166 breastfeeding mothers who were recruited from January 25 to April 15, 2018. The questionnaire consisted of items associated with behaviors of reducing exposure to EDCs, attitude to behaviors of reducing exposure, subject norms of behavior of reducing exposure, and perceived behavior control. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Factors influencing behaviors of reducing the exposure to EDCs were attitude toward behaviors of reducing exposure, perceived barrier, and period of lactation. The more positive the attitude toward behaviors of reducing exposure was, the lower the perceived barrier. The longer the feeding period, the higher the behaviors of reducing the exposure to EDCs. CONCLUSION: To enhance behaviors of reducing the exposure to EDCs, it is necessary to develop a positive educational program in breastfeeding department to improve attitude toward behaviors of reducing the exposure to EDCs, decrease perceived barrier, and increase the breastfeeding period

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) whole plant extract enhances rat muscle mass and sperm production by increasing the activity of NO-cGMP pathway and serum testosterone

Purpose: To analyze the effects of an aqueous extract of Sericea lespedeza (SL) on rat male menopause.Methods: Levels of nitric oxide (NO), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS), cGMP, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the penile corpus cavernosum of the rats were evaluated using appropriate kits. Serum levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β-HSD) were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Total and motile sperms were counted on a hemocytometer. Histological changes in rat testis and epididymis were analyzed with hematoxylin and eosin staining.Results: The levels of NO, NOS, and cGMP (but not PGE2) increased in a dose-dependent manner (p< 0.05) upon administration of an aqueous extract of SL (AESL), while levels of DHT, 17β-HSD, and testosterone increased in the group administered with 300 mg/kg of AESL. Epididymal sperm count increased by 24 % in such rats compared to controls (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The aqueous extract of SL improves sperm count and muscle mass in rats by increasing the levels of NO, NOS, cGMP and testosterone. Thus, SL extract can potentially be developed as an alternative therapeutic agent for clinical management of TDS. Keywords: NO-cGMP, Testosterone, Hormones, Sperm count, Muscle mass, Sericea lespedeza, Lespedeza cuneat

Local microstructure evolution at shear bands in metallic glasses with nanoscale phase separation

At room temperature, plastic flow of metallic glasses (MGs) is sharply localized in shear bands, which are a key feature of the plastic deformation in MGs. Despite their clear importance and decades of study, the conditions for formation of shear bands, their structural evolution and multiplication mechanism are still under debate. In this work, we investigate the local conditions at shear bands in new phase-separated bulk MGs containing glassy nanospheres and exhibiting exceptional plasticity under compression. It is found that the glassy nanospheres within the shear band dissolve through mechanical mixing driven by the sharp strain localization there, while those nearby in the matrix coarsen by Ostwald ripening due to the increased atomic mobility. The experimental evidence demonstrates that there exists an affected zone around the shear band. This zone may arise from low-strain plastic deformation in the matrix between the bands. These results suggest that measured property changes originate not only from the shear bands themselves, but also from the affected zones in the adjacent matrix. This work sheds light on direct visualization of deformation-related effects, in particular increased atomic mobility, in the region around shear bands

Mycotoxin production of Alternaria strains isolated from Korean barley grains determined by LC-MS/MS

Twenty-four Alternaria strains were isolated from barley grain samples. These strains were screened for the production of mycotoxins on rice medium using thin layer chromatography. All 24 strains produced at least one of the five mycotoxins (ALT, AOH, ATX-I, AME, and TeA). Three representative strains, namely EML-BLDF1-4, EML-BLDF1-14, and EML-BLDF1-18, were further analyzed using a new LC–MS/MS-based mycotoxin quantification method. This method was used to detect and quantify Alternaria mycotoxins. We used positive ion electrospray mass spectrometry with multiple reaction mode (MRM) for the simultaneous quantification of various Alternaria mycotoxins produced by these strains. Five Alternaria toxins (ALT, ATX-I, AOH, AME, and TeA) were detected and quantified. Sample preparation included methanol extraction, concentration, and injection into LC–MS/MS. Limit of detection ranged from 0.13 to 4 μg/mL and limit of quantification ranged from 0.25 to 8 μg/mL

Association between harmful alcohol use and periodontal status according to gender and smoking

BACKGROUND: the aim of this study is to assess the association of harmful alcohol use based on the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) score with periodontal status according to gender and smoking in a representative sample of Korean adults. METHODS: This study analyzed 5,291 participants older than 19 years whose data of harmful alcohol use and periodontal status were available. Harmful alcohol use was defined by the WHO guidelines for the administration of AUDIT. The periodontal status was assessed by the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with adjustment for socio-demographic variables, oral and general health behavior, oral health status and systemic conditions. All analyses considered a complex sampling design, and multivariate analysis was also performed in the subgroups. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a marginal association between harmful alcohol use and higher CPI in the total sample. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of harmful alcohol use was 1.16 (0.97 to 1.38) for higher CPI. Higher CPI was significantly associated with harmful alcohol use in men (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.03-1.60) and non-smokers (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.06-1.57). CONCLUSION: Periodontal status is significantly associated with harmful alcohol use in men and non-smokers in a representative sample of Korean adults

Pilot-Scale Lactic Acid Production via Batch Culturing of Lactobacillus sp. RKY2 Using Corn Steep Liquor As a Nitrogen Source

U ovom se istraživanju pokušala odrediti učinkovitost proizvodnje mliječne kiseline uzgojem soja Lactobacillus sp. RKY2 u pilot-postrojenju uporabom kukuruznog ekstrakta kao izvora dušika. Količina mliječne kiseline nakon fermentacije, rast stanica, prinos i produktivnost nisu se bitno promijenili dodatkom čiste glukoze pri povećanju obujma procesa s 2,5 na 30 i 300 L. U svim pokusima udio mliječne kiseline linearno se povećavao s porastom početne koncentracije glukoze. U pokusu s hidrolizatom drva smanjili su se produktivnost mliječne kiseline i rast stanica s povećanjem obujma procesne opreme, zbog toksičnih kemikalija iz hidrolizata. Međutim, u svim je pokusima prinos mliječne kiseline bio veci od 90 % bez obzira na utrošak glukoze. Zaključeno je da je mliječna kiselina uspješno proizvedena u pilot-postrojenju upotrijebljenom u ovom istraživanju.In this study, the determination of the efficiency of a pilot-scale fermentation process using corn steep liquor as a nitrogen source was attempted in order to produce lactic acid via batch culturing of Lactobacillus sp. RKY2. Using pure glucose, fermentation efficiency characteristics, such as final lactic acid, cell growth, yield, and productivity were not substantially influenced by the scale-up of the laboratory-scale fermentation from 2.5- to 30- and 300-litre scale fermentations. In all experiments, the content of lactic acid produced increased in a linear fashion with increases in the initial glucose concentration. In the experiments using wood hydrolyzate, both lactic acid productivity and cell growth were decreased as a result of the scaling-up of the fermentation. This might be attributed to the toxic chemicals contained in the wood hydrolyzates. However, in all experiments, lactic acid yields remained higher than 90 % with regard to the amount of glucose consumed. Therefore, lactic acid was successfully produced by the pilot-scale bioreactor scheme adopted in this study

Pilot-Scale Lactic Acid Production via Batch Culturing of Lactobacillus sp. RKY2 Using Corn Steep Liquor As a Nitrogen Source

U ovom se istraživanju pokušala odrediti učinkovitost proizvodnje mliječne kiseline uzgojem soja Lactobacillus sp. RKY2 u pilot-postrojenju uporabom kukuruznog ekstrakta kao izvora dušika. Količina mliječne kiseline nakon fermentacije, rast stanica, prinos i produktivnost nisu se bitno promijenili dodatkom čiste glukoze pri povećanju obujma procesa s 2,5 na 30 i 300 L. U svim pokusima udio mliječne kiseline linearno se povećavao s porastom početne koncentracije glukoze. U pokusu s hidrolizatom drva smanjili su se produktivnost mliječne kiseline i rast stanica s povećanjem obujma procesne opreme, zbog toksičnih kemikalija iz hidrolizata. Međutim, u svim je pokusima prinos mliječne kiseline bio veci od 90 % bez obzira na utrošak glukoze. Zaključeno je da je mliječna kiselina uspješno proizvedena u pilot-postrojenju upotrijebljenom u ovom istraživanju.In this study, the determination of the efficiency of a pilot-scale fermentation process using corn steep liquor as a nitrogen source was attempted in order to produce lactic acid via batch culturing of Lactobacillus sp. RKY2. Using pure glucose, fermentation efficiency characteristics, such as final lactic acid, cell growth, yield, and productivity were not substantially influenced by the scale-up of the laboratory-scale fermentation from 2.5- to 30- and 300-litre scale fermentations. In all experiments, the content of lactic acid produced increased in a linear fashion with increases in the initial glucose concentration. In the experiments using wood hydrolyzate, both lactic acid productivity and cell growth were decreased as a result of the scaling-up of the fermentation. This might be attributed to the toxic chemicals contained in the wood hydrolyzates. However, in all experiments, lactic acid yields remained higher than 90 % with regard to the amount of glucose consumed. Therefore, lactic acid was successfully produced by the pilot-scale bioreactor scheme adopted in this study

Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with Kawasaki disease

PurposeKawasaki disease involves acute febrile systemic vasculitis that can cause a variety of symptoms by affecting various organs. Here, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence, causes, and prognosis of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurring in children with Kawasaki disease.MethodsPatients who were diagnosed with Kawasaki disease and received inpatient treatment in the Pediatrics Department at one of three university hospitals in Daegu city from February 2012 to September 2012 were enrolled in the study. The clinical features, hematological results, echocardiography results, audiometry results, and aspirin and salicylic acid serum levels of the patients were evaluated.ResultsOf the 59 children enrolled in the study, three showed mild bilateral SNHL on audiometry tests conducted after 48 hours of defervescence; these patients demonstrated normal patterns of recovery on follow-up tests 8 weeks later. Aspirin serum levels were significantly higher in the SNHL group after 48 hours of afebrile condition with high dose aspirin intake (P=0.034). However, no significant differences were found in other laboratory tests or for fever duration (P>0.05). Upon echocardiography, coronary artery abnormality was observed in 9 cases, but none of these patients showed hearing loss.ConclusionThe results indicate that SNHL in children with Kawasaki disease might occur during treatment of the acute phase; this SNHL usually involves mild bilateral hearing loss and recovers naturally. However, this study suggests that determination of the causes and clinical implications of hearing loss in Kawasaki disease requires long-term follow-up studies with more cases

What Factors Delay Interatrial Communications Closure in the Oval Fossa?

Purpose In most neonatal intensive care units, echocardiography is performed at the bedside. The lack of closure of interatrial communications (IACs) in the oval fossa can affect mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to establish the rate of spontaneous closure of IACs diagnosed in the neonatal period and predict the need for subsequent evaluation according to various factors, including defect size and shape. Methods The study group comprised 1,242 newborns admitted between March 2017 and December 2020. We judged the closure of the IACs and evaluated the risk factors of each. Patients were classified into the absence or presence of IACs. The morphology of the IACs was classified into atrial septal defects, patent foramen ovale, and multiple holes. Results A total of 317 patients (131 female, 186 male) were enrolled in the study, and the average defect size was 3.0±1.0 mm. An overall spontaneous closure rate of 89.9% was observed during an average follow-up interval of 5.1±1.1 months. When multiple Cox regression analyses were performed to analyze the risk factors for spontaneous closure, initial defect size was a significant factor. The optimal cut-off value for predicting spontaneous closure of the IAC was 3.05 mm, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.625 (95% confidence interval, 0.520 to 0.729). Preterm infants had a larger defect size corrected for birth weight and a higher closure rate than term infants. Conclusion Other than large defect size, no factors delayed spontaneous closure. When defects in the oval fossa measure ≤3 mm, most patients experience spontaneous closure by 7 months of age