Elucidating Korean meadowsweet (Filipendula glaberrima Nakai)-derived arabinogalactan protein-induced macrophage activation and its associated mechanism of action.

This study aimed to confirm macrophage-stimulatory component from Korean meadowsweet (Filipendula glaberrima; FG) and characterize its compositional and structural properties. FG-CWH, prepared via cool-water extraction and ethanol precipitation, induced the highest secretion of NO (6.0-8.0 µM), TNF-α (8.7-9.5 ng/mL), and IL-6 (1.0-5.7 ng/mL) compared to other samples at 0.4-10 µg/mL in RAW 264.7 cells. Analytical results revealed that FG-CWH is a high-molecular-weight component with an average molecular weight of 220 kDa, constituting a polysaccharide-protein mixture. Chemical and enzymatic treatment of FG-CWH indicated its primary composition as arabinogalactan protein (AGP)-rich glycoprotein, with activity likely associated with the chemical and structural characteristics of AGP. FG-CWH treatment resulted in significant and concentration-dependent increases in iNOS (20.0-29.6 folds), TNFα (10.6-18.6 folds) and IL6 (10.9-155.6 folds) gene expression, as well as the secretion of NO (5.3-6.3 µM), TNF-α (35.4-44.3 ng/mL), and IL-6 (4.1-8.4 ng/mL) secretion, even at a reduced concentration range of 125-500 ng/mL, compared to the negative control group. Immunoblotting analysis indicated FG-CWH-induced macrophage stimulation significantly associated with the activation of MAPK (ERK, JNK, and p38) and NF-κB (p65 and IκBα). These findings can serve as valuable groundwork for developing FG-derived AGP as novel functional ingredients to enhance human immunity.

Marine debris ingestion by adults and fledglings of Swinhoe's storm petrels in the Republic of Korea.

Procellariiformes are highly vulnerable to marine plastic pollution due to their species-specific life histories. In particular, storm petrels are known to be one of the most vulnerable species with respect to plastic ingestion. In this study, we examined the plastic ingestion by adults and fledglings of Swinhoe's storm petrels on Chilbal Island, one of the largest breeding colonies for this species. During 2013 and 2014, we collected adult and fledgling carcasses and analyzed their stomach contents. The results showed that both adults and juveniles were consuming mostly plastics. Most of the collected Swhinhoe's storm petrels were consuming microplastic, with juveniles consuming a higher average amount of plastic than adults. The type of plastic ingested was more threadlike in adults and fragments in juveniles. In conclusion, the characteristics of ingested plastics differed between adults and juveniles, suggesting that analyzing individual age may be important for monitoring plastic ingestion in the future.

Marine litter pollution of breeding colony and habitat use patterns of Black-tailed gulls in South Korea.

Marine litter can affect the survival of the breeding population in seabird colonies. In this study, five 5 m × 5 m quadrats were installed at a Black-tailed gull (Larus crassirostris) breeding colony on Nan Island to collect marine litter and regurgitated pellets, from which the types, sizes, and quantities of marine litter were identified. Global positioning system (GPS) devices were attached to five adult gulls to investigate their major foraging habitats during the breeding period. Eighty-two pieces of marine litter were found, of which 74.4 % were related to fishing; all pellets contained fishing-related marine litter. Over half of the foraging habitats included fishing areas (ports and fish farms). This study is the first to quantitatively demonstrate the exposure of breeding colonies of Black-tailed gulls, the most dominant Korean seabird, to marine litter pollution during the breeding period; the birds forage predominantly in fishing areas close to their breeding colonies during this period.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Filipendula glaberrima Nakai Ethanolic Extract and Its Chemical Composition.

Many countries are endeavoring to strengthen the competitiveness of their biological resources by exploring and developing wild endemic plants. This study examined the effects of Filipendula glaberrima Nakai (FG) on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity using an in vitro system. The bioactive components were also examined using chromatographic techniques. The ethanol extract of Filipendula glaberrima Nakai (FGE) exerted antioxidant activities in the radical scavenging and reducing power assays and had high amounts of total polyphenolic compounds. The qRT-PCR results suggested that FGE significantly downregulated the levels cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) 2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The FGE treatment also decreased the production of nitric oxide, TNF-α, and IL-6 significantly in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, FGE downregulated phosphorylation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins. The chromatographic and mass spectrometry results showed that FGE contained bioactive flavonoids such as (+)-catechin, miquelianin, quercitrin, and afzelin, which may be active compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study provides fundamental data on the anti-inflammatory activity of the FG and can serve as a good starting point for developing a novel natural anti-inflammatory agent using FGE-containing bioactive flavonoids.

Assessment of the spatiotemporal risk of avian influenza between waterfowl and poultry farms during the annual cycle: A spatial prediction study focused on seasonal distribution changes in resident waterfowl in South Korea.

Previous studies and efforts to prevent and manage avian influenza (AI) outbreaks have mainly focused on the wintering season. However, outbreaks of AI have been reported in the summer, including the breeding season of waterfowl. Additionally, the spatial distribution of waterfowl can easily change during the annual cycle due to their life-cycle traits and the presence of both migrants and residents in the population. Thus, we assessed the spatiotemporal variation in AI exposure risk in poultry due to spatial distribution changes in three duck species included in both major residents and wintering migrants in South Korea, the mandarin, mallard and spot-billed duck, during wintering (October-March), breeding (April-June) and whole annual seasons. To estimate seasonal ecological niche variations among the three duck species, we applied pairwise ecological niche analysis using the Pianka index. Subsequently, seasonal distribution models were projected by overlaying the monthly ranges estimated by the maximum entropy model. Finally, we overlaid each seasonal distribution range onto a poultry distribution map of South Korea. We found that the mandarin had less niche overlap with the mallard and spot-billed duck during the wintering season than during the breeding season, whereas the mallard had less niche overlap with the mandarin and spot-billed duck during the breeding season than during the wintering season. Breeding and annual distribution ranges of the mandarin and spot-billed duck, but not the mallard, were similar or even wider than their wintering ranges. Similarly, the mandarin and spot-billed duck showed more extensive overlap proportions between poultry and their distributional ranges during both the breeding and annual seasons than during the wintering season. These results suggest that potential AI exposure in poultry can occur more widely in the summer than in winter, depending on sympatry with the host duck species. Future studies considering the population density and variable pathogenicity of AI are required.

Genetic polymorphism of HLA-DRA and alcohol consumption affect hepatitis development in the Korean population.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that has several potential causes; however, the genetic association has recently begun to be studied. OBJECTIVES: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is an essential component of the immune response, and in this study, we conducted a correlation analysis to determine whether genetic polymorphisms of HLA and drinking habits affect hepatitis development. METHODS: Genetic polymorphisms of HLA were investigated using Korean genomic and epidemiological data. A gene association study was performed using PLINK version 1.07. Other statistical analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using PASW Statistics version 18.0. RESULTS: Thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HLA-DRA showed significant statistical correlations with hepatitis. In particular, rs9268645 showed the highest statistical association with hepatitis (P = 3.97 × 10-5, odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.61-0.84). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, when considering only genetic factors, the A allele of rs9268644 showed a reduced hepatitis OR of approximately 0.52-fold. However, the group carrying the minor A allele (AA + AC) with alcohol consumption had an approximately 1.58-fold OR of hepatitis compared to that of the group carrying the same allele with no alcohol consumption. This implies that the A allele of rs9268644 has a protective effect on hepatitis by genetic factors and shows sensitivity to alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that hepatitis is influenced by both genetic and external factors (drinking habits), which can provide new guidelines for the prevention or treatment of hepatitis.

Plastic debris ingestion by seabirds on the Korean Peninsula.

Plastic ingestion studies in seabirds that analyse the frequency of occurrence and the characteristics of the plastics ingested by each species provide valuable information for marine environmental assessments by quantifying the impacts of marine debris on seabirds. We investigated the frequency of plastic ingestion from a sample of 387 individuals of 11 seabird species on the Korean Peninsula. We found evidence of plastic ingestion in red-breasted mergansers (Mergus serrator) (33.3%), Pacific loons (Gavia pacifica) (10.0%), Swinhoe's storm petrels (Hydrobates monorhis) (93.7%), black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) (12.9%) and ancient murrelets (Synthliboramphus antiquus) (0.9%). In particular, it was observed that Swinhoe's storm petrels had the highest frequency of plastic ingestion, both in terms of the number of affected individuals, and the accumulated mass of plastic debris ingested. The majority of seabirds examined in our study had ingested microplastics, comprised predominantly of user plastics. This is the first report quantifying plastic ingestion in seabirds on the Korean Peninsula and in the broader area of the East Asian Seas.