BACKGROUND: Although many studies have reported the therapeutic effects of hot spring bathing on various diseases, its influence on healthy individuals is not well understood. Myoban Onsen, a sulfur-rich hot spring in Beppu City, Japan, is traditionally believed to improve skin conditions, relieve fatigue, and promote relaxation. However, scientific verification of these effects, particularly their impact on gut microbiota and related metabolic outcomes in healthy individuals, remains scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Myoban hot spring bathing on gut microbiota composition and SCFA concentrations in healthy individuals. METHODS: In this study, 16 healthy adult males (n = 16) participated in Myoban hot spring bathing four times over two weeks. Fecal samples were collected before and after the intervention, and 16S rRNA sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were performed to analyze gut microbiota composition and organic acid concentrations. The effects of hot spring bathing were evaluated using the Wilcoxon matched-pair signed-rank test to compare pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: After Myoban hot spring bathing, there was a significant increase in beneficial gut bacteria, Bifidobacterium, Blautia, and Anaerostipes, compared to pre-bathing (p = 0.0012, p = 0.0103, and p = 0.0017, respectively). Conversely, significant decreases were observed in Parabacteroides, Alistipes, and Oscillibacter (p = 0.0125, p = 0.0215, and p = 0.0125, respectively). Significant increases in SCFAs, including acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, were observed after Myoban hot spring bathing (p = 0.0067, p = 0.0125, and p = 0.0302, respectively). These findings suggest that Myoban hot spring bathing may benefit healthy adult males. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that Myoban hot spring bathing may improve gut health in healthy males. The observed increases in beneficial bacteria and SCFAs indicate a potential contribution to improved health status through modulation of the gut environment. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registration number: UMIN000055229, retrospectively registered.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Male ; Hot Springs ; Pilot Projects ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/analysis* ; Adult ; Japan ; Feces/chemistry* ; Bacteria/genetics* ; Young Adult ; Baths ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis* ; Middle Aged

Guided by molecular networking, nine novel curvularin derivatives (1-9) and 16 known analogs (10-25) were isolated from the hydrothermal vent sediment fungus Penicillium sp. HL-50. Notably, compounds 5-7 represented a hybrid of curvularin and purine. The structures and absolute configurations of compounds 1-9 were elucidated via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, ¹³C NMR calculation, modified Mosher's method, and chemical derivatization. Investigation of anti-inflammatory activities revealed that compounds 7-9, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 18 exhibited significant suppressive effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.44 to 4.40 μmol·L^-1. Furthermore, these bioactive compounds were found to suppress the expression of inflammation-related proteins, including inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), NLR family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). Additional studies demonstrated that the novel compound 7 possessed potent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the transcription of inflammation-related genes, downregulating the expression of inflammation-related proteins, and inhibiting the release of inflammatory cytokines, indicating its potential application in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Penicillium/chemistry* ; Mice ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism* ; Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology* ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Molecular Structure ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/immunology* ; Cyclooxygenase 2/immunology* ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology* ; NF-kappa B/immunology* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/immunology*

To explore the differences in biological gas production in the waterlogged zone of a coal seam fire-affected area, in this study the in-situ gas production experiment was conducted with the mine water from aquitard layers in coal seam fire zones in Xinjiang. The results showed that the biogas production first increased and then decreased with the increase in distance, and the highest gas production reached 216.55 mL. The changes in key metabolic pathways during the anaerobic fermentation of coal were analyzed, which showed that as the distance from the aquitard layer in the coal seam fire zone increased, the methanogenesis pathways gradually shifted from acetic acid decarboxylation and carbon dioxide reduction to acetic acid decarboxylation and methylamine methanogenesis. The significant variability in the in-situ mine water reservoir conditions contributed to the differences. In addition, the reservoir pressure and temperature increased as the distance from the fire zone became longer, and the salinity of the farthest mine water in the reverse fault was the highest due to the lack of groundwater supply. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant correlations of microbial communities with key functional genes and the types and concentrations of ions. The ions significantly influencing microbial enzymatic metabolic activities included Al³⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, PO₄^3-, and Mo⁶⁺. The differences in metabolic pathways were attributed to the integrated effects of a co-occurring environment with multiple ions. The gas production simulation experiments and metagenomic analyses provide data support for the practical application of in-situ biogas experiments, laying a foundation for engineering applications.
Biofuels ; Coal ; Methane/biosynthesis* ; Fires ; Groundwater ; Coal Mining ; Fermentation ; China ; Anaerobiosis

BACKGROUND

Groundwater is an essential resource for domestic use, agricultural needs, and economic activities, yet it is increasingly threatened by contamination and overextraction. To evaluate groundwater quality and identify associated health risks, the Philippine Groundwater Health Index (PGHI) project conducted a comprehensive assessment of selected sites across various regions in the country.

The study analyzed groundwater samples from multiple locations to determine compliance with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water. Parameters assessed included organochlorines, heavy metals, microbial indicators, and physical and nonmetal characteristics such as phosphate and ammonia levels. Results were compiled to evaluate overall groundwater safety and identify areas of concern.

No organochlorines were detected in any of the samples, and all heavy metals complied with national drinking water standards. However, significant noncompliance was observed in other parameters. Microbial contamination was widespread, with 79.25% of samples failing to meet microbial standards due to the presence of fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli. Elevated levels of physical and nonmetal parameters were also noted, with 21 of 27 sites exceeding phosphate limits and 8 sites exceeding ammonia levels. These findings indicate substantial health risks associated with fecal contamination and nutrient pollution.

The PGHI project underscores the urgent need for enhanced groundwater treatment processes, regular monitoring, and strengthened policy-making to ensure safe drinking water. While the study provides critical insights, limitations such as lack of seasonal data, absence of emerging contaminant analysis, and limited spatial coverage highlight the necessity for continued improvements in groundwater management. Addressing these gaps is essential to protect public health, preserve environmental quality, and ensure the sustainable availability of safe groundwater for future generations.

Objectives: The authors considered the community-based on-site water sampling-surveys case-study in Angono, Rizal, in the Republic of the Philippines. The study was designed to determine whether individual citizens within the community could successfully collaborate in order to develop a method for quantification of E. coli levels in water (especially underground water) for domestic use.

Methods: We used techniques that had been validated in Japan for on-site evaluation of E. coli. These simple techniques enabled the on-site quantification of E. coli levels in multiple water sources, including underground water.

Results: The techniques used in Japan were successfully adopted in the Philippines, and we cooperated with regional medical technicians, scientists, and citizens, in order to develop a system where ultimately, the people in Angono can perform all the tasks related to on-site water quality evaluation. From societal and economic perspectives, we were able to reduce the traditionally high laboratory cost (including testing cost and samples transit cost) of coliform bacteria and E. coli evaluation to a lower, fixed cost level that is affordable for regional health centers and other sites.

Conclusion: The transfer of a simple inspection method technology, under the supervision of an experienced Japanese research team, allowed us to validate the E. coli on-site quantification strategy at a regional level as "co-creation of science and society". In addition, beyond technology transfer, our collaborative efforts with scientists, regional medical engineers, and citizens, led to the creation of an NGO (non-governmental organization) that serves citizens in the town of Angono with regard to water quality assessment and certification activities.

Key Words: water quality, water management, community, local people, participatory approach, underground water, Escherichia coli, coliform bacteria, Philippines

Background. The growing resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobial agents is a pressing public health issue. Bioprospecting efforts have mainly focused on well-known environments such as soil and animal gut in search for microorganisms with antibiotic production or antimicrobial activity, or terrestrial ecosystems for endemic plants with bioactive compounds. However, microbial communities thriving in stressed environments such as hot springs, are potential sources of metabolites that can be screened for antimicrobial activity. There is a need for research on bioprospecting of fungi as potential sources of antimicrobials.

Objectives. The study aimed to test the antimicrobial activity of endophytic and rhizospheric fungi associated with soft fern (Christella spp.) and Cinderella weed (Synederella nodiflora) inhabiting a hot spring in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.

Methods. A total of 23 endophytic and rhizospheric fungi isolated from soft fern and Cinderella weed were purified and phenotypically identified. These isolates were subjected to agar well diffusion and agar plug diffusion methods as preliminary assays for antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis var. spizizenii (ATCC® 6633™), Staphylococcus  aureus (ATCC® 25923™), four multi-antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli (OT11, OT16, OT18, OT22), and Cladosporium  cladosporioides. Based on the results of the preliminary screening, ethyl-acetate extracts of selected fungal isolates were subjected to broth microdilution assay to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for antibacterial activity, as well as poisoned food technique to determine the percent mycelial inhibition for antifungal activity. The nearest phylogenetic affiliations of fungal isolates with higher antimicrobial activities were determined.

Results. Ten rhizospheric fungal isolates from Cinderella weed and seven rhizospheric and six endophytic fungal isolates from soft fern were phenotypically identified as Aspergillus, Coniothyrium, Fusarium, Penicillium, Talaromyces,  and Trichoderma species. Ethyl acetate extracts from endophytic fungal isolates UL1 (Trichoderma sp.) and UL2 (Trichoderma sp.) and rhizospheric fungal isolates UR1 (Trichoderma sp.) and UR3 (Trichoderma sp.) showed activity against the test bacteria at 128-256 ?g/mL concentrations. Isolates UL1, UL2, and UR3, which exhibited higher antibacterial activities, were sequenced and confirmed to be most phylogenetically related to Trichoderma  virens. Eleven fungal isolates belonging to Aspergillus spp., Coniothyrium spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., and Talaromyces spp. demonstrated antagonism against C. cladosporioides. The rhizospheric fungal isolate FCRU4 (Talaromyces sp.), from where ethyl acetate extracts were recovered for testing mycelial inhibition, was confirmed to be most phylogenetically related to Talaromyces islandicus.

Conclusion. Endophytic and rhizospheric fungi asso ciated with Cinderella weed (Synedrella nodiflora) and soft fern (Christella sp.) from a hot spring in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines have antimicrobial activity.

Bioremediation is regarded as one of the most promising methods for the remediation of the soil and groundwater contaminated with organic compounds, mainly due to its cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness. Using VOSviewer and CiteSpace, we analyzed all publications in this area in core database of Web of Science from 1990 to 2020. The number of publications in this area showed an increasing trend worldwide. The country with the largest total number of publications was USA, followed by China and India. Since 2012, the number of annual publications of China exceeded USA and ranked the first. The top three journals which published papers in this area were Chemosphere, Environmental Science & Technology, and Science of the Total Environment. The Chinese Academy of Sciences published the largest number of papers among the research institutions globally, but the University of California in USA had the highest total citations and h-index. Bibliometric analysis indicated that it is important to develop biotechnologies of bioremediation coupled with chemical/physical remediation to overcome the challenge of low efficiency and long remediation duration associated with bioremediation. In addition, the bioremediation on the mixed contaminants, such as organic contaminants and heavy metals, or mixtures of different organic contaminants, is an important direction. Finally, the rapid development of microbiome technologies will further promote the exploration of mechanisms involved in bioremediation on the genetic and molecular level.
Bibliometrics ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Groundwater ; Publications ; Soil

Environmental Monitoring ; Groundwater ; Refuse Disposal ; Soil ; Waste Disposal Facilities ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis*

Noroviruses (NoV) are the major viral pathogen causing epidemic acute gastroenteritis and outbreaks of foodborne and waterborne illness. During the local festival in Chungnam province, group food poisoning occurred outbreak by NoV infections in Jan 2019. In this study, epidemiological analysis and molecular characterization were conducted such as genotyping, phylogeny. The prevalent genotypes of food poisoning events were NoV GII.3 and GII.17, and NoV GII.3 and GII.17 isolates of this study were completely matched in nucleotide sequence comparison of capsid gene region, respectively. In underground water and stream water, various multiple genotypes of noroviruses were detected including NoV GII.3, GII.8 and GI.4 in aquatic environment of the local festival site. Among 32 worker samples, various NoVs of five genotypes (GI.7, GI.8, GII.3, GII.8, GII.17) were detected in 12 samples and expected to causing NoV contaminated by exposure to groundwater. NoV genotype GII.3, which was detected from groundwater 2, was completely consistent with that of patients and workers. Therefore, groundwater within the local festival site could be main cause of food poisoning event. Because NoV outbreaks are caused by fecal to oral transmission, proper management of sewage purification facilities, groundwater and sanitary toilets is required for many visitors, and efforts are needed to maintain clean environment.
Base Sequence ; Capsid ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Foodborne Diseases ; Gastroenteritis ; Genotype ; Groundwater ; Holidays ; Humans ; Korea ; Norovirus ; Phylogeny ; Rivers ; Sewage ; Water

BACKGROUND: More than 140 million people drink arsenic-contaminated groundwater. It is unknown how much arsenic exposure is necessary to cause neurological impairment. Here, we evaluate the relationship between neurological impairments and the arsenic concentration in drinking water (ACDW). PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was employed. We performed medical examinations of 1867 residents in seven villages in the Thabaung township in Myanmar. Medical examinations consisted of interviews regarding subjective neurological symptoms and objective neurological examinations of sensory disturbances. For subjective neurological symptoms, we ascertained the presence or absence of defects in smell, vision, taste, and hearing; the feeling of weakness; and chronic numbness or pain. For objective sensory disturbances, we examined defects in pain sensation, vibration sensation, and two-point discrimination. We analyzed the relationship between the subjective symptoms, objective sensory disturbances, and ACDW. RESULTS: Residents with ACDW ≥ 10 parts per billion (ppb) had experienced a "feeling of weakness" and "chronic numbness or pain" significantly more often than those with ACDW < 10 ppb. Residents with ACDW ≥ 50 ppb had three types of sensory disturbances significantly more often than those with ACDW < 50 ppb. In children, there was no significant association between symptoms or signs and ACDW. CONCLUSION Subjective symptoms, probably due to peripheral neuropathy, occurred at very low ACDW (around 10 ppb). Objective peripheral nerve disturbances of both small and large fibers occurred at low ACDW (> 50 ppb). These data suggest a threshold for the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy due to arsenic exposure, and indicate that the arsenic concentration in drinking water should be less than 10 ppb to ensure human health.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Arsenic ; analysis ; toxicity ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dietary Exposure ; adverse effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drinking Water ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Female ; Groundwater ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myanmar ; epidemiology ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Sensation Disorders ; chemically induced ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; analysis ; toxicity ; Young Adult