• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2017

'The worstest environment disaster', 'World's first biocide massacre', 'Home-based Sewol ferry disaster' are all phrases attached to the recent humidifier disinfectant disaster. In the spring of 2011, four of 8 pregnant women including 1 adult man passed away at a university hospital in Seoul due to breathing failure. Epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Korean CDC soon revealed the inhalation of humidifier disinfectant, which had been widely used in Korea during the winter, to be responsible for the disease. As well as lung fibrosis hardening of the lungs, other diseases including asthma, rhinitis, skin disease, liver disease, fetal disease or cancers have been researched for their relation with exposure to the products. By February 9, 2017, 5,342 cases had registered for health problems and 1,131 of them were already dead (20.8% mortality rate). Based on studies by government agencies and a telephone survey of the general population by Seoul National University and civic groups, around 20% of the general public of Korea has used these products. Since the market release of the first product by SK Chemical in 1994, over 7.1 million items from around 20 brands were sold up to 2011. Most of the products were manufactured by well-known large conglomerates such as SK, Lotte, Samsung, Shinsegye, LG, and GS, as well as some European companies including UK-based Reckitt Benckiser and TESCO, the German firm Henkel, the Danish firm KeTox, and an Irish company. Even though this disaster was unveiled in 2011 by the Korean government, the issue of the victims was neglected for over five years. In 2016, an unexpected but intensive investigation by prosecutors found that Reckitt Benckiser manipulated and concealed animal tests for its own brand and brought several university experts and company employees to court. The matter was an intense social issue in Korea from May to June with a surge in media coverage. The prosecutor's investigation and a nationwide boycott campaign organized by victims and environmental groups against Reckitt Benckiser, whose product had been used by more than 70% of victims, led to the producer's official apology and a compensation scheme. A legislative investigation organized after the April 2016 national election revealed the producers' faults and the government's responsibility, but failed to meet expectations. A special law for the victims passed the National Assembly in January 2017 and a punitive system together with a massive environmental epidemiology investigation are expected to be the only solutions for this tragedy. Sciences of medicine, toxicology and environmental health have provided decisive evidence so far, but for the remaining problems the perspectives of social sciences such as sociology and jurisprudence are highly necessary, similar to with the Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon events. It may not be easy to follow this issue using unfamiliar terminology from medical and chemical science and the long, complicated history of the event. For these reasons the author has attempted to write this article in a question and answer format to render it easier to follow. The 17 questions are: Q1 What is humidifier disinfectant? Q2 What kind of health problems are caused by humidifier disinfectant? Q3 How many victims are there? Q4 What is the analysis of the 1,112 cases of death? Q5 What is the problem with the government's diagnostic criteria and the solution? Q6 Who made what brands? Q7 Has there been a recall? What is still on sale? Q8 Was safety not checked by any producers? Q9 What are the government's responsibilities? Q10 Is it true that these products were sold only in Korea? Q11 Why and how was it unveiled only in 2011 after 17 years of sales? Q12 What delayed the resolution of the victim issue? Q13 What is the background of the prosecutor's investigation in early 2016? Q14 Is it possible to report new victim cases without evidence of product purchase? Q15 What is happening with the victim issue? Q16 How does it compare with the cases of Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon? Q17 Are there prevention measures and lessons?

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 2004

Chloride($Cl^-$) channels play critical roles in cell homeostasis and its specific functions such as volume regulation, differentiation, secretion, and membrane stabilization. The presence of these channels have been reported in all kinds of cells and even in frog oocytes. These essential role of $Cl^-$­ channels in cell homeostasis possibly play any role in egg homeostasis and in the early stage of development, however, there has been no report about the presence of $Cl^-$­ channel in the mammalian oocyte. This study was performed to elucidate the presence of $Cl^-$­ channels in hamster eggs. When allowing only $Cl^-$­ to pass through the channel of the egg membrane by using impermeant cation such as N-methyl-D-glucamine(NMDG), single channel currents were recorded. These channel currents showed typical long-lasted openings interrupted by rapid flickering. Mean open $time({\tau}o)$ was 43${\pm}$10.14 ms(n=9, at 50 mV). The open probability(Po) was decrease with depolarization. The current-voltage relation showed outward rectification. Outward slop conductance(32${\pm}$5.4 pS, n=22) was steeper than the inward slop conductance(10${\pm}$1.3 pS). Under the condition of symmetrical 140 mM NaCl, single channel currents were reversed at 0 mV(n=4). This reversal potential(Erev) was shifted from 0 mV at 140 mM concentration of internal NaCl(140 mM [Na+]i) to ­9.8${\pm}$0.5 mV(n=4) at 70 mM [Na+]i and 11.5${\pm}$1.9 mV at 280 mM [Na+]i(n=4) respectively, strongly suggesting that these are single $Cl^-$­ channel currents. To examine further whether this channel has pharmacological property of the $Cl^-$­ channel, specific Cl­ channel blockers, IAA-94(Indanyloxyacetic acid-94) and DIDS(4, 4'-diisothiocyan ostillben- 2-2'disulfonic acid) were applied. IAA-94 inhibited the channel current in a dose-dependent manner and revealed a rapid and flickering block. From these electrophysiological and pharmacological resluts, we found the novel $Cl^-$­ channel present in the hamster oocyte membrane. The first identification of $Cl^-$­ channel in the hamster oocyte may give a clue for the further study on the function of $Cl^-$­ channel in the fertilization and cell differentiation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.211-224
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• 1996

The patients of developmental dislocation of the hip(DDH) are almost found after walking age because of early diagnosis of DDH in younger children is not easy. A controversy still exists as to the relative value of closed and operative management in the treatment of a child who has reached walking age. This study is a report of the results of 16 patients(17 cases) in developmental dislocation of the hip who have visited our hospital at the age of 9 months to 3 years old, and have been followed more than 12 months (12-112 months) on review of plain radiographs and arthrograms. The results were as follows : 1. The age at diagnosis was 16.4 months(9-31 months) in average. The methods of treatment were conservative for 8 cases, and operation for 4 cases and secondary operation for 5 cases who were failed with conservative therapy. 2. By Severin's radiologic grade, the result was good in 4 cases, fair in 3 cases and poor in 1 case in conservative treatment. In operative treatment, fair was in 2 cases and poor in 2 cases. In secondary operative patients who were failed with conservative therapy, good was in 2 cases, fair in 2 cases and poor in 1 case. 3. Avascular necrosis of femoral head was developed in 3 cases. 4. In the good reduction as determined by arthrogram according to Race and Herring, we can get a favorable result in conservative treatment, and in the poor reduction as determined by arthrogram, the better result in operative treatment can be expected.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.278-286
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• 2006

Purpose : Although suprapubic bladder aspiration(SBA) is the most reliable technique for identifying bacteriuria in young infant, no report has been published about the clinical manifestations of urinary tract infection(UTI) diagnosed by aspirated urine in Korea. This study was performed to examine clinical manifestations and related factors of UTI confirmed by a positive urine culture obtained by SBA in young infants. Methods : We reviewed medical records of 159 infants younger than six months of age, who had been admitted for UTI to Korea University Ansan Hospital from January 2002 to June 2005. Results : The male:female ratio was 5.1 : 1. The most common pathogen in urine culture was Escherichia coli(92.5 percent). Most of the gram-negative pathogens had high sensitivity to amikacin, or third generation cephalosporins and had low sensitivity to ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or gentamicin. Hydronephrosis and vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) were present in 32.7 percent and 27.7 percent respectively. Renal cortical defects observed on DMSA scans were detected in 37.1 percent. Prolonged fever duration and hospital day, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) and C-reactive protein(CRP) levels, hydronephrosis and VUR were related to the renal cortical defects(P<0.05). Rates of UTI-associated bacteremia and aseptic meningitis were 8.3 percent and 6.6 percent. Conclusion : Early differential diagnosis is very important in infants younger than 6 months of age with UTI because the clinical findings are non-specific and UTI-associated bacteremia and aseptic meningitis are concomitantly found. Because prolonged fever and higher ESR and CRP levels are risk factors of the renal cortical defects, radiologic evaluations and nephrologic follow-up were needed in identifying the predisposing congenital abnormalities and chronic renal scarring.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.102-112
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• 2024

Purpose: To identify the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreaks depending on the type of educational facility by analyzing the COVID-19 cluster associated with educational facilities. Methods: This study is based on epidemiological investigation of COVID-19 cluster in Gangwon-do, Korea from December 10, 2020 to September 23, 2021 reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Integrated Disease and Health Management System. Four hundred seven patients in 19 facilities, classified as cluster related to educational facilities, were the study population. The result of preliminary epidemiology survey report, in-depth epidemiological survey by phone and the result of risk assessment derived from the field epidemiology investigation were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate infectivity and the characteristics of the risk factors. Results: There were total of 407 confirmed patients related to 19 educational facilities, with 204 students under the age of 19 (50.1%). One hundred fifty-five preceding spreaders were from families (38.1%) and 125 were the teachers (30.7%). The place exposed to confirmed patients was the highest with 139 people (34.2%) at home. Conclusions: It was confirmed that the cause of the occurrence of clusters related to educational facilities was higher due to family transmission than the risk of facilities in schools. Nevertheless, continuous efforts should be made to control infection in educational facilities, and that teachers' implementation of principles for prevention of COVID-19 personal hygiene in their daily lives should be strengthened.