• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.24-31
• /
• 2024

Mercury is a chemical pollutant widely present in the environment. Humans are generally exposed to mercury in the form of organic Hg (methylmercury) through the consumption of seafood. Koreans enjoy eating fish therefore blood mercury concentration is usually higher than in developed countries. By investigating blood mercury concentration according to the frequency of seafood consumption and sociodemographic factors, we aimed to identify recent trends in blood mercury concentration in Korean adults. This study was conducted using KoNEHS cycle 4 (2018~2020) from the National Institute Environmental Research Survey. The geometric mean concentration of blood mercury of the subjects was 2.959 (±1.018) ㎍/L, which was significantly higher in men than in women. It was observed that as the frequency of fish and shellfish consumption increased, the blood mercury concentration increased. In adjusted logistic regression, fish consumption was associated with 36.7% increased risk of blood mercury levels [Odds ratio, 1.367; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.246~1.500], and shellfish consumption was associated with 26.5% increased risk of blood mercury levels [Odds ratio, 1.265; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.134~1.410]. Blood mercury concentration was also found to increase as the socioeconomic level increased. In conclusion, the geometric mean concentration of blood mercury was increased compared to the one in the 3rd KoNEHS (2015~2017) and seafood consumption and socioeconomic level were still significantly associated with increasing blood mercury concentration in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage healthy seafood consumption habits and conduct continuous monitoring considering various factors to reduce blood mercury levels.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.458-462
• /
• 1993

Blood toluene concentrations of thirty nine Korean toluene-exposed workers in shoes making factory were checked by headspace-gas chromatographic analysis. Air toluene concentrations in each worker's working region also checked by personal sampler during workshift and analyzed by gas chromatography. The range of blood toluene concentration was 0.15-0.84mg/L. The range of toluene concentration of each worker's working area was 8.46-189.9ppm. The correlation between blood and air concentration of toluene was 0.824.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.34 no.3 s.134
• /
• pp.263-268
• /
• 2003

This study was carried out to evaluate the change of blood constituents during the growth of antlers in Korean spotted deer (Cervus nippon). Samples of blood, obtained from the jugular vein of twenty five deer (3 to 6 year-old males) were taken in 10 days interval from casting to cutting of antler and were analyzed the blood parameters. Total-protein concentration in blood serum showed significantly differences during growth period of velvet antler (p<0.01), and it had similar tendency for total protein and albumin concentration, but albumin concentration was about 40-45% of total protein concentration. Urea and creatinine concentration was tended to inverse proportion, and it was almost 30:1 for ratio of urea and creatinine concentration. The concentration of total protein, creatinine, and uric acid concentration in blood during growth period of velvet antler was similarly increased and decreased but urea concentration was opposed. The concentration of total-bilirubin and direct-bilirubin at casting was higher than those at other period(P<0.05).

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 2005

The study was conducted to determine whether oak wood vinegar extract influences blood alcohol concentration and hangover syndrome in healthy volunteers. 2% wood vinegar extract was effective to inhibit increase of blood alcohol concentration after alcohol intake and showed significantly different (P<0.1) compared to placebo. By result of questionnaire of volunteers, wood vinegar extract showed effects improving hangover syndrome. In comparative study about blood alcohol concentration and hangover syndrome of wood vinegar extract and other extract that hangover improvement effect was reported, average maximum blood alcohol concentration was lowered in those taking wood vinegar extract than those taking other extract. At drinking completion 210minutes (T210), blood alcohol concentration of those taking wood vinegar extract was the lowest by 0.063% compared with other extract but was not significantly different between in those taking wood vinegar extract and in those taking other extract. However, wood vinegar extract's experimental group was the highest by 0.462 in decrement rate of blood alcohol concentration and, when did P<0.1 by significance level, indicated difference that mean statistically compared to placebo group uniquely. At those taking wood vinegar extract, the improvement rate and the aggravation rate of hangover syndrome was each 87%, 2%. Thus it was concluded that wood vinegar extract showed excellent alcohol oxidation and was effective in hangover improvement.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.377-386
• /
• 2010

Objectives: This study was carried out for the purpose of evaluating the blood mercury concentration of the residents of Busan, Korea, as well as the relationship between the mercury concentration and the pattern of fish consumption along with other epidemiological factors. Methods: Two hundred ninety-three subjects (147 men and 146 women), who were aged 40 years or more, were recruited into this study between June and October 2009. The mean age of the subjects was 54.3 years (with a range of 40-70 years). Mercury concentrations in blood samples were measured using a gold-amalgam collection method. Results: The geometric mean concentration of mercury in the total subjects was $8.63\;{\mu}g/L$ [range: $1.48{\sim}45.71\;{\mu}g/L$]. The blood mercury concentration of the men ($9.55\;{\mu}g/L$) was significantly higher than that of the women ($7.76\;{\mu}g/L$). The blood mercury concentration of those who eat fish more than 4 times per week was higher than others, and was statistically significant (male p = 0.0019, female p = 0.0002). According to the multiple analysis, the blood mercury concentration was significantly affected by the consumed fish but other epidemiological factors were not related. Conclusions: It was found that the subjects who have consumed a large amount of fish may have high blood mercury concentration. It appears that fish consumption can influence blood mercury concentration. Therefore, guidelines for fish consumption that will decrease blood mercury concentration might be necessary in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.731-741
• /
• 1996

ELISA kit for cortisol was developed and then evaluated. Polyclonal antihydrocortisone-3-(o-carboxymethyl)oxime BSA rabbit serum was used to coat the 96-well microplates. The minimum detection limit of the kit was 250pg of cortisol per milliliter. The within-run variation and the day to day variation of the ELISA system were 2.0 and 5.9 at maximum, respectively. The kit was used to determine whether salivary cortisol concentration could replace blood cortisol concentration in dexamathasone suppression test of dogs. Changes of cortisol concentration were measured in serum or saliva after intravenous administration of 0.01mg of dexamethasone per kilogram of body weight. Blood alone, saliva alone or both were collected at 0, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 minutes after injection of dexamethasone. The change in blood cortisol concentration was found to be suitable in dexamathasone suppression test of dogs, but the change in salivary cortisol concentration was not. The kit was also used to determine whether salivary cortisol concentration could be a stress index as well as blood cortisol concentration in dogs. Two types of trial were performed to estimate the stress either by blood or salivary cortisol concentration. The first trial was stress experiment by intravenous injection of 0.2IU of PZI-insulin per kilogram body weight. Either blood alone or saliva alone was collected at 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after insulin administration. Both blood and salivary cortisol concentration were found to be suitable index in estimating stress from hypoglycemia by injection of insulin. The second trial was stress experiment by electrical irritation. The dogs were irritated with anti-bark device for 10 seconds. Blood was collected before and at 2 and 5 minutes after electrical irritation. Saliva was collected before and at 3 and 6 minutes after electrical irritation. The blood cortisol concentration, but not the salivary cortisol concentration was found to be suitable index in estimating stress from electrical irritation. Cushing syndrome in a dog was also successfully diagnosed with this kit.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.107-112
• /
• 2005

Excessive drinking causes 'alcohol hangover' within 8-16 hours. The cause of 'hangover' has not been elucidated exactly until now, but it is reported that it is caused by the creation of blood ethanol and acetaldehyde as ethanol metabolites. In this study vinegar extract of wood (VE) or OC-1, to which the powder extract of green tea leaves extract is added, was administered to the rats 30 minutes before the oral administration of ethanol (3 g/kg) and the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentration was measured in order to evaluate the efficacy of the beverage material for detoxification. As a result, the blood ethanol concentration in the group of the VE-1(vinegar crude extract) and VE-2 (double diluted solution) is statistically lower (P,0.05) than the exclusive alcohol administered control group. The blood acetaldehyde concentration of all groups of VE and OC-2, which is the double dilution of OC-1, is statistically low after 7 hours following ethanol administration. Especially, the AUC value of OC-2 group is statistically low compared to the control group. Accordingly, it indicates the conclusion that VE and OC-1, reducing the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentration which are two leading factors of 'hangover' after drinking, and worthwhile to be developed as beverage materials to eliminate 'hangover'.

• Journal of Sport and Applied Science
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ICING recovery method after sports climbing to blood lactate concentration and heart rate. The subjects were 12 male 20s undergraduate students (ICING group of 6, Control group of 6). Blood lactate concentration and heart rate were measured before climbing, after climbing, 5-minute recovery and 10minute recovery. Heart rate were also measured during the climbing. The subjects performed climbing 3 times. Data were analysed by SPSS 20.0. To compare blood lactate concentration and heart rate among groups, the independent samples t-test was employed using an alpha level of .05. Mean and standard deviations were computed. Results show that there is no significant difference between the icing group and non-icing group. Yet, the differences of blood lactate concentration were observed between groups. Blood lactate concentration of icing group was significantly higher than non-icing group in the condition of 1st climbing. Blood lactate concentration of non-icing group was significantly higher than icing group in 2nd 10-minute recovery. ICING recovery method is shown to be not significantly effective to blood lactate concentration and heart rate. This could be comprehended that long-term high-intensity (70% of 1RM) exercise can be prepared for the further research.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.218-225
• /
• 2011

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between the blood mercury concentration and cardiovascular risk factors in elderly Korean individuals living in coastal areas. Methods: The sample consisted of 477 adults (164 males, 313 females) aged 40 to 65 years who visited a Busan health promotion center from June to September in 2009. The relationship between blood mercury concentration and cardiovascular risk factors including metabolic syndrome, cholesterol profiles, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), was investigated. Variables related to blood mercury concentration were further evaluated using multiple regression analysis. Results: The blood mercury concentration of the study population was 7.99 (range, 7.60 to 8.40) ${\mu}g$/L. In males, the blood mercury concentration was 9.74 (8.92 to 10.63) ${\mu}g$/L, which was significantly higher than that in females (7.21, [6.80 to 7.64] ${\mu}g$/L). The blood mercury concentration of the study population was related to several cardiovascular risk factors including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (p=0.044), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (p=0.034), BMI (p = 0.006), waist circumference (p = 0.031), and WHR (p < 0.001). In males, the blood mercury concentration was significantly correlated with WHR in the multiple regression analysis. Conclusions: In males, the blood mercury concentration was related to waist-to-hip ratio, which is a central obesity index and cardiovascular risk factor. Our finding suggests that cardiovascular disease risk in males was increased by mercury exposure via an obesity-related mechanism.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.11 no.3_4
• /
• pp.17-22
• /
• 1996

To elucidate the fatal blood concentration of paraquat (Gramoxone), a contact herbicide, we investigated blood concentration of paraquat in 91 cases of paraquat intoxication. The blood paraquat concentration of 91 cases due to ingestion of paraquat was 0.9 $\mu$g/ml-1023.5$\mu$g/ml and has been subdivided according to survival time. 48 of 91 cases were identified survival time. In 34 of 48 cases died within a day after ingestion of paraquat, blood paraquat concentration was ranged from 2.3-636.61$\mu$g/ml, and in 12 of 48 cases died 1-4 days after ingestion of paraquat, blood paraquat concentration was ranged from 0.9- 25.1 $\mu$g/ml.