• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.155-162
• /
• 2010

Epidemiological evidence of the effects of dietary sodium, calcium, and potassium, and anthropometric indexes on blood pressure is still inconsistent. To investigate the relationship between dietary factors or anthropometric indexes and hypertension risk, we examined the association of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) with sodium, calcium, and potassium intakes and anthropometric indexes in 19~49-year-olds using data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) III. Total of 2,761 young and middle aged adults (574 aged 19~29 years and 2,187 aged 30~49 years) were selected from KNHANES III. General information, nutritional status, and anthropometric data were compared between two age groups (19~29 years old and 30~49 years old). The relevance of blood pressure and risk factors such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), weight, waist circumference, and the intakes of sodium, potassium, and calcium was determined by multiple regression analysis. Multiple regression models showed that waist circumference, weight, and BMI were positively associated with SBP and DBP in both age groups. Sodium and potassium intakes were not associated with either SBP or DBP. Among 30~49-year-olds, calcium was inversely associated with both SBP and DBP (P = 0.012 and 0.010, respectively). Our findings suggest that encouraging calcium consumption and weight control may play an important role in the primary prevention and management of hypertension in early adulthood.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.259-265
• /
• 2002

Phthalate analogues are a plasticizer and solvent used in industry. Phthalates were reported to be a potential carcinogen classified in the category of suspected endocrine disruptors. Most common human exposure to these compounds may occur with contaminated food. They may migrate into food from plastic wrap or may enter food from general environmental contamination. Since these substances are not limited to the original products, and enter the environment, they have become widespread environmental pollutants, thus leading to a variety of phthalates that possibly threaten the public health. Concern about their use has been mounting. To screen and elucidate the endocrine disrupting activity and their mechanism of phthalate analogues, first of all, E-screen assay was performed in MCF7 human breast cancer cells with seven phthalate analogues. In this cell proliferation assay, only dibutyl phthalate (DBP) showed weak estrogenic activity. Also the yeast-based transcription assay to assess the interactions of DBP with the estrogen, androgen, and progesterone receptors was conducted. DBP in the concentration ranges from 10$^{-16}$ to 10$^{-11}$ M was active in the estrogen transcriptional assay, but it did not show the effect on $\beta$-galactosidase activity in the progesterone and androgen transcriptional assays. These data indicate that DBP shows estrogenic potential and can be classified as weak and/or suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.232-241
• /
• 1988

This study was to investigate the effect of calcium supplementation on the reduction of blood pressure in normotensive young adults. Fortyseven healthy college students(23 male and 24 female) were divided into Ca and placebo groups, and were orally given with calcium(1g/day, 2.5g as CaCO3) and placebo, respectively, for 20 weeks. Blood pressure was measured by Korotokoff method in seated position every two weeks. Average daily dietary calcium intakes of the subjects were 626-643mg in men and 513-552mg in women. Average initial level of serum calcium of the subjects belonged to normal range. 1. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure(SBP and DBP) of Ca group showed significant continuously decreasing tendency from 6-8 weeks until final 20 weeks of the supplementation in both men and women. But placebo groups did not. Comparing with the basal value, reduction of SBP and DBP after 20 weeks were 6.53$\pm$4.30%(8.9mmHg) and 8.10$\pm$3.30%(7.4mmHg) in men, and 6.56$\pm$2.41%(8.1mmHg) and 7.33$\pm$3.75%(6.2mmHg) in women. The blood pressure lowering effect of calcium supplementation seemed to be greater in the subjects with higher basal SBP. 2. Serum calcium was significantly increased by calcium supplementation in both men and women, and showed significant negative correlation with SBP(r=-.213) and DBP(r=-.301) in women. Serum Ca/Mg ratio of Ca group was also elevated and showed significant negative correlation with SBP(r=-.174) and DBP(r=-.194) in total subjects. 3. Urinary excretion of Na did not show any significant changes by calcium supplementation in both men and women and showed no correlations with blood pressures.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.129-134
• /
• 2013

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is defined by a 20-mm Hg difference of systolic blood pressure (dtSBP) and/or a 10-mm Hg difference of diastolic blood pressure (dtDBP) between supine and standing, and OH is associated with a failure of the cardiovascular reflex to maintain blood pressure on standing from a supine position. To understand the underlying genetic factors for OH traits (OH, dtSBP, and dtDBP), genome-wide association studies (GWASs) using 333,651 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were conducted separately for two population-based cohorts, Ansung (n = 3,173) and Ansan (n = 3,255). We identified 8 SNPs (5 SNPs for dtSBP and 3 SNPs for dtDBP) that were repeatedly associated in both the Ansung and Ansan cohorts and had p-values of < $1{\times}10^{-5}$ in the meta-analysis. Unfortunately, the SNPs of the OH case control GWAS did not pass our p-value criteria. Four of 8 SNPs were located in the intergenic region of chromosome 2, and the nearest gene (CTNNA2) was located at 1 Mb of distance. CTNNA2 is a linker between cadherin adhesion receptors and the actin cytoskeleton and is essential for stabilizing dendritic spines in rodent hippocampal neurons. Although there is no report about the function in blood pressure regulation, hippocampal neurons interact primarily with the autonomic nervous system and might be related to OH. The remaining SNPs, rs7098785 of dtSBP trait and rs6892553, rs16887217, and rs4959677 of dtDBP trait were located in the PIK3AP1 intron, ACTBL2-3' flanking, STAR intron, and intergenic region, respectively, but there was no clear functional link to blood pressure regulation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.653-661
• /
• 2007

The Disinfectants/Disinfection By-products (D/DBP) Rule proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency requires the implementation of enhanced coagulation as a control strategy for natural organic matter (NOM) removal and as a means of limiting the formation of all DBPs, i.e., not just the trihalomethanes and haloacetica acids. To control DBP formation, several best available technologies (BATs) were determined for removal of DBPs and DBP precursors. The enhanced coagulation is one of the BATs for DBP precursors removal. Treatment facilities that achieve a specified percent removal of total organic carbon (TOC) prior to the application of a continuous disinfectant or that achieve a residual TOC concentration < 2mg/L prior to the application of a continuous disinfectant are considered to be in compliance with enhanced coagulation. The enhanced coagulation was applied to raw water in Korea, the Han River. Raw water were examined and effects of different raw water qualities on enhanced coagulation were investigated. Three analyses were used for raw water characteristics, water quality measurement, molecular weight distributions, hydrophobic/hydrophilic fractionation. The Han River had the relatively low alkalinity and low organic carbon concentration. The results of molecular weight distributions showed significant portions of low molecular weight organics, which is very different from most water in USA. The alum doses for the required TOC removal guided from USEPA manual were quite low (i.e. 10~30 mg/L alum) for the water, probably due to the specific water quality of the Han River.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.11 no.8
• /
• pp.231-238
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to explore the effect of health behavior and obesity indices on blood pressure(BP) in 20s men. This was a retrospective exploratory study and the subjects were 214 men who participated in screening test for clinical trial at a tertiary hospital between October 2006 and April 2011. The proportion of normal SBP and DBP was 28.5% and 50.0%, respectively. BP was significantly higher in individuals who were hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia than BP in subjects of opposing categories. DBP was significantly higher in individuals who were 25~29 years and smokers than DBP in subjects of opposing categories. The significant factors of increasing SBP were BMI and TG, and those for DBP were TC, TG, age, and smoking amount. In conclusion, these results demonstrate hypertention prevention program to include decreasing intake of TC and TG, maintaining normal BMI and quitting smoking needs to the young men in 20s.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.319-331
• /
• 2007

The aim of this study is to enhance the flame retardancy by the synergism effect of phosphorus and bromine groups. The flame-retardant polyurethane coatings containing phosphorus and bromine compounds were synthesized. After synthesizing the intermediate products of tetramethylene bis(orthophosphate) (TBOP) and trimethylolpropane/2,3-dibromopropionic acid (2,3-DBP) [2,3-DBP-adduct], the condensation polymerization was performed with four different monomers of two intermediate products, 1,4-butanediol, and adipic acid to obtain four-components copolymer. In the condensation polymerization, the content of phosphorus was fixed to be 2wt%, and the content of 2,3-DBP that provides bromine component was varied to be 10, 20, and 30wt%, and we designated the prepared modified polyesters containing phosphorus and bromine as DTBA-10C, -20C, -30C. Average molecular weight and polydispersity index of the preparation of DTBAs were decreased with increasing 2,3-DBP content because of increase of hydroxyl group that retards reaction. We found that the thermal stability of the prepared DTBAs increased with bromine content at high temperature.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.545-552
• /
• 2005

The major protocol features of the rodent uterotrophic assay have been evaluated using a range of reference chemicals. The protocol variables considered include the selection of the test species and route of chemical administration, the age of the test animals, the maintenance diet used, and the specificity of the assay for estrogens. The rodents were ovariectomized under general anesthesia via bilateral flank incisions and randomly assigned to groups of 5 animals. Chemicals were DEHP, DBP, BPA and NP, were injected sc once daily with combinations of chemicals treatments for 3 days. In the results, the reported estrogenic chemicals DEHP and DBP were both negative in the single dose treatments. But, in the combinations of chemicals treatments, DEHP and DBP increased in bud number of mammary gland. Treatment of ovariectomized mice with combinations of other chemicals resulted in uterine and vaginal hyperplasia. The additive estrogenic effects were seen with the combinations of $17{\beta}$-Bestradiol and DBP treatment. the competitive estrogenic effects were seen with the combinations of $17{\beta}$-Bestradiol and nonylphenol, $17{\beta}$-Bestradiol and bisphenol-A treatments. These results offers a sysmatic and mechanistically informative approach to assessing estrogenicity. it provides a useful profile of activity using a reasonable amount of resources and is compatible with the study of individual chemicals as well as the investigation of interactions among combinations of chemicals. The results described illustrate the intrinsic complexity of evaluating chemicals for estrogenic activities and conform the need for rigorous attention to experimental design and criteria for assessing estrogenic activity.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.14-21
• /
• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo toxicity and effects of two phthalate esters (PEs), di-n-butylphthalate (DBP) and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), on the immune system of the bagrid catfish, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco. Groups of experimental fish were subjected to daily intraperitoneal injections of 300 or 1000 mg $kg^{-1}$ of DBP or DEHP for 3 days, and the cellularity and functional activity of phagocytes were measured in the spleen and pronephros (head kidney). The number of spleen leukocyte cells increased significantly (p<0.05) in response to low and high doses of DEHP and DBP, respectively; however, the cellularity of the pronephros was more susceptible to higher dose of DEHP than DBP. Nonspecific immunity, as determined by the phagocytic index (PI) and phagocytic capacity (PC), was significantly depressed by DEHP at 1000 $1000mg\;kg^{-1}\;day^{-1}$ in the pronephros at 3 days after injection. Furthermore, significantly (p<0.05) increased levels of serum glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT) indicated marked hepatic dysfunction in immunosuppressed fish. Treated fish showed a significant reduction in total serum protein but no significant alteration in lysozyme activity. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of the fish immune response for predicting PE-induced immunotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.80-88
• /
• 1999

Hypercholesterolemia is a well known major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, now the leading cause of death in Korea. This study was carried out to examine the relationships of hypercholesterolemia(HC$\geq$240 mg/dL) with obesity, blood pressure and blood glucose level in 649 male subjects aged 20-69 in Kwangju, Korea. The mean plasma total cholesterol level was 212${\pm}$43 mg/dL, and 25.3% of the subjects was diagnosed as HC and 39.3% as nomorcholesterolemia(NC〈200 mg/dL). The prevalence of HC seemed to increase with age. The subjects with HC were highly overweighted and had higher body mass index(BMI) than the NC subjects. The incidence of overweight(25$\leq$BMI〈30) and obesity(BMI$\geq$30) among the HC subjects were 44.5%, and 1.8%, respectively. The HC subjects had higher systolic(SBP) and diastolic blood pressure(DBP) than the NC subjects. The incidence of borderline hypertension (160/95〉SBP/DBP$\geq$140/90) and hypertension(SBP/DBP$\geq$160/95) among the HC subjects were 18.3%, and 9.1%, respectively. However, there was no difference in blood glucose level between the HC and NC subjects. The plasma total cholesterol level had positive relationships with BMI(P〈0.001), weight(P〈0.001), DBP(P〈0.001), SBP(P〈0.01), and age(P〈0.01), whereas inverse relationships with height/weight ratio(P〈0.001), and height(P〈0.01). The relative risks on HC were 1.99 for obesity, 1.53 for overweight, 1.82 for hypertension, 1.44 for borderline hypertension and 1.08 for hyperglycemia. Attributable risks on HC were 0.25 for obesity, 0.11 for overweight, 0.20 for hypertension, 0.10 for borderline hypertension and 0.02 for hyperglycemia. The results indicate that the level of plasma total cholesterol was closely associated with the incidences of obesity and hypertension. (Korean J of Human Ecology 2(1) : 80-88, 1999)