• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.281-288
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• 2021

This study was conducted to analyze and compare the concentrations of heavy metals in 430 different products of 20 types of herbal medicines available in the domestic market in Korea by Graphite Furnace-Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS) and automated mercury analyzer. The accuracy for lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) was in the range 92.67-102.56%, and the precision was 0.21-6.00 relative standard deviation (RSD%), which was in compliance with the Codex acceptable range. Furthermore, the Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS) quality control (QC) material showed a recovery range of 96.7-102.0% and 0.33-4.93 RSD%. The average contents (㎍/kg) of Pb, As, Cd, and Hg in herbal medicines were 254.9 (not detected (N.D.)-2,515.2), 171.0 (N.D.-2,465.2), 99.2 (N.D.-797.1), and 6.0 (N.D.-83.6), respectively. Based on the quantitative analysis results, the heavy metal contents of 20 types of herbal medicines distributed in Korea are within the acceptable range according to the standards issued by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). By using the manufacturer of herbal products as the standard for QC, the Pb, As, Cd, and Hg contents were investigated in the packaging process just before distribution to determine the actual conditions of residual heavy metals in herbal medicines. Thus, these result may contribute to monitoring the QC of herbal medicines distributed in Korea and could provide basic data for supplying safe herbal medicines to the public.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.114-120
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• 2022

In this study, a comparative dissolution experiment was conducted between an immediate-release and a controlled-release vitamin C tablet applied with a technology to control the dissolution of vitamin C to maintain the vitamin C level in the human body. In order to confirm the dissolution rate (%) of vitamin C tablets, HPLC determination was conducted based on the dissolution test methods in the 'Korean Pharmacopoeia (No. 2020-88),' 'Guidelines on Specifications of Dissolution Tests for Oral dosage Forms,' and 'Standard and Specifications for Health Functional Foods (No. 2020-63)' from Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). In addition, the dissolution pattern between the immediate-release tablet and the controlled-release tablet was comparatively analyzed. The analysis result confirmed that the immediate-release vitamin C tablet was 100% dissolved after 45 minutes, while the controlled-release vitamin C tablet was 100% dissolved after 480 minutes (8 hours). Furthermore, the dissolution rate (%) at 60 minutes was slower than that of the immediate-release vitamin C tablet. Based on these results, this study confirmed that the dissolution rate (%) test and development of controlled-release tablets containing vitamin C as the main component a re possible.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.67-96
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• 2022

"Aid in Dying" means that when a decision-making patient suffers from an incurable disease, a drug that can speed up death is prescribed by a doctor and used to lead to death. Since the suspension of life-sustaining treatment was institutionalized based on human dignity and patient autonomy, the question of whether assisted death can be legally justified in relation to the right to receive medical help to shorten one's life to die with dignity has recently been actively discussed. In Korea, since the suspension of life-sustaining treatment was institutionalized by the enactment of the Life-sustaining Treatment Decision Act in 2016, an amendment to the Life-sustaining Treatment Act was recently proposed to legalize Aid in Dying. The global trend is that human "Right to Die" is discussed in the division of life and death, from the suspension of life-sustaining treatment to assisted death, and again in the order of euthanasia. In this paper, we started discussing dignified death and institutionalized patients' right to self-determination, looked at the controversy in the United States, which legislated assisted death in many states since the 2000s, and analyzed the main contents of California's End of Life Option Act and the data after enforcement. The strict requirements for Aid in Dying, such as voluntary confirmation of patients' intentions and doctors' obligation to provide information, and the results of California's Aid in dying system, composed of relatively diverse races, were reviewed.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2006

A gas chromatography-mass spectrometric method was developed for the determination of formaldehyde in urine and saliva. In a 20 mL glass tube, 0.2 mL of urine or saliva was taken. Further, 1.8 mL of 0.1 M HCl, 0.1 mL of 2,000 mg/L 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine and $20{\mu}l$ of 500 mg/L acetone-$d_6$ as internal standard were added in the tube and sealed tightly with cap. The solution was shaken for 20 min at room temperature and extracted using 4 mL of toluene. The extract was concentrated and redissolved with $100{\mu}l$ of acetonitrile, and then measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (selected ion monitoring). The detection limit was 2.0 ng/mL and 0.5 ng/mL in saliva and urine, respectively. The calibration curves showed good linearity with r = 0.997 and 0.998 for saliva and urine, respectively. The method was used to analyze formaldehyde in rat urine after oral exposure. The developed method may be use ful to the monitoring for formaldehyde exposure in human.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.89-98
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• 2023

Currently, no guidelines exist regarding the maximum residues of pesticides in edible oil which is a processed food commonly consumed in Korea. This lack of guidelines hinders the evaluation of the safety of edible oil in terms of pesticide contamination. In this study, an analysis method based on heat distillation and GC-MS/MS was established by optimizing the extraction and purification procedure for 68 pesticides. Important variables in the thermal distillation procedure included heating temperature and time, and we found the nitrogen flow rate as a mobile phase and the type of dissolving solvent were not considerably affected. The determination coefficient (R²) of the residual pesticide was 0.99 or higher, and the quantitative limit (LOQ) was 0.01-0.02 mg/L. The average recovery rate (n=5) was 66.1-120.0% and the relative standard deviation was lower than ±10% when 68 pesticides were spiked at concentrations of 0.01-0.02, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/L. In addition, the within-laboratory precision was less than ±11%, meeting the Korea Food and Drug Safety Evaluation Institute's Guidelines on Standard Procedures for Preparing Food Testing Methods (2016). Therefore, the test method developed in this study can be used as a test method for managing the safety of the residual pesticide concentration in edible oil.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.1949-1957
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• 2013

The contents of ${\beta}$-carotene and retinol in processed and restaurant foods, such as Korean noodles, mandus, rice cakes and bread products, were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV/visible and fluorescence detector, respectively. Samples were collected from different local areas (i.e. Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, Gyeongsang-do, Seoul, Jeolla-do, and Chungcheong-do). After homogenization, samples were hydrolyzed by direct alkali saponification; thereafter, fat-soluble components were extracted by a mixture of n-hexane/ethylacetate (85:15, v/v), containing 0.01% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). ${\beta}$-carotene and retinol contents in infant formula used as an in-house material for the analytical quality control. Among 14 Korean noodles, high contents of ${\beta}$-carotene were found in Bibim-Guksu (average 442.43 ${\mu}g/100g$) and Jjolmyeon (average 301.39 ${\mu}g/100g$). In 4 Korean mandus, the highest contents of ${\beta}$-carotene was determined in Kimchi-mandu (average 197.64 ${\mu}g/100g$), resulting in 33.3 RE of the converted vitamin A. Among 12 Korean rice cakes, Maeun-Tteokbokki and Modm-Chaltteok contained relatively high content of ${\beta}$-carotene with 205.11 and 41.33 ${\mu}g/100g$, respectively, while retinol was detected only in Maeun- Tteokbokki (1.65~10.45 ${\mu}g/100g$). In addition, among 8 bread products, 77.3 RE of pastry, 51.2 RE of buttercream- bread, and 41.4 RE of morning roll were found as the contents of the converted vitamin A.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.11 s.256
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• pp.761-772
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• 2005

Background: Following the implantation of heart valve prostheses, it is important to maintain therapeutic INR to reduce the risk of thromboembolism. The objective of this study was to suggest a practical dosing guideline for Korean outpatients with prosthetic heart valves managed by a pharmacist-run anticoagulation service (ACS). Material and Method: A retrospective chart review was completed for all patients enrolled in the ACS at Seoul National University Hospital from March, 1997 to September, 2000. Patients who were at least 6 months post-valve replacement and had nontherapeutic INR value (less than 2.0 or greater than 3.0) were included. The data on 688 patients (1,782 visits) requiring dosing adjustment without any known drug or food interaction with warfarin were analyzed. The amount of adjusted dose and INR changes based on the INR at the time of the event were calculated. Aortic valve replacements (AVR) patients and mitral or double valve replacement (MVR/DVR) patients were evaluated separately. Result: Two methods for the warfarin dosage adjustment were suggested: Guideline I (mg-based total weekly dose (TWD) adjustment), Guideline II (percentage-based TWD adjustment). The effectiveness of Guideline 1 was superior to Guideline II overall in patients with both AVR and MVR/DVR. Conclusion: The guideline suggested in this study could be useful when the dosage adjustment of wafarin is necessary in outpatients with mechanical heart valves.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.62-69
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• 2005

The purpose of this study has been performed to investigate the possibility of external audit program using thermoluminescence dosimetry for electron beam in korea. The TLD system consists of LiF powder, type TLD-700 read with a PCL 3 reader. In order to determine a calibration coefficient of the TLD system, the reference dosimeters are irradiated to 2 Gy in a $^{60}CO$ beam at the KFDA The irradiation is performed under reference conditions is water phantom using the IAEA standard holder for TLD of electron beam. The energy correction factor is determined for LiF powder irradiated of dose to water 2 Gy in electron beams of 6, 9, 12, 16 and 20 MeV (Varian CL 2100C). The dose is determined according to the IAEA TRS-398 and by measurement with a PTW Roos type plane-parallel chamber. The TLD for each electron energy are positioned in water at reference depth. In this study, to verify of the accuracy of dose determination by the TLD system are performed through a 'blind' TLD irradiation. The results of blind test are $2.98\%,\;3.39\%\;and\;0.01\%(1\sigma)$ at 9, 16, 20 MeV, respectively. The value generally agrees within the acceptance level of $5\%$ for electron beam. The results of this study prove the possibility of the TLD quality assurance program for electron beams. It has contributed to the improvement of clinical electron dosimetry in radiotherapy centers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1256-1264
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• 2011

Infant formula is one of the main nutritional sources for infants. In this study, the fatty acid compositions of Korean (domestic, n=8) and foreign infant formulas (n=3) were analyzed. Crude fats were extracted using the Folch method, and fatty acid compositions (total and positional) were analyzed by gas chromatography. In the fatty acid compositions of infant formulas, oleic (19.88~44.64%), palmitic (7.59~21.65%) and linoleic acids (16.72~25.87%) were the major fatty acids. Domestic infant formula products contained 35.94~56.55% total saturated fatty acid content, whereas that of foreign infant formula ranged from 34.40~42.88%. The content of monounsaturated fatty acids ranged from 20.23~44.99% in domestic products and 34.11~45.07% in foreign products. In addition, 0.17~2.57% arachidonic acid/docosahexaenoic acid and 10~13% linoleic acid/linolenic acid were detected in the analyzed products (domestic and foreign products). A small amount of trans fatty acids (0.25~1.69%) were found. In sn-2 position analysis, palmitic acids (1.84~38.74%) were detected in the analyzed formulas. Further, typical triacylglycerols in human milk, including 1,3-di-monounsaturated-2-saturated triacylglycerol, were not detected in the analyzed formulas.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.161-170
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• 2018

The epidemic of disorders associated with synthetic stimulants, such as methamphetamine (MA) and amphetamine (AP), is a health, social, legal, and financial problem. Owing to the high potential of their abuse and addiction, reliable analytical methods are required to detect and identify MA, AP, and their metabolites in biological samples. Thus, a dilute-and-shoot liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrophotometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed for simultaneous determination of MA, 4-hydroxymethamphetamine (4HMA), AP, and 4-hydroxyamphetamine (4HA) in urine. Urine sample ($100{\mu}L$) was mixed with $50{\mu}L$ of mobile phase consisting of 0.4 % formic acid and methanol and $50{\mu}L$ of working internal-standard solution. Aliquots of $8{\mu}L$ diluted urine was injected into the LC-MS/MS system. For all analytes, chromatographic separation was performed using a C18 reversed-phase column with gradient elution and a total run time of 5 min. The identification and quantification were performed by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Linear least-squares regression was conducted to generate a calibration curve, with $1/x^2$ as the weighting factor. The linear ranges were 2.0-200, 1.0-800, and 10-2500 ng/mL for 4HA and 4HMA, AP, and MA, respectively. The inter- and intraday precisions were within 6.6 %, whereas the inter- and intraday accuracies ranged from -14.9 to 11.3 %. The low limits of quantification were 2.0 ng/mL (4HA and 4HMA), 1.0 ng/mL (AP), and 10 ng/mL (MA). The proposed method exhibited satisfactory selectivity, dilution integrity, matrix effect, and stability, which are required for validation. Moreover, the purification efficiency of high-speed centrifugation was clearly higher than 6-15 % for QC samples (n=5), which was higher than that of the membrane-filtration method. The applicability of the proposed method was tested by forensic analysis of urine samples from drug abusers.