• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.309-315
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• 2014

This paper presents basic supporting data necessary for planning an educational intervention strategy as part of a communication strategy that would form an extensive national consensus on and enhance national understanding of irradiated foods. A survey was conducted to collect data on the knowledge, attitude, and behavior with regard to irradiated foods among high school students, on whom education has a great ripple effect compared with the general public. The results show that 82.9% (627 students) have acquired no information, whereas 89.3% (675 students) have received no education on irradiated foods. The reason for these overwhelmingly large percentages is the lack of available opportunity for education(88.2%). Their level of knowledge on irradiated foods scores 1.71 points (out of 10 points), which is very low, whereas their attitude toward the safety of irradiated foods scores 2.76 points (out of 5 points), which is relatively low as well. As such, we predict that their tendency to purchase and consume irradiated foods is low, given their very low level of knowledge of and negative attitude toward irradiated foods. The students who have been educated on irradiated foods show a higher level of positive attitude (p<0.001) toward irradiated foods compared with those who have had no education. This result suggests the need to provide high school students with knowledge on irradiated foods as well as education in the same to help them form a proper attitude toward these food items.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.301-324
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the perception of the childcare teachers regarding accreditation procedures and feasibility of the second accreditation index according their past participation in the accreditation process. The objects were 193 childcare teachers working at child care centers that were accredited using the initial accreditation index. The collected data was analyzed using frequency, percentile, $X^2$, and t-test. The major findings are as follows: First, childcare teachers without accreditation experience perceived 'continuing education of child care center directors and teachers' to be the most important for quality maintenance after successful accreditation. In contrast, childcare teachers with accreditation experience placed the most importance on 'childcare teachers' motivation and continuing enrollment'. Second, childcare teachers with accreditation experience perceived higher feasibility in the subcategories of 'art activity materials' in the category of child care environment, 'providing operation policies and information of child care teachers', 'care for children', and 'employment contract' in the operation & management category, 'sanitary management of food, cooking and feeding', 'care of sick or injured child', 'health management of children and childcare teachers', 'snacks for children' in the category of health and nutrition and 'safe procedures for handing over children' in the category of safety. In general, childcare teachers with accreditation experience perceived higher feasibility of the second accreditation index in all categories.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2010

This study was carried out to estimate the risk of pesticide operators who use high toxicological pesticides. The class II (highly hazardous) pesticides registered in korea were 15 products, and 11 products were spray type pesticides at orchard file in 2009. The using information based on the pesticide label and the data searched through survey of actual condition on pesticides were used for calculate the pesticide operator exposure dose. The risk quotients of these pesticides against the pesticides operator were calculated as devide pesticide exposure dose by reference dose which were presented by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), JMPR (Joint FAO Meeting on Pesticide Residues), and US/EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Omethoate showed the highest risk quotient and the values were 338 and 75 when the operator spray using speed sprayer and motor sprayer respectively. Risk quotients of all class II pesticide were above 1. This result means that the risk potential of these pesticides are very high.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.10.1-10.8
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• 2016

Objectives Aromatase inhibitors that block estrogen synthesis are a proven first-line hormonal therapy for postmenopausal breast cancer. Although it is known that standardized extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb761) induces anti-carcinogenic effects like the aromatase inhibitors, the effects of EGb761 on steroidogenesis have not been studied yet. Therefore, the effects of EGb761 on steroidogenesis and aromatase activity was studied using a H295R cell model, which was a good in vitro model to predict effects on human adrenal steroidogenesis. Methods Cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, and $17{\beta}$-estradiol were evaluated in the H295R cells by competitive enzyme-linked immunospecific assay after exposure to EGb761. Real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate effects on critical genes in steroid hormone production, specifically cytochrome P450 (CYP11/ 17/19/21) and the hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases ($3{\beta}$-HSD2 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1/4). Finally, aromatase activities were measured with a tritiated water-release assay and by western blotting analysis. Results H295R cells exposed to EGb761 (10 and $100{\mu}g/mL$) showed a significant decrease in $17{\beta}$-estradiol and testosterone, but no change in aldosterone or cortisol. Genes (CYP19 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1) related to the estrogen steroidogenesis were significantly decreased by EGb761. EGb761 treatment of H295R cells resulted in a significant decrease of aromatase activity as measured by the direct and indirect assays. The coding sequence/Exon PII of CYP19 gene transcript and protein level of CYP19 were significantly decreased by EGb761. Conclusions These results suggest that EGb761 could regulate steroidogenesis-related genes such as CYP19 and $17{\beta}$-HSD1, and lead to a decrease in $17{\beta}$-estradiol and testosterone. The present study provides good information on potential therapeutic effects of EGb761 on estrogen dependent breast cancer.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.10-20
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• 2010

In recent studies, $PM_{2.5}$ has been reported to be more harmful to human health than $PM_{10}$ because it penetrates more deeply into the lung. We estimated $PM_{2.5}$ related health benefits in Seoul from implementing the World Health Organization (WHO)'s guidelines (annual average $10{\mu}g/m^3$, 24-hour average $25{\mu}g/m^3$) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s National Ambient Air Quality Standard (annual average $15{\mu}g/m^3$, 24-hour average $35{\mu}g/m^3$). U.S. EPA's Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program was utilized for the analysis. It was predicted that the attainment of the WHO annual guideline and U.S. EPA's annual standard, relative to the concentration in 2006, would result in reduction of 2,333~2,895 premature deaths and 1,703~2,121 premature deaths, respectively. If the WHO and EPA's daily standard for $PM_{2.5}$ are attained, 1,211~1,394 and 1,012~1,165 premature deaths could be avoided, respectively. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the estimates were robust regardless of air quality simulation methods for attaining the $PM_{2.5}$ goals. This study provides a quantitative approach to evaluate health risks from air pollution as well as to assess the potential health benefits of improving atmospheric $PM_{2.5}$ concentration. Even considering the intrinsic limitations and uncertainties of the analysis, it is an important information to rationalize the enforcement of $PM_{2.5}$ management policies and measures in Seoul, Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2012

Purpose: The Tox-Info system is a poisonous substance information database developed by the Korean National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation. The aim of this study was to estimate the coverage effectiveness of the Tox-Info system by comparing the toxic substances included in the database with the distribution of the toxic substances implicated in the cases of intoxicated patients presenting to emergency departments. The secondary aim of the study was to propose any additional substances that should be added to the database. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients suffering with toxic exposure who had visited any of 12 selected emergency departments in Korea from January 2010 to December 2011. The identified toxic substances were classified into groups including prescription drugs, agricultural chemicals, household products, animals or plants, herbal drugs, and others. We calculated the coverage rate of the Tox-Info database relative to the number of intoxication cases and the type of toxic substances involved. Results: A total of 5,840 intoxicated patient records were collected. Their mean age was $46.6{\pm}20.5$ years and 56.2% were female. Of the total intoxication cases, 87.8% of the identified toxic substances were included in the Tox-Info database, while only 41.6% of all of the types of identified toxic substances were included. Broken down by category, 122 prescription drugs, 15 agricultural chemicals, 12 household products, 14 animals or plants and 2 herbal drugs involved in poisoning cases were not included in the Tox-info database. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the clinical usefulness of the Tox-Info system. While 87.8% of the substances involved in the cases were included in the Tox-Info database, the database should be continuously updated in order to include even the most uncommon toxic substances.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.437-444
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• 2015

Due to the attractive benefits with regard to bone health, digestion, and hydration, carbonated water consumption have rapidly grown over the past few years. However, the acidic drink has latent potential for enamel erosion. The most experimental studies about the enamel erosion have focused on the carbonated beverages with sugar and artificial sweeteners. Here, we determined the enamel erosion potential by commercially available carbonated waters with bovine teeth. The erosion was verified by pH value, calcium concentration, and scanning electron microscope. Then plaque accumulation by bacterial adhesion was determined on the enamel erosion surface to measure roughness. In the present study, we observed that the increased calcium content after being immersed in carbonated waters result from the overall enamel erosion. There were no significant differences between general carbonated waters and mineral waters for erosive capacity. Therefore, commercially available carbonated waters are potentially erosive. In addition, oral bacteria strongly adhered to the erosive enamel surfaces thereby facilitating the development of dental plaque. Thus, it is urgently necessary to provide food safety information on the carbonated water as acidic drink to prevent the enamel erosion.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2013

The survey of weed occurrence was conducted to identify problematic weed species on the paddy field. Total 524 sites of the 17 regions in Chungnam Province in Korea were investigated from June to August, 2013. In the whole region, 23 weed species were identified including 19 annuals and 4 perennials. The most dominant weed species in Chungnam paddy fields were Echinochloa crus-galli (25.3%), followed by Monochoria vaginalis (11.9%), Eleocharis kuroguwai (10.3%), Bidens tripartite (9.3%) and Aneilema japonicum (8.5%). The 95.2% of the investigation sites was determined under dominance value 1 (range of cover <10: numerous individuals) by Braun-Branquet indicating proper weed control in the paddy fields. This information could be useful for estimation of future weed occurrence, weed population dynamics and establishment of weed control methods in Chungnam Province in Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.15-30
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• 2017

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHT; Huanglianjiedu-tang, Orengedoku-to), a traditional herbal formula, is used for treating inflammation, hypertension, gastritis, liver dysfunction, cerebrovascular diseases, dermatitis and dementia. The objective of this study was to assess the sub-acute toxicity of HHT in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and its effect on the activities of human microsomal cytochrome P450s (CYP450s) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). Methods: Male and female SD rats were orally administered HHT once daily at doses of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg for 4 weeks. We analyzed mortality, clinical observations, body weight, food consumption, organ weights, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, and histopathology. The activities of major human CYP450s (CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1) and UGTs (UGT1A1, UGT1A4, and UGT2B7) were assessed using in vitro fluorescence- and luminescence-based enzyme assays, respectively. Results: No toxicologically significant changes related to the repeated administration of HHT were observed in both male and female SD rats. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) value was more than 2000 mg/kg/day for both sexes. HHT inhibited the activities of human microsomal CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1, whereas it weakly inhibited the activities of CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP3A4, and UGT1A1. In addition, HHT negligibly inhibited the activities of human microsomal UGT1A4 and UGT2B7 with $IC_{50}$ values in excess of $1000{\mu}g/mL$. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that HHT may be safe for repeated administration up to 4 weeks. In addition, these findings provide information on the safety and effectiveness of HHT when co-administered with conventional drugs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.299-305
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• 2015

Tapeworms of the genus Spirometra are pseudophyllidean cestodes endemic in Korea. At present, it is unclear which Spirometra species are responsible for causing human infections, and little information is available on the epidemiological profiles of Spirometra species infecting humans in Korea. Between 1979 and 2009, a total of 50 spargana from human patients and 2 adult specimens obtained from experimentally infected carnivorous animals were analyzed according to genetic and taxonomic criteria and classified as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei or Spirometra decipiens depending on the morphology. Morphologically, S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens are different in that the spirally coiled uterus in S. erinaceieuropaei has 5-7 complete coils, while in S. decipiens it has only 4.5 coils. In addition, there is a 9.3% (146/1,566) sequence different between S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens in the cox1 gene. Partial cox1 sequences (390 bp) from 35 Korean isolates showed 99.4% (388/390) similarity with the reference sequence of S. erinaceieuropaei from Korea (G1724; GenBank KJ599680) and an additional 15 Korean isolates revealed 99.2% (387/390) similarity with the reference sequences of S. decipiens from Korea (G1657; GenBank KJ599679). Based on morphologic and molecular databases, the estimated population ratio of S. erinaceieuropaei to S. decipiens was 35: 15. Our results indicate that both S. erinaceieuropaei and S. decipiens found in Korea infect humans, with S. erinaceieuropaei being 2 times more prevalent than S. decipiens. This study is the first to report human sparganosis caused by S. decipiens in humans in Korea.