• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.330-338
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate the agricultural product (Pulses, Lettuces, Pumpkins, Apples, Pears and Tangerines) in Korea, monitoring of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) contaminations of agricultural products in cultivated areas and abandoned mine areas were investigated, and risk assessment was performed through dietary intake of agricultural products. METHODS AND RESULTS: The average contents of Cd and Pb ranged from 0.001 to 0.018 mg/kg and from 0.007 to 0.032 mg/kg respectively. The result was showed that contents of Cd and Pb did not exceed maximum residual levels established by CODEX except pumpkins and apples. The average daily intake were in the range of $1.06{\times}10^{-3}$ to $4.76{\times}10^{-2}{\mu}g/kg$ b.w./day at the mean and 95th percentile for Cd, $4.53{\times}10^{-3}$ to $8.35{\times}10^{-2}{\mu}g/kg$ b.w./day at the mean and 95th percentile for Pb for general population, based on the Korean public nutrition report 2008. The Hazard Index (HI) from the ratio analysis between daily exposure and safety level values was smaller than 1.0. CONCLUSION(s): This results demonstrated that human exposure to Cd and Pb through dietary intake of agricultural produces from abandoned mine areas might not cause adverse effect exceeding to those from non-contaminated areas.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.427-434
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• 2019

Purpose: This study evaluated the long term clinical and radiographic results and the survival rates of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). In addition, the factors affecting the survival of the procedure were analyzed and the survival curve was compared according to the affecting factors. Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine cases of UKA performed between December 1982 and January 1996 were involved: 10 cases with Modular II, 44 cases with Microloc, and 45 cases with Allegretto prostheses. The mean follow-up period was 16.5 years. Clinically, the hospital for special surgery (HSS) scoring system and the range of motion (ROM) were evaluated. Radiographically, the femorotibial angle (FTA) was measured. The survival rate was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the factors affecting the survival according to age, sex, body mass index, preoperative diagnosis, and type of implant. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves were compared according to the factors affecting the survival of UKA. Results: The overall average HSS score and ROM was 57.7 and 134.3° preoperatively, 92.7 and 138.4° at 1 year postoperatively, and 79.1 and 138.4° at the last follow-up (p<0.001, respectively). The overall average FTA was varus 0.8° preoperatively, valgus 4.1° at postoperative 2 weeks, and valgus 3.0° at the last follow-up. The overall 5-, 10-, 15- and 20-year survival rates were 91.8%, 82.9%, 71.0%, and 67.0%, respectively. The factors affecting the survival were the age and type of implant. The risk of the failure decreased with age (hazard ratio=0.933). The Microloc group was more hazardous than the other prostheses (hazard ratio=0.202, 0.430, respectively). The survival curve in the patients below 60 years of age was significantly lower than those of the patients over 60 years of age (p=0.003); the survival curve of the Microloc group was lower compared to the Modular II and Allegretto groups (p=0.025). Conclusion: The long-term clinical and radiographic results and survival of UKA using old fixed bearing prostheses were satisfactory. The selection of appropriate patient and prosthesis will be important for the long term survival of the UKA procedure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5721-5727
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• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of clustering methods used in the prognostic assessment of categorical clinical data for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in China, and establish a predictable prognostic nomogram for clinical decisions. Materials and Methods: A total of 332 newly diagnosed HCC patients treated with hepatic resection during 2006-2009 were enrolled. Patients were regularly followed up at outpatient clinics. Clustering methods including the Average linkage, k-modes, fuzzy k-modes, PAM, CLARA, protocluster, and ROCK were compared by Monte Carlo simulation, and the optimal method was applied to investigate the clustering pattern of the indices including platelet count, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and serum aspartate aminotransferase activity/platelet count ratio index (APRI). Then the clustering variable, age group, tumor size, number of tumor and vascular invasion were studied in a multivariable Cox regression model. A prognostic nomogram was constructed for clinical decisions. Results: The ROCK was best in both the overlapping and non-overlapping cases performed to assess the prognostic value of platelet-based indices. Patients with categorical platelet-based indices significantly split across two clusters, and those with high values, had a high risk of HCC recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.09-1.86; p<0.01). Tumor size, number of tumor and blood vessel invasion were also associated with high risk of HCC recurrence (all p< 0.01). The nomogram well predicted HCC patient survival at 3 and 5 years. Conclusions: A cluster of platelet-based indices combined with other clinical covariates could be used for prognosis evaluation in HCC.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.4D
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• pp.291-303
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• 2012

In order to lead safe driving, it is better to provide dynamic and detailed information on how the driver using the relevant road should behave as concerning movements of individual car rather than providing monotone and static information of reducing of speed to unspecified drivers. Assuming road and communication of highway where real-time collection and transfer of information on vehicles and road traffic status is possible, the purpose of this study was to provide real-time safe distance by considering road traffic condition such as road condition and driving condition, travel speed and distance between preceding/following vehicles. We intended to provide basic information about dangerous situation by defining different values of condition based column ($C_{condition}$) in accordance with the road surface condition, based on which Real-time Safety Distance Index(RSDI) is to be calculated comprehensively reflecting speed of preceding and following vehicles, distance between vehicles, vertical alignment and road surface condition on the scope of expression column ($C_n$). We intended to enable the driver to secure safety by providing the calculated Real-time Safety Distance Index (RSDI) so that the driver can intuitively sense and sufficiently cope with a dangerous situation where collision of vehicles may occur. The calculated RSDI value is comprised of 30 unit columns and will be provided to the driver being divided into risk evaluation grades of 3 predetermined steps, 'warning', 'dangerous' and 'normal'.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.744-755
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is considered a class I indication for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS). However, there is little evidence regarding the potential benefits of early AVR in symptomatic patients diagnosed with normal-flow, low-gradient (NFLG) severe AS. Methods: Two-hundred eighty-one patients diagnosed with symptomatic NFLG severe AS (stroke volume index ≥35 mL/m², mean transaortic pressure gradient <40 mmHg, peak transaortic velocity <4 m/s, and aortic valve area <1.0 cm²) between January 2010 and December 2020 were included in this retrospective study. After performing 1:1 propensity score matching, 121 patients aged 75.1±9.8 years (including 63 women) who underwent early AVR within 3 months after index echocardiography, were compared with 121 patients who received conservative care. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death and heart failure (HF) hospitalization. Results: During a median follow-up of 21.9 months, 48 primary outcomes (18 in the early AVR group and 30 in the conservative care group) occurred. The early AVR group demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of primary outcomes (hazard ratio [HR], 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.93; p=0.028); specifically, there was no significant difference in all-cause death (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.23-1.16; p=0.110), although the early AVR group showed a significantly lower incidence of hospitalization for HF (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.19-0.95, p=0.037). Subgroup analyses supported the main findings. Conclusions: An early AVR strategy may be beneficial in reducing the risk of a composite outcome of death or hospitalization for HF in symptomatic patients with NFLG severe AS. Future randomized studies are required to validate and confirm our findings.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.267-280
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• 2023

This study investigated the contents of Pb, Cd, As, and Hg for 4333 samples with 2 09 types of herbal medicines distributed in Seoul area from 2019 to 2021, and evaluated risk assessment according to medicinal part used and origin. The contents of heavy metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and mercury analyzer. The average contents (mg/kg) of heavy metals by medicinal parts were 0.123 to 1.290 for Pb, 0.018 to 0.131 for Cd, 0.034 to 0.290 for As, and 0.003 to 0.015 for Hg. The contents of Pb were higher in Leaves and Whole Herbs (above-ground part) than underground part (Radix & Rhizoma) (ANOVA-test, p < 0.05). The contents of Cd were high in Leaves, Radix & Rhizoma, and Stems & Woods (ANOVA-test, p <0 .05), and exceeded regulatory limits in various types. Levels of Pb, Cd concentrations exceeding regulatory limits were observed in 8, 22 samples (8, 14 types). No sample exceeded regulatory limits of As and Hg. In the comparison between countries of origin, the contents of Cd, As, and Hg were high in imported herbal medicines (t-test, p < 0.05). As a result of the risk assessment, except for Thujae Orientalis Folium and Spirodelae Herba, the MOE values of Pb were all 1 or more, and most samples were safe. The Hazard Index (HI) for Cd, As, and Hg were evaluated to be less than 100 % even if the risk (%) of each heavy metal was added, and the risk from taking herbal medicines was evaluated to be safe.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.365-374
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• 2020

This study was conducted to monitor the residual pesticides on a total of 320 stalk and stem vegetables from January 2019 to December 2019 in the Incheon metropolitan area. Pesticide residues in samples were analyzed by the multi-residue method for 373 pesticides using GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, GC-ECD, GC-NPD and HPLC-UVD. Risk assessment was also carried out based on the amount of stalk and stem vegetables consumed. The linearity correlation coefficient for the calibration curve was 0.9951 to 1.0000, LOD 0.002 to 0.022 mg/kg, LOQ 0.005 to 0.066 mg/kg and recovery was 82.0 to 108.0%. According to the monitoring of pesticides, 36 (11.3%) of 320 were detected with pesticide residues and 3 (0.9%) samples exceeded the maximum residual limit. The detection frequency for Chinese chives and Welsh onion was higher than that for other stalk and stem vegetables. The frequently detected pesticides were etofenprox, procymidone, fludioxonil, and pendimethalin. As a tool of risk assessment through the consumption of pesticide detectable agricultural products, the ratio of estimated daily intake (EDI) to acceptable daily intake (ADI) was calculated in the range of 0.0062-24.1423%. These results indicate that there is no particular health risk through consumption of commercial stalk and stem vegetables detected with pesticide residues.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2012

This study achieves results from 22 maternity breast milk samples in total to demonstrate exposure level and risk assessment of PBDEs in Seoul area. PBDEs were detected in all the breast milk samples of the present study, indicating that general population in these Seoul area are widely exposed to these chemicals. Residue levels of total PBDEs (sum PBDEs from tri- to hepta-BDE) ranged of 0.84~13.1 ng/g lipid with an arithmetic mean and median of 3.56 ng/g lipid and 2.6 ng/g lipid, respectively. Global comparison shows that the levels of total PBDEs were relatively similar to those of China, Taiwan and European country (Sweden), and somewhat higher than those in some Asian (Vietnam, Philippines, and Indonesia). In the present study, however, the levels of total PBDEs in human milk are still one to two orders of magnitude lower than those in North America. Contribution rate of each congener appeared to be predominant with BDE-47, followed by BDE-153, BDE-100, BDE-99, BDE-154 and BDE-183. The sum of BDE-47 and BDE-153 accounted for more than 65% of total PBDEs in most samples. From the result of the human risk assessment of infants for total PBDEs and BDE-47 by breast milk feeding, we could find out that the average daily doses and hazard index (95th percentile) were 16.5 ng/kg bw/day and $1.2{\times}10^{-1}$ each other when nursing for 6 months after infants born. However, it was concluded that the infant health hardly had adverse seriously effects under this research condition.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.470-478
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• 2021

This study was conducted to monitor residual pesticides in a total of 527 school foodservice agricultural products from 2019 to 2020 in Incheon. Pesticide residues in the samples were analyzed by the multi-residue method in the Korean food code for 373 pesticides using GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, GC-ECD, GC-NPD, and HPLC-UVD. By monitoring the pesticides, 12 (2.3%) of the 527 pesticides were detected, and 2 (0.4%) samples exceeded the maximum residue limit. Twelve types of pesticides were detected in the agricultural products of carrot, chard, chili pepper, chwinamul, crown daisy, parsley, perilla leaves, and spinach. As a means of risk assessment through the consumption of agricultural products detected with pesticide residues, the proportion of estimated daily intake to acceptable daily intake was estimated in the range of 0.0000-39.7425%. Results showed no particular health risk through the consumption of school foodservice agricultural products with pesticide residues.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.393-404
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to capture the essentials in survey and evaluation scheme which are able to assess the hazard of a rock slope systematically. Statistical analysis are performed on slope instability parameters related to failure of the rock slope. As the slope instability parameters, twelve survey items are considered such as tension crack, surface deformation, deformation of retaining structures, volume of existing failures, angles between strike of discontinuity and strike of cut slope face, angles between dip of discontinuity and dip of cut slope face, discontinuity condition, cut slope angle, rainfall or ground water level, excavation condition, drainage condition, reinforcement. A total of 233 road cut slopes located in Gyeongnam were considered. The stability of the road cut slopes were evaluated by estimating the slope instability index(SII) and corresponding stability rank. 126 rock slopes were selected to analyze statistical relation between SII and slope instability parameters. The multiple regression analysis was applied to derive statistical models which are able to predict the SII and corresponding slope stability rank. Also, its applicability was explored to predict the slope failures using the variables of slope instability parameters. The results obtained in this study clearly show that the methodology given in this paper have strong capabilities to evaluate the failures of the road cut slope effectively.