• Title/Summary/Keyword: Health System

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Ttrosine Hydroxylase in Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes): cDNA Cloning and Molecular Monitoring of TH Gene Expression As a Biomarker (송사리 Tyrosine Hydroxylase: cDNA 클로닝 및 생물지표로서의 TH 유전자 발현의 분자생물학적 추적)

  • Shin, Sung-Woo;Kim, Jung-Sang;Chon, Tae-Soo;Lee, Sung-Kyu;Koh, Sung-Cheol
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.131-137
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    • 2000
  • The release of hazardous waste materials into the environment poses serious risks in humans and ecosystems. The risk assessment of environmental pollutants including hazardous chemicals requires a comprehensive measurement of hazard and exposure of the chemicals that can be achieved by toxicity evaluation using a biological system such as biomarkers. In this report we have tried to develop a biomarker used to elucidate a molecular basis of, and to monitor abnormal behaviors caused by diazinon in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a model organism. First, an attempt was made to clone tyrosine hydroxylase gene from Japanese medaka that would be a candidate for a biomarker for neuronal modulations and behaviors. For monitoring experiments at behavioral and molecular biological levels, the fish were treated under different sublethal conditions of diazinon and their behavioral responses were observed . In this study we have successfully cloned a partial TH gene from the medaka fish through PCR screening of an ovary cDNA library. DNA sequencing analysis revealed that the amplified fragment was 327 bp encoding 109 amino acids. Comparing the DNA sequence of medaka TH with other species, TH gene revealed the DNA sequence was completely identical to that of rat TH. In the RT-PCR, 330 Up of mRNA was consistently amplified in all the treated samples including control There were no significant differences in the TH expression level regardless of treating concentrations (1∼5,000 ppb) and time (0∼48 hr) The reason appeared to be that RT-PCR was not performed using through a quantitative analysis normalized against an actin gene expression. Organ or tissue - specific detection of TH activity and mRNA as biomarkers will be a useful monitoring tool for neurobehavioral changes in fish influenced by toxic chemicals. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of locomotive patterns and its correlation with the neurochemical and molecular data would be highly useful in measuring toxicity and hazard ofvarious environmental pollutants.

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Studies on Feed Intake and Nutrient Utilization of Sheep under Two Housing Systems in a Semi-arid Region of India

  • Bhatta, Raghavendra;Swain, N.;Verma, D.L.;Singh, N.P.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.17 no.6
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    • pp.814-819
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    • 2004
  • An investigation was carried out to study the effect of two housing systems on feed intake and nutrient utilization of sheep in a semi-arid region of India. Two types of housing managements were adopted. The first was a shed- 20'${\times}$10' structure with all the four sides of 6' chain link fencing with central height of 10'. The roof was covered with asbestos sheets, with mud floorings. The second was an open corral- 20'${\times}$10' open space with all the four sides covered with 6' chain link fencing. Thirty-four (32 ewes and 2 rams) sheep were grazed together on a 35 ha plot of native range. All the sheep were grazed as a flock from 08:00 to 17:00 h during the yearlong study. The flock was divided into two groups (16 ewes+1 ram) in the evening and housed according to two housing systems (Shed and Open Corral). Three digestion trials were conducted during three defined seasons of monsoon, winter and summer seasons to determine the effect of housing on nutrient intake and utilization. Blood samples were collected in three seasons for the estimation of hemoglobin and glucose. Dry and wet bulb temperatures were recorded at 06:00 A.M. and 09:00 P.M. using suitable thermometers both inside the shed and in the open corral and temperature humidity index (THI) was calculated. There was significant (p<0.05) difference in the THI between shed and open corral in all the seasons, indicating that the shed was always warmer compared to open corral. The daily dry matter intake (DMI, g/d) was 965, 615 and 982 in sheep housed under shed and 971, 625 and 1,001 in those housed in open corral during monsoon, winter and summer season, respectively. These differences were however non-significant (p>0.05). The digestibility of DM was 45.92, 45.13 and 50.30 in sheep housed under shed and 43.64, 45.02 and 55.02 in sheep housed in open corral during monsoon, winter and summer seasons, respectively. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in the digestibility of nutrients in sheep maintained under shed and in open corral. Blood Hb concentration was 13.97, 14.13 and 13.15 in sheep housed under shed and 15.27, 13.63 and 14.82 in those kept in open corral, whereas blood glucose concentration was 59.67, 59.70 and 52.33 in sheep under shed and 61.00, 61.00 and 57.83 in open corral, during monsoon, winter and summer, respectively. There was also no significant effect of housing on the body weight changes, wool yield and survivability in ewes. Although housing had no significant effect on nutrient intake, their utilization and blood parameters, there was significant effect on the physiological responses and energy expenditure of sheep maintained under the two housing systems (Bhatta et al., 2004). It can be concluded from this study that the housing systems didn't have any significant effect on the nutrient intake and utilization of native breed like Malpura, which were well adapted to the hot semi-arid conditions of India. However, while deciding provisions for housing of different breeds of sheep (both crossbred and native) parameters like physiological responses, energy expenditure, health conditions and overall economics of the systems should be taken into consideration.

Effect of Dietary Fish Oil on Lipid Peroxidation in Rats Liver and Brain During Postnatal Development (어유섭취가 출생후 발달과정의 흰 쥐의 간과 뇌조직의 지질과산화와 그 관련기능에 미치는 영향)

  • 박명희
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.111-121
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    • 1987
  • Lipie peroxide formation, antiperoxidative s system and body adaptability for handling lipid p peroxide were examined in the first and second g generations of rats fed fish oil. Mackerel oil(MO) was used and four other dietary oils and fat, i.e. soybean oil(SO), perilla oil(PO), rapeseed oil(RO) and beef tallow(BT) were also employed to compare the effect of fish oil. Synthetic diets containing these five dietary fats at the level of 1O%(w/w), were given to the correspond­m ing groups of male and female rats weighing about 70 grams. After 34 days of feeding, male a and female rats were mated and their offsprings were raised throughout suckling (17, 26 days) and weanling (39 days) periods. Liver lipid pero­x xide level was highest in MO group of both first (mother rats after lactation) and second genera­t tions of 17 and 26 days old, but not of 39 days old. During suckling period, liver lipid peroxide level was well matched to total unsaturation of dietary fat. Brain lipid peroxide levels were not different among five groups. Liver $alpha$-tocopherol a and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were lowest in MO fed first generation. In second generation, $alpha$-tocopherol level was also low in MO group, although the effect was less pronoun­c ced, but GSH level was not different from other groups. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) level did not consistently vary by change in dietary fat. Glutathione peroxidase activity increased as young rats grew up to 39 days. Superoxide d dismutase activity change was insignificant by a age, but was shown as lowest in MO group. At the age of 26 and 39 days, liver glutatione peroxidase activity was increased as was level of lipid peroxide, suggesting that this is the one of the mechanisms responsible for body adapta­b bility for protection against the accumulation of lipid peroxide.

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National Management Measures for Reducing Air Pollutant Emissions from Vessels Focusing on KCG Services (선박 대기오염물질 배출 현황 및 저감을 위한 국가 관리 대책 연구: 해양경찰 업무를 중심으로)

  • Lee, Seung-Hwan;Kang, Byoung-Yong;Jeong, Bong-Hun;Gu, Ja-Yeong
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.163-174
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    • 2020
  • Particulate matter levels are rapidly increasing daily, and this can affect human health. Therefore, air pollutant emissions from sea vessels require management. This study evaluates the status of air pollutants, focusing on air pollutant emissions from the vessels of the Korea Coast Guard (KCG), and proposes national management measures to reduce emissions. According to a report recently released (2018) by the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), emissions from vessels constituted 6.4 % of the total domestic emissions, including 13.1 % NOx, 10.9 % SOx, and 9.6 % particulate matter (PM10/PM2.5). Among the rates of pollutant emission from vessels, the emission rates of domestic and overseas cargo vessels were the highest (50.6 %); the ratio of fishing boats was 42.6 %. With respect to jurisdictional sea area, 44.1 % of the emissions are from the south sea, including the Busan and Ulsan ports, and 24.8 % of the emissions are from the west sea, including the Gwangyang and Yeosu ports. The KCG inspects boarding lines to manage emission conditions and regulate air pollutant emissions, but it takes time and effort to operate various discharge devices and measure fuel oil standards. In addition, owing to busy ship schedules, inspection documents are limited in terms of management. Therefore, to reduce the air pollutant emissions of such vessels, regulations will be strengthened to check for air pollutants, and a monitoring system based on actual field data using KCG patrol ships will be established, for each sea area, to manage the emissions of such vessels. Furthermore, there is a need for technological development and institutional support for the introduction of environmentally friendly vessels.

Decreased White Matter Structural Connectivity in Psychotropic Drug-Naïve Adolescent Patients with First Onset Major Depressive Disorder (정신과적 투약력이 없는 초발 주요 우울장애 청소년 환아들에서의 백질 구조적 연결성 감소)

  • Suh, Eunsoo;Kim, Jihyun;Suh, Sangil;Park, Soyoung;Lee, Jeonho;Lee, Jongha;Kim, In-Seong;Lee, Moon-Soo
    • Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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    • v.25 no.2
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    • pp.153-165
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    • 2017
  • Objectives : Recent neuroimaging studies focus on dysfunctions in connectivity between cognitive circuits and emotional circuits: anterior cingulate cortex that connects dorsolateral orbitofrontal cortex and prefrontal cortex to limbic system. Previous studies on pediatric depression using DTI have reported decreased neural connectivity in several brain regions, including the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, superior longitudinal fasciculus. We compared the neural connectivity of psychotropic drug naïve adolescent patients with a first onset of major depressive episode with healthy controls using DTI. Methods : Adolescent psychotropic drug naïve patients(n=26, 10 men, 16 women; age range, 13-18 years) who visited the Korea University Guro Hospital and were diagnosed with first onset major depressive disorder were registered. Healthy controls(n=27, 5 males, 22 females; age range, 12-17 years) were recruited. Psychiatric interviews, complete psychometrics including IQ and HAM-D, MRI including diffusion weighted image acquisition were conducted prior to antidepressant administration to the patients. Fractional anisotropy(FA), radial, mean, and axial diffusivity were estimated using DTI. FMRIB Software Library-Tract Based Spatial Statistics was used for statistical analysis. Results : We did not observe any significant difference in whole brain analysis. However, ROI analysis on right superior longitudinal fasciculus resulted in 3 clusters with significant decrease of FA in patients group. Conclusions : The patients with adolescent major depressive disorder showed statistically significant FA decrease in the DTI-based structure compared with healthy control. Therefore we suppose DTI can be used as a bio-marker in psychotropic drug-naïve adolescent patients with first onset major depressive disorder.

Analysis on Longitudinal Dose according to Change of Field Width (선속 폭(Field Width) 변화에 따른 종축선량 분석)

  • Jung, Won-Seok;Back, Jong-Geal;Shin, Ryung-Mi;Oh, Byung-Cheon;Jo, Jun-Young;Kim, Gi-Chul;Choi, Tae-Gu
    • The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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    • v.23 no.2
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    • pp.109-117
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    • 2011
  • Purpose: To analyze the accuracy of tumor volume dose following field width change, to check the difference of dose change by using self-made moving car, and to evaluate practical delivery tumor dose when tomotherapy in the treatment of organ influenced by breathing. Materials and Methods: By using self-made moving car, the difference of longitudinal movement (0.0 cm, 1.0 cm, 1.5 cm, 2.0 cm) was applied and compared calculated dose with measured dose according to change of field width (1.05 cm, 2.50 cm, 5.02 cm) and apprehended margin of error. Then done comparative analysis in degree of photosensitivity of DQA film measured by using Gafchromic EBT film. Dose profile and Gamma histogram were used to measure degree of photosensitivity of DQA film. Results: When field width were 1.05 cm, 2.50 cm, 5.02 cm, margin of error of dose delivery coefficient was -2.00%, -0.39%, -2.55%. In dose profile of Gafchromic EBT film's analysis, the movement of moving car had greater motion toward longitudinal direction and as field width was narrower, big error increased considerably at high dose part compared to calculated dose. The more field width was narrowed, gamma index had a large considerable influence of moving at gamma histogram. Conclusion: We could check the difference of longitudinal dose of moving organ. In order to small field width and minimize organ moving due to breathing, it is thought to be needed to develop breathing control unit and fixation tool.

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Energy expenditure of physical activity in Korean adults and assessment of accelerometer accuracy by gender (성인의 13가지 신체활동의 에너지 소비량 및 가속도계 정확성의 남녀비교)

  • Choi, Yeon-jung;Ju, Mun-jeong;Park, Jung-hye;Park, Jong-hoon;Kim, Eun-kyung
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.50 no.6
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    • pp.552-564
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    • 2017
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure energy expenditure (EE) the metabolic equivalents (METs) of 13 common physical activities by using a portable telemetry gas exchange system ($K4b^2$) and to assess the accuracy of the accelerometer (Actigraph $GT3X^+$) by gender in Korean adults. Methods: A total of 109 adults (54 males, 55 females) with normal BMI (body mass index) participated in this study. EE and METs of 13 selected activities were simultaneously measured by the $K4b^2$ portable indirect calorimeter and predicted by the $GT3X^+$ Actigraph accelerometer. The accuracy of the accelerometer was assessed by comparing the predicted with the measured EE and METs. Results: EE (kcal/kg/hr) and METs of treadmill walking (3.2 km/h, 4.8 km/h and 5.6 km/h) and running (6.4 km/h) were significantly higher in female than in male participants (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the accelerometer significantly underestimated the EE and METs for all activities except descending stairs, moderate walking, and fast walking in males as well as descending stairs in females. Low intensity activities had the highest rate of accurate classifications (88.3% in males and 91.3% females), whereas vigorous intensity activities had the lowest rate of accurate classifications (43.6% in males and 27.7% in females). Across all activities, the rate of accurate classification was significantly higher in males than in females (75.2% and 58.3% respectively, p < 0.01). Error between the accelerometer and $K4b^2$ was smaller in males than in females, and EE and METs were more accurately estimated during treadmill activities than other activities in both males and females. Conclusion: The accelerometer underestimated EE and METs across various activities in Korean adults. In addition, there appears to be a gender difference in the rate of accurate accelerometer classification of activities according to intensity. Our results indicate the need to develop new accelerometer equations for this population, and gender differences should be considered.

Processing and Characteristics of Canned Kwamaegi 3. Processing and Characteristics of Canned Kwamaegi using tomato paste sauce (과메기통조림의 제조 및 특성 3. 토마토페이스트소스첨가 과메기통조림의 제조 및 특성)

  • Park, Tae-Ho;Kwon, Soon-Jae;Lee, In-Seok;Lee, Jae-Dong;Yoon, Moon-Joo;Back, Kwang-Ho;Noe, Yu-Ni;Kong, Cheung-Sik;Kim, Jeong-Gyun
    • Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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    • v.25 no.6
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    • pp.1348-1359
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    • 2013
  • Kwamaegi is made from the flesh of Pacific saury, Cololabis Saira, which is traditional Korean seafood. It is well-recognized as a valuable health food containing EPA(eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA(docosahexaenoic acid) to be known ${\omega}$-3 fatty acid. This study was conducted to obtain basic data which can be applied to process of canned Kwamaegi using tomato paste sauce. Commercial Kwamaegi was cut into $2{\times}3cm$ lengths, filled 90 g into can (301-3), added with 60 g water and then precooked for 10 min. at $100^{\circ}C$. After precooking, water was drained. The precooked Kwamaegi was packed into the can, and added with 60 g of tomato paste sauce(tomato paste 42%, gum guar 1.0%, salt 2.0%, starch syrup 2.0%, cooking wine 1%, water 52%). The cans were seamed using a vacuum seamer, and then sterilized for various Fo values (Fo 8~12 min.) in a steam system retort at $121^{\circ}C$. pH, VBN, amino-N, total amino acid, free amino acid, color value (L, a, b), texture profile, TBA value, mineral, sensory evaluation and viable bacterial count of the canned Kwamaegi using tomato paste sauce produced at various sterilization condition(Fo 8~12 min.) were measured. There was no remarkable difference between sterilization conditions and sensual characteristics. The results showed that the product sterilized at Fo 8 min. was the most desirable because this condition is the most economical and tasty.

Biological Hazard Analysis of Leaf Vegetables and Fruits According to Types of Cultivation and Distribution Systems (엽채류 및 과채류의 재배유형 및 유통경로별 생물학적 위해요소 조사)

  • Yu, Yong-Man;Youn, Young-Nam;Choi, In-Uk;Yuan, Xianglong;Lee, Young-Ha
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.35-41
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    • 2007
  • As the consumption of environmentally friendly agricultural products increases, food safety is at the forefront of public health concerns. We analyzed the biological hazards of 26 species of leaf vegetables and 4 species of fruit according to types of cultivation (conventional or organic filming) and distribution system (giant retailers or organic food stores) using various culture media, automatic bacterial identification systems, and microscopy, Total bacterial count of unwashed agricultural product ranged from $5.2{\times}10^{3}\;to\;1.5{\times}10^{5}\;CFU/mL$ (from 0.1 g of agricultural products), and the average count dropped 25-fold (range, 8-60-fold) after water washing. Microbial levels of washed organic agricultural products were $6.0{\times}10^{2}-1.9{\times}10^{4}\;CFU/mL$, and were not significantly different f개m the microbial loads on conventionally farmed produce. There was no significant difference in bacterial count from agricultural produce purchased from giant retailers or organic food stores. Total microbial count of Chinese cabbage, welsh onion, red chicory and kale were comparatively high, and Enterobacter cloacae was isolated most frequently. Parasites were detected in agricultural products purchased from conventional farm products in the stores of giant retailers, and in organic food stores, and parasite prevalence was especially high in Chinese cabbages and welsh onion. The study indicated that cultivation methods and distribution systems did not cause significant differences in biological contamination levels of agricultural produce. Some vegetables and fruits were highly contaminated effective sanitizing methods to reduce these biological hazards are needed.

Quality Assurance of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for Elekta Synergy (Elekta Synergy 선형가속기를 이용한 입체적세기조절회전방사선치료(VMAT) 정도관리)

  • Shim, Su-Jung;Shim, Jang-Bo;Lee, Sang-Hoon;Min, Chul-Kee;Cho, Kwang-Hwan;Shin, Dong-Oh;Choi, Jin-Ho;Park, Sung-Ill;Cho, Sam-Ju
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.33-41
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    • 2012
  • For applying the quality assurance (QA) of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) introduced in Eulji Hospital, we classify it into three different QA steps, treatment planning QA, pretreatment delivering QA, and treatment verifying QA. These steps are based on the existing intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) QA that is currently used in our hospital. In each QA step, the evaluated items that are from QA program are configured and documented. In this study, QA program is not only applied to actual patient treatment, but also evaluated to establish a reference of clinical acceptance in pretreatment delivering QA. As a result, the confidence limits (CLs) in the measurements for the high-dose and low-dose regions are similar to the conventional IMRT level, and the clinical acceptance references in our hospital are determined to be 3 to 5% for the high-dose and the low-dose regions, respectively. Due to the characteristics of VMAT, evaluation of the intensity map was carried out using an ArcCheck device that was able to measure the intensity map in all directions, $360^{\circ}$. With a couple of dosimetric devices, the gamma index was evaluated and analyzed. The results were similar to the result of individual intensity maps in IMRT. Mapcheck, which is a 2-dimensional (2D) array device, was used to display the isodose distributions and gave very excellent local CL results. Thus, in our hospital, the acceptance references used in practical clinical application for the intensity maps of $360^{\circ}$ directions and the coronal isodose distributions were determined to be 93% and 95%, respectively. To reduce arbitrary uncertainties and system errors, we had to evaluate the local CLs by using a phantom and to cooperate with multiple organizations to participate in this evaluation. In addition, we had to evaluate the local CLs by dividing them into different sections about the patient treatment points in practical clinics.