• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It is difficult to consistently demonstrate the health effects of soy isoflavones owing to the multitude of factors contributing to their bioavailability. To accurately verify these health effects, dietary isoflavone intake should be measured using a biologically active dose rather than an intake dose. This concept has been expanded to the development of new exposure biomarkers in nutrition research. This review aims to provide an overview of the development of exposure biomarkers and suggest a novel research strategy for identifying the health effects of soy isoflavone intake. MATERIALS/METHODS: We cover recent studies on the health effects of soy isoflavones focusing on isoflavone metabolites as exposure biomarkers. RESULTS: Compared to non-fermented soy foods, fermented soy foods cause an increased concentration of isoflavones in the biofluid immediately following ingestion. The correlation between exposure biomarkers in blood and urine and the food frequency questionnaire was slightly lower than that of corresponding 24-h dietary recalls. Urinary and blood isoflavone levels did not show a consistent association with chronic disease and cancer risk. CONCLUSION: It is crucial to understand the variable bioavailabilities of soy isoflavones, which may affect evaluations of soy isoflavone intake in health and disease. Further studies on the development of valid exposure biomarkers are needed to thoroughly investigate the health effects of isoflavone.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.493-500
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to derive derived concentration guideline levels (DCGLs) reflecting the site-specific characteristics of KRR-1&2. A total of 7 nuclides (H-3, C-14, Co-60, Sr-90, Cs-137, Eu-152, and Eu-154) were selected for DCGLs derivation. Radiation dose at the sites was evaluated with RESRAD-ONSITE program. The dose contribution due to direct external exposure was the highest during the entire evaluation period. Ingestion had the second effect. The DCGLs of Co-60 was derived to be 0.051 Bq/g, and DCGLs of Cs-137 was 0.193 Bq/g. The DCGLs of H-3 showed the highest value of 129 Bq/g. The ratio of DCGLs derived by applying site-specific values and default values ranged from 0.27 to 19.6. For six nuclides excluding H-3, KRR-1&2 sites and the overseas NPP sites showed similar DCGLs. H-3 showed large differences in DCGLs from this study and overseas NPPs. The large difference resulted from input parameter values applied to the sites. In conclusion, it is critical to apply site-specific parameter values reflecting the site characteristics to derive DCGLs for decommissioned site clearance. The result of this study can be used as a reference for nuclide selection and DCGLs derivation reflecting the site characteristics when decommissioning nuclear facilities, including nuclear power plants in Korea.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2016

Background: Ingestion of $^{210}Po$ laden seafood accounts for a substantial amount of the effective dose of $^{210}Po$. Among seafood items, mollusks, especially domestically produced oysters and mussels, are highly enriched in $^{210}Po$ and are consumed in large quantities in Korea. Materials and Methods: Oysters and mussels around the Korean coasts were collected from major farm areas in November 2013. Samples were spiked with an aliquot of $^{209}Po$ as a yield tracer, and they were digested with $6mol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ $HNO_3$ and $H_2O_2$. The $^{210}Po$ and $^{209}Po$ were spontaneously deposited onto a silver disc in an acidic solution of $0.5mol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ HCl and measured using an alpha spectrometer. The activity concentrations of $^{210}Pb$ and $^{210}Po$ were decay corrected to the sampling date, accounting for the possible in-growth and decay of $^{210}Po$. Results and Discussion: $^{210}Po$ activity concentrations in oysters were in a range from 41.3 to $206Bq{\cdot}(kg-ww)^{-1}$ and mussels in a range from 42.9 to $46.7Bq{\cdot}(kg-ww)^{-1}$. The $^{210}Po$ activity concentration of oysters in the turbid Western coast was higher than the Southern coast. The $^{210}Po$ activity concentration of the oysters was positively correlated ($R^2=0.89$) with those of the suspended particulate matter in the surface water. The calculated annual effective dose of $^{210}Po$ from oysters and mussels consumed by the Korean population was 21-104 and $5.01-5.46{\mu}Sv{\cdot}y^{-1}$. The combined effective dose due to the consumption of oysters and mussels appears to account for about $35{\pm}19%$ of that arising from seafood consumption in the Korean population. Conclusion: The annual effective dose of $^{210}Po$ for oysters in the Korean population was found to be higher than other countries. The total annual effective dose of $^{210}Po$ due to consumption of oysters and mussels consumed in Korea was found to be $76{\pm}42{\mu}Sv{\cdot}y^{-1}$, accounting for $28{\pm}16%$ of the total effective dose of $^{210}Po$ from food in Korea.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.331-335
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• 1998

Erythritol is a four-carbon sugar alcohol with a low calorific value and non-cariogenicity. Erythritol is a new functional sweetener which can be used as sugar alternative. Erytheitol dose not cause discomfort such as diarrhoea and flatulence upon ingestion. The purpose of this study is to develope a novel process of erythritol economically in a large scale. To obtain a high erythritol producer, we have screened 3500 colonies from molasses, honey and honey combs. We have selected 40 erythritol-producing microorganisms, one of which yields 140g/L erythritol in 40% glucose medium. We have tested this strain in 5L fermentor to examine the fermentation characteristics. Results of fermentation show that the erythritol production was about 1.4g/L$.$hr in 400g/L glucose media with a 42% conversion. Further improvements require mutation for a higher producer, process optimization to reduce glycerol, and suppression of excessive foaming.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2015

We present a case of an 8-year-old boy with visceral autonomic neuropathy complicated by Guillain-Barre syndrome. In this pediatric patient, gastroparesis was the major symptom among the autonomic symptoms. Due to the gastroparesis, there was no progress with the oral diet, and nutrition was therefore supplied through a nasojejunal tube and gastrojejunal tube via Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). After tube feeding for 9 months, the patient's gastrointestinal symptoms improved and his oral ingestion increased. The pediatric patient was maintained well without gastrointestinal symptoms for 3 months after removal of the PEG, had repeated vomiting episodes which lead to the suspicion of cyclic vomiting syndrome. Then he started treatment with low-dose amitriptyline, which resulted in improvement. Currently, the patient has been maintained well for 6 months without recurrence, and his present growth status is normal.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.490-493
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• 2016

Electronic cigarettes are novel tobacco products that are frequently used these days. The cartridge contains liquid nicotine and accidental poisoning, even with a small oral dose, endangers children. We present here a mortality case of a 15-month-old child who ingested liquid nicotine mistaking it for cold medicine. When the emergency medical technicians arrived, she was found to have pulseless electrical activity. Spontaneous circulation was restored after approximately 40 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The cotinine level in her urine was 1,716 ng/mL. Despite intensive supportive care, severe anoxic brain injury was found on computed tomography and the child ultimately died. This fatality highlights the need for public health efforts to minimize such accidents.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.84-88
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• 1996

Alnus japonica cortex has been used as antidiarrhea, antihemorrhage and the remedy of indigestion. This study was performed to investigate the effectiveness of the methanol extracts of the Alnus japonica cortex on the gastric lesion and ulcer. The methanol extract was fractionated with hexane, chloroform and butanol, followed by bioassay on antigastritic and antiulcer activity. The methanol extract showed low acute toxicity with minimum lethal dose of more than 5000 mg/kg, p.o. in mice. The chloroform and the butanol fraction reduced gastric lesion in HCI. ethanol induced gastritic model. On gastric secretion in pylorus ligated rat, the hexane and chloroform fraction decreased the volume and acidity. The butanol fraction had significant inhibitory effects on aspirin and Shay's ulcer. The butanol fraction showed a tendency to inhibit the decrease of mucin secretion due to ingestion of absolute ethanol.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.11
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• pp.451-453
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• 2015

Diphyllobothrium latum infection in humans is not common in Republic of Korea. We report a case of fish tapeworm infection in a 10-year-old boy after ingestion of raw perch about 8 months ago. The patient complained of recurrent abdominal pain and watery diarrhea. A tapeworm, 85 cm in length, without scolex and neck, was spontaneously discharged in the feces of the patient. The patient was treated with 15-mg/kg single dose praziquantel, and follow-up stool examination was negative after one month. There was no evidence of relapse during the next six months.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.59-62
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• 2013

Alcohol has been used as sedatives historically. The effect of alcohol on sleep is different according to its dose, timing of ingestion, and drinking frequency. Sleep problems may play a role in the development and course of alcohol-related disorders. Insomnia in alcohol-dependent patients is common and early treatment of insomnia may reduce the rate of relapse. Sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, periodic limbs movement disorder, and altered circadian rhythm may be more frequent in this patients. Management of sleep and alcohol problems is important in treating alcohol-related disorder and sleep disorders, respectively.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.190-194
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• 2012

The effects of methanol extract of the leaves of Brassica juncea and its major component, isorhamnetin 3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside on hepatic alcohol metabolizing enzymes were investigated. The methanol extract and isorhamnetin 3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside supplementations increased the activities of microsomal ethanol oxidizing system and aldehyde dehydrogenase in a dose-dependent manner, and had mild effects on the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and catalase. Isorhamnetin 3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside alleviated the adverse effect of ethanol ingestion by enhancing the activities of alcohol oxidizing emzymes, microsomal ethanol oxidizing system and aldehyde dehydrogenase.