• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.3 s.178
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• pp.329-342
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to determine the geochemical characteristics for the stream sediments in the Konyang area. So we can estimate the environment contamination and understand geochemical disaster. We collect the stream sediments samples by wet sieving along the primary channels and slowly dry the collected samples in the laboratory and grind to pass a 200mesh using an alumina mortar and pestle for chemical analysis. Mineralogy, major, trace and rare earth elements are determined by XRD, XRE, ICP-AES and NAA analysis methods. For geochemical characteristics on the geological groups of stream sediments, the studied area was grouped into quartz porphyry area, sedimentary rock area, anorthosite area and gneiss area. Contents of major elements for the stream sediments in the Konyang area were $SiO_2\;41.86{\sim}76.74\;wt.%,\;Al_{2}O_{3}\;9.92{\sim}30.00\;wt.%,\;Fe_{2}O_{3}\;2.74{\sim}12.68\;wt.%,\;CaO\;0.22{\sim}3.31\;wt.%,\;MgO\;0.34{\sim}3.97\;wt.%,\;K_{2}O\;0.75{\sim}0.93\;wt.%,\;Na_{2}O\;0.25{\sim}1.92\;wt.%,\;TiO_{2}\;0.40{\sim}3.00\;wt.%,\;MnO\;0.03{\sim}0.21\;wt.%,\;P_{2}O_{5}\;0.05{\sim}0.38\;wt.%$. The contents of trace and rare earth elements for the stream sediments were $Cu\;7{\sim}102\;ppm,\;Pb\;15{\sim}47\;ppm,\;Sr\;48{\sim}513\;ppm,\;V\;29{\sim}129\;ppm,\;Zr\;31{\sim}217\;ppm,\;Li\;14{\sim}94\;ppm,\;Co\;5.6{\sim}32.1\;ppm,\;Cr\;23{\sim}259\;ppm,\;Cs\;1.7{\sim}8.7\;ppm,\;Hf\;2.1{\sim}109.0\;ppm,\;Rb\;34{\sim}247\;ppm,\;Sc\;4.5{\sim}21.9\;ppm,\;Zn\;24{\sim}609\;ppm,\;Sb\;0.8{\sim}2.6\;ppm,\;Th\;3{\sim}213\;ppm,\;Ce\;22{\sim}1000\;ppm,\;Eu\;0.7{\sim}5.3\;ppm,\;Yb\;0.6{\sim}6.4\;ppm$. Generally, the contents of $Al_{2}O_{3}\;and\;SiO_2$ had a good relationships with each other in rocks but it had a bad relationships in stream sediments for this study area. The contents of $Fe_{2}O_3$, CaO, MnO and $P_{2}O_{5}$ had a good relationships with major and minor elements in stream sediments of this study area. The contents of Co and V in the stream sediments had a good relationships with other toxic elements.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) and to evaluate the influence of PCP prophylaxis in pediatric patients. Methods: From January 2002 to April 2015, patients aged <18 years with a diagnosis of confirmed PCP at our institute were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared according to the groups with or without PCP prophylaxis. Risk factors associated with PCP-related death were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results: During study period, a total of 24 patients were diagnosed with PCP by immunofluorescence assay and/or PCR. The median age of the patients was 5 years (range, 3 months-18 years) and 23 (96%) had immunocompromised conditions including hematologic disorders with or without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (n=15), solid organ transplantation (n=4), and primary immune deficiency (n=4). Most common presenting symptoms were tachypnea and cough (92%, each). At the time of diagnosis, 79% (19/24) and 25% (6/24) suffered from respiratory failure and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), respectively. Mechanical ventilation was required in 8 (33%) patients and 5 (21%) patients died of PCP. Multivariate analysis showed that MODS at initial presentation was an indicator of poor prognosis (OR, 17.1 [95% CI 1.13-257.67]; P=0.04). Compared to the patients without PCP prophylaxis, the frequency of MODS at diagnosis, need for mechanical ventilation and length of hospital days were significantly less common in the children who received PCP prophylaxis. Conclusions: MODS at presentation was a significant predictor for poor outcome and PCP prophylaxis could alleviate the clinical courses of pediatric PCP. Prospective study will be mandatory to determine the risk factors for development and deterioration of PCP in children.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.1 s.56
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• pp.103-128
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• 1997

The object of this study is to evaluate the possibility of chemical-induced liver disorder among workers exposed to various chemicals and to classify the the liver function abnormalities by causes and to analyse the risk factors for each liver disorders. A cross-sectional study including questionnaire survey, physical examination, laboratory tests and ultrasonography of liver was conducted on 1,126 workers, 459 workers in a coal chemical plant(company A) and 667 workers in an insulation material manufacturing factory(company B). An industrial hygienist reviewed the chemicals used in both companies and evaluated the work environments to classify the workers by chemical exposure semiquantitatively. The results are as follows: 1. Of 459 workers in company A, 83 workers(18.1%) are classified as nonexposed, group 163(35,5%) as short-term exposure group, 155(33.8%) as intermediately exposed group and 58(12.6%) as long-term exposed group bared on the mean daily exposure to hepatotoxic chemicals evaluated by an industrial hygienist. Of 667 workers in company B, 484(72.6%) workers were classified as nonexposed and 183(35.5%) as exposed group. 2. Workers with SGOT level higher than 40 IU/l were (10.0%) in company A and 77(11.5%) in company 3, and those with SGPT level higher than 35 IU/l were 118(25.7%) in company A and 198(29.7%) in company B. The differences were not significant between companies and between exposure groups(p>0.05). Workers with $\gamma-GT$ level higher than 62 IU/l were 29(6.3%) in company A and 77(11.5%) in company B (p<0.01). The difference between exposure groups was not significant(p>0.05) within companies. Workers with liver function abnormalities(defined as SGOT higher than 40 IU/l or SGPT higher than 35 IU/l) were 338(30.0%) among 1,126 workers. Of 338 workers with live. function abnormalities 139(12.3%) had fatty liver by ultrasonography, 79(7.0%) had alcoholic liver(defined as workers with liver function abnormalities with weekly alcohol consumption greater than 280 g for more than 5 years), 54(4.8%) had hepatitis B, 12(1.1%) had hepatitis C and the other 114(33.7%) was not otherwise classified. Prevalences of alcoholic liver and fatty liver were significantly lower in company A(prevalence ratio 0.24 for alcoholic liver, p<0.001, prevalence ratio 0.76 for fatty liver, p<0.05) but prevalences of liver disorders between exposure groups within companies were not significant(p>0.05). 3. Summary prevalence ratios(SPR) of live. function abnormalities, fatty live. and other liver disorders, adjusted by age and company were not significantly higher in exposed group in any chemicals(p>0.05) but in some chemicals, SPRs were significantly lower. 4. On simple analysis of risk factors for liver function abnormalities, prevalence odds ratio(POR) of those with age between 30 and 39 was 1.54(p<0.01) and those with age ever 40 was 1.51(p<0.01). POR of those with histories of liver disorders and general anesthesia was 1.77(p<0.001) and 4.02 for those with overweight and 6.23 for those with obesity, defined by body mass index(p<0.001). 5. On logistic regression analysis, risk factors of liver function abnormality were fatty liver(POR 2.92 for grade 1, 12.15 for grade 2), presence of hepatitis B surface antigen(POR 3.62) and obesity(POR 5.38 for overweight and 16.52 for obesity). Presence of hepatitis B surface antigen(POR 0.18) was the only preventive facto. of fatty live. Company(POR 0.30) and obesity(POR 2.49 for overweight, 4.52 for obesity) were related to the alcoholic live. Obesity(POR 2.94 for overweight) was the only significant risk factor of hepatitis B and there was no significant risk factor for liver function abnormality not otherwise classified. It is concluded that the evidence of liver disorder related with chemical exposure is not evident in these factories. It is also postulated that fatty liver and alcoholic liver is most common causes of liver function abnormalities among workers and effort for weight control and improvement of life style should be done.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2005

Purpose : Urine collection using a sterile adhesive bag for urinalysis has been used commonly in infants and young children. However, this method has had some drawbacks. So, this study was performed to evaluate the usage of disposable diapers as a substitute for the routine urine collection method. Methods : 60 mL of self voided fresh urine was collected from 99 patients. Half of the urine was poured on the disposable diapers which did not contain absorbent gel beads. After 1 hr, we obtained the urine samples(extracted urine) by compressing the wet diapers using a 50 ml syringe. Routine, microscopic and biochemical analyses were performed on the other half of fresh urine and extracted urine. Then we compared each result by correlative analysis. Results : 198 samples from 99 patients were evaluated. The results of routine urinalysis except WBC and biochemical urinalysis showed a significant correlation between the two groups(P<0.05). The relative coefficients of urine SG, pH, glucose, protein, blood and leukocytes between the two groups were 0.964, 0.938, 0.977, 0.956, 0.931 and 0.738, respectively. Those of urinary sodium, potassium, chloride and creatinine were 0.997, 0.998, 0.995 and 0.998, respectively Microscopic examinations showed lower relative coefficients than the other results, 0.740 for RBC and 0.602 for WBC, but these were still significant(P<0.05). Conclusion : The results of the urine analysis with extracted urine from diapers correlates well with that of fresh urine. This new method is very helpful and can be used as an alternative of urine collection, especially for infants and young children. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:128-136)

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2010

The seminiferous epithelium, with its division into 12 spermatogenic stages in the mouse, is a very complex tissue. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is a representative antioxidant enzyme that is capable of reducing organic hydroperoxides to their corresponding hydroxyl compounds utilizing glutathione and is related to the mammalian spermatogenesis. In this study, a real-time PCR was performed in the stage-specific seminiferous tubules of mouse testes excised by a laser capture microdissection (LCM) in order to quantitate the expression levels of a series of GPx genes including cytosolic GPx (cGPx), gastrointestinal GPx (GI-GPx), plasma GPx (pGPx), and phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx (PHGPx). Frozen sections (10 ${\mu}m$) were obtained from normal adult mouse testes. LCM was used to capture all the cells that were grouped into stages I-V, VII-VIII, and IX-XI in cross-sections of seminiferous tubules. The expression level of PHGPx mRNA was remarkably higher than those of other GPx mRNAs in mouse testes. During spermatogenesis, the expressions of GI-GPx, pGPx, and PHGPx mRNAs were highest on stages VII-VIII, began to decrease after stage XI, and showed a lowest level on stage I-V. However, the expressions of cGPx mRNA were highest on stages VII-VIII, and showed a lowest level on stage XI-XI. These findings indicate that GPx genes are expressed differentially on mouse spermatogenesis and also LCM can be an useful tool in cellular quantitative analysis of testes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.6 s.181
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• pp.675-687
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to determine the geochemical characteristics of the stream sediments in the Cheongpung area. So that we can understand the natural background and predict the prospects of geochemical disaster, if any. We collected the stream sediments samples by wet sieving along the primary channels and slow dried the collected samples in the laboratory and ground them to pass a 200 mesh using an alumina mortar and pestle for chemical analysis. Miner-alogical characteristics, major, trace and rare earth elements were determined by XRD, XRF, ICP-AES and NAA analysis methods. For geochemical characteristics on the geological group of stream sediments, the studied area was grouped into granitic gneiss area, metatectic gneiss area, Dado tuff area, Yuchi conglomerate area, and Neungju flow area in the Cheongpung area. Contents of major elements for the stream sediments in the Cheongpung area were $SiO_2\;47.31{\sim}72.81\;wt.%,\;A1_2O_3 \;11.26{\sim}21.88\;wt.%,\;Fe_2O_3\;2.83{\sim}8.39\;wt.%,\;CaO\;0.34{\sim}7.54\;wt.%,\;MgO\; 0.55{\sim}3.59\;wt.%,\;K_2O\;1.71{\sim}4.31\;wt.%,\;Na_2O\;0.56{\sim}2.28\;wt.%,\;TiO_2\;0.46{\sim}1.24\;wt.%,\;MnO\;0.04{\sim}0.27\;wt.%,\;P_2O_5\;0.02{\sim}0.45\;wt.%$. The con-tents of trace and rare earth elements for the stream sediments were $Ba\;700ppm{\sim}8990ppm,\;Be\;1.0{\sim}3.50ppm,\;Cu\;6.20{\sim}60ppm,\;Nb\;12{\sim}28ppm,\;Ni\;4.4{\sim}61ppm,\;Pb\;13{\sim}34ppm,\;Sr\;65{\sim}787ppm,\;V\;4{\sim}98ppm,\;Zr\;32{\sim}164ppm,\;Li\;21{\sim}827ppm,\;Co\;3.68{\sim}65ppm,\;Cr\;16.7{\sim}409ppm,\;Cs\;2.72{\sim}37.1ppm,\;Hf\;4.99{\sim}49.2ppm,\;Rb\;71.9{\sim}649ppm,\;Sb\;0.16{\sim}5.03ppm,\;Sc\;4.97{\sim}52ppm,\;Zn\;26.3{\sim}375ppm,\;Ce\;60.6{\sim}373ppm,\;Eu\;0.82{\sim}6ppm,\;Yb\;0.71{\sim}10ppm$.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2004

Analysis methods of artificial sweeteners, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sodium saccharin, and sucralose isolated from foods were developed using high performance liquid chromatography, HPLC conditions for aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sodium saccharin were: column, Symmetry $C_{18}(3.9mm\;i.d{\times}150mm,\;5{\mu}m)$; mobile phase, 0.05M sodium phosphate monobasic : acetonitrile (9 : 1, pH 3.5, containing 0.01M tetrapropylammonium hydroxide); detector, UV detector at 210 nm. HPLC condition for sucralose were : column, Symmetry $C_{18}(3.9mm\;i.d{\times}150mm,\;5{\mu}m)$; mobile phase, water:methanol (7 : 3); detector, refractive index detection (sensitivity = 16). Recoveries of artificial sweeteners in foods including soft drinks, fruit and vegetable beverages, alcoholic beverages, fermented milk beverages, soybean milk, ice cream, snacks, chewing gums, jam, honey, kimchi salted food, special dietary products, processed fish products, candies, food additive mixtures, chocolate and cocoa were 76.1-101.3%, 82.3-103.2%, 83.1-103.7%, and 80,6-99.5% for aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sodium saccharin, and sucralose, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.243-253
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the effects of DCI on glucose control, quality of life(SF-36 Version 2.0, Korean) and SDSCA(Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed on 46 patients with HbA1c 7.0% taking triple anti-diabetic drug regimen who visited the department of Endocrinology and Metabolism in Chungnam National University Hospital between March 2015 and May 2016. As a result, DCI treatment in the intervention group resulted in significantly reduced HbA1c levels $8.75{\pm}0.79%$(baseline), $8.36{\pm}1.03%$(after 12weeks), and $8.65{\pm}0.81%$(after 24weeks). However, patients in the control group did not show any significant change. Interestingly, both DCI treatment group and the control group significantly showed improvements in SDSCA. Participants in the intervention group showed a small yet significant improvement in their only fasting blood glucose test in SDSCA and revealed significant increase in the quantitative levels of quality of life, from $73.05{\pm}16.85$ to $82.74{\pm}10.68$. By using pathway analysis, improvement of SDSCA scores(${\beta}=-0.505$, t=-2.743) was the most influential factor to the fasting blood glucose. The quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was affected by changes of SDSCA scores(${\beta}=0.411$, t=2.024) and fasting c-peptide(${\beta}=-0.445$, t=-2.668) in DCI treatment group. In conclusion, treatment of DCI effectively improved glucose control in patients with type 2 DM(HbA1c level>7.0%) after 12 weeks of treatment, although it had no impact on glucose control after 24 weeks of treatment. Improved glucose control may encourage diabetic patients to conduct self-care activities and improve the quality of life. Based on the present study, we suggest that diabetes self-management, as well as consideration of comprehensive laboratory findings, may be important factor in regulating the quality of life in type 2 DM patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.9
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• pp.868-874
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• 2007

Purpose : We performed this study to investigate the perinatal and developmental features of the patients with congenital myotonic dystrophy (CDM) confirmed by the molecular genetic method and the clinical characteristics of their mother, and to identify the relation between the number of CTG repeats and the clinical severity.Methods : A retrospective review of the medical records and the results of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene test was done for the patients who were confirmed as CDM through gene analysis from January 2001 to September 2006. Results : All of the eight patients (male 2, female 6) showed moderate to severe degree of perinatal distress and feeding difficulty associated with profound hypotonia. Three patients had the history of polyhydramnios and two patients had equinovarus deformity. The developmental milestones were delayed in all patients, which improved gradually with age. All of their mothers demonstrated myotonic symptoms and typical myopathic face. The number of CTG repeats in DMPK gene analysis ranged 1,000-2,083, and there was no significant correlation between the number of CTG repeats and the time of walking alone. Conclusion : All patients with CDM presented with severe hypotonia in perinatal period, and developmental delay thereafter, which were improved with age. All of their mothers manifested myotonic symptoms with typical myopathic face, and the identification of such features greatly contributed to the diagnosis of the patients. The number of CTG repeats had no significant influence on the motor development.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.323-330
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• 2015

Alkaptonuria, a rare inherited metabolic disease, is characterized by a lack of homogentisate dioxygenase and accumulation of homogentisic acid (HGA), leading to homogentisic aciduria, arthritis, and ochronosis. In this study, a rapid analytical method, without an expensive and tedious solid phase extraction step, was developed to quantify HGA in plasma using GC-MS. HGA-spiked pooled plasma samples were subjected to liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with ethyl acetate, followed by trimethylsilyl derivatization (TMS) and GC-MS quantification using selected ion monitoring. The formation of TMS derivative of the 1 carboxylic and 2 hydroxyl functional groups was performed by reacting BSTFA (with 10% TMCS) for 5 min at 80 ℃. For selected ion monitoring, quantification and confirmation ions were determined based on specific ions (m/z 384, m/z 341 and m/z 252) of the TMS derivative of HGA. Calibration curves of pooled normal plasma specimens showed a linear relationship in the range of 1-100 ng/µL. The precision and accuracy were within a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1 to 15% and a bias of -5 to 25%. Recoveries were obtained in the range of 99-125% and 95-115% for intra-day and inter-day assay, respectively, at 2, 20 and 80 ng/µL. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.4 ng/µL and 4 ng/µL, respectively. No homogentisic acid was excreted from normal Korean plasma samples. Collectively, the results from the present study suggest that this method could be useful for routine diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of alkaptonuria patients with excellent sensitivity and rapidity.