• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.295-306
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• 2018

In the present study, we compared the effects of 50% ethanolic extracts of Chinese and Korean Wolfiporia cocos (CPE and KPE) on in vitro lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells and their anticancer activities in Sarcoma 180 cells. We further compared the anticancer activities and the 50% inhibitory concentrations ($IC_{50}$) of CPE with KPE with cultivated for one and two years in a landfill and a facility (LPE and FPE), respectively. In addition, the single oral dose toxicities of CPE and KPE were evaluated in mice. Lipid accumulation was inhibited after 48 hours, in CPE and KPE treated 3T3-L1 cells; however, no significant difference was observed between CPE and KPE in their lipid accumulation inhibitory activities. The anticancer activity of KPE was higher than that of CPE at $300{\mu}g/mL$ (p<0.05), revealing the possibility of an auxiliary biological means for origin identification. The anticancer activities of LPE and FPE were significantly stronger than that of CPE (p<0.05) but there was no difference between extracts from one- and two-year-old W. cocos, irrespective of the cultivation method. In single oral dose toxicity tests, CPE and KPE did not induce mortality during the 14-day observation. Thus, the 50% of lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) of CPE and KPE were estimated to be higher than 2,000 mg/kg. Taken together, our results indicate that the anticancer assay could be an auxiliary means of identifying the origin of W. cocos. In addition, artificial cultivation could be an alternative way to reduce the import of W. cocos. Lastly, 50% ethanolic W. cocos extracts could be potential candidates for obesity and cancer managements.

• The Korean Journal of Vision Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.553-560
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• 2018

Purpose : To investigate a disposal method of disposing contact lenses and the recognition of environmental pollution by micro plastics which may be caused by the wrong disposal method of domestic contact lens wearers. Methods : Two hundred sixty one adults(124 males, 137 females, mean age $21.48{\pm}3.14years$) were participated in this study. They were given the questionnaire survey on contact lenses purchasing place, type of contact lenses, duration of wearing contact lenses, the disposal method of disposing contact lenses and the recognition of the occurrence of environmental pollution. Results : It appeared that eyeglass shop(50.0%) and contact lens shop(48.3%) were the main purchasing places, and the most common type of contact lenses were disposable lenses(38.5%) and daily wearing lenses(52.5%). On the duration of wearing contact lenses they answered more than 5 years(29.3%), less than 1 year (26.0%), less than 1 year to less than 3 years (26.0%), and on wearing a contact lens during a week they did 1-2 days (32.0%), 1 week (28.0%), 5-6 days (22.4%) and 3-4 days (17.6%). It was shown "no(78.3%)" and "yes(21.7%)" to the questionnaire of whether they received information or education about a disposal method at the place where the contact lens was purchased, and "no(87.5%)" and "yes(12.5%)" to the questionnaire of whether they received information or education from schools, public institutions or public media such as the internet. As for the disposal methods, landfill waste(45.6%), recycled garbage(29.6%), and drainage(16.8%) from the sink or toilet responded in order. Although men were more educated and informed about disposal than women (t=3.63189, p<0.00001), women were more aware of environmental pollution(t=2.44269, p=0.01605). Conclusion : In order to reduce the environmental pollution issue caused by the contact lens which does not decompose at the sewage treatment facility and become micro plastics, it is urgent to provide information about correct disposal methods after using contact lenses and to educate contact lens wearers.