• KSBB Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.247-253
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• 2000

This study was aimed to enhance polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAHS) biodegradation rate by repeated-batch treatment using immobilized cells of Phanerochaete chrysosporium. In the repeated-batch operations with 30 mg/L of pyrene the maximum degradation rate was 6.58 mg/L day. As the number of batches increased the concentration of immobilized cells significantly decreased and the degradation rate and specific acitivity gradually increased to a maximum value and then decreased. To have PAH degradation activity and cell mass recovered one batch of cultivation using the growth medium instead of the PAH-degrading medium was carried in the course of repeated-batch operations. This maximum degradation rates of pyrene and anthracene were 4.29 and 4.46 mg/L$.$day respectively. Overall the rate of PAH degradation could be enhanced 2.5-30 folds by using immobilized cells compared to the case of using suspended cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.195-198
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• 2001

Bioremediation of hazardous hydrophobic organic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is a major environmental concern due to their toxic and carcinogenic properties. Bue to their low solubility in water, the compounds are microbiologically persistent. This work investigates optimal conditions to enhance the biodegradation of phenanthrene in water and soil-slurry systems. Biodegradation tests were performed with three different types of supplements: glucose as a general carbon source, salicylate as an enzyme inducer, and Triton X-100 as a surfactant. The tests indicate that glucose and Triton X-100 were not very effective to increase biodegradation rate, even though the number of microorganisms are highly increased in the case of glucose addition. Salicylate accelerated biodegradation of phenanthrene, but the addition above optimal concentration inhibited microbial growth. Salicylate is considered to be an attractive alternative for the successful bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.142-150
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• 2006

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is often difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat. Untreated, it is characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure and death. The past decade has seen remarkable improvements in therapy, driven largely by the conduct of randomized controlled trials. Still, the selection of most appropriate therapy is complex, and requires familiarity with the disease process, evidence from treatment trials, complicated drug delivery systems, dosing regimens, side effects, and complications. We tried to provide evidence-based treatment recommendations for physicians involved in the care of these complex patients. Due to the complexity of the diagnostic evaluation required, and the treatment options available, it is strongly recommended that consideration be given to referral of patients with PAH to a specialized center.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.39-40
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• 2001

최근 들어서 환경유해물질이 인체의 건강에 미치는 영향에 대한 관심이 커지고 있다. 특히 환경 중에 존재하는 발암성 물질에 대한 연구가 활발히 진행되면서 이들 물질에 의한 인체에 미치는 위해성이 밝혀지고 있다. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons(PAHs)는 환경에 존재하는 중요한 발암물질, 돌연변이 유도체이다. PAHs는 여러 종류의 배출원이나 배출원 가까이 있는 환경에서만 발견되는 것이 아니라, 장기간에 걸쳐 대기 중에서 멀리 운반되어 전세계적으로 확산되어진다. 건식 침적은 대기중 PAHs의 주요 제거기작 중 하나이다. (중략)

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.572-576
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• 2005

This study focused on detecting catabolic genes for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) distributed in the reed rhizosphere of Sunchon Bay, Korea. These marsh and mud environments were severely affected by human activities, including agriculture and fisheries. Our previous study on microbial roles in natural decontamination displayed the possibility that PAH-degrading bacteria, such as Achromobacter sp., Alcaligenes sp., Burkholderia sp. and Pseudomonas sp. play an important decontamination role in a reed rhizosphere. In order to gain further fundamental knowledge on the natural decontamination process, catabolic genes for PAH metabolism were investigated through PCR amplification of dioxygenase genes using soil genomic DNA and sequencing. Comparative analysis of predicted amino acid sequences from 50 randomly selected dioxygenase clones capable of hydroxylating inactivated aromatic nuclei indicated that these were divided into three groups, two of which might be originated from PAH-degrading bacteria. Amino acid sequences of each dioxygenase clone were a part of the genes encoding enzymes for initial catabolism of naphthalene, phenanthrene, or pyrene that might be originated from bacteria in the reed rhizosphere of Sunchon Bay.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.11b
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• pp.192-192
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• 2002

Hospital waste incinerating workers are exposed to various pyrolysis products including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PARs). We evaluated their exposure by assessing urinary 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG), as internal dose of PAH exposure. The potential effect of genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1/T1 involved in PAH metabolisms was also investigated.(omitted)

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.110-122
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• 2022

Pulmonary hypertension is a rare and progressive illness with a devastating prognosis. Promising research efforts have advanced the understanding and recognition of the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension. Despite remarkable achievements in terms of improving the survival rate, reducing disease progression, and enhancing quality of life, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is not completely curable. Therefore, an effective treatment strategy is still needed. Recently, many studies of the underlying molecular mechanisms and technological developments have led to new approaches and paradigms for PAH treatment. Management based on stem cells and related paracrine effects, epigenetic drugs and gene therapies has yielded prospective results for PAH treatment in preclinical research. Further trials are ongoing to optimize these important insights into clinical circumstances.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2017

Purpose: Phenylketonuria (PKU) results from a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). The mutation of the PAH gene results in decreased phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme activity in hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) patients. This study reports ten cases of patients with the benign HPA genotype c.158G>A (p.Arg53His, R53H) variant in the PAH gene and aims to evaluate the clinical significance of the R53H variant. Methods: Ten Korean patients with the HPA genotype the R53H variant were included in this study. A retrospective medical record review was conducted. We characterized the phenotypes of the patients with HPA with the R53H variant using the following system: classic PKU, moderate PKU, mild PKU, Mild HPA, and benign HPA. Results: Five patients had the R53H variant with the "Pathogenic" variants (R413P, R241C, $Y356^*$, c.442-1G>A, $Y325^*$), Two patients had the "Likely pathogenic" variants ($W187^*$, A259T), Two patients had the "Uncertain significance" variants (R53H, G344D), and One patient had the "Not provided" variant (c.1066-14C>G). Nine patients genotyped with the R53H variant were the patient with benign HPA and One patient genotyped with the R53H homozygote was within normal range of plasma phenylalanine. None of the ten patients required dietary restriction of phenylalanine or pharmacotherapy to maintain their plasma phenylalanine levels and showed no clinical symptoms of HPA. Conclusion: Ten patients with HPA genotype the R53H variant were the patient with benign HPA and showed no clinical symptoms of HPA. Thus, the R53H variant, which was previously classified as an "Uncertain significance" mutation in HPA patients, should be re-classified as "Benign."

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2002

This study evaluated the concentrations of urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in industrial waste incineration workers. The effect of genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic metabolism enzymes on urinary concentration of PAH metabolites was assessed. And, aromatic DNA adduct levels were also determined in total white blood cells. Fifty employees were recruited from a company handling industrial wastes located in Ansan, Korea: non-exposed group (n=21), exposed group (n=29). Sixteen ambient PAHs were determined by GC/MSD (NIOSH method) from personal breathing zone samples of nine subjects near incinerators. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG), a major pyrene metabolite, was assayed by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy after immunoaffinity purification using monoclonal antibody 8E11 (SFS/IAC). Multiplex PCR was used for genotyping for GSTMI/TI and PCR-RFLP for genotyping of CYP1A1 (MspI and Ile/Val). PAH-DNA adducts in peripheral blood WBC were measured by the nuclease P1-enhanced postlabeling assay. Smoking habit, demographic and occupational information were collected by self-administered questionnaire. The range of total ambient PAH levels were 0.00-7.00 mg/㎥ (mean 3.31). Urinary 1-OHPG levels were significantly higher in workers handling industrial wastes than in those with presumed lower exposure to PAHs (p=0.006, by Kruskal-Wallis test). There was a statistically significant dose-response increase in 1-OHPG levels with the number of cigarettes consumed per day (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.686, p<0.001). Urinary 1-OHPG levels in occupationally exposed smoking workers were highest compared with non-occupationally exposed smokers (p=0.053, by Kruskal-Wallis test). Smoking and GSTMI genotype were significant predictors for log-transformed 1-OHPG by multiple regression analysis (overall model R²=0.565, p<0.001), whereas smoking was the only significant predictor for log-transformed aromatic DNA adducts (overall model R²=0.249, p=0.201). Aromatic DNA adducts was also a significantly correlation between log transferred urinary 1-OHPG levels (pearson's correlation coefficient=0.307, p=0.04). However, the partial correlation coefficient adjusting for Age, Sex, and cigarette consumption was not significant (r=0.154, p=0.169). The significant association exists only in individuals with the GSTMI null genotype (pearsons correlation coefficient=0.516, p=0.010; partial correlation coefficient adjusting for age, sex, and cigarette consumption, r=0.363, p=0.038). Our results suggest that the significant increase in urinary 1-OHPG in the exposed workers is due to higher prevalence of smokers among them, and that the association between urinary PAH metabolites and aromatic DNA adducts in workers of industrial waste handling may be modulated by GSTMI genotype. There results remain to be confirmed in future larger studies.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.405-415
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• 2006

Sixteen soil samples around six areas (residental area, traffic area, power plant area, incineration area and factory area) where the stationary and mobile sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are estimated to be emitted in Jeju City, were collected during Feburuary to March, 2004, and analyzed for 16 PAHs recommended by US EPA as primary pollutants to investigate their distribution characteristics. The concentrations of total PAHs (t-PAHs) and total carcinogenic PAHs $(t-PAH_{CARC})$ in soils of Jeju City were in the range of $21.7\sim264.2ng/g$ on a dry weight basis with a mean value of 87.2 ng/g and $6.3\sim118.0ng/g$ with a mean value of 33.4 ng/g, respectively. The concentrations of t-PAHs were low in comparison with those in soils of other domestic and foreign countries. The mean concentrations of t-PAHs and $(t-PAH_{CARC})$ with area decreased in the following sequences: traffic area> incineration area > factory area > power generation area > harbor area enli residental area. The correlation between t-PAHs and $(t-PAH_{CARC})$ were very high $(\gamma^2=0.9701)$, indicating that $(t-PAH_{CARC})$ concentration increases in proportion with t-PAHs. Comparing the distribution ratio of ring PAHs with area among 16 PAHs, it decreased in the order of 4-ring > 5-ring > 6-ring > 3-ring > 2-ring in all the areas except for harbor area. whitens for harbor area it was similar among 3-, 4- and 5-ring with high value. Low and no correlations between t-PAHs and soil compositions (organic matter content and particle size distribution) were observed, which is considered to be caused by the complex factors, such as the loading and characteristics of PAHs and diverse soil environment change, etc. From the examination of the three PAH origin indices, such as LMW/HMW (low molecular weight $2\sim3$ ring PAHs over high molecular weight $4\sim6$ ring PAHs), phenanthrene/anthracene ratio and fluoranthene/pyrene ratio, it can be concluded that the soil PAH contaminations were ascribed to strong pyrogenic origin in ail areas except for harbor area and to both pyrogenic and petrogenic origins.