• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.235-245
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• 2008

Exposure to mercury was assessed in 125 Korean (Gwangju and Busan) and 373 Chinese primary school students (Xinguang village, Goumen town) using hair mercury analysis from November 2006 to September 2007. The geometric mean concentration of mercury was higher among Korean children with recording 0.73 ${\mu}g$/g, compared to Chinese children of 0.12 ${\mu}g$/g, which indicated statistically difference (P<0.01). The mean concentration of Korean children living near incineration facilities was higher by recording 0.76 ${\mu}g$/g while the average concentration of their counterpart in Korea reached 0.69 ${\mu}g$/g. In case of Chinese children, those who are living near power plants showed higher level with posting 0.16 ${\mu}g$/g while the others recorded 0.10 ${\mu}g$/g (P<0.01). Intake of fish was found to be related to hair mercury level. In case of Korean children, those with high fish intake recorded 0.79 ${\mu}g$/g in terms of the geometric mean concentration while the others with low fish intake posted 0.61 ${\mu}g$/g. Among Chinese children, those who often eat fish recorded 0.13 ${\mu}g$/g compared to the others with low fish intake of 0.11 ${\mu}g$/g. On the other hand, amalgam dental fillings have limited influence on mean hair mercury level. As for vaccination, within a month of vaccination, the geometric mean concentration of Korean children reached 0.76 ${\mu}g$/g, and in case of 15 days after injection, the level was 1.20 ${\mu}g$/g. In China, the level of children at one month after receiving injection stood at 0.15 ${\mu}g$/g while the level within 15 days was 0.13 ${\mu}g$/g. Multiple regression analysis showed that BMI, passive smoking, and fish consumption are closely related to hair mercury level among the Korean subjects. In China, hair mercury level was affected by age, location, passive smoking, fish consumption, and vaccination. Explanatory power was 21.6% with $R^2$=0.216.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.31-41
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• 2017

Side stream cigarette smoke (SSCS) is known to be as harmful and hazardous to human health as is active smoking. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the exposure to SSCS and its stimulatory and subacute effects on the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A methionine and choline-deficient plus high fat (MCDHF) diet was administered to C57BL/6 mice for 6 weeks. During the first three weeks of MCDHF diet feeding, each diet group was exposed to SSCS (0, 20, $40{\mu}g/L$) or fresh air for 2 hrs per day and 5 days per week. Additional experiments were performed by increasing the concentration (0, 30, $60{\mu}g/L$) and exposure time (6 hours per day) of SSCS. According to histopathologic analysis and serum levels of Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), there were no differences in hepatic fat deposition, fibrosis, apoptosis or liver damage in MCDHF-fed mice based on SSCS exposure. There were also no differences in the expression of inflammation-, oxidative stress- or fibrosis-related genes between MCDHF-fed mice with or without SSCS exposure. Therefore, it is concluded that SSCS with current exposure amounts does not have additive detrimental effects on the early stage of NASH.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.61-69
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• 2011

Perceived air quality (PAQ) is defined as evaluation of indoor air satisfaction and comfortable sensory by occupants. However, there are differences between criteria of indoor pollutants and lowest sensory thresholds. In this study, we compared indoor PAQ by questionnaire with measured benzene, toluene and nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) concentrations in home indoors. The $NO_2$ concentration was the highest in Seoul, while benzene and toluene were the highest in Asan. Average PAQ score in winter was higher than that in summer. Significant correlations between PAQs of home indoor air pollution and measured pollutant concentrations were not shown and correlation coefficients (r) ranged between -0.453

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.201-206
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• 2002

Findings from European and American studies have indicated such health behaviors as smoking, drinking, lack of exercise, and insufficient intake of grains, fruits and vegetables as risk factors for hypertension. However, because dietary pattern and health behaviors of Korean differ from people of other countries, the risk factors for Koreans could be different. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify food consumption patterns and health behavior characteristics of Korean hypertensive adults. Data on food consumptions and other health behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and exercise together with development of hypertension were collected from 597 persons aged 20 to 69 years in a local community. The first stage of analysis utilized cluster analysis to aggregate individuals into different health behavior and food consumption groups. Four health behavior groups were characterized by passive cluster, smoker cluster, fitness cluster and drinker cluster. Food consumption patterns of the subjects were also aggregated into 4 different clusters: dairy cluster, grain & vegetable cluster, fruit cluster, and fish & meat cluster. Then univariate analysis was followed to identify the variables associated with hypertension. The final stage of analysis was the identification of the relative importance of the variables selected from the univariate analysis on hypertension, using multiple logistic analysis. The results showed that heavy drinking was the most significant health behavior associated hypertension, which was similar to the findings in European and American studies. However, unlike the findings from foreign studies, grain and vegetable consumption appeared to be a risk factor for hypertension. A possible reason for the contradictory results between Korean and Western studies may be the dependence of Koreans on white rice as the major staple food, and/or the frequent consumption of salted vegetables, rather than fresh vegetables as is customary in Europe and America.

• 한국대기환경학회지
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.323-329
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• 1995

The number of motor vehicles in Korea has increased to about 4 million, and the exhaust gases of these vehicles have become a more threatening factor to public health. Traffic policemen are one of the highest health risk groups since they work on roadsides where they are exposed to high levels of air pollutants. The health effects on them due to air pollution were determined by measuring personal carbon monoxide(CO) exposure and carboxyhemoglobin(COHb) level in blood. Thirty-one traffic policemen in Seoul volunteered to be subjects of the study. In October 1992, personal CO exposure was measured by a CO passive sampler. The subjects wore the CO passive sampler for 8 hours while on duty. The exposed samples were analyzed by gas chromatography. Blood samples from each subject were collected just after the exposure sampling, and were analyzed within 3 hours of blood collection by a CO-oximeter. The activities of the subjects were recorded by the subject in 30 minute intervals using an activity log sheet containing location and time spent. Personal CO exposure were ranged between 0.1 and 14.5ppm, eith an average of 5.9ppm. Carboxyhemoglobin levels ranged from 1.1% to 6.9%, with an average of 3.6%. policemen on duty outdoors had significantly higher CO exposures and COHb levels than policemen on duty indoors(p<0.01). Personal CO exposure and COHb were positively correlated, although the coefficient was not significant. The relationship between CO level and COHb level was confounded by smoking status. Among smokers, COHb level was significantly higher as CO exposure and hours worked outdoors increased.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.306-312
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• 2000

Background : Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are well known environmental pollutants. The measurement of PAH in ambient air is not commonly used, because it is quite difficult to perform and is unreliable. Using biomarkers of PAH can be an alternative approach to this problem. The PAH in ambient air is absorbed in particulate matter. Total suspended particulate(TSP) or particulate matter of less than $10{\mu}m$ in diameter (PM10) can be easily measured. Therefore, TSP or PM10 can be used as a surrogate measurements of ambient air PAH. Objectives : We investigated whether the urinary concentration of two biomarkers of PAH, 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) and 2-naphthol, could reflect the total suspended particulate in the general population. Methods : In order to exclude the effects of occupational exposure and smoking, first grade middle school students were included in this study. Four middle schools within a one kilometer boundary of ambient air monitoring stations were selected. Total suspended particulate was regarded as the marker of airborne PAH. Diet and smoking data were collected by self administered questionnaires, and spot urine samples were collected. Urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results : The correlation between urinary 1-OHP, 2-naphthol and passive smoking was not statistically significant. The correlation between urinary 1-OHP and TSP indices was not statistically significant. The correlations between urinary 2-naphthol and TSP of two lag days, one lag day, and zero lag days were statistically significant. The statistical significance of two lag days was the strongest (p=0.001), one lag day was the next (p=0.0275), and zero lag days was the weakest (p=0.0349). Conclusion : Our results imply that the urinary concentration of 2-naphthol can be applied as a PAH exposure marker for the general population with low PAH exposure.

• 보건교육건강증진학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.41-56
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• 2013

Objectives: This article reviewed researches on intersectoral partnership of school health programs to suggest importance, current status and development plan of those. Methods: Domestic research papers were screened though Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS), Medical Library Information System (MEDLIS), Korean Medical Database (KMbase), and digital national assembly library. International papers were searched mainly via Pubmed. Results: Since intersectoral partnership is effective, comprehensive and universal approach for school health programs, many collaborative programs are universally progressing in various domain including smoking, alcohol, mental health and sexual behavior. On the other hand, intersectoral partnership of school health programs in Korea is still in the beginning stage, and there are few intersectoral partnerships. Moreover, there are several limitations including top-down approach, passive participation and lack of studies on the effect of intersectoral partnership. However, intersectoral partnerships in school health program including tuberculosis control system in school or WEE project are in progress, so it is worth looking forward in the future. Conclusions: To achieve successful intersectoral partnership in school health programs, appropriate partnership guideline for Korean society, policy support, active participation and improvement of consciousness in community stakeholders are needed.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.67-74
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of the study was to investigate the effective coping management of stress towards self-efficacy in students of dental hygiene department. Methods : A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by the students of dental hygiene department in Daegu from April to May, 2013. Descriptive statistics and frequency analysis, t-test, ANOVA and correlation analysis were analyzed using SAS (version 9.2) for statistics. Results : The overall stress coping score was 2.54. Problem-focused coping was 2.50, and social support-seeking coping was 2.60 in active coping. Emotional coping was 2.29, and hopeful thinking coping was 2.76 in passive coping. The level of self-efficacy according to general characteristics varied significantly depending on grade, satisfaction with major, subjective health status and smoking status. The stress coping methods according to general characteristics varied significantly depending on academic achievement and satisfaction with major. The results showed that the level of self-efficacy was associated with stress-coping methods. Conclusions : Self-efficacy of students of dental hygiene department was associated with stress coping methods. It is necessary to develop the programs for stress coping to increase self-efficacy.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.56-63
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• 2013

Children are particularly vulnerable to adverse health effects associated with heavy metal exposure. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between proximity to an industry complex and blood lead and urinary cadmium levels for children aged 7-13 who lived in Ulsan where a big petrochemical complex is located. We conducted a questionnaire survey to collect data including sociodemographics, daily habits, residential environment, etc. We also analyzed blood lead and urinary cadmium levels using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Data were analyzed using regression analysis. All statistical analyses were conducted with SAS software version 9.2. We calculated distance by using a Geographic Information System (ArcGIS version 10.0). The geometric mean blood lead level was 1.55 ${\mu}g/dL$ (boys: 1.59 ${\mu}g/dL$, girls: 1.51 ${\mu}g/dL$), and the geometric mean urinary cadmium level was 0.51 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine (boys: 0.45 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine, girls: 0.58 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine). In the results of regression analyses, we found that urinary cadmium levels significantly decreased as distance between residence and industrial complex increased after adjusting for age, gender, income, passive smoking and the length of residence. This result was opposite to that for lead levels. Our observations support the hypothesis that urinary cadmium levels in children are related to their proximity to an industrial complex.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.238-244
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• 2003

Nicotine is one of the major hazardous components in cigarettc smoke. Nicotine deals a harmful effect to smokers and passive smokers due to its rapid conversion to various carcinogenic metabolites. Nitrosamine-4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is believed to cause lung cancers among the nicotine-derived carcinogens. Recent studies report that NNK synthesis can be inhibited by the metabolism pathway to produce a stable metabolite cotinine from nicotine. Tea polyphenols have been known to contain factors to prevent cancers and to retard progression of cancers. This study aims to correlate tea polyphenol's potential for cancer prevention with an accelerated formation of cotinine. The conversion from nicotine to cotinine in the presence of tea extracts or three polyphenols (Catechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate) was measured in established cell lines and in Xenopus oocytes. Among three lines of cell used, PLC/PRF5 and HEK293 cells showed a fast turnover from nicotine to cotinine while HepG2 cell line showed a marginal difference between groups treated and non-treated with tea polyphenols. When Xenopus oocytes were microinjected with nicotine, tea polyphenols appear to accelerate the conversion of nicotine to cotinine. Among the polyphenols tested in this study, (＋)－catechin showed the best efficiency overall in accelerating conversion from nicotine to cotinine both in the cell lines and in the oocytes. In summary, the present study indicated that tea polyphenols have a positive effect on conversion of nicotine to cotinine.