• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2015

Objectives: An outbreak of acute febrile illness occurred in the Republic of Korea Air Force boot camp from May to July 2011. An epidemiological investigation of the causative agent, which was of a highly infective nature, was conducted. Methods: Throat swabs were carried out and a multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was performed to identify possible causative factors. Results: The mean age of patients who had febrile illness during the study period was 20.24 years. The multiplex RT-PCR assay identified respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as the causative agent. The main symptoms were sore throat (76.0%), sputum (72.8%), cough (72.1%), tonsillar hypertrophy (67.9%), and rhinorrhea (55.9%). The mean temperature was $38.75^{\circ}C$ and the attack rate among the recruits was 15.7% (588 out of 3750 recruits), while the mean duration of fever was 2.3 days. The prognosis was generally favorable with supportive care but recurrent fever occurred in 10.1% of the patients within a month. Conclusions: This is the first epidemiological study of an RSV outbreak that developed in a healthy young adult group. In the event of an outbreak of an acute febrile illness of a highly infective nature in facilities used by a young adult group, RSV should be considered among the possible causative agents.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.69-78
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• 2017

Objectives : This study aims to analyze the public investment for Korean Medicine R&D to facilitate the future strategic planning. Methods : All government supported research projects for Korean Medicine that were invested in 2009, 2012, 2015 were searched in the NTIS (National Science & Technology Information Service) Database. Research budgets were analyzed by government departments, R&D agents, R&D steps, and research fields. CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) was derived from each Korean Medicine research field. Differences of research budgets among research fields were tested using Chi square analysis. Results : A total of 891 projects supported in 2009, 2012, and 2015 was analyzed. The amount of research budgets has increased, from 49,839 million won in 2009 to 106,536 million won in 2015 showing 13.5% of CAGR. Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning, and Ministry of Health and Welfare were the biggest sponsors in Korean Medicine R&D. Chi square analysis showed that, in this period, there were statistically significant differences of research budgets in Korean Medicine technology equipment field and infrastructure field. Conclusions : To diversify the Korean Medicine R&D, unequal research funding among government departments should be relieved, and virtuous cycle of Industry-University-Institute Collaboration in Korean Medicine need to be built.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 2020

Background: Medical laboratory workers are frequently exposed to a wide range of chemicals. This exposure can have adverse effects on their health. Furthermore, a knowledge lack of the chemical risk increases the likelihood of exposure. The chemical risk assessment reduces the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals and therefore, guarantees health and safety of the workers. Method: The chemical risk assessment was conducted using a modified INRS method, according to the new CLP Regulation, of 11 unit laboratories in a Moroccan medical laboratory. Observation of each workstation and analysis of safety data sheets are key tools in this study. Results: A total of 144 substances and reagents that could affect the health of the analytical technicians were identified. Among these products, 17% are concerned by the low priority risk score, with 55% concerned by the average priority risk score and 28% concerned by the high priority risk score. This study also enabled to better identify the chemical agents that have restrictive occupational exposure limit value and controls were conducted to this effect. On the basis of the results obtained, several corrective and preventive measures have been proposed and implemented. Conclusion: Risk assessment is essential to ensure the health and safety of workers and to meet regulatory requirements. It enables to identify all the risky manipulations and to adopt appropriate preventive measures. However, it is not a one-time activity but it must be continuous in order to master the changes and thus ensure the best safety of all.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.190-197
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• 2015

In this study, we tried to offer the possibility of White Hibiscus syriacus L. (WHS) flower extracts as a preventive and improving agent of osteoporosis that bone mass reduction is induced by an decrease of osteoblast involved in bone formation and increase of bone resorption by osteoclast activity. As a results, it was found to have antioxidant activity and contain a flavonoid contents ($47.74 mg/g) of the WHS flower. There was cytotoxicity at more than $250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration of WHS flower extract of RANKL-induced osteoclast in RAW264.7. There were no significant inhibited TRAP activity in the WHS leaf and stem. However, it was confirmed that it is significantly inhibited the differentiation activity of osteoclasts in 50 and $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration of cells of stability levels of only WHS flower extracts (p < 0.01). The WHS flower prominently inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation activity by decreased calcitonin receptor and TRAP mRNA (p < 0.01). These results indicate that of osteoclasts differentiation activity is inhibited by protection of oxidative stress due to the antioxidant activity of the WHS flower. Therefore, suggesting the WHS flower may be a presents the possibility as a preventive and therapeutic agents for osteoporosis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 2010

Objectives: An accurate estimation of cancer patients is the basis of epidemiological studies and health services. However in Korea, cancer patients visiting out-patient clinics are usually ruled out of such studies and so these studies are suspected of underestimating the cancer patient population. The purpose of this study is to construct a more complete, hospital-based cancer patient registry using multiple sources of medical information. Methods: We constructed a cancer patient detection algorithm using records from various sources that were obtained from both the in-patients and out-patients seen at Asan Medical Center (AMC) for any reason. The medical data from the potentially incident cancer patients was reviewed four months after first being detected by the algorithm to determine whether these patients actually did or did not have cancer. Results: Besides the traditional practice of reviewing the charts of in-patients upon their discharge, five more sources of information were added for this algorithm, i.e., pathology reports, the national severe disease registry, the reason for treatment, prescriptions of chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy reports. The constructed algorithm was observed to have a PPV of 87.04%. Compared to the results of traditional practice, 36.8% of registry failures were avoided using the AMC algorithm. Conclusions: To minimize loss in the cancer registry, various data sources should be utilized, and the AMC algorithm can be a successful model for this. Further research will be required in order to apply novel and innovative technology to the electronic medical records system in order to generate new signals from data that has not been previously used.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.264-270
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• 1997

This Study was carried out develop antitumor effect of the n-butanol soluble of fraction of Perilla frutescens on human skin melanoma cells. The antitumor activity of various fractions obtained form n-butanol soluble fraction of Perilla frutescens was evaluated in human skin melanoma cells. The antitumor activity of the n-butanol soluble fraction in human skin melanoma cells was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, neutral red (NR) assay and sulforhordamine B protein (SRB) assay of colorimetic assay methods. The light microscopic study was carried out to observe morphological changes of cultured human skin melanoma cells. These results were obtained follows; The fractions 5 and 6 of the n-butanol soluble fraction of P frutescens were shown significant antitumor activities. The number of human skin melanoma cells were decreased and tend to form cell cluster by treatment with actions 5 and 7 of the n-butanol soluble fraction of P. frutescens. The fraction 6 of the the n-butanol soluble fraction showed the highest antitumor activity on P. frutescens. These results suggest that the fraction 6 of the n-butanol soluble fraction of P. frutescens may be a valuable choice for the studies on the treatment of human skin tumors.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.249-257
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• 2018

Objectives: The hepatotoxicity induced by Acetaminophen (AAP) mostly mediated by effect on oxidative stress parameters. The Zataria multiflora (Z.M) is an herbal medicine with well-known antioxidant effect. The aim of this study is investigation of preventive effects of Z.M and Carvacrol (CAR) on AAP-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into four groups including: 1) Control, 2) Acetaminophen (AAP), 3) and 4) CAR. The saline, Z.M (200 mg/kg) and CAR (20 mg/kg) were administrated orally for 6 days, after that AAP (600 mg/kg) was administrated in the $7^{th}$ day. Blood sampling was performed on the first and last days. Also, the liver tissue was removed for evaluation of Malondyaldehide (MDA), Thiol content, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT). Total Protein (tPro), Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (GOT), Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (GPT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) in liver tissue were evaluated. The changes (${\Delta}$) of enzymes activities were presented. Results: The ${\Delta}GOT$, ${\Delta}GPT$ and ${\Delta}ALP$ in CAR group significantly decreased compared to AAP group (P < 0.01 to P < 0.001) and ${\Delta}GPT$ in Z.M group was significantly reduced in comparison with AAP group (P < 0.05). Also, MDA, Thiol, SOD and CAT levels in treated groups were attenuated compared to AAP group (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Conclusion: Z.M and CAR have a powerful hepatoprotective effect. CAR is more effective than Z.M. Based on the results. Z.M and CAR could be potent supplementary agents against hepatotoxicity of AAP in patients.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.315-326
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• 2019

This study is a review of research articles on the characteristics of probiotics. Probiotics are effective at ameliorating immune disease, alleviating glucose intolerance, and improving constipation and diarrhea. Furthermore, they have anticancer and antitumor effects, preventive effects against cardiovascular disease, antidiabetic effects, antioxidant effects, antibacterial effects, and they produce useful metabolites. It has been demonstrated that oral probiotics are effective in eliminating halitosis and forming a favorable oral ecosystem, by creating an environment that is not readily inhabited by harmful bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, which produces lactic acid and causes tooth decay, or Porphyromonas gingivalis, which causes gum disease.As a result, oral probiotics are being considered not only as therapeutics against diseases, but also as preventive agents for the maintenance of a healthy oral balance. In spite of some limitations, clinical trials are currently underway, and this study can provide evidence to support the use of probiotics to improve oral health conditions, including dental caries, periodontal disease, and Candida colonization.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.224-228
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• 2018

Objectives: As a first step to study the anticaries effect of ethanol alone, we investigated the effects of ethanol on the expression levels of the atpB gene and proton permeability of Streptococcus mutans in suspension cultures. Methods: S. mutans UA159 was grown in brain heart infusion medium at either pH 4.8 or 6.8. The total extracted RNA was reverse-transcribed into cDNA using a $Superscript^{TM}$ First-Strand Synthesis System. The resulting cDNA and negative controls were amplified by ABI PRISM 7700 real-time PCR system with SYBR Green PCR Master Mix. For proton flux assay, bacterial suspensions were titrated to pH 4.6 with 0.5 M HCl, and then additional 0.5 M HCl was added to decrease the pH values by approximately 0.4 units. The subsequent increase in pH was monitored using a glass electrode. Ten percent (v/v) butanol was added to the suspensions at 80 min to disrupt the cell membrane. Results: In a concentration-dependent manner, ethanol alone not only decreased the growth rate of S. mutans and the expression of the atpB gene but also increased the proton permeability at both pH 4.8 and 6.8. Conclusions: These findings suggest that ethanol has the potential for an anticaries ingredient. We believe that ethanol may be used together with fluoride and/or other cariostatic agents in order to develop better anticaries toothpastes and/or mouthrinses.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.376-386
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• 2020

Objectives: This study identifies the trend of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease in lead or cadmium workers. It is also required to check the usefulness of follow-up management in lead or cadmium workers by reviewing the relevance between the results of follow-up management and the trend of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease. Methods: From 2009 to 2018, the results of the Ministry of Employment and Labor's special health-screening program for hazard agents for workers were used. The correlation between the ratio of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease of lead or cadmium workers and the ratio of those who observed were and underwent observed follow-up management was analyzed to confirm the usefulness of follow-up management. Results: Over the past decade, the average annual proportion of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease among lead workers has been on the decline. Among cadmium workers, it has generally shown a trend of increasing and decreasing. After the implementation of follow-up management, possible occupational disease in lead workers showed significant relevance to work prohibitions and restrictions, and probable occupational disease in lead workers showed significant relevance to the work prohibitions and restrictions, on-duty treatment, and boundary lines. However, there was no significant correlation between persons involved in cadmium workers. Conclusion: In this study, more active managements such as work ban and restrictions, on-duty treatment among follow-up management of possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease of lead worker and observers are related to a decrease in the ratio of those who have been diagnosed with possible occupational disease and probable occupational disease.