• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.129-137
• /
• 2012

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment (PERA) for deriving ecological protective concentration (EPC) was previously suggested in USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Netherland. This study suggested the EPC of cadmium (Cd) based on the PERA to be suitable to Korean aquatic ecosystem. First, we collected reliable ecotoxicity data from reliable data without restriction and reliable data with restrictions. Next, we sorted the ecotoxicity data based on the site-specific locations, exposure duration, and water hardness. To correct toxicity by the water hardness, EU's hardness corrected algorithm was used with slope factor 0.89 and a benchmark of water hardness 100. EPC was calculated according to statistical extrapolation method (SEM), statistical extrapolation $method_{Acute\;to\;chronic\;ratio}$ ($SEM_{ACR}$), and assessment factor method (AFM). As a result, aquatic toxicity data of Cd were collected from 43 acute toxicity data (4 Actinopterygill, 29 Branchiopoda, 1 Polychaeta, 2 Bryozoa, 6 Chlorophyceae, 1 Chanophyceae) and 40 chronic toxicity data (2 Actinopterygill, 23 Branchiopoda, 9 Chlorophyceae, 6 Macrophytes). Because toxicity data of Cd belongs to 4 classes in taxonomical classification, acute and chronic EPC (11.07 ${\mu}g/l$ and 0.034 ${\mu}g/l$, respectively) was calculated according to SEM technique. These values were included in the range of international EPCs. This study would be useful to establish the ecological standard for the protection of aquatic ecosystem in Korea.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.286-293
• /
• 2016

This study is an experiment for gastric protective effects of ursolic acid. In order to identify the effects of ursolic acid on gastrointestinal disorder, acute and chronic gastritis were also observed using HCl ethanol and indomethacin-induced gastric lesion models, respectively. As for gastric acid, it was also identified through proton pump ($H^+/K^+-ATPase$) inhibiting activity. In regards to protective factor for gastric damage, prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) was quantitatively analyzed. Antibacterial activity experiment was done on Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori), which is known to be the causing factor of chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. By making use of AGS cell, it was confirmed that ursolic acid was involved in apoptosis of gastric cancer cell through 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindol (DAPI) staining and flow cytometry analysis. As a result, ursolic acid reduced gastric lesions caused by HCl ethanol and indomethacin. Ursolic acid inhibited acid secretion by inhibiting proton pump ($H^+/K^+-ATPase$), which is the gastric acid secreting enzyme involved at the final phase of gastric acid secretion. And ursolic acid was identified with gastric mucosa protection effects by increasing the concentration of $PGE_2$, a protective factor of gastric mucosa preservation. The antibacterial activity on H. pylori, which is aggressive factor in gastrointestinal disorder, ursolic acid showed inhibitory effects on H. pylori colonization. In the DAPI nuclear staining, unlike the control group, shape of the nucleus has deformed, and has been observed either shrinked cell or chromatin condensation phenomenon. In the Flow cytometry assay, confirmed the growth rate of apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.338-345
• /
• 2021

Zizania latifolia has long been used as a tea for both edible and medicinal purposes. However, research into the use of Z. latifolia as a high value-added edible material is lacking. In a previous study, we confirmed that tricin is the major component in Z. latifolia. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of a Z. latifolia extract (ZLE). Toxicity tests of ZLE or tricin on HepG2 cells revealed no toxicity due to ZLE or tricin at all concentrations used. The reduction in cell viability by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) was suppressed by treatment with ZLE or tricin. In addition, ZLE or tricin effectively inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (generation of hydrogen peroxide, alkoxy free radicals, and peroxyl free radicals by t-BHP) and oxidative damage. ZLE or tricin treatments also increased the protein expression of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which are known as antioxidant enzymes, suggesting that the protective effect of ZLE is related to activation of tricin. Taken together, the results indicate that Z. latifolia can be developed as a functional food material for improving liver function.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.106-141
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted for the purpose of empirically analyzing the effects of adolescents' relationships with major adults as protective factors for smartphone addiction. Specifically, the study compared the discriminatory effects of adolescents' relationships with their parents, school teachers, and educational institute teachers on smartphone addiction among elementary, middle, and high school students in Korea. Analyzing the data of the 2019 Korean Children & Youth Happiness Index (N=7,454), it was found that relationships with adults were significant factors in explaining the level of smartphone addiction even after controlling for the influences of adolescents' demographics, usage time, and friendship factors. For elementary school students, good relationships with their mothers and school teachers decreased the risk of smartphone addiction. On the other hand, in the case of middle school students, only a good relationship with father functioned as a protective factor. Good relationships with their fathers and institute teachers decreased the level of high school students' smartphone addiction. Based on these findings, this study discussed on the development of programs and policies for prevention and intervention of adolescents' smartphone addiction and provided suggestions for follow-up research in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.173-182
• /
• 2023

Color is an attribute of visual perception and can be an important factor that affects the preference of customers toward bamboo and wood products. Solar radiation can discolor bamboo surfaces and initiate cracking. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of an ultraviolet (UV)-protective coating on the photodiscoloration of untreated and heat-treated Phyllostachys bambusoides bamboo surfaces. Artificial UVA radiators are set at a UVA irradiance of 2,000 W/m² to accelerate the aging of the outer surfaces of hot-air-dried and heat-treated bamboo samples. Half of the samples are coated with transparent UV-protective paint. As the UVA radiation progresses, the discoloration prevention efficiency (DPE) of the UV-protective coating on all samples decreases gradually. The DPEs of the hot-air-dried samples are estimated to be 31.4% and 18.8% after 21 and 72 hours of artificial UVA radiation, respectively. The heat-treated samples exhibit similar trends (29.0% after 21 hours and 10.3% after 72 hours). Recoating the UV-protective paint periodically every six months is expected to minimize the discoloration of the bamboo's outer surface.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.321-331
• /
• 2021

Vancomycin, an antibiotic used occasionally as a last line of treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is reportedly associated with nephrotoxicity. This study aimed at evaluating the protective effects of lutein against vancomycin-induced acute renal injury. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and its associated role in renoprotection by lutein was also examined. Male BALB/c mice were divided into six treatment groups: control with normal saline, lutein (200 mg/kg), vancomycin (250 mg/kg), vancomycin (500 mg/kg), vancomycin (250 mg/kg) with lutein, and vancomycin (500 mg/kg) with lutein groups; they were euthanized after 7 days of treatment. Thereafter, samples of blood, urine, and kidney tissue of the mice were analyzed, followed by the determination of levels of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in the urine, renal creatine kinase; protein carbonyl, malondialdehyde, and caspase-3 in the kidney; and the expression of PPARγ, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) in renal tissue. Results showed that the levels of protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde, and the activity of NAG, creatine kinase and caspase-3, were significantly increased in the vancomycin-treatment groups. Moreover, the levels of Nrf2 significantly decreased, while NF-κB expression increased. Lutein ameliorated these effects, and significantly increased PPARγ expression. Furthermore, it attenuated vancomycin-induced histological alterations such as, tissue necrosis and hypertrophy. Therefore, we conclude that lutein protects against vancomycin-induced renal injury by potentially upregulating PPARγ/Nrf2 expression in the renal tissues, and consequently downregulating the pathways: inflammation by NF-κB and apoptosis by caspase-3.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.522-531
• /
• 2013

Objectives: A field survey was conducted in a hog-raising industry in order to help develop personal protective equipment for workers which would secure the safety and the health of these workers. The attempt by this study will help enhance safety in the livestock industry and contribute to the advancement of the industry. Method: The study first selected a total of 111 workers from the hog-raising industry as research participants and designed a survey with questions on general characteristics, indoor and outdoor working environments, how the workers would in practice wear or purchase the working clothes, what needs to be improved in these new working clothes, how much the workers would be likely to accept the working clothes and protective equipment, and lastly, conditions of the communicable disease control overgarment. The collected data underwent frequency analysis and cross analysis with SPSS 21.0. Result: The research targets' average age was 50 years. Work efficiency by environmental factor was normal, but all age groups had experience of accidents (79.3%). Major wounded parts were under elbow and under knee. Protective equipment most commonly worn was helmet (83.4%), gloves (98.2%) and boots (99.1%), and satisfaction with them was normal at 3.41. Working clothing most commonly worn was old clothing (31.8%) and everyday wear (17.6%) and satisfaction with it was low. Considering the improvement of working clothing, they required attached pouches, elasticity and deodorization. The acceptability of improved working clothing was high at 69.2%. Conclusion: After problems have been addressed in relevant future research, what has been learned from the concerned study will be referred to as a useful basic reference when the relevant field works to develop high-quality working clothing and protective equipment for workers in the hog-raising industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
• /
• v.57 no.8
• /
• pp.14-23
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the present condition of cold protective clothing for mailman, to improve its design in movement, fitness, and other functions, and supply basic data for its performance evaluation. The results are as follows : The 46.60% of those questioned did not satisfy current clod protective clothing fer mailman. Especially, they considered dissatisfactory in properties such as waterproof, comfort, activity, and sweat absorption. The newly developed cold protective clothing is two-piece style composed of jacket and pants. Both jacket and pants are composed of inner and outer clothing individually. In both jacket and pants, their outer clothing's material was waterproof, windproof, and breathable shell fabric on which PTFE film laminated and their inner clothing's material was 100% polyester Polar polis to have better insulation property. The jacket has attachable cap which can be used as rain gear and set-in sleeve with stand collar. It also had big outside patch pockets and side seam pockets to ensure enough storage space. The pants have knee pads to give free movement to knees and slant side pockets. Inner clothing of both jacket and pants can be worn during working inside without out clothing. Insulation of the newly developed cold protective clothing was not better than current one except right hand, left hand and left foo. It is considered that is because thickness of material is the most important factor to influence insulation.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 2018

In this study, we investigated the cellular protective effects and mechanisms of nicotiflorin and its aglycone kaempferol isolated from Annona muricata. The protective effect of these components against $^1O_2$-induced cell damage was also studied by using L-ascorbic acid and (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol as controls. Kaempferol exhibited the most potent protective effect, followed by (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol and nicotiflorin. L-Ascorbic acid did not exhibit any cellular protective effects. To elucidate the mechanism underlying protective effects, the quenching rate constant of the singlet oxygen, free radical-scavenging activity, ROS-scavenging activity, and uptake ratio of the erythrocyte membrane were measured. The results showed that the cell membrane penetration is a key factor determining the cellular protective effect of kaempferol and its glycoside nicotiflorin. The result from L-ascorbic acid demonstrated that the cellular protective effect of a compound depends on its ability to penetrate the cell membrane and is independent of its antioxidant capacity. In addition, it is suggested that cellular protective effects of kaempferol and (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol depend not only on the cell permeability, but also on free radical- and ROS-scavenging activities. These results indicate that the cell permeability and free radical- and ROS- scavenging activities of antioxidants are major factors affecting the protection of cell membranes against the oxidative damage induced by photosensitization reaction.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.263-269
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND: The personal protective equipments (PPEs) is the most important factor for reducing the pesticide exposure during the preparation and spraying of pesticides. This study was to investigate the retention, repellence and penetration of protective clothing of PPEs according to the ISO 22608 'Liquid penetration resistance-pipette test. Protective clothing for agriculture worker is very important for their health. However, test method for measurement of protective clothing is not presented in Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: In order to measure the retention, repellence and penetration of protective clothing, a apparatus for pipette method in accordance with the ISO Guideline was prepared. The test was conducted at $25{\pm}5^{\circ}C$, $60{\pm}10%$ of relative humidity and pipette applied to a apparatus was validated to take exact amount(0.2 mL). The retention, repellence and penetration of five types of protective clothing and one type of shirt were analyzed by GC/MS. Pendimethalin(5% a.i, emulsion) was used as a test pesticide to measure above factors. The retention were less than 11.0% with the exclusion of two types(F4 and shirt) and the repellency was more than 67.0% with the exclusion of shirt material. The penetration was less than 5.4%, however, that of shirt was 66.7%. CONCLUSION: This results indicated that all protective clothing were suitable to use as PPEs according to the criteria specified by ISO Guide 22608. However, shirt was not suitable due to high penetration. This test method established for measurement the retention, repellence and penetration of protective clothing will help to establish the test notice of pipette method.