• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.97-104
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• 2007

The corelation between the indoor volume and the measured radon concentration has been analyzed by comparing the radon concentration and the indoor volume of apartment rooms in Jeonju City. We also measured the annual exposure dose based on the variation in indoor radon concentration over time. To do this, we took 8 larger rooms and 8 smaller rooms of apartment, respectively, as a sample. The average volume of the larger rooms and that of the smaller rooms were $31.59\;m^3$ and $16.82\;m^3$, respectively. The average radon concentration of the larger rooms and that of the smaller rooms turned out to be $71.73\;Bq/m^3$ and $108.51\;Eq/m^3$, respectively. indicating that indoor volume is in inverse proportion to the radon concentration, i.e., the bigger the ratio of the surface area/volume, the higher the indoor radon concentration. From the measurement of the variation in indoor radon concentration over time fur a single day, the average intraday radon concentration variation was found to be about $46.8\;Bq/m^3$. The highest level of concentration ($114.5\;Bq/m^3$) was measured between 8 and 10 AM and the lowest level of concentration ($67.7\;Bq/m^3$) between 2 and 4 PM. The annual exposure dose turned out to be in the range of 0.3 mSv/yr to 2.16 mSv/yr, showing that the dose in some apartments exceeded 1.3 mSv/yr, the numerical value presented by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.812-817
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• 2003

This study was conducted to estimate the contents of heavy metals in tea products (n=200) and to provide a scientific basis for standardization of heavy metals in the Korea Food Code. The contents of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and aluminium (Al) were determined using a mercury analyzer, an AAS (atomic absorption spectrophotometer), and ICP (inductively coupled plasma spectrometer). The values of heavy metals in tea products were [minimum-maximum (mean), mg/kg] Hg: $N.D.{\sim}0.02$ (0.003), Pb: $N.D.{\sim}0.35$ (0.03), Cd: $N.D.{\sim}0.07$ (0.007), As: $N.D.{\sim}0.19$ (0.006), Cu: $N.D.{\sim}24.41$ (2.73), Mn: $N.D.{\sim}767.88$ (66.91), Zn: $N.D.{\sim}18.60$ (4.54), Al: $N.D.{\sim}1304.30$ (85.53). These results showed that metal contents in tea products in our markets were similar to those reported in other countries. The average weekly intakes of lead, cadmium, and mercury from tea products were $0.1{\sim}0.2%$ of PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake) that the JECFA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) has set to evaluate their safeties.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2003

Background : According to the study in ICOPER (International Cooperative Pulmonary Embolism Registry), the overall mortality rate of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE) at 3 months is 17.4%. According to the study for current status of APTE in Japan, the hospital mortality rate is 14%. Although the incidence and mortality rate of APTE has been increasing, patient characteristics, management strategies, and outcome of APTE in the Korean population have not yet been assessed in large series. We therefore performed the national survey for the current status of APTE in the Korean population. Methods : 808 registry patients with APTE were analyzed with respect to clinical characteristics, risk factors, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and clinical outcome. Results : Main risk factors were immobilization, recent major surgery, and cancer. Common symptoms were dyspnea and chest pain. Common signs were tachypnea and tachycardia. The majority of registry patients underwent lung perfusion scanning. Spiral CT was used in 309 patients(42.9%), and angiography in 48 patients(7.9%). Heparin was the most widely used treatment. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, onset in hospital (odds ratio 1.88, p=0.0385), lung cancer (odds ratio 9.20, p=0.0050), tachypnea (odds ratio 3.50, p=0.0001), shock (odds ratio 6.74, p=0.0001), and cyanosis (odds ratio 3.45, p=0.0153) were identified as significant prognostic factors. The overall mortality rate was 16.9% and mortality associated with APTE was 9.0%. Conclusions : The present registry demonstrated the clinical characteristics, diagnostic strategies, management and outcome of patient with APTE in Korea. The mortality rate was 9.0%, and the predictors of mortality were onset in hospital, lung cancer, tachypnea, shock, and cyanosis. These results may be important for risk stratification as well as for the identification of potential candidates for more aggressive treatment.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.440-448
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• 2017

Objectives : Currently, it is being reported that new health technology (HT) is introduced and spread throughout Korea at a very fast rate. However, the current status of new HT related to dentistry has not been known or studied. Therefore, this study aims to understand the present state and awareness on dentistry-related domestic new HT via surveys and research, and thus apply this as a reference to construct an effective new HT-related system in the field of dentistry. Methods : The assessment status of New Health Technology Assessment (nHTA) committee was searched on the website for any updates on new HT5). The cases were searched in the range between Jan 1 2012 and Jul 31 2016 by submission date and were analyzed by year, division of technology, progress and major operating practitioner. Among those, technologies utilized by dentists were additionally analyzed. The survey result was obtained by combining responses of 25 participants from the workshop for new HT application and 11 members of Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (KAOMS). The workshop was co-hosted by KAOMS and Clinical Translational Research Center for Dental Science (CTRC) under Seoul National University Dental Hospital (SNUDH). Results : Most of the respondents to the survey have heard of new health technology but were unaware of the application procedure. 'Safety and effectiveness' was selected the most for things to consider when introducing new HT, followed by 'scientific evidence of the technology.' For new dental HT status, submissions between 2012 and Jul 31 2016 were analyzed by major operating practitioner, including cases where there are multiple practitioners. Yet, only 19 cases (17 %) of dentists were reported. Among 385 cases approved by nHTA, only 2 cases included dentists. Conclusions : Active publicity by the government on new HT and its application procedure, and continued interest and research in the dental and medical community is likely to be required for the development of dentistry.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.992-997
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• 2002

Contents of heavy metals in sugar products were estimated to provide a scientific basis for standardization of Korea Food Code of heavy metals. The contents of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and copper (Cu) were determined in 285 sugar product samples using a mercury analyzer, atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and inductively coupled plasma spectrometer. The values of heavy metals in sugar products $[minimum{\sim}maximum\;(mean),\;mg/kg]$ were as follows: $Hg,\;N.D.{\sim}0.006 (0.001);$ $Pb,\;N.D.{\sim}0.47 (0.03);$ $Cd,\;N.D.{\sim}0.06(0.005);\;As,\;N.D.{\sim}0.10(0.004);\;Cu,\;N.D.{\sim}1.89(0.15)$. These results show that metal contents of domestic sugar products are similar to those reported in other countries. Weekly average intakes of lead, cadmium, and mercury from sugar products were $0.004{\sim}0.1%$ of Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake set by FAO/WHO Joint Food Additives and Contaminants Committee to evaluate the safeties of sugar products.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.175-187
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• 2014

The purpose of this clinical practice guideline (CPG) is to provide current and comprehensive recommendations for the medical and surgical management of primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Since the release of the first Korean CPGs for stroke, evidence has been accumulated in the management of ICH, such as intracranial pressure control and minimally invasive surgery, and it needs to be reflected in the updated version. The Quality Control Committee at the Korean Society of cerebrovascular Surgeons and the Writing Group at the Clinical Research Center for Stroke (CRCS) systematically reviewed relevant literature and major published guidelines between June 2007 and June 2013. Based on the published evidence, recommendations were synthesized, and the level of evidence and the grade of the recommendation were determined using the methods adapted from CRCS. A draft guideline was scrutinized by expert peer reviewers and also discussed at an expert consensus meeting until final agreement was achieved. CPGs based on scientific evidence are presented for the medical and surgical management of patients presenting with primary ICH. This CPG describes the current pertinent recommendations and suggests Korean recommendations for the medical and surgical management of a patient with primary ICH.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.425-434
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• 2021

The discovery of the relationship between nutrients and deficiency diseases during the 100 years from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s was a breakthrough that led to advances in the study of nutrition. The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) were created as a quantitative standard for avoiding diseases caused by nutrient deficiency. In addition, a reductionism paradigm has become generally accepted among nutrition scholars in health and disease, which focused on the properties of individual nutrients, content in foods, cellular levels, and mechanisms of action. The reductionist paradigm worked very well for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition diseases. However, as the incidence of nutrient deficiencies decreased and that of chronic diseases increased, the nutrition goals have been changed to secure safe and adequate nutrient intake and to reduce chronic disease risks. Accordingly, Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), a set of nutrient-based reference values, were designed to replace the RDA. The revised Korean DRIs were published for 40 nutrients in 2020. However, there is still room for improvement in the reference intake levels targeted at reducing the risk of chronic disease. The reductionist approach can no longer be practical because chronic diseases are related to the interactions between multi-components in the foods and multi-targets in the body. Therefore, a second innovative leap is needed following the nutrition development breakthrough made over 100 years ago. To this end, the nutrition paradigm must evolve from reductionism to a holism approach. Cutting-edge scientific technologies, such as metabolomics, transcriptomics, microbiomics, and bioinformatics, should also be acceptable in nutrition science based on the knowledge gained from basic nutrition studies.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2022

Background: Epidemiological observations such as mental retardation, physical deformities, etc., in children besides different types of cancer in the adult population of the Malwa region have been reported. The present study is designed to get insight into the role of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in causing detrimental health effects observed in the general population of this region. Materials and Methods: Deep soil samples were collected from different locations in the Malwa region. Their activity concentrations were determined using low-level background gammaray spectrometry. High efficiency and high purity germanium detector capped in a lead-shielded chamber having a resolution of 1.8 keV at 1,173 keV and 2.0 keV at the 1,332 keV line of ⁶⁰Co was used in the present work. Data were evaluated with Genie-2000 software. Results and Discussion: Mean activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K in deep soil were found to be 101.3 Bq/kg, 65.8 Bq/kg, and 688.6 Bq/kg, respectively. The mean activity concentration of ²³⁸U was found to be three and half times higher than the global average prescribed by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). It was further observed that the activity concentration of ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K has a magnitude that is nearly one and half times higher than the global average prescribed by UNSCEAR. In addition, the radioisotope ¹³⁷Cs which is likely to have its origin in radiation fallout was also observed. It is postulated that the NORM present in high quantity in deep soil somehow get mobilized into the water aquifers used by the general population and thereby causing harmful health problems. Conclusion: It can be stated that the present work has been able to demonstrate the use of low background gamma-ray spectrometry to understand the role of NORM in causing health-related effects in a general population of the Malwa region of Punjab, India.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.31-55
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• 2021

The Personal Information Protection Act, one of the revised 3 Data Laws, established a special cases concerning pseudonymous data. As a result, a personal information controller may process pseudonymized information without the consent of data subjects for statistical purposes, scientific research purposes, and archiving purposes in the public interest, etc. In addition, as a follow-up to the revised Personal Information Protection Act, a 'Guidelines for Utilization of Healthcare Data' was prepared, which deals with the pseudonymization in the medical sector. The guidelines are meaningful in that they provide practical criteria for accomplices by defining specific interpretations and examples that take into account the characteristics of healthcare data. However, the guidelines need to clarify the purpose of using pseudonymous data and strengthen the fairness of the composition of the data deliberation committee. The guidelines also require establishing a healthcare data compensation framework and strengthening the protection of rights for vulnerable subjects. In addition, the guidelines need to be adjusted for inconsistency with the Bioethics and Safety Act and the Medical Service Act. It is expected that this study will contribute to the creation of a safe environment for the utilization of healthcare data as well as the improvement of related laws and systems.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2021

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been used frequently, and its use continues to increase in lung cancer patients, despite insufficient scientific of its efficacy. To investigate this situation, we analyzed the current awareness and use of CAM in Korean lung-cancer patients. Methods: This prospective survey-based study was performed at seven medical centers in South Korea between August and October 2019. The survey assessed general patient characteristics and the awareness and use of CAM. We analyzed differences in the clinical parameters of patients aware and not aware of CAM and of CAM non-users and users. Results: Of the 434 patients included in this study, 68.8% responded that they were aware of CAM and 30.9% said they had experienced it. In univariate analysis, the patients aware of CAM were younger with poor performance status, had advanced-stage lung cancer, received more systemic therapy, and received concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). By multiple logistic regression, younger age, poor performance status, advanced stage, and prior CCRT were identified as independent risk factors for CAM awareness. There were no significant differences in the general characteristics and cancer-associated clinical parameters of CAM non-users and users. Conclusion: Specific clinical parameters were associated with patients' awareness of CAM, although there were no significantly different characteristics between CAM users and non-users.