• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2001

This study was performed to evaluate chromium in air and chromium concentrations in whole blood and urine of workers at chrome plating factories, and to determine the correlation between environmental and biological chromium levels. This study involved 29 workers as study group and 24 undergraduate students as control group. The geometric means(GM) of airborne hexavalent chromium and total chromium concentrations in the plating factories were 3.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ and 10.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥, respectively. Hexavalent chromium levels in two of total 29 measurements exceeded the korean occupational exposure limit and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Value(ACGIH-TLV) of 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥. Only one sample for total chromium exceeded the Korea occupational exposure limits, the ACGIH-TLV, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Recommended Exposure Limits(NIOSH-REL) of 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥. The GM of chromium concentrations in blood and urine of workers exposed to chromium were 8.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L and 11.9 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L. The GM of chromium concentrations in blood and urine of workers exposed to chromium were 8.4 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L and 11.9 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L, respectively, whereas the chromium concentrations in blood and urine of the controls were 1.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L and 3.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/L, respectively. There were statistically significant differences of blood and urine concentrations between study group and control group (p<0.01). The chromium concentrations in urine were most highly related to hexavalent chromium, concentration in air(r=0.642, p<0.01). Also, there was a relatively high correlation between the hexavalent chromium concentrations in air and chromium concentrations in whole blood(r=0.557, p<0.05). These results indicate that whole-blood chromium with urinary chromium could be an indicator of chromium body burden caused by exposure to chromic acid mist in plating operation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.265-270
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• 2001

The effects of Cordyceps militaris on the weight gain, the food intake, the food efficient ratio, and the lipid concentrations of serum, liver, pancreas, heart and aorta in male rats fed cholesterol diet were studied. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were received 4 types of diets for 4 weeks, respectively : a normal diet(without cholesterol), a control diet(hypercholesterolemic diet), a hypercholesterolemic diet supplemented with 3% fruiting body of Cordyceps militaris(CF), a hypercholesterolemic diet supplemented with 3% mycelium of Cordyceps militaris(CM). The body weight gain of rats fed the control diet were significantly increased compared to those of the rats fed diets with CF or CM. But, the hepatic and pancreatic weights of rats fed diets with CF or CM were heavier than those of rats fed the normal diet. In serum of rats fed the CM diet, the concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and the atherogenic index were significantly lower than those of rats fed the control diet. Also, serum HDL-cholesterol concentration and HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio were significantly lower in rats fed the control, CF or CM diets than those in rats fed the normal diet. Whereas, the hepatic concentrations of the total lipid, the total cholesterol and the triglyceride were significantly higher in rats fed 3 hypercholesterolemic diets than those in the rats fed normal diet. The heart and pancreatic concentrations of total cholesterol were the highest in the rats fed diet with the CR among rats fed experimental diets. In conclusion, the CM feeding decreased the concentrations of the cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol and the atherogenic index in the serum of the rats. But the CF or CM feeding could not decrease the hepatic concentrations of the total lipid, cholesterol, triglyceride in the rats fed hypercholesterolemic diets. (Korean J Nutrition 34(3) : 265∼270, 2001)

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.189-202
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• 2017

This study examines the concentrations of particulate-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and gas-phase PAHs in sidestream cigarette smoke. Sixteen PAHs were determined for four brands of cigarettes. The volume of the experimental room is approximately $66m^3$. The air samples in the room were collected before and after smoking. The median total of particulate-phase and gas-phase PAH concentrations before smoking $3.13ng/m^3$and $48.0ng/m^3$, respectively. The median concentrations of them after smoking were $10.0ng/m^3$ and $79.6ng/m^3$. The median increases in the total of 16 PAH concentrations per cigarette during smoking were 271 ng for the particulate-phase PAHs and 1960 ng for the gas-phase PAHs. According to the relationship between particulate-phase and gas-phase PAHs after smoking, the two- to four-ring gas-phase PAHs and the higher molecular weight particulate-phase PAHs were probably formed from similar precursors. The relationship between the total suspended particulate (TSP) concentration and the increase in the total particulate-phase concentration of the 16 PAHs per cigarette during smoking were significantly positive. The increase in the total gas-phase concentration of the 16 PAHs tended to increase as the TSP concentration increased. This may indicates that decreasing the amount of TSP produced inhibit the production of PAHs during smoking.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.109-118
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• 2008

Objective : The objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant effects of hot pepper extract and capsaicin. Methods : In vitro, antioxidant activities were examined by DPPH radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity(TAC), oxygen radical scavenging capacity(ORAC), inhibition of induced lipid peroxidation using liver mitochonria and total phenolic contents. Results : 1. DPPH free radical scavenging activities at the concentrations of both 1 and $10mg/m{\ell}$ were 1.2 to 1.9 times higher in capsaicin than in hot pepper extract. The concentration of capsaicin required for 50% radical scavenging was lower than that of hot pepper extract(3.9 vs $5.9mg/m{\ell}$), indicating that capsaicin had higher DPPH radical scavenging activity than hot pepper extract. 2. Total antioxidant capacities of capsaicin at the concentrations of 0.1 and 1mg/ml(13.8 and 41.3 nmol Trolox equivalent) were not significantly different from those at the concentrations of 1 and $10mg/m{\ell}$(11.4 and 41.2nmol Trolox equivalent), indicating that capsaicin showed 10 times higher ABTS radical scavenging activity compared to hot pepper extract. 3. ORAC of capsaicin at the concentrations of 1, 5, 10 and 100 mg/ml were 0.04, 0.17, 0.29 and 1.74nmol gallic acid equivalent, respectively. On the other hand, ORAC of hot pepper extract at the concentrations of 1, 5, 10 and $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ were 0.15, 0.44, 0.75 and 2.49nmol gallic acid equivalent, respectively, indicating that capsaicin showed higher peroxyl radical scavenging activity than hot pepper extract. 4. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation caused by hot pepper extract at the concentrations of 1 and $10mg/m{\ell}$ were 12.2 and 61.4%, respectively. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation caused by capsaicin at the concentrations of 1 and $10mg/m{\ell}l$ were 64.0 and 96.8%, respectively. Thus capsaicin showed 10 times stronger effect in inhibiton of lipid peroxidation than hot pepper extract. 5. Total phenolic contents of hot pepper extract at the concentrations of 0.1 and $1mg/m{\ell}$ were 1.4 and 20.8nmol gallic acid equivalent, respectively. Total phenolic contents of capsaicin at the concentrations of 0.1 and $1mg/m{\ell}$ were 6.1 and 55.4 nmol gallic acid equivalent, respectively, indicating that capsaicin had 2.7 to 4.3 times higher total phenolic contents than hot pepper extract. Conclusions : In summary, the results of this study demonstrate significant antioxidant activity of hot pepper extract, although the activity was lowered compared to capsaicin, suggesting that hot pepper extract play a role in prevention of oxidative-related diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 1996

This study was performed to estimate total dust concentrations and particle size distribution of wood dust in the furniture and sawmill industries. To compare total wood dust concentrations, two samplers recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists and by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health were used. Concentration data were analyzed by paired-t tests using the SAS program and two parameters of the particle size distributions were determined by histogram. The results were as follows: 1. Particle size distributions showed a unimodal pattern in cutting and a bimodal in sanding operations. Mass median aerodynamic diameters(MMAD) were $17.35{\mu}m$ in cutting, and $1.39{\mu}m$ for small mode and $18.89{\mu}m$ for large mode in sanding operations. The proportions of particle size larger than $9.8{\mu}m$ estimated by the impactor were 61.16 % in cutting and 62.33 % in sanding operations, respectively. 2. The average personal total dust concentrations measured by IPM sampler were $17.12mg/m^3$ (GSD=1.45) from indoor samples, $2.97mg/m^3$(GSD=1.90) from outdoor samples in cutting, and $8.01mg/m^3$(GSD=1.58) from sanding operation. And those of by 37 mm closed-face cassette were $9.12mg/m^3$(GSD=1.46), $1.06mg/m^3$(GSD=1.99) from cutting, and $3.32mg/m^3$(GSD=2.16) from sanding operations. 3. The average area total dust concentrations measured by IPM sampler were $1.88mg/m^3$(GSD=2.04) from indoor cutting, $4.76mg/m^3$(GSD=2.83) from indoor sanding operations. And those of by 37mm closed-face cassette were $0.49mg/m^3$(GSD=2.34) from cutting, and $1.32mg/m^3$(GSD=3.03) from sanding operations. 4. The ratio of personal total dust concentrations measured by 37 mm closed-face cassette to those by IPM sampler were 35.7 %, 53.3 % from cutting, and 41.4 % from sanding operations. 5. The ratio of area total dust concentrations measured by 37 mm closed-face cassette to those by IPM sampler were 26.1 % from cutting, and 27.7 % from sanding operations. 6. A statistically significant difference of total dust concentrations between the 37 mm closed-face cassette and the IPM sampler was found.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2019

Objective: To investigate serum 25-hydroxyl vitamin D (25(OH)D) and vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) concentrations in women with endometriosis according to the severity of disease. Methods: Women with mild endometriosis (n = 9) and advanced endometriosis (n = 7), as well as healthy controls (n = 16), were enrolled in this observational study. Serum total 25(OH)D concentrations were analyzed using the Elecsys vitamin D total kit with the Cobas e602 module. Concentrations of bioavailable and free 25(OH)D were calculated. Concentrations of VDBP were measured using the Human Vitamin D BP Quantikine ELISA kit. Variables were tested for normality and homoscedasticity using the Shapiro-Wilk test and Leven F test, respectively. Correlation analysis was used to identify the variables related to total 25(OH)D and VDBP levels. To assess the effects of total 25(OH)D and VDBP levels in the three groups, multivariate generalized additive modeling (GAM) was performed. Results: Gravidity and parity were significantly different across the three groups. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and CA-125 levels increased as a function of endometriosis severity, respectively (p= 0.051, p= 0.004). The correlation analysis showed that total 25(OH)D levels were positively correlated with gravidity (r = 0.59, p< 0.001) and parity (r = 0.51, p< 0.003). Multivariate GAM showed no significant relationship of total 25(OH)D levels with EMT severity after adjusting for gravidity and ESR. However, the coefficient of total 25(OH)D levels with gravidity was significant (1.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-3.63; p= 0.040). Conclusion: These results indicate that vitamin D and VDBP levels were not associated with the severity of endometriosis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.404-408
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• 2003

In this study, we examined the influences of pH and total concentration on the speciation of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn) in acid mine drainage. Their labile concentrations were analyzed by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) at both natural pH and adjusted pHs (from 2 to 8). We obtained regression equations for predicting labile concentrations as a function of the water pH and contamination level (total dissolved metal concentration). Our data show that labile Cu depends on both the total concentration and pH, while labile Cd and Zn concentrations are controlled mainly by their total concentration rather than pH. Therefore, the pH variation of AMD may significantly change the toxicity and bioavailability especially of Cu, owing to its speciation change.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.140-143
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• 2003

This study was performed to develop a more rapid and simple nutrient diagnosis method of plants than the conventional leaf analysis method. tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. super momotaro) was planted in the mixed media produced by mixing perlite and rock wool at 1 . 1 (v/v) ratio. The Yamazakki nutrient solutions for cucumber and tomato were supplied to the media using the micro-drip irrigation system. Experimental plots produced consisted of no fertilization, deficient fertilization, adequate fertilization and surplus fertilization for N, P and K, respectively. Each experimental plot was replicated four times. Specific color different sensor values (SCDSV) measured by the chlorophyll meter were closely related to total-N concentrations in the leaves measured by the conventional method. Nitrate, $PO_4$ and K concentrations in petiole sap measured by test strips #(Reflectoquant^{\circledR},\;Merck,\;Germany)$ showed a significant relationship with total-N, p and K concentrations in leaves. The linear regression equations between $NO_3,\;PO_4$ and K concentrations in petiole sap and total-N, p and K concentrations in the leaves were prepared. The optimum levels of $NO_3,\;PO_4$ and K in petiole sap were obtained by plugging the optimum concentrations of total-N, p and K in the leaves by other researchers into the equations. In conclusion, the SCDSV by the chlorophyll meter and concentrations of NO3, p and K in petiole sap measured by the test strips would be suitable for rapid estimation of plant nutrient status.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 1994

This study was designed to establish the relationship between airborne trichloroethylene concentrations and total trichloro-compounds and trichloroacetic acid in urine samples of the trichloroethylene exposed workers, to examine if the biological screening value for trichloroacetic acid in urine set by the Ministry of Labor is appropriate, and to suggest a suitable biological screening value for total trichloro-compounds in urine. Seventy male workers from the cleaning, the packing, and the inspcetion areas were selected as the study group and eighty male office workers were chosen as the control group. The results were as follows: 1. The mean values of total trichloro-compounds and trichloroacetic acid in the exposed group ($48.1{\pm}1.5mg/{\ell}$, $19.7{\pm}1.9mg/{\ell}$) were significantly higher than those in the control group($4.3{\pm}1.5mg/{\ell}$, $1.8{\pm}1.2mg/{\ell}$). 2. The airborne tichloroethylene concentrations were significantly related with the concentrations of total trichloro-compounds in urine(r=0.8212) and the concentrations of trichloroacetic acid in urine(r=0.7216). 3. The average trichloroethylene concentrations in the manual cleaning plants and that in the automatic cleaning plants were 40.1 ppm and 7.7 ppm, respectively. The difference between two groups was statistically significant. 4. The geometric mean of 49.6 ppm trichloroethylene concentration was resulted in the $185.4mg/{\ell}$ total trichloro-compounds in urine, and the 50 ppm trichloroethylene concentration was expected to produce $170.4{\pm}28.5mg/{\ell}$ total trichloro-compounds in urine. 5. With the geometric mean of 49.6 ppm trichloroethylene concentration, the corresponding geometric mean concentration of trichloroacetic acid in urine was $74.7mg/{\ell}$. In conclusion, the level of personal exposure to trichloroethylene concentration was significantly correlated with the concentrations of total trichloro-compounds and trichloroacetic acid in urine. Current biological screening value of $75mg/{\ell}$ for trichloroacetic acid in urine set by the Ministry of Labor was thought to be appropriate, and a biological screening value for total trichloro-compounds in urine should be set in the range of $170.4{\pm}28.5mg/{\ell}$ as a reference value for trichoroethylene exposure.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.163-173
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• 2001

This study describes the characteristics of concentrations of pollutants such as total nitrogen(T-N), total phosphorous(T-P), and chemical oxygen demand(COD) at paddy areas during 2-year irrigation periods. The most common order in average concentrations of T-P and COD is podded water > irrigation(or drainage) water > percolated water. Most of pollutants concentrations in drainage water are lower than those in irrigation water after early July due to large uptake of pollutants by rice crop and denitrification. The exponential L (load)-Q(discharge) equations for classified irrigation periods are significant at 0.001 level for irrigation and drainage waters. For drainage water, the concentrations of T-N and COD slightly decrease with discharge, while the T-P concentrations slightly increase with discharge.