• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.146-150
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• 2004

Degradation efficiency of pentachlorophenol (PCP) by using direct UV photolysis and $TiO_2$ photocatalysis was evaluated with both chemical analyses and acute toxicity assessment employing luminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri. PCP was chosen as a target compound in this study because of its wide application as fungicide, bactericide, insecticide and wood preservative in agriculture and many industries, in addition to its well-known environmental consequences. The acute toxicity to the microbe was reduced by >60% when applying UV alone, and was completely removed when treated with $UV-TiO_2$ combinations. Toxicity reduction pattern determined with the Microtox Assay generally corresponds with the chemistry data: However, it should be noted that toxicity was greater than expected by the chemistry data. Formation of TCBQ, a toxic byprodut, could not explain observed microbial toxicity. These observations are probably due to the presence of unidentified toxic PCP byproducts, which may include polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. When Microtox results were compared between different exposure time, i.e.,5 min and 15 min, an interesting pattern was noted with $UVA-\;TiO_2$ treatment. While no microbial toxicity was observed with 5 min exposure, an EC50 value of 45.4% was estimated with 15 min exposure, which was not observed in $UVB-\;TiO_2$ exposure. This result may suggest the presence of unidentified toxic degradation products generated in the later stage of treatment. Based on this study, $TiO_2$ photocatalyst, together with UVB photolysis could improve the removal of both PCP and its toxic derivatives in more efficient way. The Microtox Assay is promising and economical method for monitoring efficiency of wastewater treatment processes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3301-3306
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• 2013

This paper aims to address the cellular toxicity of ultra-pure titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) frequently employed in sunscreens as inorganic physical sun blockers to provide protection against adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation including UVB (290-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm). In consideration that the production and the use of inorganic NPs have aroused many concerns and controversies regarding their safety and toxicity and that microsized $TiO_2$ and ZnO have been increasingly replaced by $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs (< 100 nm), it is very important to directly investigate a main problem related to the intrinsic/inherent toxicity of these NPs and/or their incompatibility with biological objects. In the present study, we took advantage of the laser-assisted method called laser ablation for generation of $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs. NPs were prepared through a physical process of irradiating solid targets in liquid phase, enabling verification of the toxicity of ultra-pure NPs with nascent surfaces free from any contamination. Our results show that $TiO_2$ NPs are essentially non-poisonous and ZnO NPs are more toxic than $TiO_2$ NPs based on the cell viability assays.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.159-174
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• 2007

Pharmacology of Korean Red ginseng gives us unique possibility to develop new class of antiepileptic drugs today and to improve one's biological activity. The chemical structures of ginsenosides (GS) have some principal differences from well-known antiepileptic new generation drugs. The antiepileptic effect of GS was also demonstrated in all models of epilepsy in rats (young and adult), which have studied, in all models of epilepsy including status epilepticus (SE), induced by lithium - pilocarpine. In our experiments in rats new evidences on protective effects were exerted as a result of premedication by GS. Pre-treatment of several GS could induce decrease of the seizures severity and brain structural damage (by MRI), neuronal degeneration in hippocampus. Wave nature of severity of motor seizures during convulsive SE was observed during lithium-pilocarpine model of SE in rats (the first increase of seizures was 30 min after the beginning of SE and the second - 90 min after. The efficacy of treatment on SE by ginsenoside as expected was observed after no less 3 weeks by daily GS i.p. administration. It is blocked SE or significantly decrease the severity of seizures during SE. The implication of presented data is that combination of ginsenosides from Korean Red ginseng and ginseng cell culture Dan25 that could be applied for prevention of epileptical status development. However, a development of optimal ratio of different ginsenosides $(Rb_1$ Rc, Rg, Rf,) should consummate in the new antiepileptic drug development.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2013

Ponciri fructus, the unripe fruits of Poncirus trifoliata, are widely used in oriental traditional medicine as a remedy for inflammation, gastritis, emesis, digestive ulcers, allergy, and dysentery. To study the anti-wrinkle effects of Ponciri fructus extract (PFE) containing flavanone glycosides, PFE was fermented with Ganoderma lucidum mycelia and its biological activities were investigated. In Ponciri fructus extracts fermented with G. lucidum (G-PFE), polyphenol content was $1,021.00{\pm}0.50{\mu}g/mL$ and flavonoid content was $589.41{\pm}0.21{\mu}g/mL$. G-PFE was found to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and superoxide anion radical by a dose dependent manner, respectively. G-PFE showed higher antioxidant activity than that of PFE. In addition, the photoprotective properties of G-PFE was tested in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) exposed to UVA radiation. G-PFE inhibited the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and showed a dose dependent decrease in the expression level of MMP-1. G-PFE also increased collagen biosynthesis in HDF. These results demonstrate that G-PFE could be useful as a potential cosmetic ingredient for anti-wrinkle.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.255-259
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• 2014

In this research, we compared the COD removal efficiencies of titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) thin films coated on the surfaces of borosilicate glass that prepared by three different numbers of coating layer; i) 3 layers ii) 4 layers and iii) 5 layers by sol-gel method. All of the prepared $TiO_2$ thin films consisted of pure anatase crystalline structure with grain sizes in the range 20-250 nm. The calculated optical band gaps of the $TiO_2$ thin films were 3.24. The total apparent surface area per total weight of $TiO_2$ thin films were 4.74, 3.86 and $2.79m^2g^{-1}$ for 3, 4 and 5 layers coating, respectively. The kinetics of the photodegradation reactions of COD under UVA light source were described by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) kinetic model. The specific rates of the photodegradation of $TiO_2$ thin films at 3 layers coating was $1.40{\times}10^{-4}min^{-1}mW^{-1}$, while for the 4 layers coating and the 5 layers coating were $1.50{\times}10^{-4}$ and $4.60{\times}10^{-4}min^{-1}mW^{-1}$, respectively. The photocatalytic performance of COD degradation was higher with smaller grain size, higher surface area and narrow optical band gaps. Moreover, the numbers of coating layer on substrate also have great influence for kinetic of COD removal.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.41-58
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• 2000

Recently the harmfulness of W radiation is in creasing due to encironmental pollution. Environmental population may also play a role in global decrease of ozone layer, A major consequence of ozone depletion is increase in solar ultra violet radiation received at the earth's surface excessive exposure to W radiation cause a lot of problems in our skin. Plant extract that possess antioxidative activities has been reported to retard the oxidation process in product to which they have been added. Plant are alived under solar light. So it is expect the plants have so many protection mechanisms and UV absorbent ingredients against ultra violet radiation such as UVB, UVA. Plant extract which were flavonoids, alkaloids and others could be transformed into UV absorber by chemical modification. Therefore with the aim of finding alternative natural absorber that can safely be used in cosmetic, we have screened various extract for their UV absorbent effect. Thus, the cosmetic safety against human skin, antimicrobial effects and others could be improved by using the silicon.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.491-499
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• 2020

Background: Assembly lines work is frequently associated to work-related upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. The related disability and absenteeism make it important to implement efficient health surveillance systems. The main objective of this study was to identify self-reported variables that can determine work-related upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms-discomfort/pain-during a 6-month follow-up. Methods: This was a prospective study with a 6-month follow-up period, performed in an assembly line. Upper limb musculoskeletal discomfort/pain was assessed through the presence of self-reported symptoms. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate which self-reported variables were associated to upper limb symptoms after 6 months at the present and to upper limbs symptoms in the past month. Results: Of the 200 workers at baseline, 145 replied to the survey after 6 months. For both outcomes, "having upper limb symptoms during the previous 6 months" and "education" were possible predictors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that having previous upper limb symptoms was related to its maintenance after 6 months, sustaining it as a specific determinant. It can be a hypothesis that this population had mainly workers with chronic symptoms, although our results give only limited support to self-reported indicators as determinants for upper limb symptoms. Nevertheless, the development of an efficient health surveillance system for high demanding jobs should implicate self-reported indicators, but also clinical and work conditions assessment should be accounted on the future.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.151-161
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• 2019

Ashwagandha (Withania sominifera Duanal) is an important medicinal herb with increased demand after discovering its anti-stress and sex stimulating properties that are attributed to the presence of biologically active alkaloid compounds. The aim of this study was to elucidate a proper agro technological package that ensures the optimum growth of Ashwagandha to obtain the finest quality without degrading the pharmacologically active constituents. Mixtures of organic and inorganic fertilizers were combined with direct seeding and transplanted as four different treatments in this study. The fresh and dry weights of the tubers were recorded up to 12 months starting from two months after sowing (MAS) while the shoot height, root length, number of leaves, fresh and dry weights of the shoot and the root with a shoot ratio of up to 6 MAS were determined. The results revealed that the growth of Ashwagandha was not affected significantly by the method of planting, type of fertilizer or their combinations during most of the harvests. However, tubers harvested at 6 MAS had the highest recorded dry tuber weight per plant in all four treatments compared to the early harvests where two direct seeded treatments had the best results. Comparison of the phytochemical compounds showed that direct seeding with organic fertilizer had the highest recorded values for alkaloid and withaferine A contents with a lower percentage of fiber compared to the treatments with inorganic fertilizer. In conclusion, direct seeding with organic fertilizer and tubers harvested at 6 MAS are recommended as the best cultivation conditions and harvesting stage to obtain high quality tubers of Ashwagandha, respectively.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.151-160
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• 2019

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the sunlight, especially UVA and UVB, is the primary environmental cause of skin damage, including topical inflammation, premature skin aging, and skin cancer. Previous reports show that activation of nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) in human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes after UV exposure induces the expression and release of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), and subsequently leads to the production of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and growth factor basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Here, we demonstrated that TNFR2-SKEE and TNFR2-SKE, oligopeptides from TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2)-binding site of TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2), strongly inhibited the interaction of TNFR1 as well as TNFR2 with TRAF2. In particular, TNFR2-SKE suppressed UVB- or $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced nuclear translocalization of activated $NF-{\kappa}B$ in mouse fibroblasts. It decreased the expression of bFGF, MMPs, and COX2, which were upregulated by $TNF-{\alpha}$, and increased procollagen production, which was reduced by $TNF-{\alpha}$. Furthermore, TNFR2-SKE inhibited the UVB-induced proliferation of keratinocytes and melanocytes in the mouse skin and the infiltration of immune cells into inflamed tissues. These results suggest that TNFR2-SKE may possess the clinical potency to alleviate UV-induced photoaging in human skin.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.215-222
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• 2019

PURPOSE. To evaluate the polishing effect on roughness and color change of pressed and layering ceramics after immersion in coffee solution. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 88 ceramic discs ($1.0mm{\times}10.0mm$) were manufactured - 44 nano-fluorapatite layering ceramics (IPS e.max Ceram. Group C) and 44 pressed lithium disilicate ceramic discs (IPS e. max Press - Group P). Each group was divided into 4 subgroups according to surface treatments: (G) Glaze, (S) Shofu polishing system (Shofu Inc.), (E) Edenta AG polishing System, (KG) $30-{\mu}m$ diamond granulation tip. Surface roughness (Ra) and color change (${\Delta}E$) measurings after the surface treatments were performed, before and 12 days after the immersion in coffee solution. A samples' qualitative analysis was conducted with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data were statistically-treated with one-way-ANOVA and Duncan's tests, apart from paired t-test and Pearson's correlation test (${\alpha}=5%$). RESULTS. The decrescent order, both for surface roughness (Ra) and ${\Delta}E$ for both ceramics were: KG > E > S > G (P<.05). With exception for PG and CG subgroups, which did not present statistical difference between them, all other pressed ceramics subgroups presented smaller Ra values and greater ${\Delta}E$ values than the layering ceramics subgroups (P<.05). CONCLUSION. Although mechanical polishing systems presented intermediate Ra values, their colors were considered clinically acceptable. There is a strong correlation between the surface roughness and the color change of tested ceramics.