• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2017

'The worstest environment disaster', 'World's first biocide massacre', 'Home-based Sewol ferry disaster' are all phrases attached to the recent humidifier disinfectant disaster. In the spring of 2011, four of 8 pregnant women including 1 adult man passed away at a university hospital in Seoul due to breathing failure. Epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Korean CDC soon revealed the inhalation of humidifier disinfectant, which had been widely used in Korea during the winter, to be responsible for the disease. As well as lung fibrosis hardening of the lungs, other diseases including asthma, rhinitis, skin disease, liver disease, fetal disease or cancers have been researched for their relation with exposure to the products. By February 9, 2017, 5,342 cases had registered for health problems and 1,131 of them were already dead (20.8% mortality rate). Based on studies by government agencies and a telephone survey of the general population by Seoul National University and civic groups, around 20% of the general public of Korea has used these products. Since the market release of the first product by SK Chemical in 1994, over 7.1 million items from around 20 brands were sold up to 2011. Most of the products were manufactured by well-known large conglomerates such as SK, Lotte, Samsung, Shinsegye, LG, and GS, as well as some European companies including UK-based Reckitt Benckiser and TESCO, the German firm Henkel, the Danish firm KeTox, and an Irish company. Even though this disaster was unveiled in 2011 by the Korean government, the issue of the victims was neglected for over five years. In 2016, an unexpected but intensive investigation by prosecutors found that Reckitt Benckiser manipulated and concealed animal tests for its own brand and brought several university experts and company employees to court. The matter was an intense social issue in Korea from May to June with a surge in media coverage. The prosecutor's investigation and a nationwide boycott campaign organized by victims and environmental groups against Reckitt Benckiser, whose product had been used by more than 70% of victims, led to the producer's official apology and a compensation scheme. A legislative investigation organized after the April 2016 national election revealed the producers' faults and the government's responsibility, but failed to meet expectations. A special law for the victims passed the National Assembly in January 2017 and a punitive system together with a massive environmental epidemiology investigation are expected to be the only solutions for this tragedy. Sciences of medicine, toxicology and environmental health have provided decisive evidence so far, but for the remaining problems the perspectives of social sciences such as sociology and jurisprudence are highly necessary, similar to with the Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon events. It may not be easy to follow this issue using unfamiliar terminology from medical and chemical science and the long, complicated history of the event. For these reasons the author has attempted to write this article in a question and answer format to render it easier to follow. The 17 questions are: Q1 What is humidifier disinfectant? Q2 What kind of health problems are caused by humidifier disinfectant? Q3 How many victims are there? Q4 What is the analysis of the 1,112 cases of death? Q5 What is the problem with the government's diagnostic criteria and the solution? Q6 Who made what brands? Q7 Has there been a recall? What is still on sale? Q8 Was safety not checked by any producers? Q9 What are the government's responsibilities? Q10 Is it true that these products were sold only in Korea? Q11 Why and how was it unveiled only in 2011 after 17 years of sales? Q12 What delayed the resolution of the victim issue? Q13 What is the background of the prosecutor's investigation in early 2016? Q14 Is it possible to report new victim cases without evidence of product purchase? Q15 What is happening with the victim issue? Q16 How does it compare with the cases of Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon? Q17 Are there prevention measures and lessons?

• Proceedings of the Korean Journal of Food and Nutrition Conference
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• 2000.12a
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• pp.29-34
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• 2000

산업 발달에 따라 날로 많은 식품들이 새롭게 개발되어지고 있다. 또한 이와 병행해서 식품으로 인한 알레르기 발생 빈도도 날로 증가하고 있으며 그 증상 또한 점차 심화되고 있는 것이 세계적인 추세이다. 우리나라도 예외는 아니어서 일반 알레르기 환자뿐 아니라 식품으로 인한 알레르기 환자들이 점차 증가됨이 보고되어지고 있다. 농산물 시장의 수입개방이후 우리나라에는 많은 해외 농산물이 수입되어지고 있으며 그 중 작년 한해의 경우 총 수입 농산물의 10%를 넘는 유전자 재조합 농산물이 우리나라에 수입되어진 것으로 통계 보고되어졌다. 이러한 관점에서 알레르기 환자의 증가와 새로운 식품 (특히 유전자 재조합 식품)의 증가에는 서로 관련성이 있을 것으로 추측되어지고 있어 (새로운) 식품에 대한 알레르기성의 예측과 관리가 필요한 실정이다. 이에 몇몇 발표된 유전자 재조합 식품에 관련된 알레르기성 검사 논문들과 실험실에서 이루어진 연구 결과들을 중심으로 유전자 재조합 식품의 알레르기 위험성에 대해 알아보고자 한다. 일반적으로 식품의 단백질이 알레르겐(allergen)으로 작용하기 위해서는 먼저 소화효소에 의해 분해되어지고 장에서 흡수되어져서 immunopotent cell에 의해 process 되어 immune system에 present 되어져야 한다. 따라서 단백질로 인한 알레르기 반응은 그 단백질의 자연적 형태 뿐만이 아니라 소화 효소에 분해된 단편들의 구조 또는 다른 알레르겐 단백질과의 유사 구조로 인한 교차 반응에 의해 발생함을 기억해야 한다. 식품 단백질 중 어떤 단백질이 알레르겐으로 작용하는가에 대한 특이성 조사에 많은 관심이 집중되어지고 있지만 아직까지는 대략 다섯 개 정도의 일반적인 특성으로서 요약되어질 수 있다. 그러나 이러한 대략의 특성에 적용되지 않는 식품 알레르겐도 많음을 잊어서는 안 될 것이다. 알레르겐으로 작용하는 식품 단백질의 일반적 특성 1. 좋은 수용성 2. 식품내에 많은 부분을 차지하는 주 단백질이 주 알레르겐으로 작용 3. 단백질내에 하나 이상의 IgE-binding site 존재 4. 위장액에 대한 저항성 5. 10～70 kDa 크기 유전자 재조합 기술이란 말 그대로 유전자를 인위적으로 새롭게 조합하는 기술로 이전의 기술로는 불가능했던 유전적 변형을 농작물과 동물에 가능하게 했으며 이로 인해 유전적으로 변형된 식용 동식물의 개발이 가능하게 되었다. 새로운 유전인자를 개체에 삽입함으로 새로운 단백질이 발현 될수 있고 그로 인해 1) 해충과 질병에 대한 저항성 증가, 2) 화학 제초제에 대한 새로운 저항성 부여, 3) 식품의 저장성 향상, 4) 식품의 영향적 보충/향상 등의 이점을 얻을 수 있다 (표 1). 세계적으로 유전자 재조합 된 새로운 농산물의 재배는 날로 증가추세에 있으며 그 중에서 가장 많은 부분을 차지하는 농산물로 soybean을 들 수 있으며 (표 2) soybean을 중심으로 그 알레르기성의 변화가 연구 조사된 몇 가지 예를 살펴보고자 한다. (표 3)에 요약된 soybean중 첫 번째 경우는 재초제에 대한 저항성을 높여주기 위해 Agrobacterium에 존재하는 EPSPS라는 단백질을 콩에서 발현하도록 찬 유전자 재조합 된 콩의 경우이다. 이 콩의 경우에는 첫째. 이전된 새로운 단백질 EPSPS가 다른 여러 식물에 이미 존재하고 있는 단백질로서 우리가 이미 이러한 식품을 섭취할 때 이 단백질도 같이 섭취해오고 있었다는 점, 둘째. 이 단백질이 소화액 분해 실험에서 짧은 시간내에 분해가 되었다는 점, 셋째. 재조합 된 콩과 자연 콩이 성분 분석에서 차이를 나타내지 않았다는 점, 네 번째. 쥐를 통한 다양섭취 실험에서 아무런 이상 반응이 없었다는 점등의 결과를 기준으로 알레르기에 대한 개별 검사 없이 안전한 콩으로 결론짓고 있다. 영양성을 높이기 위해 Brazil nut에서 methionine 함량이 풍부한 2s albumine을 콩에서 발현하도록 한 두 번째 유전자 재조합 콩의 경우 이전된 단백질 때문에 Brazil nut에 알레르기 반응을 일으키는 알레르기 환자들을 조사한 결과 역시 재조합 된 콩에도 알레르기 반응을 일으켰다는 보고이다. Brazil nut에서 콩으로 이전된 단백질이 Brazil nut에서의 알레르기성을 그대로 유지한 점을 볼 때 새로운 단백질이 어디에서 유래하는가가 중요함을 잘 보여준 연구이다 세 번째 콩의 경우 역시 영양성을 높여주기 위해 corn에서 10 kDa과 HSZ 단백질을 콩에서 발현하도록 유전자 재조합했는데 이 콩의 경우는 알레르기 환자들이 유전자 재조합 된 콩과 자연 콩에 반응의 차이를 나타내지 않았다는 결과 보고이다. 위의 세 실험 결과들을 종합해 볼 때 무엇보다도 새롭게 발현된 단백질이 원래 어떤 성질을 갖고 있으며 어디에서 유래했는지가 알레르기성 조사에 중요한 역할을 한다 할 수 있겠다. 또한 유전자 재조합된 식품들은 알레르기 환자들을 위해 표기되어져야 할 것인데 이를 위한 알레르기성 검사 실험은 공공단체를 통해 이루어져야 할 것이며 환자들마다 알레르겐으로 작용하는 단백질의 인식부위(epitope)가 다를 수 있기 때문에 적어도 10명 이상의 알레르기 환자들이 조사되어져서 검사가 이루어져야 할 것이다. 환자들의 혈청을 통한 in vitro 실험에서는 ELISA, RAST, immunoblotting과 같은 검사 방법들이 적용될 수 있고, 그 결과가 음성인 경우에 그 다음 단계로 in vivo 실험에서는 직접 환자의 피부반응검사 (skin prick test)나 DBPCFC (double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge) 검사 방법을 통해 확인되어져서 이 모든 경우가 음성인 경우와 하나라도 양성인 경우를 구별하여 식품에 표기함으로 알레르기 환자들의 유전자 재조합 식품에 대한 안전성이 보장되어져야 할 것이다.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.1 s.17
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• pp.33-38
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• 1975

The clinical efficacy of Ethaverine, a peripheral vasodilator, was studied according to a double-blind, non-cross over method in 29 diabetic patients with peripheral arterial diseases. The clinical improvement was assessed from the history of patients including the incidence and frequency of intermitten claudication. Ethaverine, after 4 weeks of therapy, was not effective in improving clinical symptoms compared to placebo. Ethaverine, however, was an efective vasodilator than placebo. The quality of vasodilation induced by Ethaverine, was similar to that of alcohol. A new clinical method of studying peripheral vasodilator was presented. The clinical symptoms of peripheral vascular arterial disease in the lower extrimities include reduced intensity of palpable pulses, coldness, and discoloration of the skin. Intermittent claudication may be present. Pathologic changes in vessel architecture precede the symptoms, and recognition of impending vascular insufficiency is a determining factor in selecting vasodilating therapy or surgical management. Also, post-operative patients who have chronic peripheral vascular arterial disease may be candidates for subsequent vasodilating therapy. Peripheral vasodilators, according to the series of reports, may be indicated in vasospastic peripheral vascular condition rather than an occlusive vascular disease and the vessel responds best when a relatively large vascular beds are involved rather than a small, capillary beds. Recently, the clinical efficacy of peripheral vasodilators have been challanged by many clinical investigators and clinicians. In this study, we have re-evaluated the efficacy of Ethaverine HCl as peripheral vasodilator in patients with vasospastic peripheral arterial disease. Ethaverine is claimed to be two to four times as potent a spasmolytic agent as papaverine in a variety of laboratory and clinical work.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.346-361
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• 2013

This article reviews the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering during 2012. It is intended to understand the status of current research in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation, and indoor environments of buildings and plant facilities. The conclusions are as follows : (1) The research works on thermal and fluid engineering have been reviewed as groups of fluid machinery, pipes and valves, fuel cells and power plants, ground-coupled heat pumps, and general heat and mass transfer systems. Research issues are mainly focused on new and renewable energy systems, such as fuel cells, ocean thermal energy conversion power plants, and ground-coupled heat pump systems. (2) Research works on the heat transfer area have been reviewed in the categories of heat transfer characteristics, pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, and industrial heat exchangers. Researches on heat transfer characteristics included the results for natural convection in a square enclosure with two hot circular cylinders, non-uniform grooved tube considering tube expansion, single-tube annular baffle system, broadcasting LED light with ion wind generator, mechanical property and microstructure of SA213 P92 boiler pipe steel, and flat plate using multiple tripping wires. In the area of pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, researches on the design of a micro-channel heat exchanger for a heat pump, numerical simulation of a heat pump evaporator considering the pressure drop in the distributor and capillary tubes, critical heat flux on a thermoexcel-E enhanced surface, and the performance of a fin-and-tube condenser with non-uniform air distribution and different tube types were actively carried out. In the area of industrial heat exchangers, researches on a plate heat exchanger type dehumidifier, fin-tube heat exchanger, an electric circuit transient analogy model in a vertical closed loop ground heat exchanger, heat transfer characteristics of a double skin window for plant factory, a regenerative heat exchanger depending on its porous structure, and various types of plate heat exchangers were performed. (3) In the field of refrigeration, various studies were executed to improve refrigeration system performance, and to evaluate the applicability of alternative refrigerants and new components. Various topics were presented in the area of refrigeration cycle. Research issues mainly focused on the enhancement of the system performance. In the alternative refrigerant area, studies on CO2, R32/R152a mixture, and R1234yf were performed. Studies on the design and performance analysis of various compressors and evaporator were executed. (4) In building mechanical system research fields, twenty-nine studies were conducted to achieve effective design of mechanical systems, and also to maximize the energy efficiency of buildings. The topics of the studies included heating and cooling, HVAC system, ventilation, renewable energy systems, and lighting systems in buildings. New designs and performance tests using numerical methods and experiments provide useful information and key data, which can improve the energy efficiency of buildings. (5) In the fields of the architectural environment, studies for various purposes, such as indoor environment, building energy, and renewable energy were performed. In particular, building energy-related researches and renewable energy systems have been mainly studied, reflecting interests in global climate change, and efforts to reduce building energy consumption by government and architectural specialists. In addition, many researches have been conducted regarding indoor environments.