• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4383-4386
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• 2015

Background: The C1561T variant of the glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) gene is critical for natural methylfolylpolyglutamte (methylfolate) absorption, and has been associated with perturbations in folate metabolism and disease susceptibility. However, little is known on C1561T-GCPII as a risk factor for colorectal cancer. Therefore, this study examined whether C1561T-GCPII influences folate metabolism and adenomatous polyp occurrence. Materials and Methods: 164 controls and 38 adenomatous polyp cases were analysed to determine blood folate and plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level, dietary intake of natural methylfolate, synthetic pteroylglutamic acid (PteGlu), vitamin C and C1561T-GCPII genotype. Results: In controls and cases, 7.3 and 18.4 percent of subjects respectively, were found to have the CT genotype, increasing the risk for adenomatous polyp occurrence 2.86 times (95% CI:1.37-8.0, p=0.035). Total dietary folate, methylfolate and PteGlu intake and the level of erythrocyte folate and plasma Hcy did not predict the occurrence of an adenomatous polyp. However, dietary natural vitamin C intake was associated with adenomatous polyp risk within C1561T-GCPII CT genotype subjects (p=0.037). Conclusions: The findings suggest that C1561T-GCPII variation may be associated with risk for adenomatous polyp, and vitamin C may modify risk by interacting with the variant gene, its expression product and/or folate substrates.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.111-116
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• 1981

Economic development of Korea brought rapid progress and expansion of her industries. Accordingly, number of workers who have been exposed to hazardous metals are increasing. For better understanding the significance of on the job human metal pollution, a total of 22 solderers among autoworkers and 28 controls among medical students was purposively selected as samples of the study. From their blood, concentrations of cadmium and lead were measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and to compare with statistical indices of controls those of solderers were sumarized as follows. 1. Each frequency distribution of cadmium and lead concentration in blood of solderers was more positively skewed showing non-Gausian distribution. 2. Interindividual variation of lead concentration in blood of solderers was markedly revealed. 3. Each mean of cadmium and lead concentration in blood of solderers was higher than that of controls(Cd;p<0.01, Pb;p<0.01). 4. Relative ratio of cadmium concentration in blood of solderers to that of controls was 1.36 by arithmatic mean and 1.39 by geometric mean. Relative ratio of lead concentration in blood of solderers to that of controls was 1.53 by arithmatic mean and 1.30 by geometric mean. 5. It was shown that concentration of lead is slightly correlated with that of cadmium both in solderers and controls(solderers; p<0.1, controls;p<0.1).

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2002.05b
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• pp.422-425
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• 2002

Application of biostimulants, humate-based products marketed as aids to plant establishment, may increase root growth of turfgrass and maple tree. We tested three types of biostimulants on root growth of creeping bentgrass (Agrosfic palustris Huds.) and maple (Acer rubrum L.). Roots were first observed in the 2-3 weeks after treatments. Biostimulant-treated tufgrass and tree had more root length than nontreated controls. Turfgrass nutrient absorption was increased with biostimulant application.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.282-286
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• 2002

Objectives : The level of 4-hydroxyproline (4-Hyp) in human urine was measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a fluorescence detector. This method is useful for medical examinations and investigating the radicals induced by physical, chemical, mental stresses. This method is superior to many published several methods in terms of its low cost and ability to analyze many samples. Methods : The urine from workers in a tire manufacturing company (22 male pre- and post-shift workers) and 18 office-workers as controls were analyzed. Data concerning age, the cumulative drinking amount and the cumulative smoking amount was collected with a questionnaire. The optimum applied amount of dansyl-Cl, the optimum reaction temperature and time, the recoveries and the optimum pH of the eluent and buffer were determined.4-Hyp from human urine was derivatized with dansyl-Cl (dimethylamino-naphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride) after removing the a-amino acid by a treatment with phthalic dicarboxaldehyde (OPA) and cleaned with Bond Elut C18 column. The 4-Hyp derivatives were separated on a reversed phase column by gradient elution with a phosphate buffer (5 mmol, pH 8.0) and acetonitrile, and detected by fluorescence measurements at 340 nm (excitation) and 538 nm (emission). Results : The detection limit for the urinary free 4-Hyp was $0.364{\mu}mol/l$. The recovery rate of 4-Hyp was 99.7%, and the effective pH of the phosphate buffer and borate buffer were 3.0 and 8.0, respectively. From statistical analysis, age, drinking and smoking did not affect the urinary free 4-Hyp in both the controls and workers. The range of urinary 4-Hyp in the controls, pre-shift, and post-shift workers were 0.33-16.44, N.D-49.06, and $0.32-56.27{\mu}mol/l$. From the pared-sample t-test, the urinary 4-Hyp levels in post-shift workers ($11.82{\pm}6.73\;nmmol/mg\;Cre$) were 2-fold higher than in pre-shift workers ($5.36{\pm}5.53\;nmol;/mg\;Cre$) and controls ($4.91{\pm}4.89\;nmol;/mg\;Cre$). Conclusions : This method was developed with high sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. The present method was effectively applied to analyze the urinary free 4-Hyp in both controls and workers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7303-7307
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• 2015

Background: Leukemia is a common cancer among children and adolescents. Wilms' tumor gene (WT1) is highly expressed in patients with acute leukemia. It is found as a tumor associated antigen (TAA) in various types of hematopoietic malignancies and can be employed as a useful marker for targeted immunotherapy and monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD). In this regard, WT1 is a transcription factor that promotes gene activation or repression depending on cellular and promoter context. The purpose of this study was assessment of WT1 gene expression in patients with acute leukemia, measurement of IL-12 and C3 levels in serum and evaluation of the relationship between them. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the expression of WT1 mRNA using real-time quantitative RT-PCR and serum levels of IL-12 and C3 using ELISA and nephelometry in peripheral blood of 12 newly diagnosed patients with acute leukemia and 12 controls. Results: The results of our study showed that the average wT1 gene expression in patients was 7.7 times higher than in healthy controls (P <0.05). In addition, IL-12 (P = 0.003) and C3 (P <0.0001) were significantly decreased in the test group compared to controls. Conclusions: WT1 expression levels are significantly higher in patients compared with control subjects whereas serum levels of interleukin-12 and C3 are significantly lower in patients. Wt1 expression levels in patients are inversely related with serum levels of IL-12 and C3.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.451-456
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• 2023

Background: We conducted a case-control study to identify high-risk occupations and exposure to occupational hazards for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods: When patients with AML admitted to the Department of Hematology in the study hospital for the first time are referred to the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, data on occupation are collected by investigators to evaluate work-relatedness. Community-based controls were recruited through an online survey agency, and four controls per case were matched. Occupational information was estimated using structured questionnaires covering 27 specific occupations and 32 exposure agents. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed by pairing cases and controls. Results: In the analysis of the risk of AML according to occupational classification, a significant association was found in paint manufacturing or painting work (OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.03-4.81) and aircrew (OR = 6.00, 95% CI: 1.00-35.91) in males, and in pesticide industry (OR = 6.89, 95% CI: 1.69-28.07) and cokes and steel industry (OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.18-22.06) in ≥60 years old. Moreover, the risk of AML increased significantly as the cumulative exposure to thinners increased. In the analyses stratified by sex and age, the association between pesticide exposure and AML was significant in males (OR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.10-9.77) and in ≥60 years old (OR = 6.22, 95% CI: 1.48-26.08). Conclusion: This case-control study identified high-risk occupational groups in the Republic of Korea including paint manufacturers and painters, aircrew, and those who are occupationally exposed to pesticides or paint thinners.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.204-212
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine house dust mite concentrations in living rooms and bedding materials in atopic case-control groups. Methods: Fifty four homes with children suffering atopic diseases as cases and fifty one homes without atopic diseases as controls were selected after diagnosis at three elementary schools in Ulsan City. Dust samples were collected from the living rooms and bedding materials in each home during summer and winter with a vacuum cleaner and analyzed for house dust mites using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Environmental factors and family history were surveyed during sampling. Results: Both species of house dust mite Dermatophagoides farina (Der f 1) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p 1) were found in all homes. Derf1 concentrations were much higher than Der P1 concentrations, both in atopic homes (1518.9 vs. 27.0 ng/g. dust, respectively) and non-atopic homes (810.8 vs. 44.3 ng/g. dust, respectively). Der f 1 concentrations were significantly higher in the atopic group than in the non-atopic group (atopic: 1518.9 ng/g.dust, non-atopic: 810.8 ng/g.dust, p = 0.035). However, total house dust mite Der p 1 concentrations were significantly higher in the non-atopic group than in the atopic group (atopic: 27.0 ng/g.dust, non-atopic: 44.3 ng/g.dust, p = 0.035). Multiple regression implied that mothers with family history of atopic diseases (OR = 4.79, 95% CI = 1.81-12.69), Der f 1 concentrations (OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.07-2.81), and air freshener use (OR = 4.60, 95% CI = 1.72-12.34) had significant associations with atopic children. Conclusion: House dust mite Der f 1 concentrations were associated with atopic children. This study suggests that parents should reduce house dust mite Der f 1 concentrations through environmental controls.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.177-177
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• 2003

Adult periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease whose etiology is not well defined. Recent studies have shown that vitamin D receptor gene has been a candidate for the susceptibility of adult periodontitis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the frequency of Taq I restriction fragment length polymorphism (RELP) in the vitamin D receptor gene in 141 periodontically healthy controls and 32 adult periodontitis patients. Taq I RFLP in the vitamin D receptor gene were detected by PCR amplification, followed by restriction enzyme digestion and 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. There were no significant difference in the distribution of Taq I RFLP between healthy controls and adult periodontitis group (P > 0.05). Thus, Taq I RFLP in the vitamin D receptor gene may not confer the susceptibility to adult periodontitis in Korean population. However, t allele distributions of this RFLP showed various frequencies among ethnic groups studied. Further studies in other ethnic groups will be required.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1233-1237
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• 2015

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of red ginseng marc powder on egg freshness in laying hens during 4 weeks. A total of 60 Hy-line Brown laying hens, 50 week of age, were randomly assigned to 2 groups with diets containing 0% and 2% red ginseng marc powder. There were 3 replications per group with 10 laying hens per pen. Throughout the period of the trial, there were no effects of red ginseng marc powder on egg weight (but not 4 weeks). Haugh Unit (HU) values were observed by showing significant differences between red ginseng marc powder and controls at 0 and 4 weeks, except for HU at 1 through 3 weeks. For egg yolk color, red ginseng marc powder has no difference in comparison with controls at 0, 3 and 4 weeks (but not 1 and 2 weeks). In conclusion, the dietary supplementation with 2% red ginseng marc powder improved HU values throughout the experiment.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.153-156
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• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of sea urchin shell powder on nitrogen characteristics in poultry litter by assigning ninety 1-d-old male broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) to one of 3 treatments (control, 1% sea urchin shell powder, and 1% feed additives) in 3 replicates of 10 birds each. For all treatments, the overall dry matter contents were decreased (P < 0.05) as time increased, except for at 1 week. When compared with controls, the dietary sea urchin shell powder and feed additives for 0 and 3 weeks did influence their TN contents, but not for 1, 2 and 4 weeks. The treatments with sea urchin shell powder and feed additives had a significant (P < 0.05) influence on $NH_3$-N in poultry litter compared with controls. However, at 4 weeks, no marked differences were observed in $NH_3$-N contents among treatments. Treatments with 1% sea urchin shell powder might enhance the value of poultry litter as N fertilizer.