• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.57-71
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• 1994

I investigated actual conditions of smoking of teenagers who were randomly chosen middle and high school students. 1. Juvenile smoking 1) Parents' opinions of juvenile smoking Most parents do not want their children to smoke after growth : 88.6% of fathers (middle school students: 88.9%, high school students: 88.4%) and 95.1% of mothers (middle school students: 93.4%, high school students :95.5%). 2) Teenagers' opinions of smoking after growth The rate of students who will smoke after growth is 10.8% (middle school students: 12.0%, high school students: 9.9%): students in agricultural areas show the higher rate than those in cities. 3) Parents' opinions of their children's smoking now 1.5% of fathers want their children to smoke now (middle school students: 1.3%, high school students: 1.6%) and 1.1% of mothers do (middle school students: 0.6%, high school students: 1.5%). This shows that most parents do not want their children to smoke now. 4) Students' opinions of their friends' smoking now Students who want their friends smoke now cover 7.8% (middle school students: 7.1%, high school students: 8.4%). This rates are higher than those of parents shown in (3). And more high school students and more girl students gave the positive reponse than middle school boy and girl students, respectively. 5) Students' views of smoking "Look like an adult" covers the rate of 4.0% (boy: 7.8%, girl:3.6%) 6.7% of middle school students have this view, while 3.7% of high school students have. 16.1% of students had an experience of smoking during the last one year (boy: 29.9%, girl: 8.6%): this shows that the rate of the boy students is more than 3 times greater than that of the girl students and high students who experienced smoking last year covers 20.2%, while middle school students shows 10.9%. 6) Actual conditions of students' smoking The present rate of students' smoking is 22.4% (boy:38.3%, girl:13.8%): the rate of boy students is greater than that of girl students. Students who smoke more than pack of cigarettes a day cover 8.2% (boy: 17.5%, girl: 3.2%): 5.2% of middle school students (boy:11.4%, girl: 2.1%) smoke more than one pack while 10.7% of high school students do (boy:21.5%, girl: 4.2%). This shows that the rate of boy students' smoking is greater than that of girl students' smoking. 7) The rate of smoking of students' parents 75.4% of fathers (city: 74.5%, agricultural area:75.9%) smoke: and more than a half (62.4%) smoke more than a pack cigarettes a day. On the other hand, the rate of smoking mothers is 5.2%(city: 4.3%, agricultural area: 7.3%): the rate is higher in agricultural areas. 8) Opinions of smoking population in the future 61.4% of students answered that smoking population will increase, while 27.0% have the opinion that smoking population will decrease. 2. Opinions of the effects of smoking on health 1) Have you heard that smokers are likely to suffer from tuberclosis? 78.3% of students said yes (boy: 80.8%, girl: 76.4%): it is shown that the rate of boys is greater than that of girls. 2) Have you heard that smokers are likely to get out of endurance? 76.6% of students (boy: 69.3%, girl: 49.7%) answered yes: it is shown that the rate of boys is greater than that of girls. 3) Have you heard that heart-beats get fast when one smokes? 32.5% of students (boy: 35.5%, girl: 30.9%) answered yes: 32.2% in cities(boy: 33.0%, girl: 31.8%) and 33.5% in agricultural areas(boy: 41.8%, girl: 28.8%): and 28.7% middle students and 35.5% of high school students answered yes. 4) Have you heard that smokers are likely to have heart-diseases? 35.1% of students (boy: 34.0%, girl: 34.1%) answered yes: 35.3% in cities (boy: 37.2%, girl: 34.2%) and 36.7% in agricultural areas (boy: 39.0%, girl: 33.9%): 34.8% of middle school students and 35.4% of high school students. 5) Have you heard that smokers are likely to have a lung cancer? 91.4% of students (boy: 93.2%, girl: 89.9%) answered yes: 90.35% in cities and 94.2% in agricultural areas. 6) Have you heard that the life of smokers gets shorter? 94.3% of students (boy:94.6%, girl: 92.2%) answered yes. 7) Have you heard that pregnant smokers will deliver a baby with low birth weight? 29.6% of students (boy: 29.8%, girl: 29.4%) answered yes: the rates of boys and girls almost the same. 8) Have you heard that one feels calm when one smokes? 80.1% of students (boy: 81.8%, girl: 79.2%) answered yes: boys and girls showed almost the same rate. 3. Preventive measures Smoking people continued to increase all over the world because smoking not only mitigated emotional uneasiness such as loneliness, nervousness and so on, but also could be very helpful from the social perspective. This was so because they did not consider harmful effects of smoking on health, and victims. However, because any -one can have physical disorders caused by smoking, people should always keep in mind the following preventive measures. 1) Doctors or teachers should set an example of giving up smoking. Informing patients or students of harmful effects of smoking to persuade their family and relatives not to smoke. 2) Through mass media like newspapers, periodicals or broadcasting, to make people know harmful effects of smoking and not smoke. 3) To prohibit selling teenagers cigarette by law. 4) To prohibit smoking in public places like work places, offices, lecture rooms, recreation rooms, buses, trains and so on. 5) To decrease the rate of life insurance for non-smokers as in foreign countries and to give a warming of the harmful effects on cigarette packets or ads.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.330-336
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like environmental endocrine disrupter, on the placental function and reproduction in rats. The mRNA levels of the placental prolactin-growth hormone(PRL-GH) gene family, placental trophoblast cell frequency and reproductive data were analyzed. Methods : The pregnancies of F344 Fisher rats ($160g{\pm}20g$) were detected by the presence of the copulatory plug or sperm in the vaginal smear, which marked Day 0 of pregnancy. Pregnant rats were divided into three groups. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with a sesame oil vehicle. The two remaining groups were injected with 50 or 500 mg/kg B.W/day of BPA, resuspended in sesame oil, on either days 7 to 11 or 16 to 20 of pregnancy, with the rats sacrificed on either day 11 or 20, respectively. The mRNA levels of PRL-GH and Pit-1a and b isotype genes were analyzed by Northern blot hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The hormone concentrations were analyzed by radioimmunoassay, and the frequency of the placental trophoblast cells observed by a histochemical study. Reproductive data, such as the placental weight and litter size, were surveyed on day 20. The fetal weight was surveyed for 4 weeks after birth. A statistical analysis was carried out using the SAS program (version 8.1). Results : The mRNA levels of the PRL-GH gene family, such as placental lactogen I, Iv and II, prolactin like protein A, C and Cv, and decidual prolactin-related protein were significantly reduced due to BPA exposure. The mRNA levels of the Pit-1a and b isotype genes, which induce the expression of the PRL-GH gene family in the rat placenta, were also reduced due to BPA exposure. The PL-Iv and PL-II concentrations were reduced in the BPA exposed group. During the middle to last stage of pregnancy (Days 11-20), a high dose of BPA exposure reduced the frequency of spongiotrophoblast cells, which are responsible for the secretion of the PRL-GH hormones. Reproductive data, such as the placental and fetal weights and the litter size, were reduced, but that of the pregnancy period was extended in the BPA exposed compared to the control group. Conclusions : BPA disrupts the placental functions in rats, which leads to reproductive disorders.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.186-189
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• 2007

More than 6,000 rare disorders including genetic diseases have been reported. Of them, 1,500 diseases (1,211 for clinical diagnosis and 289 for research only) are technically possible for genetic testing. In Korea, since 2005, only 63 genetic diseases is permitted for prenatal genetic testing by the "Bioethics and Biosafety Law". The article 25 in the law prescribes 63 genetic diseases without clear indication for its selection and inclusion criteria. In EU, USA, and other foreign countries, however, there is no provision in the statute on prenatal genetic testing; it is not restricted by a law. Recently, a woman (Mrs. L, 38y) who is a carrier for Menkes disease made an appeal to a government for an amendment of the "Bioethics and Biosafety Law" prohibiting the prenatal diagnosis of her pregnancy at risk for Menkes disease. Menkes disease (MNK) is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by neurodegeneration, connective tissue defects and hair abnormalities, and no effective treatment is available yet. The prevalence rate of MNK is one in about 250,000 live births. Menkes syndrome patients fail to absorb copper from the gastrointestinal tract in quantities adequate for meeting nutritional needs. These needs seem particularly acute during the initial 12 month of life, when the velocity of brain growth and motor neurodevelopment. Most of pts. die around 3yrs. of age. Mrs. L had a boy with Menkes disease who died at 2y.o. in 2001. Subsequent pregnancy in 2003, she was able to have prenatal genetic testing for mutation of the Menkes (ATP7A) gene and delivered a healthy baby boy. Now, She is pregnant again and wants to have prenatal diagnosis. however, this time, she was not allowed to have any more because Menkes disease is not included in 63 genetic diseases permitted by the law for prenatal genetic testing, in spite of the fact that she is a Menkes disease carrier and her pregnancy is at risk to have an affected baby. This case shows the practical problem of the legal restriction for prenatal genetic testing in Korea. In this study, we report a arguable case and discuss the controversial issues in the legal restriction for prenatal genetic testing in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.63-77
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• 1978

Studies pertaining to influential factors on adoption and practice of family planning are very much needed to lower fertility, for family planning has regarded as only one social acceptable means to curb the accelerated population growth. One of the influential factors is known as rumors on family planning methods that hinder the actual practice of family planning. This study generally aimed at disclosing rumors on family planning methods prevalent in rural communities so that one could gain some in sights to cope with the ill effects of rumors to promote family planning Practice in rural communities in Korea. In order to accomplish the general aims this study formulated following four specific objectives; 1. Find out types and frequencies of rumors exposed of contraceptive methods. 2. Find out the relationship between the rumors exposed and socio-economic and demographic characteristics of new village leaders and health workers. 3. Examine the relationship between family planing rumors and family planning practices. The materials for this study were drawn from the two different sets of data gathered in July and Octorber 1977 respectivily by Center for Population ＆ family Planning, Yon sei University. One is current family planning practice among eligible women reaiding in 4 Myuns in Kwang Wha country and the other is Survey on Rumor on family planning method heard by new village leaders and health workers in the four myuns. The four Myuns were divided into 60 small areas. Current family planning practice rate in each small area and as a whole were calculated. The unit of analysis in this study was not the indviduel person but the 55 small areas. Percentage, average, F-Test t-test and a coefficient of correlation were used for statistical analysis. Results of this study could be summarized as follows: 1. Rumors by different method of contraception: Medical complications, gastro-intestinal disorders, and difficulty in usage one most prevalent rumors about oral pills. Around 49% -77% of the 55 areas were often heard and the most frequent rumor was related medical complications of oral pills. Rumors on medical complications and incomplete effect of intrauterines as contraceptive were heard 51-66% of the 55 small areas. Rumors that vasectomy resulted in family problems, for instance infiedelity of spouse were often heard to 44% of the 55 small areas. 2. Rumors by socio-economic and demographic characteristic of new village leader and health workers: Among the demographic characteristics such as sex, age and sex composition of children, sex and age differentials in frequency of rumors heard more observed, Female new village health workers have heard more frequently than male new village leader. (t = 7.137, p> 0.01, d.f. = 53, a coefficient of correlation 0.27, p>0.05) The Younger age group less than 40 years of age have heard rumors of than the group over 40 years old. (t = 7.18, p>0.01, d.f. = 53, a coefficient of correlation 0.27, p>0.05) However, it was not observable that a consistent sex and age differentials in frequency of rumors heard of each contraceptive mettled, But, more female new village health works heard of rumors about intrauterine device than male new village leaders. (t = 0.497, p> 0.01, d.f. = 53, a coefficient of correlatin 0.32, p>0.01) 3. It was found that there was no statistically significant relationship between the frequency of rumors heard and current family planning practices on the whole, However, frequency of rumors heard about vasectomy appeared to have a positive relationship with current practice of vasectomy. A rather consistent pattern of relationship between“requency of rumors heard”and current family practice rate was demonstrated of 10 graphes which showed the relation between the two variagles. The current family planning practice rate in the“never heard”group and “frequently heard”group was equally lower than that in“often heard”group. The relatively consistent ∩ pattern of relationship needs to be farther investigated, for this pattern is different from the relationship that has been assumed to exist between these two variables.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.944-949
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• 2008

Purpose : As modern society has became more open, interest in healthy internal and external growth has increased, including that pertaining to penile length in children. A micropenis is defined as one where penile length is more than 2 SD (standard deviation) below the mean, and it can be traced back to chromosome and endocrine disorders. The authors executed this study to suggest guidelines for the study of the micropenis and standard information for penile length in Korean newborns. Methods : The subjects of this study were 168 male infants between 37 and 42 weeks of gestational age, none of whom had any complications during pregnancy or birth; each had been born in Daegu Fatima Hospital between February and June 2007. Penile length was measured using conventional stretched penile length measurement (CPLM) and syringe methods. Results : Penile length was $3.02{\pm}0.25cm$ (F=36.467, $R^2=0.180$, P<0.001) when measured with CPLM, and $3.29{\pm}0.26cm$ (F=9.149, $R^2=0.052$, P<0.001) with the syringe method. There was no statistically significant difference in the penile length of newborn infants as a result of taking measurements with the two methods, and both methods showed significance at 0.631 in terms of Pearson's correlation coefficient, at the level of P=0.01. Conclusion : In this study, penile length tended to be longer when gestational age was longer, and a micropenis can be assumed to be one less than 2.5 cm using CPLM and less than 2.8 cm using the syringe method. In the case of a concealed penis, the syringe method is helpful. When a micropenis is assumed, close observation by outpatient department personnel, and additional endocrine and chromosome studies should be undertaken after sufficiently consulting the parents.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2002

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine imaging modality that consists of systemic administration to a subject of a radiopharmaceutical labeled with a positron-emitting radionuclide. Following administration, its distribution in the organ or structure under study can be assessed as a function of time and space by (1) defecting the annihilation radiation resulting from the interaction of the positrons with matter, and (2) reconstructing the distribution of the radioactivity from a series of that used in computed tomography (CT). The nuclides most generally exhibit chemical properties that render them particularly desirable in physiological studies. The radionuclides most widely used in PET are F-18, C-11, O-15 and N-13. Regarding to the number of the current PET Centers worldwide (based on ICP data), more than 300 PET Centers were in operation in 2000. The use of PET technology grew rapidly compared to that in 1992 and 1996, particularly in the USA, which demonstrates a three-fold rise in PET installations. In 2001, 194 PET Centers were operating in the USA. In 1994, two clinical and research-oriented PET Centers at Seoul National University Hospital and Samsung Medical Center, was established as the first dedicated PET and Cyclotron machines in Korea, followed by two more PET facilities at the Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Ajou Medical Center, Yonsei University Medical Center, National Cancer Center and established their PET Center. Catholic Medical School and Pusan National University Hospital have finalized a plan to install PET machine in 2002, which results in total of nine PET Centers in Korea. Considering annual trends of PET application in four major PET centers in Korea in Asan Medical Center recent six years (from 1995 to 2000), a total of 11,564 patients have been studied every year and the number of PET studies has shown steep growth year upon year. We had 1,020 PET patients in 1995. This number increased to 1,196, 1,756, 2,379, 3,015 and 4,414 in 1996,1997,1998,1999 and 2000, respectively. The application in cardiac disorders is minimal, and among various neuropsychiatric diseases, patients with epilepsy or dementia can benefit from PET studios. Recently, we investigated brain mapping and neuroreceptor works. PET is not a key application for evaluation of the cardiac patients in Korea because of the relatively low incidence of cardiac disease and less costly procedures such as SPECT can now be performed. The changes in the application of PET studios indicate that, initially, brain PET occupied almost 60% in 1995, followed by a gradual decrease in brain application. However, overall PET use in the diagnosis and management of patients with cancer was up to 63% in 2000. The current medicare coverage policy in the USA is very important because reimbursement policy is critical for the promotion of PET. In May 1995, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) began covering the PET perfusion study using Rubidium-82, evaluation of a solitary pulmonary nodule and pathologically proven non-small cell lung cancer. As of July 1999, Medicare's coverage policy expanded to include additional indications: evaluation of recurrent colorectal cancer with a rising CEA level, staging of lymphoma and detection of recurrent or metastatic melanoma. In December of 2001, National Coverage decided to expand Medicare reimbursement for broad use in 6 cancers: lung, colorecctal, lymphoma, melanoma, head and neck, and esophageal cancers; for determining revascularization in heart diseases; and for identifying epilepsy patients. In addition, PET coverage is expected to further expand to diseases affecting women, such as breast, ovarian, uterine and vaginal cancers as well as diseases like prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2011

The agronomic characteristics, nutritional contents, and insect response of the potato clones transformed with a glufosinate ammonium resistance gene were evaluated. Among the 4 transgenic potato clones, the Bar 3 clone was selected as a promising one for commercialization. The Bar 3 clone showed similar tuber yield capacity but higher herbicide resistance as compared with the non-transgenic potato cv. Dejima. The herbicide resistance of the Bar 3 clone was more than 5 times higher when tested with the herbicide concentration recommended by the producer. The major agronomic characteristics of the Bar 3 clone were not different from those of the non-transgenic Dejima. The annual variation in yields and agronomic characteristics showed similar tendency for 2 years from the third to fourth generation after transformation. The tubers of the Bar 3 clone also showed low occurrence in common scab and physiological disorders such as cracking and secondary growth. But the reasons for such results are yet to be studied. Also, it was considered that the Bar 3 clone have a potential of reducing not only common scab occurrence but also soil erosion during potato cultivation in field. The nutritional contents (mineral compound, vitamin C and amino acid) and response to Spodoptera exigua of the transgenic potato clones were not significantly different.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2004

Background : Lung pericytes are important constituent cells of blood-air barrier in pulmonary microvasculature. These cells take part in the control of vascular contractility and permeability. In this study, it was hypothesized that change of lung pericytes might be attributable to pathologic change in microvasculature in acute lung injury. The purpose of this study was how hypoxia change proliferation and genetic expression in lung pericytes. Methods : From the lungs of several Sprague-Dawley rats, performed the primary culture of lung pericytes and subculture. Characteristics of lung pericytes were confirmed with stellate shape in light microscopy and immunocytochemistry. 2% concentration of oxygen and $200{\mu}M$ $CoCl_2$ were treated to cells. Tryphan blue method and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were done. Results : 1. We established methodology for primary culture of lung pericytes. 2. Hypoxia inhibited cellular proliferation in pericytes. 3. Hypoxia could markedly induce vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and smad-2. 4. Hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$(HIF-$1{\alpha}$) was also induced by 2% oxygen. Conclusion : Viability of lung pericytes are inhibited by hypoxia. Hypoxia can stimulate expression of hypoxia-responsive genes. Pericytic change may be contributed to dysfunction of alveolar-capillary barrier in various pulmonary disorders.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1070-1077
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• 2017

Chondrocyte apoptosis induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Schisandrin A, a bioactive compound found in fruits of the Schisandra genus, has been reported to possess multiple pharmacological and therapeutic properties. Although several studies have described the antioxidant effects of analogues of schisandrin A, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this bioactive compound remain largely unresolved. The present study investigated the cytoprotective effect of schisandrin A against oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide [$H_2O_2$]) in SW1353 human chondrocyte cells. The results showed that schisandrin A preconditioning significantly inhibited $H_2O_2-induced$ growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death by blocking the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase proteins and down-regulating pro-caspase-3. These antiapoptotic effects of schisandrin A were associated with attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction and normalization of expression changes of proapoptotic Bax and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 in $H_2O_2-stimulated$ SW1353 chondrocytes. Furthermore, schisandrin A effectively abrogated $H_2O_2-induced$ intracellular ROS accumulation and phosphorylation of histone H2AX at serine 139, a widely used marker of DNA damage. Thus, the present study demonstrates that schisandrin A provides protection against $H_2O_2-induced$ apoptosis and DNA damage in SW1353 chondrocytes, possibly by prevention of ROS generation. Collectively, our data indicate that schisandrin A has therapeutic potential in the treatment of oxidative disorders caused by overproduction of ROS.

• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.11
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• pp.1024-1029
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• 2018

Purpose: We examined aqueous humor levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) in patients with age-related macular degeneration to investigate possible relationships between aqueous humor vitamin D levels and clinical manifestations. Methods: Patients > 50 years of age, 52 eyes of 34 patients with age-related macular degeneration, and 23 eyes of 17 patients treated with cataract surgery without retinal disease, were examined for aqueous humor vitamin D levels and compared. The experimental group was divided into two groups according to the median value of aqueous humor vitamin D levels. We compared the clinical manifestations of macular degeneration in both groups and identified relationships between aqueous humor vitamin D levels and clinical features. Results: Vitamin D levels in the aqueous humor were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (experimental, $10.03{\pm}10.1ng/mL$ vs. control group, $40.8{\pm}16.4ng/mL$; p < 0.001). Patients with high vitamin D levels in the macular degeneration group had a higher percentage of fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachments than those in the low grade group (high grade group, 65% vs. low grade group, 27%; p = 0.003). Multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between vitamin D levels and the total number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor intravitreal injections within 6 months (standardize coefficient, ${\beta}=-0.336$). Conclusions: Patients with wet age-related macular degeneration had significantly lower vitamin D levels in the aqueous humor compared to control group subjects of similar ages. However, in patients with macular degeneration, low vitamin D levels were associated with a greater number of intravitreal injections, while higher levels of vitamin D may lead to more advanced forms of fibrovascular retinal pigment epithelium and related low vision. These relationships were not always constant, so further studies on the relationships between local vitamin D levels and ocular disorders are needed.