• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2016

A trial of combining and quantifying the effects of food processing on various pesticides was carried out using a meta-analysis. In this study, weighted mean response ratios and confidence intervals about the reduction of pesticide residue levels in fruits and vegetables treated with various food processing techniques were calculated using a statistical tool of meta-analysis. The weighted mean response ratios for tap water washing, peeling, blanching (boiling) and oven drying were 0.52, 0.14, 0.34 and 0.46, respectively. Among the food processing methods, peeling showed the greatest effect on the reduction of pesticide residues. Pearsons's correlation coefficient (r=0.624) between weighted mean response ratios and octanolwater partition coefficients ($logP_{ow}$) for twelve pesticides processed with tap water washing was confirmed as having a positive correlation in the range of significance level of 0.05 (p=0.03). This means that a pesticide having the higher value of $logP_{ow}$ was observed as showing a higher weighted mean response ratio. These results could be used effectively as a reference data for processing factor in risk assessment and as an information for consumers on how to reduce pesticide residues in agricultural products.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.239-249
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated the concentrations of pesticide residues in agricultural products marketed in northern Seoul and assessed their potential health risks. A total of 1,737 samples were collected using the QuEChERS method, followed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. Pesticide residues below the MRLs were detected in 560 samples of 72 items (32.2%), but 38 samples of 22 items had pesticide residues above the MRLs. Residual pesticides were detected in 53.8% of fruits, 33.0% of vegetables, 28.6% of herbs, 15.4% of beans, and 10.5% of rice samples. Most of the samples that exceeded the MRLs were vegetables, especially leafy, stalk, stem, and root vegetables; herbs and mushrooms also exceeded the permitted MRLs. Of the 105 pesticides investigated, dinotefuran, fluxametamide, chlorfenapyr, azoxystrobin, and carbendazim were the most frequently detected, whereas 23 pesticide residues, including terbufos, carbendazim, and fluxametamide, were detected above the MRL values. The hazard indices were calculated as 0.00003-1.31406%, which suggests that the investigated pesticide residues in the samples were within safe levels, but continuous monitoring of pesticides in agricultural products is needed to ensure the safety of consumers.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.170-178
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• 2011

Hiatal hernia is a very rare disease in the pediatric population. However information from our esophageal atresia postoperative follow-up program has hypotheses; "Hiatal hernia may more frequently occur in postoperative esophageal atresia patients (EA group) than in the general pediatric population (GP group)" and "The tension on the esophagus after esophageal anastomosis may be an important etiologic factor of hiatal hernia in EA group". To prove the first hypotheses, we compared the incidence of hiatal hernia in the GP group with the incidence in the EA group. The Incidence in the GP group was obtained from national statistic data from Statistics Korea and Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of Korea. The incidence in the EA group was obtained from the medical record and the imaging studies of our esophageal atresia postoperative follow-up program. To prove the second hypothesis, the presumptive risk factors for the development of hiatal hernia in EA group, such as the type of esophageal atresia, degree of esophageal gap, the stage operation and the redo-operation with resection and re-anastomosis of esophagus were analyzed statistically. The total number of patients in the EA group was ninety-nine and there were 5 hiatus hernias. The incidence of EA group (5 %) is significantly higher than incidence of GP group (0.024 %). (p=0.0001) The statistical analysis of the presumptive risk factors for hiatal hernia development in EA group failed to show any evidence of correlation between postoperative esophageal tension and the hiatal hernia. This study shows that the postoperative patients with esophageal atresia have high occurrence of hiatal hernia and should be followed up carefully to detect hiatal hernia.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.84-91
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• 2017

Recent years have witnessed the increased usage of flammable metals, such as aluminum or magnesium, in wide range of high-tech industries. These metals are indispensable for the improvement of physical properties of materials as well as the design capability of the final product. During the process, unwanted metal dusts could be released to the environment. This can lead to an occupational health and safety issues. Due to their flammable nature, more serious problem of an explosion can happen in extreme cases. The explosion is the combustion of tiny solid particles and vapor mixture, caused by pyrolysis. This complex composition makes engineering analysis more difficult, compared to simple gas explosions or vapor cloud combustions. The study was conducted to assess this light metal dust explosion in an effort to provide the bases for a risk assessment. Dust explosion characteristics of each material was carefully evaluated and an appropriate analysis tool was developed. A comprehensive database was also constructed and utilized for the calibration of the developed response model and the verification for its accuracy. Subsequently, guidelines were provided to prevent dust explosions that could occur in top-notch industrial processes.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.45-53
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• 2013

Objectives Non-major depression with fewer symptoms than required for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) has consistently been found to be associated with functional impairment. In this study, we aim to estimate the cognitive impairment and the quality of life in elderly patients with subsyndromal depression (SSD) compared with non-depressive elderly (NDE). Methods The Korean version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was administered to 194 outpatients with depression and 108 normal controls. SSD is defined as having five or more current depressive symptoms with core depressive symptoms (depressive mood or loss of interest or pleasure) during more than half a day and more than seven days over two weeks. Depression was evaluated by the Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale of a 15-item short version. Global cognition was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination in the Korean version of CERAD assessment packet (MMSE-KC). Subjective cognitive impairment was assessed by the Subjective Memory Complaint Questionnaire. Quality of life was evaluated by the Korean Version of Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey. Results The mean score of the MMSE-KC in the SSD group was lower than that in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education [F = 4.270, p = 0.04, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)]. If we defined those having Z-score of MMSE-KC < -1.5 as a high risk group of cognitive impairment, the odds ratio for the high risk group of cognitive impairment was 1.86 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.04-3.34] in SSD and 7.57 (95% CI 3.50-16.40) in MDD compared to NDE. The scores of physical component summary (F = 9.274, p = 0.003, ANCOVA) and mental component summary (F = 53.166, p < 0.001, ANCOVA) in the SSD group were lower than those in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education. Conclusions The subjects with SSD, as well as those with MDD, showed impairment of global cognition and also experienced low quality of life in both physical and mental aspects, compared to the NDE group.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2014

Objectives: Because of its properties such as resistance to heat, chemicals and corrosion; tensile strength; sound absorption; and affordable price, asbestos has been widely used as a building material, fire resistant and retardant, thermal and heat insulator, soundproofing material, and electrical insulation. Since the prolonged inhalation of asbestos can cause serious illnesses such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis after an incubation period of 20 to 40 years, the mineral was classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an intergovernmental agency forming part of the World Health Organization. Children and infants are more at risk than are adults if they are exposed to carcinogens, due to aweaker immunity that has not yet been fully developed. Most childcare centers are operated all day and children tend to spend a great amount of time in the centers. This is why it is important for them to be systematically isolated from environments that may expose them to asbestos. Materials: In order to understand both indoor and outdoor hazards to which children may have been exposed, the study focused on actual surveys of asbestos used in childcare centers, paying special attention to slate-roofed buildings in the vicinity of the centers. Results: A survey of a total of 211 childcare centers showed that the buildings of 18.1% of the centers contained asbestos, with 60.53% of the material being found in classroom ceilings. "Tex" was the most used material for ceilings, making up 89.47% of all ceilings. An outdoor survey showed that childcare centers in Daegu Metropolitan City had an average of 143 slate-roof buildings within a distance of 1km. Conclusions: Buildings housing mainly toddlers, children, teenagers and others more vulnerable to the toxicity of asbestos are not subject to asbestos investigation by law. A legal and practical basis for asbestos control is required for such buildings. In particular, housing materials which contain asbestos in day care centers require asbestos control. GIS should be used to identify the location of buildings with slate roofing materials in the vicinity of daycare centers in order to gauge toxicity of exposure to asbestos caused by potential asbestos friability possibility in outdoor conditions.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.900-909
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• 2013

This study purposed to analyze the determinants of length of stay for patients having alzheimer dementia in geriatric hospitals. Sample data was collected from the National Patient Sample (NPS) produced by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) in 2009. Total 538 alzheimer inpatients over 65 years were used in the analysis. Patients were classified into 5 risk groups to represent the case-mix differences of patients. Organizational characteristics of geriatric hospitals such as number of beds, doctors, and nurses were included in the analysis model. In multivariate regression analysis, hospital variables were not statistically significant in explaining the length of stay. Two risk group were statistically significant in analysis, However, their signs of relationship with the dependent variable were opposite to the expectations. These results suggest that the characteristics of patients and hospitals did not have impacts on the length of stay. There will be needs to test the effects of other factor such as social needs which represents the socio-economic status of the family for the patients.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2016

Periodontal disease, one of the most common oral diseases, has been widely researched. However, in the face of increasing incidence of adolescent periodontitis, there has been only little concern about the periodontal conditions in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the periodontal health and assess the prevalence of the periodontal disease and its causing factors among adolescents. The data was collected from subjects ranging from age 10, 13 and 16 years old in Jeonju by clinical examination and survey. The prevalence of periodontal disease and plaque index value were higher in male than female (p < 0.05). The group of 13 years old subjects had the highest prevalence of periodontal disease (73.3%) and plaque index value (p < 0.05). Among the plaque index of each individual tooth, mandibular central incisor showed the highest value. The survey relating anticipated risk factors demonstrated that the group of 13 years old subjects had the least care for oral hygiene. Also, patients who received the treatment of scaling exhibited high plaque index (p < 0.05), and adolescents with great stress loads showed calculus deposition and increased plaque index (p < 0.05).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for mechanical ventilation in the patients with scrub typhus admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) at a university hospital. Methods: We retrospectively selected and analyzed clinical data from the medical records of 70 patients (32 men, 38 women) admitted to the ICU with scrub typhus between 2004 and 2014. The patients had a mean${\pm}$standard deviation age of $71.2{\pm}11.1years$ and were evaluated in two groups: those who had been treated with mechanical ventilation (the MV group, n=19) and those who had not (the non-MV group, n=51). Mean ages of the MV group and the non-MV group were $71.2{\pm}8.3years$ and $71.2{\pm}11.1years$, respectively. Results: Significant differences between the two groups were observed with respect to acute respiratory failure (p=0.008), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (p=0.015), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (p=0.013), death (p=0.014), and ICU duration (p<0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that the following factors were significantly associated with mechanical ventilation: acute respiratory failure (p=0.011), SOFA score (p=0.005), APACHE II score (p=0.011), platelet count (p=0.009), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p=0.011). Conclusion: Thus, five factors-acute respiratory failure, SOFA score, APACHE II score, platelet count, and LDH-can be the meaningful indicators for mechanical ventilation for the patients with scrub typhus admitted to ICU.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.353-357
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• 2005

Declining auditory performance with advanced age is a well known and common problem that is becoming more Prevalent due to the increasing number of elderly people in our society. We introduce a novel ARCISM (Audiogram Result Computer Input. Save & Management software) data management program which enables the assessment of the risk of past history of hearing impairment on the basis of known risk factors. This study investigates the reference levels of pure tone hearing threshold of normal aging in Korean and the difference between fenders. The subjects were carefully selected by questionnaire and absence of any history of otologic infection, noise exposure. and ototoxic drug among 1603 subjects. who visited Health Promotion Center in Daegu Fatima Hospital for one year. The results show (1) hearing sensitivity declines with age. (2) higher frequency shows steeper slope of hearing declines than lower frequency. and (3) there were more hearing loss at 4 and 8 kHz in men than in women. Due to the ARCISM program. it was possible to manage huge data of hearing results and to obtain the reference level of a9e-related hearing declines. Furthermore, we expect that the results of this study can be the fundamental data for hearing rehabilitation for the elderly and for developing suitable hearing aids for Korean.