• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.111-125
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify differential impacts on smoking and drinking behaviors according to early menarche. Methods: 31,277 Korean female adolescents who had undergone menarche were included. Among them, 1,822 participants(5.8%) who experienced menarche in elementary school under 4th grade were assigned to early menarche group and others were was assigned normal menarche group. Using 11th(2015) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results: Adjusted confounding variables were analyzed and it was found that both drinking and smoking behaviors were higher in early menarche group. The participants with early menarche showed higher risk of non-daily smoking(OR=1.39, 95%CI=1.18-1.63), light daily smoking(OR=1.64, 95%CI=1.14-2.35) and moderate-to-heavy daily smoking(OR=3.15, 95%CI=2.02-4.92). Also, in the drinking behaviors, the risk of light and heavy drinking was higher than those of normal menarche group. Conclusions: Finding of this study showed Early menarche adolescents were associated with heavy smoking and drinking behaviors compared to normal menarche. Further studies are needed more evaluations.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.702-710
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• 2008

The principal objective of this study was to assess the effects of eating habits and health-related lifestyle on blood pressure, $\gamma$-Glutamic acid Peptide Transferase ($\gamma$-GPT), glucose and HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C). All subjects (261 male, 252 female) were from the Iksan area of Korea, and were at least 50 years of age. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and HDL-C for all the subjects was 131.3 mmHg, 78.5 mmHg, and 43.1 mg/dl, respectively. The HDL-C of the $50{\sim}64$ year-old group was higher than that of the over-75-year-old group. The "regular breakfast" group evidenced a lower SBP, $\gamma$-GPT, and higher HDL-C than the "seldom breakfast" group (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.01). SBP in the "snacking everyday" group was higher than that of the "seldom snacking" group (p<0.001). As for the frequency of using alcohol, SBP and $\gamma$-GPT for the group using alcohol everyday were higher than those of the non-drinking group (p<0.001, p<0.001), SBP and DBP were higher and $\gamma$-GPT was lower in the group that regularly drank more than 4 glasses of Soju than in the non-drinking group (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.001). SBP, DBP, and $\gamma$-GPT for the "heavy smoker" group were higher than those of the non-smoker group (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.05). The HDL-C was lower in the "heavy smoker" group than in the "non-smoker" group (p<0.05). The SBP with exercise was as follows: Group 1 ($0.022{\sim}0.073\;kcal/min/kg$) was lower than that of Group 3 ($0.144{\sim}0.161\;kcal/min/kg$) and Group 4 (0.161 kcal/min/kg) (p<0.001). To conclude: advancing age, snacking, and frequent alcohol consumption increased blood pressure; the lowest blood pressure was detected in the group that ate breakfast everyday and in the group that engaged in more frequent exercise; Moreover, $\gamma$-GPT was higher and HDL-C was lower in the smokers' group than in the non-smokers' group. Considering the results of this study, there appears to be an urgent need to instruct aging adults about eating breakfast everyday, reducing smoking, using less or no alcohol, and getting proper and regular exercise.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.299-308
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Heavy alcohol consumption causes the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a neglected but important public health problem. Many studies have pointed out that probiotics could improve gut health, which is also considered to be a cause of ALD. Therefore, this study screened the probiotics, Lactobacillus casei GKC1 (GKC1), L. fermentum GKF3 (GKF3), Bifidobacterium lactis GKK2 (GKK2), L. rhamnosus GKLC1 (GKLC1), L. paracasei GKS6 (GKS6), and L. plantarum GKM3 (GKM3), for their potential benefits in alleviating ALD for applications to disease prevention. SUBJECTS/METHODS: C57BL/6N mice were divided into 8 groups (n = 6 in each): normal control, positive control (alcohol-diet fed), and treatments of feeding probiotics GKC1, GKF3, GKK2, GKLC1, GKS6, and GKM3 under an oral dose 0.82 g/kg B.W. per day by oral gavage. The experiment was conducted for 8 weeks, and the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) in mice were measured. The glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and histology were analyzed after sacrifice. RESULTS: The results showed a decrease in the serum ALT, liver TG, and liver TC levels in the GKS6, GKM3, and GKLC1 groups compared to the positive control. In addition, the decreasing GSH and CAT levels were inhibited in the GKS6 and GKM3 groups. The histopathological results showed that all probiotics could reduce the accumulation of liver fat. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in GKLC1 with lower stomach damage compared to the alcohol-fed mice without any addition of probiotics. CONCLUSIONS: GKLC1, GKS6, and GKM3 can be used as supplements for alleviating the development of ALD.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of the average volume of alcohol consumption and binge drinking with arterial stiffness. Methods: The study population consisted of 5944 community-dwelling healthy adults aged 50 years and older. Average volume of alcohol consumption was calculated and frequency of binge drinking defined as the consumption of 7 or more drinks for men and 5 or more for women on a single occasion, was assessed using a structured interview. High brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a marker of arterial stiffness, was defined as the highest gender-specific quartile of maximal baPWV distribution in the study population. Results: Compared to never drinkers, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of men who consumed 0.1-10.0, 10.1-20.0, 20.1-40.0, and >40.0 g/day was 0.93, 1.18, 1.38, and 2.36, respectively. The OR was 0.90, 0.97, 1.45, and 1.82 in women consuming 0.1-5.0, 5.1-10.0, 10.1-20.0, and >20.0 g/day, respectively. Binge drinking of <1 day/week (OR=1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.13-2.42) and ${\geq}1$ day/week (OR=1.61, 95% CI=1.04-2.50) were associated with increased risk for high baPWV in men, and binge drinking of ${\geq}1$ day/week (OR=3.12, 95% CI=1.16-8.34) was associated with increased risk for high baPWV in women. Conclusions: A J-shaped relationship between the average volume of alcohol consumption and high baPWV was observed, suggesting the detrimental effects of heavy alcohol drinking on arterial stiffness. Binge drinking was also significant risk factors for increased arterial stiffness, independently of the average volume of alcohol consumption.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.262-274
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• 2023

Background: Exposure levels for heavy metals such as lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) have increased due to human activities. They are known to be a public health concern. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the exposure levels to heavy metals in the blood and urine of South Korean adults and to present the contribution rate of exposure pathways using an exposure algorithm for men aged 19~64, women aged 19~64, and all seniors aged 65 or older. Methods: We analyzed data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 4 (2018~2020). A total of 2,646 participants aged ≥19 years were included. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting heavy metal concentrations. The contribution rate was calculated by applying three exposure algorithms for ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure. Results: Factors that commonly affect heavy metal concentrations in blood and urine were gender and age. The main influencing factors for Pb and Cd were education level and smoking status, while frequency of fish consumption and of alcohol consumption were indicated to be the main influencing factors for mercury. The contribution rates of lead and cadmium from food ingestion were 78.03~79.62% and 88.39~92.89%, respectively. Additionally, the highest contribution for mercury was accounted for by food at 81.69~85.77%. As a result of the risk assessment, cadmium was found to pose a potential health risk a with total cancer risk (TCR) of more than 1×10^-6. Conclusions: The KoNEHS could be an important study for determining the level of exposure to heavy metals and their influencing factors. Integrated exposure to heavy metals could assess the main exposure pathways, and this methodology could be applied to exposure management of heavy metals.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.503-508
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• 2009

The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties and volatile compound contents of Moju acquired from 12 restaurants in Jeonju. The alcohol contents were lower than 2.1%, and the pH values ranged from 3.85 to 4.38. Total acidity, $^{\circ}Bx$, and UV absorbance values differed among the samples according to the type of side materials added. Reducing sugar contents were found to be substantially superior to other commercial takju variants. Malic and lactic acid contents were higher than the contents of other organic acids, and the free sugar contents were as follows: maltose>glucose>fructose. Overall, the high b (yellowness) and cP values were attributable to the turbid yellow and heavy condition of the samples. The volatile compound contents of Moju were analyzed via GC and GC/MSD. 30 components were identified, including 3 alcohols, 12 esters, 7 hydrocarbons, and 4 aldehydes. Among the alcohol compounds, benzeneethanol levels were higher than the levels of isoamyl alcohol. Ethyl caprate, ethyl palmitate, and ethyl linoleate, which were fundamentally attributable to origin liquor, were highest among the 12 esters. (E)-cinnamaldehyde, which was the most abundant among 7 hydrocarbons, and (E)-cinnamyl acetate contents were attributed to the presence of cinnamon, a common supplement in the processing of Moju.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.564-569
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• 2019

Heavy drinking disrupts the nervous system by activation of GABA receptors and inhibition of glutamate receptors, thereby preventing short-term memory formation. Degradation of cognition by alcohol induces blackouts, and it can lead to alcoholic dementia if repeated. Therefore, drugs need to be developed to prevent alcohol-induced blackout. In this study, we confirmed the effect of an ethanol extract of Cassia obtusifolia seeds (COE) on alcohol-induced memory impairment. The effects of COE and ethanol on cognitive functions mice were examined using the passive avoidance and Y-maze tests. The manner in which alcohol affects long-term potentiation (LTP) in relation to the learning and memory was confirmed by electrophysiology performed on mouse hippocampal slices. We also measured N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated field excitatory synapses (fEPSPs), which have a known association with cognitive impairment caused by ethanol. Ethanol caused memory impairments in passive avoidance and Y-maze tests. COE prevented these ethanol-induced memory impairments in these tests. Ethanol also blocked LTP induction in the mouse hippocampus, and COE prevented this ethanol-induced LTP deficit. Ethanol decreased NMDA receptor-mediated fEPSPs in the mouse hippocampus, and this decrease was prevented by COE. These results suggest that COE might be useful in preventing alcohol-induced neurological dysfunctions, including blackouts.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2017

Background: The mental problems of the elderly are at issue as a serious social phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors affecting the mood disorders of the elderly. Methods: The subjects were 1,779,236 aged ${\geq}65$ and participated in health screening. Dependent variable was mood disorders. Independent variables were consisted of community level (regional deprivation index and healthcare resources) and individual level (sex, age, insurance type, disability, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, body mass index, and healthcare utilization). Multilevel logistic regression was performed. Results: At the individual level, women, employed insured, severely disabled people, heavy alcohol drinkers, high-intensity physical activity, body mass index, and patients who had chronic disease and severe disease were significantly associated with mood disorders. As the age has increased, it has let increase of mood disorders. At the community level, as the regional deprivation index has increased by 1, mood disorders has been increased by 1.005 times. The intra-class coefficient was 7.04%. Conclusion: We found individual and community level factors are associated with mood disorders. Systematic approach is essential to reduce mood disorders.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 1994

Two strains of yeast (RA-74-2 and RA-912) showing superior fermenting ability at a high temperature were isolated from soils and wastewaters by an enrichment culture method. Based on the morphological and physiological charateristics, the two strains were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus, respectively. RA-74-2 was able to grow upto $43^{\circ}C$ and sustain similar fermenting ability in the temperatures range from 30 to $40^{\circ}C$. In addition, the sugar- and ethanol-tolerance of RA-74-2 were 30% (w/v) glucose and 10% (v/v) ethanol, which appeared to be higher than those of nine other industrial yeast strains currently being used in the alcohol factories. The thermotolerant ethanol fermenting yeast RA-912 showed identical growth in the temperatures range from 35 to $45^{\circ}C$ and was resistant to various heavy metals. The quality and quantity of byproducts of the isolated yeast strains in fermentation broth after fermentation at $40^{\circ}C$ and $45^{\circ}C$ were similiar with those obtained at $30^{\circ}C$. These results show that RA-74-2 can be adopted for the ethanol fermentation process where the expenses for cooling system is significant, and suggest that RA-912 may be applied in either SSF(simultaneous saccharification and fermentation) or Flash-fermentation process and RA-912 may be used as a gene donor for the development of thermotolerant ethanol-fermenting yeasts.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1269-1275
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• 2014

Ecotoxicity assessments with the physiochemical water quality items and the bioassay test using Daphnia magna were conducted for 18 selected effluents of 6 industrial types (metal processing, petroleum refining, synthetic textile manufacturing, plating, alcohol beverage manufacturing, inorganic compound manufacturing) being detected toxicity from industrial effluent in Ulsan city, and the interrelationship between total toxic unit (${\Sigma}TU$) and concentrations of Water Quality Conservation Act in Korea were investigated. The average toxic unit(TU) of effluents for 6 industrial types displayed the following ascending order: petroleum refining (0.2) < synthetic textile manufacturing (0.6) < alcohol beverage manufacturing (0.9) < metal processing (1.3) ${\leq}$ inorganic compound manufacturing (1.3) < plating (3.0). These values were less than effluent permission standard. Based on the result of substances causing ecotoxicity, the correlation analysis was not easy because most of heavy metals were not detected or were less than effluent permission standard. Toxicological assessment of industrial effluent was suitable for the evaluation of the mixture toxicity for pollutant. The whole effluent toxicity test using a variety of species was needed for the evaluation of industrial wastewater.