• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2819-2822
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• 2012

Objective: To assess induction effects of Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) on lung cancer in rats. Methods: A lung cancer animal model was developed through repeated intratracheal injection of Cpn (TW-183) into the lungs of rats, with or without exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (Bp). Cpn antibodies (Cpn-IgA, -IgG, and -IgM) in serum were measured by microimmunofluorescence. Cpn-DNA or Cpn-Ag of rat lung cancer was detected through polymerase chain reaction or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The prevalence of Cpn infection was 72.9% (35/48) in the Cpn group and 76.7% (33/43) in the Cpn plus benzo(a)pyrene (Bp) group, with incidences of lung carcinomas in the two groups of 14.6% (7/48) and 44.2% (19/43), respectively (P-values 0.001 and <0.000 compared with normal controls). Conclusions: A rat model of lung carcinoma induced by Cpn infection was successfully established in the laboratory for future studies on the treatment, prevention, and mechanisms of the disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.541-545
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• 2008

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an immunologically-mediated disease resulting from repeated exposure to sensitizing agents, such as organic dusts or chemicals. Isocyanate is a volatile and highly reactive chemical that is extensively used in the manufacturing of automobiles, upholstery, and polyurethane foam. Occupational respiratory diseases associated with isocyanate, such as bronchial asthma, are well-known. It is thought that HP is one of the rare diseases induced by isocyanate with a very low frequency worldwide. We report a case of HP in an automobile painting sprayer which appeared to be associated with isocyanate.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2015

Dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid (GC), is clinically administered to woman at risk for premature labor to induce fetal lung maturation. However, exposure to repeated or excess GCs leads to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and subsequently increases risk of psychiatric and cardio-metabolic diseases in later life through fetal programming mechanisms. GCs are key mediators of stress responses, therefore, maternal nutrient restriction or psychological stress during pregnancy also causes negative impacts on birth and neurodevelopment outcome of fetuses, and other congenital defects, such as craniofacial and skeletal abnormalities. In this study, to examine the effect of prenatal stress on fetal skeletal development, dexamethasone (1 mg/kg [DEX1] or 10 mg/kg [DEX10] maternal body weight per day) was administered intraperitoneally at gestational day 7.5~9.5 and the skeletons were prepared from embryos at day 18.5. Seven out of eighteen (39%) embryos treated with DEX10 showed axial skeletal abnormalities in either the T13 or L1 vertebrae. In addition, examination of the sternum revealed that xiphoid process, the protrusive triangular part of the lower end of the sternum, was bent more outward or inward in DEX group embryos. In conclusion, our findings suggest a possible link to the understanding of the effect of uterine environment to the fetal skeletal features.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.101-109
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• 2014

The use of glucocorticoids (GCs) in the perinatal period is suspected of being associated with adverse effects on long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm infants. Repeated administration of antenatal GCs to mothers at risk of preterm birth may adversely affect fetal growth and head circumference. Fetal exposure to excess GCs during critical periods of brain development may profoundly modify the limbic system (primarily the hippocampus), resulting in long-term effects on cognition, behavior, memory, co-ordination of the autonomic nervous system, and regulation of the endocrine system later in adult life. Postnatal GC treatment for chronic lung disease in premature infants, particularly involving the use of dexamethasone, has been shown to induce neurodevelopmental impairment and increases the risk of cerebral palsy. In contrast to studies involving postnatal dexamethasone, long-term follow-up studies for hydrocortisone therapy have not revealed adverse effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes. In experimental studies on animals, GCs has been shown to impair neurogenesis, and induce neuronal apoptosis in the immature brains of newborn animals. A recent study has demonstrated that dexamethasone-induced hypomyelination may result from the apoptotic degeneration of oligodendrocyte progenitors in the immature brain. Thus, based on clinical and experimental studies, there is enough evidence to advice caution regarding the use of GCs in the perinatal period; and moreover, the potential long-term effects of GCs on brain development need to be determined.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.660-666
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• 2015

To avoid radiation exposure from repeated x-rays taken during orthopedic surgery, an x-ray permeable teleoperated Stewart platform for orthopedic fracture surgery was developed. This system is composed of a user interface device and a teleoperated operational robot, both of which use a Stewart platform mechanism. The links of the operational robot are made from an x-ray permeable material, polycarbonate, to minimize the interference. The forward and inverse kinematics algorithm applied and the structural reliability were both verified through an analysis using commercial engineering software. To monitor the operating status in real time and stop the device during an emergency, a monitoring software was developed. The performance of the x-ray permeable teleoperated Steward platform was validated experimentally.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.179-179
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• 2001

To investigate the genotoxic effect of 1, 1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane which was widely used as a cleaning solvent at the electronic part industry, the micronucleus frequencies were recorded by examining polychromatic erythrocytes in bone marrows of single i.p. injected mice at high doses and of the repeatedly inhaled rats for 13 weeks at relatively low concentrations.(omitted)

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.719-723
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• 2006

House dust mite was the most important cause of allergic asthma and rhinitis. More than 70% of Korean children and about 50% of adult with respiratory allergy were sensitive to house dust mite. This experiment was indoor environment in house and house dust mite existence inquiry. From 23rd December 2005 to 28th February 2006, dust samples were collected from the bedclothes by a vacuum cleaner and air sampler And the levels of Der f1 and Der p1 were determined by ELISA((Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). The results were as follows : 1 The dust mites allergy contaminations of bedclothes in house were higher than international standards(2000 ng/g). 2. In type of dust mite, the Korean house the almost have the D. farinae other than D. pteronyeeinus of mite. 3. The Der f1 and Der p1 levels per gram of dust from the bedclothes were 2074.99 ng on average, but they did not exist in air. The concentrations of house dust mite were significantly high in the bedclothes. This results suggest that the bedclothes have enough concentrations of dust mites to develop the sensitization. The control of indoor environment should be emphasized to prevent the sensitization by the repeated exposure to dust mite.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.183-193
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe cleaning workers' working experiences in Korea. Methods: The data were collected in two focus-group interviews with 9 cleaning workers. The phenomenological analytic method suggested by Colaizzi was used to analyze the data. Results: Five theme clusters and thirteen themes emerged from the analysis. The first theme clusters, 'Dead-end choice' included Limits of elderly women workers, Financial difficulties, Lowered self-esteem. The second theme clusters, 'Facing with discriminatory working environments' included Fear and unfair working conditions. The third theme clusters, 'Potential health problems' included Physical overload, Repeated exposure to hazardous substances and Emotional labor. The fourth theme clusters, 'Excluded from protection of the law' included Gloomy reality and Sexual harassment. The fifth theme clusters, 'Desire to get out of social isolation' included Efforts to maintain the status, Desire to live confidently and Desire to change social recognition. Conclusion: The findings of the study provide understanding on cleaning workers' working experiences to explain by their vision and language and should ensure proper working conditions and environment to live a better life.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.790-793
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• 2011

In this study, the surface modification for a silicon(Si) mold using $CHF_3$ inductively coupled plasma(ICP). The conditions under that plasma was treated a input ICP power 600 W, an operating gas pressure of 10 mTorr and plasma exposure time of 30 sec. The Si mold surface became hydrophobic after plasma treatment in order to $CF_x$(X= 1,2,3) polymer. However, as the de-molding process repeated, it was investigated that the contact angle of Si surface was decreased. So, we attempted to investigate the degradation mechanism of the accurate pattern transfer with increasing the count of the de-molding process using scanning electron microscope (SEM), contact angle, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of Si mold surface.

• Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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• v.68
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• pp.238-245
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• 2018

The skin experiences constant physical stimuli, such as stretching. Exposure to excessive physical stimuli stresses the skin and can accelerate aging. In this study, we applied a method that allowed human fibroblasts and keratinocytes to be perfused with media to form 3D skin equivalents that were then uniaxially 10%-stretched for 12 h per day (at either 0.01 or 0.05 Hz) for up to 7 days to form wrinkled skin-on-a-chip (WSOC). There was more wrinkling seen in skin equivalents under 0.01 Hz uniaxial stretching than there was for non-stretched skin equivalents. At 0.05 Hz, the stratum corneum almost disappeared from the skin equivalents, indicating that stretching was harmful for the epidermis. At both frequencies, the production of collagen and related proteins in the skin equivalents, such as fibronectin 10 and keratin, decreased more than those in the non-stretched equivalents, indicating that the dermis also suffered from the repeated tensile stress. These results suggest that WSOCs can be used to examine skin aging and as an in vitro tool to evaluate the efficacy of anti-wrinkle cosmetics and medicines.