• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2017

'The worstest environment disaster', 'World's first biocide massacre', 'Home-based Sewol ferry disaster' are all phrases attached to the recent humidifier disinfectant disaster. In the spring of 2011, four of 8 pregnant women including 1 adult man passed away at a university hospital in Seoul due to breathing failure. Epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Korean CDC soon revealed the inhalation of humidifier disinfectant, which had been widely used in Korea during the winter, to be responsible for the disease. As well as lung fibrosis hardening of the lungs, other diseases including asthma, rhinitis, skin disease, liver disease, fetal disease or cancers have been researched for their relation with exposure to the products. By February 9, 2017, 5,342 cases had registered for health problems and 1,131 of them were already dead (20.8% mortality rate). Based on studies by government agencies and a telephone survey of the general population by Seoul National University and civic groups, around 20% of the general public of Korea has used these products. Since the market release of the first product by SK Chemical in 1994, over 7.1 million items from around 20 brands were sold up to 2011. Most of the products were manufactured by well-known large conglomerates such as SK, Lotte, Samsung, Shinsegye, LG, and GS, as well as some European companies including UK-based Reckitt Benckiser and TESCO, the German firm Henkel, the Danish firm KeTox, and an Irish company. Even though this disaster was unveiled in 2011 by the Korean government, the issue of the victims was neglected for over five years. In 2016, an unexpected but intensive investigation by prosecutors found that Reckitt Benckiser manipulated and concealed animal tests for its own brand and brought several university experts and company employees to court. The matter was an intense social issue in Korea from May to June with a surge in media coverage. The prosecutor's investigation and a nationwide boycott campaign organized by victims and environmental groups against Reckitt Benckiser, whose product had been used by more than 70% of victims, led to the producer's official apology and a compensation scheme. A legislative investigation organized after the April 2016 national election revealed the producers' faults and the government's responsibility, but failed to meet expectations. A special law for the victims passed the National Assembly in January 2017 and a punitive system together with a massive environmental epidemiology investigation are expected to be the only solutions for this tragedy. Sciences of medicine, toxicology and environmental health have provided decisive evidence so far, but for the remaining problems the perspectives of social sciences such as sociology and jurisprudence are highly necessary, similar to with the Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon events. It may not be easy to follow this issue using unfamiliar terminology from medical and chemical science and the long, complicated history of the event. For these reasons the author has attempted to write this article in a question and answer format to render it easier to follow. The 17 questions are: Q1 What is humidifier disinfectant? Q2 What kind of health problems are caused by humidifier disinfectant? Q3 How many victims are there? Q4 What is the analysis of the 1,112 cases of death? Q5 What is the problem with the government's diagnostic criteria and the solution? Q6 Who made what brands? Q7 Has there been a recall? What is still on sale? Q8 Was safety not checked by any producers? Q9 What are the government's responsibilities? Q10 Is it true that these products were sold only in Korea? Q11 Why and how was it unveiled only in 2011 after 17 years of sales? Q12 What delayed the resolution of the victim issue? Q13 What is the background of the prosecutor's investigation in early 2016? Q14 Is it possible to report new victim cases without evidence of product purchase? Q15 What is happening with the victim issue? Q16 How does it compare with the cases of Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon? Q17 Are there prevention measures and lessons?

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.77-99
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• 1992

The study was carried out at W. hospital, an affiliated hospital of Y university, involved a total of 163 patients who were discharged from the hospital between May 1990 und March 199J. Data collection was twice, just prior to discharge and a minimum of three months post discharge. Thirty patients who lived within a hour travel time of the hospital received home care during the three months post discharge. Nursing diagnoses and nursing interventions For these patients were analyzed in this study. The results of the study are summarized as follows : 1. Discharge needs for the subjects of the study were analyzed using Gordon's eleven Functional categories and it was found that 48.3% of the total sample had identified nursing needs. Of these, the needs most frequently identified were in the categories of sexuality, 79.3 %, health perception, 68.2 % self concept, 62.5 %, and sleep and rest 62.5 %. Looking ut j he nursing diagnosis that were made for the 30 patients receiving home care, the following diagnoses were the most frequently given; alteration in sexual pattern 79.3%, alterations in health maintenance, 72.6%, alteration in comfort, 68.0%, depression, 64.0%, noncompliance with diet therapy, 6.3.7%, alteration in self concept, 55.6%, and alteration in sleep pattern, 53%. 2. In looking at the effects of home nursing care as demonstrated by changes in the functional categories over the three month period, it was Found that of the 11 functional categories, the need level for health perception, nutrition, activity and self concept decreased slightly over the three month period. On the average sleep patterns improved, but restfulness was slightly less and bowel elimination patterns improved but satisfaction with urinary elimination was slightly less. On the other hand, role enactment, sexuality, stress management and spirituality decreased slightly. The only results that were statistically significant at the 0.05 level were improvement. in digestion and decrease in pain. No statistically significant changes were found in ability related to ADL, the total ADL Score at discharge was $19.78{\pm}8.234, and after 3 months $19.01{\pm}8.12$. Considering that a majority of the patients were over 60 years of age and that many had brain or spinal cord injuries, the fact that their ADL ability did nor deteriorate after discharge can be interpreted as related to a positive impact by the home health care nurses. Similarly there was a slight be not statistically significant decrease in the quality of life scores between the two lest times(l47.83 at discharge and 113.02 at the three month period). Again, when the chronic nature of thee problems facing these patients is considered this maintenance of quality of life can be interpreted as a positive impact by the home health care nurses. 3. One of the home care nursing activities was diagnosis. For this activity it was found that for nine functional health categories(sexuality and spirituality excepted) there were 20 nursing diagnoses. The most frequent were noncompliance, alteration in skin integrity both actual and potential, and impaired physical mobility in that order. 4. Delivery of home health care by the home health nurses included the following nursing activities; assessment, patient education, demonstration of care activities, counselling, direct care to the patient and referrals. Direct care included changing dressings, bladder irrigations, changing Foley catheters, measurement of residual urine, perineal care, position change, back care, oral hygiene, exercise and massage of motion exercises, cleansing enemas, tracheostomy suctioning and tracheostomy care, care of dentures, applications of heat and other similar nursing activities. In conclusion almost 50% of (he sample indicated a need for continued nursing care at the time of discharge and for the patients in the sample who received home care there was a slight decrease in nursing needs but while the patients had chronic and debilitation problems there was ill decrease in ADL abilities or in quality of life. Further study needs Lo be done La increase the reliability and validity of the tool that was used to measure home health care needs. It is also recommended that study by done using a randomized sampling with a control group to compare patients who receive home care with those who do not.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.418-425
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• 2017

This study investigated antioxidation activity through the content of total polyphenol, that of flavonoid and DPPH radical scavenging activity and measured the cytotoxicity against B16F10 melanoma and inhibiting function of melanin biosynthesis to evaluate antioxidation activity and melanocyte effect of pueraria lobata root extract. As the results of study, it was recognized that the toxicity did not show against B16F10 melanoma and the increase of generating melanin was inhibited as the results of measuring the inhibition function of melanin biosynthesis after inducing the generation of melanin by ${\alpha}$-MSH against B16F10 melanoma cell. The high contents of polyphenol and flavonoid was found as the contents of pueraria lobata root extract increases and DPPH radical scavenging activity as the results of antioxidation activity. Through this study, it was recognized that pueraria lobata root extract has the feasibility that can be used as the material of cosmetics as it has the excellent effect of antioxidation activity and inhibiting the generation of melanin against melanocyte, low toxicity against skin cell and its safety against melanocyte of skin was found.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.382-393
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• 2017

In this study, it studies about Phytosphingosine (PhS) and Phytosphingosine-1-phosphate(PhS1P), and it tries to confirm the effect through anti-inflammatory, anti-melanin, MMP-1 revelation inhibition, and Western blot analysis experiment after grasping toxicity about 3 cells by using B16F10 melanin cell, RAW264.7 macrophage, and HDF fibroblast in order to find out whether it is possible to use as cosmetic material or not by studying biological activity in terns of skin care. As a result of this experiment, it confirmed that toxicity about B16F10, RAW264.7, HDF cell is low, and PhS1P appeared stronger inhibition activity than PhS in anti-inflammatory NO inhibitory activity experiment. MMP-1 revelation was greater in PhS1P, and it confirmed that the mechanism is due to reduction in ERK activity. On the other hands, melanin generation inhibitory activity is better than arbutin, and it confirmed that the mechanism is due to inhibition of revelation of MTF and Tyrosinase. In a nutshell, PhS and PhS1P that are bioactive substance may confirm the possibility to be used as functional cosmetic for wrinkle and skin improvement of whitening cosmetic.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.42 no.10 s.200
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• pp.91-104
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences of clothing microclimates and the subjective sensations according to age, gender and clothing weight for $19^{\circ}C$ air temperature. This study was done to gain fundamental data related to saving heating energy and to improve health through wearing underwear (long johns) in lower indoor temperatures. The subjects were divided into four groups (6 young males, 5 young females, 6 old males, 6 old females), and our experiment consisted of three conditions; the first condition was wearing long underwear in $19^{\circ}C$ air (19CUW condition); the second condition was without wearing long underwear in $19^{\circ}C$ air (19C condition); and the third condition was without wearing underwear in $24^{\circ}C$ air (24C condition). The experiment showed that the clothing microclimate temperature and humidity was the lowest in the 19C condition and the highest in the 24C condition irrespective of age and gender. The clothing microclimate in the 19CUW condition was not significantly distinguishable from the other conditions. Clothing microclimate temperature and humidity when the subjects responded thermal comfort was $28\~34^{\circ}C$ and $15\~40\%$RH without any significant difference according to age and gender. For the thermal sensation, the 24C condition was regarded as the warmest environment by the four groups, and the next preference was the 19CUW condition (p<0.001). Young females and old males showed a tendency to feel colder than young males and old females. For the thermal sensation of hands and feet, the young groups felt the warmest in the 24C condition and the coolest in the 19 C condition (p<0.001). However, old males felt neutral for the foot thermal sensation without any significant difference between the three conditions. Old females felt neutral for both the hands and feet thermal sensations without any significant difference between the three conditions. Thermal preference was the highest in the 24C condition for the 4 groups. In the 19CUW condition, for the thermal preference, most young males and females responded 'No change'; on the other hand, mea of the old responded 'Warmer'(p<0.001). It was the 24C condition that the 4 subject groups felt the most thermally comfortable. In the 19CUW condition, over $80\%$ of responses of each group expressed satisfaction and in the 19C condition, over $80\%$ of responses of each group, except young females, expressed satisfaction. In conclusion, in view of the clothing microclimate and subjective sensations, the 24C condition was the condition that gave subjects the least cold stress and the best subjective preference. However, the 19C condition and the 19CUW condition was not such a cold stress as to give healthy subjects a thermal burden.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.65-78
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• 2006

Background : Quality of life(Qol) is a broad concept that incorporates all aspects of an individual's existence. There is many study about Qol of the patient with dermatic disease in the west, but in korea there is few study, particularly for oriental medical academic world. Objective : The purpose of this study is to Investigate the influence of dermatic disease, particularly acne on the Qol by using the korean version of skindex-29. Method : We measured the Qol of Kyungwon university student participating in Dongseo health examination by using the Korean version of Skindex-29. A total of 535 students were enrolled In this study. Results are reported as 3 scales scores (functions, emotions, and symptoms) and a composite score (average scale score). Result : 1) There were no statistically significant gender-related differences in Qol scores in patient group with acne. 2) There were no significant correlation between Age Duration and Qol socres in patient group with acne. 3) Acne group marked higher Qol scores than contact dermatitis and normal group (lower than Acne with atopic dermatitis group) within emotional scales. 4) Acne group marked higher Qol scores than scar, tinea cruris, and normal group (lower than Acne with atopic dermatitis group) within functional and total scales. 5) Acne group marked higher Qol scores than tinea cruris and normal group (lower than Atopic dermatitis group) within symptom scales. 6) In acne group that feel the necessity of medical treatment, group that be treated by occidental medical method marked lower Qol scores than group that don't be treated within functional, symptom, and total scales. 7) In acne group that don't be treated, group that feel the necessity of medical treatment marked higher Qol scores than group that don't feel within emotional, functional, and total scales. 8) Acne group that don't fee the necessity of medical treatment and be treated marked high scores than normal group within all scales. Conclusion : Acne is sometimes thought of as unimportant, but Acne significantly affects patient's Qol. Occidental medical treatment can help Acne patients to improve Qol. Even if someone who suffering from acne feel that he don't need to be treated, he had lower Qol than healthy controls. And we can expect that proper occidental medical treatment help him. But few study have discuss whether oriental medical method can improve Qol of acne patients. From now on we expect interesting study that measure effect of oriental medical therapy on Qol of Acne patients and compare with occidental medical therapy by using Qol mesure instrument.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.359-364
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• 2011

Purpose: Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a rare condition characterized by a localized absence of skin, and it can be associated with other congenital anomalies. This study was done to evaluate clinical course and outcome of ACC in neonates. Methods: Based on the medical records, we retrospectively reviewed 8 neonates diagnosed with ACC at Cheil General Hospital and Women's Health Care Center, Kwandong university College of Medicine from January 2004 to December 2010. We classified ACC by Frieden's classification and analyzed the patient's demographic data, clinical course and outcome. Results: Among 8 patients with ACC, 5 patients were classified to group 1; scalp ACC without anomalies and 3 patients to group 7; ACC localized to extremities without blistering. Defect size was from 0.3 cm to 1.5 cm, limited in the superficial skin or subcutaneous tissue without associated anomalies. Defects were healed under conservative treatment with mild scar formation within four months. Conclusion: ACC could be diagnosed easily through physical examination in neonates. All cases showed good clinical outcome without surgical treatment. However because of small numbers and small sized defects of cases, further study including lesions of large size is needed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.19-27
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• 1976

Perilla (frutescens) seed oil, which is widely used as a source of vegetable oil in Korea, contains a strikingly large amount (58.4% of total fatty acids) of polyunsaturated linolenic acid (18 : 3) which is one of the essential fatty acids. Our hypothesis was that vitamin E contained in this oil would not be enough to prevent peroxidation of this polyunsaturated oil. A comparative study was carried out using rats and chicks devided into seven groups with various diet combinations emphasizing fat sources for the period of four weeks. The level of fat in each diet was 15% and animals were fed ad libitum. Various diet combinations were as follows; perilla seed oil and sesame seed oil with and without vitamin E supplementation, tallow as a saturated fat source and perilla seed hull group (10% at the expense of carbohydrate). The fat constituents of control group were consisted of 50% vegetable oil and 50% animal fat. A few important findings are as follows: 1. Rats fed perilla seed oil lost their hair focally around the neck and suffered from a bad skin lesion at the same place. In chicks, yellow pigmentation both of feather and of skin was clearly observed only in groups fed perilla seed oil with or without vitamin E supplementation. The basis of biochemical mechanisms of this phenomena remains as an important research interest. 2. The mean value for hematocrit was significantly lower for the chicks fed perilla seed oil than for those fed control diet. This result seems to be attributable to the effect on the red cell membrane known as peroxidation-hemolysis of vitamin E deficiency. 3. The serum cholesterol level was higher for the rats fed perilla seed oil than for those fed control diet, whereas in chicks the group fed perilla seed oil showed lower value than the control group indicating that different animal species could vary in their responses to the same diet. 4. In pathological examinations, the sign of hepatic fibrosis was seen in the perilla seed hull group and it was noticeable that the level of hepatic RNA was significantly increased in the rat recovering from vitamin E deficiency. It is hoped that more detailed studies on perilla seed oil and hulls will soon be carried out in many aspects especially i) at various levels of fat in the diet, ii) in relation to dietary selenium level and iii) to find an optimum level of dietary essential fatty acids in terms of P/S ratio using various animal species. In the mean time, the public should be informed to preserve this particular oil with care to minimize fatty acid oxidation and should be discouraged from overconsuming this oil. This study was supported by UB (United Board) Research Grant (Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea)

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.129-150
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• 1999

This study was carried out to analyse a perception on acne for the Junior college students to provide basic data for the suitable treatment of acne to the students and the specialists. For this study, self-administering questionnaires were distributed to 480 students from 13 departments at a suburban women's junior college from May 1 to May 3, 1996. Of the students, 399 were responded and included in the analysis. The questionnaire includes the general question of objects, the question of knowledge and attitude of acne, and its treatment. The results were as follows: 1. Age distribution for the group less than 20 years was 63.7% and over 20 years was 36.3%, the group with acne was 66.2% and the group without acne was 33.8%. Proportions of acquiring the knowledge on acne was 49.6% from newspaper or magazine, 47.15 from friends, and 26.85 from TV or radio. 2. With regard to the knowledge on the presence of acne, a proportion of correctly answered for the question on the cause of acne was $3.41{\pm}1.02$ for the group with acne compared with $3.16{\pm}0.89$ for those without acne. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). 3. With regard to the knowledge levels on the treatment of acne, a proportion answered' skin-care center' for the question on where to select for the profer treatment was $13.21{\pm}1.88$ compared with $12.09{\pm}1.88$ for the other group. This difference was statistically significant (p〈0.05). A proportion of answered 'squeezing out acne by themselves' for the question of how to treat was $12.26{\pm}1.91$ compared with $10.83{\pm}1.25$ for the other group. 4. In the treatment according to the attitude of the group with acne, the positive group replied 'YES' in the intention of treatment by themselves was 55.9%. In conclusion, the differences in the knowledge and attitude on the presence of acne are not significant and it was found that the knowledge and attitude for the group with acne did not significantly influenced the treatment behavior. Accordingly, it is important to understand the cause of acne, provoking factors, remedy etc. For this, it is necessary to a provide an accurate information to professionals to enhance the knowledge of acne and to treat it properly.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2009

We have recently reported that the continuous exposure of rats to a concrete building environment under cool temperatures had adverse effects on general health parameters and embryo-fetal development. This study examined to compare the potential effects of concrete and wood building environments on pregnant dams and embryo-fetal development in rats. Groups of 10 mated females were exposed to polycarbonate (control), concrete, or wood cages from gestational days (GD) 0 to 20 under cool temperatures $(11.9\sim12.3^{\circ}C)$. All the females underwent a caesarean section on GD 20, and their fetuses were examined for any morphological abnormalities. The temperatures in the cages were similar in all groups but the relative humidity in the concrete and wood groups were higher than in the control group. The concentration of volatile organic compounds in the wood group was higher than in the control group. In the concrete group, maternal effects manifested as an increase in the incidence of clinical signs, a lower body weight, and a decrease in the thymus and ovary weights. Developmental effects included increased post-implantation loss and decreased litter size. Infrared thermal analysis showed that the skin temperature of the rats in the concrete group was lower than that in the control group. In contrast, there were no exposure-related adverse effects on the maternal and developmental parameters in the wood group. Overall, the exposure of pregnant rats to a concrete building environment under cool temperatures has adverse effects on the clinical signs, body weight, skin temperature, organ weight, and embryo-fetal development. On the other hand, exposure to a wood building environment does not have any adverse effects in rats.