• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1437-1440
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the use of urinary catecholamines to monitor changes in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and to determine the relationship of urinary cortisol and catecholamines in Japanese Shorthorn cows in response to social isolation. One cow was isolated from its group, which consisted of 14 cows (457 to 756 kg BW, 2 to 12 years old), for three days. The isolated cow was in contact with the other cows visually only at meal times. This isolation was repeated for 6 cows. Spontaneously voided urine samples were collected from the experimental animals once a day, before the treatment and on days 1, 2, and 3. Urinary cortisol and adrenaline levels were significantly increased compared with pre-isolation levels on the first day, and then declined to the basal levels during the next two days. Urinary noradrenaline levels changed in the same way as cortisol and adrenaline levels, but the difference was not significant. Urinary cortisol levels tended to be correlated with those of urinary adrenaline, but not noradrenaline. This study suggests that the urinary adrenaline levels can be a non-invasive indicator of stress and that the change of urinary adrenaline is similar to that of urinary cortisol.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2012

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the relationships between proximity to an industrial complex and blood lead levels and urinary cadmium levels. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey and analyzed blood lead and urinary cadmium levels using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAs). Data was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. All statistical analyses were conducted with SAS software version 9.2. The distance between the residence and an industrial complex was calculated through a Geographical Information System (GIS). Results: A total of 967 residents living near a large petrochemical complex in Ulsan participated. The geometric mean levels of blood lead and urinary cadmium were $1.70{\mu}g/dl$ (male: $1.77{\mu}g/dl$, female: $1.67{\mu}g/dl$), and $0.72{\mu}g/g$ creatinine (male: $0.49{\mu}g/g$ cr. female: $0.89{\mu}g/g$ cr.), respectively. Blood lead and urinary cadmium levels both increased with age and were higher among smokers compared to never smokers. Both significantly showed a decreasing trend with rising income. Results from multiple logistic regression analysis showed that urinary cadmium levels for subjects aged less than 20 years old were negatively associated with distance from the industrial area to the residence. The results, however, indicated that the blood lead levels were positively associated with the distance. Conclusions: The results of this study support that proximity to an industrial complex is related to urinary cadmium values for children. A positive finding with blood lead can be explained by the ambiguity of lead exposure sources in the general environment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.196-204
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• 2018

Objectives: To determine urinary mercury levels in e-waste workers in Southern Thailand and the airborne mercury levels in the e-waste shops where they worked, to describe the associations between urinary and airborne mercury levels, and to evaluate the prevalence of mercury exposure-related health effects among e-waste workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 79 workers in 25 e-waste shops who lived in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. Information on general and occupational characteristics, personal protective equipment use, and personal hygiene was collected by questionnaire. Urine samples were collected to determine mercury levels using a cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometer mercury analyzer. Results: The e-waste workers' urinary mercury levels were $11.60{\mu}5.23{\mu}g/g$ creatinine (range, 2.00 to $26.00{\mu}g/g$ creatinine) and the mean airborne mercury levels were $17.00{\mu}0.50{\mu}g/m^3$ (range, 3.00 to $29.00{\mu}g/m^3$). The urinary and airborne mercury levels were significantly correlated (r=0.552, p<0.001). The prevalence of self-reported symptoms was 46.8% for insomnia, 36.7% for muscle atrophy, 24.1% for weakness, and 20.3% for headaches. Conclusions: Personal hygiene was found to be an important protective factor, and should therefore be stressed in educational programs. Employers should implement engineering measures to reduce urinary mercury levels and the prevalence of associated health symptoms among e-waste workers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.344-349
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• 2012

Purpose: Short sleep duration is associated with obesity. Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-OHMS), the principal metabolite of melatonin, is closely related with sleep. We evaluated the difference in urinary 6-OHMS levels between obese girls and normal weight girls, and the relationship of urinary 6-OHMS with other hormones regulating body weight and metabolism. Methods: A total of 79 girls (6.3 to 12.4 years) were included in this study, of whom 34 were obese; 15, overweight; and 30, normal-weight. We examined their pubertal status and bone age. Fasting serum levels of total ghrelin, leptin, insulin, and first morning urinary 6-OHMS were measured. Homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated from the fasting insulin and glucose levels. Results: There was no significant difference in the creatinine adjusted 6-OHMS levels between the obese girls and the control group. Urinary 6-OHMS did not show any correlations with body mass index (BMI), BMI percentile, total ghrelin, leptin, and HOMA-IR. Negative correlations were found between urinary 6-OHMS levels and chronological and bone ages. Conclusion: Our results suggest that melatonin production is not reduced consistently in obese girls.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.02a
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• pp.13-32
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• 2004

o There was a significant correlation between urinary log 1-OHPG and log 8-OHdG levels before the ADE. o There was also a significant correlation between urinary MDA and 8-OHdG levels after the ADE. o Significantly higher levels of urinary PAH metabolites were observed among Chinese children than Korean children o There was a significant correlation of urinary PAH metabolites between children and their mothers living in the same household.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.268-277
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• 2012

Objectives: 1) To determine mercury levels in urine samples from garbage workers in Southern Thailand, and 2) to describe the association between work characteristics, work positions, behavioral factors, and acute symptoms; and levels of mercury in urine samples. Methods: A case-control study was conducted by interviewing 60 workers in 5 hazardous-waste-management factories, and 60 matched non-exposed persons living in the same area of Southern Thailand. Urine samples were collected to determine mercury levels by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometer mercury analyzer. Results: The hazardous-waste workers' urinary mercury levels (10.07 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) were significantly higher than the control group (1.33 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) (p < 0.001). Work position, duration of work, personal protective equipment (PPE), and personal hygiene, were significantly associated with urinary mercury level (p < 0.001). The workers developed acute symptoms - of head-aches, nausea, chest tightness, fatigue, and loss of consciousness at least once a week - and those who developed symptoms had significantly higher urinary mercury levels than those who did not, at p < 0.05. A multiple regression model was constructed. Significant predictors of urinary mercury levels included hours worked per day, days worked per week, duration of work (years), work position, use of PPE (mask, trousers, and gloves), and personal hygiene behavior (ate snacks or drank water at work, washed hands before lunch, and washed hands after work). Conclusion: Changing garbage workers' hygiene habits can reduce urinary mercury levels. Personal hygiene is important, and should be stressed in education programs. Employers should institute engineering controls to reduce urinary mercury levels among garbage workers.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2013

Children are particularly vulnerable to adverse health effects associated with heavy metal exposure. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between proximity to an industry complex and blood lead and urinary cadmium levels for children aged 7-13 who lived in Ulsan where a big petrochemical complex is located. We conducted a questionnaire survey to collect data including sociodemographics, daily habits, residential environment, etc. We also analyzed blood lead and urinary cadmium levels using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Data were analyzed using regression analysis. All statistical analyses were conducted with SAS software version 9.2. We calculated distance by using a Geographic Information System (ArcGIS version 10.0). The geometric mean blood lead level was 1.55 ${\mu}g/dL$ (boys: 1.59 ${\mu}g/dL$, girls: 1.51 ${\mu}g/dL$), and the geometric mean urinary cadmium level was 0.51 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine (boys: 0.45 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine, girls: 0.58 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine). In the results of regression analyses, we found that urinary cadmium levels significantly decreased as distance between residence and industrial complex increased after adjusting for age, gender, income, passive smoking and the length of residence. This result was opposite to that for lead levels. Our observations support the hypothesis that urinary cadmium levels in children are related to their proximity to an industrial complex.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2011

Urinary steroid levels were investigated in the treatment of CKD-501, a new anti-diabetic drug candidate. CKD-501 was administered orally at the dosage of 1, 2, 4 mg/day for 7 days to normal men (n=18). Urine was collected before, during and after stopping the drug administration and the urinary level of androgen, estrogen, progestin and corticoids were quantified using GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Only urinary corticosteroid and an androgen, DHEA levels among all the analyzed steroids, have been found to increase progressively, reaching significant levels on the last day of drug treatment and later declined after the drug treatment is withdrawn. Therefore, it was thought that an increase in the urinary corticoid and DHEA levels could be a characteristic of CKD-501, since it prominently acts on the glucose sensitivity and suppresses the triglyceride levels. In conclusion, it was found that CKD-501, an anti-diabetic drug candidate, affects the glucocorticoid and DHEA levels and it plays a crucial role in glucose homeostasis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2007

The aim of the study was to see if there is any differences in urinary 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG) and 2-naphthol levels in children ($8{\sim}14$ years old) and their mothers ($30{\sim}46$ years old) living three cities in South Korea (Seoul, Incheon and Pohang) and three in China (Changchun, Datong and Kunming), where the levels of air pollution varies. The factors related with urinary biomarkers levels were also evaluated. The study subjects consisted of 118 Korean (60 children and 58 their mothers) and 120 Chinese (60 children and 60 their mothers). Urinary 1-OHPG was measured by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy after immuno-affinity purification using monoclonal antibody 8E11 and urinary 2-naphthol concentrations were determined by HPLC with fluorescence detector. Information on recent consumption of diet containing high PAHs, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), type of cooking and heating fuels, and other life-style characteristics were collected by self-administered questionnaire. The arithmetic mean of urinary 1-OHPG levels (n = 120, $mean{\pm}SD$, $6.77{\pm}7.96{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine) in Chinese were 10 fold higher than those in Korean (n = 118, $0.62{\pm}0.61{\mu}mol/mol$ creatinine) (P < 0.01). Urinary 2-naphthol levels in Chinese (n = 119, $59.50{\pm}82.29{\mu}g/g$ creatinine) were significantly higher than those in Korean (n = 117, $25.09{\pm}46.56{\mu}g/g$ creatinine) (P < 0.01). Urinary 1-OHPG and 2-naphthol levels were significantly higher in children living the polluted cities in China (Datong and Chanchun, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that living in factory area (vs. residential area) and use of coal stove as heating fuel were significant predictors for urinary 1-OHPG (overall model $R^2$= 0.46, n = 204). And ETS was predictor for urinary 2-naphthol levels in Korean ($R^2$ = 0.36, n = 46). These results indicated that urinary 1-OHPG and 2-naphthol levels were related with different ambient particulate air pollution, type of heating fuels and ETS.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.195-199
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• 2008

Objectives : Malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation by-product, has been widely used as an indicator of oxidative stress. Urinary 2-naphthol, a urinary PAH metabolite, is used as a marker of ambient particulate exposure and is associated with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the stability and intra-individual variation associated with urinary MDA and 2-naphthol have not been thoroughly addressed. The objective of this study was to assess the stability and intra-individual variation associated with urinary MDA and 2-naphthol. Methods : Urine samples were collected from 10 healthy volunteers (mean age 34, range $27{\sim}42$ years old). Each sample was divided into three aliquots and stored under three different conditions. The levels of urinary MDA and 2-naphthol were analyzed 1) just after sampling, 2) after storage at room temperature ($21^{\circ}C$) for 16 hours, and 3) after storage in a $-20^{\circ}C$ freezer for 16 hours. In addition, an epidemiological study was conducted in 44 Chinese subjects over a period of 3 weeks. The urinary MDA and 2-naphthol were measured by HPLC three times. Results : There was no difference in the levels of urinary MDA and 2-naphthol between the triplicate measurements (n=10, p=0.84 and p=0.83, respectively). The intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for urinary MDA and 2-naphthol were 0.74 and 0.42, respectively. However, the levels of PM2.5 in the air were well correlated with the levels of both MDA and 2-naphthol in the epidemiological study. Conclusions : These results suggest that urinary MDA and 2-naphthol remain stable under variable storage conditions, even at room temperature for 16 hours, and indicate that these markers can be used in epidemiological studies involving various sample storage conditions. The intra-CC of urinary 2-naphthol and MDA were acceptable for application to epidemiological studies.