• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1999

Objectives. We conducted this study to obtain basic data of urinary levels of arsenic, cadmium, and zinc in children of Ulsan industrial area and to evaluate the difference in urinary levels of these metals between industrial area and suburban area. Methods. The study subjects were composed of 348(male 182, female 166) school children residing in industrial area and 100(male 50, female 50) school children of suburban area. We analyzed urinary levels of arsenic, cadmium, and zinc using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results. The geometric means of urinary level of arsenic, cadmium, and zinc of study participants were 3.69, 0.99, $282.49{\mu}g/l$ respectively. The adjusted geometric means of urinary levels of arsenic, cadmium, and zinc of study participants were 3.92, 1.05, $299.92{\mu}g/g$ creatinine respectively. Conclusions. The children residing in industrial area had the higher urinary levels of arsenic and cadmium than suburban children with statistical significance(p<0.01).

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 1997

Thirteen healthy control, 13 pre-eclamptic, 7 diabetic(DM) and 12 gestational diabetic(GDM) pregnant women participated in a study ofthe interrelationships between the levels of protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and copper in urine. Urinary protein, magnesium and copper levels were significantly higher (p<0.0005, p<0.0003, p<0.005 respectively) in pre-eclamptic women than those of control, DM and GDM women. Urinary zinc excretion in pre-eclamptic women (1.61 mg/g creatinine) was higher than that of DM women (0.81mg/g creatinine); urinary zinc losses of control and GDM women were wre between the other two rups. The GDM women excreted significantly ore phosphorus in their urine in comparison to control and preeclamptic women (p<0.02), but this was not seen in DM women. Among the DM women, urinary protein excretion was positively correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin(r=0.940) and fasting blood glucose concentration (r=0.889). Urinary zinc excretion also was correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin (r=0.853) and fasting blood glucose (r=0.956). In the GDM and pre-eclamptic women there were also significant correlations between urinar calcium and magnesium (r=0.857, r=0.749 respectively) and between urinary protein and copper(r=0.638, r=0.778 respectively).

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess serum, hair, and urinary magnesium (Mg) levels in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and both ASD and ADHD to reveal potential interactive effects. Methods: A total of 148 boys aged 4-9 years old were enrolled in this study, including 44 children with ADHD, 40 pediatric patients with ASD, 32 patients with both ADHD and ASD, as well as 32 healthy neurotypical children. Hair, serum, and urinary Mg levels were assessed using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Laboratory quality control was performed using certified reference materials of human hair, plasma, and urine. Results: No significant group difference in serum Mg levels was observed. Mg content in hair was found to be reduced in children with ADHD and ADHD+ASD compared to that in healthy controls by 11% and 15%, respectively. Urinary Mg levels in children with ADHD+ASD exceeded the control, ADHD, and ASD values by 51, 76, and 65%, respectively. Factorial analysis revealed significant contribution of ADHD to hair and urinary Mg levels. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that hair and urinary Mg levels were considered as significant predictors of neurodevelopmental disorder complexity. Conclusion: We propose that impaired Mg status may provide a link between ADHD and ASD.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.53-66
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• 1999

This study has been carried out to investigate the effects of Dojuksan on the renal functions and internal secretion system, as water balance, urine volume, urinary excretion of sodium and potassium, free water clearance, urinary excretion of creatinine, plasma levels of artrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), plasma levels of aldosterone and plasma renin activity, comparing experimental group which Dojuksan water extract were administrated with control group. Sprague-Dawley rats, about 200-250 g, were used for this experiment. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Water balance decreased significantly after the administration of Dojuksan water extract. 2. Urine volume increased significantly after the administration of $100{\mu}l$ Dojuksan water extract per 100g rat. 3. Urinary excretion of sodium increased significantly but urinary excretion of potassium did not change after the administration of Dojuksan water extract. 4. Free water clearance decreased significantly after the administration of Dojuksan water extract 5. Urinary excretion of creatinine increased significantly after the administration of Dojuksan water extract 6. Plasma renin activity did not change after the administration of Dojuksan water extract 7. Plasma levels of artrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) did not change after the administration of Dojuksan water extract 8. Plasma levels of aldosterone decreased significantly after the administration of 200 ${\mu}Dojuksan water extract per l00g rat The results suggest that Dojuksan increase the urinary excretion of sodium. and thus reduce the water balance, which resulted from suppression of sodium reabsorption into renal tubule by increasing glomerular filtration rate and decreasing aldosterone.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.127-132
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• 2021

Background: Herbicides such as glyphosate, paraquat, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid have been reported to cause adverse side effects through production of reactive oxygen species. However, there were no data representing the adverse effects of a mixture herbicide usage in farmers, especially the changes in oxidative marker and antioxidant defense. This study aimed to determine the urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) level in farmers using mixed herbicides. Methods: Ninety-three farmers were recruited, and two spot urine samples (before and after work) were collected. The urinary MDA level was evaluated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay, and the urinary GSH level was determined using the enzymatic recycling method. Results: Sixty-two percent of the participants were men, and 59% of the participants worked in a farm for 20-40 years. The common combinations of herbicide usage were glyphosate with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (36.5%). There was no significant difference between pre- and post-work urinary MDA and GSH levels among the 3 groups of herbicides. However, the urinary MDA levels in farmers using the combination of glyphosate and paraquat were significantly higher than those found in farmers using glyphosate alone. The associated factors with changes in MDA levels found that the exposure intensity index (B = 0.154), the cumulative exposure intensity index (B = 0.023), and wearing gloves while working (B = -2.347) were found to be significantly associated with MDA level. Conclusion: The results suggest that the combined use of glyphosate and paraquat caused a significant increase in urinary MDA levels. Moreover, intensity of exposure to herbicide and wearing gloves were associated with the level of MDA.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 and lifestyle habits (smoking, drinking, and exercise) modulate the levels of urinary styrene metabolites such as mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) after occupational exposure to styrene. We recruited 79 male workers who had received chronic exposure in styrene fiberglass-reinforced plastic manufacturing factories. We found that serum albumin was significantly correlated with blood styrene/ambient styrene (BS/AS), urinary styrene (US)/AS, and US/BS ratios as well as urinary metabolites, that total protein correlated with US/MA and US/PGA ratios, and that low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol significantly correlated with US/BS, US/MA, and US/PGA ratios. Multiple logistic regression analyses using styrene-metabolizing enzyme genotypes and lifestyle habits as dependent variables and blood and urine styrene concentrations and urine styrene metabolite levels as independent variables revealed that $CYP2E1^*5$ was associated with the MA/US ratio and GSTM1 with US/BS, that a smoking habit was associated with US/AS and MA/US ratios and MA and PGA levels, and that regular exercise was correlated with PGA/US. In conclusion, the results suggested that genetic polymorphisms of styrene-metabolizing enzymes, lifestyle behaviors, and albumin and LDL-cholesterol serving as homeostasis factors together are involved in styrene metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 1996

This study was conducted to compare the dietary factors which influence on the bone status of 28 women in urban and 30 women in rural area. Urinary excretion of hydroxyproline(Hpr) and Calcium(Ca) were measured as biological markers of bone resorption. Mean daily intake levels of total protein, animal protein, total calcium, calcium, calcium from milk and milk products, animal calcium, Ca / P ratio by 24 hr recall method were significantly higher in urban women. However, mean daily sodium(Na) intake levels were not significantly different between two groups. Ca Index score and Na Index score by food frequency methods were also significantly higher in urban than in rural subjects. While urinary Ca excretion elves of two groups were similar, Na excretion levels were significantly higher in rural women. Mean urniary levels of Ca / creatinine(cr) and Hpr / cr as bone status index were within normal range and not significantly different between two groups. However, prevalence of poor bone status as assessed by hydroxyproline was higher in rural women. Na Index, urinary Ca excretion and Ca / cr ratio were significantly correlated with bone status(Hpr / cr) in urban women, while only age was related to bone status in rural women. These demonstrated that high Na intake results in increased urinary excretion of Na and Ca and could cause bone resorption. Multiple regression analysis indicated that Na Index score and age have greater effect than other variables in urban women and only age has greater effect in rural women.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.220-225
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• 2017

Background: Benzene is a known occupational and environmental pollutant. Its urinary metabolite trans, trans-muconic acid (tt-MA) has been introduced by some environmental and occupational health regulatory associations as a biological index for the assessment of benzene exposure; however, recently, doubts have been raised about the specificity of tt-MA for low-level benzene exposures. In the present study, we investigated the association between urinary levels of tt-MA and inhalational exposure to benzene in different exposure groups. Methods: Benzene exposure was assessed by personal air sampling. Collected benzene on charcoal tube was extracted by carbon disulfide and determined by a gas chromatograph (gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector). Urinary tt-MA was extracted by a strong anion-exchange column and determined with high-performance liquid chromatography-UV. Results: Urinary levels of tt-MA in intensive benzene exposure groups (chemical workers and police officers) were significantly higher than other groups (urban and rural residents), but its levels in the last two groups with significant different exposure levels (mean = 0.081 ppm and 0.019 ppm, respectively) showed no significant difference (mean = $388{\mu}g/g$ creatinine and $282{\mu}g/g$, respectively; p < 0.05). Before work shift, urine samples of workers and police officers showed a high amount of tt-MA and its levels in rural residents' samples were not zero. Conclusion: Our results suggest that tt-MA may not be a reliable biomarker for monitoring low-level (below 0.5 ppm) benzene exposures.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.139-145
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• 2016

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a major public health problem for all ages. Despite the high prevalence of smoking among the Saudi population, there is limited information about levels of urinary cotinine in Saudi children exposed to SHS. The aim of the study was to assess the exposure of schoolchildren to ETS, and measure their urinary cotinine levels. Multistage cluster sampling was carried out, where schoolchildren from 4 schools were randomly chosen from primary schools in Taif city. A questionnaire including questions on SHS exposure and smoking rules in the residence were sent to students parents/guardians. Urine samples were taken and analyzed for total cotinine using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Of the studied children, 38.4% had a smoking father, 61.8%, 41.2% and 49.3% of them were exposed to ETS indoors, outdoors and both indoors and outdoors respectively. The mean urinary cotinine was significantly higher among children exposed to ETS compared to unexposed children. Urinary cotinine levels in children with both indoor and outdoor exposure was significantly higher compared with its level in children with single exposure. A significant positive correlation was found between urinary cotinine concentrations and the number of cigarette packs smoked by parents, and the number of smokers in the residence. The mean urinary cotinine level was significantly higher in children who reported no smoking rules at the residence.. The study revealed a high exposure of Saudi children to ETS. An antismoking media awareness campaign on the harmful effects of ETS should be carried out, in addition to family counseling programs targeted to parents to protect their children from ETS.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2019

Purpose: We sought to determine associations of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), known markers of renal injury, with hematuria in children and adolescents. Methods: A total of 112 urine samples from 72 patients aged 2 to 18 years with hematuria were enrolled in this study. Urinary concentrations of NGAL and L-FABP were measured by ELISA and compared between subjects with and without proteinuria and between subjects with and without glomerulonephritis diagnosed by renal biopsy. Results: Urinary concentrations of NGAL and L-FABP/creatinine (Cr) in subjects with proteinuria were not significantly different from those in subjects without proteinuria. They were not significant different between subjects with and without glomerulonephritis either. However, both concentrations of urinary NGAL and L-FABP/Cr were positively associated with urinary protein to creatinine ratio. Their levels had a tendency to be increased when proteinuria developed at later visits in subjects with hematuria only at initial visits. Conclusion: Monitoring urinary NGAL and L-FABP levels in addition to conventional risk factors such as proteinuria and serum creatinine might improve the prediction of renal injury in pediatric patients with hematuria.