• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2009

Objectives : We evaluated the health effects of exposure to BTEX(Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene, o-Xylene) in the Taean area after the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Methods : We used a questionnaire survey to look for health effects among 80 pregnant women 2 to 3 months following the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Their BTEX exposures were estimated using the CALPUFF method. We then used a multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effects of BTEX exposure on the women s health effets. Results : Pregnant women who lived near the accident site reported more symptoms of eye irritation and headache than those who lived farther from the site. There was a trend of decreasing symptoms with an increase in distance from the spill site. Pregnant women exposed to higher ambient cumulative levels of Xylene were significantly more likely to report symptoms of the skin(OR 8.01 95% CI=1.74-36.76) in the first day after the accident and significantly more likely to report abdominal pain(OR 3.86 95% CI=1.02-14.59 for Ethylbenzene, OR 6.70 95% CI=1.82-24.62 for Xylene) during the 1st through 4th days following the accident. Conclusions : This study suggests that exposure to BTEX from an oil spill is correlated with an increased risk of health effects among pregnant women. This implies the need to take proper measures, including the development of a national policy for environmental health emergencies and a plan for studying the short- and long-term chronic health effects associated with such spills.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 2013

This study was carried out to validate the safety of ametoctradin residues in agricultural commodities by developing an official analysis method. An analytical method was developed and validated using HPLC-PDA detectors. The samples were extracted with methanol, subsequently partitioned with dichloromethane and purified with florisil column chromatograph using acetone/hexane (30/70, v/v) as solvent. The method was validated by using grape, hulled rice, mandarin, and potato spiked with ametoctradin at 0.05 and 5.0 mg/kg, and pepper at 0.05 and 2.0 mg/kg. Average recoveries were 76-114.8% with relative standard deviation less than 10%, and the limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.0125 and 0.05 mg/kg, respectively. The result of recoveries and overall coefficient of variation of the laboratory results from Gwangju regional Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Daejeon regional FDA was accorded with Codex Alimentarius Commission Guideline (CAC/GL 40). Based on these results, this method was found to be appropriate for ametoctradin residue determination and can be used as the official method of analysis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.168-177
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical features and risk factors of invasive infections caused by Lactobacillus spp. and Saccharomyces spp., components of commercially available probiotics. Methods: We analyzed demographic and clinical data from children ${\leq}18$ years of age with an invasive infection caused by Lactobacillus spp. or Saccharomyces spp. at the Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital from January 1998 to June 2016. Probiotic consumption data were also analyzed. Results: During the study period, a total of 24 episodes of invasive infections were caused by Lactobacillus spp. (n=16) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (n=8). Along with the increase of probiotic use (755,594 [days/1,000 patient-admission days] in 2001 to 2005, 1,444,066 in 2006 to 2010, and 6,904,736 in 2011 to 2016), the incidence of probiotic-associated invasive infection increased ($R^2=0.70$). The median age of the patients was 1.8 years (range, 2 months to 17 years), and most of them had underlying medical conditions. The 30-day mortality rate was 20.8% (5/24), and 11 (45.8%) of these patients resulted from a severe invasive infection. We determined the risk factors for invasive infection to be: previous intensive care unit stay (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5 to 6.1] and the presence of a central venous catheter (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.3). Conclusions: Although the probiotic-associated invasive infections rarely occurred in children, the incidence has increased along with probiotic pressure. Judicious use of probiotics is mandatory, especially in young children with underlying medical conditions and continuous surveillance will be needed to minimize the safety concerns.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of SPIO contrast agent in Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) by performing a quantitative comparative analysis in patients undergoing MRCP for gallbladder stones with and without oral injection of SPIO (Superparamagnetic iron oxide) contrast agent. The subjects were 36 patients undergoing MRCP for suspected gallbladder stones between January 2009 and February 2010 and they were divided into halves to compare the two groups of with and without SPIO agent. For each subject in both the injected and non-injected group, T2-weighted images on a 1.5T MR scanner were obtained, using both the breath-holding and respiratory-triggered methods, respectively. The following regions were measured; for breath-hold T2-weighted images, the measurement regions were located at the central part of the gallbladder, and the areas 15 mm away from its center, toward the front and back, respectively, which were chosen to include surrounding tissues, while for respiratory-triggered T2-weighted images, at the central part of the gallbladder, and segment 5 and 6 of liver. In a quantitative analysis, average signal to noise ratio (SNR) in each of regions of interest (ROI) for each group were calculated and then average contrast to noise ratio (CNR) in each of ROI were obtained by using the SNR in the gallbladder as the basis to compare and analyze the values between the two groups. The CNR were higher for the injected group in those regions.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences according to the hospitals of antenatal care in premature infants. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of premature infants with gestational ages <37 weeks and very low birth weights who were admitted immediately after birth to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital between March 2007 and February 2009. The hospitals of antenatal care were divided into two levels (primary antenatal care hospital: hospitals with less than a level 2 NICU, secondary antenatal care hospital: hospitals with a level 3 NICU) based on the level of NICU in hospitals. In addition, total infants were divided into two groups (Immediate group: infants born within 24 hours of maternal admission, Delayed group: infants born after 24 hours of maternal admission). The differences between maternal and neonatal variables in each groups were studied. Results: Neonates in secondary antenatal care hospitals comprised 11.0% of the study neonates (10 of 91). We compared with two groups (primary antenatal care hospital and secondary antenatal care hospital), but there were no differences in all subjects. However, the 1 minute Apgar score ($\leq3$) was lower in the immediate group than the delayed group. Conclusion: Shorter duration of maternal admission to delivery was associated with a lower 1 minute Apgar score of neonates. These findings suggest that if maintenance of pregnancy is difficult when high-risk gravidas are transferred, clinicians must prepare for emergencies of neonates.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2006

Purpose: Incidence of lung canter in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is known to be higher than that in general population. However, it is difficult to discriminate pulmonary nodule in patients with IPF, because underlying IPF can be expressed as lung nodules. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of FDG PET in discriminating lung nodule in patients with IPF. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 28 lung nodules in 16 subjects (age; $67.53{\pm}9.53$, M:F=14:2). Two patients had previous history of malignant cancer (small cell lung cancer and subglottic cancer). The diagnostic criteria on chest CT were size, morphology and serial changes of size. FDG PET was visually interpreted, and maximal SUV was calculated for quantitative analysis. Results: from 28 nodules, 18 nodules were interpreted as benign nodules, 10 nodules as malignant nodules by histopahthology or follow-up chest CT. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG PET were 100% and 94.4%, while those of CT were 70.0% and 44.4%, respectively. Malignant nodule was higher maxSUV than that of benign lung nodules ($7.68{\pm}3.96\;vs.\;1.22{\pm}0.65$, p<0.001). Inflammatory lesion in underlying IPF was significantly lower maxSUV than that of malignant nodules ($1.80{\pm}0.43$, p<0.001). The size of malignant and benign nodule were $23.95{\pm}10.15mm\;and\;10.83{\pm}5.23mm$ (p<0.01). Conclusion: FDG PET showed superior diagnostic performance to chest CT in differentiating lung nodules in patients with underlying IPF. FDG PET could be used to evaluate suspicious malignant lung nodule detected by chest in patients with IPF.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.613-624
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• 2004

This study was aimed at investigating the effect of fat supplementation with divalent ions such as MgO and $CaCl_2$ on 1) in vitro ruminal fermentation characteristics and insoluble fatty acid formation, and on 2) animal performance in finishing Hanwoo bulls. In in vitro trial, five different types of diets based on supplementation sources of fat and divalent ions, i.e. T=basal diet+4% tallow, T-Ca=T+0.5% $CaCl_2$, T-Mg=TA+0.5% MgO, T-MgCa = T +0.5% $CaCl_2$+0.5% MgO, T-caS =4% Ca salt tallow, were tested. Higher pH values were observed at 6 hr incubation(P<0.01) while higher amount of VFA were produced in diets 4 and 5 at 12 hr incubation(P<0.05). Nutrients(DM, OM, Crude protein and NDF) degradation tended to increase in divalent ions or Ca-salts treated tallow treatments compared with tallow treatment after 12 h. The amount of insoluble fatty acid increased by adding MgO or $CaCl_2$ to tallow or Ca soap tallow during incubation(P<0.05). In in vivo trial, thirty finishing Hanwoo(average BW 460kg) were divided into three groups based on fat sources and divalent ions, i.e. Control(EE 2.40), T-MgCa = control + tallow + $CaCl_2$ + MgO, T-CaS = control + Ca soap tallow (EE 5.30%). After feeding each diet for 80 days, average daily weight gain showed 0.89, 1.02, 1.17kg in diets 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The highest feed efficiency was observed(0.12) in diet 2 group, followed by diet 3 (0.10) and 1 groups(0.08; P < 0.05). In conclusion, the present results could be sununarized that the performance of Hanwoo bulls was improved by tallow with divalent ions without any negative effect on rumen fermentation.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2018

The main objective of this study was to determine the quality of rice straw silage made with various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) during fermentation. Five strains of LAB (Lactobacillus plantarum CMRT, L. leuconostoc mesenteroides M17, L. sakei C11, M5, SP2) were used in this study. With regard to odor, ready-made CMRT (a comparison strain) had the highest value from 10-60 days, followed by M17. The pH level of all silages made with five strains (apart from CMRT) ranged from 4.02 to 4.59. Of these, M17 rapidly lowered the pH value in the silage. Crude protein (CP) content was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in ready-made CMRT compared to the other bacteria. C11 fermentation produced the highest content of silage, with a score of 5.56. Acetic acid and butyric acid were not detected in any of the silage products. The lactic acid levels in silages produced by M17, M5, C11, and SP2 were comparatively higher than that produced by CMRT. The total digestible nutrient (TDN) content levels and relative fees value (RFV) were he highest in the silage of C11 (69.65 and 155.56, respectively), followed by M17. Based on odorl, pH, protein, organic acid, and feed value, we suggest tha the M17 strain is a suitable substitute for CMRT that can be used to generate high quality rice straw silage.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2010

Conditions for artificial culture of Lemna Paucicostata and its nutritional values were examined in this study. Lemna P. was cultured using artificial wastewater and a bioreactor (total volume $2,630\;cm^3$, working volume $2,240\;cm^3$) was operated at conditions of 6,250 lux and $28^{\circ}C$. Water flow affected the growth of Lemna P.: growth rate was very high (more than $1.1\;d^{-1}$) at a condition of no-water movement, but it was very low (less than $0.15\;d^{-1}$) when water moved slowly. The growth of Lemna P. was higher in $16h\;d^{-1}$ light cycle than in Sand $24h\;d^{-1}$, and it was also severely affected by the initial $NH_4$-N levels of wastewater. The growth rate of Lemna P. was high in lower $NH_4$-N level, indicating that the growth rate is in inverse proportion to $NH_4$-N concentration in wastewater. However, the contents of crude protein (CP) of Lemna P. were proportional to the initial $NH_4$-N concentration. The CP contents of Lemna P. cultured at 2, 10, 50 and 100 $NH_4$-N mg $L^{-1}$ was 18, 24, 37, 43%, respectively, showing the Lemna P. cultured at 50 and $100\;mg\;L^{-1}$ had similar protein contents to linseed (CP 35%), cottonseed (CP 38%) and soybean (CP 45%). Fat, protein, fiber, NDF and ADF contents of Lemna P. harvested at conditions of $16h\;d^{-1}$ light cycle and less than $2\;mg\;L^{-1}$ of $NH_4$-N level was 2.8, 18, 27, 20, 41 and 65.7%, respectively. Since the growth rate of Lemna P. was very high (more than $1.1\;d^{-1}$) at those conditions, it was convinced that mass production of valuable protein and fiber sources are feasible. In particular, since the Lemna P. has unsaturated fatty acids found mainly in animal fat as well as beneficial fatty acids to health such as C18:ln9c, C18:2n6c, C20:5n3 and C22:2, the Lemna P. biomass would be a highly valuable alternative feed source to grains.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: Many edible mushrooms are known to accumulate high levels of heavy metals. This research was focused on health risk assessment to investigate the mushrooms in Korea, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) contaminations in edible mushrooms in cultivated areas were investigated, and health risk was assessed through dietary intake of mushrooms. METHODS AND RESULTS: The heavy metals in mushrooms were analyzed by ICP/MS after acid digestion. Probabilistic health risk were estimated by Monte-Carlo simulation techniques. The average contents of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg were $0.035{\pm}0.042$ mg/kg, $0.017{\pm}0.020$ mg/kg, $0.043{\pm}0.013$ mg/kg, and $0.004{\pm}0.004$ mg/kg, respectively. The results showed that contents of Cd and Pb did not exceed maximum residual levels established by European Uion regulation (Cd 0.20 mg/kg and Pb 0.30 mg/kg). For health risk assessment, estimated intakes in all age populations did not exceed the provisional tolerable daily intake of As and Hg, provisional tolerable monthly intake of Cd, provisional tolerable weekly intake of Pb. The Hazard Index (HI) were ranged from $0.03{\times}10^{-4}{\sim}0.01{\times}10^{-3}$ for As, $0.02{\times}10^{-3}{\sim}0.81{\times}10^{-3}$ for Cd, $0.06{\times}10^{-3}{\sim}0.38{\times}10^{-3}$ for Pb, and $0.08{\times}10^{-4}{\sim}0.14{\times}10^{-3}$ for Hg at general population. CONCLUSION: The HI from the ratio analysis between daily exposure and safety level values was less than 1.0. This results demonstrated that human exposure to heavy metals through dietary intake of mushrooms might not cause adverse effect.