• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2003

Effects of tributyltin chloride (TBTC) in vitro on mixed function oxygenase (MFO) system on liver microsome of eight marine fish species were investigated. To determine the effects on MFO system, cytochrome P45O (CYP) and cytochrome b5 con-tents, activities of two reductases (NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase and NADPH-cy-tochrome P450 reductase) and four dealkylation enzymes (EROD, PROD, MROD and ECOD) were measured in fish microsoms exposed to TBTC for 20 min. The WP content was reduced to 10% of the control group in 6 out of 8 species exposed to TBTC, whereas there was no significant change in the cytochrome bs content. the response of NAD(P)H dependant reductases depended on fish species. The dealkylation enzyme activities in microsome were also apparently inhibited by TBTC. The degree of inhibition was different among fish species and four enzymes. The EROD activities in eight species were decreased to the range of 1∼65% of control group.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.182-190
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• 2008

A survey on consumer's awareness and perception toward genetically-modified(GM) foods was conducted on 2110 random samples of Korean consumers. More than 65% of the respondents were exposed to some information related to GM foods. The respondents answered that the greatest benefit of the development of GM foods is remedy of potential food shortages in the future. More than 90% of Korean consumers wanted GM foods to be labeled as such. More than 50% of the respondents would not buy until they know more about GM foods. Only 35.8% of Korean consumers were found to know that food items originating from plants contained genes. More consumers responded that they would not buy herbicide-resistant GM soybean but buy vitamin-enriched GM soybean. Many Korean consumers' decision of acceptance or rejection of GM foods depend not on the basis of biotechnology, but on the basis of the degree of benefit to the consumers. Only 6.4% of Korean consumers responded that GM foods were the greatest threat to the safety of Korean foods. The perception of Korean consumers on GM foods has not changed significantly during the past 5 years.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 1994

The authors investigated the relationship between the response to the external stimulation and ability of verbal behavior in the patients with somatoform disorder who have pain. The subjects consisted of 34 patients(male 10, female 24) and 37 normal controls(male 19, female 18). Pressure pain thesholds were measured by algometer and alexithymia was assessed by Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS). Somatization Scale of SCL-90R and Parental Bonding Instrument were also used. It was shown that 82.4% of the patients had chronic somatic complaints. The mean values of TAS, degree of somatic symptoms and pressure pain thresholds were significantly higher in the patient group than in the normal controls. 44.1% of the patients was considered alexithymia group and there was no correlation between scores of alexithymia and value of pressure pain thresholds. In conclusion, the patients with somatoform disorder who had pain were dull in pain perception to external physical stimulation. This result suggested that their low perception of pain could be closely related with chronicity of illness. And the Poverty of verbal expression of inner emotion was suggested to be one of the factors affecting somatization and difficulty in psychotherapy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.156-163
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• 2001

Background: The categorical scales and visual analogue scales (VAS) are methods used for evaluating variations of postoperative pain intensity. Several studies have introduced the idea that there is a clear correlation between visual scales and categorical scales. However, when VAS is the only pain measure in the study, we do not know what point on the VAS represents a category on the categorical scale and their degree of correlation with satisfaction for postoperative pain. Methods: 252 patients who had undergone elective surgery were studied. A 5-point categorical scale (none, mild, moderate, severe, worst possible pain), a 0-100 mm VAS (no pain to worst possible pain) and patient satisfaction score were checked 24 hours after surgery using a pain questionnaire and VAS tool. Results: The mean VAS score of the 14 patients reporting 'no-pain' was $1.9{\pm}0.9$, $23.9{\pm}1.0$ for the 132 patients reporting 'mild-pain', $47.2{\pm}1.1$ for the 82 patients reporting 'moderate-pain' and $67.5{\pm}2.8$ for the 24 patients reporting 'severe-pain'. Of the patients reporting moderate pain, 85% scored over 45.6 mm on the corresponding VAS, with a mean score 47.2 mm. The mean satisfaction scores were $90.6{\pm}2.7$ for the 'no pain', patients, $75.1{\pm}1.3$ for ‘mild pain', $58.3{\pm}1.5$ for 'moderate pain', and $55.1{\pm}4.0$ for 'severe pain' patients. The categorical scale was significantly correlated with VAS (P < 0.01). The satisfaction score was significantly inversely correlated with VAS (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results indicate that if a patient records a VAS score in excess of 45.6 mm they would probably have recorded at least moderate pain on a 5-point categorical scale. The categorical scale can be used properly for postoperative pain measurement with VAS. More research is required for the development of suitable pain descriptor for a categorical scale and pain questionnaire in Korean.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.308-313
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• 2008

Objective: The serum S100 protein has been known to reflect the severity of neuronal damage. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic value of the serum S100 protein by Elecsys S100 immunoassay in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and to establish reference value for this new method. Methods: Serum S100 protein value was measured at admission, day 3 and 7 after bleeding in 42 consecutive patients (SAH : 20, ICH : 22) and 74 healthy controls, prospectively. Admission Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, Hunt & Hess grade and Fisher grade for SAH, presence of intraventricular hemorrhage, ICH volume, and outcome at discharge were evaluated. Degrees of serum S100 elevation and their effect on outcomes were compared between two groups. Results: Median S100 levels in SAH and ICH groups were elevated at admission (0.092 versus $0.283{\mu}g/L$) and at day 3 (0.110 versus $0.099{\mu}g/L$) compared to healthy controls ($0.05{\mu}g/L;$ p<0001). At day 7, however, these levels were normalized in both groups. Time course of S100 level in SAH patient was relatively steady at least during the first 3 days, whereas in ICH patient it showed abrupt S100 surge on admission and then decreased rapidly during the next 7 days, suggesting severe brain damage at the time of bleeding. In ICH patient, S100 level on admission correlated well with GCS score (r=-0.859; p=0.0001) and ICH volume (r=0.663; p=0.001). A baseline S100 level more than $0.199{\mu}g/L$ predicted poor outcome with 92% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Logistic regression analyses showed Ln (S100) on admission as the only independent predictor of poor outcome (odd ratio 36.1; 95% CI, 1.98 to 656.3) Conclusion: Brain damage in ICH patient seems to develop immediately after bleeding, whereas in SAH patients it seems to be sustained for few days. Degree of brain damage is more severe in ICH compared to SAH group based on the S100 level. S100 level is considered an independent predictor of poor outcome in patient with spontaneous ICH, but not in SAH. Further study with large population is required to confirm this result.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.178-187
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• 2020

Objective : The extensive vasa vasorum network functions as a conduit for the entry of inflammatory cells or factors that promote the progression of angiogenesis and plaque formation. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between the carotid vasa vasorum activities and carotid plaque vulnerability using indocyanine green video angiography (ICG-VA) during carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Methods : Sixty-nine patients who underwent CEA were enrolled prospectively from September 2015 to December 2017. During CEA, a bolus of ICG was injected intravenously before and after resecting the atheroma. Additionally, we performed immunohistochemistry using CD68 (a surface marker of macrophages), CD117 (a surface marker of mast cells), and CD4 and CD8 (surface markers of T-cells) antibodies to analyze the resected plaque specimens. Results : The density of active vasa vasorum was observed in all patients using ICG-VA. The vasa vasorum externa (VVE) and interna (VVI) were seen in 11 (16%) and 57 patients (82.6%), respectively. Macroscopically, the VVE-type patterns were strongly associated with preoperative angiographic instability (81.8%, p=0.005) and carotid plaque vulnerability (90.9%, p=0.017). In contrast, the VVI-type patterns were weakly associated with angiographic instability (31.6%) and plaque vulnerability (49.1%). CD68-stained macrophages and CD117-stained mast cells were observed more frequently in unstable plaques than in stable plaques (p<0.0001, p=0.002, respectively). Conclusion : The early appearance of VVE, along with the presence of many microvessel channels that provided nutrients to the developing and expanding atheroma during ICG-VA, was strongly associated with unstable carotid plaques. The degree of infiltration of macrophages and mast cells is possibly related to the formation of unstable plaques.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.170-176
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• 2018

Laboratory inspection and diagnosis is a means of investigating and assessing various hazards or the state of research equipment in a laboratory, then taking appropriate safety measures to prevent accidents and injury. In many cases, laboratory inspection and diagnosis carried out by agencies are performed in a perfunctory manner that only barely satisfies the legal requirements. The aim of the present study is to provide clearly established pricing criteria for laboratory inspection and diagnosis, so as to prevent recurrence of laboratory accidents and to establish a safe laboratory environment. In order to clarify previously unclear matters, such as the lower limit for bids submitted by laboratory inspection and diagnosis agencies, technical manpower requirements, and number of laboratories inspected and diagnosed per day, a questionnaire survey was administered to agency personnel. First, when asked what the lower limit for bids submitted by agencies should be in order to improve reliability of inspection and diagnosis results and make up for the shortcomings of the lowest-bidder-wins system, 85.5% of respondents answered that the lower limit for bids should stand at no lower than 90% of the estimated price. The level of technical expertise among the technical personnel committed to laboratory inspection and diagnosis was shown to impact the reliability of results, and questionnaire results indicated a need to vary technical expertise levels depending on the degree of hazard, substances handled, and equipment used in a given laboratory. Level of technical expertise(67.1%) and number of personnel(52.6%) were shown to have a greater impact on reliability of diagnosis than on reliability of inspection. According to the results, it is determined that three persons(specialist, advanced and intermediate) should be committed to inspections, while four persons(professional, specialist, advanced and intermediate) should be committed to diagnoses. The respondents indicated a larger number of laboratories could be inspected than diagnosed per day. This can be attributed to differences in the amount of work each task involves, and the time each task takes. Assuming a six-hour work day not counting transportation, paperwork and rest, it is thought that inspection of up to 36 laboratories will be possible if each laboratory is assigned no more than 10 minutes(34.7%), while up to 24 laboratories could be inspected and diagnosed if each laboratory is assigned 15 to 20 minutes(35.1%).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.309-320
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• 1999

Medial patellar luxation in dogs is one of the most common patellar problems presented to the veterinary practitioner. It is observed in toy and miniature breed and the majority of cases is a congenital form. Because of extensor mechanism's instability, it causes deformity and disorder in the growth of the affected limb when the luxation is left without treatment As lameness is not easily detectable in puppies, early diagnosis and correction are essential for therapy. Up to now, there has not been any reports refering to the diagnostic methods and the optimal age for correction in young dogs. Thirteen 45-90 days old puppies, have grade I and/or II medial patellar luxation. Only by palpation, all 13 dogs were diagnosed of patelar luxation. Skyline radiographic view was useful to interpret patellar morphology and depth of trochlear groove only above 60 days old. However, it was difficult to make definite diagnosis patellar luxation. The caudocranial and lateral radiographic view as well as ultrasonographic skyline view were not showed of patellar luxation. 2 puppies had unilateral patellar luxation and 11 puppies had bilateral patellar luxation which more serious on the left than on the right. Only 3 puppies among 11 puppies with bilateral patellar luxation were observed of lameness degree 1. Regardless of grade of patellar luxation and lameness, we performed trochlear chondroplasty using a U-shape sculpture blade to minimize cartilage injury, transposition of tibia tuberosity with No. 1 Supramid to align extensor mechanism and lateral imbrication. After surgery, we examined the operated animal daily for 10 days and on 15, 30 and 60 days after surgery respectively. After operation, pain and fever became normal on 7 days, swelling on 10 days, respectively. On 10 days after surgery, dogs showed normal standing position, and normal walking was observed in 15 days after surgery. In force plate analysis, the operated legs were normal weight bearing at 30 days after operation. After surgery, not only patellar luxation and clinical signs have been gradually reduced but also bone growth have become normal without showing growth physeal plate injury. The survival rate of puppies over 62 days old was 100%, while 42-45 days old 37.5%. The above results suggest that optimal age for surgical correction of congenital medial patellar luxation is recommended over 60 days old. In conclusion, combination of trochlear chondroplasty, transposition of tibia tuberosity, and lateral retinacular imbrication is appropriate for over 60 days old puppies to efficiently correct patellar luxation.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.3-15
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• 1975

How to stabilize wood against shrinking and swelling in variable atmospheric moisture conditions is important to the wood-using industry and a challenge to research. Polyethylene glycol stabilize wood by bulking the fiber. PEG also serve as a chemical seasoning agent, suppress decay in high concentrations, and have slight effect on physical properties, gluing or finishing. The study designed to determine the effect of PEG-400 on the dimensional stabilization of local hardwoods for wood carvings that could supply a greatly expanding tourist trade and making curved furniture parts, lamp stands and other decorative objects, and possible gunstock. The species examined were 6 species, Seo-Namoo (Carpinus laxiflora), Cheungcheung-Namoo (Cornus controversa), Gorosae-Namoo (Acer mono), Karae-Namoo (Juglans mandshurica), Jolcham-Namoo (Quercusserrata) and Sanbud-Namoo (Prunus sargentii), used as block of 5cm thick radially to the grain, 7cm wide tangentially, and 70cm long parallel to the wood grain. All these test piecies were conditioned above the fiber saturation point before impregnation. The stabilization effects were determined for PEG-400 treated woods in a 50 percent solution for 20 days. The following conclusions were obtained. PEG retentions increased with treating time. It was more effective to treat at 60$^{\circ}C$ than at room temperature. In degree of PEG-400 impregnation on species, Cheungcheung-Namoo havinglow specific gravity had the highest retentions, 68.77% but the lowest, 56.33% was shown in Jolcham-Namoo with high specific gravity. Specific gravity of treated wood increased considerably with effectiveness of polymer loading. The increases in specific gravity were 5.36 to 13.16 percent. The highest was Jolcham-Namoo, the lowest Karae-Namoo. On the dimensional stability, a 40 percent of effectiveness of polymer loading was just as effective as 60 percent in reduction in water absorptivity (RWA), antishrinkage efficiency (ASE) and antiswelling efficiency (AE), and from over 60 percent they increased more rapidly. Also species response varied considerably. ASE was 30.12 to 69.97 percent tangentially and 27.86 to 56.37 percent radially, AE 34.06 to 73.76 percent tangentially and 30.11 to 70.12 percent radially, and RWA 42.31 to 65.32 percent. No differences in volume swelling among the 6 species were observed. Its values were ranged from 14.98 to 19.55 percent and also increased with PEG retentions. On the mechanical properties, the strengths very much decreased with PEG-400 loadings as shown in Figure 12; that were 11.41 to 22.90 percent in compression, 21.61 to 34.35 percent in bending and 22.83 to 36.83 percent in tensile strength. PEG retention in cell wall was less than 1 percent and the most of PEG were immersed in cell lumen. Except for Korae-Namoo, effectivenesses of polymer loading were as much high as 61.58 to 75.02 percent. This is believed to be due to the effect of PEG-400 on excellant dimensional stability of treated woods.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 1998

In order to monitor the degree of heavy metal distribution in upland cultivations in Korea, both the cultivated soils and crops were collected from the 854 and 140 sites, respectively. The contents of cadmium (Cd), copper(Cu), lead(Pb), and zinc(Zn) in each sample were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma(ICP) technique after 1N-HCl extraction. The content of Arsenic(As) was also measured with the same technique after 1N-HCl extraction. The average contents of heavy metal in surface soils(0~15 cm depth) were $0.135mg\;kg^{-1}$ for Cd, $2.77mg\;kg^{-1}$ for Cu, $3.47mg\;kg^{-1}$ for Pb, $10.7mg\;kg^{-1}$ for Zn, and $0.57mg\;kg^{-1}$ for As. Heavy metal contents of soil were similar to those values measured for upland soils in 1989, lower than soils under plastic film house in 1996. However, these contents were lower than "Countermeasure values for soil contamination"(Cd: 4, Cu: 125, Pb: 300, and As: $15mg\;kg^{-1}$ in soil) describled in Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea(1996). The contents of heavy metal in fresh vegetable, and root and tuber crops ranged $0.005{\sim}0.019mg\;kg^{-1}$ for Cd, $0.20{\sim}1.03mg\;kg^{-1}$ for Cu, $0.042{\sim}0.104mg\;kg^{-1}$ for Pb, and $2.0{\sim}4.0mg\;kg^{-1}$ for Zn, respectively.