• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.34.1-34.13
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between lead exposure and serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGT) levels as an oxidative stress marker in male steelworkers. Methods: Data were collected during the annual health examination of workers in 2020. A total of 1,654 steelworkers were selected, and the variables for adjustment included the workers' general characteristics, lifestyle, and occupational characteristics. The association between the blood lead level (BLL) and serum γGT level was investigated by multiple linear and logistic regression analyses. The BLL and serum γGT values that were transformed into natural logarithms were used in multiple linear regression analysis, and the tertile of BLL was used in logistic regression analysis. Results: The geometric mean of the participants' BLLs and serum γGT level was 1.36 ㎍/dL and 27.72 IU/L, respectively. Their BLLs differed depending on age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, drinking status, shift work, and working period, while their serum γGT levels differed depending on age, BMI, smoking status, drinking status, physical activity, and working period. In multiple linear regression analysis, the difference in models 1, 2, and 3 was significant, obtaining 0.326, 0.176, and 0.172 (all: p < 0.001), respectively. In the multiple linear regression analysis stratified according to drinking status, BMI, and age, BLLs were positively associated with serum γGT levels. Regarding the logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of the third BLL tertile in models 1, 2, and 3 (for having an elevated serum γGT level within the first tertile reference) was 2.74, 1.83, and 1.81, respectively. Conclusions: BLL was positively associated with serum γGT levels in male steelworkers even at low lead concentrations (< 5 ㎍/dL).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7351-7355
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• 2014

Background: Laryngeal carcinogenesis is a multifactorial process that has not been fully elucidated. Despite extensive research, reliable markers with diagnostic and prognostic value are still lacking. It was recently reported that an elevated preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) may correlate with an increased risk of recurrence, tumor aggressiveness and poorer prognosis in various malignancies. The aim of this study was to examine whether NLR could be used as an inflammatory marker to differentiate laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients from benign laryngeal lesion (BLL) and precancerous laryngeal lesion (PLL) patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was performed on 209 patients admitted to a tertiary referral center with laryngeal lesions and undergoing biopsies to establish their histopathological diagnosis. We reviewed the patient files for their clinical, histopathological and laboratory data. The patients were divided into three groups according to their histopathological findings, as BLL, PLL and LSCC groups. The patients in the PLL group were also divided into three subgroups as mild, moderate and severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ (CIS) subgroups. The groups were compared for NLR and the other laboratory data. Results: The mean NLRs of the BLL, PLL and the LSCC groups were $2.12{\pm}0.86$, $2.32{\pm}0.68$ and $3.46{\pm}1.51$, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). The mean NLRs of the patients with PLL and LSCC were significantly higher than the patients with BLL (p=0.031 and p=0.001, respectively). The mean NLRs were similar among mild dysplasia, moderate dysplasia and severe dysplasia / CIS groups (p>0.05). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating NLR in BLL, PLL and LSCC. NLR is an inexpensive, reproducible and widely available blood test, and could be a useful inflammatory marker to differentiate LSCC from BLL and PLL.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.281-287
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• 2016

Earlier studies conducted on lead-exposed workers have determined the reticulocyte count (RC) (%), but the parameters of Absolute Reticulocyte Count (ARC), Reticulocyte Index (RI), and Reticulocyte Production Index (RPI) were not reported. This study assessed the effect of lead (Pb) exposure on the status of reticulocyte count indices in workers occupied in lead battery plants. The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 391 male lead battery workers. The blood lead levels (BLL) were determined by using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The RC (%) was estimated by using the supravital staining method. The parameters, such as ARC, RI, and RPI, were calculated by using the RC (%) with the red cell indices (RBC count and hematocrit). The levels of RBC count and hematocrit were determined by using an ABX Micros ES-60 hematology analyzer. The levels of reticulocyte count indices - RC (%), ARC, RI, and RPI significantly increased with elevated BLL. The association between BLL and reticulocyte count indices was positive and significant. The results of linear multiple regression analysis showed that the reticulocyte count (${\beta}=0.212$, P < 0.001), ARC (${\beta}=0.217$, P < 0.001), RI (${\beta}=0.194$, P < 0.001), and RPI (${\beta}=0.208$, P < 0.001) were positively associated with BLL. The variable, smoking habits, showed a significant positive association with reticulocyte count indices: RC (%) (${\beta}=0.188$, P < 0.001), ARC (${\beta}=0.174$, P < 0.001), RI (${\beta}=0.200$, P < 0.001), and RPI (${\beta}=0.151$, P < 0.005). The study results revealed that lead exposure may cause reticulocytosis with an increase of reticulocyte count indices.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2022

The current observational epidemiological study analyzed blood lead levels (BLLs) in occupationally exposed workers from Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia and correlated them with the alterations in the differential cell populations of the WBC panel (lymphocytes [Lym %], mixed [Mid %] cells, and neutrophils [Neu %]). In addition, we examined the effect of confounding factors and their relation to BLLs. BLLs were estimated using the LeadCare II analyzer and hematological parameters using the ADVIA 120 analyser. An inferential analysis was conducted to detect association between the observations and the subjects' clinical characateristics. A total of 132 male subjects were included in the final analyses. Based on CDC guidelines, the subjects were categorized as Group I (BLL <10 ㎍/dL; n=118) or Group II (BLL >10 ㎍/dL; n=14) with average BLLs of 4.4 ㎍/dL and 18.1 ㎍/dL, respectively (p <0.0001). The percentages of Mid cells (p <0.0001) and neutrophils (p=0.048), were significantly altered in subjects with High BLL. A regression analysis indicated that subjects > 50 years of age had significantly higher BLLs (53.2 ㎍/dL) than younger age sub-groups (p <0.0001). Age, education, and profession were significant predictors for lead toxicity. Pb exposure is a major public health issue in Saudi Arabia and calls for further investigations on the cellular and molecular effects on hematological system.

• Management Science and Financial Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.1-27
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• 2007

This paper presents a fuzzy-goal programming(FGP) approach for Bi-Level Linear Multiple Objective Decision Making(BLL-MODM) problem in a large hierarchical decision making and planning organization. The proposed approach combines the attractive features of both fuzzy set theory and goal programming(GP) for MODM problem. The GP problem has been developed by fixing the weights and aspiration levels for generating pareto-optimal(satisfactory) solution at each level for BLL-MODM problem. The higher level decision maker(HLDM) provides the preferred values of decision vector under his control and bounds of his objective function to direct the lower level decision maker(LLDM) to search for his solution in the right direction. Illustrative numerical example is provided to demonstrate the proposed approach.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2007

Objectives : The objective of this study was to research delayed growth with acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. Methods : We search the oriental medical literature related to delayed growth, especially loose skull, pigeon chest(龜胸), turtle back(龜背), five kinds of flaccidity(五軟), five kinds of retardations(五遲) and infantile malnutrition(疳證). Results : 1. Loose skull is treated with moxibustion therapy of CV8(神厥) and two points(1.5cm upper and under of CV8) 2. Pigeon chest(龜胸) is treated with moxibustion therapy of GB38(外丘), ST18(乳根) and 6 points around of STl7(乳中). 3. Turtle back(龜背) is treated with moxibustion therapy of BLl3(肺兪), BL15(心兪) and BLl7(膈兪) 4. Acupuncture therapy of five kinds of flaccidity(五軟) was rare. but there are one case to stimulate Hwatahyeopcheok point using plum-blossom needle. 5. Five kinds of retardations(五遲) is treated with moxibustion therapy of BLl5(心兪) and two point of medial malleolus 6. Infantile malnutrition(疳證) is treated with acupuncture therapy of the spleen channel and stomach. channel, therapy using three-edged needle, cutting therapy(LUlO(魚際) and Sabong), moxibustion therapy(LRl3(章門) and BL2l(胃兪), and Ch'una therapy. Conclusion: We expect that acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of delayed growth will be applied practically in clinical medicine due to further study on delayed growth.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.180-189
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• 2001

We have reported that water-extracted Korean mistletoe (KM-110) had various biological activities such as antitumor and immunomodulatory activity, and the pectin fraction (KML-C) of the extract was one of major factors related to its biological functions. In this paper, we produced murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) against KML-C. The cAbs obtained were largely classified into two groups according to specificity to KML-C and ML-I, a pectin from European mistletoe. One group mAbs (9H7-D10 and 3C2-lH4) strongly reacted with KML-C, but not ML-I. In contrast, another group cAbs (8Bll-2C5, BE12-3E9 and 5E10-Fl) reacted with both KML-C and ML-1. The subisotypes of these mobs were shown to be IgGl (9H7-lD10, 3C2-lH4 and 8Bll-2C5) or IgM (8E12-3E9 and 5E10-Fl). To develop an assay system for determination of the amount of KML-C, we established the sandwich ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method using these mAbs and horse radish peroxidase (HRP)-labelled cAbs. In various combinations of the cAbs for coated antibody and detection antibody, the sandwich ELISA quantitatively detected KML-C, showing the detection limit ranging from 7-5,000 ng/ml. Especially reproducibility (C.V) of the sandwich ELISA, in which 8E12-3E9 was used for coating antibody and 8Bll-2C5-HRP for detection antibody, was 4.59-5.83 in intra assay, and 3.9-9.4 in inter assay.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1158-1163
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• 2006

More than 95% of lead, a environmental heavy metal, entering into blood accumulates in erythrocytes suggesting erythrocytes as an important target of lead toxicity. Recent studies reported that erythrocytes could contribute to blood coagulation via phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure in erythrocytes. However, in vivo effects of chronic lead exposure especially by drink-ing water on procoagulant activity of erythrocytes have not been studied yet. In the present study, we investigated the effects of chronic exposure of lead by drinking water on erythrocytes in rats. Groups of 40 male rats were provided with drinking water containing various concentrations of lead for 4 weeks and complete blood cell count, procoagulant activities of erythrocytes and platelets were evaluated with basic inspections on body weight and food/water consumption. The administration of lead containing drinking water increased the blood lead level (BLL) in a dose-dependent manner up to $22.39{\pm}2.26\;{\mu}g/dL$. Water consumption was significantly decreased while food consumption or body weight gain was not affected. In contrast to the previous findings with acute lead exposure, chronic lead exposure failed to increase PS exposure in erythrocytes with statistical significance although some trends of enhancement were observed. It implies that a certain adaptation might have happened in body during repeated exposure to lead, resulting in attenuation of PS exposure. With this study, we believe that a valuable information was provided for the study on the toxicological significance and the risk assessment of lead contaminated drinking water.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.999-1008
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• 1993

동기추적 루프는 수신된 확산 부호의 동적 파형에 대한 추적을 수행함에 있어 AWGN 존재 하에서 낮은 동기추적 지터를 목적으로 설계되며, 전송지연에 대한 효율적인 추적을 위한 루프의 대역폭이 요구된다. 본 논문에서는 지연동기루프의 최적 설계를 위한 대역통과필터의 대역폭에 대하여 고찰하였다. NRZ 데이타의 경우 단극, 쌍극 및 이상적 Butterworth 대역통과 필터를 채용한 비코히어런트 BLL의 재곱손실을 구하였으며, 이를 통해 루프의 동기추적 지터를 최소화하는 대역통과필터의 최적의 대역폭을 주어진 데이타율과 수신비트에너지대 잡음밀도비에 대해 구하였다. 결과로서 NRZ 데이타의 경우 합리적인 대역통과필터의 최적대역폭이 존재함을 알 수 있으며, 아울러 DLL의 동기추적 지터에 대한 성능은 사용된 필터의 종류에 대해서는 비교적 민감하지 않음을 알 수 있다.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.359-362
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• 2008

This study examined the efficacy of needle-acupuncture (AP) at Nei Guan (PC06) and Xin Shu (BL15) on canine tachycardia. A total of 18 beagle dogs were divided into three groups: a control (6 heads), PC06 (6 heads) and PC06 (6 heads) group. Tachycardia was induced by an intramuscular injection of glycopyrrolate. No treatment was given to the control group. Needle-AP at PC06 and BL15 were applied simultaneously at the same time as the glycopyrrolate injection for 20 minutes in PC06 and BL15 groups, respectively. The changes in R-R intervals and respiration rates were determined. The changes in the R-R intervals in the PC06 and BL15 groups were significantly higher than the control group. The R-R intervals of the BL15 group were significantly higher than in the PC06 group. The changes in the respiration rates in the PC06 group were similar to those of the control group. However, the respiration rates in the BL15 group were significantly lower than the control and PC06 groups. In conclusion, needle-AP at PC06 and BL15 is effective in assisting in the recovery from induced canine tachycardia. However, needle-AP at BL15 is more effective than that at PC06.