• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.126-139
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• 2014

In order to estimate the influence of sources on $PM_{2.5}$ in the industrial area of Japan, we carried out a source analysis using chemical component data of $PM_{2.5}$. $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected intermittently at an industrial area in Japan from July 2010 to November 2012. Water soluble ions ($Cl^-$, $NO_3{^-}$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $Na^+$,$NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$), elements (Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, Pb), and carbonaceous species (OC, EC) of the $PM_{2.5}$ (a total of 198 samples) were analyzed. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model was applied to the data of those chemical components to identify the source of $PM_{2.5}$. At this observation site, nine factors were extracted. The major contributors of $PM_{2.5}$ were secondary sulfate 1, in which loading factors of $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NH_4{^+}$ were large (percentage source contribution: 20.9%), traffic, in which loading factors of OC (organic carbon) and EC (elemental carbon) were large (20.8%), secondary sulfate 2, in which loading factors of K and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ were large (8.0%), steel mills (7.8%), secondary chloride and nitrate (7.0%), soil (5.0%), heavy oil combustion (3.8%), sea salt (3.8%), and coal combustion (2.3%). The conditional probability function (CPF) and the potential source contribution function (PSCF) were carried out to examine the influence of a regional source and a broad-based source, respectively. CPF results supported local source influences such as steel mills, sea salt, traffic, coal combustion, and heavy oil combustion. PSCF results suggested that ships in the East China Sea, an industrial area of the east coastal region of China, and an active volcano in the Kyushu region of Japan were potential regional sources of secondary sulfate 1. Secondary sulfate 2 was affected by the burning of biomass fields and by coal combustion in Chinese urban areas such as Beijing, Hebei, and western Inner Mongolia. Source characterization using continuous data from one site showed a potential source representing fossil fuel combustion is affected both by regional and broad-based sources.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권17호
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• pp.8003-8008
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• 2015

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether family history of cancer is associated with head and neck cancer risk in a Chinese population. Materials and Methods: This case-control study included 921 cases and 806 controls. Recruitment was from December 2010 to January 2015 in eight centers in East Asia. Controls were matched to cases with reference to sex, 5-year age group, ethnicity, and residence area at each of the centers. Results: We observed an increased risk of head and neck cancer due to first degree family history of head and neck cancer, but after adjustment for tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking and betel quid chewing the association was no longer apparent. The adjusted OR were 1.10 (95% CI=0.80-1.50) for family history of tobacco-related cancer and 0.96 (95%CI=0.75-1.24) for family history of any cancer with adjustment for tobacco, betel quid and alcohol habits. The ORs for having a first-degree relative with HNC were higher in all tobacco/alcohol subgroups. Conclusions: We did not observe a strong association between family history of head and neck cancer and head and neck cancer risk after taking into account lifestyle factors. Our study suggests that an increased risk due to family history of head and neck cancer may be due to shared risk factors. Further studies may be needed to assess the lifestyle factors of the relatives.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.360-372
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• 2010

Concentrations of ambient air particles such as total suspended particulates (TSP), particulate matter $(PM)_{10}$, and $PM_{2.5}$, were monitored simultaneously from May to June, 2007, at four locations at Alashan and Beijing in China, and Seoul and Gosan in South Korea. These monitoring sites are in the pathway of Asian dust (AD) storms traveling from China to the Korean peninsula. An AD event was observed in the Korean peninsula on May 25-26. During the sampling period, the average concentrations of TSP and PM10 were each higher than $150\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in Alashan and Beijing, but not in Seoul and Gosan. The concentration of TSP in Alashan (where the dust storm originated) on the day of the AD event reached $1824.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$, this being the highest concentration of air particles observed during the sampling period. The level was decreased to 15% of this ($274.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$) in Seoul and to 8.7% ($159.0\;{\mu}g/m^3$) in Gosan when the AD was observed two days later in Korea. Gosan, a representative background site in East Asia, displayed the lowest concentration of particles, with this maximal TSP concentration of $159\;{\mu}g/m^3$. Inorganic element contents in the air particles were also measured, and the concentrations in the four different regions compared. Concentrations of anthropogenically-enriched heavy metals in $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$, such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, were higher in the metropolitan cities of Beijing and Seoul compared to non-industrialized regions of Alashan and Gosan. However, the concentrations of inorganic soil elements including iron, magnesium, aluminum sodium, and manganese, were higher in Alashan compared to those in other sampling sites.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.1-16
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• 2012

Objectives : The 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10) was held in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010, during which an international convention on access to genetic resources and conventional knowledge and sharing of benefits thereof was adopted. The Oriental Medicine field uses medicinal herbs based on genetic resources, as well as traditional knowledge about genetic resources. As such, if Korea, China and Japan compete over the ownership of such traditional knowledge, it will almost certainly trigger disputes over the payment of royalties among other problems. Notably, since the traditional medicine industry is closely related with China, it is highly likely this will adversely affect Korea's production of medicines using natural materials, including Korean herbal doctors' prescription, formulation and preparation of medicinal herbs. Methods : This study also analyzed the recent situation in Japan, which is the chair nation of the Nagoya Protocol and a member nation like Korea. It analyzed the Japanese people's awareness of the Nagoya Protocol and its strategies in the two years since its adoption, as well as the Guidelines for Genetic Resources, which were newly revised in 2012. Conclusions : The Nagoya Protocol requires the preparation of legislative and administrative measures and policies in order to pave the way for sharing the benefits deriving from the use of genetic resources and the relevant traditional knowledge with the providers of such resources. Thus, corresponding domestic legal measures need to be taken. Such measures include the refining of the procedure of accessing genetic resources, the designation of liaison offices, a competent agency and a supervisory agency, and the building of a system designed to issue internationally acknowledged certificates. It is also important to operate related professional consulting offices, as is the case in Japan. In addition, in the case of genetic resources, there is a need to seek multinational and bilateral cooperation including free trade agreements. Regarding traditional knowledge about genetic resources, measures need to be prepared to enable the three East Asian countries, namely, Korea, China and Japan, to commonly use ancient literature on Oriental medicine and to claim exclusive rights to such intellectual properties. Notably, with China now moving to expand the scope of traditional knowledge through the WIPO, Korea needs to prepare response measures.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.231-242
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• 2020

Purpose: In East Asian countries, there are only a few epidemiologic studies of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and no studies in children. We investigated the incidence and compared the clinical characteristics of EoE and eosinophilic gastroenteritis involving the esophagus (EGEIE) in Korean children. Methods: A total of 910 children, who had symptoms of esophageal dysfunction, from 10 hospitals in Korea were included. EoE was diagnosed according to diagnostic guidelines and EGEIE was diagnosed when there were >15 eosinophils in the esophagus per high power field (HPF) and >20 eosinophils per HPF deposited in the stomach and duodenum with abnormal endoscopic findings. Results: Of the 910 subjects, 14 (1.5%) were diagnosed with EoE and 12 (1.3%) were diagnosed with EGEIE. Vomiting was the most common symptom in 57.1% and 66.7% of patients with EoE and EGEIE, respectively. Only diarrhea was significantly different between EoE and EGEIE (p=0.033). In total, 61.5% of patients had allergic diseases. Exudates were the most common endoscopic findings in EoE and there were no esophageal strictures in both groups. The median age of patients with normal endoscopic findings was significantly younger at 3.2 years, compared to the median age of 11.1 years in those with abnormal endoscopic findings (p=0.004). Conclusion: The incidence of EoE in Korean children was lower than that of Western countries, while the incidence of EGEIE was similar to EoE. There were no clinical differences except for diarrhea and no differences in endoscopic findings between EoE and EGEIE.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권11호
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• pp.1651-1659
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• 2017

Objective: Lao PDR's recent accession to the World Trade Organization necessitates a greater understanding of the patterns and risk of livestock production in order to better align national policy with the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. This eco-health study was conducted to improve understanding of the interrelations between market chains and zoonotic infection risks at two strategic cross border points between Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. Methods: Information gained from smallholder farmer/trader interviews was integrated with serological surveys for pig-associated zoonoses-including hepatitis E virus (HEV), Taenia solium (T. solium) and trichinella-to identify potential linkages between disease risk and pig production and slaughter in low input systems common across the country. Results: Trichinella and HEV exposure was high in both humans and pigs in both study areas, significantly associated with pig slaughter and the subsequent consumption and handling of raw pork products. T. solium demonstrated a strong geographical and ethnic association with the northern study area bordering Vietnam. With the right knowledge and accessible, affordable inputs, the majority of smallholder farmers indicated a willingness to invest more in pig production, which could simultaneously improve livelihoods and decrease exposure to HEV, Trichinella, and T. solium through increased access to formal markets and an improved slaughter processes. Conclusion: The linkages identified when assessing disease risk in the context of potential economic and cultural drivers of transmission highlight the importance of a systems-based approach for the detection and control of zoonotic disease, and contributes to an improved understanding of the Lao PDR livestock sector.

• 한국의사학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.197-227
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• 2005

Heojun was the top scientist on Medicine in the 16th and 17th centuries and wrote the Dongeubogam describing the top-level medical theory and technology. So far, his outlook on nature has been disregarded even though his medicine is still effective. Through this study, I would like to know if his outlook on nature as well as his medicine is still effective. The conclusions are as follows: 1. According to his output, the origin of the universe started from the spinning of One Gi(一氣) which is quite different from Hawking's theory. Hawking assumed that the origin of the universe started from the Big-bang and will end to the Big-crunch. However, the current report on the origin of a star is quite similar to Heojun's theory and we acknowledge that his view on the origin of the universe is still effective. 2. According to his output, the universe repeats expanding and contracting forever while Hawking assumed it will come to the end, the Big-crunch, based on the expanding universe theory. Some scientists assists that Hawking's assumption should have some contradictions. Now, we acknowledge that Heojun's universal cycling theory which corresponds with modern physical theories is still effective, which would lead to a new environmental movement. 3. His view on the structure of the universe is quite different from the output of the current science, which results from his thought that the nature should be reviewed from the point of human's view. His view on the structure will be able to be updated based on the output of the current science. 4. The universe analogy started from the East Asian area as well as the Greek and Roman area in the ancient. The idea has disappeared since the scientific revolution era in the West while the idea has been deepened and abundant in the East and has become one of the major philosophical bases. Heojun emphasized its importance from the beginning of his book. 5. The nation analogy has been popular all times and places. According to his output, governing a country is like controlling one's body. 6. According to Needham's output, the universe analogy and the nation analogy were based on the ancient developed alchemy. And Harper assumed that Taiosm was based on the macrobiotic hygiene which was developed by the ancient developed alchemists. We acknowledge that xian(仙) cult, macrobiotic hygiene, medicine, alchemy and the ancient philosophy started from our ancients. Heojun's output restored our ancient tradition by combining the macrobiotic hygiene and philosophy with medicine. 7. Roughly predicting yearly weather would be unacceptable by the current scientist but Heojun's yearly weather forecast is still used in the clinic and seems effective to prepare from any epidemic disease. 8. 'Day and Night' and Four seasons are the most important factors to the macrobiotic hygiene according to the Dongeubogam. The new environmental movements should be based on the most important factors, otherwise the human beings as well as the environment would fail to survive. 9. Wind, Coldness, Heat, Humidity, Dryness and Fire represents weather. The six weather factors represent one of six phases of a year which is decided by the areal factors. Heojun preferred the six factors generated in the body itself to them from the outside. He thought a human being was a universe and the six factors generated in the body responded to the factors of the outside. 10. According to his output, Heat and Humidity are the most important factors which make a human being ill. 11. Life span, disease, food, and dwelling are dependent upon the geographical feature, according to Heojun's output. In addition, one's appearance and his five viscera and the six entrails depend on the food as well as the geographical feature. 12. Heath is related with the environment and they effects upon each other. If one is weak, he will be deeply effected by the nature. On the other hand, if one is strong, he will effect on the nature. That's why people live together. 13. According to Heojun's work, the society is an important factor comprising the environment. During a peaceful era, the society becomes stable and human beings are stable as well while they will be on fire during a chaotic era. 14. Medicine deals with human beings who live in the nature, so any medical book cannot be excellent unless it has any description on the nature. Heojun's outlook on the nature turned out to be logical and suitable even from the point of the current view and it is still effective as if his clinical knowledge and technology are still effective. Something unsuitable may be substituted with the output of the current science.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.199-207
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used in a range of therapeutic and healthcare applications in East Asian countries. Microbial transformation is regarded as an effective and useful technology in modification of nature products for finding new chemical derivatives with potent bioactivities. In this study, three minor derivatives of ginsenoside compound K were isolated and the inducing effects in the Wingless-type MMTV integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway were also investigated. Methods: New compounds were purified from scale-up fermentation of ginsenoside Rb1 by Paecilomyces bainier sp. 229 through repeated silica gel column chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography. Their structures were determined based on spectral data and X-ray diffraction. The inductive activities of these compounds on the Wnt signaling pathway were conducted on MC3T3-E1 cells by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Results: The structures of a known 3-keto derivative and two new dehydrogenated metabolites were elucidated. The crystal structure of the 3-keto derivative was reported for the first time and its conformation was compared with that of ginsenoside compound K. The inductive effects of these compounds on osteogenic differentiation by activating the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway were explained for the first time. Conclusion: This study may provide a new insight into the metabolic pathway of ginsenoside by microbial transformation. In addition, the results might provide a reasonable explanation for the activity of ginseng in treating osteoporosis and supply good monomer ginsenoside resources for nutraceutical or pharmaceutical development.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.311-318
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• 2006

The GJB2 mutation is mostly recessive in non-syndromic hearing loss, but specific mutations display a dominant type and syndromic hearing impairment. Both U54K and R75Q mutations present a dominant type in pedigrees with associated skin disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether two GJB2 mutations can exhibit a dominant-negative effect on the growth abrogation and the gap junctional intercellular communication capacity exerted by wild-type connexin 26. A specific mutant region of GJB2 showed a loss of gap junction activity and a dominant negative effect on wild-type GJB2. The two mutants exerted a dominant-negative effect on the GJIC capacity and have independently effected GJB2 regulated growth of Hela cells; however, they have no dominant-negative growth effect on wild-type GJB2. It is proposed that the different mechanisms of the dominant-negative effect on wild-type GJB2 involve cell growth and GJIC function. This study describes mutations found in Korean deaf patients and that are typical of other east Asian regions.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.143-146
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• 2011

Some of men have been suffered from the insufficient secretion of testosterone causing by physical factors, social and psychological factors. Testosterone is an essential steroid hormone controlling male reproductive function. Alternative medicines in plants, fungi, and insects have been studied to enhance sexuality. $Cordyceps$ species including $Cordyceps$ $sinensis$ (CS) and $C.$ $militaris$(CM) has been used as for the enhancement of sexual functionfor hundreds of years in Far East Asian. In the present study, we determined the effect of fruiting bodies of $C.$ $militaris$ which cultured on bee drone medium (CMD) and brown rice medium (CMB) on testosterone concentration in Sprague-Dawley rats. Eighteen rats per group were housed to regular diet or diet supplemented with CMB and CDD, respectively for 4 weeks. Serum was collected from 6 rats per group. Results showed that changes of the body weight, food and water intake of the rats were not observed in this study. However, both CMB and CDD increased the serum testosterone concentration in rats. Furthermore, CMD significantly stimulated testosterone production (p <0.05) compared to the control. Hence, it suggests that $C.$ $militaris$ fruiting bodymight be developed as a complementary medicine to improve sexual hormones.