• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.80-96
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• 2016

Recently, a series of lawsuits were filed in Korea claiming tort liability against tobacco companies. The Supreme Court has already issued decisions in some cases, while others are still pending. The primary issue in these cases is whether the epidemiological evidence submitted by the plaintiffs clearly proves the causal relationship between smoking and disease as required by civil law. Proving causation is difficult in tobacco lawsuits because factors other than smoking are involved in the development of a disease, and also because of the lapse of time between smoking and the manifestation of the disease. The Supreme Court (Supreme Court Decision, 2011Da22092, April 10, 2014) has imposed some limitations on using epidemiological evidence to prove causation in tobacco lawsuits filed by smokers and their family members, but these limitations should be reconsidered. First, the Court stated that a disease can be categorized as specific or non-specific, and for each disease type, causation can be proven by different types of evidence. However, the concept of specific diseases is not compatible with multifactor theory, which is generally accepted in the field of public health. Second, when the epidemiological association between the disease and the risk factor is proven to be significant, imposing additional burdens of proof on the plaintiff may considerably limit the plaintiff's right to recovery, but the Court required the plaintiffs to provide additional information such as health condition and lifestyle. Third, the Supreme Court is not giving greater weight to the evidential value of epidemiological study results because the Court focuses on the fact that these studies were group-level, not individual-level. However, group-level studies could still offer valuable information about individual members of the group, e.g., probability of causation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.202-212
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• 2021

Objectives: The reproductive health of female workers has been extensively investigated in South Korea and other countries worldwide. However, few studies have discussed the reproductive health of male workers. In this study, we reviewed the recent literature that reports on the effects of occupational exposure on the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. Methods: In May 2020 we used the PubMed search engine to search the literature over the last 10 years and chose case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies and reviews. We selected epidemiological studies that investigated the association between pre-pregnant occupational exposure and the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. We excluded case reports, non-epidemiological studies (animal experiments, cellular-level experiments, and similar articles), and studies that described postnatal occupational exposure. Results: We eventually selected 23 studies. The studies that included exclusively male workers reported that those employed in the agricultural sector or those exposed to pesticides showed lower blood levels of reproductive hormones and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers exposed to complex organic solvents and organic compounds showed a high risk of poor semen quality, increased time to pregnancy, decreased blood levels of reproductive hormones, and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers employed in occupations that involved significant social contact, or in the leather and livestock industries, and in occupations with high levels of exposure to lead and organic solvents showed a high risk of malignancies, including lympho-hematopoietic system cancer, neuroblastoma, and central nervous system tumors in their children. Studies that investigated both male and female workers reported that children of male smelters showed a high risk of premature birth, and children of male workers exposed to metals showed a high risk of hypospadias and cryptorchidism. Children of male welders and workers employed in the glass, ceramic, and tile industries showed a high risk of premature birth. Conclusion: The findings of this study will serve as basic data for further research on male workers' reproductive health and provide a scientific basis for the development of strategies to protect the reproductive health of males employed in high-risk occupations. Moreover, the results of this study may provide guidelines to improve the understanding of and knowledge on male workers' reproductive health.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.14-21
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• 2001

Many epidemiological studies have revealed that the use of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce the risk of colon cancer. Since the well-documented pharmacological action of aspirin and other NSAIDs is the inhibition of cyclooxygenase [COX, the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis], it has been inferred that the beneficial effect of NSAIDs may be mediated through the inhibition of PG biosynthesis.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.163.2-164
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• 2003

Several epidemiological studies suggested that arsenic exposure was strongly correlated with the development of cardiovascular disease such as hypertension. In order to examine whether arsenic affects vasomotor tone in blood vessels, we investigated the effect of arsenic on agonist-induced vasorelaxation using the isolated rat aortic rings in vitro organ bath system.Treatment with arsenite inhibited acetylcholine-induced relaxation of aortic rings in a concentration-dependent manner. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.212.3-213
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• 2003

Polyphenolic compounds including flavonoids are wide spread in the plant kingdom, and interested recently because epidemiological studies have suggested correlations between the consumption of polyphenol-rich plant foods and the prevention of chronic diseases. Soy is a main source of isoflavonoids which are high dietary intake for the oriental population. In this study, anti-inflammatory action of sophoricoside, an isoflavone glycoside isolated from immature fruits of Sophora japonica (Leguminosae family), has been demonstrated. (omitted)

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.27-40
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• 1977

The purpose of this paper is to know the cause of a rapidly fatal disease of Korean native cattle commonly occurred in the farm-houses in Gyeonsangbugdo district and the rest of the country. The author diagnosed this acute fatal disease of Korean native cattle as enterotoxemia due to Clostridium perfringens based on the clinical, epidemiological and pathological findings.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.106-106
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• 2002

Several epidemiological studies suggested that arsenic exposure was strongly correlated with the development of cardiovascular disease such as hypertension. In order to examine whether arsenic affects vasomotor tone in blood vessels, we investigated the effect of arsenic on agonist-induced vasorelaxation using the isolated rat aortic rings in in vitro organ bath system.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.67-67
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• 2002

According to the epidemiological studies in chromium workers, hexavalent chromium is associated with the risk of lung cancer. Genotoxicity such as chromosome aberration, and cellular oxidative damages by reactive oxygen species produced by hexavalent chromium exposure may play an important role in the carcinogenesis process.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.27-28
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• 2003

It is widely accepted that free-radical induced oxidative damages are involved in pathogenic processes of major diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. A number of epidemiological studies have indicated that frequent consumptions of plant foods rich in antioxidants reduce the risk of developing cancer and cardiovascular diseases, while many intervention trials have failed to prove the protective role of major dietary antioxidants.(omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.120-120
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• 2001

It is generally thought that continuous oxidative damage to DNA is a major contributor to the risk of cancer development. Epidemiological studies suggest that fruits and vegetables might reduce the risk of cancer through their antioxidant properties. This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of fruits and fruit juice consumption against the oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes of healthy subjects. (omitted)