• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.336-341
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• 2010

One mechanism of inner ear damage by noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because Korean red ginseng (KRG) has an anti-ROS effect in various tissues, KRG may have a role in preventing NIHL. A window period exists in which ROS formations continue after noise exposure, and further damage can be prevented by antioxidants. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of KRG after exposure to noise. KRG (200 mg/kg) was fed to mice for 3 days after noise exposure. The change in hearing level was analyzed by measuring the auditory brainstem response. To induce a temporary threshold shift (TTS) of hearing, mice were exposed to 110 dB white noise for 3 hours. Fast recovery of hearing was observed in mice fed KRG 1 hour and 1 day after noise exposure for 3 days. The expression of 8-oxoguanine was not observed in the inner ears of mice fed KRG 1 hour after noise exposure, but was evident in the stria vascularis of mice in the control group (noise exposure only). From this study, we conclude that KRG acted as an effective inhibitor of NIHL in TTS cases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.160-169
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• 1996

Effect of cigarette smoke exposure on 1-methyl-4-phpnyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-pyidine (Mm)-induced neurotoxicity was investigated in C57BL6 mice. Cigarette smoke exposure of mice to the mainstream smoke generated from 15 cigarettes for 10 mins per day, 5 days per week, for fi weeks, effectively attenuated the decline both in the level of striatal dopamine and the number of brrosine hydros:ylase-positive ceils in the brain caused by MPTP treahent. Exposure to cigarette smoke significantly decreased monoamine oxidate B activity in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. The activity of brain antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase, was not changed by cigarette smoke exposure or MPTP treatment. Sulfhydryl compounds content in all brain regions except for the striatum was uniquely increased by MPTP treatment, however, such an effect of MPTP was not observed in mice exposed to cigarette smoke. These results suggest that cigarette smoke exposure inhibits MPTP-induced neurotoxicity without influencing free radical metabolism in the brain of mice. This protective effect of cigarette smoke seems to be closely related with the decreased activity of brain monoamine oxidase H. Key words : cigarette smoke exposure, dopamine, monoamine oxidase B, antioxidant enzywles, MPTP.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.603-610
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• 2018

This study examined the following: accuracy of the exposure conditions in the inverter device and three-phase device; output waveform over the exposure conditions; and average and standard deviation of the output waveform. After assessing whether the dose corresponding to the theoretical dose was presented, the following conclusions were obtained: 1. The accuracy of the tube voltage(kVp) and tube current(mA) exposure time(sec) was within the tolerable level prescribed in Korea's Safety Management Standards. In the error, Inverter device was large the tube voltage and exposure time, the three-phase device was large the tube current. 2. In terms of the output waveform of the exposure conditions and the average and standard deviation of the output waveform, the higher tube voltage and larger tube current resulted in greater standard deviation in pulsation. Moreover, the standard deviation of pulsation was shown to be greater in the inverter device than the three-phase device; there was also greater standard deviation in the inverter device considering the exposure time. 3. Regarding the exposure conditions over the output dose, all linearity showed the coefficient of variation which had an allowable limit of error within 0.05. Although the output dose ratio for the inverter device was 1.00~1.10 times no difference that of the three-phase device, there was almost no difference in dose ratio between the tube currents.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2024

A high level of particulate matter (PM) in air is correlated with the onset and development of chronic respiratory diseases. We conducted a systematic literature review, searching the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for studies of biomarkers of the effect of PM exposure on chronic respiratory diseases and the progression thereof. Thirty-eight articles on biomarkers of the progression of chronic respiratory diseases after exposure to PM were identified, four of which were eligible for review. Serum, sputum, urine, and exhaled breath condensate biomarkers of the effect of PM exposure on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma had a variety of underlying mechanisms. We summarized the functions of biomarkers linked to COPD and asthma and their biological plausibility. We identified few biomarkers of PM exposure-related progression of chronic respiratory diseases. The included studies were restricted to those on biomarkers of the relationship of PM exposure with the progression of chronic respiratory diseases. The predictive power of biomarkers of the effect of PM exposure on chronic respiratory diseases varies according to the functions of the biomarkers.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.261-278
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• 1997

This experiment was performed in order to study the clinical effects of Gyumsuyukgunjun on the pulmonary injury caused by exposure of cigarette smoke in rats. Therefore, a writer reports on present experimental results having significant effects on the level of oxygen consumption, the lungs volume, the leukocyte, the hemoglobin level, and the $PaO_2$, $PaCO_2$ after administration of Gyumsuyukgunjun in order to study the clinical effects of Gyumsuyukgunjun on the pulmonary injury caused by exposure of cigarette smoke in rats. The results were obtained as follows: 1. In comparison with control group, The group of Gyumsuyukgunjun administration was revealed significant effects(P<0.005) of increase on the level of oxygen consumption. 2. In comparison with control group, The group of Gyumsuyukgunjun administration was revealed significant effects(P<0.005) of decrease on the lungs volume. 3. In comparison with control group, The group of Gyumsuyukgunjun administration was revealed significant effects(P<0.05) of decrease on the leukocyte counts. 4. In comparison with control group, The group of Gyumsuyukgunjun administration was revealed significant effects(P<0.05) of decrease on the hemoglobin level. 5. In comparison with control group, The group of Gyumsuyukgunjun administration was revealed significant effects(P<0.01) of increase on the $PaO_2$ level only of $PaO_2$, $PaCO_2$ level. It was concluded from the above results that Gyumsuyukgunjun has a significant effects on the pulmonary injury caused by cigarette smoke.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was performed to examine the influence of smoking on the blood cadmium concentration in university students. Methods : The study included 300 university students. A questionnaire interview was used to collect data. The urine cotinine and blood cadmium levels were measured as biological exposure indices. The data were analyzed using t-tests ANOVA and ANCOVA. Results : The median value of blood cadmium concentration was equal in both males and females ($0.8{\mu}g/l$). This level was relatively low in comparison with the reference value suggested by WHO (2001). ANCOVA showed that smoking related variables, urine cotinine and smoking amount, were significantly associated with the blood cadmium level (P=0.004, 0.015). However, the values with regard to traffic related air pollution were not significantly associated with the blood cadmium level. Conclusions : Smoking is an important source of nonoccupational cadmium exposure in young people. The Blood cadmium level is at least 10% higher in active smokers than in passive or nonsmokers. The level of urine cotinine can be used as an indicator of non-occupational exposure of respirable cadmium due to smoking, as there is a good correlation bestween smoking amount and the urine cotinine level.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.398-422
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• 2017

Objectives: The major aim of this study is to construct the database of retrospective exposure assessment for crystalline silica through reviews of literatures in South Korea. Methods: Airborne concentrations of crystalline silica were collected using an academic information search engine, Research Information Service System(RISS), operated by the Korea Education & Research Information Service(KERIS). The key words used for the literature search were 'silica', 'crystalline silica', 'cristobalite', 'quartz' and 'tridymite'. A total number of 18 published documents with the information of crystalline silica level in air or bulk samples were selected and used to estimate retrospective exposures to crystalline silica. Weighted arithmetic mean(WAM) calculated across studies was summarized by industry type. Industries were classified according to Korea Standard Industrial Classification(KSIC) using information provided in the literature. Results: A total of 2,131 individual air sampling data measured from 1987 to 2012 were compiled. Compiled individual measurement data consisted of 827 respirable crystalline silica (RCS), 31 total crystalline silica(TCS), 24 crystalline silica(CS), 778 respirable dust(RD) and 471 total dust(TD). Most of RCS measurements(68.9%) were collected from 'cast of metals(KSIC 243)'. Comparing industry types, 'mining coal and lignite(KISC 051)' showed the highest WAM concentration of RCS, $0.14mg/m^3$, followed by $0.11mg/m^3$ of 'manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products(KSIC 239)', $0.108mg/m^3$ of 'manufacture of ceramic ware(KSIC 232)', $0.098mg/m^3$ of 'heavy construction(KSIC 412)' and $0.062mg/m^3$ of 'cast of metals(KSIC 243)'. In terms of crystalline silica contents in airborne dust, 'manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products(KSIC 239)' showed the highest value of 7.3%(wt/wt), followed by 6.8% of 'manufacture of ceramic ware(KSIC 232)', 5.8% of 'mining of iron ores(KSIC 061)', 4.9% of 'cast of metals(KSIC 243)' and 4.5% of 'heavy construction(KSIC 412)'. WAM concentrations of RCS had no consistent trends over time from 1994 ($0.26mg/m^3$) to 2012 ($0.12mg/m^3$). Conclusion: The data set related RCS exposure level by industries can be used to determine not only the possibility of retrospective exposure to RCS, but also to evaluate the level of quantitative retrospective exposure to RCS.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.94-102
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• 1969

The protective action of methylene blue against gamma-irradiation was studied with rats. Albino rats were given 360 rads of whole-body gamma-irradiation following an intraperitoneal injection of physiological saline or methylene blue. Male rats given methylene blue (38mg/kg) and the control rats given saline were alive following gamma-irradiation. Serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and LDH isoenzyme patterns in serum and various organs were determined at various time intervals after the exposure. 1) The serum LDH level in both the control and methylene blue-treated rats was increased during the initial phase, but returned to the initial level thereafter. 2) Methylene blue showed a marked delay in the rise of serum LDH at 15 and 64 hours after exposure. 3) The exposure in the control and methylene blue-treated rats resulted in an increase in the relative amount of the more electrophoretically mobile-anodal isoenzyme (band 1) and a decrease in the least mobile-cathodal isoenzyme (band 5) in serum, liver, heart and testis nearly at 40 and 116 hours, respectively. 4) Isoenzyme patterns in serum, liver and testis after exposure were not significantly different between the control and the methylene blue-treated rats. 5) Methylene blue showed a slight delay in alteration of heart tissue LDH isoenzyme patterns after exposure. 6) The increase of serum LDH level after exposure is a reflection of an immediate increase in the H type, band 1 of LDH isoenzymes. 7) It is concluded from this study that methylene blue has a remarkable radioprotective action in the serum LDH activity and in the heart tissue LDH isoenzyme patterns.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.103-114
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure levels due to the use of power hand tools and to evaluate the determinants in the automobile assembly process. Methods: The exposure level to HAV was evaluated for 30 work lines in five assembly processes (body, engine, chassis, door, and design) that use air-powered tools and battery-powered tools and operate in circulation for two hours. The 2-hr equivalent energy vibration acceleration, A (2), of the task was measured. The 8-hr equivalent energy vibration acceleration, A (8), was estimated in consideration of the number of tasks that can be performed per day by each process. In addition, a survey on the working environment was conducted with workers exposed to vibration. Results: The geometric mean of the HAV exposure level, A (2), for a total of 30 tasks was 2.51 m/s², and one case was 10.30 m/s², exceeding TLV (2hr). The HAV exposure level of A (8) was evaluated from 1.03 m/s² to 5.36 m/s². A (2) showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.01) for each process, and the chassis process (GM=3.90 m/s²) was the highest. The larger the tool size and the longer the tool length, the higher was the vibration acceleration when using a battery-powered tool than an air-powered tool (P<0.01). Battery-powered tool users showed higher dissatisfaction on all items than did air-powered tool users. Conclusions: As a result of this study, it is necessary to implement a program to reduce the HAV exposure levels.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2001

The personal exposures of nitrogen dioxide(NO$_2$), microenvironmental levels and daily time activity patterns on Seoul subway station workers were measured from February 10 to March 12, 1999. Personal NO$_2$exposure for 24 hours were 29.40$\pm$9.75 ppb. NO$_2$level of occupational environment were 27.87$\pm$7.15 ppb in office, 33.60$\pm$8.64 ppb in platform and 50.13$\pm$13.04 ppb in outdoor. Personal exposure time of subway station workers was constituted as survey results with $7.94\pm$3.00 hours in office, $2.82\pm$1.63 hours in platform and 1 hours in outdoor. With above results, personal $NO_2$exposure distributions on subway station workers in Seoul were estimated with Monte Carlo simulation which uses statistical probabilistic theory on various exposure scenario testing. Some of distributions which did not have any formal patterns were assumed as custom distribution type. Estimated personal occupational $NO_2$exposure using time weighted average (TWA) model was 31.$29\pm$5.57 ppb, which were under Annual Ambient Standard (50ppb) of Korea. Though arithmetic means of measured personal $NO_2$exposure was lower than that of occupational $NO_2$exposure estimated by TWA model, considering probability distribution type simulated, probability distribution of measured personal $NO_2$exposures for 24 hours was over ambient standard with 3.23%, which was higher than those of occupational exposure(0.02%). Further research is needed for reducing these 24 hour $NO_2$personal excess exposures besides occupational exposure on subway station workers in Seoul.