• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.261-270
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• 2009

To make measurable regulatory decisions of chemicals, it is necessary to consider their effect on the human health and ecosystem. In principle, this is based on relevant toxicity studies conducted by accepted guidelines. However, current regulatory programs in various countries confront challenges related to risk assessment of large numbers of chemicals within the restricted resources and time. Therefore there is a need for more efficient approach to limit the number of tests to be conducted. This promotes the development of powerful nontesting methods (e.g. (Q)SARs) and permits to use the predicted data for regulatory purpose. In this article, current status of non-testing methods in various chemical regulatory programs was reviewed in terms of their application and research activity on them. Finally, their usefulness associated with development of domestic regulatory program was suggested.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.121-123
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• 2003

The registration of a pesticide for use in the gardens or a farmer's field requires assessment of the potential negative effects of that pesticide on human health. To anticipate how a pesticide might impact human health, laboratory animals such as mice and rats are exposed to varying dosages in their foods -from very minimal to extremely high levels. Toxicologists then evaluate the observable effect(s) of consuming known quantities of that specific pesticide on acute, subchronic, chronic, mutational, reproduction and neurological effects. Information gained from such test is evaluated by toxicologists and medical experts to determine potential human effects

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2005

Chemical mixtures of components, each of which are present at less than guidance concentrations, may be hazardous due to additivity, interactions, or both. Toxicological interactions may increase the health hazard above what would be expected from an assessment of each component singly, or all components additively. So chemical mixture are a particular issue in public health. There are several approach to assess whether there are additivity or interaction in assessing toxicological effects, such as, components-based approach, physiologically-based pharmacokinetic /pharmacodynamic(PBPK/PD) models, hazard index method, and weight-of evidence method. If we consider interaction or additivity effects in assessing the health effects of chemcial mixtures, we can get more accurate information about toxicological effects and dose-response relationship in chemical mixtures.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.2 s.57
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• pp.157-163
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• 2007

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is the most widely used BFR (brominated flame retardants) as a reactive flame retardant in printed circuit boards, and as additive applications in several types of polymers. The purpose of this study is to assess the adverse effects of TBBPA on the benthic amphipod (Hyalella azteca). Results on the acute toxicity of TBBPA using Hyalella azteca showed that NOEC and LOEC are 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg, respectively. In addition, when chronic toxicity of TBBPA was investigated at the concentration ranges between 0.01 to 100mg/kg, it was found that NOECs are $10mg/kg(fecundity){\sim}100mg/kg(viability)$, respectively. Significant fecundity inhibition was appeared at 100mg/kg of TBBPA, however, this concentration did not show severe adverse effect on weight increment. The values of PNEC were determined as 0.1mg/kg (fecundity) and 1mg/kg (lethal effect), respectively, using a safety factor suggested by EU and OECD.

• Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.279-282
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• 2017

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) provide numerous beneficial effects on the host body, especially on the intestine. Two LAB strains isolated from Kimchi, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus sakei, were studied for its anti-inflammatory activity in acidinduced acute colitis in mice. To induce acute colitis in model mice (C57BL/6), 3% of dextran sulfate sodium treatment was treated for 7 days. Assessment of necropsy and histopathology analysis showed that oral supplementation of both L. mesenteroides and L. sakei ameliorated the symptoms of acute colitis. Moreover, the mixture of L. meseneroides and L. sakei showed synergistic effect on colitis. The results suggest that the formulation of L. mesenteroides and L. sakei mixture could be used as an oral supplementation to decrease the inflammatory harmful environment associated with colitis.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.269-280
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in the posture of dental hygiene students and clinical dental hygienists when implementing dental scaling before and after posture correction training using the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) method and 3D motion analysis. Methods: Thirty-two healthy volunteers performed dental scaling to remove artificial calculus on dental manikin. The movement and angle of the joints were verified by RULA and 3D motion analysis during the procedure. The subjects were also photographed for 1 minute during the procedure for 10 minutes while the calculus was removed. After the removal of the calculus, the subject and the instructor checked the video together. Posture correction training was conducted by the instructor so that the subject could perform the calculus removal operation in the correct posture. Artificial calculus of the adjacent teeth was then removed for the same period of time, and the change in posture was reviewed. Results: The total score of the posture change using RULA was $5.72{\pm}0.58$ before training and $4.31{\pm}0.10$ after training, showing a significant decrease after training (p<0.001), and upper arm, lower arm, wrist position, neck and waist position showed significant decrease after training. The three-dimensional motion analysis showed significant differences according to the criteria measured at all measurement sites except the left shoulder (p<0.05) Conclusions: It was confirmed through RULA and 3D motion analysis that postural correction training using calculus removal images was effective, and that correct postural education is essential to preventing musculoskeletal diseases caused by removal of calculus.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of blood lead concentrations of residents in the areas surrounding an industrial complex. Methods: During the three-month period from August to October 2012, informed consent was obtained from a total of 417 residents in Gwangyang and Yeosu. We collected blood samples from all subjects, and their demographic characteristics were acquired using a questionnaire. The blood samples were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrometer and data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 21.0. Results: The geometric mean concentration of blood lead in all subjects was $1.85{\mu}g/dL$. The highest (p<0.01) blood lead concentrations were in the current drinking group ($2.24{\mu}g/dL$). Blood lead concentrations in the smoking group ($0.59{\mu}g/dL$) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in the non-smoking group ($0.24{\mu}g/dL$). Risk assessment was performe using the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KNEHS) as a reference. The hazard indices of blood lead in males and females were 0.65 and 0.52, respectively Conclusion: We provided baseline data for reference values of toxicity and heavy lead concentrations. Our results might be useful for further evaluation of risks due to exposure to heavy metals via oral, air, and percutaneous routes.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.11
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• pp.644-653
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• 2019

Since 2013, adults aged over 20 can receive national health insurance scaling once a year in South Korea. In this study, we analyzed the usage status of national health insurance care service for periodontal disease in 2010-2018 by using Healthcare big data of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The increase rate of the dental care users was very high at 7.8 and 11.2% in 2013 and 2014, respectively. These are higher than the increase rate of all medical institution users, which is between -1.7 and 3.7%. In 2017, the rate of dental use was 44.4%, which has increased more than 10% compared to 2012. Percent receiver of national health insurance scaling was 19.5% in 2017. The 20s had the highest rate of 23.2%. The rate decreased with age. Based on these results, it can be evaluated that the expansion of national health insurance coverage for scaling improves accessibility to dental care. A more long-term assessment of the effect of periodic dental examination and scaling on reducing the prevalence of periodontal disease is needed. National health insurance coverage should be extended to oral hygiene education and supportive periodontal therapy in order to prevent periodontal disease.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.333-342
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• 2016

Background: The use of therapeutic materials based on new health technology has increased in recent years in the field of medicine, raising concerns for medical practitioners regarding increased spending on the new therapeutic materials amid the rapid population ageing and increase of chronic diseases in Korea. While therapeutic materials have significant importance in the health care system, they have not been given appropriate attention in the academic world of Korea. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that affect the growth of expenditure on therapeutic materials and to derive implications for an effective management considering the diversity of therapeutic materials. Methods: Using the claims data of the National Health Insurance Services, specific utilization patterns of groups of therapeutic materials in the middle classification level of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2007 to 2014 were analyzed. Four categories (J5083: drug eluting coronary stent, D0302: nonmetallic anchor, K6014: gauze, K6023: gauze) that exhibit unique patterns with respect to price and volume were selected. Then, decomposition analysis was performed to identify the largest contributor to the spending growth by dividing the products into existing, new, and abandoned products for the period between 2010 and 2013. Results: The effect of new products had larger impact on spending growth than the effect of core items in drug eluting coronary stent (J5083) and nonmetallic anchor (D0302). In addition, existing products in general included items priced relatively lower when compared with another item manufactured by the same company. In the gauze category, however, existing products had the largest impact on expenditure and the effect of volume was greater than that in other categories. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that appropriate management measures classified by the characteristics of therapeutic materials are required for therapeutic materials pricing and reassessment in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.416-428
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• 2020

Purpose: This study identified socioeconomic factors affecting the health status of Korean adults. Methods: Secondary data from 12,921 adults aged 19 to 64 old in the 7th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. The participants' health status was measured using the indicators that included health behaviors (smoking, high-risk drinking, strength exercise, and aerobic physical activity) and health outcomes (metabolic syndrome, and subjective health status). Results: For all health behaviors and health outcomes, gender, age, educational level, and income were common affecting factors. Regarding health behaviors, the employment status was related to smoking, high-risk drinking, strength exercise, and aerobic physical activity. The marital status was related to high-risk drinking, strength exercise, and aerobic physical activity. The household type was related to smoking. The residential area was related to smoking, high-risk drinking, and aerobic physical activity. For health outcomes, the household type was related to obesity, and subjective health status; residential area was related to obesity. Conclusion: This study presented basic data for assessing the differences in health status. The characteristics of the affecting factors to health status should be considered, depending on the health behaviors and health outcomes.