• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.322-334
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• 2024

This study investigated the content of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, and Hg) and SO₂ and conducted a risk assessment of 1,340 samples of 60 herbs used for food and medicine in Seoul between 2019 and 2023. The analysis was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), a mercury analyzer, and the Monier-Williams method. The mean values and ranges of the heavy metals were as follows: Pb, 0.327 mg/kg (not detectable [ND]-36.933); Cd, 0.083 mg/kg (ND-1.700); As, 0.075 mg/kg (ND-2.200); and Hg, 0.004 mg/kg (ND-0.047). Pb exceeded the permissible limit of 36.933 mg/kg in one sample of Poria Sclerotium. Cd exceeded the permissible limit of 1.700 mg/kg and 0.650 mg/kg in the two samples of Chrysanthemi Zawadskii Herba. The mean and range of SO₂ was 0.75 mg/kg (ND-192.00), with two samples of Gastrodiae Rhizoma exceeding the permissible limit at 192.00 mg/kg and 42.00 mg/kg. Pb was highest in the perithecium (1.377 mg/kg), followed by Cd in the cortex (0.156 mg/kg) and caulis (0.144 mg/kg), As in leaves (0.149 mg/kg), and Hg in the herba (0.009 mg/kg) and leaves (0.009 mg/kg). SO₂ was the highest in the rhizomes (4.12 mg/kg). The Pb, Cd, and Hg levels did not differ significantly between the domestic, Chinese, and imported products; however, As and SO₂ levels were the highest in the Chinese products. As a result of the risk assessment, all the margins of exposure (MOE) values of Pb, except for Poria Sclerotium, were ≥1, indicating that most samples were safe. The hazard index (HI) for Cd, As, and Hg were <100%, indicating a safety level for food and medicine. In addition, the HI for SO₂ did not exceed 1 for any of the items, indicating safe levels.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.873-878
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• 2002

OA-8159, a new Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 inhibitor, has exhibited potent erectogenic potential in a penile erection test in rats and anesthetized dogs. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of its erectogenic activity by measuring the activity of OA-8159 against a various PDE isozymes and assessing cGMP and cAMP formation in a rabbit corpus cavernosum in vitro. DA-8159 inhibited the PDE 5 activity in rabbit and human platelets, which the $IC_{50}$ was 5.84$\pm$1.70 nM and 8.25$\pm$2.90 nM, respectively. The $IC_{50}$ of DA-8159 on PDE 1, PDE2, PDE 3 and PDE 6 were 870$\pm$57.4 nM, $101\pm$5 $\mu$M, 52.0$\pm$3.53 $\mu$M and 53.3$\pm$2.47 nM, respectively. This suggests that DA-8159 is a potent, highly selective, competitive inhibitor of PDE 5-catalyzed cGMP hydrolysis. The rates of cGMP hydrolysis catalyzed by human platelets-derived PDE 5 as a function of the cGMP concentration (5~100 nM) and two-fixed DA-8159 concentration (11.3 and 18.8 nM) were investigated in order to characterize the mode of PDE 5 inhibition by DA-8159. DA-8159 increased the apparent 4K_{m}$ value for cGMP hydrolysis but had no effect on the apparent $V_{max}$, indicating a competitive mode of inhibition. DA-8159 increased the cGMP concentrations in the rabbit corpus cavernosum dose dependently. In the presence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), DA-8159 significantly sti\mulated the accu\mulation of cGMP when compared to the control level. This indicated that the enhancement of a penile erection by DA-8159 involved the relaxation of the cavernosal smooth \muscle by NO-sti\mulated cGMP accu\mulation. In conclusion, DA-8159 is a selective inhibitor of PDE 5-catalyzed cGMP hydrolysis and the enhancement of a penile erection by DA-8159 is mediated by the relaxation of the cavernosal smooth \muscle by the NO-sti\mulated cGMP accu\mulation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.543-550
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• 2007

Purpose: Diabetic foot ulcer is a representative disease of chronic would with multiple defects of wound healing factors. Many nutrition factors have been known to be essential for wound healing, but objective data are lacking. The purpose of this study is to determine those factors essential for wound healing, and to find out which of those factors are lacking in diabetic foot ulcer patients through this pilot study. Methods: We studied 100 patients who visited our clinic from March 2005 to February 2006 for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers with a duration of more than 6 weeks. We checked serum levels of protein, albumin, vitamin A, C, E, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper and hemoglobin by drawing 23cc blood after 8 hours of fasting. Protein, albumin, iron, magnesium levels were measured by colorimetry; hemoglobin levels were measured by auto analysis. Vitamin levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), copper and zinc levels were measured by Inductively coupled plasma (ICP). They were compared with normal values. The patients were divided by transcutaneous oxygen pressure levels, age and sex to study the effects of these parameters. Results: 76% and 61% of patients had within-normal range serum protein and albumin levels, respectively. Among vitamins, only the level of vitamin C was low in 55% of the patients. Levels of vitamin A, E were normal or high in 93% and 100% of patients. As for trace elements, levels of iron and zinc were low in 63% and 60% of patients, but levels of magnesium and copper were usually normal or high. Levels of vitamin C, iron and zinc were lower in the low-transcutaneous oxygen pressure group. There were no definite differences according to age and sex. Conclusion: Serum levels of Hb, vitamin C, iron, zinc were low in most diabetic foot ulcer patients. The deficit was very severe in the low-transcutaneous oxygen pressure group.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2010

Since the reaction of mineral fixation proceeds with a very slow rate, the pretreatment method to increases the rate of carbonation reaction should be required. To increase the reactivity of serpentine with $CO_{2}$, two pretreatment methods are performed in this study. The heat treatment is done at $630^{\circ}C$. A heat-treated serpentine shows that the strength of -OH has a lower peak in FT-IR spectrum. Chemical pretreatment is the method of leaching of magnesium from serpentine using sulfuric acid at $75^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. Because the protonation of the oxygen atoms polarizes and weakens the Mg-O-Si bond, the removal of magnesium atoms from the crystal lattice was facilitated. After performing the pre-treatment of serpentine, $CO_{2}$ fixation experiments are performed with treated serpentine in the batch reactor. Heat-treated serpentine is converted into 43% magnesite conversion, whereas untreated serpentine has 27% of magnesite conversion. Although the results of the heat-pretreatment are encouraging, this method is prohibited due to excessive energy consumption. Furthermore chemical pretreatment serpentine routes have been proposed in an effort to avoid the cost prohibitive heat pretreatment, in which the carbonation reaction was conducted at 45 atm and $25^{\circ}C$. Chemical-treated serpentine, in particularly is corresponded to a conversion of 42% of magnesite compared to 24% for the un-treated serpentine.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.233-235
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• 2003

Heavy metal contents in commercial horticultural growing media were investigated Fifty-three samples were collected nationwide during 2000 to 2001 and heavy metals in the samples were analyzed by ICP-OES after acid digestion and 0.1N HCl extraction. Average contents of total Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, and Zn by acid digestion in the growing media were 0.69, 35.7, 14.9, 15.5, 12.7, and 54.8 mg/kg DW, respectively. The ranges of heavy metal in the growing media were $0{\sim}1.82$, $0{\sim}259.8$, $1.6{\sim}69.5$, $0{\sim}60.7$, $0{\sim}36.5$, $12.9{\sim}124.0\;mg/kg$ DW for Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, and Zn, respectively. Heavy metal contents in the commercial horticultural growing media were showed lower levels than the permitted levels for quality control described by Korean Standard Analytical Method for Growing Media. Average contents and ranges of 0.1 N HCl extractable heavy metals were 0.08 and $0{\sim}0.20$ for Cd, 0.38 and $0{\sim}2.10$ for Cr, 1.45 and $0{\sim}4.03$ for Cu, 0.85 and $0{\sim}3.31$ for Ni, 0.84 and $0{\sim}2.21$ for Pb, and 30.68 and $0.18{\sim}88.45\;mg/kg$ DW for Zn, respectively. These concentrations by 0.1 N HCl extraction showed much less levels than those of total heavy metals by acid digestion.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.226-230
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze harmful heavy metals and residual pepsticides in 30 kinds of oriental medical materials. This study was carried out on 32 samples with 30 kinds of Oriental medical materials. The GC-ECD(Varian, CP-3800) was used to analyze residual pepsticides. ICP-OES(Varian, Vista-MPX) was used to analyze lead, arsenic, cadmium. Mercury was analyzed by amalgamation method. Arsenic was detected less than 3(mg/kg) in 21 samples and was not detected 11 samples. Lead was detected less than 5(mg/kg) in 25 samples and was not detected 7 samples. Mercury was detected less than 0.2(mg/kg) in 12 samples and was not detected 20 samples. Cadmium was detected more than 0.3(mg/kg) in 3 samples was detected less than 0.3(mg/kg) in 17 samples and was not detected 12 samples. A few residual pepsticides was detected, but all residual pepsticides was safe.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.571-577
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• 1995

Several acid-sulfate clay deposits associated with silicic magmas occur in the Haenam area of the southwestern part of Korea. Geology of the studied area consists of tuffs, granitic rocks, quartz porphyry, rhyolite, andesite and sedimentary rocks. The granitic rocks and quartz porphyry intruded tuffs and sedimentary rocks. The rhyolite and tuffs around the mines have undergone hydrothermally weak or strong alteration. Gold contents with major and trace elements have been determined for a total of sixty-seven specimens of fresh igneous rocks, wall rocks and minerals such as dickite and alunite by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer and inductively coupled plasma. Gold is enriched in the alunite vein and the silicified zone, but is depleted in dickites and hydrothermally altered rocks with dickite of the Seongsan deposit. Gold is especially concentrated near the faults or conjunction area of two faults. High content of gold is shown in the mineral assemblages of alunitequartz- pyrite in the alunite vein and silicic zone of the Seongsan deposit compared with that of minerals and rocks from another deposits distributed in the studied area. Gold content in tuffs and dickites with pyrite is generally low. Gold content in silicified tuff tends to show positive correlations with content of As, Hg and Sb. Variation trends of Cd, Hg and Sb are similar to those of gold content. From the result of gold content variations, gold may be transported and concentrated by mineralizing solutions ascending along the cracks like fault. Therefore, it is important to survey alunite vein and silicified zone at the conjunction of faults, and to analyze pathfinder elements such as As, Hg and Sb for geological and geochemical exploration of gold in the studied deposits.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.223-238
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• 2015

The $PM_{2.1}$ was collected by LVCI (low volume cascade impactor) during Group-A Period (September 1990 to December 2012) and the $PM_{2.5}$ was collected by HVAS (high volume air sampler) during Group-B Period (September 2009 to April 2012) at Kyung Hee University, Global Campus located on the boarder of Yongin and Suwon. The 8 water-soluble ions ($Na^+$, $NH_4{^+}$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, $ NO_3{^-}$, and $SO_4{^{2-}}$) were analyzed by IC, and the 14 inorganic elements (Al, Mn, Si, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, V, Cd, Ba, Zn, Ti, Ag) were analyzed by XRF and ICP-AES after performing proper pre-treatments of each sample filter. The average total mass fractions of $SO_4{^{2-}}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$+ to $PM_{2.5}$ samples during Group-B Period were 0.39 in normal days, 0.44 in haze days, and 0.27 in Asian dust days, respectively; however, the average total mass fractions of Al, Fe, and Si to $PM_{2.5}$ mass were 0.043 in normal days, 0.021 in haze days, and 0.036 in Asian dust days, respectively. Especially the concentration of Pb was significantly decreased during Group-B Period rather than during Group-A Period, while Cr and Ni was increased during Group-B Period. In this study, we intensively compared the annual and seasonal patterns of major chemical species among normal days, haze days, and Asian dust days. Further we developed mass fraction profiles by collecting episode cases of haze days and Asian dust days, which were consisting of 22 chemical species. Those profiles are considered to be useful when applying various receptor models and establishing air quality management plans near future.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.212-220
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• 2015

This study aims to identify the characteristics of phthalates (DMP, DEP, DBP, DEHA, BBP, DEHP, and DNOP) and heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in cosmetics and their containers. Phthalates and heavy metals may be endocrine distruptors. Sixty-five cosmetics were purchased from online and offline stores in Busan. This study developed a simultaneous method for the analysis of phthalates by GC-FID. The results showed that among the 65 cosmetics, DBP, DEHP, and DEP were detected at 20.0%, 7.7%, 1.5%, respectively. The amounts of DBP and DEHP detected in 18 samples were less than 100 μg/g, which satisfies the Regulations of Cosmetic Safety Standards in Korea. In order to detect phthalates in cosmetic containers, a dissolution test was conducted by extracting solutions, such as water, n-heptane, 20% ethanol, 50% ethanol and 4% acetic acid, which were prepared with different levels of pH, alcohol content, and fat content following the Korea Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packaging. The results showed that DMP, DBP, DEHA, BBP, DEHP, and DNOP were not detected, DEP was detected in plastics such as PE, PP, and others, when a 50% alcohol solvent was used. Phthalates may not be detected in cosmetic containers if they are not packaged with the above 20% alcohol constituent. We also analyzed the concentration of heavy metals, such as Pb, Cd, and Hg, by using ICP-OES and a mercury analyzer. The ranges of concentration were ND~2.71 μg/g for Pb, ND~0.31 μg/g for Cd, and ND~0.01 μg/g for Hg, which are below the regulated level.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.538-555
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to understand $PM_{2.5}$ chemical characteristics on the Suwon/Yongin area and further to quantitatively estimate $PM_{2.5}$ source contributions. The $PM_{2.5}$ sampling was carried out by a high-volume air sampler at the Kyung Hee University-Global Campus from November, 2010 to October, 2011. The 40 chemical species were then analyzed by using ICP-AES(Ag, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, Ti, V and Zn), IC ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $NH_4{^+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $NO_3{^-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$ and $Cl^-$), DRI/OGC (OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4, OP, EC1, EC2 and EC3) and GC-FID (acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a] pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd] pyrene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene and dibenzo[a,h,]anthracene). When applying PMF model after performing proper data treatment, a total of 10 sources was identified and their contributions were quantitatively estimated. The average contribution to $PM_{2.5}$ emitted from each source was determined as follows; 26.3% from secondary aerosol source, 15.5% from soil and road dust emission, 15.3% from vehicle emission, 15.3% from illegal biomass burning, 12.2% from incineration, 7.2% from oil combustion source, 4.9% from industrial related source, and finally 3.2% from coal combustion source. In this study we used the ratios of PAHs concentration as markers to double check whether the sources were reasonably classified or not. Finally we provided basic information on the major $PM_{2.5}$ sources in order to improve the air quality in the study area.