• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.453-457
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• 2004

The welders and car painters are frequently exposed to heavy metals such as lead, zinc, cadmium and chromium, and those are a major source of heavy metal poisoning. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship of the heavy metal level in blood by age, working duration, and smoking status among 105 industrial workers and 88 general people in Gyeongnam province from October 2003 to October 2004. The heavy metal level in blood was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean blood lead level in exposed group and control group was 8.40±4.67μl/dl, 1.82±1.35μl/dl, respectively. Mean blood zinc level in exposed group and control group was 9.43±5.38 ㎍/ml, 2.89±1.79㎍/ml, respectively. Mean blood cadmium level in Exposed group and control group was 1.53±1.05μl/dl, 0.60±0.49 μl/dl, respectively. Mean blood chromium level in exposed group and control group was 0.89±0.76μl/dl, 0.68±0.63μl/dl, respectively. Lead, zinc, cadmium and chromium level in blood of exposed group was significantly higher than that of control group. In the comparison of smoking status, lead, zinc and cadmium level of smoker's was significantly higher than that of non-smoker's. Comparison of heavy metal level by age, lead, zinc, cadmium level in 40's, 50's (exposed group) in blood significantly higher than that of 20's, 30's. In exposed group, working duration has no significant difference. In conclusion, smoking was the most hazardous factor to elevate in blood heavy metal levels.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2004

Evaluation of toxicological pathology is to some extend subjective judgments by pathologist and the accuracy of pathologist's works is based on the individual training and experiences. It has been required to establish a peer review system for toxicologic pathology and these review system has been employed by various practice of toxicological pathology. It would be pointed out that the possible causes of drifts in pathology are due to 1) lack of knowledge or experience of individual pathologists, 2) poorly maintained consistence of grading among animals in study, 3) different interpretation of findings between pathologists, or 4) pathology data processing. Example cases of diagnostic errors and current practice of peer review including tissue selection criteria, documentation and problem resolution for short-term and carcinogenicity studies were introduced. For sound regulatory system and high integrity of practice in toxicological pathology, current approaches of peer review system were reviewed.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.3-106
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• 2023

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in Korea and the world. Since 2004, this is the 4th gastric cancer guideline published in Korea which is the revised version of previous evidence-based approach in 2018. Current guideline is a collaborative work of the interdisciplinary working group including experts in the field of gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology and guideline development methodology. Total of 33 key questions were updated or proposed after a collaborative review by the working group and 40 statements were developed according to the systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and KoreaMed database. The level of evidence and the grading of recommendations were categorized according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation proposition. Evidence level, benefit, harm, and clinical applicability was considered as the significant factors for recommendation. The working group reviewed recommendations and discussed for consensus. In the earlier part, general consideration discusses screening, diagnosis and staging of endoscopy, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. Flowchart is depicted with statements which is supported by meta-analysis and references. Since clinical trial and systematic review was not suitable for postoperative oncologic and nutritional follow-up, working group agreed to conduct a nationwide survey investigating the clinical practice of all tertiary or general hospitals in Korea. The purpose of this survey was to provide baseline information on follow up. Herein we present a multidisciplinary-evidence based gastric cancer guideline.

• Korean Journal of Transplantation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.170-176
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• 2017

We need to establish an informative guideline to increase inter-institutional and inter-observer reproducibility of renal transplant diagnosis, and to improve the diagnostic ability of pathologists in Korea. A first nation-wide survey for renal transplant pathology was conducted by Renal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists in 2016, to provide the continued excellence in the transplantation pathology laboratory, and to improve the diagnostic ability for the best treatment of transplant patients. This survey revealed the significant variations in scale, work load and biopsy indications for the renal transplant pathology in various institutions in Korea. The Banff classification were used by all institutions for the diagnosis of renal transplant pathology, but different formats were used: most institutions (70%) used the "2013 Banff classification" while the others were using "2007 Banff classification" (20%) or even older formats. In daily diagnostic practice of the renal allografts, difficulties that pathologists encounter were quite diverse due to different environments they work in. Most respondents agreed that standardized diagnostic practice guidelines, regular education on renal transplant pathology and convenient ways of consultation are further needed. We are currently working toward the enhancement of the expertise of renal pathologists and to increase inter-institutional and inter-observer reproducibility by 1) development of a set of virtual slides of renal allograft biopsies for the training, 2) validation and gathering expert's consensus on the core variables of rejection diagnosis by using virtual slides, and 3) continued education by the developed virtual slide atlas.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2008

The main purpose of this study was to investigate relationship between WRMD (Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders) symptoms and dangerous factors in medical technologistes who work in Gwang-ju city and Jeollanam-do province. Experimental group was 74 medical technologistes at hospital centers, hospitals, general hospitals, university hospitals. From the this survey, we found that significant statistical difference in WRMD symptoms by general characteristics (sex, exercise) and working environmental characteristics (examination numbers, time of margin, repetition, intensity of work, time of using PC). In the general factors, Odds ration in male vs female, do exercise vs do not exercise were 4.557 (95% CI=1.003-20.713), 2.747 (95% CI=0.59-12.783). In working environment factors, Odds ration in little of examination numbers vs a lot of examination numbers, little of time margin vs a lot of time margin, non repetitive vs repetitive, non intensity of work vs intensity of work, little of pc using time vs a lot of pc using time were 1.901 (95% CI=0.828-4.363), 1.15 (95% CI=0.335-3.944), 3.952 (95% CI=1.095-14.262), 1.411 (95% CI=0252-7.891), 2.606 (95% CI=1.055-6.437) respectively. For prevention of WRMD symptoms, Most of hospitals should improve medical technologists of working circumstances, especially control a intensive of work, working speed and guarantee enough break time. Therefore, This study suggests that increasing workers and examination of automation, streching during working be needed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2014

Metabolic syndrome such as, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia etc are well known lifestyle diseases which threaten a health state. The purpose of this study is to evaluate antioxidant status and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in various stressful conditions. A group of persons (n=28) were enrolled in this study and stress status was evaluated using questionnaire of psychological well-being index (PWI-SF) and hematologic analysis of free oxygen radical defense (FORD), free oxygen radical test (FORT), lipid profiles and serum cortisol level. Analysis was done according to stress index, BMI status and overtime working. Blood samples from diabetics were used for control. Results are as in followings: Higher PWI-SF group showed higher FORT. Obese persons with BMI > $25kg/m^2$ showed statistically lower FORD (p<0.05) and higher FORT level (p<0.01). When compare with diabetics, an overweight group had similar levels in FORD and FORT while a normal body weight group showed quite different with diabetics in FORD (p<0.001). Higher ROS group has higher triglyceride, CRP and insulin levels but lower in FORD and HDL-cholesterol levels. Overtime working at night showed no meaningful result against our expectations. These results suggested that obesity showed most unfavorable correlations in an antioxidant status in various situations.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 1988

Anaesthetis have been in use for a long time in aquaculture because working with anaesthetized aquatic vertebrate was found to be advantages in many technical operations. However, most anaesthetics applied at present have a strong toxic effect on fish. Lidocaine belong to a group of anaesthetics which are used in human medicine. This chemical was evaluated as anaesthetics for seven species of fishes. The response varied for seven test species. Lidocaine was preferable to other conventional fish anaesthetics since it is cheap, safe and convenient to use.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2008

Due to the development and expansion of industries and medical standards, the number of workers who handle organic solvents within hospitals is increasing. The authors in this study intended to investigate the actual conditions of the handling of the solvents and to encourage the recognition that the exposure to such solvents may be possible because of insensitivity to safety. In order to investigate the actual conditions of exposure of workers within hospitals, the experimental group included the three sections (Pathology department, Central Supply Room, and Operating Room), which handle organic solvents most frequently. Meanwhile, university interns were selected to be the control group. This study was conducted between May 1 to May 30, 2007, and urine was taken as samples. Hippuric acid, mandelic acid, methylhippuric acid, and phenylglyoxylic acid were analyzed through gas chromatography, and a total of 52 subjects of the experimental and the control groups were performed of the analysis. As for the results of the analysis of the experimental group, the exposure to benzene was $42.27{\pm}3.70mg/g$ creatinine, that of xylene was $1.30{\pm}0.18g/g$ creatinine, and that of toluene was $2.36{\pm}0.24g/g$ creatinine. Meanwhile, the results of the analysis of the control group showed that the exposure to benzene was $15.54{\pm}2.85mg/g$ creatinine, that of xylene was $0.52{\pm}0.02g/g$ creatinine, and that of toluene was $0.85{\pm}0.20g/g$ creatinine. The amount of exposure to benzene, xylene, and toluene was shown to be under the maximum permitted level, but as for Pathology department, it was required to educate on working conditions, to educate workers on prevention management about their health, and to install fume hood and exhaust system to improve the environments.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.585-595
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• 2021

Even though most of aquatic animal pathogens are considered opportunistic and many pose a low direct risk to personnel, all personnel working with aquatic pathogens and facilities using these organisms must comply with the regulation to prevent the release of the pathogen into the environment and causing disease in aquatic animals. First of all, in order to establish a biosafety system for aquatic pathogen, the list of microorganisms that can infect aquatic animals and humans should be drawn up according to the microorganisms encountered within national boundaries. Second, risk assessment guideline for diseases of livestock and aquatic environment is desperately needed. Third, microorganisms should be classified into risk group based on their potential impact on human and aquatic environment. Fourth, facilities handling aquatic pathogens should ensure that these pathogens are securely contained and safely handled for experimental or commercial development purposes. In conclusion, classification is based on the pathogenicity, mode of transmission and host range of the aquatic microorganisms, availability of effective preventative measures and treatments. Furthermore, risk group of aquatic pathogens should be correlated with physical containment facility requirements according to domestic characteristics.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3101-3103
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• 2016

Background: According to the most recent estimation of GLOBOCAN, Cambodia has the highest incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer in Southeast Asia. A screen-and-treat strategy using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA test) and cryotherapy has been implemented in Cambodia's national cervical cancer screening program since 2013. However, where resources are available, cervical cytology with or without high-risk HPV DNA testing is the preferred screening method used in this country. Aim: This study aims to calculate the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology and explain the possible factors contributing to a reduced quality of cervical cytology among women participating in a hospital-based cervical cancer screening program in Cambodia. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted using information from the cytology and pathology database in the Department of Pathology of Calmette Hospital between January 2012 and December 2015. Prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology, based on the Bethesda 2001 classification, was calculated. Data on the adequacy of cytological specimens were analyzed in order to explain the factors contributing to a reduced quality of cervical cytology interpretation. Results: Among 6,207 women who participated in the cervical cancer screening program at Calmette Hospital during 2012 and 2015, 388 (6.25%) had abnormal cytology, which could be classified into Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (92 cases; 1.48%), Atypical Squamous Cells - Cannot Exclude High-Grade Intraepithelial Lesion (13 cases; 0.21%), Atypical Glandular Cells (11 cases; 0.18%), Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (221 cases; 3.56%), High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (26 cases; 0.42%), and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (25 cases; 0.40%). Unsatisfactory smears made up 12.2% of the total cases. The most frequently identified factor leading to unsatisfactory smears was the absence of cells from the transformation zone. Conclusions: The present study showed an overall prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology of 6.25%, which is comparable to that in many large population-based studies in the Asia Pacific region. Nevertheless, the remarkably high rate of unsatisfactory smears in this study justifies further improvement in specimen sampling among Cambodian gynecologists.