• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.323-331
• /
• 2011

Objective: This study aimed to examine the level of risk perception related to pesticide contamination of food products and associated sociodemographic factors, as well as investigate the association with environmental pollution preventive behaviors. Methods: Based on data from Social Survey conducted in 2008 among a nationally representative sample of the population 15 years or older, we estimated proportions and 95% confidence intervals of the risk perception of pesticide contamination of food products. Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the effects of sociodemographic status on risk perception. Results: Among respondents, those who feel anxious about the risks of pesticide contamination of domestic food products accounted for 40.4%, whereas the proportion rose to 87.0% with imported food products. These numbers showed that levels of anxiety about the pesticide contamination of imported food products were ranked at the top, and those for domestic products were at the bottom of the list of all environmental pollutants examined in the survey. Significantly related factors to anxiety about pesticide contamination of food products included women, the 40-50 age group, university graduates, married, non-manual employment, having school-aged children, and owning one's own home. The population attempting to prevent environmental pollution showed higher levels of anxiety about pesticide contamination of food products than did those who were not taking such steps. Conclusion: Compared to other forms of environmental pollution, Koreans show the highest levels of anxiety about pesticide contamination of imported food products. Therefore, it is necessary to establish appropriate regulations and transparent risk communication with the public about the safety of imported food.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.403-417
• /
• 2021

Purpose: Owing to differences in the general characteristics of gastric cancer (GC) according to histological type, the association of GC risk factors, such as diet, may also differ depending on the histological type. We investigated the associations between individual and combined intake of soy products, vegetables, and dairy products and GC mortality by following up cases of death among Korean GC cases and whether these associations differ according to the histological type. Materials and Methods: A total of 508 GC cases were enrolled from two hospitals between 2002 and 2006. Their survival or death was prospectively followed up until December 31, 2016, through a review of medical records and telephonic surveys. Finally, 300 GC cases classified as intestinal- or diffuse-type GC cases were included. The median follow-up period was 7.1 years. Results: In the fully adjusted model, a high intake of soy products (hazard ratio [HR], 0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19-0.96) and the combination of soy products and vegetables (HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12-0.96) or soy products and dairy products (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.14-0.98) decreased the mortality from intestinal-type GC. In particular, patients consuming various potentially protective foods (HR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.06-0.83) showed a highly significant association with a lower mortality from intestinal-type GC. However, no significant association was found with diffuse-type GC. Conclusions: High intake of potentially protective foods, including soy products, vegetables, and dairy products, may help increase survival in intestinal-type GC.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.184-184
• /
• 2003

Endosulfan is one of the organochlorine pesticides, well-known endocrine disruptors (EDs). Many EDs show the estrogenic effect. Estrogen is a group of hormones that play an important role in mammary gland function and implicated in mammary carcinogenesis. In the present study. using mouse mammary gland organ culture (MMOC) system. we studied the the effects of endosulfan on nodule like alveolar lesion (NLAL) formation in the mouse mammary gland development. (omitted)

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.281-289
• /
• 2009

Background : With the growing use of chemical products such as cosmetics, hair dyes, reports of side effects following application of these products is increasing. Contact dermatitis commonly occurs with the use of chemical products. Objective : This study investigated the effect of Oriental medicine for Four outpatients with contact dermatitis due to chemical products. Method : Four patients were treated with acupuncture, herbal medication etc. We used visual analogue scales(VAS) to estimate erythema, pruritus, edema, scales, etc. We took the photos of lesions. Results : Two patients were due to hair dyes, the other two patients were due to cosmetics. Erythema and Pruritus were decreased from nine days to one month. Conclusion : We expect that Oriental medicine could be helpful for contact dermatitis.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2001.04a
• /
• pp.147.1-147.1
• /
• 2001

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.149.1-149.1
• /
• 2001

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.153-167
• /
• 1997

Conventionally, identification and classification methods of natural products include the morphological survey and assay of chemical disposition, sing these methods, however, is not satisfying for the precise identification of natural products because they are often valiable in the compositions and morphology To standardize the natural products identification and classification, genomic DNA analysis such as RAPD, RFLP and Amp-FLP can be adopted for this purpose. In this study, various ginsengs and bear gall bladder were tested for the development of genetic identification and classification method. Varieties of ginsengs such as, P. ginseng, P. quinquefolium, P. japonicus and P. notoginseng, were genetically analyzed by RAPD. Also, DNA isolated from Bear blood and gall bladder, Ursus thibetanus, Ursus americanus and Ursus arctos, were analyzed by the same method. The results demonstrated that the identification and classification of bear gall bladder and various ginsengs were possible by RAPD analysis. Therefore, this method was thought to be used as a additional method for the identification and classification of other natural products.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.122-134
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Consumption of certain protective foods may help inhibit Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) associated gastric pathologies. However, studies conducted to assess the efficacy of protective foods in H. pylori-infected subjects are either limited or inconsistent. This study evaluated the association of individual or a combination of protective foods on the incidence of gastric cancer (GC) in H. pylori-positive subjects through a case-control study. MATERIALS/METHODS: Subjects aged 20-79 years were selected from 2 hospitals between December 2002 and September 2006. In total, 134 patients and 212 controls tested positive for H. pylori infection. Among these, we included 82 pairs of cases and controls matched by sex, age (± 5 years), enrollment period (± 1 years), and hospital. RESULTS: A higher intake of soy products was associated with a significantly lower risk of GC than a lower intake of soy products (odds ratio [OR] = 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.14-0.96). Additionally, a higher fruit intake resulted in a significantly lower risk of GC than a lower fruit intake (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.13-0.94). A combination of food groups was evaluated, and a lower risk of GC was observed with a high intake of both soy products and fruits (OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.06-0.67), high intake of soy and dairy products (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.10-0.78) and high intake of fruits and dairy products (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.09-0.83). CONCLUSIONS: A high intake of soy products or fruits was associated with a lower risk of GC. A combination of soy products or fruits with dairy products was associated with a lower risk of GC. A balanced intake of soy products, fruits, and dairy products may help reduce GC risk.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.495-503
• /
• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to compare the characteristics of humidifier disinfectant-like products (HD-like products) and humidifier disinfectant products (HD products) and introduce actual cases of the usage of HD-like products in hospitals based on an on-site investigation. Methods: The characteristics, chemical components, and usage of HD-like products (Hichlor or Biospot) and HD products (N-with) containing NaDCC (sodium dichloroisocyanurate) were compared. In the process of conducting the on-site investigation, four hospitals were identified as previously using HD-like products. Each on-site investigation to identify the use of HD-like products was composed of four parts: 1) hospital infection control guidelines, 2) manual for humidifiers in patient's rooms, 3) interviews with nursing staff, infection managers, and purchase managers, 4) searching on the product purchase system. Results: Although HD-like products (Hichlor and Biospot) and HD products (N-with) were sold for different usage purposes, they were all white-colored and coin-shaped foaming tablets with the same chemical component, NaDCC. The manual for using HD-like products and HD products was similar (inserting the tablet in a humidifier container with water). Among the four hospitals, one had used Hichlor in the same manner as HD (N-with) by inserting a tablet in 1L of water in a filled humidifier container and Biospot as a kind of detergent for humidifier container cleaning. Another two hospitals had used Biospot and/or Aniosyme as a kind of detergent for humidifier container cleaning. The other hospital had used unknown product in the same manner as N-with, so we thus assumed it was either an HD products (N-with) or HD-like products (Hichlor, Biospot). Conclusion: This study raises the possibility of the development of adverse health effects similar to exposure to an HD-products when exposed to an HD-like products and the possibility of further use in other medical institutions or multi-use facilities. Therefore, an expansion of the investigation is needed in order to confirm whether there have been similar cases in the past.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.49-58
• /
• 2008

Objective : To provide information about the accessory product of Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold or Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent by analyzing old books of oriental medicine, domestic/international papers and related patents Methods : Old books related to the accessory product in the field of oriental medicine were reviewed. Research papers regarding the pharmacological activity of the by-products were reviewed and analyzed. Patents about the residual products were examined and classified by year and subject Results : Seven kinds of by-products from Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold or Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent has been used as medicines in oriental medicine. Recently, anti-oxidating, anti-cancer, anti-mutagenic and anti-inflammation activity of the residual product of these plants has been investigated through scientific research. There were 19 patents related with the accessory products of these plants, which were in the subjects of functional cosmetics, anti-inflammation, cleansing goods, hair restorers or improvement of learning ability. Further investigations about the activity of these plants are needed in bone metabolism, water balance and hemostasis in the future. Conclusion : Residual products from these plants is being used in various ways. However, more studies on the efficacy and mechanism, as well as safety, of these plants should be conducted precisely in the future.