• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2008

We evaluated the relationship between birth weight and mercury exposure levels in Seoul, Korea, by following a cohort of pregnant women and the outcomes of their pregnancies between 2001-2005. Eighty-five pregnant women were recruited into this study after obtaining informed consent. Samples were collected at delivery from normal pregnant women who were living in the city of Seoul, Korea. Mercury concentrations in 85 sets of maternal and cord blood samples were measured using a gold-amalgam collection method. We used multiple regression analysis to analyze the effect of mercury exposure on birth weight. The mean levels of total mercury concentrations were 5.41(ppb) in maternal blood of pregnant women and 3.58(ppb) in umbilical cord blood. The mean concentration of umbilical cord blood mercury exposures was higher than the level recommended by WHO. There was a significant correlation between maternal and cord blood mercury concentrations. Mercury concentrations of umbilical cord blood was associated with birth weight. In addition, after adjusting for potential confounding factors, we found that mercury exposure may reduce the birth weight. This study suggests that exposure to mercury concentration during pregnancy contributes to the risk of low birth weight. Therefore, prenatal and environmental education for various and possible sources of mercury exposure might be necessary for the good health of babies. The finding of this study supports the construction of national policy for environmental health management.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.347-361
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• 2012

Limited studies are available concerning the effect of heavy metal exposure on cardiovascular diseases. As environmental pollution increases, food contamination, including heavy metal contamination of fish, also increases. However, researches based on the intake of heavy metals, cardiovascular disease, and fish intakes are inconclusive. We assessed an association of heavy metal exposure with cardiovascular disease and fish intake in a nationally representative group of general Korean adults. We used data from the combined 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), and analyzed the data of 5,139 Koreans who participated in KNHANES. All participants were older than 20 years, and were diagnosed with stroke, ischemic heart disease, or hypertension. The mean blood cadmium, lead concentration, and mercury concentration of subjects were $1.07{\pm}0.01{\mu}g/L$, $2.49{\pm}0.02{\mu}g/dL$, and $5.19{\pm}0.08{\mu}g/L$, respectively. We used the survey logistic regression model to account for the complex sample design of the cardiovascular disease risk in order to estimate the odds ratios (OR). After adjusting for age, education, income, alcohol, smoking, and BMI, the increase of serum cadmium in blood was associated with the increase in the prevalence of hypertension. Further, the increase in blood cadmium concentration was associated with the increase of both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Although higher fish intakes were significantly associated with higher blood mercury concentration (p for trend < 0.0001), fish intakes did not affect either blood cadmium or lead concentration. Comparing the highest fish intake group with the lowest intake group, the OR of hypertension was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.19-0.59) in the crude model for total fish. However, these associations were no longer significant after the adjustment for potential confounding factors. In conclusion, cadmium in blood was associated with an increased risk of hypertension in the general Korean adult population. However, we found no evidence of a clear relationship between cardiovascular disease and frequency of fish consumption.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30
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• pp.2.1-2.9
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• 2015

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the association between presence of depression symptoms and the exposure level to insecticides among aged population in rural area, determined via measured levels of urinary 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), after controlling for socioeconomic confounding factors. Methods Using a cross-sectional study design, we randomly recruited participants for our study (161 male and 239 female) from rural areas of Asan, Chungnam, Korea. Environmental risk factor exposure was assessed using a questionnaire, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze urinary 3-PBA levels. We used a logistic regression analysis to assess the association of urinary 3-PBA levels with the presence of self-reported depression symptoms. Results After controlling for creatinine levels, the median (interquartile range) concentration of 3-PBA was approximately 1.5 times (p<0.05) higher among female (1.54 [0.90 to 2.35]) ${\mu}g/g$) than among male (1.06 [0.64 to 1.81] ${\mu}g/g$). Our study found that among female participants, the unit increase in 3-PBA levels exhibited a likely positive association (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.25) with an increased risk of presence of self-reported depression symptoms, after adjusting for socioeconomic insurance type, daily physical condition, marital status, smoking status, and age. Conclusions Given our finding of a potential association between the presence of self-reported depression symptoms and 3-PBA levels, precautions should be considered to minimize exposure to insecticides and thus protect the health of aged residents in rural areas.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.379-384
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Apolipoprotein A5 gene promoter region T-1131C polymorphism (APOA5 T-1131C) is known to be associated with elevated plasma TG levels, although little is known of the influence of the interaction between APOA5 T-1131C and lifestyle modification on TG levels. To investigate this matter, we studied APOA5 T-1131C and plasma TG levels of subjects participating in a three-month lifestyle modification program. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A three-month lifestyle modification program was conducted with 297 participants (Age: $57{\pm}8years$) in Izumo City, Japan, from 2001-2007. Changes in energy balance (the difference between energy intake and energy expenditure) and BMI were used to evaluate the participants' responses to the lifestyle modification. RESULTS: Even after adjusting for confounding factors, plasma TG levels were significantly different at baseline among three genotype subgroups: TT, $126{\pm}68mg/dl$; TC, $134{\pm}74mg/dl$; and CC, $172{\pm}101mg/dl$. Lifestyle modification resulted in significant reductions in plasma TG levels in the TT, TC, and CC genotype subgroups: $-21.9{\pm}61.0mg/dl$, $-20.9{\pm}51.0mg/dl$, and $-42.6{\pm}78.5mg/dl$, respectively, with no significant differences between them. In a stepwise regression analysis, age, APOA5 T-1131C, body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and the 18:1/18:0 ratio showed independent association with plasma TG levels at baseline. In a general linear model analysis, APOA5 T-1131C C-allele carriers showed significantly greater TG reduction with decreased energy balance than wild type carriers after adjustment for age, gender, and baseline plasma TG levels. CONCLUSIONS: The genetic effects of APOA5 T-1131C independently affected plasma TG levels. However, lifestyle modification was effective in significantly reducing plasma TG levels despite the APOA5 T-1131C genotype background.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2014

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or second hand smoke or passive smoking has become a well-known risk factor for various health hazards in nonsmoking adults as well as active smokers. In Korea, there have been few studies concerning about the impact of ETS on periodontal health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between exposure to passive smoking and prevalence of periodontitis using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) in 2008 and 2009. The Fourth KNHANES data was employed from 2008~2009. The final sample size was 4,669 adults aged over 18 years, who were never-smoker and had the information about ETS both at home and in the workplace, urine analysis and periodontal examination by Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Periodontitis was defined as CPI codes ${\geq}3$. Data were analyzed using PASW Statistics 18.0. The sociodemographic and behavioral factors were adjusted as confounders. Overall, 17.1% (male 16.4%, female 83.6%) of the participants were exposed to ETS. The mean concentration of cotinine in those exposed ETS was significantly higher than that in unexposed people ($46.92{\mu}g/ml$ versus $19.34{\mu}g/ml$, p<0.001). Participants exposed to ETS were more likely to have periodontitis than those unexposed after adjusting for potential confounding variables. ETS is associated with the prevalence of periodontitis in Korean adults. This may suggest that patients with periodontitis or periodontal surgery should be protected from smokers or smoking places.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.49-72
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• 2009

To analyze the direct and indirect $CO_2$ emission structure according to industries in Korea, a hybrid IO table quantifying the section of energy in the IO table is needed. However, the results of the recent researches revealed differences in the total amount of $CO_2$ emission by researchers in addition to significant standard deviation in industrial distribution. This study intends to make comparative analysis of the existing method of making an IO table for energy and environment and presents an improvement scheme to contribute to an improvement in calculation of the total amount of $CO_2$ emission and estimation of the emission by industries in Korea. For this purpose, division was made into use as raw materials of energy and that as fuel and a new hybrid IO table was made by removing confounding factors caused by the product tax and subsidies. As a result, the oil and coal industry emitted 5.2 times less $CO_2$ after removing energy inputted as raw materials from the transaction table than before. The amount of $CO_2$ emission estimated by using the IO table based on basic price was found to be 2.7% less than by using the IO table based on the producer price.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 1994

In order to examine the effects of circadian rhythm in subjective alertness on the occurrence of traffic accidents, the authors investigated the occurrence rate of traffic accidents adjusted to traffic volume in Seoul and the relative rate of fatal accidents versus total traffic accidents in Korea at different times of day in 1991. We analyzed these data in relation with the circadian rhythm in subjective alertness. The results were as follows. Both the occurrence rate of traffic accidents adjusted to traffic volume and the relative rate of fatal accidents versus total traffic accidents were the highest at 3-4 a.m., known as the time period of the lowest subjective alertness. They were negatively correlated with subjective alertness (p<0.05, p<0.001). In conclusion, it is suggested that the circadian rhythm of subjective alertness should have a significant effect on the occurrence of traffic accidents despite many confounding factors such as driving environments.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.37-47
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• 2009

Objective : The aim of this study is to verify the effects of group sensory integrative intervention on praxis and socialization for school-aged children with sensory integration disorder. Method : The subjects are five children aged between 7 and 13 with sensory integration disorder. All children had participated in 26 sessions of group sensory integrative intervention. The Bruininks-Oseretasky Test of Motor Proficiency(BOT-2) and The Scale for Basic Socialized Function were used so as to evaluate the praxis and socialization. One group pretest-posttest design was used to verify the effect of group sensory integration(SI) intervention. The statistical difference between before and after the group SI intervention in the BOT-2, Scale for basic socialized function is tested by the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed ranks test. Results : There is a significant difference in BOT-2(Z=-2.023, p=.043) and Scale for basic socialized function(Z=-2.023, p=.043) scores comparing pre-intervention with post-intervention. Conclusions : The results of this study showed that the group sensory integration intervention is effective in improving the praxis and socialization for school-aged children. However, it is difficult to generalize the conclusion because the number of subjects was limited and the environmental confounding factors had not been considered. Therefore, in the future research, it should supplement the aspect these limitations before applying the sensory integration intervention in order to suggest standard criteria for norm data.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.13-22
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• 2009

Objective : The aim of this study is to verify the effects of group sensory integrative intervention for sensory motor ability, behaviors in children with developmental delay. Method : The subjects were five children with developmental delays aged between 3 and 5. All Children participated in 26 sessions of group sensory integrative intervention. Children' behavior during testing was observed to assess the sensory motor ability, behaviors, the clinical observation. One group pretest- posttest design was used to verify the effect of group sensory integrative intervention. The observed children' behavior during testing were tested by the Wilcoxon matched-pair signed rank test. Results : There is no significant difference in the clinical observation between pre and post intervention. However, subjects showed the significant difference in Social interaction(Z=-2.121, p=.034), Attention(Z=-2.032, p=.042), total score in Behavior during testing(Z=-2.032, p=.042). Conclusions : The result in this study suggested that the sensory integrative intervention is effective in facilitating the social skills and improving the attention and behaviors. On the other hand, there is no effect in sensory motor ability. It is difficult to generalize the conclusion because the number of the subject was limited and the environmental confounding factors has not been controlled. Therefore, it is needed to supplement these limitations in the future study.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.547-556
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between frequency of coffee consumption, metabolic biomarkers, and nutrition intake in adult participants in the combined 2007~2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Subjects (2,095 males and 3,297 females) were classified according to sex and frequency of coffee consumption (${\leq}1$ time/month, ${\geq}2$ times/month and ${\leq}6$ times/week, 1 time/day, 2 times/day, 3 times/day) using food frequency questionnaires. Nutrition intake was analyzed using 24 h recall data. The 3 times/day coffee consumption group had a significantly higher age, and frequency of smokers and drinkers compared to the ${\leq}1$ time/month coffee consumption group in both male and female participants. Males in the 3 times/day coffee consumption group had a significantly lower HDL-cholesterol level, but females had a higher waist circumference compared with the ${\leq}1$ time/month coffee consumption group. Males in the 3 times/day coffee consumption group had a significantly lower nutrient density of fiber, vitamin B2, vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus compared with the ${\leq}1$ time/month coffee intake group. Females in the 3 times/day coffee consumption group had a significantly higher nutrient density of fat and niacin, but lower nutrient density of carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorus, and iron compared with the ${\leq}1$ time/month coffee intake group. In males, the frequency of coffee consumption was not associated with the levels of metabolic biomarkers. In females, the frequency of coffee consumption was positively associated with diastolic blood pressure after adjustments for multiple confounding factors, including age, BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity and energy intake. Coffee consumption was associated with decreased diastolic blood pressure in females. These findings suggest the importance of an awareness of the association between coffee consumption and metabolic risk.