• Title/Summary/Keyword: harmful factor

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The Status and Future Challenges of Tobacco Control Policy in Korea

  • Cho, Hong-Jun
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.47 no.3
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    • pp.129-135
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    • 2014
  • Tobacco use is the most important preventable risk factor for premature death. The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first international public health treaty, came into force in 2005. This paper reviews the present status of tobacco control policies in Korea according to the WHO FCTC recommendations. In Korea, cigarette use is high among adult males (48.2% in 2010), and cigarette prices are the lowest among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries with no tax increases since 2004. Smoke-free policies have shown incremental progress since 1995, but smoking is still permitted in many indoor public places. More than 30% of non-smoking adults and adolescents are exposed to second-hand smoke. Public education on the harmful effects of tobacco is currently insufficient and the current policies have not been adequately evaluated. There is no comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, or sponsorship in Korea. Cigarette packages have text health warnings on only 30% of the main packaging area, and misleading terms such as "mild" and "light" are permitted. There are nationwide smoking cessation clinics and a Quitline service, but cessation services are not covered by public insurance schemes and there are no national treatment guidelines. The sale of tobacco to minors is prohibited by law, but is poorly enforced. The socioeconomic inequality of smoking prevalence has widened, although the government considers inequality reduction to be a national goal. The tobacco control policies in Korea have faltered recently and priority should be given to the development of comprehensive tobacco control policies.

Effect of Artificially Cultured Phellinus linteus on Harmful Intestinal Bacterial Enzymes and Rat Intestinal ${\alpha}-glucosidases$ (재배상황버섯의 장내 세균 유해효소 및 알파글루코시다제 저해효과)

  • 김동현;최혁재;배은아;한명주;박순영
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.20-23
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    • 1998
  • The objective of this study was to evaluate the bifidogenic effect and a-glucosidase inhibitory effect of artificially cultured Phellinus linteus. The water extract of P. linteus promoted the growth of Bifidobacterium breve as well as the decrease of final pH in the media culturing intestinal bacteria. The growth of lactic acid bacteria inhibited effectively the bacterial enzymes, ${\beta}-glucosidase,\;{\beta}-glucuronidase$ and tryptophanase, of intestinal bactetria. The water extract of P. linteus inhibited maltase, sucrase and ${\alpha}-amylase$ of rat intestine.

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Environmental Radiation Protection in Medical Institutions

  • Han, Eun-Ok;Dong, Kyung-Rae
    • Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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    • v.35 no.3
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    • pp.91-95
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    • 2010
  • The study aimed to measure the levels of radiation protection for radiologists in medical institutions in three environmental categories (physical, administrative and social) and to establish a data base which can be used to increase awareness of environmental radiation protection in medical institutions within Korea. The study surveyed 10% of radiologists working in radiology departments in medical institutions which are supervised by the National Dose Registry overseen by the Korean Food and Drug Administration(KFDA). This study found that the level of environmental radiation protection was higher in the capital area and in larger hospitals. On the other hand, the study shows environmental radiation protection was lower in the Youngnam area and in clinics. Results from the questionnaires indicate the level of environmental radiation protection was higher when radiologists were given an individual dosimeter but lowest when the radiation protection apron quality test was conducted. Environmental radiation protection is an important factor for radiologists to conduct activities in a safe and protected environment. However, this study shows there are differences in the level of environmental radiation protection in medical institutions and location within Korea. In particular, the level of environmental radiation protection was lower in clinics, appropriate intervention strategies befitting these conditions are needed based on medical institution classification and location in order to improve the level of environmental protection.

수성이상계를 이용한 재조합 hGM-CSF의 in situ 분리

  • Pyo, Se-Hong;Myeong, Hyeon-Jong;Kim, Dong-Il
    • 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2002.04a
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    • pp.321-324
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    • 2002
  • In situ recovery of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) was performed in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum cell suspension cultures. Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) were used to utilize its biocompatibility. Transgenic plant cells could be grown up to 15.7 g/L in normal medium and 18.6 g/L in ATPS composed of 6% (w/w) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 20,000 and 10% (w/w) dextran 2,000,000. It was proved that the A TPS was not harmful to cell growth. In addition, It is expected to recover hGM-CSF simultaneously with cell growth. Using this method, maximum hGM-CSF concentration at 1.64 ng/mL was obtained on day 3.

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Numerical Investigation on Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Centrifugal Pump with a Double Volute at Off-Design Conditions

  • Shim, Hyeon-Seok;Kim, Kwang-Yong
    • International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
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    • v.10 no.3
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    • pp.218-226
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    • 2017
  • Severe radial thrust under off-design operating conditions can be a harmful factor for centrifugal pumps. In the present work, effects of geometry of a double volute casing on the hydrodynamic performance of a centrifugal pump have been investigated focusing on off-design conditions. Three-dimensional steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes analysis was carried out by using shear stress transport turbulence model. Numerical results for the hydrodynamic performance of the centrifugal pump were validated compared with experimental data. The hydraulic efficiency and radial thrust coefficient were used as performance parameters to evaluate the hydrodynamic characteristics of the centrifugal pump. The cross-sectional area ratio of the volute casing, the expansion coefficient of the rib structure, the distance between the rib starting point and volute entrance, and radius and width of the volute entrance, and length of the rib structure, were selected as geometric parameters. Results of the parametric study show that the performance parameters are significantly affected by the geometric variables and operating conditions. Optimal configurations of the double volute casing based on the design of experiments technique show outstanding performance in terms of the efficiency and radial thrust coefficient.

Purification and Characterization of Anticoagulant Protein from Ark Shell, Scapharca broughtonii

  • Jung, Won-Kyo;Park, Pyo-Jam;Kim, Se-Kwon
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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    • 2000.05a
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    • pp.90-91
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    • 2000
  • The physiological systems that control blood fluidity are both complex and elegant. Blood must remain fluid within the vasculature and yet clot quickly when exposed to nonendothelial surfaces at sites of vascular injury. There are two principle mechanisms to control a delicate balance in higher organisms (Davie & Ratnoff, 1964). Present evidence suggests that the intrinsic pathway play an important role in the growth and maintenance of fibrin formation in the coagulation cascade while a second overlapping mechanism, called the extrinsic pathway, is critical in the initiation of fibrin formation. Coagulation factors is in two mechanisms, and in order to clot blood, they are activated by a cooperation with $Ca^{2+}$, phospholipid and vitamin K etc. For example, the human placental anticoagulant protein (PAP of PAP- I), which is a $Ca^{2+}$ -dependent phospholipid binding protein (Funakoshi et al., 1987) inhibited the activity of factor Xa, so that it prolonged fibrin formation. We wondered whether any other protein was involved in regulation of the coagulant system as an anticoagulant protein from natural organisms. Natural agents would have not harmful side-effects in comparision with chemically synthesized materials such as warfarin, aspirin, phenindione, etc.. But anticoagulant agents from natural, especially marine organisms have hardly been researched except for polysaccharides from marine algae. (omitted)

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Sterilization of Bacteria, Yeast, and Bacterial Endospores by Atmospheric-Pressure Cold Plasma using Helium and Oxygen

  • Lee Kye-Nam;Paek Kwang-Hyun;Ju Won-Tae;Lee Yeon-Hee
    • Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.44 no.3
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    • pp.269-275
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    • 2006
  • Atmospheric-pressure cold plasma (APCP) using helium/oxygen was developed and tested as a suitable sterilization method in a clinical environment. The sterilizing effect of this method is not due to UV light, which is known to be the major sterilization factor of APCP, but instead results from the action of reactive oxygen radicals. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae deposited on a nitrocellulose filter membrane or Bacillus subtilis spores deposited on polypropylene plates were exposed to helium/oxygen plasma generated with AC input power at 10 kHz, 6 kV. After Plasma treatment, nitrocellulose filter membranes were overlaid on fresh solid media and CFUs were counted after incubation overnight. D-values were 18 sec for E. coli, 19 sec for S. aureus, 1 min 55 sec for S. cerevisiae, and 14 min for B. subtilis spores. D-values of bacteria and yeast were dependent on the initial inoculation concentration, while the D-value of B. subtilis spores showed no correlation. When treated cells were observed with a scanning electron microscope, E. coli was more heavily damaged than S. aureus, S. cevevisiae exhibited peeling, and B. subtilis spores exhibited shrunken morphology. Results showed that APCP using helium/oxygen has many advantages as a sterilization method, especially in a clinical environment with conditions such as stable temperature, unlimited sample size, and no harmful gas production.

Corrosion Inhibition Properties of Steel bars in Reinforced Concrete Using Superplasticizer with Air Entrained Agent (고성능AE감수제를 사용한 콘크리트의 철근부식 저항성)

  • Lee, Mun-Hwan;Jung, Mi-Kyung;Oh, Se-Chul;Bae, Kyu-Woong;Seo, Chee-Ho
    • Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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    • v.4 no.4
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    • pp.149-160
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    • 2000
  • As systematic methodologies are required for the evaluation on the durability of reinforced concrete structure, it is necessary to study and examine every factor which deteriorates the durability of structures. This paper aims to define factors affecting rebar corrosion and to establish a basis for a prediction of serviceability, regarding a state of harmful corrosion as a state when crack begins on the surface of concrete. The study results are followings; The corrosive current has changed by types of mixture, and this property enables the evaluations of corrosion resistance by mixture and concrete cover. The specimen using AE superplasticizer has better corrosion-resistance properties than non-AE specimen, as well those having low W/C and high unit cement weight. The procedure for calculation of durable year in this study is able to use as an indicator to establish mixture factors such as unit cement weight, W/C, amount of admixture, etc.

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Development of a Structural Equation Model to estimate University Students' Depression (대학생 우울에 관한 예측모형 구축)

  • Park, Kwang-Hi
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.38 no.6
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    • pp.779-788
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    • 2008
  • Purpose: This study was designed to construct a structural model explaining depression in university students. Methods: Data were collected from 1,640 university students by questionnaire, and analyzed using AMOS 5.0 to test the hypothetical model. Results: Fitness statistics for the modified model were GFI=.93, AGFI=.89, NFI=.91, and RMSEA=.081. All the 12 paths in the modified model proved to be statistically significant. Depression of university students accounted for 52% of the covariance by the factors. The factor that had the most influence on depression was individual vulnerability, and followed by sequence order, stress, social support, coping, and self-efficacy. Depression was influenced directly by individual vulnerability, stress, social support, and coping, and indirectly by individual vulnerability, stress, social support, and self-efficacy. Conclusion: A screening and management system for the high risk group is needed to effectively prevent depression and reduce rate of depression in university students. Detailed support programs which specifically deal with prevailing stressors should be developed to effectively reduce the harmful effects of individual vulnerability and stress. It is anticipated that the model constructed in this study could be utilized as a reference in developing various strategies to prevent and intervene depression in university students.

Variations in Ginsenosides of Raw Ginseng According to Heating Temperature and Time

  • Kim, Chan Joong;Kim, Bo Mi;Kim, Cheon Suk;Baek, Jung Yeon;Jung, In Chan
    • Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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    • v.23 no.2
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    • pp.79-87
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    • 2020
  • Objectives: Ginsenosides found in ginseng, and the hydrolysates derived from their conversion, exhibit diverse pharmacological characteristics [1]. These have been shown to include anti-cancer, anti-angiogenic, and anti-metastatic effects, as well as being able to provide hepatic and neuroprotective effects, immunomodulation, vasodilation, promotion of insulin secretion, and antioxidant activity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how quickly the ginsenosides decompose and what kinds of degradation products are created under physicochemical processing conditions that don't involve toxic chemicals or other treatments that may be harmful. Methods: The formation of ginsenoside-Rg2 and ginsenoside-Rg3 was examined. These demonstrated diverse pharmacological effects. Results: We also investigated physicochemical factors affecting their conversion. The heating temperatures and times yielding the highest concentration of ginsenosides (-Rb1, -Rb2, -Rc, -Rd, -Rf, -Rg1, and -Re) were examined. Additionally, the heating temperatures and rates of conversion of these ginsenosides into new 'ginseng saponins', were examined. Conclusion: In conclusion, obtained provide us with effective technology to control the concentration of both ginsenosides and the downstream converted saponins (ginsenoside-Rg2, Rg3, Rg5, and Rk1 etc.), as well as identifying the processing conditions which enable an enrichment in concentration of these compounds.