• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2012

This study achieves results from 22 maternity breast milk samples in total to demonstrate exposure level and risk assessment of PBDEs in Seoul area. PBDEs were detected in all the breast milk samples of the present study, indicating that general population in these Seoul area are widely exposed to these chemicals. Residue levels of total PBDEs (sum PBDEs from tri- to hepta-BDE) ranged of 0.84~13.1 ng/g lipid with an arithmetic mean and median of 3.56 ng/g lipid and 2.6 ng/g lipid, respectively. Global comparison shows that the levels of total PBDEs were relatively similar to those of China, Taiwan and European country (Sweden), and somewhat higher than those in some Asian (Vietnam, Philippines, and Indonesia). In the present study, however, the levels of total PBDEs in human milk are still one to two orders of magnitude lower than those in North America. Contribution rate of each congener appeared to be predominant with BDE-47, followed by BDE-153, BDE-100, BDE-99, BDE-154 and BDE-183. The sum of BDE-47 and BDE-153 accounted for more than 65% of total PBDEs in most samples. From the result of the human risk assessment of infants for total PBDEs and BDE-47 by breast milk feeding, we could find out that the average daily doses and hazard index (95th percentile) were 16.5 ng/kg bw/day and $1.2{\times}10^{-1}$ each other when nursing for 6 months after infants born. However, it was concluded that the infant health hardly had adverse seriously effects under this research condition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.230-237
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• 2003

For hygenic evaluation, microbiological tests of seasoned raw vegetal)les from five high school foodservice operations were conducted. The antimicrobiological effect of pre-preparation with vinegar against microorganisms on vegetables in foodservice operations was also investigated. Total plate counts of leek gukgalli, broad bellflower saengchae and vegetable salad ranged from 10$^4$ CFU/g to 10$^{6}$ CFU/g. Coliform levels of those ranged from 10$^2$CFU/g to 10$^4$ CFU/g. Leek washed three times was pre-prepared at different concentration (0.05%,0.1%,0.5%,1% and 2%) and temperature ( 1$0^{\circ}C$ 2$0^{\circ}C$ and 4$0^{\circ}C$) for 5, 10 and 30 minutes. The higher the concentration and temperature of vinegar were, the more the antimicrobiological activity increased. The sanitizing activity of vinegar increased with treatment time. Considering the quality of vegetable and the expense, when the levels of total plate counts and coliform of vegetable were 10$^{6}$ and 10$^3$ CFU/g, pre-preparation with 0.5% of vinegar at 2$0^{\circ}C$ for 10 minutes was best. The population of total plate count and coliform on row and leek washed three times increased during storage for 72 hours. However, The levels of microorganism on leek samples pre-prepared with 0.5% and 1% vinegar decreased during storage. After the treatment of vinegar at 1$0^{\circ}C$ for 10 minutes, Staphylocucus aureus, Escherichia coli O157, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella entritidis, Listeria monolytogenes were not detected.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2022

Recently, the purchase of fresh-cut produce and meal kits has increased. Ready-to-eat (RTE) fresh-cut products have potentially hazard of cross-contamination of various microorganisms in the processes of peeling, slicing, dicing, and shredding. There are frequent cases of protozoa food poisoning, such as Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium, caused by fresh-cut products. The objective of the study is to investigate the microbiological qualities of various types of RTE fresh-cut products in the domestic on/offline markets. RTE fresh-cut fruits cup (n=100), fresh-cut vegetables (n=50), and vegetables in meal kits (Vietnamese spring rolls and white radish rolls kits, n=50) were seasonally analyzed. The contamination levels of hygienic indicator organisms, yeast and mold (YM), and foodborne pathogens (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli O157:H7) were monitored. Overall, the lowest microbiological qualities of meal kits vegetables were observed, followed by RTE fresh-cut fruits cup and fresh-cut vegetables. Contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and YM in meal kits vegetables were 5.91, 3.90, and 4.71 logs CFU/g, respectively. From the qualitative analysis, 6 out of 200 RTE fresh-cut products (3%) returned positive result for S. aureus. From the quantitative analysis, the contamination levels of S. aureus in purple cabbage from a meal-kit and fresh-cut pineapple were below the acceptable limit (100 CFU/g). Staphylococcus enterotoxin seg and sei genes were detected in RTE fresh-cut celery and red cabbage from meal-kits, respectively. S. aureus contamination must be carefully controlled during the manufacturing processes of RTE fresh-cut products. Neither Cyclospora cayetanensis nor Cryptosporidium parvum was detected in the samples of RTE fresh-cut products and vegetables from meal-kits from the Korean retail markets.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.484-491
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• 2005

Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) analyzes potential hazard of microorganisms on public health and offers structured approach to assess risks associated with microorganisms in foods. This paper addresses specific risk management questions associated with Staphylococcus aureus in kimbab and improvement and dissemination of QMRA methodology, QMRA model was developed by constructing four nodes from retail to table pathway. Predictive microbial growth model and survey data were combined with probabilistic modeling to simulate levels of S. aureus in kimbab at time of consumption, Due to lack of dose-response models, final level of S. aureus in kimbeb was used as proxy for potential hazard level, based on which possibility of contamination over this level and consumption level of S. aureus through kimbab were estimated as 30.7% and 3.67 log cfu/g, respectively. Regression sensitivity results showed time-temperature during storage at selling was the most significant factor. These results suggested temperature control under $10^{\circ}C$ was critical control point for kimbab production to prevent growth of S. aureus and showed QMRA was useful for evaluation of factors influencing potential risk and could be applied directly to risk management.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.131-137
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• 2000

The release of hazardous waste materials into the environment poses serious risks in humans and ecosystems. The risk assessment of environmental pollutants including hazardous chemicals requires a comprehensive measurement of hazard and exposure of the chemicals that can be achieved by toxicity evaluation using a biological system such as biomarkers. In this report we have tried to develop a biomarker used to elucidate a molecular basis of, and to monitor abnormal behaviors caused by diazinon in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a model organism. First, an attempt was made to clone tyrosine hydroxylase gene from Japanese medaka that would be a candidate for a biomarker for neuronal modulations and behaviors. For monitoring experiments at behavioral and molecular biological levels, the fish were treated under different sublethal conditions of diazinon and their behavioral responses were observed . In this study we have successfully cloned a partial TH gene from the medaka fish through PCR screening of an ovary cDNA library. DNA sequencing analysis revealed that the amplified fragment was 327 bp encoding 109 amino acids. Comparing the DNA sequence of medaka TH with other species, TH gene revealed the DNA sequence was completely identical to that of rat TH. In the RT-PCR, 330 Up of mRNA was consistently amplified in all the treated samples including control There were no significant differences in the TH expression level regardless of treating concentrations (1∼5,000 ppb) and time (0∼48 hr) The reason appeared to be that RT-PCR was not performed using through a quantitative analysis normalized against an actin gene expression. Organ or tissue - specific detection of TH activity and mRNA as biomarkers will be a useful monitoring tool for neurobehavioral changes in fish influenced by toxic chemicals. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of locomotive patterns and its correlation with the neurochemical and molecular data would be highly useful in measuring toxicity and hazard ofvarious environmental pollutants.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.174-181
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• 2009

The consumption of "ready-to-eat" agricultural products is recently increasing and the safety of these agricultural products is forefront of public concerns. The 120 samples of paprikas, strawberries and tomatoes, which are the representative exported agricultural products, were purchased at the department stores and discount stores in Daejeon. And we determined the microbiological and parasitological contamination level of these agricultural products using culture media, multiplex PCR, commercial bacterial detection kit and microscopy, and also evaluated the decontamination method. Mean counts of total aerobic bacteria from these agricultural products ranged from $1.3{\times}10^4$ CFU/g to $1.8{\times}10^5$ CFU/g, and mean counts of coliforms ranged from $1.4{\times}10^3$ CFU/g to $9.6{\times}10^3$ CFU/g. There was no significant difference in the level of bacterial contamination between the agricultural products from department stores and the ones from discount stores. Strawberry showed the highest contamination level for the bacteria and we also found the unidentified parasite eggs. Enterobacter cloacae was the most frequently isolated bacteria strain, but no food poisoning pathogenic bacteria except Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from the products by multiplex PCR. Compared to unwashed products, tab water-washed ones showed 80% decrease of the counts of total aerobic bacteria on the agricultural products, and the rates decreased more by incorporating detergent or ultrasonic wave treatment. We concluded that the biological contamination levels among paprikas, strawberries and tomatoes were the highest in strawberries, but there were not significant difference according to distribution systems.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.295-300
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze microbiological hazards for plants, cultivation environments and personal hygiene of perilla leaf farms at the harvesting stage. Samples were collected from three perilla leaf farms(A, B, C) located in Gyeongnam, Korea and tested for sanitary indications, fungi and pathogenic bacteria(Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogens, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus). As a result, total bacteria and coliform in perilla leaf were detected at the levels of 4.4~5.2 and 3.4~4.3 log CFU/g, respectively, but E. coli was not detected in all samples. Among the pathogenic bacteria, B. cereus(perilla leaf: 2.0~2.4 log CFU/g, stem: 1.4~2.1 log CFU/g, water: 0.7 log CFU/ml, soil: 4.2~5.0 log CFU/g, hands: 3.0 log CFU/ hand, gloves: 2.1~2.4 log CFU/100 $cm^2$, glothes: 1.5~2.8 log CFU/100 $cm^2$) and S. aureus(3.4 log CFU/hand) were detected in all samples and worker's hand from farm A, respectively. However, other pathogenic bacteria were not detected. This study demonstrates that perilla leaf at the harvesting stage was significantly contaminated with microbial hazards.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.330-338
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate the agricultural product (Pulses, Lettuces, Pumpkins, Apples, Pears and Tangerines) in Korea, monitoring of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) contaminations of agricultural products in cultivated areas and abandoned mine areas were investigated, and risk assessment was performed through dietary intake of agricultural products. METHODS AND RESULTS: The average contents of Cd and Pb ranged from 0.001 to 0.018 mg/kg and from 0.007 to 0.032 mg/kg respectively. The result was showed that contents of Cd and Pb did not exceed maximum residual levels established by CODEX except pumpkins and apples. The average daily intake were in the range of $1.06{\times}10^{-3}$ to $4.76{\times}10^{-2}{\mu}g/kg$ b.w./day at the mean and 95th percentile for Cd, $4.53{\times}10^{-3}$ to $8.35{\times}10^{-2}{\mu}g/kg$ b.w./day at the mean and 95th percentile for Pb for general population, based on the Korean public nutrition report 2008. The Hazard Index (HI) from the ratio analysis between daily exposure and safety level values was smaller than 1.0. CONCLUSION(s): This results demonstrated that human exposure to Cd and Pb through dietary intake of agricultural produces from abandoned mine areas might not cause adverse effect exceeding to those from non-contaminated areas.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.789-796
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• 2009

Benzoic acid (BA) and sorbic acid (SA) are the preservatives most commonly used in food. Although BA and SA are generally safe, some previous studies have shown that consumption of excessive amounts of these food additives can be a health hazard. The aim of this study was to determine the amounts of BA and SA in processed foods in Korea. Different brands of fruit juice, yogurt, cheese, dried fruits, jam, and margarine were purchased at a local market in Daejeon, Korea. Samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a UV detector. Chromatographic separation was achieved with a C18 column. Methanol acetate buffer (pH 4.4) at a 35:65 v/v ratio was used as the initial mobile phase to elute BA and SA. The detector wavelength was set at 254 nm. The average test results observed for BA concentrations in fruit juice, yogurt, cheese, dried fruits, jam, and margarine were $40.26{\pm}0.02$, $2.07{\pm}0.06$, $0.02{\pm}0.09$, $0.36{\pm}08$, $265.30{\pm}0.02$, and $27.34{\pm}0.08\;mg/kg$, respectively. Average concentrations of SA in these samples were $0.92{\pm}0.06$, $1.06{\pm}0.07$, $7.30{\pm}0.01$, $14.14{\pm}0.08$, $25.65{\pm}0.06$, and $4.81{\pm}0.07\;mg/kg$, respectively. Thus, the average levels of BA and SA in the studied food items were lower than the KFDA-permitted limits. Moreover, the estimated daily intake of both BA and SA by a typical consumer were below the maximum recommended daily values.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.305-311
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• 2017

Objectives: TNM staging, especially for lymph node metastasis, is the scoring system most widely used among prognostic factors for cancer survival. Several biomarkers have been studied as serologic markers, but their specificity is low and clinical applications are difficult. This study aimed to establish a scoring system for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using platelet (PLT) and mean platelet volume (MPV) levels measured postoperatively and to evaluate their significance as prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: We studied 40 patients admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Dankook University Hospital who were diagnosed with primary OSCC histopathologically between May 2006 and May 2012. Clinical pathological information obtained from the medical records of each patient included age, sex, height, weight, tumor location, degree of differentiation, tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and other test values including white blood cell, MPV, PLT, C-reactive protein (CRP), and albumin obtained through a test conducted within 7 days before surgery. Count of platelet (COP)-MPV Score: Patients with both PLT and MPV values below the cut-off values were defined as score 0 (group A). Patients with at least one of the two higher than the cut-off value were defined as score 1 (group B). Results: Univariate analyses showed N-metastasis, COP-MPV (A vs B), PLT, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and CRP were statistically significant prognostic factors. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model showed N-metastasis (hazard ratio [HR] 6.227, P=0.016) and COP-MPV (A vs B) (HR 18.992, P=0.013) were independent prognostic factors with a significant effect on survival. Conclusion: COP-MPV score is a simple and cost-effective test method and is considered a more effective prognostic factor than other considered factors in predicting the prognosis of OSCC patients.