• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.351-356
• /
• 2021

Korean nuclear power plants (NPPs) have various radiation protection programs to attain radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). In terms of ALARA, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of administrative dose control for occupationally-exposed workers in Korean NPPs. In addition to dose limits, administrative dose constraints are implemented to resolve an inequity of radiation exposure in which some individuals in NPPs receive relatively higher doses than others. Occupational dose constraints in Korean NPPs are presented in this paper with the background of how those values were determined. For pressurized water reactors, 80% and 90% of the annual average limit for an effective dose, 20 mSv/y, are set as the primary and secondary dose constraints, respectively. Pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) have also established the primary and secondary dose constraints corresponding to 70% and 80% of the effective dose limit, and additional constraints for tritium concentration are provided to control internal exposure in PHWRs. Follow-up measures for exceeding these administrative dose constraints are also introduced compared to exceeding the dose limits. Finally, analysis results of dose distributions show how the implementation of administrative dose constraints impacted the occupational dose distributions in Korean NPPs during the years 2009-2018.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.78-86
• /
• 2023

Here, upon acute (96 h) and chronic (14 days) exposure, ingestion of polystyrene NPs (100 nm) and physiological, biochemical, and cholinergic modulations were analyzed in the water flea Moina macrocopa exposed to different concentrations (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500 ㎍ l^-1). Exposed NPs were observed in the internal organs (e.g., digestive tract and foregut) of the water flea. Chronic exposure to the relatively high concentrations resulted in significant decreases in survival, body length, and the total number of molts, whereas reproduction parameter was not affected. Significant increase in oxidative stress biomarker (malondialdehyde) and decrease in the intracellular content of endogenous antioxidant (glutathione) and enzymatic activity of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione S-transferase) were detected in response to relatively high concentrations of NPs. Transcriptional expression of the hsp70 gene was increased in response to relatively high concentrations of NPs, whereas acetylcholinesterase activity was lowered by the same concentrations of NPs. Taken together, NPs exposure would be a significant modulator on physiological and biochemical metabolism of water flea.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.159-165
• /
• 2022

Objective: This clinical study describes the effect of Korean medicine on a patient with Delayed Neuropsychiatric Sequelae after Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Case presentation: A patient with the delayed neuropsychiatric effects of carbon monoxide exposure was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping. Clinical symptoms were measured with the Korean Mini Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). After 32 days of treatment, the patient's K-MMSE score increased from 11 to 21 points, the FIM score from 52 to 94 points, and the MBI score from 46 to 84 points. There were no side effects. Conclusion: According to this case study, Korean medicine may be considered an effective treatment for delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae, although more studies are needed to confirm its validity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.503-513
• /
• 2022

Objectives: The antitussive, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory effects of Mahwangyounpae-tang (MHYPT) aqueous extracts were observed in appropriate animal models of various respiratory disorders. Methods: MHYPT aqueous extracts were orally administered once a day for 11 days at dose levels of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg. The effect of MHYPT was determined by comparing its antitussive effect with theobromine (TB), its expectorant effect with ambroxol (AM), and its anti-inflammatory effect with dexamethasone (DEXA). Results: MHYPT aqueous extracts (400 mg/kg) showed favorable antitussive effects comparable to those of TB (50 mg/kg) in the NH₄OH-exposure coughing mouse model and expectorant effects comparable to those of AM (250 mg/kg) in the phenol red-secretion mouse model, but MHYPT (400 mg/kg) showed less anti-inflammatory activity compared to DEXA (1 mg/kg) in the xylene-induced acute inflammatory mouse ear model under the experimental conditions used. Conclusion: MHYPT aqueous extracts administered at dosage levels of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg induced dose-dependent and favorable antitussive, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory activities that occurred by simultaneous modulation of the activity of mast cells and respiratory mucous production under the experimental conditions used in this study.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.83.1-83.7
• /
• 2022

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a zoonotic disease, and its clinical information and prevalence are important. This study was conducted on 22 feline patients from the Republic of Korea (ROK), suspected to suffer from a tick-borne disease. Four cats were positive for SFTS, and genotypes B-1, B-3, D, and F were identified. Clinical symptoms, such as anorexia, jaundice, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and hyperbilirubinemia, were detected. This is the first report of SFTS virus genotypes B-1, D, and F from cats in the ROK. Moreover, our results suggest that jaundice may be an indicator of SFTS in cats.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.19.1-19.18
• /
• 2021

Clinical and molecular phenotypes of asthma are complex. The main phenotypes of adult asthma are characterized by eosinophil and/or neutrophil cell dominant airway inflammation that represent distinct clinical features. Upper and lower airways constitute a unique system and their interaction shows functional complementarity. Although human upper airway contains various indigenous commensals and opportunistic pathogenic microbiome, imbalance of this interactions lead to pathogen overgrowth and increased inflammation and airway remodeling. Competition for epithelial cell attachment, different susceptibilities to host defense molecules and antimicrobial peptides, and the production of proinflammatory cytokine and pattern recognition receptors possibly determine the pattern of this inflammation. Exposure to environmental factors, including infection, air pollution, smoking is commonly associated with asthma comorbidity, severity, exacerbation and resistance to anti-microbial and steroid treatment, and these effects may also be modulated by host and microbial genetics. Administration of probiotic, antibiotic and corticosteroid treatment for asthma may modify the composition of resident microbiota and clinical features. This review summarizes the effect of some environmental factors on the upper respiratory microbiome, the interaction between host-microbiome, and potential impact of asthma treatment on the composition of the upper airway microbiome.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2004.05a
• /
• pp.790-793
• /
• 2004

The factors influencing concrete deterioration in marine environment can be generally divided into the physical and chemical action. The physical attack due to drying and wetting would increase the internal stress of concrete. The chemical attack resulting from the diffusion of ions$(i,e,\;Cl^-,SO_4^{2-},Mg^+)$ from seawater through the pores in concrete. The objective of this study is to evaluate corrosion characteristics of steel when using the various concrete materials under marine exposure environment. After 3 years of exposure, concrete specimen incorporating $40\%$ blast-furnace slag as replacement for type I cement with low w/c ratio of 0.42 and using the inhibitor shows excellent performance.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.22-31
• /
• 2020

There has been a growing concern and subsequent interest surrounding numerous reproductive toxic agents found in various working and non-working environments. Meanwhile, there have been many efforts in medical fields such as toxicology and epidemiology applying experimental studies to elucidate reproductive toxic agents' characterization and health effects. However, there remains insufficient research data and inadequate evidence in humans. Adverse reproductive outcomes vary from transient, moderate health effects to severely detrimental consequences, such as permanent infertility or childhood cancer of one's offspring. Furthermore, upon exposure to toxic agents, the latent period before reproductive health effects are observed is relatively short compared to other occupational diseases (e.g., occupational cancer); instant action is required once exposure to reproductive toxic agents is detected. Therefore, it is very important for workers and healthcare professionals to know about the reproductive toxic agents they are likely to be exposed to. In this review, we discuss the general epidemiology of reproductive health in Korea, and the information regarding these reproductive toxic agents.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2006.05b
• /
• pp.169-172
• /
• 2006

The IIA structures exposed to marine environment is subject to many different types of potential attack. The physical attack due to drying and wetting would increase the internal stress of concrete. The chemical attack resulting from the diffusion of ions$(Cl^-,SO_4^{2-},Mg^+)$ from seawater through the pores in concrete. Therefore the sea water resistance of concrete must be considered when it is used for structure in the ocean. The objective of this study is to evaluate chloride diffusion and corrosion characteristics of concrete when using the various concrete materials under marine environment. After 5 years of exposure, concrete incorporating 40% blast-furnace slag as replacement for type I cement with low w/c ratio of 0.42 and using the inhibitor shows excellent performance.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.615-620
• /
• 1996

The coronal approach is a versatile surgical technique. This method becomes particulary useful for exposure and internal fixation of midfacial fractures and the harvest of calvarial bone graft to manage the complex facial bone fractures. The rectrospective clinical study on the use of this technique in 10 patients was performed. The result shows that this technique provides the excellent exposure of fractures site, the ability to reduce the fragment accurately and good cosmetic results in incision area. We discussed with literatures review that anatomy, technique, indications, and potential complications of the coronal approach.