• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.195-207
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was performed to confirm whether plasma lead can be used as a chronic biomarker for the biological monitoring of exposure to lead. Methods: Lead concentrations in 66 plasma samples from retired lead workers (G.M. 60.25 years, Median 61.00 years) and 42 plasma samples from the general population (G.M. 53.76 years, Median 56.50 years) were measured using ICP/Mass. Tibia, whole blood, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and blood zinc protophorphyrin (ZPP) concentrations and urinary ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid (${\delta}-ALA$) were measured for correlation analysis with plasma lead. Results: The geometric mean concentration of lead in plasma was $0.23{\mu}g/L$ for the retired lead workers and $0.10{\mu}g/L$ for the general population sample. A simple correlation analysis of biomarkers showed that plasma lead concentration among the retired lead workers was highly correlated with lead concentration in the tibia and with blood lead concentration, and the plasma lead concentration among the general population correlated with ZPP concentration in the blood. The lead concentration in the tibia and the lead concentration in the whole blood increased with length of working period. As the period in the lead workplace increased, the ratio of lead in plasma to lead concentration in whole blood decreased. Conclusion: This study confirmed the possibility of a chronic biomarker of lead concentration in blood plasma as a biomarker. In the future, comparative studies with specific indicators will lead to more fruitful results.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.395-400
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• 2002

Lead is one of the most toxic metal and is detectable in practically all phases of environment and in all biological system. Transport, industrial and domestic waste products are the main sources of this pollutant. Ingested lead is rapidly absorbed and widely distributed throughout the body, causing extensive tissue damage. In this study, we chose the freshwater decapods Maceobrachium nipponnese as a sensitive indicator organism for environmental pollution. In order to investigate the possibility in use of $Na^+/K^+ATPase$ activity as a biomarker of lead pollution, we tested the acute toxicity of lead to Maceobrachium nipponnese. The $LC_{50}(96hr)$ value for lead in Maceobrachium nipponnese was found to be $446{\mu}g/L$ with the 95% confidence limits. The lead exposure group at $LC_{50}$ showed a significant $Na^+/K^+ATPase$ inhibition, depending on the exposure time. Comparision of several concentrations of lead revealed that the $Na^+/K^+ATPase$ activity in Maceobrachium nipponnese was significantly decreased in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that $Na^+/K^+ATPase$ activity in Maceobrachium nipponnese may possibly be used as a biomarker of lead pollution in aquatic ecosystem.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.65-74
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• 2013

Objectives: This study attempted to develop a method to measure ultra-trace lead concentrations in plasma using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry(ICP-MS) and to test whether plasma lead can be used as a biomarker for the biological monitoring of exposure to lead. Methods: Lead concentrations in 160 plasma samples of field workers and 42 plasma samples from the control group were measured by ICP-MS. Blood zinc protophorphyrin(ZPP) concentrations and urinary ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid${\delta}-ALA$) were measured for correlation analysis with plasma lead. Results: The mean lead level in the plasma of the workers exposed to lead at work were 786.1 ng/L. Plasma lead levels were not correlated with blood ZPP or urinary ${\delta}-ALA$ concentrations. Otherwise, plasma lead levels showed a good correlation coefficient of 0.400 with blood lead levels, and their correlation coefficient had a better value of 0.552 for the non-smoking and drinking group. In the general population group which was not exposed to lead in the workplace and was considered the control group, the mean concentration of plasma lead was 123.1 ng/L. The plasma lead levels for the general population group showed a good correlation coefficient of 0.520 with blood ZPP and urinary ${\delta}-ALA$ concentrations.

• BMB Reports
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• 제41권9호
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• pp.626-634
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• 2008

Novel cancer biomarkers are required to achieve early diagnosis and optimized therapy for individual patients. Cancer is a disease of the genome, and tumor tissues are a rich source of cancer biomarkers as they contain the functional translation of the genome, namely the proteome. Investigation of the tumor tissue proteome allows the identification of proteomic signatures corresponding to clinico-pathological parameters, and individual proteins in such signatures will be good biomarker candidates. Tumor tissues are also a rich source for plasma biomarkers, because proteins released from tumor tissues may be more cancer specific than those from non-tumor cells. Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) with novel ultra high sensitive fluorescent dyes (CyDye DIGE Fluor satulation dye) enables the efficient protein expression profiling of laser-microdissected tissue samples. The combined use of laser microdissection allows accurate proteomic profiling of specific cells in tumor tissues. To develop clinical applications using the identified biomarkers, collaboration between research scientists, clinicians and diagnostic companies is essential, particularly in the early phases of the biomarker development projects. The proteomics modalities currently available have the potential to lead to the development of clinical applications, and channeling the wealth of produced information towards concrete and specific clinical purposes is urgent.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제42권6호
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• pp.343-348
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• 2009

The final decision of study design in molecular and genetic epidemiology is usually a compromise between the research study aims and a number of logistical and ethical barriers that may limit the feasibility of the study or the interpretation of results. Although biomarker measurements may improve exposure or disease assessments, it is necessary to address the possibility that biomarker measurement inserts additional sources of misclassification and confounding that may lead to inconsistencies across the research literature. Studies targeting multi-causal diseases and investigating gene-environment interactions must not only meet the needs of a traditional epidemiologic study but also the needs of the biomarker investigation. This paper is intended to highlight the major issues that need to be considered when developing an epidemiologic study utilizing biomarkers. These issues covers from molecular and genetic epidemiology (MGE) study designs including cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, clinical trials, nested case-control, and case-only studies to matching the study design to the MGE research goals. This review summarizes logistical barriers and the most common epidemiological study designs most relevant to MGE and describes the strengths and limitations of each approach in the context of common MGE research aims to meet specific MEG objectives.

• 생태와환경
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• 제36권2호통권103호
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• pp.97-107
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• 2003

어류 vitellogenin은 난황전구체로 난형성과정동안에 estradiol의 체내 순환에 의해 암컷의 간에서 생산되며 alkylphenol류와 같은 비이온성 계면활성제 등의 내분비계 장애물질에 의해 수컷에서도 생산된다. 물 환경의주요 생물종인 어류는 내분비계장애물질에 의해 암컷에서는 번식률 저하와 함께 수컷에서는 정소의 축소 및 이에 따른 암컷화가 관찰된다. 특히 수컷에서 내분비계 장애물질에 의해 유도된 vitellogenin의 생성을 이용하여 환경오염에 의해 유도된 생물체의 유전자 발현 변화 뿐만 아니라 이를 토대로 특정지역의 환경오염을 모니터링할 수 있다. 본 논문에서는 어류의 vitetlogenin를 이용하여 수환경의 내분비계장애물질의 검출과 환경오염모니터링을 위한 biomarker로서의 유용성을 검토하였다.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.87-96
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• 2011

In 1967, the problem of occupational lead exposure came to public attention in Korea. Since then, regular progress has been made in lowering workplace lead exposures, instituting new workplace controls, and implementing health examinations of exposed workers. Past serious lead poisoning episodes made it possible to introduce biological monitoring programs on a voluntary basis in high-lead-exposure facilities in Korea. Industry-specific occupational health services for lead workers in Korea during the last 22 years can be categorized into three phases. During the first phase (1988-1993), efforts were directed at increasing awareness among workers about the hazards of lead exposure, biological monitoring of blood zinc protoporphyrin began, and a respiratory protection program was introduced. During the second phase (1994-1997), a computerized health management system for lead workers was developed, blood-lead measurement was added to biologic monitoring, and engineering controls were introduced in the workplace to lower air-lead levels to comply with air-lead regulations. Finally, during the third phase (1998-present), a new biomarker, bone-lead measurement by X-ray fluorescence, was introduced. Bone-lead measurement proved to be useful for assessing body burden and to demonstrate past lead exposure in retired workers. Occupational health service practice for lead workers, including the industry-specific group occupational health system, has brought considerable success in the prevention of lead poisoning and in reducing the lead burden in Korean lead workers during the last several decades. The successful achievement of prevention of lead poisoning in Korea was a result of the combined efforts of lead workers, employers, relevant government agencies, and academic institutes.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.32-39
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• 2005

In order to identify potential biomarkers of environmental monitoring, we evaluated heat shock genes expressions as effects of various environmental pollutants (nonylphenol, bisphenol-A, 17a­ethynyl estradiol, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, endosulfan, paraquat dichloride, chloropyriphos, fenitrothion, cadmium chloride, lead nitrate, potassium dichromate, benzo[a]pyrene and carbon tetrachloride) on larvae of aquatic midge Chironomus tentans (Diptera, Chironomidae). Heat shock protein 70 gene expression increased in most of chemicals treated larvae compared to control. The response was rapid and sensitive to low chemical concentrations but not stressor specific. In conjunction with stressor specific biomarkers, heat shock protein 70 gene expression in Chironomus might be developed for assessing exposure to environmental stressors in the fresh water ecosystem. Considering the potential of Chironomus larvae as biomonitoring species, heat shock gene expression has a considerable potential as a sensitive biomarker for environmental monitoring in Chironomus.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.408-414
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• 1999

자연계에 오염되어 있는 수많은 화학 물질들은 정상적인 내분비 기능을 교란한다. 내분비 교란 물질은 수계에 오염되면 야생동물과 사람에게 건강에 미치는 영향이 크다. 본 연구는 오염물질이 생체의 내분비계를 교란시키므로서 생성되는 난황 전구체 단백질로서 환경오염의 생물체의 지표로서 비트로게닌의 생성을 유도하는 내분비 교란 물질에 대하여 고찰하였다. 수계의 환경에서 서식하고 있는 물고기는 내분비계 교란 물질에 의하여 암컷에서는 번식률과 난백의 생산이 감소되고 수컷에서는 정소의 왜소화 및 암컷화로 유도되기도 한다. 여성호르몬 작용을 하는 화학물질에 노출된 수컷은 비트로게닌의 생성을 촉진하고, 암컷에 있어서 비트로게닌의 생성은 난백을 형성하는 동안 에스트로겐의 함량을 증가시켜 정상적인 활동을 제한하기도 한다. 따라서 수컷에서의 비트로게닌은 환경에 오염된 내분비교란 물질의 오염에 의하여 생성되게 된다. 결과적으로 수컷의 물고기에서 생성된 비트로게닌은 환경에 오염된 내분비 교란물질이 어느 정도 노출되어 있는가를 결정하는 생물학적 지표로 사용할 수 있다. 특히 치어의 경우 극미량의 내분비 교란물질에 노출되어도 믿을 만한 생물지표로서 이용될 수 있다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.138-146
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• 2009

마늘은 역학조사에 의하면 각종 질환의 예방과 치료에 효능이 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 마늘의 주요 성분인 알리신 성분은 매우 불안정하여 쉽게 분해되어 새로운 형태의 유황 화합물로 만들어져 이들 성분들이 상승적으로 작용하여 중요한 생리황성을 갖는 것으로 알려져 있다. 시판되고 있는 여러 종류의 마늘제품 중에서 숙성마늘제품이 다른 제품에 비하여 생리활성이 높은 것으로 보고되었다. 숙성마늘제품은 마늘을 일정한 조건으로 숙성시킬 때 수용성 성분인 S-allylcysteine, S-allylmercaptan, steroid saponins, te-trahydro-${\beta}$-caboline derivatives 및 fructeosyl-arginine 등이 많이 증가하여 그 효능이 상승적으로 높아지는 것으로 알려져 있다. 따라서 시판 마늘가공품의 품질을 표준화하기 위하여 이들 수용성 성분을 biomarker로서 규격기준을 정해야 할 것이다.