• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.33-45
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• 2009

Objectives This study was performed to evaluate the relation between hair tissue mineral elements(HTME) and Heart rate variability(HRV) of the metabolic syndrome(MS). Methods 89 persons(41-69 ages) who visited Oriental hospital for medical examination were divided MS group(n=22) and control group(n=67). HTME and HRV were compared, and were analyzed correlation with five contents of the MS. Results (1) In total subjects, waist circumference had a positive correlation with Pb. Blood pressure had a negative correlation with Mg. High density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-chol) had a negative correlation with Pb, Sb and K, while positive correlation with Ca/K. Triglyceride(TG) had a negative correlation with Mg and Na/K, while positive correlation with K and Ca/Mg. (2) In total subjects, TG and fasting blood sugar(FBS) had negative correlation with high frequency(HF), while positive correlation with low frequency/high frequency ratio(LF/HF). (3) In MS group, most of the level of toxic minerals were higher, and the level of major nutritional minerals were lower, but there were no statistical signficance. In two groups, there is no contrast between the correlations of the MS contents and HTME. (4) In MS group, HF was significantly lower and LF/HF was higher than normal group. LF/HF had a negative correlation with waist circumference in MS group, while positive correlation in normal group. (5) In total subjects, TP had a positive correlation with Mg. In two groups, there is no contrast between the correlations of the MS contents and HRV. However LF/HF had a positive correlation with Na in MS group, TP and LF had negative correlation with Ca, while RMSSD and HF had negative correlation with Cu in normal group. Conclusion These results may suggest that HTME and HRV are useful in diagnosing and preventing the metabolic syndrome.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 1997

Cadmium occurs as a minor element in sphalerite ((Zn, Fe)S) from the Boseong-Jangheung gold-silver mine district. We analyzed the abundance of cadmium in sphalerite using an electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA) and discussed the natural sources of cadmium in terms of bedrock geochemistry, in order to preliminarily reconnoiter the potential cadmium contamination in mine districts. Cadmium contents of sphalerites from the Au-Ag mines (Bodeok, Mundeok, Jeonbo, Boknae, Keumsan) in the Boseong-Jangheung district are considerably high, compared with cadmium contents of sphalerites (average = 0.5 wt.% Cd, maximum = 4.4 wt.% Cd) in the world. Sphalerites from the Keumsan mine (average = 9.49 wt.% Cd, maximum=11.22 wt. Cd) are highly enriched in cadmium. Our data suggest that the Boseong-Jangheung area is an important potential site of cadmium contamination in Korea. Based on bedrock geochemistry, natural causes of cadmium enrichment in sphalerite from the mine district are thought to be the mixing of cadmium leached from organic-rich, metasedimentary rocks (including coal) and/or black shales. From this study, we propose that the pinpointing of potential sites of pollution by toxic heavy metals can be done effectively through detailed reconnaisance study on mineralogical compositions of ore minerals such as sphalerite from the mine area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.781-790
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• 2014

Contaminants such as organic matters, nutrients and toxic chemicals in rivers and lakes with a weak flow rate are first removed from the water and accumulated in the sediments. Subsequently, they are released into the water column again, posing direct/indirect adverse effects on the water quality and aquatic ecosystems. In particular, phosphorus is known to accelerate the eutrophication phenomenon when it is released into the water column via physical disturbance and biological/chemical actions as one of important materials that determine the primary production of aquatic ecosystems and an element that is stored mainly in the sediments in the process of material circulation in the body of water. In this study, the effect on reducing phosphorus release in sediments was analyzed by applying different capping materials to lake water, where the effect of aquatic microorganisms is taken into account, and to distilled water, where the effect of microorganisms is excluded. The experimental results showed that capping with chemical materials such as Fe-gypsum and $SiO_2$-gypsum further reduced the phosphorus release by at least 40% compared to the control case. Composite materials like granule gypsum+Sand showed over 50% phosphorus release reduction effect. Therefore, it is determined that capping with chemical materials such as granule-gypsum and eco-friendly materials such as sand is effective in reducing phosphorus release. The changes in phosphorus properties in the sediments before and after capping treatment showed that gypsum input helped to change the phosphorus that is present in lake sediments into apatite-P, a stable form that makes phosphorus release difficult. Based on the above results, it is expected that the application of capping technology will contribute to improving the efficiency of reducing phosphorus release that occurs in river and lake sediments.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.3 s.172
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• pp.221-236
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• 2005

In order to investigate the contamination levels and dispersion patterns of heavy metals such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn by urbanization, soils beneath roadside-trees and leaves of Ginkgo biloba were collected from Seoul area during October to November in 2001. All tree leaves were grouped into washed and unwashed ones. The pH of most soil ranges from 6 to 9 indicating a weak acidic and alkaline. The element couples of Cd-Co, Cr-Ni and Zn-Cu-Pb have good correlation in soils, and contamination sources of Cd-Co, Cr-Ni and Zn-Cu-Pb could be similar. High correlation coefficients among Pb, Cu and Zn in G. biloba indicates that these elements show the similar behavior during the metabolism processes. From the results of pollution index calculation for soils, industrialized and heavy traffic area were severly polluted by heavy metals such as Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. By the discriminant analysis, industrialized and heavy traffic areas are enriched in the order of Ni> Cr> Pb. Cadmium is useful to discriminate between industrialized and heavy traffic areas, Co and Pb are highly enhanced in heavy traffic area.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.30-34
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• 1983

The present study was carried out to determine the effect of a radionuclide, cesium-137, in soybean, which is an element released usually from nuclear facilities. Soybean plants were grown on the pots treated with cesium-137 $0.5{\sim}60{\mu}Ci/1kg$ soil and the uptake, translocation and accumulation of the radiocesium in the plant parts were measured at different growth stage. The results are summarized as follows: 1) Visual toxic symptoms on the plants due to treatment of radioactive cesium were not observed up to $60{\mu}Ci/10Kg$ soil in a pot. 2) The uptake of cesium-137 in soybean plant was increased with increment of concentration applied, while the uptake of potassium was proportionally decreased, indicating to have an ion antagonistic relationship between them. 3) The absolute amounts of cesium-137 in the plants were gradually increased by the pod setting stage, but rather reduced at harvesting stage. The accumulation occurred more in the leaves and stems than the soybean seeds. 4) The rate of uptake was ranged from 0.069 to 0.005 with proportional decrease by increasing concentration applied and the rate of Cs-137 translocation from plants to seeds was averaged 38.6% in soybean plant. The concentration coefficient was 0.04 in the soybean seeds from the pots treated with $20{\mu}Ci$ of cesium-137 and decreased with increment of cesium-137 applied.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2010

The molecular epidemiological characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates have demonstrated their genetic diversity and evolution. A total of 137 strains of MRSA clinical isolates was collected from Korean healthcare facility in 2007. The MRSA clinical isolates were analyzed by molecular typings (SCCmec element and agr locus typing), virule nce factor gene detections {(Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), enterotoxin, exfoliative toxin and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1), and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)}. The MRSA clinical isolates were classified as SCCmec type II-agr type 1 (2 strains), type II-agr type 2 (79 strains), type III-agr type 1 (24 strains), type III-agr type 2 (2 strains), type IV-agr type 1 (27 strains), type IV-agr type 2 (2 strains), and non-typable (1 strain, agr type 3). Based on SCCmec types, SCCmec type II (95.1%) and III (88.5%) indicated higher multidrug resistance rate than SCCmec type IV (10.3%) (P<0.001). The most common enterotoxin genes were seg (83.8%), sei (83.1%), and sec (80.2%). The tst gene was present in 86 out of 137 (62.8%) MRSA isolates. All MRSA isolates were negative for PVL and exfoliative toxin genes. The combinations of toxin genes were observed in particular SCCmec types; 97.6% of SCCmec type II strains carried sec, seg, sei and tst genes, 73.0% of SCCmec type III strains carried sea gene, and 89.7% of SCCmec type IV strains carried sec, seg and sei genes. Each of the SCCmec types of MRSA isolates had distinct AFLP profile. In conclusion, SCCmec type II, agr type 1 and 2 have demonstrated to be the most common types in Korea, and the results indicated that the virulence factors are closely associated with their molecular types (SCCmec and agr types).

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2014

Selenium is an essential trace element for mammals, but it is very toxic. Therefore, the control of selenium concentrations should be precisely and effectively monitored. Selenium is naturally obtained through foods and seleno-L-methionine (LSeMet) is a major form of selenium. It has been reported that L-SeMet is only converted into Se-adenosyl-L-SeMet. However, a recent study suggested that L-SeMet was directly metabolized into methylselenol ($CH_3SeH$) in mouse liver extract by the reaction of cystathionine ${\gamma}$-lyase (CGL). The canonical reaction of CGL was known to catalyze the cleavage of L-cystathionine to L-cysteine, ${\alpha}$-ketobutyrate and $NH_3$. In the present study, we found that L-SeMet could be directly converted to $CH_3SeH$ using purified homogenous human CGL instead of mouse liver cytosol. Authentic $CH_3SeH$ was prepared by reduction of dimethyldiselenide with sodium tetrahydroborate. The gaseous product of the enzymatic reaction with L-SeMet was analyzed by GC/MS spectrometry. The GC/MS data was identical to that of authentic dinitrophenyl selenoether. We also analyzed the kinetic parameters for the formation of $CH_3SeH$ from L-SeMet by human and mouse CGL. These results suggest that human CGL is a critical enzyme which is responsible for L-SeMet metabolism.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.216-223
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• 2017

Chemicals are an indispensable element of modern society to the extent that more than 15 million species are commercially available worldwide. However, among them are chemicals whose toxicityposes a threat to public health and the environment, as illustrated by past cases of chemical accidents, which revealed their danger to human life. Chemical accidents can spread and cause huge damage in a short time because of their characteristics. Therefore, it is important to do as much as possible to prevent them in advance and to respond promptly after an accident. The legal system pertaining to domestic chemical substances is the "Toxic Chemical Control Act", which is made up of the "Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals" and the "Chemical Control Act" since 2015. Under this law, the Comprehensive Chemical Information System and Chemical Substance Data Processing system were established and are still operating;however, chemical accidents are still occurring. These systems are comprehensive information systems aimed at providing chemical information rather than acting as chemical response systems, which has limited the effectiveness of accident response. This study is intended to analyze the information management systems, response management systems and the basis of chemical substance management support for hazardous chemicals and suggest ways to improve the legal system for developing and operating chemical response systemswithin a municipality.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.319-325
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• 2015

The safety of plant species used as a source for herbal medicines and dietary supplements has recently been questioned due to poisonings associated with the presence of cadmium (Cd) in these plants. These plants can derive Cd from their presence in the soil. Organic matter (OM) concentrations in soils could affect the availability of Cd for plants. To determine the effect of OM concentration in soil on the concentration of plant available Cd and uptake of this toxic element by medicinal plants, soil and plant samples were collected from 102 fields supporting for 5 species of medicinal plants in 6 province of South Korea. Concentrations of OM and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soils affected the phytoavailability of Cd. One M $NH_4OAc$ extractable Cd concentration in soil increased with increasing OM concentrations. There were significantly positive relationships between 1 M $NH_4OAc$ extractable Cd concentration and OM concentration in soil and between 1 M $NH_4OAc$ extractable Cd concentration and DOC concentration. Likewise, OM and DOC concentrations significantly affected Cd concentration in medicinal plant soils. Cadmium concentration in medicinal plants increased with increasing OM concentration in soil [Cd concentration $(mg\;kg^{-1})= 0.179+1.424{\times}10^{-3}$ OM concentrations, $R^2=0.042*$] and with DOC concentration [Cd concentration $(mg\;kg^{-1})= 0.150+5.870{\times}10^{-4}$ DOC concentrations, $R^2=0.124***$]. These results might result from Cd-DOC complex which is easily absorbed Cd form by plant root. Dissolved organic carbon concentration had more positive relationship with Cd concentration in medicinal plants and 1 M $NH_4OAc$ extractable Cd concentration in soils than OM. Cadmium concentration in all 5 species of medicinal plant (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi, Astragalus membranaceus, Codonopsis lanceolata, Platycodon grandiflorum, and Rehmannia glutinosa) significantly increased with increasing DOC concentration in soil. From the above results, formation of Cd-DOC complex caused by OM application might be mainly attributed to increase in Cd concentration in medicinal plants.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2007

In order to find out the cause of plant injury, the symptom of plant injury, and contents of element concerned in the plant were analysed. Also, a case study was conducted to find out the factor of plant injury at a agriculture and industry complex in Gyeongsang province in 2004. The distribution of isomeric curve was made with meteorological data, toxic gas concentration exhausted from pollution source. The general symptom of plant injury by ammonia gas was dry and dead of leaves with white color. At low concentration of ammonia gas, plant leaf showed spots of reddish brown. The characteristic of plant injury symptom by hydrogen fluoride gas was that the symptom was appeared at the edge of leaf. The isomeric curve of sulfur dioxide at the region, where the plant was damaged, showed that the area was affected by exhausted gas from the pollution source. Especially, this area was affected more deeply at summer than any other season.