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Tospovirus transmitted by thrips can cause serious diseases in many economically important plants. Based on molecular and biological assays, a virus infecting boxthorn plants in Korea was identified as tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of TSWVin L. chinense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Infertility has long been recognized as a treatable disease, and complementary and alternative medicine treatments, such as acupuncture and moxibustion, have been used in Korea and China. This study describes female infertility treatment programs that used traditional Korean medicine (TKM) and were conducted by local governments in Korea and evaluates its effectiveness and safety. Methods: The authors officially requested related information from the report of the infertility treatment programs and related sources from 2006 to 2016 from the Health & Welfare Ministry of Korea and the Association of Korean Medicine (AKOM). Additional information was obtained from six Korean databases. Data including basic information about the programs, participant information, interventions, and outcomes were abstracted. Results: A total of 9 reports, including multiple years of data from 6 programs (total 13 programs), were identified. In these 13 programs, a total of 1023 female subjects participated, and 205 of the 887 subjects who completed the program reported a successful pregnancy, indicating a 23.1% pregnancy rate. The programs lasted 3–9 months, and interventional elements, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, fumigation, and massage, were identified. Significant adverse effects were not reported. Conclusions: This study suggests that infertility treatment programs with TKM interventions exhibited a positive effect on pregnancy in females with infertility. Thus, the infertility treatment programs with TKM interventions are expected to be useful and might serve as the primary treatment before assisted reproduction techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV) is mostly mediated by HEV-3 and HEV-4 genotypes, and domestic pigs are an important reservoir of these genotypes. A survey of 14 pig farms in Korea revealed HEV RNA in 30 of 148 (20.3%) fecal samples. HEV-3a and HEV-4c subtypes were identified in five pig farms (35.7%) and two pig farms (14.3%), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the isolated HEV strains were closely related to previously reported zoonotic strains in Korea. The results of the genetic analysis partially explain the possible source of the zoonotic transmission of HEV to humans in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Little research has examined the role of pain catastrophizing (PC) in predicting suicide among patients with rheumatic disease or the mechanisms through which it works. This study examines whether depression, perceived social support (PSS), and perceived burdensomeness (PB) mediate the relationship between PC and suicide risk. It also examines the relative importance of sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological factors in predicting suicide risk. Methods: Three hundred sixty patients from a rheumatology clinic in Korea completed measures of pain catastrophizing, social support, depression, and perceived burdensomeness. Results: In hierarchical multiple regression analysis, the PC magnification, PB, physical disability, and PSS were significantly related to suicide risk. Results of the serial multiple mediation analysis indicated that the total indirect effect of PC magnification on suicide risk was significant while the direct effect was not. Four specific indirect effects of PC magnification were found to be statistically significant. First of all, PC magnification was associated with suicide risk through PB and through depression and PB. PC magnification was also associated with suicide risk through depression and PSS. Lastly, PC magnification was associated with suicide risk through depression, PSS, and PB. Conclusions: The identified pathways through which PC affects suicide risk suggest the importance of depression, PSS, and PB. Evaluation and intervention targeted at physical disability and the psychological factors of PC magnification, depression, PSS, and PB may be integrated into the management of suicide risk in patients with rheumatic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in organ-specific cancer incidence according to the region and population size in Korea. Materials and Methods We reviewed the data of the cancer registration program of Gyeongnam Regional Cancer Center between 2008 and 2011. Age-standardized rates of cancer incidence were analyzed according to population size of the region and administrative zone. Results Incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing rapidly in both urban and rural areas. However, the thyroid cancer incidence was much lower in rural areas than in urban areas and megalopolis such as Seoul. Gastric cancer was relatively more common in rural areas, in megalopolis near the sea (Ulsan, Busan, and Incheon), and other southern provinces (Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do). A detailed analysis in Gyeongsangnam-do revealed that rural areas have relatively low incidence of thyroid and colorectal cancer, and relatively high incidence of gastric and lung cancer compared to urban areas. Conclusion This study suggests that there are some differences in cancer incidence by population size. Thyroid and colorectal cancer incidence was increasing, and gastric and lung cancer was slightly decreasing in urban areas, whereas gastric and lung cancer incidence still remains high in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diphyllobothrium latum and Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense are morphologically similar to each other, and only genetic method can differentiate clearly between the 2 species. A strobila of diphyllobothriid tapeworm discharged from a 7-year-old boy was analyzed to identify the species by mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene sequencing. He and his family (total 4 persons) ate slices of 3 kinds of raw fish 16 days before visiting our outpatient clinic. All family members complained of abdominal pain and watery diarrhea. They all expelled tapeworm strobilae in their stools. They were treated with a single oral dose of praziquantel and then complained of no more symptoms. The cox1 gene sequencing of the strobila from the boy revealed 99.9% (687/688 bp) similarity with D. nihonkaiense and only 93.2% (641/688 bp) similarity with D. latum. Thus, we assigned this tapeworm as D. nihonkaiense. This is the first report of D. nihonkaiense infection in a family in Korea, and this report includes the 8th pediatric case in Korea. The current report is meaningful because D. nihonkaiense infection within a family is rare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal prescription, Danggui-Sayuk-Ga-Osuyu-Saenggang-tang (DSGOST), has long been used to treat Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, a biological mechanism by which DSGOST ameliorates RP is yet deciphered. In this study, we demonstrate that DSGOST inhibits cold-induced activation of RhoA, in both vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and endothelial cells (EC), and blocks endothelin-1-mediated paracrine path for cold response on vessels. While cold induced RhoA activity in both cell types, DSGOST pretreatment prevented cold-induced RhoA activation. DSGOST inhibition of cold-induced RhoA activation further blocked α2c-adrenoreceptor translocation to the plasma membrane in VSMC. In addition, DSGOST inhibited endothelin-1-mediated RhoA activation and α2c-adrenoreceptor translocation in VSMC. Meanwhile, DSGOST inhibited cold-induced or RhoA-dependent phosphorylation of FAK, SRC, and ERK. Consistently, DSGOST inhibited cold-induced endothelin-1 expression in EC. Therefore, DSGOST prevents cold-induced RhoA in EC and blocks endothelin-1-mediated paracrine path between EC and VSMC. In conclusion, our data suggest that DSGOST is beneficial for treating RP-like syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bottled water consumption is steadily expanding in the Korean market. However, the potential exists for fraudulent product labeling, and misrepresentation of the product quality either during collection or manufacturing could be detrimental to consumer health. As a traditional geochemical tracer, strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) have been used in many studies to identify the origin of the water product. Here, we investigated three types of bottled water from South Korea, still water (STW), sparkling water (SPW), and desalinated marine water (MAW), and used strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) and other geochemical parameters to identify the water origin and treatment history. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios ranged widely from 0.70503 to 0.75589, with average values of 0.72019 for STW, 0.71605 for SPW, and 0.70997 for MAW. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of MAW were higher than those of seawater, indicating that they experienced post-treatment processing after desalination. In contrast, the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of STW and SPW were distinctly grouped according to their bedrock origins. The relationships between the 87Sr/86Sr and elemental ratios provided direct information on the origin of the bottled water and differences within the same lithology. In addition, the latitude effect on the δ18O values was directly related to the 87Sr/86Sr ratios, with a negative correlation apparent between them. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Urban land-use areas with high imperviousness, such as bridges, highways, and parking lots, are known to be responsible for relatively large amounts of stormwater runoff and high concentration of pollutants particularly in the "first flush". This study was conducted to determine the effect of first flush from urban land-use sites located in Yongin City, Korea, on runoff amounts and pollutant concentration. It was observed that, on most pollutant parameters, the effect was apparent when the data were analyzed qualitatively but it was relatively weak when analyzed quantitatively. A stronger effect was observed from a bridge site than from a parking lot site. Pollutant loads, washed off at 40 and 60% runoff volume, respectively, were also determined for further analysis of the first flush effect to find an improved strategy for best management practices. In this study, no correlation was observed between rainfall intensity and runoff duration with first flush effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Sejong City had been in the center of a policy dispute about city planning in Korea. Although Sejong City was chosen to be a new Multifunctional Administrative City in 2006, politicians continued to challenge the decision at the city level from 2009 upto 2010.This study aims to investigate what influences, such as the policy dispute, impacted the health behaviors and the mental health of local people. We used the survey data from the Community Health Survey in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 and compared the results through logistic regression analysis and direct standardization. Data were gathered from residents in Chungcheongnam-do, the province where Sejong City is located. Data from residents of four other provinces were used as a control: Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Jeonlanam-do, and Gyeonggi-do. We found a significant increase in smoking and drinking rates in the residents of Chungcheongnamdo, which are indicators of health behaviors, in the year of 2009 when the Sejong City dispute erupted. It appears that controversial changes in government policy could have negative influences on local people. Therefore, we need proper measures to prevent them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Impaired social functioning is one of the defining features of patients with schizophrenia and subjects at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis. This prospective study aimed to investigate the course of social dysfunction in UHR subjects and to examine its relationship with later conversion to psychosis. The effect of pharmacotherapy on the course of social dysfunction was also examined. Method: A total of 57 UHR subjects and 58 healthy controls participated in this study. The Social Functioning Scale (SFS) was used to assess social functioning of UHR subjects at baseline and at the 1 year follow up. The changes in social functioning of UHR subjects have been examined to compare the social functioning of those who later converted to psychosis ('converters') with those who did not ('non-converters'). The effect of pharmacotherapy on longitudinal change in social functioning was also evaluated. Results: Subjects at UHR for psychosis showed more impaired social functioning at baseline than did healthy controls. Moreover, the course of social dysfunction of the converter and non-converter groups differed during the 1 year follow up period. The converters showed decreases in SFS average (F (1,32) == 7.85, p == 0.009) and interpersonal behaviour (F (1,32) == 10.43, p == 0.003) scores over time, whereas the non-converters showed increased scores. Additionally, we found that pharmacological treatment was associated with increased prosocial activities score (F (1,32) == 4.66, p == 0.038). Conclusions: We found that the social functioning of converters was impaired before the onset of the psychosis and further declined during the at-risk phase. A series of social functioning indices in the longitudinal course may be helpful in predicting conversion to psychosis in subjects at UHR. Appropriate pharmacotherapy can offer clinical benefits by improving social functioning in UHR individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background and aim: Low gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GTP) familial intrahepatic cholestasis is a broad-spectrum condition that ranges from mild to severe. Severe forms of low γ-GTP familial intrahepatic cholestasis, including progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type-1 and -2 (PFIC-1 and PFIC-2), present with symptoms of cholestasis early in life and may progress to cirrhosis. Methods: We included five patients with low γ-GTP, cholestasis and hyperbilirubinemia. We analyzed clinicopathological features of these five cases. Results: The age of the patients at diagnosis ranged from 1 month to 1 year old. All patients presented with jaundice, and one experienced pruritus. In contrast to hyperbilirubinemia, serum γ-GTP levels were relatively low, or within normal range. Microscopically, intracanalicular cholestasis, bile duct loss or atrophy and varying degrees of fibrosis were found in all of the cases, whereas giant cell formation of hepatocytes was detected in three cases. Anti-ABCB11 immunostaining revealed loss of expression in three cases with diffuse giant cell transformation of hepatocytes but retained expression in one case with no giant cell transformation. Conclusions: Low γ-GTP familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC-1 and PFIC-2) should be considered a differential diagnosis when pediatric patients with cholestatic liver diseases associated with normal to low serum γ-GTP levels relative to the extent of cholestasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hwangtoh is a clay that has long been used as a traditional Korean building material. In these days, Hwangtoh is often used for plastering and flooring in newly constructed buildings to minimize sick building syndrome. In such applications, it is useful to determine whether the clay has pozzolanic properties. In this research, the pozzolanic activity of Hwangtoh clay was indicated by a reduction in calcium hydroxide and an increase in compressive strength in mortars, in which 20% of the Portland cement was replaced by the clay. The thermally activated Hwangtoh clay showed clear pozzolanic activity at 14 and 28days, and the as-received clay showed some evidence of pozzolanic activity as well. The compressive strength provided by the activated clay was less than that provided by a synthetic mixture of metakaolin and quartzite, but still greater than that provided by the as-received Hwangtoh. The strength development may be improved further by removing the quartzite from the Hwangtoh clay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reptiles were known to serve as paratenic hosts for Centrorhynchus (Acanthocephala: Centrorhynchidae) in Korea, but the infection course in experimental animals was not elucidated yet. In this study, the tiger keelback snakes (Rhabdophis tigrinus) were collected and digested with artificial pepsin solution, and the larvae of Centrorhynchus were recovered from them. Then, the collected larvae were orally infected to rats for developmental observations. In rats, all the larvae were observed outside the intestine on day 3 post-infection (PI), including the mesentery and abdominal muscles. As for the development in rats, the ovary of Centrorhynchus sp. was observed at day 15 PI, and the cement glands were 3 in number. Based on the morphological characteristics, including the arrangement of proboscis hooks, these larvae proved to be a species of Centrorhynchus, and more studies were needed for species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the seasonality of Anopheles mosquitoes, including its species composition, density, parity, and population densities of mosquitoes infected with the parasite in Ganghwa-do (Island), a vivax malaria endemic area in the Republic of Korea. Mosquitoes were collected periodically with a dry-ice-tent trap and a blacklight trap during the mosquito season (April-October) in 2008. Anopheles sinensis (94.9%) was the most abundant species collected, followed by Anopheles belenrae (3.8%), Anopheles pullus (1.2%), and Anopheles lesteri (0.1%). Hibernating Anopheles mosquitoes were also collected from December 2007 to March 2008. An. pullus (72.1%) was the most frequently collected, followed by An. sinensis (18.4%) and An. belenrae (9.5%). The composition of Anopheles species differed between the mosquito season and hibernation seasons. The parous rate fluctuated from 0% to 92.9%, and the highest rate was recorded on 10 September 2008. Sporozoite infections were detected by PCR in the head and thorax of female Anopheles mosquitoes. The annual sporozoite rate of mosquitoes was 0.11% (2 of 1,845 mosquitoes). The 2 mosquitoes that tested positive for sporozoites were An. sinensis. Malarial infections in anopheline mosquitoes from a population pool were also tried irrespective of the mosquito species. Nine of 2,331 pools of Anopheles mosquitoes were positive. From our study, it can be concluded that An. sinensis, which was the predominant vector species and confirmed as sporozoite-infected, plays an important role in malaria transmission in Ganghwa-do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to investigate the comorbid disorders and temperamental profiles of full syndrome and subthreshold attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A sample of 2,493 students was randomly selected from six representative elementary schools in Seoul, Korea. Among 245 children with full syndrome and subthreshold ADHD diagnosed by the diagnostic interview schedule for children-4th version, parents of 185 subjects (mean age 9.0 ± 1.7 years) and of a random sample of 185 age- and gender-matched non-ADHD children have completed the parent’s version of the children behavior checklist (CBCL) and the juvenile temperament and character inventory (JTCI). The prevalence rates of full syndrome and subthreshold ADHD were, respectively, 5.90% (95% confidence interval = 4.74–7.06) and 9.00% (95% confidence interval = 7.58–10.41). Subthreshold ADHD cases did not differ from full syndrome ADHD in any JTCI profile, showing high novelty seeking/low persistence/low self-directedness than controls. Subthreshold ADHD also showed increased risk for externalizing disorders and higher scores in eight CBCL scales (somatic complaints, anxious/depressed, social problems, attention problems, delinquent behaviors, aggressive behaviors, externalizing problems and total behavioral problems) compared to the controls. These results support the clinical relevance of subthreshold ADHD in Asian culture. Increased clinical awareness for children with subthreshold ADHD is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify genetic factors influencing quantitative traits of biomedical importance, we conducted a genome-wide association study in 8,842 samples from population-based cohorts recruited in Korea. For height and body mass index, most variants detected overlapped those reported in European samples. For the other traits examined, replication of promising GWAS signals in 7,861 independent Korean samples identified six previously unknown loci. For pulse rate, signals reaching genome-wide significance mapped to chromosomes 1q32 (rs12731740, P = 2.9 × 10−9) and 6q22 (rs12110693, P = 1.6 × 10−9), with the latter ∼400 kb from the coding sequence of GJA1. For systolic blood pressure, the most compelling association involved chromosome 12q21 and variants near the ATP2B1 gene (rs17249754, P = 1.3 × 10−7). For waist-hip ratio, variants on chromosome 12q24 (rs2074356, P = 7.8 × 10−12) showed convincing associations, although no regional transcript has strong biological candidacy. Finally, we identified two loci influencing bone mineral density at multiple sites. On chromosome 7q31, rs7776725 (within the FAM3C gene) was associated with bone density at the radius (P = 1.0 × 10−11), tibia (P = 1.6 × 10−6) and heel (P = 1.9 × 10−10). On chromosome 7p14, rs1721400 (mapping close to SFRP4, a frizzled protein gene) showed consistent associations at the same three sites (P = 2.2 × 10−3, P = 1.4 × 10−7 and P = 6.0 × 10−4, respectively). This large-scale GWA analysis of well-characterized Korean population-based samples highlights previously unknown biological pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Leptin inhibits the glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and leptin receptors are present on β cells as well as on fat cells, thus enabling leptin to modulate both insulin secretion and action. Therefore, leptin ( LEP) and leptin receptor ( LEPR) genes could play a role in the regulation of glucose and insulin after an oral glucose load. For the association study of LEP and LEPR with T2DM and metabolic traits, 752 women from Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH data) and 532 women from the Korean Health and Genome Study (KHGS data) were selected. Using the SNUH data, we identified that LEP−632G>A and +4998A>C polymorphisms were marginally associated with T2DM, LEP+ 4950G>A was significantly associated with several metabolic traits, and LEPR+5193G>A, +7187A>C, +27265G>A, +35861T>C, and +52289A>G showed strongly significant association with body mass index (BMI). We observed reproducibility of these results using the KHGS data; LEP+4950G>A and +4998A>C were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, respectively. In conclusion, we observed that several polymorphisms in LEPR that had previous reports of association with BMI were significantly replicated in our samples and newly found that some variations of LEP were associated with T2DM and metabolic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catechin compounds, abundant mainly in green tea, have chemo-preventive effects against carcinogenesis. The green tea used in this experiment was cultivated at Bosung (Chonnam, Korea) and purchased from a domestic market. The extract at 50°C water from the powder of Korean green tea was partitioned with chloroform and ethyl acetate. The resulting solution was further purified on a preparative column (4.6×250 mm, 15μm). Finally separation was achieved on a μ-Bondapak C18 (3.9×300 mm, 10 μm) column. The elution orders of the catechin compounds contained in the green tea were EGC, C, EC, EGCG, and ECG. Identification of EGCG was confirmed by the standard chemical. The content of EGCG was 121.3 mg/5 g of dry Korean green tea and the purity was higher than 98%. In preparative separation, the optimum mobile phase for isolating EGCG from the extract consisted of 0.1% acetic acid in water/ethyl acetate/acetonitrile, 87/1/12 vol.% with 1.0 mL/min of the mobile phase flow rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Helicobacter pylori is an important factor in the development of duodenal ulcer disease and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of gastric adenocarcinoma. It has been suggested that the cagA gene is a marker for more virulent strains of H. pylori. Methods: We determined the prevalence of the cagA gene in 60 clinical isolates [34 from gastric carcinoma patients (CA), 26 from duodenal ulcer patients (DU)] from Korea, a country with a high incidence and mortality from gastric cancer. Genomic DNA was polymerase chain reaction-amplified by using two different primer sets for the cagA gene. The first cagA primer set amplifies a 297-bp product from the midregion of the cagA gene. The second primer set, which was previously established in a patient population from the Houston area (21 DU patients, 20 from individuals with asymptomatic gastritis) amplified a 1.4-kb region further downstream in the cagA gene. Results: The expected 297 bp polymerase chain reaction amplicon for cagA was identified in 59/60 (98.3%) H. pylori isolates from Korea (33/34 CA, 26/26 DU), and in 36/41 (88%) isolates from the Houston area (20/21 DU, 16/20 asymptomatic gastritis) (NS). Using the second cagA primer set, the expected 1.4-kb product was found in only 1/60 (1.7%) H. pylori isolates from Korea (1/34 CA, 0/26 DU), and in 36/41 (88%) of isolates from the Houston area (20/21 DU, 16/20 GST) (p < 0.001). Western blot analysis showed that all Korean H. pylori isolates expressed CagA. Conclusions: The high prevalence of the cagA gene in H. pylori isolates from Korean patients with gastric adenocarcinoma or duodenal ulcers indicates that the cagA gene is common in H. pylori strains, and therefore, is not reliable as a single marker for the discrimination of H. pylori strains with respect to a specific disease... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) is the most common malignancy. The incidence rates remain remarkably high in East Asians. Although genome-wide association studies in the Han Chinese and Japanese populations have so far yielded susceptibility loci for GC, these findings need to be validated in an independent ethnic group. To identify the potential heterogeneity by histological classified subtypes (intestinal and diffuse), we examined the previously reported associations in the Korean population. PRKAA1 at 5p13.1 was found to be more strongly associated with intestinal type (odds ratio, OR=1.39, 95% CI (confidence interval) =1.22-1.58, P=3.77 × 10−7) than diffuse type. In addition, PSCA at 8q23.3 was significantly replicated in diffuse type (OR=1.49, 95% CI=1.32-1.67, P=2.43 × 10−11) but far less significant in intestinal type. In conclusion, these findings could bring additional insights into the etiologic heterogeneity in gastric carcinogenesis mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On July 2009, 5 fly larvae were discovered inside the nose of a 76-year-old female. She was living in Cheonansi, and in a state of coma due to rupture of an aortic aneurysm. Surgery was performed on the day of admission, and the larvae were found 4 days later. By observing their posterior spiracle, the larvae were identified as Lucilia sericata. Considering the rapid development of this species, the infection was likely acquired during hospitalization. Further investigation on the hospital environment should be needed to know the origin of the infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that focuses on the origin and evolution of diverse skarn formations and iron mineralization in the Pocheon Iron Deposit, Korea. Topics discussed include the ore bodies and layers of magnetite-amphibole ores; development of skarnification and iron mineralization due to contact between myeongseoungsan granite and the carbonate rocks; and development of intense skarn alteration due to channeling of hydrothermal fluids through brittle fractures in the area.

Humulus japonicus (HJ), popularly known as Japanese hops, is a traditional herbal medicine widely used for the treatment of pulmonary disease, skin disease, and hypertension in Korea. HJ exerts scavenging effects against reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, dysfunction and damage of mitochondria elicited by ROS are of critical importance in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). The present study aimed to examine neuroprotective potential of extracts of HJ using in vitro and in vivo 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) models. SH-SY5Y cells were cultured to explore the mechanisms for the neuroprotective effect of HJ in vitro. Unilateral 6-OHDA-induced mouse model of PD was established to investigate the neuroprotective effect of HJ on dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and striatum in vivo. Methanol extract of HJ (HJM) significantly attenuated cytotoxicity and the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway caused by 6-OHDA in SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, HJM significantly increased glutathione levels and decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in SH-SY5Y cells exposed to 6-OHDA. In the in vivo study, the administration of methanol or ethanol extract of HJ improved the motor dysfunction and notably reduced dopaminergic cell death and fiber loss in the SNc and striatum caused by 6-OHDA. Our findings demonstrate that HJ may have therapeutic potential to protect dopaminergic neuron degeneration in Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Socioeconomic status may influence the risk of the metabolic syndrome. We investigated the association between socioeconomic status and the metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. Methods: We analyzed a total of 8,541 subjects ages 20 to 79 years who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001. Socioeconomic status was measured by education and income level. Results: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among this population was 29%. Relative to women with educational level <7 years, those with educational levels of 7 to 9 years, 10 to 12 years, and >13 years had odds ratios for the metabolic syndrome of 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73 to 1.16), 0.55 (95% CI: 0.44 to 0.70), and 0.31 (95% CI: 0.22 to 0.43), respectively (p for trend <0.05). Relative to women with lower income, those with middle and upper income had odds ratios for the metabolic syndrome of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.75 to 1.08) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.66 to 0.97), respectively (p for trend <0.05). A significant association between the metabolic syndrome and socioeconomic status was not observed in men. Conclusions: Lower socioeconomic status was associated with a higher risk of the metabolic syndrome in Korean women but not in Korean men. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

INTRODUCTION: In Korea, the vaccine injury compensation program, which is essential for the successful national immunization program, was established in 1995. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of each vaccine and the vaccine injury compensation program in Korea. METHODS: We analyzed the data of adverse reactions filed with the advisory committee on vaccine injury compensation of Korea from 1995 through 2006. RESULTS: A total of 1127 cases of adverse events were reported to the committee. The number of reported adverse reactions gradually increased. BCG was the most commonly reported vaccine (616 [54.7%] cases, mostly localized suppurative lymphadenitis), followed by diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (160 [14.2%] cases, mostly neurologic responses) and measles/rubella vaccine (127 [11.3%] cases). A total of 119 cases were requested for vaccine injury compensation. The most commonly compensated vaccine was measles/rubella (31 [26%] cases), showing mostly the anxiety responses during the measles catch-up program in 2001. The second most commonly compensated vaccine was diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis with or without other vaccines (21 [16.5%] cases), followed by Japanese B encephalitis (11 [8.7%] cases) and influenza vaccine (9 [7.1%] cases). The most common and serious adverse events for injury compensation were neurologic complications such as seizure, encephalopathy, and encephalomyelitis. CONCLUSIONS: During a 12-year period, adverse reactions were reported in 54.7% of BCG vaccination cases, 14.2% of diptheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccination cases, and 11.3% of measles/rubella vaccination cases. Vaccine injury compensation was requested in 26% of measles/rubella cases and 16.5% of diptheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis cases. Neurologic complications were the most common and serious adverse events for injury compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a new GIS extension, named ArcMine, developed to support reclamation planning in abandoned mining areas. ArcMine provides four tools to (a) assess mine subsidence hazards, (b) estimate the erosion of mine wastes, (c) analyze flow paths of mine water at the surface, and (d) identify suitable tree species for mine reforestation. A spatial database incorporating a topographical map, geological map, mine drift map, and borehole data was designed and utilized in ArcMine to examine distributed mine hazards that can damage the surrounding environment. Application to abandoned mining areas in Korea shows that ArcMine could provide useful information on mine hazards to support reclamation planning. This paper reports the concept, development, and implementation of ArcMine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to propose new evaluation criteria and an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model to assess the expanded national immunization programs (ENIPs) and to evaluate two alternative health care policies. One of the alternative policies is that private clinics and hospitals would offer free vaccination services to children and the other of them is that public health centers would offer these free vaccination services. Our model to evaluate the ENIPs was developed using brainstorming, Delphi techniques, and the AHP model. We first used the brainstorming and Delphi techniques, as well as literature reviews, to determine 25 criteria with which to evaluate the national immunization policy; we then proposed a hierarchical structure of the AHP model to assess ENIPs. By applying the proposed AHP model to the assessment of ENIPs for Korean immunization policies, we show that free vaccination services should be provided by private clinics and hospitals rather than public health centers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]