Relationship between organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides and metabolic syndrome in Korean farmers.

Background: The global use of pesticides steadily increased until the early 2010s. Pesticides play a significant role in agriculture in Korea. Metabolic syndrome is more prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas.

Association Between Multiple Heavy Metal Exposures and Cholesterol Levels in Residents Living Near a Smelter Plant in Korea.

Background: Considering the interactions between heavy metals, a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of exposure to various types of co-interacting heavy metals on health is required. This study assessed the association between dyslipidemia markers and blood mercury, lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, and nickel levels in residents of an abandoned refinery plant.

Methods: A total of 972 individuals (exposed group: 567, control group: 405) living near the Janghang refinery plant in the Republic of Korea were included.

Assessment of relationship between farmer's syndrome and neurotoxic symptoms in farming couples.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between farmer's syndrome and neurotoxic symptoms in farming couples. The study was conducted on 348 farmers (174 couples) in Chungnam Province of South Korea. We obtained information on general and agricultural characteristics, farmer's syndrome, and neurotoxic symptoms through face-to-face surveys from 2014 to 2019.

Temporal changes in urinary levels of cadmium, N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase and β2-microglobulin in individuals in a cadmium-contaminated area.

Cadmium (Cd) is a metal that is toxic to renal tubules. If renal tubules are damaged by Cd, urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and beta 2-microglobulin (β2-MG) increases. The aim of this study was to describe the changing patterns of urinary Cd, NAG, and β2-MG levels over a 3-year period in individuals living in a Cd-contaminated area.

Risk of gastric cancer is associated with PRKAA1 gene polymorphisms in Koreans.

Aim: To evaluate the association between genetic polymorphisms of the gene encoding AMP-activated protein kinase (PRKAA1) and the risk of gastric cancer.

Methods: The study subjects consisted of 477 age- and sex-matched case-control pairs. Genotyping was performed for 5 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): rs13361707, rs154268, rs3805486, rs6882903, and rs10074991.

Differences in the susceptibility to cadmium-induced renal tubular damage and osteoporosis according to sex.

This study aimed to estimate the risks for renal tubular damage and osteoporosis in individuals with long-term environmental Cd exposure. This cross-sectional study comprised 1086 residents living in the vicinity of a copper refinery plant. As the urinary Cd levels increased, the proportion of female subjects with β₂-MG ≥300 μg/g creatinine also increased significantly, but this was not observed in the male subjects.

ITGA1 polymorphisms and haplotypes are associated with gastric cancer risk in a Korean population.

Aim: To evaluate the association between the genetic polymorphisms and haplotypes of the ITGA1 gene and the risk of gastric cancer.

Methods: The study subjects were 477 age- and sex-matched case-control pairs. Genotyping was performed for 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ITGA1.

Dietary aflatoxin B1 intake, genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A2, CYP2E1, EPHX1, GSTM1, and GSTT1, and gastric cancer risk in Korean.

Purpose: We investigated the effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) intake, genetic polymorphisms of AFB1 metabolic enzymes, and interactions between the polymorphisms and intake of AFB1 with regard to the risk of gastric cancer in Korean.

Methods: The participants in the study included 477 gastric cancer patients and 477 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Direct interviews and a structured questionnaire were used to determine the level of exposure to AFB1, and the GoldenGate assay and multiplex polymerase chain reaction were used for genotypic analyses of the cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2), cytochrome P450 1E1, epoxide hydrolase 1, and glutathione S-transferase genes.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and the risk of lung cancer: a pilot nested case-control study.

Aim: We conducted a pilot nested case-control study to prospectively evaluate the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) exposure, antioxidant capacity, and oxidative stress on lung carcinogenesis.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five patients with lung cancer and 140 age- and sex-matched controls were selected from a sub-cohort of the Korean Multi-center Cancer Cohort. PAH metabolites (1-hydroxypyrene and 2-naphthol), oxidative stress markers, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed using urine samples collected at baseline.

Goodness-of-Fits of the Spirometric Reference Values for Koreans and USA Caucasians to Spirometry Data from Residents of a Region within Chungbuk Province.

Background: Korean regression models for spirometric reference values are different from those of Americans. Using spirometry results of Korean adults, goodness-of-fits of the Korean and the USA Caucasian regression models for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) were compared.

Methods: The number of study participants was 2,360 (1,124 males and 1,236 females).