Area-Specific Assessment of Stratum Corneum Hydration and Transepidermal Water Loss in Pediatric Patients With Atopic Dermatitis.

SCORring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) is widely used to assess the severity of atopic eczema, but score systems based on the entire body may be limited in effective monitoring and intervention. It is crucial to monitor moisture levels in each affected body part, but empirical research is still lacking. The objective of this study was to analyze the levels of stratum corneum hydration (SCH) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, focusing on the presence and location of atopic lesions at different body sites.

Acute and Chronic Health Risk Assessment for Automobile Users Due to Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds and Carbonyl Compounds.

Since automobiles are the primary means of transportation in modern society, the assessment of health effects from acute and chronic exposure to pollutants in automobiles is crucial. In this study, the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbonyl compounds, and odor-including substances in newly manufactured automobiles were analyzed, and exposure factors reflecting automobile user characteristics were selected for health risk assessment. Toluene exhibited the highest concentration (203.

Spatiotemporal distribution and source analysis of PM and its chemical components in national industrial complexes of Korea: a case study of Ansan and Siheung.

This study investigated the sources and distribution characteristics of PM and its chemical components (ions, carbons, elements) at five locations within the Banwal and Sihwa National Industrial Complexes in Ansan and Siheung. These large-scale industrial clusters, comprising 7642 businesses across sectors such as petrochemicals, steel, machinery, and electronics, operate throughout the year. From 2020 to 2023, the average PM concentration in the study area was 28.

Heavy metal exposure and its effects on APOC3, CFAI, and ZA2G.

Despite increasing heavy metal pollution, traditional epidemiology often fails to link exposure to health outcomes. This study used multi-omics to investigate associations between heavy metal exposure and health. Blood and urine samples from 294 participants in heavy metal-exposed and control areas were analyzed, revealing key biomarkers.

Effects of Technostress on Psychological Contract Violation and Organizational Change Resistance.

This study investigates the effects of technostress perceived by employees on psychological contract violations and resistance to organizational change, as information and communication technology is applied to various tourism industry work sites. This study's sample consisted of employees working in the Korean tourism industry in June 2023, who were surveyed using snowball sampling. Four hypotheses were proposed.

Introduction to the forensic research via omics markers in environmental health vulnerable areas (FROM) study.

This research group (forensic research via omics markers in environmental health vulnerable areas: FROM) aimed to develop biomarkers for exposure to environmental hazards and diseases, assess environmental diseases, and apply and verify these biomarkers in environmentally vulnerable areas. Environmentally vulnerable areas-including refineries, abandoned metal mines, coal-fired power plants, waste incinerators, cement factories, and areas with high exposure to particulate matter-along with control areas, were selected for epidemiological investigations. A total of 1,157 adults, who had resided in these areas for over 10 years, were recruited between June 2021 and September 2023.

Associations between plasma metabolites and heavy metal exposure in residents of environmentally polluted areas.

Heavy metals are commonly released into the environment through industrial processes such as mining and refining. The rapid industrialization that occurred in South Korea during the 1960s and 1970s contributed significantly to the economy of the country; however, the associated mining and refining led to considerable environmental pollution, and although mining is now in decline in South Korea, the detrimental effects on residents inhabiting the surrounding areas remain. The bioaccumulation of toxic heavy metals leads to metabolic alterations in human homeostasis, with disruptions in this balance leading to various health issues.

Uncovering the health implications of abandoned mines through protein profiling of local residents.

Residents in areas with abandoned mines risk significant exposure to abundant heavy metals in the environment. However, current clinical indicators cannot fully reflect the health changes associated with abandoned mine exposure. The aim of this study was to identify biological changes in the residents of abandoned mine areas via proteomic analysis of their blood.

A Comparison of Health Risks from PM and Heavy Metal Exposure in Industrial Complexes in Dangjin and Yeosu·Gwangyang.

Particulate matter (PM) can cause illness, including respiratory diseases, and PM compositions are likely to vary according to the emission profiles of industrial complexes. This study analyzed and compared the concentrations and distributions of PM and heavy metals in two regions of Republic of Korea: Yeosu·Gwangyang, which houses a massive national industrial complex, and Dangjin, which houses power plants. Further, we conducted a health risk assessment on the residents of the areas near these industrial complexes.

Cadmium-associated protein changes in residents of contaminated areas: Abandoned mine and smelter.

Cadmium (Cd), a serious environmental contaminant, is associated with adverse health effects. However, the specific changes that the human body experiences in response to exposure to varying concentrations of cadmium remain unknown. The high levels of heavy metal contamination, especially Cd, in abandoned mines and smelter sites make them ideal locations to investigate the physiological manifestations of Cd exposure.

Developing a Novel Read-Across Concept for Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment of Phosphate Chemicals: A Case Study.

This study introduces a novel concept approach for a read-across assessment, considering species sensitivity differences among phosphate chemicals within structurally similar compound groups. Twenty-five organic chemicals, with a log Kow of 5 or less, were categorized into three functional groups based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition as a specific mode of action (MOA). The short-term aquatic toxicity data (LC) for fish, crustaceans, and insects were collected from the U.

Development and Performance Evaluation of a Smart Upper-Limb Rehabilitation Exercise Device.

User-friendly rehabilitation medical devices can enhance health and the quality of life through the convergence of information communication and medical technology. Muscle contraction enables bodily movement, and the assessment of muscle strength is crucial. Muscle contraction includes isometric, isotonic, and isokinetic types.

Cadmium-induced Carcinogenesis in Respiratory Organs and the Prostate: Insights from Three Perspectives on Toxicogenomic Approach.

Cadmium (Cd) exposure primarily occurs through inhalation, either by smoking or occupational exposure to contaminated air. Upon inhalation, Cd ultimately reaches the prostate through the bloodstream. In this review, we investigate the carcinogenic potential of Cd in both respiratory organs and the prostate.

Association of exposure to indoor molds and dampness with allergic diseases at water-damaged dwellings in Korea.

This study aims to characterize levels of molds, bacteria, and environmental pollutants, identify the associations between indoor mold and dampness exposures and childhood allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, using three different exposure assessment tools. A total of 50 children with their parents who registered in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do in Korea participated in this study. We collated the information on demographic and housing characteristics, environmental conditions, and lifestyle factors using the Korean version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire.

Genome-Wide Comparative Profiles of Triterpenoid Biosynthesis Genes in Ginseng and Pseudo Ginseng Medicinal Plants.

Saponin-rich medicinal plants, particularly ginseng and Pseudo ginseng, are valuable in traditional medical practice due to the presence of different saponins. These plants benefit from natural saponins/triterpenoids drugs, such as Ginsenosides, Gypenosides, Platycodins, and Lancemasides. Ginsenosides are highly required for research and functional materials preparation in industrial practices, and some compounds, like Compound-K, have been taken to human trials for various therapeutic applications.

Self-Powering Sensory Device with Multi-Spectrum Image Realization for Smart Indoor Environments.

The development of organic-based optoelectronic technologies for the indoor Internet of Things market, which relies on ambient energy sources, has increased, with organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and photodetectors (OPDs) considered promising candidates for sustainable indoor electronic devices. However, the manufacturing processes of standalone OPVs and OPDs can be complex and costly, resulting in high production costs and limited scalability, thus limiting their use in a wide range of indoor applications. This study uses a multi-component photoactive structure to develop a self-powering dual-functional sensory device with effective energy harvesting and sensing capabilities.

pH-responsive shell-sheddable polymeric nanoparticles as the photodynamic drug carrier: synthesis, characterization, and in vitro studies.

Shell-sheddable nanoparticles, composed of amphiphilic blockpolymers, have emerged as an attractive vehicle for the site-specific delivery of therapeutic agents. In this study, pH-responsive sheddable copolymers bearing an orthoester linker were synthesized via the ring-opening polymerization between γ-benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride and orthoester-bearing poly (ethylene glycol) macroinitiator (PEG-pH-NH). The obtained poly (ethylene glycol)--poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PEG-PBLG) could form stable nanoparticles in aqueous solutions due to the amphiphilic nature of the block copolymers.

Proposal of a Methodology for Prediction of Indoor PM Concentration Using Sensor-Based Residential Environments Monitoring Data and Time-Divided Multiple Linear Regression Model.

This study aims to propose an indoor air quality prediction method that can be easily utilized and reflects temporal characteristics using indoor and outdoor input data measured near the indoor target point as input to calculate indoor PM concentration through a multiple linear regression model. The atmospheric conditions and air pollution detected in one-minute intervals using sensor-based monitoring equipment (Dust Mon, Sentry Co Ltd., Seoul, Korea) inside and outside houses from May 2019 to April 2021 were used to develop the prediction model.

Associations of ambient manganese exposure with brain gray matter thickness and white matter hyperintensities.

Manganese (Mn) exposure is associated with increased risks of dementia and cerebrovascular disease. However, evidence regarding the impact of ambient Mn exposure on brain imaging markers is scarce. We aimed to investigate the association between ambient Mn exposure and brain imaging markers representing neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular lesions.