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Hyun Cheol Ahn 3 Articles
Associations between Lead Exposure and Dose and Protein Kinase C Activation in Erythrocytes Among Lead Workers
Kyu Yoon Hwang, Young Hwangbo, Hyun Cheol Ahn, Yong Bae Kim, Gap Soo Lee, Sung Soo Lee, Kyu Dong Ahn, Byung Kook Lee
Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2001;13(4):369-375.   Published online December 31, 2001
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2001.13.4.369
AbstractAbstract PDF
OBJECTIVES
Protein kinase C(PKC), a calcium and phospholipid dependent enzyme, is activated by lead in vitro at picomolar concentrations. However, the effect of lead on PKC has never been studied in a human population. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether lead exposure was associated with PKC mediated-phosphorylation in erythrocytes among lead workers.
METHODS
Two hundred and twelve lead workers were studied. To determine the levels of phosphorylation in vivo, an in vitro back phosphorylation technique was used by adding PKC and gamma-32P to preparations of erythrocyte membranes. We measured back phosphorylations of erythrocyte membrane proteins, spectrin, and 52 kDa and 48 kDa, as an indirect measure of PKC activation in vivo.
RESULTS
The mean(SD) age and exposure duration was 39.1(10.0) years and 8.1(6.5) years, respectively. Tibial lead ranged from 0.8 to 290.8 microgram Pb/g bone mineral with a mean(SD) of 34.4(35.2) microgram Pb/g bone mineral. The means(SD) of back phosphorylation levels of the three proteins were 540.7(304.1), 198.6(78.2), and 247.7(83.3) photostimulated luminescence units(PSL), respectively, by phosphoimager. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, tibial lead and exposure duration were significantly and inversely associated with back phosphorylation levels. One unit of increase in tibial lead(1 microgram Pb/g bone mineral) is associated with a decline in spectrin, band 4.9 52 kDa, and band 4.9 48 kDa back phosphorylation levels by 1.4(P<0.05), 0.34(P<0.05), and 0.47(P<0.01), respectively. However, there were no associations between the back phosphorylation levels and either blood lead or ZPP levels.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the PKC activity in erythrocytes is increased by chronic lead exposure and that erythrocyte membrane protein phosphorylation may be a biomarker of lead exposure.

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The Relationship between Psychosocial Distress and Lead Exposure Indices in Lead Workers
Yong Bae Kim, Hyun Cheol Ahn, Young Hwangbo, Gap Soo Lee, Kyu Yoon Hwang, Sung Soo Lee, Kyu Dong Ahn, Byung Kook Lee
Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2000;12(1):128-138.   Published online March 31, 2000
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2000.12.1.128
AbstractAbstract PDF
OBJECTIVES
This study was carried out to assess psychosocial distress of lead workers and to examine the relationship between lead exposure indices and psychosocial distress.
METHODS
The study design was cross-sectional and research subjects were 234 lead workers in primary smelting industry. General characteristics, job characteristics and social support were obtained by self-administered questionnaire and history taking. Psychosocial distress was measured using PWI(Psychosocial Well-being Index), a 45-item self-administered instrument. Blood lead(PbB), zinc protoporphyrin(ZPP), -aminolevulinic acid in urine(ALAU) were selected as indicators of lead exposure.
RESULTS
There was significant difference in PWI according to lead exposure level and job characteristics. The results of correlation analysis showed that PWI was significantly correlated with PbB(r=0.203, P=0.002).
CONCLUSIONS
Our results supported the association between lead exposure and psychosocial distress. The inclusion of psychosocial distress measurement as a special health examination for lead workers was highly recommended for the effective health management.

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Some Renal Function Indices in Workers Occupationally Exposed to Lead
Je Sung Nam, Yong Bae Kim, Hyun Cheol Ahn, Hwa Sung Kim, Gap Soo Lee, Kyu Yoon Hwang, Sung Soo Lee, Kyu Dong Ahn, Byung Kook Lee
Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1998;10(2):139-148.   Published online May 31, 1998
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1998.10.2.139
AbstractAbstract PDF
The influence of lead exposure on renal function was studied. Three hundred forty two male lead exposed workers who worked in 3 storage battery factories, 5 secondary smelting factories and 3 litharge making factories, and 60 male control workers who were not exposed to lead occupationally were chosen for this study. Blood lead (PbB), zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood (ZPP) and delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine (DALA) were selected as indicators of lead exposure. As indicators of renal function blood urea nitrogen(BUN) , serum creatinine(S-Cr), serum uric acid (S-UA), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in urine (NAG) and urine protein (U-TP) were selected. While the mean values of lead exposure indicators of lead workers were significantly different from non-exposed ones, the mean values of renal function indicators of exposed except S-UA were significantly different from non-exposed. The frequency of workers whose value of renal function indicators were over the nor mal criteria (BUN>20 mg/dl ; S-Cr>1.2 mg/dl ; S-UA>7.0 mg/dl ; NAG>8.0 U/liter; U-TP>8.0 mg/dl) by the level of lead absorption in terms of PbB, ZPP and DALA were calculated. Age adjusted odds ratio of over the normal value of BUN and NAG were statistically significant by the level of ZPP and that of BUN only showed the dose-dependant relationship. But the frequency of over the normal criteria of renal function indicators were not increased by the level of PbB and DALA. On stepwise multiple regression using renal function indicators as a dependent variable and each lead exposure indicator and age as independent variables, only BUN, NAG and U-TP were contributed by the lead exposure indicators. It was found that only NAG of renal function indices was most reliable indicator who showed dose-response relationship with lead exposure and the measurement of NAG for lead workers whose relatively high exposure is highly recommended.

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  • Effect of Pork Consumption on Renal and Hematochemical Indices in Workers Occupationally Exposed to Unclean Environments
    Chan-Kyu Han, Jeong-Hae Rho, Bog-Hieu Lee
    Korean Journal for Food Science of Animal Resources.2008; 28(1): 91.     CrossRef
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