• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.122-130
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• 2017

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of low-dose intravenous N-acetylcysteine on the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT). Methods: All patients presenting to our emergency department and undergoing CT with intravenous contrast media between August 2014 and April 2016 were retrospectively enrolled. We included hospitalized patients with renal dysfunction [estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between 30 and $89mL/min/1.73m^2$]. A 600-mg injection of N-acetylcysteine was given to patients once before and once immediately after CT, depending on the preference of physician. The primary outcome was CIN defined as an increase in creatinine level of ${\geq}25%$ or ${\geq}0.5mg/dL$ from the baseline within 48 to 72 hours after CT. A trained person blindly reviewed all medical records. Results: Of the 1903 admitted patients, CIN occurred in 9.8% of patients who received 1200 mg intravenous N-acetylcysteine (24/244) and 6.8% of patients who did not (113/1659, p=0.090). In a multivariable regression analysis, N-acetylcystine was not relevant to the prevention of CIN (odds ratio=1.42 [95% CI, 0.90-2.26]). Even in the stratified analysis using the propensity score matching, N-acetylcysteine was irrelevant (GFR 30-59: odds ratio=1.06 [95% CI, 0.43-2.60]; GFR 60-89: odds ratio=1.76 [95% CI, 0.75-4.14]). After adjustment, crystalloids were significantly associated with the reduction in CIN compared with dextrose water (odds ratio=0.60 [95% CI, 0.37-0.97]). Conclusion: No effect was found when low-dose intravenous N-acetylcysteine was used to prevent CIN. However, there seems to be an association between crystalloids and reduction in CIN.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.31 no.3 s.52
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• pp.245-251
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• 2005

Safety is one of the key issue in the regulation of cosmetics. Cosmetic Act deals with it in Korea. The guidance for the testing cosmetic ingredients and their safety evaluation are prepared by Korea Food and Drug Administration. Ultraviolet radiation could Induce skin damage, edema, erythema, photoaging, immune dysfunction and skin cancer. Ultraviolet radiation is classified as Group 2A(probably carcinogenic to humans) by International Agenry for Reaserch on Cancer(IARC). The in vitro methodologies for evaluating the toxic potential of ingredients reported in the literature have not yet been sufficiently validated for use in areas other than the study for mutagenicity/genotoxicity, for pre-screening for severe irritancy, for screening of phototoxicity and for evaluating the percutaneous absorption. The 3T3 neutral red uptake photoxicity test (3T3 NRU PT) was accepted as OECD toxicity guideline in 2002. The 3T3 NRU PT is an in vitro method based on a comparison of the cytotoxicitv of a chemical when tested in the presence and in the absence of exposure to a non-cytotoxic dose of UVA/visible light.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2001

Purpose : Since Mendoza(1990)'s report that long term methylprednisolone pulse therapy by Mendoza protocol (MP therapy) is a good treatment option in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS), there have been reports of the effects of this therapy in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. However, no studies have been performed on the effects of MP therapy in steroid- dependent nephrotic syndrome and secondary nephrotic syndrome. In this study, we investigated the effects of long term MP therapy in primary and secondary nephrotic syndrome in which previous treatment options were not effective. Methods : We chose 10 children who were diagnosed with steroid-dependent minimal change nephrotic syndrome(SD-MCNS), who had shown frequent relapse during the immunocompromised or cytotoxic therapy Period, and 6 children with FSGS and 5 children with secondary nephrotic syndrome children, who had shown no response during the previous therapy period. We treated these patients according to Mendoza protocol involving infusions of high doses of methylprednisolone, often in combination with oral cyclophosphamide for 82 weeks. Results : In all the 10 children with SD-MCNS, complete remission was visible on average of $18{\pm}9$ days after MP therapy was started. However, all these children relapsed during or after MP therapy. In these children, the mean relapse rate prior to MP therapy was $2.1{\pm}1.0$ relpases/year, which was reduced to $1.4{\pm}0.9$ relapses/year during MP therapy(P>0.05) and rose to $2.7{\pm}1.0$ relapse/year after MP therapy. Of the 6 children with FSGS, 4 children($67\%$) showed complete remission, of whom 3 children($50\%$) remained in the remission status during the follow up period, $1.2{\pm}0.7$ years, after the end of MP therapy. 2 children($33\%$) showed no response. All of the 5 children with secondary nephrotic syndrome showed remission and remained in the remissiom status during the follow up period, $1.7{\pm}0.6$ years The only side effect of MP therapy was transient hypertension in 10 children of ail subjects during the intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone. Conclusion : We conclude that although long term MP therapy is not effective in the treatment of SD-MCNS, it is an effective therapy against intractable FSGS and secondary nephrotic syndrome. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2001 ; 5 : 117-24)

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2009

The bacterial toxin, tolaasin, causes brown blotch disease on the cultivated mushrooms by collapsing fungal and fruiting body structure of mushroom. Cytotoxicity of tolaasin was evaluated by measuring hemolytic activity because tolaasins form membrane pores on the red blood cells and destroy cell structure. While we investigated the inhibitions of hemolytic activity of tolaasin by $Zn^{2+}$ and $Cd^{2+}$, we found that $Ni^{2+}$ is another antagonist to block the toxicity of tolaasin. $Ni^{2+}$ inhibited the tolaasin-induced hemolysis in a dose-dependent manner and its Ki value was $\sim10$ mM, implying that the inhibitory effect of $Ni^{2+}$ is stronger than that of $Cd^{2+}$. The hemolytic activity was completely inhibited by $Ni^{2+}$ at the concentration higher than 50 mM. The effect of $Ni^{2+}$ was reversible since it was removed by the addition of EDTA. When the tolaasin-induced hemolysis was suppressed by the addition of 20 mM $Ni^{2+}$, the subsequent addition of EDIA immediately initiated the hemolysis. Although the mechanism of $Ni^{2+}$ -induced inhibition on tolaasin toxicity is not known, $Ni^{2+}$ could inhibit any of fallowing processes of tolaasin action, membrane binding, molecular multimerization, pore formation, and massive ion transport through the membrane pore. Our results indicate that $Ni^{2+}$ inhibits the pore activity of tolaasin, the last step of the toxic process.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 1998

Purpose : To investigate renal toxicity of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) in children with Kawasaki disease and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Methods : 23 children with Kawasaki disease and 7 children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura who were treated with high-dose IVIG(2 g/kg) were evaluated for the change of urine output, blood urea nitrogen(BUN), serum creatinine(Scr), creatinine clearance(Ccr), tubular reabsorption of phosphorus(TRP), fractional excretion of sodium(FENa), 24hour urine ${\beta}_2$-microglobulin/creatinine(${\beta}_{2}MG/cr$) ratio and urine microalbumin/creatinine(MA/cr) ratio at post-IVIG 1 and 3 day. Results : There was no significant change of urine output, BUN, Scr, Ccr, TRP, 24hour urine ${\beta}_{2}MG/cr$ and MA/cr ratio after high-dose IVIG treatment. Transient increase of FENa at post-IVIG 1 day was the only significant change. Conclusion : There was no significant renal toxicity of high-dose IVIG in children with Kawasaki disease and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura who had normal renal function.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.68-75
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• 2014

It is necessary to control and evaluate human factors to reduce economic loss by major accident in toxic gas facilities. Conventional works to evaluate hazards have been focused on mechanical and systematic failure, while only a little works have been studied on managing human errors. In this work, a classification system of performance shaping factor (PSF) was suggested to consist human error in managing accident in the toxic gas facilities. Four types of PSFs (human, system, task characteristics, and task environment) were collected, reviewed, and analyzed to be categorized selected according their characteristics of situational, task, and environmental parameters. The PSFs were further modified to set up PSF systems adequate to evaluate human error, and the proposed system to consist PSFs to evaluate human error was further studied through accident analysis in toxic gas facilities.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.47-60
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• 2004

Higher plants can be valuable genetic assay systems for monitoring environmental pollutants and evaluating their biological toxicity. Two assays are considered ideal for in situ monitoring and testing of soil, airborne and aqueous mutagenic agents; the Tradescantia stamen hair assay for somatic cell mutations and the Tradescantia micronucleus assay for chromosome aberrations. Both assays can be used for in vivo and in vitro testing of mutagens. Since higher plant systems are now recognized as excellent indicators and have unique advantages over in situ monitoring and screening, higher plant systems could be accepted by regulatory authorities as an alternative first-tier assay system for the detection of possible genetic damages resulting from the pollutants or chemicals used and produced by industrial sectors. It has been concluded that potential mutagen and carcinogen such as the heavy metals among indoor air particulates, volatile compounds in the working places, soil, and water pollutants contribute to the overall health risk. This contribution can be considerable under certain circumstances. It is therefore important to identify the level of genotoxic activity in the environment and to relate it to the biomarkers of a health risk in humans. The results from the higher plant bioassays could make a significant contribution to assessing the risks of pollutants and protecting the public from agents that can cause mutation and/or cancer. The plant bioassays, which are relatively inexpensive and easy to handle, are recommended for the scientists who are interested in monitoring pollutants and evaluating their environmental toxicity to living organisms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 1997

To determine the cause of Vibrio septicemia by understanding the characteristics endotoxin from Vibrio vulnificus, lethal dose, heat resistance and vascular permeability enhancing activity were svaluated using vegestative cell and cell homogenate and the result is as follows: 1. Vibrio vulnificus CDC B3547 of patient origin did not exihibit any significant difference in toxicity compared to Vibrio vulnificus B57 of enviroment origin. 2. Strong toxicity was observed when viable cell count of Vibrio vulnificus CDC B3547 was more than 10$^{7}$/ml. 3. Toxicity of cell homogenate was completely inactivited upon geating at 80$^{\circ}$C for 20min. 4. Cell homogenate did not show hemolyic activity but was acknowleged to have cytotoxicity. 5. Major lethal toxin against mouse was existed in Vibrio vulnificus CDC B3547; however, separation of LPS and LPS-protein complex was not successful using the current technique.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.128-130
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• 2006

Phenytoin has been used globally as an effective anticonvulsant. Among its adverse effects, peripheral neuropathy including polyneuropathy has sometimes been reported. We report a case of sensorimotor polyneuropathy associated with high serum level and long-term phenytoin therapy. A 29-year-old male presented with motor weakness in all extremities. He was treated with phenytoin (400 mg/day) for about eight years because of generalized tonic clonic seizure. During none conduction assessment, sensorimotor polyneuropathy was discovered.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.114-117
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• 2001

We experienced a case of streptococcal toxic shock-like sundrome in a 12 year old boy. Symptoms such as fever, sore throat, diffuse erythematous rashes on whole body developed 3 days before admmision. His symptoms rapidly aggravated to develop hypotension, hepatic and renal dysfunction and thrombocytopenia. After admission, intravenous fluid and antibiotic therapy were done and he was succesfully treated. Attention should be paid to recognize and diagnose this fatal disese. We report this case with review of related literatures.