• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.151-160
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• 1997

This study was planned to evaluate the urinary ascorbic acid as a new biological marker for the intoxication of cadmium, which could possibly be driven by its increased utilization and environmental pollution. In order to meet this goal, we have peformed measurement of urinary ascorbic acid concentration, histopathological examination of the kidney, and biochemical test for the liver function using cadmium-intoxicated rats by oral administration. The average concentrations of urinary ascorbic acid in the $CdCl_2$-treated rats were 214.0 mg/dl for 100 ppm group and 254.3 mg/dl for 200 ppm group during experimental period of 50 days. These levels are 24 and 28 times higher than one in the control group (9.0 mg/dl), respectively. Ultrastructural study showed the eosinophilic hyaline cast and focal effacement, fusion in the renal tubules, as well as loss of foot processes on the glomerular epithelial cells. These results suggested that cadmium may be responsible for renal glomerular injury. The blood levels of AST, ALT and LDH in the treated groups (199 IU/I, 88 IU/I, 1190 U/I for the 100 ppm group and 270 IU/I, 226 IU/I, 760 U/I for the 200 ppm group) were higher than ones in the control group(143 IU/I, 50 IU/I, 334 U/I). These results indicated the cadmium induced the damage of liver function. In conclusion, the administration of cadmium showed a remarkable increase of urinary ascorbic acid with renal and hepatic damage. Therefore, it is expected that measurement of urinary ascorbic acid would be an powerful method as a noninvasive biomarker for cadmium intoxication.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.385-394
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine the zinc status of preschool children in Ulsan. The study was conducted in 95 children aged 3 to 6 years by investigating the anthropometric indices and assessing the biochemical analysis. The blood was analysed to assess serum zinc and alkaline phosphatase. And a questionnaire for dietary intakes using 24-hr recall method were performed by mothers of 95 subjects. The dietary intakes of children were analysed to determine the prevalence of inadequate and excessive intakes of zinc with Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs). WHL (Weight-Length Index) and Kaup index were used to define obesity. The overall prevalence of overweight and obese subjects were 14.7% and 6.3% by WHL, were 15.8% and 13.7% by Kaup index. The mean intakes of zinc by children aged 3${\sim}$5y and 6y were 5.5 ${\pm}$ 1.4 mg/d (75.7% RDA) and 6.7 ${\pm}$ 2.0 mg/d, respectively, that was the level exceeding the estimated average requirement (EAR) and the recommended intake (RI) of Korean Dietary Reference Intakes. Less than 1.3% and 7.9% of children had usual zinc intakes below EAR and RI of KDRIs, respectively. The percentages of children with intakes exceeding the tolerable upper intake level (UL) were 2.6%. The zinc nutritional status by biological assay was found that mean serum zinc and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of total subjects were 64.0 ${\pm}$ 8.4 ${\mu}$g/dl and 72.8 ${\pm}$ 14.9 U/L, there was not a significant difference between boys and girls. The range of serum zinc level was 45${\sim}$89 ${\mu}$g/dl and children with a low serum zinc concentration by several cut-off points were 18.9${\sim}$55.8%, especially. Serum zinc level was positively correlated to the intakes of calorie, calcium, fiber, iron, zinc, zinc/kg and height (p<0.001). Serum ALP was positively correlated height, weight and WLI. The zinc intake of children aiso showed a positive correlation with height and weight. These results indicate that there were significant correlations between the zinc status and growth of preschool children. Preschool children in Ulsan have dietary zinc intakes that exceed the new DRIs. The present level of intake does not seem to pose a health problem, but if zinc intakes with fortified foods and supplements were considered, the amount of zinc consumed by children may become excessive.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2004

Recently the measurement of biophoton emission has attracted increasing attention in the study on physiological state of biological systems. We report the measurements of biophoton emission from the mouse fatty liver induced by carbon tetrachloride, CCl$_4$. The hepatotoxin, CCl$_4$ in olive oil, was injected intraperitoneally into two groups of ICR mice which were made of 6 mice in each group. The control groups corresponding to the treated groups were prepared with the injections of olive oil only. After the injections, livers of two groups were extracted and measured biophoton emission in 24 hours and 72 hours later, respectively. We also extracted the plasma in the blood and measured the transaminase activity. Results show that biophoton emission from the livers in 24-hour treated group is 69.3${\pm}$21.2 counts/min/$\textrm{cm}^2$, which is two times more larger than that in 24-hour control group, 29.5${\pm}$5.9 counts/min/$\textrm{cm}^2$ Biophoton emission from the livers in 72-hour treated group is 37.0${\pm}$14.8 counts/min/$\textrm{cm}^2$. These biophoton results correlate with those of the biochemical assays. We conclude that biophoton emission can be used as a biomarker of mouse fatty liver induced by CCl$_4$.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.513-526
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of low sodium diet education program on dietary habits, diet quality, and measures of obesity in overweight or obese middle-aged women. Methods: Subjects were 81 individuals aged 45 years or over, who completed an 8-week nutrition education. The subjects were divided into a normal group (N = 30) and an overweight-obese group (N = 51) according to the BMI. The effects were evaluated by anthropometric measurement, biochemical analysis, questionnaire, and diet records before and after the program. Results: Overweight-obese group showed significant decreases in weight (p < 0.0001), BMI (p < 0.0001), percent of body fat (p = 0.0087), waist circumference (p < 0.0001), systolic (p = 0.0003) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.0261). Nutrients intakes were not different between the two groups and only sodium intake was decreased after education. Total score of general dietary habits, dietary behavior related to sodium intake, dietary diversity score (DDS), diet variety score (DVS), and diet quality index-international (DQI-I) were improved in both groups compared to the baseline. Overweight-obese group showed significant improvement in 'having fruits everyday', 'having fish everyday', 'trying to eat many kinds of food', 'eating less broth when eating soup, stew, and noodles', 'eating less kimchi and salt-fermented vegetable', and 'propensity to think that dishes should be pretty seasoned'. In addition, moderation of empty calories food (p = 0.0064) and macronutrient ratio (p = 0.0004) were improved in the overweigh-obese group, but in the normal group, the results did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: These results suggested that low sodium diet education program may contribute to obesity management by improving diet quality and dietary habits in middle-aged women.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.239-253
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• 2017

Neodymium is a future-oriented material due to its unique properties, and its use is increasing in various industrial fields worldwide. However, the toxicity caused by repeated exposure to this metal has not been studied in detail thus far. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential inhalation toxicity of nano-sized neodymium oxide ($Nd_2O_3$) following a 28-day repeated inhalation exposure in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Male rats were exposed to nano-sized $Nd_2O_3-containing$ aerosols via a nose-only inhalation system at doses of $0mg/m^3$, $0.5mg/m^3$, $2.5mg/m^3$, and $10mg/m^3$ for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week over a 28-day period, followed by a 28-day recovery period. During the experimental period, clinical signs, body weight, hematologic parameters, serum biochemical parameters, necropsy findings, organ weight, and histopathological findings were examined; neodymium distribution in the major organs and blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and oxidative stress in lung tissues were analyzed. Most of the neodymium was found to be deposited in lung tissues, showing a dose-dependent relationship. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) were the main observations of lung histopathology. Infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed in the $2.5mg/m^3$ and higher dose treatment groups. PAP was observed in all treatment groups accompanied by an increase in lung weight, but was observed to a lesser extent in the $0.5mg/m^3$ treatment group. In BALF analysis, total cell counts, including macrophages and neutrophils, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, increased significantly in all treatment groups. After a 4-week recovery period, these changes were generally reversed in the $0.5mg/m^3$ group, but were exacerbated in the $10mg/m^3$ group. The lowest-observed-adverse-effect concentration of nano-sized $Nd_2O_3$ was determined to be $0.5mg/m^3$, and the target organ was determined to be the lung, under the present experimental conditions in male rats.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2016

A urea cycle disorder is a condition caused by a defect of the enzymes in the urea cycle, and deficiency of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), which converts carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine into citrulline, is the most common type of the disorder. OTC deficiency induces the accumulation of precursors of urea, ammonia, and glutamine, leading to neurological symptoms including hypotonia, respiratory failure, seizure, lethargy, and coma and sometimes to death. Because OTC deficiency is inherited in an X-linked manner, typical symptoms such as vomiting, poor feeding, and lethargy appear mainly in male neonates. We recently had a case that presented with neonatal onset lethargy, vomiting, and apnea in a 4-day-old boy. He was diagnosed with OTC deficiency by biochemical phenotype, including hyperammonemia and an increased orotic acid level in the urine. Genetic analysis of the OTC gene showed a novel mutation c.780_781insCAGGCAGTGT (p.Ile261Glnfs*35). He was treated for hyperammonemia using continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) at 118 hours after birth. After 4 days of CVVH, his consciousness and blood ammonia concentration were normalized, and he was discharged at the age of 53 days. At around 12 months of age, bilateral femur fractures and osteomyelitis occurred in this patient. Two months after the fracture, he died of septic shock, insulin-resistant hyperglycemia, and multi-organ failure.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.49-53
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• 2016

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common syndrome resulting in kidney damage and malfunction within a few days or even a few hours. The diagnosis of AKI depends on routine biochemical tests, including serum creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and electrolytes. Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a biomarker that shows correlation with the severity of acute infections and kidney injuries. The predictive value in other conventional assays for kidney functions has been reported to cause distraction for AKI syndrome. The aim of this study is to verify the predictive value of plasma NGAL in patients with established AKI. The NGAL kit for checkup demonstrates sensitivity of ${\geq}300$ (92.2%), ${\geq}200$ (95.6%), ${\geq}100$ (99.6%), specificity of ${\geq}300$ (95.1%), ${\geq}200$ (97.3%), ${\geq}100$ (99.4%), positive predictability of ${\geq}300$ (93.3%), ${\geq}200$ (93.4%), ${\geq}100$ (99.2%), and negative predictability of ${\geq}300$ (96.7%), ${\geq}200$ (97.7%), ${\geq}100$ (98.1%), respectively. The plasma NGAL compared with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been shown to be an early predictive biomarker of AKI. The NGAL kit, recently developed for point-of-care of plasma specimens, is thought to be a useful and reliable biomarker for the early diagnosis of decreased kidney functions.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 1975

It is a great value to find an early detection of involvement of ureteric obstruction in the carcinoma of cervix. Little or no knowledge of the condition of the kidneys or the lower urinary tract are able to elucidate by the biochemical studies such as blood nitrogen or urine creatinine in carcinoma of cervix. Findings of urography delineates the condition of urinary tract stasis in the renal pelvis and ureters, however, slight stasis maybe difficult to demonstrate. On the other hand isotope nephrography is accepted as a sensitive method to observe renal function especially in regarding to the excretory function of kidney. It was attempted to analysis the findings of urography conjunction with isotope nephrography in 50 cases of unselected patients with invasive carcinoma of cervix through pre and post irradiation follow up studies. Urography was done as a routine procedure and.analysed emphasising changes of collecting systems and ureter condition. Isotope nephrography was carried out by means of $15{\mu}ci\;I^{131}$-Hippuran injected intravenously and the curves were analysed as follows. Parameter were; time of maximum amplitude ($T_{max}$), half time of maximum amplitude ($T\frac{1}{2}$), Kac and Kex value calculated from these two parameters in Tobe's method. The excretion index by Aurell defines the ratio between the maximum activity and the activity measured on the slope of the third phase ten minites after it has reached its maximum. Results: 1. 28.8% had an abnormal IVP suggestive of ureteric involvement before irradiation therapy and the patient of stage III and IV were the great part. 2. 21.7% had abnormal findings of per-irradiation renogram whom showed normal IVP. The other group showed normal IVP which group also showed normal renogram prior irradiation. 3. The more severe the ureteric involvement, the change of excretion index was greater. 4. Even in stage I and II patient, abnormal renogram was revealed in 12 cases (39.4%) among 31 cases. 5. All cases of TAH showed abnormal findings of IVP and renogram. 6. No. definite change of renogram was obtained just after the irradiation therapy (point $A:8000{\sim}9000rads,\;B:5000{\sim}6000rads,\;Co:11000{\sim}13000rads$). Each 3 month follow up study was performed and comparing with preirradiation study which showed significant changes of excretion index of renogram were 42.8% in $6{\sim}9$ month follow-up and 75% in $9{\sim}12$ month, respectively. 7. It seems to be important to observe the parameter Kex and excretion index of renogram to determine early abnormality of kidney excretory function by means of post-irradiation follow up study.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.688-693
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• 2007

The hepatoprotective effects of water extracts composed of Adenophora triphylla var japonica Hara (ATJH) on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity were investigated in vivo and in vivo. The effects of ATJH on liver toxicity induced by APAP were assessed by blood biochemical and histopathological analyses. APAP treatment (350 mg/kg) caused severe liver injury in mice as indicated by their significantly elevated plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Pretreatment with ATJH for 3 or 7 days attenuated the increases in ALT and AST when challenged with APAP. The reductions in viability caused by high dose of APAP (450 mg/kg) in vivo were reversed by pretreatment with ATJH. These protective effects of ATJH against APAP-induced toxicity were consistent with the results from the histopathological examinations. We next examined the effects of ATJH on the gene expression of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) that detoxify the metabolic intermediates of APAP in H4IIE cells. The hepatic GST protein levels [$\alpha$ class (GSTA2, GSTA3/5)] were significantly elevated in a dose-dependent manner by ATJH treatment. In summary, ATJH is effective at protecting against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by GST induction, implying that ATJH should be considered a potential chemopreventive agent.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.521-530
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• 2013

Protein-energy malnutrition, PEM, and increased hs-CRP level are considered to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This is commonly referred to as the vicious circle of malnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease (MIA syndrome) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Low protein intake can decrease the serum level of albumin and increase inflammational markers; further, both low serum albumin and high hs-CRP are independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in HD patients. The aim of this study is comparing the serum levels of albumin and hs-CRP in HD patients according to the protein intake levels. The total number of subjects was 60 hemodialysis patients; they were grouped by dietary protein intake: low protein intake group (LPI, protein intake < 1.0 g/kg IBW, 11 men and 19 women) and adequate protein intake group (API, protein intake ${\geq}$ 1.0g/kg IBW, 12 men and 18 women). Blood biochemical parameters, nutrient intake, and dietary behaviors were compared between the LPI and API groups. The LPI group showed a significantly lower serum level of albumin and higher serum level of hs-CRP than the API group (p < 0.05). The LPI group showed a significantly lower intake of most nutrients than the API group (p < 0.05). Index of Nutritional Quality of most nutrients of the LPI and API groups were lower than 1.0. Dietary protein intake was positively correlated with the serum level of albumin (r = 0.306, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with the serum level of hs-CRP (r = -0.435, p < 0.01). The serum level of hs-CRP was negatively correlated with that of albumin (r = -0.393, p < 0.01). According to these result, serum albumin and hs-CRP in HD patients were influenced by the protein intake levels. To prevent MIA syndrome, it is necessary to improve nutritional status, especially in protein and energy.