• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.373-383
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• 2011

Tributyltin (TBT) is one of endocrine disrupters which are known as having similar function to sex steroid hormone inducing apoptosis in various tissues of rodents. Recently, it has been reported that TBT induces apoptosis in thymus causing the decreased thymic function, but little is known about the mechanism. To elucidate the mechanism, three-week-old SD female rats were orally administrated with TBT 1, 10, and 25 mg per body weight (kg) and sesame oil as a control for 7 days. On day 8, the thymi were obtained and weighed, and then the number of thymocytes was counted. We also performed H&E staining, TUNEL assay, and Annexin V flow cytometric analysis to examine the apoptosis rates and the structure in the thymus. Next, we investigated the adipogenesis and apoptosis-related mRNA expression levels in the thymi by real-time PCR. The thymic weight and the number of thymocytes were decreased by TBT in a dose-dependent manner. As a result of the H&E staining, the boundary between cortical and medullary area was blurred in the thymi of TBT treated rats compared to those of controls. In the results of TUNEL assay and Annexin V flow cytometric analysis, apoptosis rates in the thymus were increased after TBT treatment. The expression levels of thymic epithelial cell marker genes such as EVA, KGF, AIRE, and IL-7 were significantly decreased in the thymi of TBT treated rats, but $PPAR{\gamma}$, aP2, PEPCK, and CD36 were significantly increased. The expression of $TNF{\alpha}$ and TNFR1 as apoptosis-related genes also was significantly increased after TBT treatment. The present study demonstrates that TBT can increase the expression of adipogenesis and apoptosis-related genes leading to apoptosis in the thymus. These results suggest that the increased adipogenesis of thymus by TBT exposure might induce apoptosis in the thymus resulting in a loss in thymic immune function.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.497-505
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• 2002

Background : INF-${\gamma}$ plays an important role in the host response to a mycobacterial infection. A complete IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor 1 deficiency is a life threatening condition because it renders patients highly susceptible to a mycobacterial infection. Several mutations in the IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor and STAT1 gene have been identified in the rare mycobacterial infections. These mutations have partial function of the IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor and similar pathologic features to clinical tuberculosis. Materials and Methods : The function of the IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor was evaluated in the patients with clinical tuberculosis. In addition, the DNA coding sequence of the IFNgR1 and STAT1 gene was also analyzed in disseminated tuberculosis patients who might have a defective IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor. Results : The cell surface expression levels of HLA-DR and CD64 in the PMBC after being stimulation with IFN-${\gamma}$ (100IU/ml, 1000IU/ml) were increased in both controls and patients. However, the rate of increase in both groups was similar. The production of TNF-${\alpha}$ in the response to stimulation with LPS was higher in the both groups ($850.7{\pm}687.8$ vs. $836.7{\pm}564.3$ pg/ml). Pretreatment with IFN-${\gamma}$ prior to LPS stimulation resulted in further increase in TNF-${\alpha}$ production between both groups ($2203.5{\pm}242.5$ vs. $2227.5{\pm}560.4$ pg/ml). However, the rate of the increase in TNF-${\alpha}$ production in the both groups was similar. The known mutations in the IFNgR1 and STAT1 coding sequences were not found in the genomic DNA of patients with disseminated tuberculosis. Conclusion : The functional and genetic defects of the IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor were not identified in clinical tuberculosis. This suggests the defective IFN-${\gamma}$ receptor that predispoe patients to a BCG or NTM infection can not alone account for the cases of clinical tuberculosis.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.567-586
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• 1997

Concentrations of several heavy metals in soils derived from black shale and slate have been reported to be higher than the average concentrations in non-polluted soils. This study describes and characterizes soil minerals, and investigates the distribution of heavy metals in soils, and then examines their relationship. Soils in the study area are mainly consist of guartz and feldspars with minor amount of kaolin, illite, vermiculite, chlorite and illite-vermiculite interstratified minerals. Mineral compositions are similar in mountain-, farmland-, and paddy-soils. The residual soils derived from sandy phyllites contain less illites than those from black shale and black slate. Heavy metals appear to be more concentrated in soils than in rocks. The concentrate ratios in soils to rocks ranges 1.1 times for Cr, 2 for Cu, 1.4 for Ni. The contour maps of Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu contents using 0.43N $HNO_3$-extraction imply that these elements are highly concentrated in the soils near the past uranium exploration region, coal seams, black slate beds and tailings than other parts of the study area. The proportions of the day in most soils are less than 10%. In spite of small proportions of the clay, the concentrations of heavy metals from clay fractions to the total concentrations are high: 1~2.4 times for Co, 1.4~2.5 for Cu, 1.2~2.6 for Ni, 1~5 for Pb, 1~2.7 for Zn and 1.6~1.8 for Cr and V. The contents of organic carbons in clay fractions are also 1.5~3.9 times higher than in silt and sand fractions. Cu, Pb and organic carbons show positive relationship in all size fractions. In the size-fractionated soil profile samples, the contents of heavy metals and organic carbons show analogous trends with depth. For the clay fractions of soil profile samples, the contents of heavy metals with depth have analogous trends to abundances of vermiculites, which have the high CEC in main clay minerals.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.56-67
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• 1995

This study was carried out to observe how composting reaction proceed in the optimum composting condition and to understand the characteristics of final compost, when swine feces was amended with different bulking material. Sawdust, rice straw, and rice hull were selected as bulking materials and each of these was mixed with swine feces to obtain the optimum range of moisture contents and C:N ratio. To grasp the influence of newspaper on cornposting reaction when it flew into the composting site intentionally or accidentally, another composting reaction using newspaper as a bulking material was studied. In this experiment, raw material mixes containing the same amount of organic materials were put into 4 composting reactors and composted in the same environmental condition for 3 weeks from Aug. 1, 1994 to Aug. 22, 1994. The followings are the main results of this study. 1. The maximum temperatures reached at during cornposting reaction were 53.8$\circ$C, 51.9$\circ$C, 52.7$\circ$C, and 52.1$\circ$C in the reactor using sawdust, rice straw, rice hull, and newspaper as a bulking material respectively: Thermophilic temperatures were maintained for 72, 108, 108, and 111 hours in each reactor. Mean temperatures of reactors using sawdust, rice straw, rice hull, or newspaper as a bulking materials were 39.7$\circ$C, 39.5$\circ$C, 41.3$\circ$C, and 40.3$\circ$C, but no significant difference between these mean temperatures was observed(p>0.05). Each composter showed significant difference from room temperature(p<0.01), and the mean difference between them was 9.4$\circ$C. 2. Ash contents of each reactor increased rapidly in order of rice straw, rice hull, newspaper, and sawdust according to the pattern of second order function. This rate of increase seemed to result from structural characteristics of a bulking material. The absolute values of second order coefficient of these regression functions were 0.0199, 0.0159, 0.0157, and 0.0144 in each reactor using rice straw, rice hull, newspaper, or sawdust as a bulking material. 3. C:N ratio decreased as the reaction proceeded. Degree of decrease was in order of rice straw, rice hull, newspaper, and sawdust. This sequence was consistent with the increase rate of ash content. The ratios of initial C:N ratio to final C:N ratio were 0.45, 0.53, 0.64, and 0.75 in each reactor using rice straw, rice hull, newspaper, and sawdust as a bulking material respectively. From this ratios, it was possible to infer that all the composting reactions were completed. 4. Fertilizer content containing in the final compost was 1.61~2.20% of N, and 0.35~0.54% of P in dry weight base. According to the classification standard for compost constituent by Higgins, all composts had the intermediate grade of N, but below the low grade of P excepting the newspaper amended compost(fall into the range of the low grade). 5. Heavy metal contents contained in the composts were analyzed. In case of Cd, the range of 0.58~1.11 $\mu$g/g was observed, and in case of Pb, the range of 24.76~39.53 $\mu$g/g was observed(in wet weight base). These values are below the permissible heavy metal level for compost of foreign countries.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.75-87
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• 1996

Background: Lung cancer is the second most frequent malignancy in man in Korea. Surgery is the best treatment modality for non-small cell lung cancer, but most patients were presented in far advanced stage. So radiation therapy(RT) with or without chemotherapy is the next choice and radiation-induced pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis is the major limiting factor for the curative RT. Radiation pneumonitis is manifested with fever, cough and dyspnea, 2~3 months after the termination of radiotherpy. Chest X ray shows infiltration, typically limited to the radiation field, but occasionally bilateral infiltration was reported. Also Gibson et al reported that BAL lymphocytosis was found in both lungs, even though the radiation was confined to one lung. The aim of this study is to investigate the change of adhesion molecules expression on BAL cells and serum soluble ICAM-1(sICAM-1) level after the RT and its relationship to the development of radiation pneumonitis. The second aim is to confirm the bilaterality of change of BAL cell pattern and adhesion molecule expression. Subjects: BAL and the measurement of sICAM level in serum and BALF were done on 29 patients with lung cancer who received RT with curative intention. The BAL was done before the RT in 16 patients and 1~2 month after RT in 18 patients. 5 patients performed BAL before and after RT. Result: Clinically significant radiation pneumonitis developed in 7 patients. After RT, total cell count in BAL was significantly increased from $(20.2{\pm}10.2){\times}10^6\;cells/ml$ to $(35.3{\pm}21.6){\times}10^6\;cells/ml$ (p=0.0344) and %lymphocyte was also increased from $5.3{\pm}4.2%$ to $39.6{\pm}23.4%$ (p=0.0001) in all patient group. There was no difference between ipsilateral and contraleteral side to RT, and between the patients with and without radiation-pneumonitis. In whole patient group, the level of sICAM-1 showed no significant change after RT(in serum: $378{\pm}148$, $411{\pm}150\;ng/ml$, BALF: $20.2{\pm}12.2$, $45.1{\pm}34.8\;ng/ml$, respectively), but there was a significant difference between the patients with pneumonitis and without pneumonitis (serum: $505{\pm}164$ vs $345{\pm}102\;ng/ml$, p=0.0253, BALF: $67.9{\pm}36.3$ vs $25.2{\pm}17.9\;ng/ml$, p=0.0112). The expression of ICAM-1 on alveolar macrophages (AM) tends to increase after RT (RMFI: from $1.28{\pm}0.479$ to $1.63{\pm}0.539$, p=0.0605), but it was significantly high in patients with pneumonitis ($2.10{\pm}0.390$) compared to the patients without pneumonitis ($1.28{\pm}0.31$, p=0.0002). ICAM-1 expression on lymphocytes and CD 18 (${\beta}2$-integrin) expression tended to be high in the patients with pneumonitis but the difference was statiastically not significant. Conclusion: Subclinical alveolitis on the basis of BAL finding developed bilaterally in all patients after RT. But clinically significant pneumonitis occurred in much smaller fraction and the ICAM-1 expression on AM and the sICAM-1 level in serum were good indicator of it.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 2006

Purpose: Recombinant ScFv lym-1 was produced, using pET vector system for large scale production. Methods: ScFv lym-1 gene inserted pET-22b (+) vector, was expressed in E.coli BL-21 strain. ScFv lym-1 antibody extracted from periplasm, was purified with His-Taq column. To evaluated immunoreactivity with Raji cell, ScFv lym-1 was labeled with I-125 and I-125 ScFv lym-1 was purified with desalting column. Raji cell was injected into the C57BR/cdJ SCID mice. Gamma camera imaging were taken time point at 1, 8, 24, and 48 hr with 8 mm pinhole collimator. Results: An active scFv lym-1 could be produced in E. coli with soluble iron using PET vector system. Immuuoreaetivity and affinity constant of IgG lym-1 were 54% and $1.83{\times}10^9M^{-1}$, respectively, and those of scFv lym-1 were 53.7% and $1.46{\times}10^9M^{-1}$, respectively. Biodistribution of I-125 scFv lym-1 antibody showed faster clearance in blood, spleen, kidney and than I-125 IgG lym-1 antibody. Gamma camera image of I-125 scFv lym-1 antibody showed faster clearance and tumor targeting liver than I-125 IgG lym-1 antibody. Conclusions: In vitro properties of scFv lym-1 were similar to those of IgG lym-1. ScFv lym-1 showed faster blood clearance than IgG lym-1 There results suggest that scFv lym-1 antibody can be useful for tumor imaging agent.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.9 no.2 s.19
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• pp.19-28
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• 2003

It is the purpose of this study to investigate the change of stream water quality in upper stream of Dongjin river, and to give the basic information for the conservation of water quality. Water samples were taken periodically at 9 sampling sites during 8 months from March to October in 2002. The results of this study were as follows : 1. The water temperature and pH of stream water were ranged $9.0{\sim}29.4^{\circ}C,\;6.48{\sim}9.33$, respectively. The COD values of stream water was ranged from 0.60 to 19.06. The contents of T-N and T-P mainly affected by the livestock wastes, and agricultural activity were $1.88{\sim}6.74\;mg/L$, ND(not deleted)${\sim}0.50\;mg/L$, respectively. 2. The SS, DO and BOD values of stream water were ranged $0.4mg/L{\sim}274.0mg/L$, $0.5{\sim}6.0\;mg/L$, and $7.3{\sim}13.7\;mg/L$ respectively. 3. The cation is one of the important components in analysis of stream water quality. The contents of analysis, $Ca^{++},\;Mg^{++},\;Na^+$ and $K^+$ were ranged $1.96{\sim}11.08\;mg/L$, $1.21{\sim}6.16\;mg/L$, $3.38{\sim}18.44\;mg/L$, $1.12{\sim}7.96\;mg/L$, respectively. SAR was ranged $0.31{\sim}1.63$ below 2.0. The contents of cation showed in the order $Na^{++}>Ca^{++}>K^+>Mg^+$. 4. The contents of heavy metal Zn, Cu, and Pb were $ND{\sim}0.071\;mg/L$, $ND{\sim}0.012\;mg/L$, and $ND{\sim}0.043\;mg/L$, respectively. Cd was not detected in all samples. 5. As a result of these researches showed water quality in upper stream watershed of Dongjin river more affected by livestock wastes and living sewage than agricultural activity.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.360-364
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• 1998

The sun-dried, refined, and processed salt (roasted and bamboo salt) manufactured in Chonbuk province were analyzed their chemical compositions and minerals including heavy metals for safety evaluation. Average content of each eomponent as the lowest and the highest were as follows-pH; 6.80 (refined) to 10.35 (bamboo), water content; 0.13% (bamboo) to 10.7% (sun-dried), sodium chloride; 96.6% (roasted) to 84.3% (sun-dried), 804; 0.59% (bamboo) to 3.0% (sun-dried), water insoluble matters; 0.001% (refined) to 1.98% (bamboo), acid inoluble matters; <0.001% (refined) to 0.21% (bamboo), calcium; 0.038% (refined) to 0.213% (sun-dried), magnesium; 0.111% (refmed) to 1.078% (sun-dried), lead; 0.45 ppm (refmed) to 1.15 ppm (bamboo). Cadminium, arsenic and mercury were not detected in all salt. As the analytical results, all salts were differtent in their chemical compositions and safe in view of heavy metals.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.95-106
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• 1998

The prevalence of primary liver carcinoma (PLC) is relatively high in Clonorchis sinensis (CS) endemic areas in Korea. PLC is a malignant tumor which can be subclassified into hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma(CC). CC has been associated with clonorchiasis, but it is unclear whether clonorchiasis is associated with hepatocarcinogenesis. This experiment was designed to investigate relationships between clonorchiasis and early changes of hepatocarcinogenesis. Sixteen Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 150g were divided into two groups of 8 rats in each. All rats were fed choline-devoid(CD) diet for 4 weeks. Group 1 was given 0.015-0.020% diethylnitrosamine(DEN) as drinking water for 1 week. After one week, the rats were treated orally with 1% N-acetylaminofluorene(AAF) (5 times per week for 2 weeks). Group 2 was treated equally to group 1 except for CS infection during AAF treatment. Two rats in each group were sacrificed at 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th week of the experiment. Livers were stained with OV -6, proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) and GST-p. Results were as follows: Group 2 livers showed more oval cell proliferation in parenchyma and portal areas at the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th weeks than did livers of group 1 (p＜0.01). PCNA was mostly localized in oval cell populations, rather than hepatocytes and biliary cells. The ratio of oval cells to hepatocytes was much higher in group 2 than in group l(p＜0.01 The ratio of hepatocytes to biliary cells is higher in group 2 than in group 1 (p＜0.05), More group 2 acidophilic foci reacted to GST-p monoclonal antibody than in the noninfected group. It appeared that CS infection promoted potentially precancerous acidophilic foci and oval cell proliferation.

• Proceedings of the Korea Electromagnetic Engineering Society Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.173-186
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• 1999

Several epidemiological studies have suggested that residential or occupational exposure to power frequency magnetic fields (MF) might increase the risk of cancer. The objective of this study is to elucidate the possible carcinogenic effects of MF exposure using female Sprague-Dawley (Crj:CD)rats. A total of 360rats was randomly divided into 6 groups of 60 rats each. Two groups were served as a negative control (vehicle: sesame oil only) or a positive control (single oral administration of 7, 12dimethylbenz(a)anthracene; DMBA, 90mg/kg body weight at 50-52days of age). Other four groups were simultaneously exposed to 0 (sham-exposed) 7, 70 or 350 $\mu$T(rms), continuous circularly polarized 50HzMF, 22 hrs/day, 7 days/weeks for 30weeks from 8weeks of age. Experiment was conducted under SPF condition and in a blinded manner, Ten animals in each grout were served as satellite animals and their several hormonal concentrations in sera, such as melatonin and prolactin, collected at the midnight were measured. In addition, complete histopathological examination were performed in other 50 animals per each group. In the positive control group, the first mammary nodule was palpated at the 7th weeks of experiment in 5 out of 59 animals. Afterward, the incidence of palpable mammary nodules increased steadily and reached at 76% and 98% of live animals at 14weeks and the end of experiment in sham and 350$\mu$ T-exposed groups were not significantly different from those in the sham-exposed and negative control groups. Histopathologocally, most of palpable nodules were mammary tumors. The incidences of animals with mammary tumors per animals survived ant the end of experiment were 4.1 and 100% in the negative and positive control groups, and 0.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 6.0% in the sham-, 7, 70and 350 $\mu$T-exposed groups, respectively. These incidences in three MF-exposed groups were not significantly different from those in both the sham- exposed and negative control groups. Based on these results, it was not supported that continuous circularly polarized 50 Hz magnetic fields at up to 350$\mu$T affect the incidence of spontaneous mammary tumors in female SD rats under the present experimental conditions.