• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.6-11
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• 2002

3.3'-Dichlorobenzidine(DCB) has be shown carcinogenic in several animals, and the development of non-invasive biomonitoring method in workers exposed with it is a very important subject. DNA adduct is a good biomarker for biomonitoring about carcinogens exposure, and lymphocytes is a good non-invasive samples. So we studied to analyze metabolites in blood lymphocytes of female Sprague-Dawley rats exposed orally with DCB(20, 30, and 40 mg/kg wt.) for 3 weeks. For analysis of them, we isolated DNA adducts from blood lymphocytes by using the enzymes method in /sup 32/P-postlabeling, and measured them by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring(GC/MS-SIM). 4-aminobiphenyl and phenanthrene-d/sub 10/ were added as internal standard for blank sample. Standard metabolites of DCB were synthesized with using pyridine and acetic acid which were promoter and controller in acetylation of DCB. And they were used for calibration curve. Our results showed two kinds of metabolites in DNA adducts of blood lymphocytes. They were N-acetyl 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine(acDCB) and N,N'-diacetyl 3,3'-dichiorobenzidine(di-acDCB ). They were combined with DNA at the same time as an acetyl of it was removed. So we measured DCB and acDCB for two kinds of metabolites in DNA adducts of blood lymphocytes. Our results showed the levels of DCB were 1.46∼2.26 times more than that of acDCB. And also the levels of metabolites in 20, 30 and 40 mg/kg wt. were gradually increased with going days from 1st to 3rd week. They are 1.66, 1.38 and 0.90 times in total metabolites, 1.76, 1.49 and 1.02 times in DCB, and 1.51, 1.22 and 1.28 times in acDCB. In conclusion, the results of this study showed DCB exposed to rats formed DNA adduct in blood lymphocytes after acetylated to N-acetyl 3.3'-dichloro benzidine(acDCB) and N,N'-diacetyl 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine(di-acDCB), and they could be analyzed by us ing gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring(GC/MS-SIM).

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.419-432
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• 2016

The aim of this study is to assess the influence of effluent discharge from a sewage treatment plant by evaluating oxidative stress and histopathological alterations in freshwater crucian carp Carassius auratus collected from the Eungcheon stream, located in Korea. Catalase activity in the gills, liver, and kidneys of C. auratus was collected from mixing zones; the downstream site was notably higher of fish than that of the upstream site. In addition, the activity of glutathione-S-transferase in the gills and liver was significantly higher in samples from the mixing zone than in those from the upstream site (p < 0.05). In addition, significantly elevated lipid peroxidation levels were observed in fish livers sampled from the mixing zone than in those from the upstream site (p < 0.05). Significant histopathological alternations were also observed in C. auratus, with the order of magnitude changes being liver > kidney > gills. These findings suggest that the liver is most affected by effluent discharge. The degree of tissue changes (DTC) indicate that the highest level occurred in samples from the mixing zone (30.98 ± 5.40) followed by those from the downstream site (19.28 ± 4.31) and was the lowest in samples from the upstream site (4.83 ± 2.67). These findings indicate that fish collected from the mixing zone are most affected by effluent discharge and both oxidative stress and histopathological indices are useful tools for monitoring contaminated rivers and streams.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.306-312
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• 2000

Background : Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are well known environmental pollutants. The measurement of PAH in ambient air is not commonly used, because it is quite difficult to perform and is unreliable. Using biomarkers of PAH can be an alternative approach to this problem. The PAH in ambient air is absorbed in particulate matter. Total suspended particulate(TSP) or particulate matter of less than $10{\mu}m$ in diameter (PM10) can be easily measured. Therefore, TSP or PM10 can be used as a surrogate measurements of ambient air PAH. Objectives : We investigated whether the urinary concentration of two biomarkers of PAH, 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) and 2-naphthol, could reflect the total suspended particulate in the general population. Methods : In order to exclude the effects of occupational exposure and smoking, first grade middle school students were included in this study. Four middle schools within a one kilometer boundary of ambient air monitoring stations were selected. Total suspended particulate was regarded as the marker of airborne PAH. Diet and smoking data were collected by self administered questionnaires, and spot urine samples were collected. Urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results : The correlation between urinary 1-OHP, 2-naphthol and passive smoking was not statistically significant. The correlation between urinary 1-OHP and TSP indices was not statistically significant. The correlations between urinary 2-naphthol and TSP of two lag days, one lag day, and zero lag days were statistically significant. The statistical significance of two lag days was the strongest (p=0.001), one lag day was the next (p=0.0275), and zero lag days was the weakest (p=0.0349). Conclusion : Our results imply that the urinary concentration of 2-naphthol can be applied as a PAH exposure marker for the general population with low PAH exposure.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2 s.53
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• pp.103-113
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• 2006

This study examined effects of crude oil on the phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UDPGT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in mussel Mytilus edulis and rockfish Sebastes schlegeli, a representative bivalve and a culture fish, respectively. This work also intended indirectly to evaluate the post impact recovery from the massive oil tanker spillage accidents occurred during the summer of 1995 in the sea area off Yosu City, Chonnam. For these, enzyme activities of UDPGT and GST were examined in the fish and mussel following laboratory exposure to fresh crude oil, weathered oil, field-obtained oil residues, or in the field biota samples. Decreased GST activity was observed in rock fish following exposure to oil-soluble fraction (OSF) of fresh oil. A similar diminished GST activity was also observed after OSF of artificially weathered oil. OSF of field oil residues retrieved from the spillage area approximately 1 year later also exerted a slight inhibition of GST to rockfish. There was neither a change in UDPGT in rockfish, nor were there changes in mussel in both enzymes to any oil fractions. We could not observe any difference in the two enzymes either in rockfish or mussel sampled from the field during $1.5{\sim}2.0$ years post spillage, indicating that their enzyme systems might had been recovered by the sampling time. In conclusion, it seems that the inhibition of GST activity in rockfish is a biomarker response to crude oil exposure. The results, however, must be interpreted with care, as the inhibition nay reflect various factors such as oil concentration, duration and water temperature.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2007

This study was designed to investigate the difference of airborne lead concentration by type of lead industries and type of lead exposure and to evaluate their association with lead biomarkers of lead workers in 11 lead using industries. Total of 182 lead workers (male: 167, female: 15) from 11 lead industries were participated for this study from March, 2004 to August, 2005. Airborne lead concentration were measured by representative personal sampling of workers in each unit workplace and applied same concentration value to the workers in the same unit workplace who did not measure their airborne lead with personal air sampling. Tibia lead, blood lead, zinc protoporphyrin in whole blood, ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid in urine, hemoglobin and hematocrit were selected as study variables of indices of lead exposure. Information about type of lead exposure (fume or non-fume other), age, work duration, smoking & drinking habit were also collected. Significant differences were seen in the means of zinc protoporphyrin, blood lead and tibia lead in lead workers by different airborne lead concentration in workplace. While blood lead and tibia lead in lead workers were significantly higher in secondary smelting than other types of lead industries, zinc protoporphyrin, ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid in urine and airborne lead concentration were significantly higher in litharge manufacturing. While the mean blood lead was significantly higher in the lead workers working in fume type unit workplace than those of non-fume lead workers, the mean airborne lead concentration of fume workers was significantly lower than non-fume lead workers. In the multiple regression analysis of airborne lead concentration and the type of lead exposure on tibia lead and lead exposure indices after adjustment of related covariates, airborne lead concentration was statistically significantly associated with blood lead and tibia lead, but the type of lead exposure was only associated with blood lead. To verify the causal association of airborne lead concentration on blood lead and tibia lead, further studies are needed.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2007

4-nonylphenol (4-NP)이 해산어류인 조피볼락, Sebastes schlegeli의 혈장 vitellogenin (VTG), alkaline-labile protein phosphorus (ALPP), calcium(Ca), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) 및 hepatosomatic index (HSI)에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 실험어에 3일간격으로 $estradiol-17{\beta}$ ($E_2$, 5 mg/kg B.W.) 또는 4-NP(0, 10, 50, 100및 200 mg/kg B.W.)을 복강에 2번 주사한 후, 7일째에 채혈과 적출을 통해 혈장과 간장을 수집해 분석이 실시되었다. 대조 실험어에는 용매로 사용된 70% 에탄올만이 투여되었다. $E_2$ 투여 실험어의 혈장 단백질을 전기 영동상으로 분석한 결과 약 170 kDa의 위치에서 짙은 VTG 밴드가 관찰되었으나, 용매만 투여한 대조 실험어의 혈장에서는 동일 밴드가 관찰되지 않았다. 4-NP 투여한 모든 실험어의 혈장 단백질에서는 $E_2$ 투여 실험어와 동일한 VTG 밴드가 관찰되었다. 혈장 ALPP와 Ca 농도도 4-NP 투여 실험어에서 $E_2$ 투여 실험어와 유사하게 증가하였으며, 이들 농도 변화는 VTG 합성과 더불어 증가하는 경향을 나타냈다. 혈장 전위효소인 GPT와 HSI도 $E_2$ 투여 실험어와 유사하게 4-NP가 투여된 모든 실험어에서 급격히 증가하였다. 이상의 결과로부터 연안생태계 내에서 서식하는 어류가 4-NP과 같은 내분비 장애물질(Endocrine Disrupting compounds, EDCs)에 의해 영향을 받는지를 규명하기 위한 생물학적 지표로서 VTG와 더불어 혈장 ALPP와 Ca이 사용가능 할 것으로 판단된다. 또한, 조피볼락과 같은 해산어가 EDCs에 노출되어 VTG가 합성될 때 간장 기능의 손상으로 혈장 전위효소인 GPT가 일시적으로 종가하고 간장도 비대해져 HSI가 높아지는 것으로 판단된다.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.678-690
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• 2020

In this study, the histological changes of Zacco platypus exposed to discharge from a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP), which is a point source, for a long time (2 to 3 years) were compared to the same species at a reference site (Ref.). Overall, tissues displayed various lesions in samples obtained at the point where discharge water from the point source was mixed. In the skin tissue, mucus cells from the epithelial layer expanded to the multilayered epithelium, indicating the immune system was activated. Epithelial cell detachment and proliferation were most prominent in the gills, which may have adversely affected circulation and respiration. Our data suggest immune system collapse was due to stimulation by aquatic substances. Both the fish phase analysis and the water quality analysis demonstrated depreciated conditions at the point source as compared to the reference stream, supporting the histological health evaluation results. These data together suggest a histological approach can also be used to assess water quality, and to an even higher degree when combined with other existing methods. Given the presented evaluation, improvement in the water quality of water discharged from WTP's is required.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6391-6395
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• 2012

Background: Ovarian cancer is ranked as the fifth most common cause of cancer death in women. In Malaysia, it is the fourth most common cancer in females. CA125 has been the tumor marker of choice in ovarian cancer but its diagnostic specificity in early stages is only 50%. Hence, there is a critical need to identify an alternative tumor marker that is capable of detecting detect ovarian cancer at an early stage. HE4 is a new tumor marker proposed for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer and disease recurrence. Currently, none of the normal ranges of HE4 quoted in the literature are based on data for a multiethnic Asian population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine reference intervals for HE4 in an Asian population presenting in University Malaya Medical Centre, a tertiary reference hospital. Materials and Methods: 300 healthy women were recruited comprising 150 premenopausal and 150 postmenopausal women, aged from 20-76 years. All women were subjected to a pelvic ultrasonograph and were confirmed to be free from ovarian pathology on recruitment. Serum HE4 levels were determined by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA, Abbott Architect). The reference intervals were determined following CLSI guidelines (C28-A2) using a non-parametric method. Results: The upper limits of the $95^{th}$ percentile reference interval (90%CI) for all the women collectively were 64.6 pmol/L, and 58.4 pmol/L for premenopausal) and 69.0 pmol/L for postmenopausal. The concentration of HE4 was noted to increase with age especially in women who were more than 50 years old. We also noted that our proposed reference limit was lower compared to the level given by manufacturer Abbott Architect HE4 kit insert (58.4 vs 70 pmol/L for premenopausal group and 69.0 vs 140 pmol/L in the postmenopausal group). The study also showed a significant difference in HE4 concentrations between ethnic groups (Malays and Indians). The levels of HE4 in Indians appeared higher than in Malays (p<0.05), while no significant differences were noted between the Malays and Chinese ethnic groups. Conclusions: More data are needed to establish a reference interval that will better represent the multiethnic Malaysian population. Probably a larger sampling size of equal representation of the Malay, Chinese, Indians as well as the other native ethnic communities will give us a greater confidence on whether genetics plays a role in reference interval determination.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.468-475
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• 2015

Purpose: Genetic polymorphisms in antioxidant defense and detoxification genes may modulate the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers. Methods: A total of 301 healthy preschool-aged children in the Seoul and Kyung-gi areas were recruited. DNA was extracted from blood for genotyping of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) Val16Ala, glutathione S-transferase (GST) P1 Ile105Val, GSTT1 present/null, and GSTM1 present/null polymorphisms by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism or multiplex PCR analyses. In addition to a questionnaire survey, the levels of urinary 8-hydroxyl-2-deoxiguanosine (8-OHdG) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by ELISA. Results: Significantly higher urinary 8-OHdG concentrations were observed in GSTP1 Ile/Val + Val/Val genotype (p = 0.030), and tended to be higher in Mn-SOD Val/Val genotype (p = 0.065). On the other hand, exposure to environmental tobacco smoking (ETS) and interaction between ETS and gene polymorphisms did not significantly influence either urinary 8-OHdG concentrations or serum MDA. Conclusion: Based on our findings, GSTP1 Ile/Val gene polymorphisms might modulate the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy preschool children.