• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.59-69
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• 2009

Metabolomics which deals with the biological metabolite profile produced in the body and its relation to disease state is a relatively recent research area for drug discovery and biological sciences including toxicology and pharmacology. Metabolomics, based on analytical method and multivariate analysis, has been considered a promising technology because of its advantage over other toxicogenomic and toxicoproteomic approaches. The application of metabolomics includes the development of biomarkers associated with the pathogenesis of various diseases, alternative toxicity tests, high-throughput screening (HTS), and risk assessment, allowing the simultaneous acquisition of multiple biochemical parameters in biological samples. The metabolic profile of urine, in particular, often shows changes in response to exposure to xenobiotics or disease-induced stress, because of the biological system's attempt to maintain homeostasis. In this review, we focus on the most recent advances and applications of metabolomics in toxicological research.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.286-290
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• 2004

Cytogenetic and hematological analysis was performed in peripheral blood of pig in the vicinity of Yeonggwang nuclear power station and control area. The frequency of micronuclei (MN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes from pig was used as a biomarker of radiobiological effects resulting from exposure to environmental radiation. An estimated dose of radiation was calculated by a best fitting linear-quadratic model based on the radiation-induced MN formation from the swine lymphocytes exposed in vitro to radiation over the range from 0 Gy to 4 Gy. MN rates in lymphocytes of pig from Yeonggwang nuclear power station and control area were 10.60/1,000 and 11.10/1,000, respectively. There were no significant differences in MN frequencies and hematological values in pig between Yeonggwang and control area. The study indicates that the MN assay in lymphocyte of pig is a rapid, sensitive and accurate method that can be used to monitor a large population exposed to radiation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.364-368
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• 2003

Cytogenetic and hematological analysis was performed in peripheral blood from the cattle associated with abnormal delivery around nuclear power plant area. The frequency of micronuclei (MN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes from cattle was used as a biomarker of radiobiological effects resulting from exposure to environmental radiation. An estimated dose of radiation was calculated by best fitting linear-quadratic model based on the radiation-induced MN data over the range from 0 Gy to 4 Gy from the bovine lymphocytes with in vitro irradiation. MN rates in live malformed calf, dams of malformed calves and other cattle living in the same barn from the regions around nuclear power plant, and cattle in control area were 9/1000, 10.8/1000, 13.3/1000 and 10.0/1000, respectively. There were no significant differences in MN frequencies and hematological values between the cattle associated with abnormal delivery around nuclear power plant area and those of control area. This study indicates that the congenital abnormalities near nuclear power plant seemed to be caused by other aetiology.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.343-348
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• 2004

Cytogenetic and hematological analysis was performed in peripheral blood of cattle in the vicinity of Uljin nuclear power station and control area. The frequency of micronuclei(MN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes from cattle was used as a biomarker of radiobiological effects resulting from exposure to environmental radiation. An estimated dose of radiation was calculated by a best fitting linear-quadratic model based on the radiation-induced MN formation from the bovine lymphocytes exposed in vitro to radiation over the range from 0 Gy to 4 Gy. MN ratio in lymphocytes of cattle from Uljin nuclear power station and control area were 8.90/1,000 and 9.60/1,000, respectively. There were no significant differences in MN frequencies and hematological values in cattle between Uljin and control area.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2012

Nephrotoxicity occurs when kidney-specific detoxification and excretion do not work properly due to the damage or destruction of kidney function by exogenous or endogenous toxicants. Exposure to drugs often results in toxicity in kidney which represents the major control system maintaining homeostasis of body and thus is especially susceptible to xenobiotics. Understanding the toxic mechanisms for nephrotoxicity provides useful information on the development of drugs with therapeutic benefits with reduced side effects. Mechanisms for drug-induced nephrotoxicity include changes in glomerular hemodynamics, tubular cell toxicity, inflammation, crystal nephropathy, rhabdomyolysis, and thrombotic microangiopathy. Biomarkers have been identified for the assessment of nephrotoxicity. The discovery and development of novel biomarkers that can diagnose kidney damage earlier and more accurately are needed for effective prevention of drug-induced nephrotoxicity. Although some of them fail to confer specificity and sensitivity, several promising candidates of biomarkers were recently proved for assessment of nephrotoxicity. In this review, we summarize mechanisms of drug-induced nephrotoxicity and present the list of drugs that cause nephrotoxicity and biomarkers that can be used for early assessment of nephrotoxicity.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2006

The toxicity of cadmium on Caenorhabditis elegans was investigated to identify sensitive biomarkers for environmental monitoring and risk assessment. Stress-related gene expression were estimated as toxic endpoints Cadmium exposure led to an increase in the expression of most of the genes tested. The degree of increase was more significant in heat shock protein-16.1, metallothionein-2, cytochrome p450 family protein 35A2, glutathione S-transferase-4, superoxide dismutase-1, catalase-2, C. elegans p53-like protein-1, and apoptosis enhancer-1 than in other genes. The overall results indicate that the stress-related gene expressions of C. elegans have considerable potential as sensitive biomarkers for cadmium toxicity monitoring and risk assessment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.450-458
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• 2015

The heat shock proteins (Hsps), one of the most highly conserved groups of proteins, play crucial roles in protecting cells against environmental stressors, such as temperature, salinity, heavy metals and pathogenic bacteria. The glutathione S-transferases (GST) have important role in detoxification of oxidative damage, environmental chemicals and environmental stress. The purpose of this study is to investigate the gene expression of Hsp70 and GST on change of temperature and salinity in Mytilus coruscus. The M. coruscus was cultured in incubator of separate temperature and salinity (8, 20, $30^{\circ}C{\times}20$‰, 25‰, 30‰) for 28 days. Ten individuals in each group were selected after each 14 and 28 days exposure. Results that the expression of Hsp70 mRNA was no significant changed in M. coruscus exposed to temperature ($8^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$) and salinity (20‰, 25‰, 30‰) for 14 days. Whereas the expression of Hsp70 mRNA was increased in exposure to temperature $30^{\circ}C$ and salinity (20‰, 25‰, 30‰) for 28 days. The expression of GST mRNA was increased in exposure to temperature $30^{\circ}C$, salinity (25‰, 30‰) for 14 days and temperature ($8^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$), salinity (20‰, 25‰, 30‰) for 28 days. These results suggest that Hsp70 and GST were played roles in biomarker gene on the thermal and salinity stress.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2013

Objectives: Although several cases of lung diseases caused by indium have been reported in Japan, the United States and China, South Korea, which is estimated to have been the world's largest consumer of indium, has not yet established a criteria for the diagnosis of lung diseases caused by indium exposure. In this study, we tried to determine the applicability of the Krebs von den lungen-6, which has been widely recognized for its use with interstitial lung disease in Japan, as a biological exposure index for indium. Methods: Methods: The analysis of indium in serum was conducted by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and the analysis of KL-6 in serum was carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: The indium levels in serum were distributed from below the detection limit to a peak of $125.78{\mu}g/L$, and the values of the KL-6 were distributed from 104.5 U/mL to 2162.2 U/mL. The serum indium and KL-6 showed good correlation ($R^2$=0.389,pfortrend=0.000) and smoking did not affect the KL-6. Conclusions: The usefulness of KL-6 as a specific biomarker for interstitial lung disease has been recognized. In addition, it is expected that effective prevention of health problems can be achieved by determining the lung-damage progress at an early stage according to individual susceptibility.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1403-1413
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• 2013

The effects of cadmium ions ($Cd^{2+}$) on the Chl a fluorescence of Ricciocarpos natans were investigated in order to determine whether Chl fluorescence can be used as a biomarker to estimate the physiological responses of plants to cadmium stress. In all plants treated with $Cd^{2+}$, the image of Fv/Fm, which represents the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, changed as the $Cd^{2+}$ concentration increased, when treated for 48 h or more. Changes of ${\Phi}_{PSII}$ and $Q_P$ images were recognized even at 10 ${\mu}M$ $Cd^{2+}$. The Chl a O-J-I-P fluorescence transient was also affected even at 10 ${\mu}M$ $Cd^{2+}$. The fluorescence yield decreased considerably in steps J, I and P in plants treated with $Cd^{2+}$, although a typical polyphasic rise was observed in non-treated plants. The Chl fluorescence parameters, Fm, Fv/Fo, Sm, SFIabs, PIabs and ETo/CS, decreased as the $Cd^{2+}$ concentration increased, while the Mo and Kn parameters increased. Peroxidase activity decreased significantly and catalase activity increased as the $Cd^{2+}$ concentration increased. Because of its sensitivity to $Cd^{2+}$ Ricciocarpos natans is useful in experiments investigating the responses of plants to cadmium exposure. Several parameters (Fm, Fv/Fo, Sm, SFIabs, PIabs, ETo/CS, Mo and Kn) can be applied to determine quantitatively the physiological states of plants under cadmium stress.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.65-74
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• 2013

Objectives: This study attempted to develop a method to measure ultra-trace lead concentrations in plasma using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry(ICP-MS) and to test whether plasma lead can be used as a biomarker for the biological monitoring of exposure to lead. Methods: Lead concentrations in 160 plasma samples of field workers and 42 plasma samples from the control group were measured by ICP-MS. Blood zinc protophorphyrin(ZPP) concentrations and urinary ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid${\delta}-ALA$) were measured for correlation analysis with plasma lead. Results: The mean lead level in the plasma of the workers exposed to lead at work were 786.1 ng/L. Plasma lead levels were not correlated with blood ZPP or urinary ${\delta}-ALA$ concentrations. Otherwise, plasma lead levels showed a good correlation coefficient of 0.400 with blood lead levels, and their correlation coefficient had a better value of 0.552 for the non-smoking and drinking group. In the general population group which was not exposed to lead in the workplace and was considered the control group, the mean concentration of plasma lead was 123.1 ng/L. The plasma lead levels for the general population group showed a good correlation coefficient of 0.520 with blood ZPP and urinary ${\delta}-ALA$ concentrations.