• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2010

Sasa borealis leaf has been known to have anti-diabetic properties. In this study, we tried to evaluate the effects of Sasa borealis leaf extract (SBE) on the inhibition of $\alpha$-glucosidase activity and postprandial glycemic response following ingestion of four carbohydrate-rich foods; cooked rice, ramen (instant noodle), noodle, and bread. Fourteen healthy female adults consumed 50 g of glucose (control) or one of the four foods containing 50 g of available carbohydrate with or without 2,000 mg of SBE. The activity of $\alpha$-glucosidase was inhibited dose-dependently by SBE. With SBE, blood glucose concentration at 15 min and the positive area under the curve (AUC) of postprandial glycemic response at 15 min and 30 min after consuming each of the four foods were reduced significantly. As the result, total positive AUC during 120 min was decreased in case of taking cooked rice or bread. Glycemic index and glycemic load of the four foods were declined from 13% to 23% with SBE. The results of this study suggest that SBE may be effective for postprandial glucose control by inhibiting $\alpha$-glucosidase activity.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.398-404
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• 2010

It is known that onions, or bioactive compounds therein, providehealth benefits. The present study was designed to investigate whether a concentrated onion extract lowered blood lipid levels in rats fed a high-fat diet. Initially, male Sprague-Dawley rats were housed singly in an environment in which temperature and light duration were controlled, and had free access to a nutritionally adequate AIN-93G diet and deionized water. After an acclimatization period, rats were weight-matched and assigned to one of the following five groups: 1) a control group, fed the AIN-93G diet mixed with 10% (w/v) lard and 0.7% (w/v) cholesterol to induce hyperlipidemia (control); 2) three experimental groups, fed the AIN-93G diet mixed with a high-fat source plus concentrated onion extract at three different levels (termed the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups); and, 3) a placebo group, fed the AIN-93G diet with fats plus the same concentrated extract but devoid of onion-derived material. All five groups freely ingested their respective diets over 6 weeks. At 0, 3, and 6 weeks, blood samples were collected from the orbital sinus following overnight food deprivation. At 6 weeks, livers were collected. Both control and experimental groups continually gained body weight throughout the study. No significant differencein body weight gain was observed among groups. However, the serum concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and non HDL-cholesterol were significantly reduced by ingestion of concentrated onion extract. Also, the hepatic levels of total lipids and total fatty acids, especially C18:1 (oleic acid), were significantly decreased in rats fed a high level of concentrated onion extract, compared with the control and placebo groups. These results provide clear evidence that ingestion of a concentrated onion extract has a profound inhibitory effect on serum lipid levels in rats fed a high-fat diet. Our findings indicate that a concentrated onion extract may be used to alleviate hyperlipidemia by lowering serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2016

To conduct a kinetic study of paraquat (PQ), we investigated 9 patients with acute PQ intoxication. All of them ingested more than 20 ml of undiluted PQ herbicide to commit suicide and arrived at our hospital early, not later than 7 h after PQ ingestion. The urine dithionite test for PQ in all of the nine patients was strongly positive at emergency room. Blood samples were obtained every 30 min for the first 2~3 h and then every 1 or 2 h, as long as the clinical progression was stable among the patients for 30 h after PQ ingestion. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve ($AUC_{inf}$), which was extrapolated to infinity, was calculated using the trapezoidal rule. Toxicokinetic parameters, such as the terminal elimination half-life, apparent oral clearance, and apparent volume of distribution ($V_d/F$) were calculated. The maximum PQ concentration ($C_{max}$) and the time to reach maximum PQ concentration ($T_{max}$) were also obtained. Plasma PQ concentrations in nine patients were well described by a bi-exponential curve with a mean terminal elimination half-life of $13.1{\pm}6.8h$. $C_{max}$ and $AUC_{inf}$ were $20.8{\pm}25.7mg/l$ and $172.5{\pm}160.3h{\cdot}mg/l$, respectively. Apparent volume of distribution and apparent oral clearance were $50.9{\pm}61.3l/kg$ and $173.4{\pm}111.2l/h$, respectively. There were a significant correlation (r=0.84; p<0.05) between the PQ amount ingested and $C_{max}$. $AUC_{inf}$ also showed a significant correlation (r=0.83; p<0.05) with the PQ amount ingested. These correlations provide evidence that PQ has dose-linear toxicokinetic characteristics.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2007

Humans are exposed by a range of pollutants in soil via exposure routes such as ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. Risk assessment is a process of evaluating the adverse health effects of chemicals as a result of exposure to stressors, and it is a very useful tool to establish the cleanup goals in contaminated lands. In the exposure assessment that is one of main process in risk assessment, exposure factor plays a significant role to quantify the intake of soil pollutants. However there is a very limited study about the exposure factor applicable to Korea. In this study, we compared the exposure factors applied by the developed countries including the United States and representative European countries, and suggested the exposure factor that might be suitable in our situation. The exposure factors considered in this study include average lifetime, body weight, (exposed) skin surface area, life time, skin absorption, soil-skin adherence factor, and soil ingestion rate. This information is needed to quantitatively estimate the intake of soil pollutants in contaminated lands.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2007

In this study, uptake rates of internal organs and daily urinary excretion rates were measured to get more reliable estimation results for Korean. Radioactive iodine($^{131}I$) of $100{\mu}Ci$ was administered by ingestion to 28 adult males for the experiment and then the radioactivity in thyroid gland, liver, stomach, small intestine, kidneys, and urine was measured after time intervals of 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours. Uptake rates of each organ and daily urinary excretion rates were calculated on the basis of these experimental results. As a result, uptake rates of 19.70% for thyroid and daily urinary excretion rates of 71.12%, on the average, were indicated. The maximum of uptake rates and daily urinary excretion rates were recorded after 2 hours of administration of $^{131}I$, but those rates were decreased gradually later. It was also found that uptake rates were the highest in stomach, followed by the left kidney, liver, small intestine and right kidney except for thyroid gland. In this experiment, the calculated uptake change rate in thyroid gland after 24 hours of administration of $^{131}I$ was different from that of ICRP-54/67(30%) and ICRP-78(25%). Thus, it is necessary to apply more reliable approach, reflecting the characteristic of Korean physiology and to obtain the basic data of results using this approach for calculation of the internal adsorbed dose. In the future, this approach can be helpful for the internal dose assessment of radiation workers in a nuclear power plant or in a hospital.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2000

Purpose: We compared the first postoperative diagnostic and post-therapy scans of patients who received therapeutic doses of I-131, to investigate the difference in clinical outcomes between patients with concordant findings of diagnostic and post-therapy scans and patients with discrepant (more lesions in post-therapy scan) findings. Materials and Methods: The first postoperative diagnostic and post-therapy radioiodine scans of one hundred forty three patients with well differentiated thyroid carcinoma were reviewed. Diagnostic scans were obtained following ingestion of 185 MBq of I-131 and post-therapy scans were obtained after therapeutic dose of $3.7{\sim}9.3$ GBq of I-131. Successful ablation was defined as no radioiodine uptake on diagnostic radioiodine scan and normal range of serum thyroglobulin level (<10 ng/ml) during serum TSH elevation. Results: Discrepant scan findings were noted in 25 (17.5%) patients. Twenty-two patients (15.4%) showed more lesions in post-therapy scan and 3 patients (2.1%) showed stunning effect. Nine (64.3%) of 14 patients with distant metastasis revealed metastatic lesion(s) only on post-therapy scan. Stunning effect was considered as sublethal damage in 1 patient and treatment by a diagnostic dose in 2 patients. Ablation was achieved in 52.4% (75/143) of all patients. Ablation rate and mean cumulative radioiodine dose were not different statistically between concordant and discrepant groups. Conclusion: There were 17.5% difference between diagnostic and post-therapy scan findings when using 185 MBq of I-131 as a diagnostic dose. However, 64.3% of distant metastases were revealed only on post-therapy scan. Ablation rate and mean cumulative radioiodine dose were not different statistically between concordant and discrepant groups. The stunning effect was considered as not only sublethal damage but also treatment by a small diagnostic dose of radioiodine.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.111-130
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• 1993

Lead toxicity was evaluated in forty-five cats on a balanced diet, Treated with 0(control), 10, 100(low), 1, 000, 2, 000, and 4, 000(high) ppm of lead acetate orally on a body weight basis. The objectives were to establish toxic dosage level of leaf in cats, to characterize changes in behavior and clinical pathology, and to demonstrate what blood lead concentrations correlate with the known dosages of lead. Some high dose cats showed projectile vomiting, hyperactivity, and seizures. The growth rates did not appear to be altered in any of the dosed groups. Normal blood lead concentration in cats were lower than that of humans, dogs, and cattle. Blood lead concentrations of 3 to 20$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$ could be termed a 'subclinical' range in the cat. Clinical lead toxicity in cats may have blood lead concentrations ranging 20 to 120$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$. Zinc protoporphyrin concentrations were proportional to lead dosages and a significant ZPP elevation, greater than 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$, may be indicative of clinical lead toxicity. The enzyme aminolevulinic acid dehydratase showed an inverss dose response relationship for all lead dosages and a significant ZPP elevation, greater than 50$\mu\textrm{g}$/100$m\ell$, may be indicative of clinical lead toxicity. The enzyme aminolevulinic acid dehydratase showed an inverse dose response relationship for all lead dosages and appears to be a good indicator of lead exposure in cats. Urinary aminolevuliruc acid concentrations generally increased with lead dosage, but individual values varied. Hair lead concentrations rose proportionately to lead dosages. Lead at least in high doses appears to inhibit chemotactic activity of polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes. No consistent dose response relationships were observed in hemoglobin, RBC, WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil counts. There were no consistent dose related changes in total protein, plasma protein, BUN, and ALT values. Reticulocyte counts did not increase significantly in most lead dosage levels, and are probably of little value in diagnosing lead toxicity in cats. The fact that no significant changes were found in nerve conduction velocities may support that there was no segmental demyelination resulting from lead ingestion. The lethal dose in cats appear to range from 60 to 150mg/kg body weight. A reliable diagnosis of lead poisoning can be made utilizing blood lead, ZPP, and ALAD, and hair lead.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.247-262
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• 2011

This study assessed the health risks of childhood exposure to PBDEs via different possible pathways in children's facilities and indoor playgrounds. When PBDE contamination was measured, it was determined through multiple routes, including inhalation of indoor dust, dermal contact with product surfaces and children's hands, and incidental dust ingestion. Samples were collected from various children's facilities (playrooms, daycare centers, kindergartens, and indoor playgrounds) during summer (Jul-Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan-Feb, 2008). The hazard index (HI) was estimated for non-carcinogens, and PBDEs, such as TeBDE, PeBDE, HxBDE, and DeBDE, were examined. The sensitivity to the compounds did not exceed 1.0 (HI) for any of the subjects in any facility. However, current data about toxicity does not reflect effects that were fully sensitive in children, so there is uncertainty in the dose-response data. The contribution rates of PBDEs were 71.4 to 96.1% and 3.7 to 28.2% for intake and inhalation exposure, respectively, indicating that intake of floor dust and inhalation are the primary routes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.425-428
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• 2017

Human diphyllobothriasis is a parasitic disease caused by ingestion of larvae (plerocercoids) in raw or undercooked fish and commonly found in temperate areas. Rare cases were reported in tropical or subtropical areas especially in children. The first documented case of pediatric diphyllobothriasis in Taiwan had been reported 11 years ago. Here, we report another 8-year-old girl case who presented with a live noodle-like worm hanging down from her anus, with no other detectable symptoms. We pulled the worm out and found the strobila being 260 cm in length. Examination of gravid proglottids showed that they were wider than their lengths, containing an ovoid cirrus sac in the anterior side and the rosette-shaped uterus. Eggs extracted from the uterus were ovoid and operculated. Diphyllobothrium latum was confirmed by molecular analysis of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. The girl was treated with a single oral dose of praziquantel, and no eggs or proglottids were observed from her stool in the subsequent 3 months. The reemergence of human diphyllobothriasis in non-endemic countries is probably due to prevalent habit of eating imported raw fish from endemic areas. This pediatric case raised our concern that human diphyllobothriasis is likely underestimated because of unremarkable symptoms.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.92-99
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• 2016

Purpose: The use of flumazenil administration in the emergency department is still controversial because of concerns about adverse effects. The present study was conducted to re-evaluate the risk-benefit ratio associated with flumazenil administration to patients suspected of having acute hypnotics and sedatives poisoning in the emergency department. Methods: A retrospective chart review study was conducted for patients whose final diagnoses were "poisoning" and "benzodiazepine" or "sedatives-hypnotics" from Mar. 2006 to Feb. 2015. The basal characteristics of the patients, including past medical history, ingredients and dose of ingested drug and co-ingested drugs were investigated. For patients administered flumazenil, responsiveness and time from admission to flumazenil administration were investigated with supplement. All collected data were analyzed in aspect terms of risk/benefit. Results: A total of 678 patients were included in our study. Benzodiazepine was the most common sedative/hypnotic drug prescribed, and the frequency of prescription continuously increased. The proportion of TCA as co-ingestion decreased from 13.1% to 3.9% in patients with acute sedative/hypnotic poisoning. Flumazenil was administered to 55 patients (8.1%), of which 29 patients (52.7%) were applied to contraindications. Fifty-three patients (96.4%) showed positive responsiveness, including partial responsiveness after flumazenil administration. No severe adverse events were identified. Conclusion: Based on the current trends in prescription patterns for sedative/hypnotic drugs, increased use of non-TCA antidepressants, and responsiveness to administration of flumazenil, benefit seemed weighted more in this study, although the observed benefits were based on limited results. Further prospective multicenter studies will be needed to optimize benefit-risk ratio.