• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.86-92
• /
• 2006

Background: Germanium compounds are increased to use in nutrient foods and medicines in terms of antibiotics to microbes, anticancer, modulation of immune system and neutralizing heavy metal toxins. Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast, containing stable organic germanium and bound to the yeast protein was developed by Geranti Pharm. LTD. and the modulation effect in the immune system was examined in vivo and in vitro. Methods: The compound, Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast, was fed to female Balb/c mice (each group has 10 mice) for 4 weeks and the yeast powder and steamed red ginseng powder were used as control during the same feeding time points. During 4 weeks there was no symptom to be considered, and after 4 weeks feeding all mice were sacrificed to check the changes of related immune cells and subsidiary responses (i.e. cell counting, FACS, MTT, LDH, PFC assay). Results: In pre-post comparison, B cell population was increased in the group of Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast in a dose dependent manner (100 to 800 mg/kg). However, the population of T cell, dendritic cell and macrophage was not comparably changed in all doses. The ability of cytokine production and proliferation was almost same level as shown in control group. In contrast, PFC assay informed that the compound increase the antibody production ability when fed over 200 mg/kg implying that the increase of PFC number might be due to the increase of B cells. Conclusion: Over the entire study, we concluded that the compound, Geranti Bio-Ge Yeast has better potential in immune response in terms of B cell proliferation than that of positive control, red ginseng, and the compound can be one of the future candidates for a new supplementary source improving immune system activity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.18-29
• /
• 1993

This study was initiated to investigate the effective action and mechanism of GE-132 (Carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide)on benzo(a)pyrene, which have strong carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. To confirm desmutagenic effect (inhibition of metabolic processes of benzo(a)pyrene with S9 Mix or inactivation of the mutagenicity of benzo(a)pyrene metabolites) and antimutagenic effect (inhibition of gene-expression of reverted genes) of GE-132 against benzo(a)pyrene using with Salmonella typhimuyium TA98 Ames test was performed. The revertants in desmutagenicity test were decreased significantly in the combined groups of benzo(a)pyrene and GE-132 than benzo(a)pyrene only, without inhibition the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene by S9 Mix. The ideal combined groups of benzo(a)pyrene and GE-132 were 10 $\mu{M}$ and 10mg, 20 $\mu{M}$ and 20mg, 100 $\mu{M}$ and 30 mg, respectively. Then, the revertants in antimutagenicity test, which was studied the direct action of GE-132 on the induction of revertant cells by Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and activated benzo(a)pyrene were decreased significantly in the treated groups of GE-132 than no treated groups. The number of revertants of Salmonella typhimurium TA98 were reduced with increasing amounts of GE-132. From the above results, it was found that GE-132 inactivated the mutagenic metabolites of benzo(a)pyrene without inhibition of the enzyme action in the S9 Mix, and GE132 showed antimutagenic effect which have inhibitory action of reverted gene expression.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.173-179
• /
• 2016

Coals and coal ashes, raw materials and by-products, in coal-fired power plants contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). They may give rise to internal exposure to workers due to inhalation of airborne particulates containing radioactive materials. It is necessary to characterize radioactivity concentrations of the materials for assessment of radiation dose to the workers. The objective of the present study was to analyze radioactivity concentrations of coals and by-products at four coal-fired plants in Korea. High purity germanium detector was employed for analysis of uranium series, thorium series, and potassium 40 in the materials. Radioactivity concentrations of $^{226}Ra$, $^{228}Ra$, and $^{40}K$ were $2{\sim}53Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $3{\sim}64Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $14{\sim}431Bq\;kg^{-1}$ respectively in coal samples. For coal ashes, the radioactivity concentrations were $77{\sim}133Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $77{\sim}105Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $252{\sim}372Bq\;kg^{-1}$ in fly ash samples and $54{\sim}91Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $46{\sim}83Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $205{\sim}462Bq\;kg^{-1}$ in bottom ash samples. For flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, the radioactivity concentrations were $3{\sim}5Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $2{\sim}3Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $22{\sim}47Bq\;kg^{-1}$. Radioactivity was enhanced in coal ash compared with coal due to combustion of organic matters in the coal. Radioactivity enhancement factors for $^{226}Ra$, $^{228}Ra$, and $^{40}K$ were 2.1~11.3, 2.0~13.1, and 1.4~7.4 for fly ash and 2.0~9.2, 2.0~10.0, 1.9~7.7 for bottom ash. The database established in this study can be used as basic data for internal dose assessment of workers at coal-fired power plants. In addition, the findings can be used as a basic data for development of safety standard and guide of Natural Radiation Safety Management Act.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.262-269
• /
• 2017

The concentration of natural radioactivity in the sediment of the Geum River was investigated. The river and lake sediment samples were collected at 23 points during September to November, 2015 and March to April, 2015, respectively. The gamma-rays emitted from the $^{226}Ra$ and $^{232}Th$ decay series and $^{40}K$ were measured with a high purity germanium (HPGe) gamma detector. The average radioactivity concentrations of the $^{226}Ra$, $^{232}Th$ decay series and $^{40}K$ for the river sediment was found to be $15.6{\pm}0.6$, $33.8{\pm}1.2$, $789.8{\pm}26.0Bq/kg$, respectively, while for the lake sediment, the concentrations were $17.1{\pm}0.5$, $37.8{\pm}1.1$, $269.4{\pm}9.6Bq/kg$, respectively. Spearman's correlation was conducted to compare the radioactivity concentration and properties of the sediment. The radioactivity concentration of the $^{232}Th$ decay series showed a negative correlation with the particle size of the sediment, and was measured to be higher than the $^{226}Ra$ decay series according to mobility of the radionuclides. The radioactivity concentration of $^{40}K$ showed a negative correlation with organic matter content. The concentration of $^{40}K$ in the lake sediment was lower than that in the river sediment.