• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2016

Total mercury (TM) is a hazardous element that is of particular concern to human health. Due to the diversity of dietary habits among fishes, tissue-specific analysis of hazardous elements is necessary. In this study, the tissue-specific TM in cultured fish was analyzed to conduct risk assessment. The highest concentrations of TM were found in the farmed marine fish Pagrus major (0.111 mg/kg) and in the farmed freshwater fish Channa argus (0.162 mg/kg). TM concentration was significantly correlated with total fish length (P<0.01). Significant differences in TM were found between three types of fish tissue, with the concentration in fish muscle being significantly higher than those of gill or liver (P<0.01). Moreover, the tissue-specific TM concentrations of farmed freshwater fish were significantly higher than those of farmed marine fish (P<0.01). According to the risk assessment, the TM body exposure rate of muscle and liver in cultured fishes ranged from 0.001 to 0.389% of the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake. Therefore, these results showing the tissue-specific TM contents of cultured fish could be useful to assess the health risks of Korean dietary habits.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.477-483
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of copper concentrations in fertilizer solution on the growth of and nutrient uptake by domestically bred strawberries. The characterization of toxicity symptoms as well as tissue analyses based on dry weight of above ground tissue were also conducted to determine the threshold levels in plants when toxicity developed in copper. The dry weights of the above ground tissue were not significantly different among the treatments of 0.25 mM to 1.0 mM in 'Keumhyang' and 'Maehyang' strawberries and that of 0.25 mM to 3.0 mM in 'Seolhyang' strawberry. This indicates that the 'Seolhyang' strawberry is more tolerant to copper toxicity than 'Keumhyang' or 'Maehyang' strawberries. Application of copper at high concentrations resulted in severe toxicity such as death of extensive areas of leaves. The lower leaves became yellow and die rapidly as the symptoms spread up the plants. The leaf blades and petioles died back to the crown and hang on by mechanical attachment. Symptoms of copper toxicity in lower leaves developed as browning on leaf margins and in patches between leaf veins that became necrotic. The elevation of copper concentrations in fertilizer solution did not influence the tissue phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents based on the dry weight of the above ground tissue. The tissue copper contents increased lineally as the copper concentrations in fertilizer solution were elevated. But the tissue iron, manganese and boron contents were not influenced by the concentrations. When the concentration of copper at which growth of a plant is retarded by 10% is regarded as threshold level, the copper contents based on dry weight of above ground plant tissue should be lower than 71.4, 57.9 and 74.8 $mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ in 'Keumhyang', 'Maehyang' and 'Seolhyang' strawberries, respectively. The symptom characterization and established threshold level in copper toxicity would help growers to prevent the reduction of crop growth and yield in 'Seolhyang' strawberry cultivation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.309-317
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• 2009

Occupational exposure to inorganic dusts such as coal and silica has been identified as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk factor. This risk factor causes lung inflammation and protease-antiprotease imbalance. This abnormal inflammatory response of the lung induces parenchymal tissue destruction and leads to progressive airflow limitation that is characteristics of COPD. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of proteases such as neutrophil elastase (NE) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and antiproteases such as alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 with lung function. The study population contained 223 retired workers exposed to inorganic dusts. We performed lung function test, including percent of forced expiratory volume in one second ($%FEV_1$) predicted and $%FEV_1$/forced vital capacity (FVC). We analyzed serum MMP-9, AAT, TIMP-1 and plasma NE concentrations by sandwich enzyme immunoassay. NE, AAT, and TIMP-1 concentrations in workers, who had $%FEV_1$<80% predicted, were higher than those of workers who had $%FEV_1{\geq}80%$ (P<0.05). Both AAT and TIMP-1 concentrations in workers with airflow limitation were higher than those of workers with normal airflow (P<0.05). $%FEV_1$ predicted showed significant negative correlation with AAT (r=-0.255, P<0.0l), TIMP-1 (r=-0.232, P<0.01), and NE (r=-0.196, P<0.01). $%FEV_1$/FVC predicted showed significant negative correlation with NE (r=-0.172, P<0.05). From the results of stepwise multiple regression analysis about $%FEV_1$ and $%FEV_1$/FVC, significant independents were NE (r=-0.135, P=0.001) and AAT (r=-0.100, P=0.013) in $%FEV_1$, and NE (r=-0.160, P=0.014) in $%FEV_1$/FVC. In the present study, there were significant correlations between airflow limitation and protease concentration and between airflow limitation and antiprotease concentration. Serum protease and antiprotease concentrations, however, may be affected by the biological and inflammatory responses. It is necessary to evaluate specimens more reflected the effects of proteases and antiproteases in the lung such as lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and exhaled breath condensate (EBC).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.453-460
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• 2006

Upo wetland is the largest inland wetland in Korea as Ramsar Convention Area. The purposes of the study were to investigate the levels of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the sediment and Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata from three sites of the wetland and to assess the potential of the gastropod as a bioindicator for heavy metal levels. The gastropods were dissected into shell and soft tissue without the digestive and excretive organs. The levels of Cd, Cu and Pb were below the guideline of Soil Environment Conservation Act and the heavy metals except Cr were slightly different among the sites. Cd was higher in Upo site ($0.32{\mu}g/g$) than Sajipo site ($0.28{\mu}g/g$). Cu and Zn showed the highest value in Sajipo as $43.5{\mu}g/g\;and\;39.8{\mu}g/g$, respectively while the concentrations of Pb and Zn were the highest in Upstream as $58.8{\mu}g/g\;and\;138{\mu}g/g$, respectively. In the soft tissues and shells of the gastropod, the overall common trend in the concentrations of the heavy metals was revealed with the following order: Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd and Ni > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Cd, respectively. Although the soft tissues exhibited higher concentrations of the heavy metals except Ni than the shell in the gastropod, the levels of Cd and Pb in the gastropod were generally below the restrictive values set up by Korea Food & Drug Administration. From Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) results, the concentrations of Pb and Zn in the sediments among the sites were reflected on the soft tissue (Pb) and the shell (Pb and Zn) of the gastropod in the same order. The lower value of coefficient of variation (CV) in Pb concentration of the shell than in that of the soft tissue supports the usefulness of the shell as a bioindicator for Pb pollution. Although the CV value in the shell was a little higher than in the soft tissue, DMRT results and the stability of incorporated Zn into the shell support the use of the shell of the gastropod as a potential bioindicator for long-term contamination of Zn.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.4
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• pp.633-637
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate various effects of kinds of culture medium, concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) or /kinds of osmotica on maturation of somatic embryos (SEs) with four (LL-L, LL-K, LL-P and LL-N) embryogenic tissue lines (ETLs) in Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis). In comparison of two culture medium, the LL-P produced the highest number of the cotyledon-staged SE (134.9/90 mg tissue) in 1/2LM medium. In contrast, no SEs were obtained except the LL-P (32.9) in medium of BLG. Effects of two concentrations of ABA in the medium with four ETL for SEs maturation were also compared. In the test of 60 or 100 ${\mu}M$ ABA, the highest result was obtained in 60 ${\mu}M$ ABA (142.9). However, the influence of ABA had little on SEs production except the LL-N regardless of concentrations of ABA. In comparison of different kinds/concentrations of osmotica, the best response was obtained from the treatment of 0.2 M maltose, the LL-K (540.5). In conclusion, the effects of production of SEs were greatly rely on the ETLs, rather than kinds of medium, concentrations of ABA or osmotica which were used in maturation of SEs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.661-671
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• 1993

The change in fatty acid composition in brain tissue of the second generation rats(Sprague-Dawley strain) was studied using four different fat diets(Corn oil=CO, Soybean oil=SO, Perilla oil=PO, Fish oil=FO, 10% by Wt). The experimental diets were started from pregnancy in four different groups, each consisting of 9 rats. The seound generation rats were fed the same diet as their mothers. Animals were anesthetized with ether at 0, 3, 9 & 16 weeks of age. Whole brains were dissected out, brain tissues were, then, homogenized and lipids were extracted from brain tissues. The fatty acid compositions were measured after methylation by gas-liquid chromatography at 0, 3, 9 and 16 weeks of age of offspring. The changes in the relative concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) or more specifically docosahexaenoic acid(22 : 6, $\omega$3, DHA), the major $\omega$3 fatty acid component in rat brain at different age were similar to changes in the amount of DNA in brain tissue showing the maximum value during the lactation. The changes in saturated fatty acid(SFA) content showed a contrasting patten to those of PUFA, while monounsaturated fatty acid(MUFA) increased steadily throughout the experimental period. At birth, the relative concentrations of $\omega$3 series fatty acids the relative concentrations of PUFA, MUFA and SFA converged to very similar values respectively regardless of the dietary fatty acid compositions. In brain tissue, it is of value to note that while changes in relative concentrations of linoleic acid (18 : 2, $\omega$6, LA) and arachidonic acid(20 : 4, $\omega$6, AA) showed a precursor-product-like relationship, $\alpha$-linolenic acid(18 : 3, $\omega$3, $\alpha$-LnA) and DHA showed a different pattern. Even when the $\omega$3 fatty acid content in very low in maternal diet(CO), the second generation rat brain tissues appeared to secure DHA content, suggesting an essential role of this fatty acid in the brain. The fact that a large amount of $\alpha$-LnA in the maternal diet did not have a significant effect on the second generation rat brain $\alpha$-LnA content, indicated that DHA seemed essential component for the brain development in our experimental condition. In all groups, the relative content of $\alpha$-LnA in the brain tissues remained relatively constant throughout the experimental period at the very low level. The study of the specific concentrations and essential role(s) of DHA in each parts of brain tissue is needed in more details.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2006

An efficient protocol for in vitro multiple shoot bud induction and plant regeneration from mature green cotyledon derived callus tissues of Acacia sinuata has been developed. Callus formation occurs at all the concentrations of thidiazuron (TDZ) in Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium, but 0.6 ${\mu}M$ proved to be the best with maximum callus formation frequency. Supplementation of TDZ in combination with indole-acetic acid (IAA) in MS media accelerates shoot bud organogenesis in differentiating callus tissues with 60-70% conversion of shoot buds into shoot Most efficient shoot organogenesis was recorded when TDZ induced calli were subcultured at different concentrations of 6-benzyla-denine (BA). Optimum shoot bud induction and plant regeneration from callus was achieved when 0.6 ${\mu}M$ (TDZ) induced calli were subcultured at 3.0 ${\mu}M$ (BA) where $16.6{\pm}0.74$ shoots/unit callus on obtained. Rooting in in vitro differentiated shoots was achieved when transferred to medium containing different concentration of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in full & half strength MS medium. The well rooted plantlets were hardened and transferred to net house with 90% survival rate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.238-242
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• 2002

Seventy-four piglets were used to investigate the effects of dietary glutamine (Gln) and glutamate (Glu) on the mucosal structure and active absorption of small intestinal, DNA and RNA concentrations of skeletal muscle tissue in piglets during d 28 to 42 of age. Postweaning piglets were fed for 14 d corn- and soybean meal-based diets supplemented with 0.0 or 1.0% L-Gln or L-Glu. On d 7 and 14 postweaning, pigs' small intestinal sections and longissimus dorsi were collected, at the same time, the D-xylose absorption test was conducted. The results suggested that in comparison to control piglets, jejunal atrophy during the first week postweaning was prevented by the glutamine and glutamate supplementation (1%) and the capability of small intestine to absorb Dxylose was improved. Furthermore the RNA concentration in skeletal muscle tissue was increased. These results provide an experimental basis for use of glutamine and glutamate on alleviating the weaning stresses and improving piglets' growth performance.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.299-304
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• 2017

Thallium and its compounds are a class of highly toxic chemicals that cause wide-ranging symptoms such as gastrointestinal disturbances; polyneuritis; encephalopathy; tachycardia; skin eruptions; hepatic, renal, cardiac, and neurological toxicities; and have mutagenic and genotoxic effects. The present research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the chelating agents deferasirox (DFX) and deferiprone (L1) in reducing serum and tissue thallium levels after the administration of thallium (III), according to two different dosing regimens, to several groups of Wistar rats for 60 days. It was hypothesized that the two chelators might be more efficient as a combined therapy than as monotherapies in removing thallium (III) from the rats' organs. The chelators were administered orally as either single or combined therapies for a period of 14 days. Serum and tissue thallium (III) and iron concentrations were determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Serum and tissue thallium (III) levels were significantly reduced by combined therapy with DFX and L1. Additionally, iron concentrations returned to normal levels and symptoms of toxicity decreased.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.172-184
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• 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a natural product of cherry tree (Prunus serrulata var. spontanea: PS) as a test substance for improving cytokine and ovalbumin-specific IgE using an ovalbumin-induced asthma disease model of 5-week-old male BALB/c mice. Lung tissue pathology was analyzed to confirm anti-inflammatory and asthmatic effects. As a result of examining the effect on changes in inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in an ovalbumin-induced asthma disease model by administering the PS sample, total cells, eosinophil, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocytes were significantly decreased. Concentrations of cytokine-based TNF-alpha and IL-4 and immunoglobulin E in serum were significantly increased in the asthma-inducing negative control group than in the normal group. However, high concentrations of PS decreased them. In histopathological examination of the lung tissue, it was confirmed that inflammatory cells infiltrated around the alveoli and bronchioles were increased in ovalbumin-induced asthma disease model. After administration of cherry tree extract, bronchiolar morphological changes such as mucosal thickening were slightly improved. From the above results, it was confirmed that extract of cherry tree significantly reduced inflammation expression and tissue damage in alveolar tissues. It was also confirmed that the cherry tree extract had an excellent efficacy in improving asthma inflammation.