• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.323-333
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• 2009

Parabens are alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, which are widely used in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutic products as preservatives. Absorbed parabens are metabolized fastly and excreted. Actually human body is exposed to complex mixture of parabens. Safety assessment at various toxicological end points revealed parabens have a little acute, subacute and chronic toxicities. Some reports have argued that as parabens have estrogenic activity, they are associated with the incidence of breast cancer through dermal absorption by cosmetics. There is an inference that antiandrogenic activity of parabens may give rise to a lesion of male reproductive system, but also there is an contrary. At cellular level, parabens may inhibit mitochondrial function of sperms and androgen production in testis, but also there is an contrary. Parabens seem to have little or no toxicity in embryonic development. Parabens can cause hemolysis, membrane permeability change in mitochondria and apoptosis, suggesting cellular toxicity of parabens. Parabens evoked endocrine disruption in several fish species and have toxic effect on small invertebrates and microbes. Therefore, the toxicity of parabens should be considered as a potentially toxic chemical in the freshwater environment. In conclusion, though parabens may be considered as a low toxic chemical, more definite data are required concerning the endocrine disrupting effect of parabens on human body and aquatic animals according to route and term of exposure as well as the residual concentration of parabens.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.609-614
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• 2015

This study was to investigate the production of combustion toxic gases of pinus rigida specimens treated with pyrophosphoric acid (PP)/4ammonuium ion ($4NH_4{^+}$), methylenepiperazinomethyl-bis-phosphonic acid (PIPEABP) and PIPEABP/$4NH_4{^+}$. Each pinus rigida plates was painted in three times with 15 wt% in the aqueous solution followed by drying the species at room temperature. Emission of combustion toxic gases was examined by the cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1). First-time to peak mass loss rate (1st-$TMLR_{peak}$) treated with chemicals was delayed upto 66.7~250.0% compared to those of untreated specimens. For test pieces treated with the chemicals, the emission of peak carbon monoxide ($CO_{peak}$) values of 0.0136~0.0178% and peak carbon dioxide ($CO_{2\;peak}$) value of 0.04432~0.3648% were obtained, which were higher than those for the virgin plate. In particular, oxygen emission is much higher than the level of 15% which can be fatal to humans. Therefore, the resulting risk could be eliminated. However it is supposed that the combustion-toxicities were partially increased compared to those of virgin plate.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.7-13
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• 2015

This study was performed to test the production of combustion toxic gases by Pinus rigida specimens treated with various types of methylpiperazinomethyl-bis-phosphonic acid $M^{n+}$ ($PIPEABPM^{n+}$) and methylpiperazinomethyl-bis-phosphonic acid (PIPEABP). Three coats of 15 wt% $PIPEABPM^{n+}$ and PIPEABP solutions were applied to plates of Pinus rigida at room temperature. After drying the treated specimens, the production of combustion toxic gases was examined using a cone calorimeter (ISO 5660-1). The specimens treated with $PIPEABPM^{n+}$ showed lower carbon monoxide production ($CO_{2\;peak}$; 0.0136~0.0178% at 532~678 s) than the PIPEABP plates, except for the specimen treated with $PIPEABPFe^{3+}$. In addition, the peak carbon dioxide production ($CO_{2\;peak}$) was lower (0.03648~0.3648% at 373~433 s) than that of the PIPEABP-treated plate. Notably, oxygen production was much higher than 15%, which can be fatal to humans. Therefore, the resulting risk could be eliminated. The results indicate that the combustion toxicities were partially decreased due to treatment of the virgin plate with $PIPEABPM^{n+}$.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 1989

This study was conducted to investigate insecticide toxicities to a honeybee, Apis cerana F. being raised in Korea and its detoxifying enzyme activities. In order to determine the appropriate usage of insecticides, median effective dose and detoxifying enzyme activities to seven insecticides were observed. Various detoxifying enzymes, including microsomal oxidases, glutathione S-transferases, esterases, and DDT-dehydrochlorinase were assayed in the midguts of adult worker bees as the enzyme source. Of the insecticides used, $LC_{50}$ value in DDT treatment was the highest as 19ppm, and that in EPN treatment was the lowest as 0.75ppm. Sublethal exposures of honeybees to various insecticides had some effects on microsomal enzyme activities. Aldrin epoxidase activity was inhibited by malathion and demeton S-methyl treatment. N-demethylase activity was induced by carbaryl treatment. Of the glutathione S-transferases, aryltransferase(DCNB conjugation) activity was significantly induced by diazinon, and moderately induced by malathion. Of the esterases, ${\alpha}-NA$ esterase activity was moderately inhibited by malathion and permethrin. Carboxylesterase and acetylcholinesterase activity were not affected by the sublethal exposure of honeybee to the insecticides. Sublethal exposure of honeybee to the insecticides had no effect on DDT- dehydrochlorinase activity, except carbaryl, malathion and demeton S-methyl were inhibited.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2007

The isolated plantamajoside from Plantago asiatica that is often used as a marker compound in chemotaxonomic studies has various bioactivites such as the inhibitions of cyclic AMP phosphodi-esterase and 5-lipoxygenase, microbial growth and inflammation, and currently demands the generation of toxicity data. The purpose of this study was to examine the toxicities of the single and 14 days repeated dose toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats orally administrated with plantamajoside at dose levels of 0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg of dried material/kg body weight/day. The results showed that there was no difference in body weight change, food intake, water consumption, or relative organ weight among different dose groups. Also we observed no death and abnormal clinical signs were observed during the experimental period. Between the groups orally administered Plantago asiatica and the control group, there was no statistical significance in hematological test or serum biochemical values. There were no gross findings at final sacrifice. There was no evidence of histopathological alteration mediated by 14 days treatment with Plantago asiatica. These results suggest that no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of the oral application was considered to be more than 2000 mg/kg in rats under the conditions employed in this study. Another observation was performed to investigate the safety of Plantago asiatica in respect of genotoxicity. This substance was examined that Salmonella typhimurium reversion assay (Ames test) in strain TA98, TA100, TA1535. In the reverse mutation test, Plantago asiatica did not induce mutagenicity in Samonella typhimurium with and without metabolic activation. These results indicated that Plantago asiatica had no genotoxicity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.100-105
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• 1997

DW-166HC ($^{166}$Holmium-chitosan) is a complex of $^{166}$Ho, $\beta$- and $\gamma$-ray emitter, and chitosan, a polymer of glucosamine, with radiotherapeutic potential. The current study was performed to determine the acute toxicities of $^{165}$Ho-chitosan in mice by two different routes of administration. The both sex mice were given a single intravenous bolus injection of $^{165}$Ho-chitosan complex at doses of 12, 10, 6, 5 and 4 mg/kg or subcutaneous administration at doses of 600, 500, 400 and 300 mg/kg. Chitosan was dosed to control animals as 16 and 800 mg/kg, intravenously and subcutaneously, respectively. The doses of $_{165}$Ho-chitosan complex were expressed as $_{165}$holmium nitrate pentahydrate and the ratio of $^{165}$Ho$(NO_3)_3$).$5H_2O$ to chitosan was 3/4 Severe convulsion and respiratory failure were followed by death within 10 min after intravenous dosing. Transient unilateral hindlimb hypokinesias were found in two mice of 5 mg/kg dosing group during the study period. No abnormalities were observed during the necropsy of survived animals in intravenous dosing group. Only one male animal was found dead in 500 mg/kg subcutaneously dosed group. Alopecia with or without cutaneous ulcer were found in most mice including control animals. During necropsy, omental adhesion was observed in all dose ranges and enlarged spleen was found in several animals including control group. It is suggested that the acute intravenous >).$LD_{50}s$ for male and female mice were 4.90 and 6.03 mg/kg, respectively. The lowest lethal dose in male was 500 mg/kg by subcutaneous administration.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.394-400
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• 2017

This study investigated whether culture filtrates produced by Xylella fastidiosa can be used to determine the varietal susceptibility to Pierce's disease in grapevines (Vitis spp.) as a substitute for pathogen inoculation or field screening. A bioassay of grape leaves with culture filtrates from the pathogen showed that their phytotoxicities were active and host-selective. Ethyl acetate extracts from them also showed toxicities and host selectivity in both bunches of grapes and muscadine grapes. The sensitive range of plants to the culture filtrates and their ethyl acetate extracts was consistent with the host range of the Pierce's disease pathogen. Susceptible cultivars are sensitive to even highly diluted culture filtrates, while resistant cultivars were not affected even at their original culture filtrates. Susceptible cultivars were more sensitive to the undiluted culture filtrate than were highly diluted culture filtrates, and the younger leaves were the most sensitive to the culture filtrates in grapes. Although some European grape cultivars showed moderately susceptibility in this study, the determination of varietal resistance to Pierce's disease by the treatment of culture filtrates of pathogens could provide valuable information for the preliminary selection of genetic resources and seedlings from hybridization in a disease resistant grape breeding program.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.440-445
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the toxicities of five registered insecticides to the Lycorma delicatula nymphs and adults. Insecticidal activities were evaluated by testing systemic and residual effects in the laboratory, and control efficacy in the vineyard. For the 3rd nymphal instars and adults, etofenprox+diazinon, chlorpyrifos, etofenprox, dinotefuran and imidacloprid showed perfect insecticidal activity. The systemic effects of dinotefuran and etofenprox+diazinon on grape roots at half concentration were showed the adult mortality of 82.2% and 84.4%, respectively. Chlorpyrifos at recommended concentration was showed mortality of 86.0%. The leaf systemic effects at recommended and half concentrations of all insecticides except dinotefuran were lower than 65% but the mortality at double concentration of chlorpyrifos, dinotefuran, etofenprox were more than 82%. The residual effect between etofenprox+diazinon and dinotefuran at recommended and double concentrations were 100% at 14 days after treatment, the other insecticides have low efficacy. All the four insecticides showed 87% control value on nymphs in the field test and adults appeared more than 96% control value st and adinotefuran, etofenprox+diazinon, however, the other insecticides decreased to 59.1 % and 61.2%. Therefore, dinotefuran and etofenprox+diazinon showing high systemic effects to roots and long residual effects to leafs have high control efficacies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.824-831
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• 2011

This study was to investigate 90-day repeated-dose toxicities of 50 kGy irradiated methanol extract powder of red ginseng in ICR mice. The test materials (methanol extract powder of red ginseng with or without 50 kGy irradiation) were administered by gavage to male and female ICR mice at dose levels of 0, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day for 90 days. In the results, no abnormality was observed in mortality, clinical findings, body weight changes, food consumptions, opthalmoscopic findings, necropsy findings and histopathological findings. Although the minor changes in blood and biochemical parameters were observed, they were not dose dependent and not affected by gamma irradiation. In conclusion, 90-day repeated oral dose of the methanol extract powder of red ginseng and 50 kGy irradiated methanol extract powder of red ginseng to ICR mice did not cause apparent toxicological change at the dose of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.161-167
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• 2007

Glucuronidation by the uridine diphosphateglucuronosy-ltransferase 1A enzymes (UGT1As) is a major pathway for elimination of particular drugs and endogenous substances, such as bilirubin. We examined the relation of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of the UGT1A gene with their clinical factors. For association analysis, we genotyped the variants by direct sequencing analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 218 healthy Koreans. The frequency of UGT1A1 polymorphisms, -3279T>G, -3156G>A, -53 $(TA)_{6>7}$, 211G>A, and 686C>A, was 0.26, 0.12, 0.08, 0.15, and 0.01, respectively. The frequency of -118 $(T)_{9>10}$ of UGT1A9 was 0.62, which was significantly higher than that in Caucasians (0.39). Neither the -2152C>T nor the -275T>A polymorphism was observed in Koreans or other Asians in comparison with Caucasians. The -3156G>A and -53 $(TA)_{6>7}$ polymorphisms of UGT1A were significantly associated with platelet count and total bilirubin level (p=0.01, p=0.01, respectively). Additionally, total bilirubin level was positively correlated with occurrence of the UGT1A9-118 $(T)_{9>10}$ rare variant. Common haplotypes encompassing six UGT1A polymorphisms were significantly associated with total bilirubin level (p=0.01). Taken together, we suggest that determination of the UGT1A1 and UGT1A9 genotypes is clinically useful for predicting the efficacy and serious toxicities of particular drugs requiring glucuronidation.